Sunday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle will square of in a welterweight match up that has fight of the year written all over it. Both men always leave it all inside the octagon. Both men are coming off of a loss, and need to re…
Sunday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle will square of in a welterweight match up that has fight of the year written all over it. Both men always leave it all inside the octagon. Both men are coming off of a loss, and need to redeem themselves, especially Hardy who has lost his last three fights.
Chris Lytle is an extremely well-rounded fighter. He is a former high school wrestler, pro boxer and is also a second degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His MMA record is 30-18-5, he lost 16 of the 18 fights by decision and the other two losses were due to doctor stoppages. Lytle is as tough as they come. As a pro boxer he compiled a 13-1-1 and was an Indiana state champion, defending his belt two times. At almost 37 years old, his career is coming to a close, but he is in arguably the best shape of his life.
Lytle is the type of fighter that lays it on you. He is extremely active throughout the whole fight. He likes to stand and trade, but when the time is right he isn’t afraid to take you down and submit you. In his bout with Hardy, the smart thing would be to take the fight to the ground, where Hardy lacks experience but will never give up.
Dan Hardy is one of the most well liked fighters in the UFC. He is all about his fans, and always shows up to put on an exciting show. He is primarily a striker, but has recently started training with Roy Nelson to improve his ground game. He has lost three fights in a row, if he loses this there is a high chance he will be cut unless the UFC wants to save him for a card overseas, due to his popularity.
Hardy needs to keep his distance and play this fight smart. He needs to cut off Lytle and counter his punches. He also needs to maintain octagon control. If he doesn’t then it maybe a long night for him, because Lytle will be able to score take down after take down.
These two men are a great match up for each other, and with eight post fight bonuses under his belt this fight sets Lytle up for a ninth. This fight will be at a fast pace, most likely with Lytle getting the better of Hardy in the take down department. This fight will be back and fourth, but Lytle should catch him in the second round with an impressive submission, and possibly taking submission of the night honors.
This truly should be an impressive fight, now let’s take a look at the ten most impressive finishes in the UFC so far in 2011.
In the sport of MMA, many different countries have been represented by fighters, and pride runs deep within the fans themselves. With many American and Brazilian fighters in the UFC, there seems to be very few from the other end of the globe. Eng…
In the sport of MMA, many different countries have been represented by fighters, and pride runs deep within the fans themselves.
With many American and Brazilian fighters in the UFC, there seems to be very few from the other end of the globe. England and Japan are represented to a point, but the continent of Australia has had very little representation in comparison.
Australia is home to some of the most deadly animals on the planet, and home to many unique species. But the wildlife is not the only dangerous creatures to come from the land down under.
The Australian UFC Middleweight contender, Kyle Noke, will be facing dangerous Ed Herman at UFC on Versus 5 on Sunday. Noke will be looking to improve his winning streak to six with a victory over Herman.
MMA Sports Writer Gregory Chase spoke with Noke about his upcoming fight, his experience with TUF, his thoughts on Chael Sonnen, and more.
GC: Let me start by saying thank you for your time and that I enjoyed watching you on The Ultimate Fighter and your fights since then.
KN: Ah, thank you!
GC: And that last win over Camozzi was incredible, that was definitely exciting to watch! But if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions about your upcoming fight.
KN: Yeah, no problem at all!
GC: You’re fighting Ed Herman, a fellow Ultimate Fighter show contestant. How do you see the fight playing out? What do you think his game plan is?
KN: You know, I’m not too sure of his game plan. I think he may try to keep it on the feet, you know…which is good for me because that’s where I like to keep it. Hopefully, we can implement ours on the night and not worry about his.
GC: Now you would like to keep it standing, but you both have excellent ground game, how do you think stylistically you match up?
KN: I think we match up good, you know. Whether the fight stays on the feet or on the ground, it makes for an exciting fight!
GC: You were originally going to face Tom Lawlor. Do you feel you are fully prepared for this fight? And what, if anything, changed during your training camp once it switched to Herman?
KN: Yeah, I think I’m fully prepared, you know, the switch up wasn’t too far out, the UFC gave me enough notice. So we were able to adapt and change for Ed Herman so, you know, it’s just a slight adjustment. Like I said, we had plenty of time, so it was all good!
GC: Was there anything specific you worked on in preparation for Herman as opposed to Lawlor?
KN: Not really, you know, I guess we didn’t exercise so much on the takedown defense, with Tom Lawlor being a great wrestler. But we still concentrated on it with Ed Herman because he has good takedowns, but that’s probably the only change we did.
GC: Do you feel like this an easier fight than Lawlor, tougher, or about the same?
KN: Oh, it’s about the same. Tom is a tough guy as well, so is Ed. You know, from all the fights I’ve watched of Ed, it’s hard to put him away. He’s a tough guy and he’s always gonna come at you, so I think it makes for a great fight!
GC: You’re on an impressive five-fight winning streak right now, the longest of your career. How does that affect you mentally in your upcoming fight? Is there any nervousness to keep it going, or is it all motivation?
KN: It’s all just motivation, you know. I don’t let it affect me at all. I just take every fight as they come. It’s just another fight, so I’m looking forward to getting in there and doing it!
GC: So on a less fight-oriented note, how was your experience on The Ultimate Fighter with Chuck Liddell? What was the most significant factor you took from that experience?
KN: You know, the experience itself was great, obviously wouldn’t be here without it. It is tough being on the show on the same hand, people don’t realize it. You’re away from your normal camp, it’s not the way you’re used to getting ready for fights and stuff.
If I had the opportunity to do it again, yeah I would do it again, make it in the UFC. The show wasn’t THAT bad where I didn’t want to do it. And with Chuck Liddell, it was awesome, you know, he was a great coach, a really cool dude, and I learned a lot from the guy.
GC: So would you ever want to eventually go back and be a coach yourself?
KN: Yeah sure, if they offered me that opportunity, I would love to do it, it would be an awesome experience, I think!
GC: What is one thing from being on that show, which viewers do not see, that you thought was great, or really enjoyed?
KN: I’m not sure, I think they get to see a lot of it. I guess just the friendships you make. I came away with good friends from the show, so I guess that’s one thing to take away from it.
GC: Now you were the bodyguard and trainer for Steve Irwin for a while before he passed. During your time with the great “Crocodile Hunter,” did you learn anything from your time with him that has carried over to MMA in your life or in the cage?
KN: Sure, you know, he always had a great passion for everything he’d done. He instilled that passion for me and that drive in me, and I think I wouldn’t have committed 100 percent like I am now. I don’t think I would be so committed to this sport, if I hadn’t worked for him and met him.
GC: Aside from your upcoming fight, care to make any predictions for the rest of the card?
KN: You know, that’s a tough one. I’ve been REALLY bad with my picks lately, but um, I think Dan Hardy is gonna win that one. You never know.
GC: How do you think he’s going to win?
KN: I think maybe a knockout. But you never know, because Chris Lytle will always find a way to win sometimes, and when you think he’s about to get knocked out, he comes back.
GC: You are currently a Middleweight in the UFC, how do you think a fight with you and Champion, Anderson Silva, would play out?
KN: Um, I don’t know. I would love that opportunity. That’s what we’re all fighting for, is that opportunity itself. I sure Greg Jackson would come up with a game plan if that ever happened.
GC: Now would you feel comfortable striking with Silva, or would you like to focus more on the ground?
KN: You know, I would take the fight wherever it went. I’m confident in my standup, I’d try and stand with him. But it’s the same as all my fights, I’m comfortable standing and if that doesn’t work so good, I’ll go to the ground.
GC: Also, being in the Middleweight division, what is your take on Chael Sonnen’s words toward Anderson, Brazilians and other fighters in general? What’s your perspective on his talk?
KN: I don’t really like guys who disrespect people and talk about them, you know. I think all your actions should be done inside the cage.
I understand he trying to hype a fight, but when you disrespect the whole country like that, it’s kind of disrespectful. There’s taunting a guy and hyping a fight, then there’s going too far, and I think that he went too far.
GC: If you had one thing about you that you wanted the fans to know, that they didn’t already, what would it be?
KN: Oh, I don’t know (laughs). I would never quit. I think just my fighting ability. I’m gonna get in there and try and fight every fight with all my heart and try to finish and put on the best show I can.
GC: Well Kyle Noke, thank you so much for your time and answering some questions. I look forward to watching your fight against Ed Herman on Aug. 14, and I wish you much success!
KN: No problem, thanks a lot, thanks for the interview!
Brendan Schaub will be walking into unfamiliar territory when he challenges Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Not only will Schaub be standing in front a Brazilian crowd, but he will be facing a well-prepared and motivated o…
Brendan Schaub will be walking into unfamiliar territory when he challenges Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Not only will Schaub be standing in front a Brazilian crowd, but he will be facing a well-prepared and motivated opponent in Nogueira.
According to TATAME.com, Nogueira’s wrestling coach, Eric Albarracin, has been helping the Brazilian perfect his wrestling skills and has used a motivational picture to help push his intensity.
Teammates like UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, have had to force Nogueira to stop training.
“Go away, Digão. Somebody take him out of here”, Silva said during their last training session.
Nogueira will return to meet Schaub at UFC 134 after a long layoff of battling injuries. It will be his first bout in a year and a half since his loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 110.
Chael Sonnen has added another name to his laundry list of fighters. In an interview on “It’s Time” with Bruce Buffer, the UFC middleweight contender voiced his opinion on several topics, including an upcoming bout between Ken Shamrock and IBA Hea…
Chael Sonnen has added another name to his laundry list of fighters.
In an interview on “It’s Time” with Bruce Buffer, the UFC middleweight contender voiced his opinion on several topics, including an upcoming bout between Ken Shamrock and IBA Heavyweight champion, James Toney.
Never one to shy away from making his opinions go unheard, Sonnen said he predicts the bout won’t happen, and in fact, never was going to happen.
“Ken Shamrock is going around to all these different promoters doing his typical scumbag move getting money up front saying, ‘You know, I’m a Hall of Famer and I don’t even know if you guys are going to exist, so give me a 10 grand signing bonus,'” Sonnen said.
“He’s not gonna fight James Toney anymore than you are. He never was. That fight won’t happen, mark my words,” he added.
Sonnen, who will make his anticipated return at UFC 136 against Brian Stann, also sounded off on UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen lost to the Brazilian in a title bout at UFC 117 last year, which saw Sonnen dominate his opponent from the opening bell. Silva would lock in a triangle choke near the end of the fight that saw him secure the win.
However, Sonnen see’s it differently.
“In what parallel scoring system do you punch a man three hundred times, he hits you eleven times, wraps his legs around your head for eight seconds and they declare him the winner? That doesn’t make you a winner,” he said.
The trash-talk and criticism is nothing new from Sonnen. He has repeatedly bashed Silva, along with the rest of the Brazilian’s training camp, Team Blackhouse. Sonnen will face Brian Stann at UFC 136, where the winner will likely earn a title shot next year.
Let me start off by saying that I have the utmost respect for every fighter to compete in combat sports such as boxing, MMA, kickboxing and many others.These sports require an unfathomable amount of discipline and technique, and those that compete in s…
Let me start off by saying that I have the utmost respect for every fighter to compete in combat sports such as boxing, MMA, kickboxing and many others.
These sports require an unfathomable amount of discipline and technique, and those that compete in such sports deserve respect for putting their health at risk, every time they compete.
MMA is a fairly young sport, and in the short time it has been around, we the fans have seen many different types of performances. We have seen fighters who have entertained, excited, bored and even disgusted the fans with their performances.
We have also seen fighters put out performances that are just pathetic.
The fighters that appear on this list are here for various reasons. Some are here for being dirty fighters or for getting humiliated for not even fighting in a dignified manner, and many more reasons.
Their performances are not what one would expect to see when watching an MMA fight and are deemed pathetic by the unforgiving, MMA community.
So without further ado, these are the 20 Most Pathetic Performances in MMA History.
What determines an all-time great?
Is it merely status and name recognition, or do we actually consider success against quality opposition? Throughout the short history of MMA, fans have been blessed with a multitude of talent that fit the all-time bil…
What determines an all-time great?
Is it merely status and name recognition, or do we actually consider success against quality opposition? Throughout the short history of MMA, fans have been blessed with a multitude of talent that fit the all-time bill.
These fighters put in years of dedication and hard work to attain a legendary status that will leave their names forever etched in MMA history.
As with all rankings, it’s impossible to include every great fighter on the list. This doesn’t mean that their contributions to the sport are any less appreciated. Regardless of whether it’s in a ring or cage, any fighter that steps up in a combative situation to put it all on the line and shed blood deserves the respect of every spectator.
Seeing as this listing only includes the sanctioned era of the sport, legendary pioneers like Royce Gracie don’t make the cut for these particular rankings.
You’ll notice that some UFC Hall of Famers are also absent. The formula for these rankings combine a minimal of performance, name recognition and wins over quality opposition.
The time has come to pay homage to the fighters that helped shape the history of the sport.
Including men and women, here are the MMA all-time rankings.
In the sport of