Tag: Ariel Helwani

Josh Barnett Considers His Performance Against Rogers ‘Perfect’, All Things Considered

(Props: Ariel Helwani)

“You know what, it was not the most exciting, but in terms of from where I was at, it was perfect. Basically, I put him on ground, and after I started feeling him out, feeling his energy underneath me, I knew that he had a lot of umph, he had a lot of guts, he had a lot of gusto, so any opening, any transition, any big movement, it was going to be met by a lot of explosive force.

We could then end up in some scrambles, spend energy I don’t want to, it’s unnecessary, so instead, get him bucking, get him using that energy. And I have quite heavy hips, which is a very common staple of catch-as-catch-can [wrestling], wearing people out — not just with strikes or submissions or holds — but with your overall body positioning.


(Props: Ariel Helwani)

“You know what, it was not the most exciting, but in terms of from where I was at, it was perfect. Basically, I put him on ground, and after I started feeling him out, feeling his energy underneath me, I knew that he had a lot of umph, he had a lot of guts, he had a lot of gusto, so any opening, any transition, any big movement, it was going to be met by a lot of explosive force.

We could then end up in some scrambles, spend energy I don’t want to, it’s unnecessary, so instead, get him bucking, get him using that energy. And I have quite heavy hips, which is a very common staple of catch-as-catch-can [wrestling], wearing people out — not just with strikes or submissions or holds — but with your overall body positioning.

So I just put that crush on him that whole fight, or at least that whole first round. And I could hear his labored breathing, his wind, his energy, everything just collapsing. So I knew come second round he was going to be thinking more about ‘don’t drown on the ground’, and then I could open up and start hitting him with stuff.”

While Alistair Overeem wasn’t particularly satisfied with his Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix fight against Fabricio Werdum last weekend, Josh Barnett feels he did everything he needed to do against Brett Rogers during his return to high-profile competition. Following his second-round submission victory, War Master Barnett will meet Sergei Kharitonov in the semi-finals of the tournament (date and location TBA), and feels he’s the front-runner to win it all, obviously. Would you agree with him at this point?

Fight of the Night Alert: Cerrone Chooses Stout

Ariel is *still* asking fighters about beefs. Some guys never learn. VidProps: Ariel Helwani

Donald Cerrone is one of those guys that will apologize for not kicking a guy’s ass thoroughly enough, even when no drunk frat guys are booing in the crowd. After failing to put away a one-legged Vagner Rocha, Cerrone was visibly disappointed with his performance. Knowing Cowboy, though, no one is in a hurry to give him a hard time about it, including our boy Ariel Helwani.

Helwani caught up with Cerrone to ask him about the fight, his feuds with Mac Danzig and Cole Miller, and who he’d like to fight next. Pretty standard stuff that we’ve covered before, until they start talking matchups. Cerrone hasn’t forgotten about Danzig, whom Cowboy had previously insinuated faked an injury to get out of fighting him. “I’m just talking shit, that’s what I do.” Cerrone says of Danzig. “I hope he’s not injured, I hope he can fight.”

Ariel is *still* asking fighters about beefs.  Some guys never learn.  VidProps: Ariel Helwani

Donald Cerrone is one of those guys that will apologize for not kicking a guy’s ass thoroughly enough, even when no drunk frat guys are booing in the crowd. After failing to put away a one-legged Vagner Rocha, Cerrone was visibly disappointed with his performance. Knowing Cowboy, though, no one is in a hurry to give him a hard time about it, including our boy Ariel Helwani.

Helwani caught up with Cerrone to ask him about the fight, his feuds with Mac Danzig and Cole Miller, and who he’d like to fight next. Pretty standard stuff that we’ve covered before, until they start talking matchups.  Cerrone hasn’t forgotten about Danzig, whom Cowboy had previously insinuated faked an injury to get out of fighting him. “I’m just talking shit, that’s what I do.” Cerrone says of Danzig.  “I hope he’s not injured, I hope he can fight.”

If the vegan/shutterbug/fighter Danzig can’t accept a date for Muay Thai foreplay and a consummating chokehold, ol’ Cowboy here will be stoked to fight that Sam Stout fella.  You can see how excited he gets talking about a possible Stout fight.  While we fully believe that Cerrone enjoys a good scrap and is looking forward to the possibility of a crowd-pleasing stand-and-bang with the Hands of Stone, you gotta think that Cerrone is probably counting his FotN bonus in his head as he talks about it, and mentally calculating how many tractor tires and heavy bags he can buy for the ranch with 70 grand. (We’re guessing A LOT.)

What do you think, Nation?  Who should Cowboy get next?

[RX]

Video: Rampage Jackson Is Not the Biggest Fan of Ariel Helwani

(Props: MMAFighting.com)

In an unofficial sequel to “People Like That Get Slapped,” Ariel Helwani attempted to interview Quinton “Rampage” Jackson yesterday, and barely escaped with his life. After some warm-up insults about Helwani’s tie and shoes, Jackson realized who he was talking to, and the vibe immediately became hostile. Apparently Jackson didn’t appreciate that Helwani asked him about “Queen Mo” during a recent MMA Hour appearance — while Rampage was eating, no less — when ‘Page just wanted to discuss his UFC 130 fight against Matt Hamill. Plus, his peoples told him that Ariel had been hatin’.

Ariel offers to squash the beef at the 2:52 mark. Unfortunately, that phrase means the exact opposite in Memphis than it does everywhere else, and Jackson raises up on Ariel, who does his best to change the subject. Rampage gets upset again later when Helwani brings up nutritionist Mike Dolce, who wasn’t with Rampage for this training camp. (“I’m fighting Matt Hamill, I’m not fighting Mike Dolce. What’s Mike Dolce got to do with me winning or losing a fight?”)

The interview ends in a more cordial fashion, but Jackson clarifies that if it wasn’t for his friend Anthony Evans, who’s a friend of Ariel’s, “I probably would have smacked the shit out of you.”


(Props: MMAFighting.com)

In an unofficial sequel to “People Like That Get Slapped,” Ariel Helwani attempted to interview Quinton “Rampage” Jackson yesterday, and barely escaped with his life. After some warm-up insults about Helwani’s tie and shoes, Jackson realized who he was talking to, and the vibe immediately became hostile. Apparently Jackson didn’t appreciate that Helwani asked him about “Queen Mo” during a recent MMA Hour appearance — while Rampage was eating, no less — when ‘Page just wanted to discuss his UFC 130 fight against Matt Hamill. Plus, his peoples told him that Ariel had been hatin’.

Ariel offers to squash the beef at the 2:52 mark. Unfortunately, that phrase means the exact opposite in Memphis than it does everywhere else, and Jackson raises up on Ariel, who does his best to change the subject. Rampage gets upset again later when Helwani brings up nutritionist Mike Dolce, who wasn’t with Rampage for this training camp. (“I’m fighting Matt Hamill, I’m not fighting Mike Dolce. What’s Mike Dolce got to do with me winning or losing a fight?”)

The interview ends in a more cordial fashion, but Jackson clarifies that if it wasn’t for his friend Anthony Evans, who’s a friend of Ariel’s, “I probably would have smacked the shit out of you.”

Tito Ortiz and Matt Mitrione’s Fight Broken Up By George Sotiropoulos (VIDEO)

Roy Nelson took it to heart when Zuffa suggested the fighters become more involved in social media, so he used his phone to film a minute of words exchanged between Tito Ortiz and Matt Mitrione at The Fight Summit. We’re not sure if a physical fight would have broken out but Mitrione does get close […]

Roy Nelson took it to heart when Zuffa suggested the fighters become more involved in social media, so he used his phone to film a minute of words exchanged between Tito Ortiz and Matt Mitrione at The Fight Summit. We’re not sure if a physical fight would have broken out but Mitrione does get close enough to Ortiz to excite some kind of violence. At that point, good guy George Sotiropoulos stepped in to help a Zuffa rep break things up. Man, how cool is this? It’s a fight between 2 fighters filmed by a fighter and broken up by a fighter. And it’s all far more entertaining than last night’s TUF episode. Watch out media and production crews, these guys are gunning for our jobs.

The fight stemmed from an interview Mitrione gave to Ariel Helwani during The MMA Hour, saying Ortiz will likely pull out of his fight with Ryan Bader and his wife Jenna Jameson will step in:

“I think it’s awesome… awesome that the UFC is finally doing this. I think that it’s a great promotion that they’re finally letting women fight for their man’s honor. I think that’s a great thing. We all know that Tito’s gonna give some type of excuse and back out, so Jenna’s gonna have to step in and fight [Ryan] Bader for Tito’s honor. Bader, be really careful because it’s a trap fight. We all know that she’s awesome off her back and she’s got phenomenal top control, but remember that she doesn’t choke easily.”

*Props to Fightline for the quote.

MMA GIF Party: Fedor’s Translator Is Losing Her Goddamned Mind

("See my to-do list? It say, ‘translate stupid question from plaid-shirted American.’ Now I have done.")
Man, Fedor Emelianenko’s translator Tanya really needs her own CBS sitcom. It would be called $#*! My Russian MMA Legend Says, Which I A…

Fedor Emelianenko MMA gifs gif funny translator
("See my to-do list? It say, ‘translate stupid question from plaid-shirted American.’ Now I have done.")

Man, Fedor Emelianenko‘s translator Tanya really needs her own CBS sitcom. It would be called $#*! My Russian MMA Legend Says, Which I Am Paid to Summarize in English. Throw in a bearded wacky neighbor, and you’ve got yourself a hit. More Tanyariffic physical comedy from Fedor’s last ‘MMA Hour’ appearance is after the jump, courtesy of Fightlinker.

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