Author: UFC News

It’s been a good week for The Downes Side: I went 5-0 with my FOX picks bringing me to 9 wins in a row. My Chicago homecoming went off almost flawlessly (save a lowlight in which an entire family of four flipped me off on my way to the arena). That’s my biggest victory streak since I won the Vocabulary Bee in Mrs. Florian’s 6th grade classroom 11 weeks in a row.

I’ll get another shot at glory this week as the UFC rolls into Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay for UFC 143. The main event is my fellow wordsmith Nick Diaz facing Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title.

Ed Herman vs Clifford Starks
Ed “Short Fuse” Herman has looked great coming off a nearly two-year layoff from a knee injury with quick wins over Tim Credeur and Kyle Noke. Clifford Starks is another example of the old adage, “Only two things come from Arizona State: drunk college girls and UFC wrestlers.” He made his debut last October with a weigh-in wardrobe malfunction followed by a decision win.

Prediction: Starks is a great wrestler, but Herman’s superior striking and submission games will be too much for him. Starks has the potential to grind out a decision, but I’m sticking with the ginger. When you don’t have a soul, you have nothing to lose, and Herman takes this middleweight melee by 2nd round TKO.

Renan Barao vs Scott Jorgenson
Next we have Renan Barao pitted against Scotty “Young Guns” Jorgensen to determine who’ll be at the top of the bantamweight heap in the post-Cruz/Faber 3 universe. Jorgensen is searching for another shot while Barao wants to increase his unbeaten streak to 30 straight (showoff).

Prediction: This is my favorite for Fight of the Night. While Barao has the speed advantage, Young Guns’ strength and wrestling can neutralize that. Expect a wild back-and-forth fight with Jorgensen’s grappling taking over as the fight progresses. Scotty will get his takedowns, ground and pound and put on the second best show of the weekend (the first obviously being Puppy Bowl VIII).

Josh Koscheck vs Mike Pierce
In the main card’s first welterweight war, irrepressible instigator Josh Koscheck faces off against Mike Pierce, who got the fight by publicly calling out Kos. Both fighters are coming off recent wins and have solid wrestling backgrounds. Koscheck is looking to get back into the welterweight title talk while Pierce gets a taste of the spotlight with a high-profile opponent.

Prediction: Despite being a former Division I wrestler, Pierce has struggled against other wrestlers whose first names start with J (see his fights against Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks). Pierce has never been stopped, but that streak ends tonight. Koscheck will go for the takedown immediately, get position and go HAM. He’ll look great, then ruin all the goodwill he earned with a solid black-hat performance in the post-fight interview. Koscheck wins via first-round TKO

Roy Nelson vs Fabricio Werdum
After his Strikeforce sojourn, Fedor-beater Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC with a heavyweight showdown against Roy “Big Country” Nelson. As for Nelson, after two disappointing losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir that made Big Country reexamine his lovable pudginess, he rebounded with a win against Mirko Cro Cop.

Prediction: Big Country may not be as fat and lovable as he used to, but losing weight hasn’t
slowed down Seth Rogen’s career and it won’t hurt our favorite mulleted
heavyweight, either. Werdum wants this fight to go to the ground, but Roy has the striking ability to keep him on the outside. Big Country keeps the distance and nickel-and-dimes Werdum to a decision win.

Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit
The main event features everyone’s favorite anti-social fighter against a guy who’s surprisingly mild-mannered for being a “Natural Born Killer.” Full disclosure: Nick Diaz is a friend of mine. And by friend, I mean that I once saw him in a Whole Foods in Las Vegas and talked to him for five minutes. But he didn’t call me a punk-ass bitch and we both use the same salad dressing so it’s clear that we’re very much alike.

Prediction: Condit has the wrestling advantage, but I imagine these two will stand toe to toe with one another. Condit says that he plans on testing Diaz’ chin, and that’s usually a recipe for disaster (see Diaz vs. Daley, Diaz vs. Lawler, etc). The 209 will outwork the NBK – Diaz wins the decision after five rounds and becomes the number-one source of pride for Stockton. Take that, Asparagus Festival!

Sadly, that brings an end to this edition of the Downes Side. If you can’t get enough of me, follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes and add some comments and I’ll respond. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go place my bets for the game. For what it’s worth, my money is on Leroy Brown.

Check out Danny’s previous predictions for UFC on Fox.

Light heavyweights Thiago Silva and Brandon “The Truth” Vera have verbally agreed to wrap up some unfinished business this May in Fairfax, VA. “Their last fight ended up a no contest and both guys are out to prove that they are the better man,” said UFC president Dana White.

Verbal agreements are also in for a middleweight matchup at that event between “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald.

The bouts will take place at the just-announced third UFC on FX event, tentatively scheduled for May 15 in Fairfax, Virginia. More details including venue information and ticket on-sales will be announced in coming weeks.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® presents its seventh UFC Fan Expo® event on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. UFC® President Dana White made the announcement today during a press conference to promote UFC® 143, which takes place this Saturday from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

“We love giving UFC fans ultimate access to our sport and athletes,” UFC President Dana White said. “This July, we’re putting together our best UFC Fan Expo yet. We’re going to have dozens of our fighters in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans, and we’re going to have some of the world’s top vendors and exhibitors. This is an absolute can’t-miss event for UFC fans around the world!”

Tickets for the UFC Fan Expo® are on sale NOW at www.ufcfanexpo.com. Tickets for Friday, July 6 are priced at $40, while tickets for Saturday, July 7 are priced at $45. A two-day pass is also available and is priced at $60. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets now and save, as ticket pricing will increase at the door. VIP packages for the UFC Fan Expo® are also available at www.ufcfanexpo.com.

The UFC Fan Expo® in July will feature more than 300,000 gross square feet of activities for UFC fans, including meet and greets and autograph sessions with top UFC and STRIKEFORCE® fighters, Q&A sessions with top UFC personalities, as well as grappling tournaments and other special events. More than 150 exhibitors will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to purchase and experience some of the best sports and lifestyle products on the market today. This marks the third UFC Fan Expo® held in Las Vegas since its inception in 2009, with additional UFC Fan Expos being held in Boston, London, Toronto and Houston.

On top of all the great fan activities, the UFC Fan Expo® will be held in conjunction with a major UFC Pay-Per-View event scheduled for July 7 in Las Vegas. Information on the venue and fight card will be announced in the weeks to come.

For more information on UFC Fan Expo® and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo® newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Brian Bernstein, Sales Executive at 203-840-5474 or email [email protected]. Don’t wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
 

UFC officials have confirmed that welterweight Jorge Lopez has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 143 bout against Matthew Riddle due to injury. Stepping in will be 8-1 Jackson’s MMA fighter Henry Martinez. Riddle himself was tapped as a replacement on the fight card when Lopez’ original opponent, Amir Sadollah, was injured.

Second Injury Twist in UFC 143 Matchup updated January 20
The welterweight matchup between Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf has been completely overwritten as both men have withrdrawn due to injury.

Last week it was confirmed that Stephen Thompson would step in for Mike Stumpf. This week, Edwards was also injured. Stepping in is 7-1 submission ace Dan Stittgen, who will make his UFC debut alongside Thompson at UFC 143.

Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson Debuts at UFC 143 updated January 10
With Mike Stumpf forced out of UFC 143 due to injury, undefeated Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has agreed to fill in and make his UFC debut on short notice. Thompson will now face TUF 13’s Justin Edwards at the February 4 event in Las Vegas.

Third Opponent the Charm for The Diamond? updated January 5
Highly-touted featherweight prospect Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier has received yet another opponent for his UFC 143 bout in Las Vegas. After injuries sidelined original opponent Erik Koch and replacement Ricardo Lamas, Poirier will now face newcomer Max Holloway in a potential slugfest.

“Holloway is relatively new to the sport but possesses a fierce striking game and has already faced very experienced opposition with his rise into the spotlight,” said UFC president Dana White. At 20 years old, the undefeated Holloway will step in as one of the youngest fighters in the UFC.

UFC 143’s Sadollah, Lamas Both Injured updated January 3
Two more injuries have hit the February Las Vegas fight card.

TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah has been injured. Stepping in to face Wanderlei-Silva trained striker Jorge Lopez will be welterweight Matthew Riddle. – verbal agreements are in for this matchup. Riddle was slated to scrap at this past weekend’s UFC 141, but forced to withdraw at the zero hour due to illness.

Also on that card, featherweight Dustin Poirier has lost his second opponent, as Ricardo Lamas has been injured. Lamas was only recently announced as the replacement for Poirier’s original opponent, Erik Koch, who was also hurt. A replacement is expected to be named shortly.

Starks vs. Short Fuse at UFC 143 updated December 10
Undefeated Clifford Starks has verbally agreed to put his 8-0 record on the line against Ed “Short Fuse” Herman in a middleweight matchup at UFC 143.

Starks made his UFC debut with a decision win over Dustin Jacoby in October; Herman’s last two performances included a 48-second TKO and a devastating heel-hook victory. 

More Welterweight Action Scheduled for UFC 143 updated December 23
Despite welterweights Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, and Mike Pierce already topping the bill on February 4th’s UFC 143 card in Las Vegas, there’s always more room for top-notch 170-pounders, and that’s what fans will get, as UFC President Dana White announced two more verbally agreed to bouts between Matt “The Immortal” Brown and Chris Cope, and Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf.

Nelson vs. Werdum Set for UFC 143 updated December 21
Fresh from his knockout win over Mirko Cro Cop in October, Roy “Big Country” Nelson will welcome longtime contender Fabricio Werdum back to the Octagon for an intriguing heavyweight clash on February 4th’s UFC </a>143 card in Las Vegas.

Lamas Replaces Koch in Deciding Featherweight Bout updated December 20
An injury has forced Erik Koch out of his UFC 143 contenders’ match against Dustin Poirier, UFC president Dana White confirmed today. Fellow rising 145er Ricardo Lamas, has stepped up to fill the open slot.

“Lamas is coming off a knockout victory followed by a Submission of The
Night’ win in his last two spectacular outings; while Poirier is a highly-touted power-punching prospect looking to make his case for a host at the title” said White. Both fighters have
verbally agreed to the bout.

Mike Pierce Gets Josh Koscheck at 143 updated December 8
“With Carlos Condit moving to face Nick Diaz for the interim welterweight championship, it will be powerhouse wrestler vs. powerhouse wrestler as Mike Pierce takes on Josh Koscheck at UFC </a>143,” announced UFC president Dana White today.

Yesterday’s card switch-up left Koscheck, who’d been slated to fight Condit, without an opponent. Pierce, who’s quietly racked up wins in four of his last five outings, publicly lobbied for the high-profile matchup against Koscheck, first during a radio interview and then via Twitter.

Also on that card, two of the world’s best bantamweights have verbally agreed to meet: Scott Jorgensen will battle Renan Barao, who hasn’t lost in his last 30 fights – the longest unbeaten streak in the sport,

Diaz/Condit to Headline 143 for Interim Belt updated December 7
For the second time in two months, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been injured and forced to withdraw from a title defense.

“GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now [Carlos] Condit vs [Nick] Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!” UFC president Dana White tweeted.

St-Pierre was originally slated to face Diaz in the main event of UFC 137; Diaz was then replaced by Carlos Condit.

Ground, Striking Technicians Braced for UFC 143 updated Nov 29
Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight matchup between two exciting strikers as Wanderlei Silva protégé Jorge Lopez takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah at UFC 143.

In addition, “undefeated Judo specialist Michael Kuiper has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut at UFC 143 against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Rafael ‘Sapo’ Natal,” UFC president Dana White announced today.

The Super Bowl weekend fight card is headlined by the once-cancelled welterweight title scrap between reigning UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and former Strikeforce king Nick Diaz. Welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit will battle in the co-main event.

Bruce Leeroy Geared Up to Glow at UFC 143 updated November 17
A fan-friendly scrap is on tap with Edwin Figueroa  set to throw down with Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres at UFC 143 in Las Vegas on February 4th. “Both fighters are coming off impressive victories in the bantamweight division,” said UFC president Dana White. Verbal agreements are in place for the bout.

Koch, Poirier Lined Up for February Fireworks updated November 15
Two of the fastest-rising stars in the featherweight division will finally face off as Erik Koch and Dustin Poirier have verbally agreed to a bout at UFC </a>143, scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.

Both Koch and Poirier are dynamic strikers and undefeated in the UFC. A win for either of the WEC vets would catapault him toward the top of the division.

Las Vegas, Nevada – On Saturday night, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, elite welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will collide for the interim UFC 170lbs championship.

UFC superstar Georges St-Pierre will be a very interested – and conflicted – ringside observer to the UFC 143 main event. ‘GSP’ has been the undisputed welterweight king since the spring of 2008, but knee injuries have forced him to withdraw from scheduled bouts with both Condit and Diaz and so he must sit on the sidelines while the pair stake a claim to his crown.

Expected to return to the Octagon™ perhaps as early as the summer, St-Pierre had this to say:

CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY
“I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.

ON HIS FEARS CONDIT WILL WIN
“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident he gets.

I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times.  He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.”

ON DANA WHITE’S COMMENT THAT GSP ‘HATES’ DIAZ
“I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.

I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments.

All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous.  

Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.”   

ON WHETHER THE ‘INTERIM’ CHAMP WILL BE THE REAL CHAMP
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.
    
I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about, that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.”
 
ON DIAZ’S DOMINATING WIN OVER BJ PENN
“He was very impressive. Nick Diaz’s boxing is very strong; he could be the best boxer in the UFC. I don’t want to be seen to be advising any other fighter how to win a fight, but if Diaz does what he does best then he should win this fight on Saturday. It is a very close fight though.”

ON HIS RIGHT KNEE INJURY AND REHAB
“I am ahead of schedule. I can already train and even kick but I am remaining calm and not rushing. I won’t train properly until July, it is a matter of discipline not to force my knee to go harder than it can heal. No athlete wants to sit on the sidelines, especially when you are the champion and you must watch two others fight for the interim championship belt. I will watch on Saturday and go home very motivated to rehab on Monday morning but I must be disciplined and I must continue to rehab at the pace I am doing.”

Tickets for UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, presented by BUD LIGHT®, are priced at $750, $500, $350, $225, $125 and $75 and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino) or via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 as well as at www.mandalaybay.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

 

The Downes Side is riding a lot of momentum after going 4-0 last week. Truth be told, it’s the most impressive I’ve felt since I had a friend’s older brother buy me a CD with a parental advisory sticker. Okay, so it was a KoRn album, but that did help me learn how to take a punch after my parents found it.

Speaking of childhood memories, the UFC rolls into Chicago (my hometown) this week for the UFC on FOX tripleheader. The United Center isn’t too far from my old high school, which got me to thinking. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a lot in common with high school. I mean there’s every clique imaginable represented (with maybe the exception of Goths), there are ample opportunities for both glory and embarrassment and your first time is usually awkward and uncomfortable.

Mike Russow vs John-Olav Einemo
The night gets going with a heavyweight contest between Mike Russow and John-Olav Einemo. Russow, a Chicago native and police office, has constructed an impressive 14-1 record, showing a solid chin, knockout ability (even with one arm broken while facing the Former Next Big Thing Todd Duffee) and submission skills. Einemo’s been on the shelf for a while, with just one fight in the last four years – a TKO loss to Dave Herman in June.

Prediction: My dad, also a Chicago cop, always told me that “you can’t escape the long arm of the law,” In Russow, that long arm has a 73-inch reach, and it’s more like, “you can’t escape the angry fist of the law.” I’m not trying to promote police brutality, but Russow via 1st round TKO

Evan Dunham vs Nik Lentz
Next up: lightweight Evan Dunham against Nik “The Carny” Lentz. After dropping two in a row, Dunham scored a decision victory in September against Shamar Bailey. Lentz, stepping in on short notice, is looking for a quick bounce back after losing a decision to Mark Bocek a month ago at UFC 140.

Prediction: Both guys have strong submission skills that will cancel each other’s out. Neither one of them have the edge wrestling either, so this one will be decided on the feet. With that being the case, Dunham has the superiority in that department and will ruin the Carny’s day faster than a visit from the county safety inspector.

Demian Maia vs Chris Weidman
Demian Maia is looking to get back into the middleweight title mix after winning three of his last four. After a knockout by Nate Marquardt that was nastier than when they showed me the “Miracle of Life” video in health class, Maia has been working his striking ability with brutes like Wanderlei Silva. The undefeated All-American wrestler Chris “The All-American” Weidman is taking a big step up in competition, talking this fight on less than two weeks’ notice. He quickly submitted Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 and his looking to skip a couple rungs on the way up the middleweight ladder with a win over Maia.

Prediction: Everyone talks about Maia’s grappling ability, which is superb, but he hasn’t had a submission victory in eight fights. Weidman, besides being an excellent wrestler, is a purple belt under Matt Serra and has had success at the Abu Dhabi tournaments. Maia will be on his back for the majority of the fight and while he’ll be throwing a lot of submissions, Weidman will be able to neutralize them and get the decision.

Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Personally I’d rather see these two in one of those three-hour Lincoln Douglas debates or create their own spinoff of the Odd Couple, but watching them fight is a close third. Chael Sonnen is looking to get a rematch for the middleweight title and is making a good case after his second round submission of Brian Stann in October (his first finish since 2007). Bisping takes the spot for an injured Mark Munoz and is riding a four-fight win streak with the most recent one a beatdown of Mayhem Miller at the Ultimate FIgher 14 finale.

Prediction: Bisping has the advantage in striking but Sonnen survived Anderson Silva, and he will survive enough of the Count’s strikes to get his takedown. The Count’s takedown defense will be about as effective as when I tried to get a date to Freshman Homecoming. The “217lbs of muscle, steel and sex appeal,” known as Chael Sonnen may knock people out with verbal assaults, but he’s going to grind this one out and win by unanimous decision.

Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis
I think that Rashad is like the school lunch lady – he gets taken for granted. Sure he may not have the sex appeal of the new science teacher who just graduated from college, but he’s there day in and day out serving you to the best of his ability. He’s been in the UFC since 2005 and his only loss has come against Lyoto Machida. The 9-0 Davis has had a fast rise to the elite level light heavyweight, most recently with a win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Prediction: Mr. Wonderful has the superior grappling ability, both with regards to jiu jitsu and wrestling. These advantages, though, are only slight. Meanwhile Rashad has a tremendous edge in the striking department and he’ll use this to damage Davis as he comes in for the takedown. Rashad wins by TKO in the 2nd and the lunch lady gets her due.

That wraps up the Downes Side for UFC on Fox 2. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes or share your comments. Also, I’ll be down at the fights so feel free to share your thoughts face to face if you’re so inclined… Especially if we went to high school together and you’ve failed miserably in your young adult life.