Author: Mike Hodges

Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Is Not the Right Showcase Fight for UFC on Fox 1

The UFC is slated to make history when they make their debut on FOX Sports next weekend, as a heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will headline the first event. It will mark the first time the company will be broadc…

The UFC is slated to make history when they make their debut on FOX Sports next weekend, as a heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will headline the first event. 

It will mark the first time the company will be broadcast on network television, showcasing a title bout between two of the sport’s most well-rounded and technical heavyweight fighters. 

As much coverage and marketing the UFC is doing to promote the upcoming event, it will undoubtedly be a success, but one can’t help but notice it is lacking in potential talent. Other bouts like Benson Henderson vs. Clay Guida will be streamed live on Facebook and FOX.com, which leaves this anticipated card lacking in terms of quality. 

The UFC took a big risk in advertising one of the company’s biggest title fights and placing it on a free televised card. Velasquez and dos Santos are two of the most skilled fighters competing the heavyweight division, but are relatively unknown with casual fans, so their presence on this upcoming card should help their marketability. 

However, for as much success as the UFC can potentially gain from this event, they made a bad decision on promoting Velasquez and dos Santos as the marquee matchup. The fight itself has all the potential to be a fight of the year candidate, but favouring it over such bouts as Henderson and Guida or Urijah Faber versus Brian Bowles, devalues the event entirely. 

While promoting a heavyweight championship bout, a title that is historically held with such prestigious and value, it would benefit much more from being featured on a pay-per-view card. Especially given the status’ of both fighters, and the magnitude surrounding the bout itself, either Velasquez or dos Santos will earn more notoriety with a victory, as opposed to establishing a reputation among casual fans. 

Again, this heavyweight bout will do well in attracting more casual fans and more acceptance to the sport, but the UFC sacrificed a big opportunity to promote both Velasquez and dos Santos on a bigger stage to a wider audience.

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Rashad Evans Says Carlos Condit Can’t Be "Too Upset" About Giving Up Title Shot

Rashad Evans knows a thing or two about missed opportunities. Evans, who was originally expected to face UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has given some advice to former teammate Carlos Condit after it was learned he would be sidelin…

Rashad Evans knows a thing or two about missed opportunities. 

Evans, who was originally expected to face UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has given some advice to former teammate Carlos Condit after it was learned he would be sidelined in favour of Nick Diaz to challenge Georges St-Pierre. 

Diaz’s victory over B.J. Penn at UFC 137 was enough to earn him a shot at St-Pierre’s welterweight title, even though Condit was scheduled to face the French-Canadian after Diaz failed to make a couple media appearances to promote the event. 

“Suga” told ESPN.com that Condit shouldn’t take his situation personally and he should focus on his next bout, which could potentially lead him to a title shot in the future.

“He was the first to be called [to replace Diaz] so he should know exactly where he is,” Evans said. “So he should be thinking, ‘OK, they thought enough of me to call me in that situation. If I win my next fight then I’ll definitely be in that situation.'”

While many fans believed that Condit provided a better matchup towards the champion, stylistically, the more entertaining opponent was Diaz. And his post-fight comments directed at the champion certainly improved his chances to be rewarded with a title bout, similar to Chael Sonnen’s remarks towards Anderson Silva at UFC 136. 

Evans said that the UFC is a business and the company’s job is about putting on the best fights possible, and at this time, the fight that fans are eager to see is Diaz vs. St-Pierre. 

“At the time, it made sense for Carlos Condit to step up for the fight, but the reality of the situation was the real fight was Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre. So he can’t be too upset about that,” Evans said.

Although he won’t receive his title shot as promised, Condit is expected to be featured on the same card as Diaz and St-Pierre, which will likely be scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in February 2012.

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Diaz on GSP: ‘I Don’t Have Anything Against St-Pierre’

Despite his comments directed at Georges St-Pierre following his win over BJ Penn at UFC 137, Nick Diaz has no hard feelings towards the UFC welterweight champion. Diaz called out St-Pierre immediately after his victory, accusing the champion of f…

Despite his comments directed at Georges St-Pierre following his win over BJ Penn at UFC 137, Nick Diaz has no hard feelings towards the UFC welterweight champion. 

Diaz called out St-Pierre immediately after his victory, accusing the champion of faking his injury in order to avoid facing Diaz in the main event. Shortly after, St-Pierre reportedly asked UFC President Dana White for a matchup with Diaz on Super Bowl weekend in February next year. 

However, Diaz retracted his earlier statement regarding St-Pierre and said he doesn’t hold animosity towards him. In fact, he sees the French-Canadian as a role model in the sport. 

“I don’t have anything against Georges St-Pierre, I think he’s a great fighter. I think he’s a nice guy just like everybody else,” Diaz told Fightline.com. “He’s a great role model.”

The former Strikeforce welterweight champion’s post-fight comments really offended St-Pierre—but Diaz said it was the only way he could of earned his title bout with the champion. Although he put on an impressive performance, Diaz was simply not happy with himself. 

During the post-fight press conference, Diaz became frustrated with the way he has been mistreated by the UFC. He blames the lack of guidance from his own camp as a result of the misrepresentation of his image.

Obviously, Diaz hopes to achieve the success and the top position that St-Pierre currently and rightfully holds.

“I would love to be that too, if I was in that position. I just, unfortunately, have never had that opportunity or the right people behind me to push me to be that type of fighter or that type of role model or what you’d like to see,” he said.

However, Diaz’s current anti-hero image has brought nothing but success for the 28-year-old and it will certainly bring him more attention and appeal as his potential title bout with the champion draws closer.

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UFC News: Anderson Silva Says Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Deserve a Title Shot

Anderson Silva has quietly avoided Chael Sonnen since their last encounter at UFC 117 last year, despite Sonnen’s attempts to force a rematch out of the middleweight champion. While appearing on a Brazilian talk show, De Frente Com Gabi, Silva&nbs…

Anderson Silva has quietly avoided Chael Sonnen since their last encounter at UFC 117 last year, despite Sonnen’s attempts to force a rematch out of the middleweight champion. 

While appearing on a Brazilian talk show, De Frente Com Gabi, Silva finally broke his silence on the outspoken middleweight and said Sonnen’s verbal assault will not reward him a title shot. 

“He does not deserve to fight me,” Silva said. “I didn’t get where I am by being arrogant or teasing someone. In this business, there is no room for it.”

Although Sonnen’s actions towards the Brazilian have been quite offensive, and rather personal, he nearly defeated Silva during their title bout and has been the only challenger to come close to posing a legitimate threat to the middleweight champion in a long time.

Silva, who has held onto the middleweight crown for five years, said Sonnen’s antics and approach to promoting a bout are unprofessional and there should be no tolerance for it. 

“He just tarnishes the image of the sport with his provocative ways,” he said. “I do not think he should be in this sport because he doesn’t have any emotional control.”

Following his win over Brian Stann at UFC 136, Sonnen earned the opportunity to challenge Silva once again. Only this time, however, he called out the champion and he requested a rematch to be scheduled for Superbowl weekend, traditionally one of the company’s biggest cards.

It isn’t likely their rematch will take place on Superbowl weekend, however, it is expected that it will take place in Brazil in January 2012.

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BJ Penn’s Manager Downplays Retirement Talk, Says "The Prodigy" Will Be Back

Following his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, BJ Penn announced that he would retire form mixed martial arts altogether. However, according to MMAMania.com, talks of his sudden departure seem to be premature and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, Alana …

Following his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, BJ Penn announced that he would retire form mixed martial arts altogether. 

However, according to MMAMania.com, talks of his sudden departure seem to be premature and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, Alana Goes, said Penn would return to the UFC in the future. 

Goes posted photos of “The Prodigy” on his Facebook page and said that Penn personally told him that he would continue his fighting career. 

The Hawaiian has gone 1-3-1 in his past five bouts while competing at both 155 lbs and 170 lbs, respectively. Prior to his current run, Penn was the reigning UFC lightweight champion and dominated the division for nearly two years with victories over Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez. 

Penn has historically never fared well as a welterweight, partially due the size disadvantage, while facing fighters such as Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch.

However, Penn is still relatively young at 32-years-old and he still can compete against some of the top fighters in the world, but time will tell if, and when, he does decide to return to the Octagon.

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The Ultimate Fighter Planned for Brazil in 2012

The UFC will be making more than one trip to Brazil within the next year. According to MMAWeekly.com, UFC President Dana White confirmed that the company has plans to host a new season of The Ultimate Fighter in Brazil. While the details are not a…

The UFC will be making more than one trip to Brazil within the next year. 

According to MMAWeekly.com, UFC President Dana White confirmed that the company has plans to host a new season of The Ultimate Fighter in Brazil. While the details are not all finalized, White assured the new season would happen.

“Yes, it’s true. That’s done,” White told MMAWeekly.com during a UFC 137 press conference earlier this week. 

While previous seasons have seen contestants living in a house in Las Vegas, instead they will travel to South America, where they will compete for a opportunity to fight for the UFC. 

White added that the show will also air in Brazil, but is unsure of how it will be broadcast from other countries. However, he is optimistic that the reality show will be picked up eventually.

“It’ll be based [and]… air in Brazil,” he said. “The ones from other countries, we’re trying to figure out how we can air them on Fuel [TV].”

It is expected that prominent Brazilian stars will serve as opposing coaches, but until there is any confirmation as to who will appear on the show, the choices will be left to the fans’ imagination for the time being. 

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