At first glance this past weekend seemed rather sparse, with World Series of Fighting left to the fly the lonely flag for major league MMA. But the reality is, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
First we had a UFC champion competing in one of the year’s biggest BJJ tournaments, which almost never happens. Then we saw a top-flight MMA prospect dropping the hammer out east for GLORY. And finally, the stars of tomorrow battled it out in the gruelingly real version of March Madness. Considering all of that, there was more than enough action to go around. So just sit back, and let’s catch up on everything you may have missed and everything you want to see again with some headlines.
6 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Rumble’ victorious. Former UFC welterweight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson narrowly defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski via unanimous decision in the main event of WSOF 2. (Video.) Afterward, both Johnson and Arlovski received indefinite medical suspensions due to injuries suffered during the bout — Johnson, a damaged right hand, and Arlovski, a damaged jaw.
2013 IBJJF Pan Ams results. UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson fell short on points, 8-0, losing to Jaime Soares Canuto in the third round of the Brown Belt middleweight division at the 2013 IBJJF Pan Ams. For complete results of the event, check here.
Guillard leaves Blackzilians. Struggling UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard announced on Twitter that he left the Blackzilians to rejoin his old stomping grounds at Jackson’s MMA. Guillard racked up a dismal 1-5 record during his time with the Florida based camp.
Dake makes history. Cornell’s Kyle Dake edged Penn State’s David Taylor by a 5-4 score to take the 165-pound crown at the 2013 NCAA wrestling tournament. With the win, Dake became the first competitor in NCAA wrestling history to win four national titles in four different weight classes.
Moraes flattens Nam. Bantamweight up-and-comer Marlon Moraes knocked out Tyson Nam with a head kick midway through the first round in the co-main event of WSOF 2.
Spong KOs Bojansky. A nine-month layoff didn’t mean much for Tyrone Spong. The Blackzilian crushed Remy Bonjasky with a right hook in the headlining match of Saturday’s GLORY 5 London event.
MEDIA STEW
If you missed out on Arlovski vs. Johnson the first time around, feel free to catch it below.
No sound on this one, but if you didn’t catch what Brenson Hansen did to Tom Marcellino on Saturday night’s undercard, you need to check this out.
Peggy Morgan is currently fighting in the same women’s featherweight tournament as Fallon Fox. This is her response.
Props to @pegson for the find.
Gems like this are why I love putting together this column everyday.
(HT: Reddit)
Okay, this one is pretty gruesome. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (Jump to 3:30 to see the beginning of the end.)
All Danny Mainus wanted to do was fight at RFA 7. Unfortunately, Michael Schiavello’s accent did him no favors.
(HT: MiddleEasy)
Was Andrei Arlovski actually wearing a UFC glove for his WSOF fight? Yes. Yes he was.
(HT: MMA Mania)
Our good friend Kyle Haase offers a glimpse at the superfight that never will be: Dana White vs. Vince McMahon. To check out more of Kyle’s work, visit his deviantart or hit him up on Twitter.
PROS REACT TO RUMBLE VS. ARLOVSKI
Congratulations @anthony_rumble on the VICTORY!!! Way to push through!!! #RawPower
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) March 24, 2013
I enjoyed that fight. Rumble earned it
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 24, 2013
You all can take your hate and your “glass jaw” talk and shove it after that
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 24, 2013
Congrats @anthony_rumble for the great win…
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) March 24, 2013
Anthony Johnson fought at so many weight classes , that he could have his own game show called “Name That Weight”
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 24, 2013
Lol don’t think it was a wise move for arlovski to wear @ufc gloves in the main event at #WSOF 😳
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) March 24, 2013
Hey WSOF using @ufc gloves? RETWEET UFC LIVES ON NBC SPORTS/VERSUS
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 24, 2013
Not sure if its cool weird or crazy, but rumble just beat arlovski N weighed app. 76 lbs more than me at our last weigh ins. (NOT AN EXCUSE)
— Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) March 24, 2013
NASTY
Take a look into the mind of @gesias *WARNING, GRAPHIC PHOTO FOR THE SQUEAMISH* tmblr.co/Z5KIJyh2mNfr
— Ryan Loco (@RyanLoco) March 25, 2013
WHY DAN HARDY WON’T BE FIGHTING
Sorry guys, I couldn’t be more disappointed. Turns out I have a wolf heart and the California commission won’t clear me to fight…
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 22, 2013
Wolf heart = two heart beats. It’s an evolutionary enhancement and the commission see it as an unfair advantage.
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 22, 2013
@iamtheimmortal sorry brother, I was really looking forward to scrapping with you. Perhaps some other time. Good luck with training.
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 22, 2013
I’m either having a breakthrough or a breakdown… either way, I’m quite excited! Situations like this stimulate growth in a person.
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 22, 2013
How does that look…? Yeah, this is definitely a breakthrough. Things are going to get really interesting now!
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 22, 2013
Amazing things are happening!
— Wolfheart (@danhardymma) March 24, 2013
JUST FOR FUN
Just got done w/#2013PanAm ‘s, didn’t go the way I wanted, 2-1, on the day, lost 8-0…had a blast, MUCH LOVE to the #BJJ community…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 25, 2013
Guess who still got #OnePercentBetter today??? That’s right, this guy did…congrats to all the #PanAms2013 winners twitpic.com/ce5c8n
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 25, 2013
CAREER MOVE
Im no longer a blackzillian I went back to where I belong Jackson’s:-):-):-):-):-)
— Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) March 24, 2013
DIDN’T EXPECT THAT
Cool spending time today w/ my bud & former @ufc Light Heavyweight Champion @lyotomachidafw #HungryAndDangerous twitter.com/TheRock/status…
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 23, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 22, 2013 – Sunday, March 24, 2013):
- UFC on FOX 7: Dan Hardy (25-10) out with injury, Jordan Mein (27-8) in against Matt Brown (16-11)
- UFC on FOX 7: Francisco Rivera (9-2) out with injury, T.J. Dillashaw (7-1) in against Hugo Viana (7-0)
- Legacy FC 21: Matt Riddle (7-3, 2 NC) vs. Artenas Young (9-5)
- Cage Warriors 55: Che Mills (15-5) vs. Cathal Pendred (12-2-1)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes from RaTheGod, who gives us: The Korean Zombie’s open letter to GSP!!
UFC featherweight sensation Chan Sung Jung, aka “the Korean Zombie,” pens an open letter to welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre, concerning the gi that he wore at UFC 158. Specifically the historical connotation of the “Rising Sun” design as it pertains to Koreans. The letter can be found at https://www.facebook.com/koreanzombieMMA
“Dear Mr. Georges St. Pierre
“Hi, My name is Chan Sung Jung from South Korea. As one of many Koreans who like you as an incredible athlete, I feel like I should tell you that many Korean fans, including myself, were shocked to see you in your gi designed after the Japanese ‘Rising Sun Flag’. For Asians, this flag is a symbol of war crimes, much like the German Hakenkreuzflagge. Did you know that? I hope not.
“Just like Nazis, the Japanese also committed atrocities under the name of ‘Militarism’. You can easily learn what they’ve done by googling (please do), although it’s only the tiny tip of an enormous iceberg.
“Furthermore, the Japanese Government never gave a sincere apology, and still to this day, so many victims are dying in pain, heartbroken, without being compensated. But many westerners like to wear clothes designed after the symbol under which so many war crimes and so much tragedy happened, which is ridiculous.
“I know most of them are not militarists. I know most of them do not approve unjustified invasion, torture, massacre, etc. They’re just ignorant. It’s such a shame that many westerners are not aware of this tragic fact. Wearing Rising Sun outfits is as bad as wearing clothes with the Nazi mark on it, if not worse.
“Since you’re influenced by Japanese Martial Arts, your wearing a headband designed after Japanese flag is understandable. But again, that huge ‘Rising Sun’ on your Gi means something else.
“Many people say GSP is the best Welterweight fighter throughout history, to which I totally agree. This means you have a great influence on every single fan of yours all around the world. And I do believe your wearing ‘the symbol of War Crime’ is a very bad example for them, not to mention for yourself.
“So, what do you reckon? Do you want to wear the same Gi next time as well?”
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.