Filed under: UFC, NewsThiago Tavares and Edson Barboza will compete in their home country of Brazil when they face Sam Stout and Terry Etim, respectively, at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
The UFC revealed the lightweight matchups on Tuesday via Twitter.
In 2011, Tavares (16-4-1) was brutally knocked out by Shane Roller in March and bounced back with a TKO over Spencer Fisher at UFC 134 in August. Canadian striker Stout (17-6-1) is on a two-fight win streak and was supposed to face Dennis Siver last month at UFC 137 but bowed out due to injury.
Much talked about for his devastating leg kicks, Barboza (9-0) has won all three of his UFC fights with his last two named Fight of the Nights. In August, he beat Ross Pearson in a split decision. Etim out of England is coming off a spectacular win this past Saturday at UFC 138 where he submitted Eddie Faaloloto with a guillotine choke in 17 seconds. UFC 142 will be Etim’s tenth UFC fight and his ninth outside of the U.S.
Mark Munoz‘s fast ascension to UFC title contention has been remarkable, but that same rapid progress could put him in a position where he has to face friend and former training partner Anderson Silva.
Munoz, who began fighting MMA professionally just over four years ago, previously trained with Silva with the understanding that they were unlikely to meet in the future.
“When we’ve had talks about it before, I don’t know if I talked to him directly or Ed [Soares], but they said he was going to be gone by the time I would be able to fight for a world championship.” Munoz said Monday on The MMA Hour.
In 2008, Silva said he would like to retire the following year. Soares then said Silva would retire at 35 instead. Silva turns 37 next April.
“I pay my dues in this weight class and I think I deserve a title shot,” Munoz said last Saturday inside the cage. “Anderson Silva is by far the best pound-for-pound fighter. I give him all the respect and honor, but I think I deserve a title shot right now. I consider him a friend, but right now I’d love to get a title shot.”
During the UFC 138 meeting with the fighters after the weigh-ins, fighters were encouraged by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and president Dana White to ask for a particular fight if such fight compels them. Munoz said the meeting “sparked” something in him to ask for the Silva fight.
Munoz explained his respectful callout, saying he didn’t want Silva to think he was calling him out even though that was what he was doing. Nothing personal, only personal aspirations.
“I’m here to be the best, I’m not here to be a mediocre fighter, [Silva] knows that,” Munoz said. “He knew that from the beginning. From me, I just wanted him to know I honor him as a friend, as a training partners, as a teacher — I told the media about my Bruce Lee moment with him — I give him all the respect but at the same time I’m here to be a world champion.”
Standing in Munoz’s way of a title shot though, is the likelihood of Sonnen receiving a title shot first. Munoz listed off his four-fight win streak and valuable wins over Demian Maia and Leben, while Sonnen only won one fight since his return as the reasons why Munoz should be the No. 1 contender.
“I feel that I have a valid argument to fight for the title. I feel that it’s my time,” Munoz said. “I haven’t talked to Anderson, I haven’t seen him. There’s no disrespect to him, I still consider him a friend, but at the same time I want to be a world champ too.”
Munoz says he can be friends with someone and still fight them. He’s fought close friend Aaron Simpson already in the UFC and says he would be willing to fight current teammate Jason “Mayhem” Miller if need be. A fight against Miller could be the first instance of UFC Primetime where the two competitors are training inside the same gym, Munoz joked.
Although Munoz wants to be Silva’s next opponent, he also understands that the UFC makes fights people want to see most.
“Chael is lobbying very well and he’s garnering a lot of interest for that fight,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of [people that want to watch that fight] and that there’s a lot of coin attached to that fight.”
He’ll be fine to wait in line as long as he stays on track fighting people that will continue to prove he’s ready for a title shot.
“Whoever they want to put in front of me I’m going to look to mow down on the way to a world title.”
Mark Munoz‘s fast ascension to UFC title contention has been remarkable, but that same rapid progress could put him in a position where he has to face friend and former training partner Anderson Silva.
Munoz, who began fighting MMA professionally just over four years ago, previously trained with Silva with the understanding that they were unlikely to meet in the future.
“When we’ve had talks about it before, I don’t know if I talked to him directly or Ed [Soares], but they said he was going to be gone by the time I would be able to fight for a world championship.” Munoz said Monday on The MMA Hour.
In 2008, Silva said he would like to retire the following year. Soares then said Silva would retire at 35 instead. Silva turns 37 next April.
“I pay my dues in this weight class and I think I deserve a title shot,” Munoz said last Saturday inside the cage. “Anderson Silva is by far the best pound-for-pound fighter. I give him all the respect and honor, but I think I deserve a title shot right now. I consider him a friend, but right now I’d love to get a title shot.”
During the UFC 138 meeting with the fighters after the weigh-ins, fighters were encouraged by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and president Dana White to ask for a particular fight if such fight compels them. Munoz said the meeting “sparked” something in him to ask for the Silva fight.
Munoz explained his respectful callout, saying he didn’t want Silva to think he was calling him out even though that was what he was doing. Nothing personal, only personal aspirations.
“I’m here to be the best, I’m not here to be a mediocre fighter, [Silva] knows that,” Munoz said. “He knew that from the beginning. From me, I just wanted him to know I honor him as a friend, as a training partners, as a teacher — I told the media about my Bruce Lee moment with him — I give him all the respect but at the same time I’m here to be a world champion.”
Standing in Munoz’s way of a title shot though, is the likelihood of Sonnen receiving a title shot first. Munoz listed off his four-fight win streak and valuable wins over Demian Maia and Leben, while Sonnen only won one fight since his return as the reasons why Munoz should be the No. 1 contender.
“I feel that I have a valid argument to fight for the title. I feel that it’s my time,” Munoz said. “I haven’t talked to Anderson, I haven’t seen him. There’s no disrespect to him, I still consider him a friend, but at the same time I want to be a world champ too.”
Munoz says he can be friends with someone and still fight them. He’s fought close friend Aaron Simpson already in the UFC and says he would be willing to fight current teammate Jason “Mayhem” Miller if need be. A fight against Miller could be the first instance of UFC Primetime where the two competitors are training inside the same gym, Munoz joked.
Although Munoz wants to be Silva’s next opponent, he also understands that the UFC makes fights people want to see most.
“Chael is lobbying very well and he’s garnering a lot of interest for that fight,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of [people that want to watch that fight] and that there’s a lot of coin attached to that fight.”
He’ll be fine to wait in line as long as he stays on track fighting people that will continue to prove he’s ready for a title shot.
“Whoever they want to put in front of me I’m going to look to mow down on the way to a world title.”
Filed under: UFCThe Ultimate Fighter 4 finale fight card features Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Michael Bisping in a coach vs. coach matchup at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Mayhem (24-7) returns to the UFC after six-plus years fighti…
The Ultimate Fighter 4 finale fight card features Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Michael Bisping in a coach vs. coach matchup at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Mayhem (24-7) returns to the UFC after six-plus years fighting outside of the UFC in promotions such as Strikeforce, DREAM and Icon Sport. Mayhem hasn’t fought this year, but won both his fights last year against Kazushi Sakuraba and Tim Stout. Bisping (21-3) is riding a three-fight win streak and last defeated Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 in February.
In addition to Mayhem-Bisping, the finale will also host this season’s finals of the bantamweight and featherweight tournaments.
The current fight card is below. Current Fight Card
Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller
Featherweight Tournament Final
Bantamweight Tournament Final
Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards
Despite their penchant for professional wrestling, the animosity between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is real, according to Lawal.
“I don’t like him, he don’t like me!” the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Lawal stated Monday on The MMA Hour.
Lawal hasn’t taken too kindly to being called “Queen Mo” in various interviews by Jackson and named two specific incidents where he was left with a poor impression by the former UFC light heavyweight titleholder.
Lawal recalled an early meeting when they met through Antonio McKee while attending an August 2008 fight card in Santa Monica, Calif. Lawal claims Jackson played up his personality when a camera was around and in the process tried to “punk” him.
Another incident involved Jackson doing an appearance for a MMA card in Oklahoma City. At the time Lawal’s friend Gerald Harris was accompanying Jackson and asked Lawal as a favor to find women for Jackson. Lawal agreed, but when the two parties met up at a club after the fights, Lawal’s friendly gesture apparently went unappreciated.
“[Rampage] had audacity to kick out my homeboys out of a V.I.P. spot. I wasn’t having that,” said Lawal.
Coming off a first-round knockout over Roger Gracie at the Sept. 10 Strikeforce event, Lawal (8-1) has been training at the American Kickboxing Academy as he awaits his next fight. The December Strikeforce card is a possibility only if Lawal is offered a big name opponent. A rematch with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante would have been a suitable opponent for Lawal, but Cavalcante is unavailable due to injury. Lawal’s contract with Strikeforce comes to an end in February.
The next fight that makes the most sense then would be against his rival Jackson. While Lawal admits he wants to fight Jackson on a UFC card, he also insists Jackson is the one doing the provoking.
“People saying I’m calling him out, [but] anytime you take somebody’s name and give them a female name, that’s calling them out,” Lawal said.
Despite their penchant for professional wrestling, the animosity between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is real, according to Lawal.
“I don’t like him, he don’t like me!” the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Lawal stated Monday on The MMA Hour.
Lawal hasn’t taken too kindly to being called “Queen Mo” in various interviews by Jackson and named two specific incidents where he was left with a poor impression by the former UFC light heavyweight titleholder.
Lawal recalled an early meeting when they met through Antonio McKee while attending an August 2008 fight card in Santa Monica, Calif. Lawal claims Jackson played up his personality when a camera was around and in the process tried to “punk” him.
Another incident involved Jackson doing an appearance for a MMA card in Oklahoma City. At the time Lawal’s friend Gerald Harris was accompanying Jackson and asked Lawal as a favor to find women for Jackson. Lawal agreed, but when the two parties met up at a club after the fights, Lawal’s friendly gesture apparently went unappreciated.
“[Rampage] had audacity to kick out my homeboys out of a V.I.P. spot. I wasn’t having that,” said Lawal.
Coming off a first-round knockout over Roger Gracie at the Sept. 10 Strikeforce event, Lawal (8-1) has been training at the American Kickboxing Academy as he awaits his next fight. The December Strikeforce card is a possibility only if Lawal is offered a big name opponent. A rematch with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante would have been a suitable opponent for Lawal, but Cavalcante is unavailable due to injury. Lawal’s contract with Strikeforce comes to an end in February.
The next fight that makes the most sense then would be against his rival Jackson. While Lawal admits he wants to fight Jackson on a UFC card, he also insists Jackson is the one doing the provoking.
“People saying I’m calling him out, [but] anytime you take somebody’s name and give them a female name, that’s calling them out,” Lawal said.
Filed under: NewsUFC veteran Tim Hague will take on former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley in the main event of Shark Fights 21 on Nov. 11 in Lubbock, Texas.
Shark Fights made the fight announcement late Sunday just days after Darrill Schoonover’s departur…
UFC veteran Tim Hague will take on former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley in the main event of Shark Fights 21 on Nov. 11 in Lubbock, Texas.
Shark Fights made the fight announcement late Sunday just days after Darrill Schoonover‘s departure from the card due to injury.
Hague (13-5), who has competed five times for the UFC over the last two years, holds a notable UFC win over Pat Barry by submission. In his UFC return in January, Hague lost to Matt Mitrione by TKO and was soon after released by the UFC for the third time. Hague then bounced back in September with a submission win over Vince Lucero for Canada’s Aggression MMA promotion.
Lashley (6-1) recently inked a multi-fight deal with the Texas-based Shark Fights promotion and will be making his debut with the company on the Nov. 11 card. He fought once prior this year, beating John Ott by decision at Titan FC in March. In an appearance earlier this month on The MMA Hour, Lashley spoke of his intention to return to the big leagues.
“I want to get some fights in and I want to really prove myself in front of these guys,” Lashley said to host Ariel Helwani. “So that I can have that door open and maybe go back with Strikeforce or maybe talk to Dana White later on and get up there and do some big things and show what I’m really capable of doing.”
Filed under: Bellator, NewsBellator women’s champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel has suffered a knee injury and will not compete at Bellator 57 on Nov. 12 in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Gurgel, who was scheduled to face Carina Damm in a non-title fight, tweeted T…
Bellator women’s champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel has suffered a knee injury and will not compete at Bellator 57 on Nov. 12 in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Gurgel, who was scheduled to face Carina Damm in a non-title fight, tweeted Thursday that she will need to undergo surgery.
“I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday and results came back,” Gurgel said. “I completely tore my ACL.”
Despite having to be sidelined for the near future, the 27-year-old Gurgel was in positive spirits.
“Regardless of my current situation, I’m happy cause I have an amazing life, the best hubby, a great family and great people that surround me.”
Gurgel (11-1) won the Bellator’s 115-pound tournament last year to become the promotion’s first women’s champion. She fought once this year, beating Karina Hallinan in a non-title bout in March via unanimous decision.
Thiago Tavares and Edson Barboza will compete in their home country of Brazil when they face Sam Stout and Terry Etim, respectively, at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Mark Munoz
The Ultimate Fighter 4 finale fight card features 
Despite their penchant for professional wrestling, the animosity between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is real, according to Lawal. 
UFC