Author: Mike Hodges

UFC 147: Ed Soares Confirms Silva vs. Sonnen Rematch Is Signed for June 23rd

Ed Soares, Anderson Silva’s manager, has dismissed the rumors regarding UFC 147’s main event between the Brazilian and Chael Sonnen for the UFC middleweight title.At first it looked as though the rematch would be postponed due to a United Nations confe…

Ed Soares, Anderson Silva‘s manager, has dismissed the rumors regarding UFC 147‘s main event between the Brazilian and Chael Sonnen for the UFC middleweight title.

At first it looked as though the rematch would be postponed due to a United Nations conference being held in Rio de Janeiro that same week. UFC President Dana White had addressed the issue during the UFC on FUEL press conference this past weekend. 

But according to Soares, the rematch is still expected to commence on June 23rd.

“The contracts were signed two weeks ago, the fight will happen on June 23 in Rio de Janeiro,” Soares told TATAME.com.

Although White said the event could be pushed back to June 30th, Soares said he had not heard anything regarding an event or date change. 

In addition to Silva vs. Sonnen, UFC 147 is also expected to feature another anticipated rematch between two of Brazil’s most feared strikers— Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.

The bout involving Anderson Silva and Sonnen is a rematch from their 2010 encounter at UFC 117. 

UFC 147 will take place live at the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Jon Jones: ‘I Want to Be Better Than Muhammad Ali’

Jon Jones has already drawn comparisons to Muhammad Ali at this stage of his career.Jones has dominated the competition effortlessly and is already a world champion at a young age, much like the legendary boxer.However, the 24-year-old took it one step…

Jon Jones has already drawn comparisons to Muhammad Ali at this stage of his career.

Jones has dominated the competition effortlessly and is already a world champion at a young age, much like the legendary boxer.

However, the 24-year-old took it one step further when he said during a UFC 145 conference call that he hopes to create his own legacy and become better than Ali.

“I’m a huge fan of Muhammad Ali but I don’t want to be him. I want to the best Jon Jones. I want to be better than Ali,” Jones said. “If I don’t become greater than Muhammad Ali, that’s my own fault. That’s why I train so hard.”

Certainly Jones’ dominance has put him in a separate class above the rest of the light heavyweight division, but it has been his current title reign that has suddenly turned him into one of the company’s brightest stars.

Jones’ recent photo shoot for UFC Magazine saw the UFC light heavyweight champion training underwater, reminiscent of Ali’s iconic photograph.

The photo has changed some fans’ perception of Jones and he is aware of the added pressure that comes along with being the champion at this stage in his career, and comparing himself to Ali.

“It adds more pressure (the Ali photo shoot) but I consider it fun. Ali had many flaws in the person that he was but I loved Muhammad Ali,” he said. 

Jones isn’t likely to receive much praise after his comment about Ali, considering he has been somewhat of a polarizing figure thus far with some fans.

For someone who wants to be accepted and denies accusations of being arrogant and cocky, Jones’ current image has not been very convincing.

And setting the bar so high at only 24 years old tells us either Jones is destined for greater success in his career or he is just beginning to show his true colors.

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Ed Soares Tells Brazilian Fans to Let Anderson Silva ‘Take Care’ of Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen’s act has obviously grown thin on UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his manager Ed Soares.At was once considered as offensive and cruel, Soares is now under the impression that whatever Sonnen says is to simply sell his upcoming…

Chael Sonnen’s act has obviously grown thin on UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his manager Ed Soares.

At was once considered as offensive and cruel, Soares is now under the impression that whatever Sonnen says is to simply sell his upcoming rematch against Silva at UFC 147.

And Soares hopes Brazilian fans get that idea too.

Soares sent out a message to Brazilian fans earlier this week, pleading with them to avoid any confrontation with the American prior to his bout with the champion and allow “The Spider” to beat him.

“Hopefully people will understand that they shouldn’t do anything against Chael, just boo him. Let Anderson settle this with him in the Octagon,” Soares told Portaldovaletudo.uol.com. “It will be very bad for Brazil if something happens to him. The guy is an idiot, but he is promoting the fight and it will be the greatest MMA fight of all time.”

Sonnen’s antics and remarks have infuriated many Brazilian fighters and fans, to the point where fans had setup a Facebook page and had threatened to harm the UFC middleweight contender.

Due to Soares’ advice, Sonnen isn’t likely to be in any real danger come June 23rd as fans aren’t that naive to take his trash-talk seriously.

If anything, Sonnen will be greeted by a chorus of jeers from the Brazilian crowd regardless of the outcome.

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Frank Mir’s Manager Does Not Rule out a Title Shot at UFC 146

Frank Mir is expected to meet Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, but there is still a possibility that if Alistair Overeem cannot compete against UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Mir can still take his spot.Overeem is scheduled for a hearing with th…

Frank Mir is expected to meet Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, but there is still a possibility that if Alistair Overeem cannot compete against UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Mir can still take his spot.

Overeem is scheduled for a hearing with the Nevada Athletic State Commission later this month on whether or not he will be granted a license for his UFC 146 main event.

But since testing positive for elevated testosterone last week, there has been no announcement regarding a possible replacement for the Dutchman.

Mir’s manager, Malki Kawa, spoke to MMAWeekly Radio and said he believes a final decision should be made regarding the main event at UFC 146 after the NSAC hearing on April 24th.

“What I think is happening is they’re going to wait for the decision, if Overeem gets licensed, everything goes on as planned. If Overeem doesn’t get licensed, then you can bet your house there’s going to be a replacement,” Kawa said.

Fans have setup an online petition in an effort to support heavyweight contender Mark Hunt in receiving a title shot, despite being slated to face Stefan Struve on the main card, but the UFC have remained tight-lipped on making a decision.

Kawa said that if Overeem is unable to get licensed to fight dos Santos on May 26th, he believes Mir is a suitable replacement.

Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion, as well as owning a current three-fight winning streak over the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson.

“I think it will be Frank Mir. I don’t know anyone else that can get it,” he said. “I think Frank Mir will end up getting the shot in the event that Overeem can’t get licensed.”

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Rashad Evans and 4 Fighters Who Can Moonlight as Comedians

A fighter’s performance inside the Octagon can often overshadow their lighter side at times.The UFC features some of the most gifted athletes competing today, but there are those whose personalities become bigger than the sport and help establish them …

A fighter’s performance inside the Octagon can often overshadow their lighter side at times.

The UFC features some of the most gifted athletes competing today, but there are those whose personalities become bigger than the sport and help establish them as marketable stars.

In this slideshow, we’ll take a look at the fighters who could certainly make a successful living venturing into stand-up comedy and other forms of entertainment. 

Aside from fighting, it is evident that these fighters are multi-talented.

Here are Rashad Evans and four fighters who can moonlight as comedians.

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Randy Couture Weighs in on the Pound-for-Pound Debate in Mixed Martial Arts

The topic of determining the best pound-for-pound fighter has always been somewhat debatable. Fortunately, UFC Hall of Famer and former multiple-time UFC champion, Randy Couture, was able to help break down the top fighters in mixed martial arts a…

The topic of determining the best pound-for-pound fighter has always been somewhat debatable. 

Fortunately, UFC Hall of Famer and former multiple-time UFC champion, Randy Couture, was able to help break down the top fighters in mixed martial arts and rank them according to their respective skill sets.

Making an appearance on “UFC Insider” Couture was in a segment called “The Takedown” and used his analytical skills to breakdown the sport’s pound-for-pound fighters. 

Renowned for his methodical approach, Couture made his own pound-for-pound rankings list and considers UFC champions Jose Aldo, Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva to be among the best fighters in the sport. 

Each fighter brings a certain skill to their respective divisions, which makes them stand above the competition.

Couture spoke highly of each fighter, including Jones, who is slated to meet rival Rashad Evans at UFC 145 next weekend.

“I watched Jon Jones in his first fight, and he was flailing around and I wasn’t terribly impressed with him at all. He looked like he was struggling and didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do out there, and they matched him up in his very next fight with Stephan Bonnar, and I’m like ‘Oh my gosh, Stephan’s gonna kill this kid,'” Couture said. 

“And I was like, ‘How the heck does he do that?’ He just has that kind of potential and ability and we’ve seen that now come full circle.”

“The sky’s the limit for him,” he concluded.

The current landscape of MMA will constantly change, and the opinions will vary as fans will continue to debate one of the hottest topics in the sport today.

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