Author: Mike Hodges

UFC 140 Predictions: Brian Ebersole vs. Claude Patrick

Fans will be treated to a welterweight encounter between hometown hero Claude Patrick and Brian Ebersole at UFC 140 this weekend. A crafty submission specialist, Patrick is entering this bout with a lot of momentum and a home-field advantage on hi…

Fans will be treated to a welterweight encounter between hometown hero Claude Patrick and Brian Ebersole at UFC 140 this weekend. 

A crafty submission specialist, Patrick is entering this bout with a lot of momentum and a home-field advantage on his side. The Mississauga, Ontario native is currently riding a three-fight win streak and has remained undefeated in the UFC thus far, earning victories over James Wilks, Daniel Roberts and Ricardo Funch. Should Patrick get a fourth straight victory inside the Octagon, he will begin to establish himself as one of the most promising fighters at 170 pounds. 

Ebersole is a longtime veteran who possesses efficient grappling skills and is one of the most unorthodox and unpredictable fighters in the welterweight division. At 31 years old, Ebersole holds a lot of experience having competed in over 60 professional bouts. With wins over Dennis Hallman and Chris Lytle, Ebersole has quickly risen throughout the rankings and is looking to maintain a perfect UFC record with a victory over Patrick.

This bout will be an interesting test for both competitors, as both Patrick and Ebersole are quite efficient and technical with their grappling skills. Also, Ebersole’s unpredictable offense makes him difficult to prepare for.

Patrick’s grappling and submission skills are most effective when he inside the clinch with his opponents, but Ebersole’s dynamic skills and work rate could frustrate the Canadian for a majority of the bout. 

While Patrick might fare well for a good duration of the bout, ultimately Ebersole’s experience and wide variety of offense should be enough to keep Patrick hesitant and on the losing end of the judges’ scorecards. 

Prediction: Brian Ebersole by unanimous decision.

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Dana White Exploring Security for Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen Rematch in Brazil

UFC president Dana White confirmed either Chael Sonnen or Mark Munoz will challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later next summer. However, the outspoken UFC boss is interested in selling the title bout, particularly a rematch fe…

UFC president Dana White confirmed either Chael Sonnen or Mark Munoz will challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later next summer. 

However, the outspoken UFC boss is interested in selling the title bout, particularly a rematch featuring Sonnen and Silva, in front of the champion’s homeland in Brazil. 

While at first being intrigued by the idea, White is a little concerned for Sonnen’s safety should the middleweight title contender continue disrespecting Silva and his native country. 

White has expressed interest in implementing security at the event to ensure the well-being of Sonnen.

“We’ve already started worrying about that,” White told MMAFighting.com. “We will have presidential-type security down there for him. The biggest fear would be should Chael win that night.”

Despite his concern for Sonnen, White believes hosting the potential rematch in Brazil will help elevate Silva’s status in Brazil as he headlines an event against his rival.

White said the hostile environment was in comparison to a boxing match between Greg Haugen and Julio Cesar Chavez, which took place in front of over 100,000 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in 1993. 

“Greg Haugen said the most horrible things you can ever say about Mexicans,” he said. “They walked him in, people were throwing beers at him as he went in, it was crazy. But the fight went off and it was one of the biggest fights in boxing history.” 

And White has those same dreams about putting on a great fight between Sonnen and Silva, however Sonnen must get past Munoz first at UFC on FOX 2 in January next year.

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Frank Mir Criticizes Brock Lesnar’s Commentary During UFC on FOX Broadcast

While Brock Lesnar’s appearance on UFC on FOX 1 had audiences turning their heads and looking at the former UFC heavyweight champion in a new perspective, Frank Mir wasn’t too impressed. Mir, who is scheduled to face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira this …

While Brock Lesnar‘s appearance on UFC on FOX 1 had audiences turning their heads and looking at the former UFC heavyweight champion in a new perspective, Frank Mir wasn’t too impressed. 

Mir, who is scheduled to face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira this weekend at UFC 140, spoke to MMAWeigh-In.com about Lesnar’s involvement on UFC on FOX and criticized the 265-pound heavyweight’s analysis of the card. 

“Brock did such a great job, I don’t know if I could ever replace that. He was so articulate and well-spoken that I think he pretty much slammed it into the ground,” Mir said sarcastically. “You know how bad it was? I felt bad for watching it. I sat there and I said ‘ Man, cut the mic, pull (the camera over) do a three-shot’.”

Mir’s history with Lesnar goes back to the former WWE star’s UFC debut at UFC 81 where Mir submitted Lesnar in the first round. The two heavyweights would meet the following year at UFC 100, and Lesnar would defeat Mir in the second round. Mir has been open to a trilogy bout ever since then. 

However, when asked to give his own analysis on Lesnar’s upcoming bout against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, Mir picks Lesnar to earn the victory.

“I don’t think Overeem moves his feet well enough to get out of the way. I think that he might think the guys he’s wrestling with, their doubles are something he can sprawl on. He’s not stopping Brock’s shot,” he said. “If they fought each other 100 times, I think Brock is going to get the takedown 99 times and I just don’t see how Alistair is going to get up.”

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Georges St-Pierre’s Doctor Says He Expects a Full Recovery in 6-9 Months

Despite initial reports suggesting that Georges St-Pierre’s recovery process would require him to miss the majority of next year, St-Pierre’s physician, Dr. Sebastian Simard, expects the recovery time to be much shorter. St-Pierre and Simard held …

Despite initial reports suggesting that Georges St-Pierre’s recovery process would require him to miss the majority of next year, St-Pierre’s physician, Dr. Sebastian Simard, expects the recovery time to be much shorter. 

St-Pierre and Simard held a press conference to discuss the extent of his knee injury, and MMAFighting.com revealed the recovery process via Twitter.

“GSP’s doctor: I’m expecting a full recovery for GSP in six to nine months,” MMAFighting.com wrote.

St-Pierre was originally scheduled to face Nick Diaz at UFC 143, after Diaz provoked the champion in his post-fight interview, claiming he was scared to face the former Strikeforce welterweight champ. 

St-Pierre’s injury has now forced him off of the card, which will now feature an interim title bout between Diaz and Carlos Condit to headline the event.

Simard elaborated on the injury and said that surgery was mandatory. 

“There’s no way he can compete with the problem on the right knee,” Simard said. “The technique that’s going to be used is the technique of anatomical ACL reconstruction, which is the best technique for this kind of injury.”

Although St-Pierre will be out of action for the foreseeable future, Simard expects him to make a full recovery and return to the octagon at 100 percent. 

“His recovery rate is completely off the charts,” he said.  

“He has an amazing genetics and he has extraordinary physical capabilities, and I know Georges has the discipline and the determination that’s gonna allow him to be back to the same level of competition that he was before the injury.”

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Official UFC 141 Promo Featuring Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem

UFC 141 is set to feature the biggest main event in UFC history, literally.Brock Lesnar and Strikeforce acquisition Alistair Overeem are paired up to headline the upcoming event on December 30 live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Lesnar is ret…

UFC 141 is set to feature the biggest main event in UFC history, literally.

Brock Lesnar and Strikeforce acquisition Alistair Overeem are paired up to headline the upcoming event on December 30 live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. 

Lesnar is returning after a second bout with diverticulitis, which prevented him from competing for the UFC heavyweight title. Lesnar might carry little experience in his career, but he has made an immediate impact on the heavyweight division, capturing the UFC heavyweight title in only his fourth professional bout.

Overeem is one of the UFC’s major signings after acquiring the Dutch heavyweight from Strikeforce earlier this year. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion is one of the most experienced fighters in the sport, having competed in multiple organizations throughout the world. 

The official trailer was released earlier this week, featuring a face-off between the two massive heavyweights. 

The winner is expected to challenge newly-crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos next year.

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Ed Soares: ‘Lyoto (Machida) Has the Tools to Beat Jon Jones’

Much like Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida was once seen as an unstoppable force in the UFC light heavyweight division. The elusive Brazilian went on a seven-fight win streak where his karate-based style was a puzzle for nearly all of his opponents, and i…

Much like Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida was once seen as an unstoppable force in the UFC light heavyweight division. 

The elusive Brazilian went on a seven-fight win streak where his karate-based style was a puzzle for nearly all of his opponents, and it eventually lead him to a title shot against then-champion Rashad Evans in May 2009.

But his title reign was short-lived and he has since looked to find his place once again in the crowded 205-pound division. 

Although some fans don’t believe in the mystique Machida once had, “The Dragon” will look to retain some of his re-found aura.

After scoring a knockout victory over Randy Couture earlier this year at UFC 129, Machida instantly reentered himself into the conversation as being a title contender. He gets his opportunity to regain the UFC light heavyweight title when he challenges Jones at UFC 140 this weekend.

In an interview with Sherdog.com, Machida’s manager Ed Soares spoke about the upcoming bout and said Machida’s skills are being overlooked compared to Jones’ and he believes the former UFC light heavyweight hasn’t lost anything is still a threat to beat the 24-year-old.

“Jon Jones is an incredible athlete but I think Lyoto has the tools to beat him,” Soares said. ” Lyoto is his first southpaw, and not only is he a southpaw, but a southpaw who moves around the Octagon very well.”

It is unquestionable that Jones possesses all the skills and talent to remain UFC Champion for a while, but fans have become so mesmerized by his potential that they proclaim him unbeatable. It is the same proclamation that Machida was labeled until his fall from grace; and because of that, Soares said Jones faces a lot of challenges at 205 pounds, including Machida.

“I think Jon Jones needs to worry about Lyoto Machida,” Soares said. “When I hear things like that it makes me think that the people are counting Lyoto out.” He added, “First he’s got to get through Lyoto, and then if he gets through Lyoto, he’s got to get through Rashad, so, you know, we’ll see what happens.”

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