Tag: Breaking News

GSP Should Retire in Cage Saturday at UFC 167, Says Mentor

Georges St-Pierre will step into the Octagon for the final time at UFC 167. At least, that is what will happen if GSP’s trainer, Kristof Midoux, gets his way.
Speaking with Canadian news outlet La Presse, Midoux said (English translation found on the M…

Georges St-Pierre will step into the Octagon for the final time at UFC 167.
At least, that is what will happen if GSP‘s trainer, Kristof Midoux, gets his way.

Speaking with Canadian news outlet La Presse, Midoux said (English translation found on the MMA Underground):

Me, I told him, “After this one, it’s over! Shine on that night. Finish that dude in front of everyone. Shut your detractors up. If you finish that guy, if you knock him out, then you’ll be free, you’ll be happy to take the microphone and to say that you’re done. To say that you are giving your place to others.”

This, coupled with a recent interview (in the video above) from the welterweight champ in which he announces future “plans,” paints an interesting picture.

St-Pierre is one of the sport’s most decorated and celebrated athletes, and one must question what more he has to accomplish inside the cage. A win over Johny Hendricks would grant him his 19th win inside the Octagon, the most of any fighter in the promotion’s history. 

Furthermore, a successful performance would mark GSP‘s 12th straight victory, still four short of Anderson Silva’s record. Fighting at his current rate, the welterweight king would need roughly four more years just to tie Silva, so it is safe to say that he is not gunning for that particular distinction. 

As MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported on Twitter:

 

Making this situation more interesting is the fact that GSP‘s stablemate at Tristar Gym, Rory MacDonald, has rapidly ascended the 170-pound ranks, establishing himself as a legitimate contender in the process.

Both men have said they will never fight one another, so GSP has to lose or get out of the way if MacDonald is to have a shot at the sport’s ultimate glory.

On this matter, Midoux said:

Rory has the ability to become a champion. Rory will never want to fight Georges because they’re friends. So I told Georges, “out of respect, don’t keep that guy from climbing the ranks. You’ve had your career. … Help Rory become a champion to show that Canadians dominate this weight class.” It would be intelligent. It would be generous and Georges is generous. 

If GSP does call it quits Saturday evening, he will be remembered as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, by far the most superior welterweight in MMA history. 

Add in his impressive list of sponsors and worldwide recognition, and it is clear that GSP‘s career will not be quickly forgotten, nor will it be easily replicated by future generations. 

What do you make of Midoux’s comments? Is there merit to the talk of GSP‘s retirement? 

 

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UFC Fight Night 32 Medical Suspensions: Rony Jason, Brandon Thatch Get 180 Days

Their UFC Fight Night 32 outcomes were polar opposites, but Rony Jason and Brandon Thatch received identical medical suspensions Monday.
According to a report from MMA Junkie, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission has issued 180-day suspensions for bot…

Their UFC Fight Night 32 outcomes were polar opposites, but Rony Jason and Brandon Thatch received identical medical suspensions Monday.

According to a report from MMA Junkie, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission has issued 180-day suspensions for both Thatch and Jason. 

The report does not give official reasons for the suspensions, though it does note that ankle and shoulder injuries may be the culprit for Thatch, an electrifying welterweight who pushed his UFC record to 2-0 Saturday night after veteran Paulo Thiago tapped out following a heavy knee strike from Thatch in the first round. 

Jason, meanwhile, failed to live up to high expectations at UFC Fight Night 32. He took his first UFC loss when Jeremy Stephens laid him out with a head kick only 40 seconds into the first round.

The suspension, though, may have more to do with what happened after the fight, when Jason reportedly punched a wall in frustration and suffered a hand laceration as a result. 

Both main event fighters received relatively clean bills of health from the commission after their fights. Following his quick and devastating knockout of Dan Henderson—the first knockout loss of Henderson’s career—Vitor Belfort will be shelved for only 14 days, while Henderson got a 45-day suspension.

Here is a full list of UFC Fight Night 32 medical suspensions, based on the MMA Junkie report:

  • Vitor Belfort: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days
  • Dan Henderson: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Cezar Ferreira: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Daniel Sarafian: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Rafael Cavalcante: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days
  • Igor Pokrajac: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Paulo Thiago: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Brandon Thatch: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by doctor after ankle MRI and shoulder X-ray
  • Santiago Ponzinibbio: suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
  • Ryan LaFlare: suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
  • Rony Jason: suspended 180 days
  • Jeremy Stephens: suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days
  • Godofredo Pepey: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Sam Sicília: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days
  • Thiago Perpetuo: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Omari Akhmedov: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Thiago Tavares: suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days
  • Justin Salas: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days
  • Adriano Martins: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days
  • Daron Cruickshank: suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days
  • Jose Maria: suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • Dustin Ortiz: suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days

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Anderson Silva: Vitor Belfort Deserves to Fight for the Title

Former long-time UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has a chance to recapture the 185-pound throne at UFC 168 next month when he rematches current titleholder Chris Weidman. 
As far as UFC President Dana White is concerned, the next middlewe…

Former long-time UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has a chance to recapture the 185-pound throne at UFC 168 next month when he rematches current titleholder Chris Weidman. 

As far as UFC President Dana White is concerned, the next middleweight title challenger waiting in the wings is most likely Vitor Belfort, who became the first fighter to knock out former Pride and Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 32 on Saturday. 

Based on his remarks to Brazilian media outlet Globo (translation via MMA Fighting), “The Spider” wholeheartedly agrees with his White’s sentiment. 

“I believe he (Belfort) deserves to fight for the title, even because he has been doing his part (to earn a title shot), just like other fighters like Ronaldo Jacare and Lyoto Machida, who just dropped to 185,” Silva said. “I saw the fight, he fought really well,” Silva said regarding Belfort’s knockout of Henderson. “Vitor has been doing great, showing why he was the UFC champion for a long time. He deserves respect. We’ll just have to wait for the next chapters.”

“The Phenom” has been on fire this year, racking up three straight victories, all headkick knockouts, over the likes of perennial contender Michael Bisping, ex-Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold and the aforementioned Henderson. 

Belfort, who has fought bouts contested at heavyweight before, boasts a 6-1 record at 185 pounds—with his only loss coming in a championship bout against Silva at UFC 126 in February of 2011. 

The matchup did not end up being competitive, as Silva scored a highlight-reel-worthy knockout over Belfort with a front kick during the opening frame. 

However, the Belfort of more recent memory has been executing nearly flawlessly, so it’s hard to imagine Silva winning a rematch in equally dominant fashion. 

Of course, let’s not count Weidman out of the equation, as the undefeated (10-0) middleweight champ was the first competitor to ever KO Silva in 38 professional fights at their first encounter at UFC 162 in July. 

Weidman’s elite grappling and underrated striking could present an interesting stylistic matchup for the hard-hitting Belfort. 

Despite the controversy surrounding his testosterone-replacement therapy usage, will Belfort end up fighting for the middleweight strap again by mid-2014? 

And if he does fight for another UFC title, will the ex-UFC light heavyweight champ compete on American soil for the first time since August of 2011?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.

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Anthony Pettis Withdraws from UFC on Fox 9, Johnson vs. Benavidez New Main Event

Anthony Pettis has withdrawn from his scheduled title defense opposite Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox 9, resulting in a major shakeup over the next two UFC cards, according to Fox Sports.
Word came out over the last few days that the newly-minted UFC light…

Anthony Pettis has withdrawn from his scheduled title defense opposite Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox 9, resulting in a major shakeup over the next two UFC cards, according to Fox Sports.

Word came out over the last few days that the newly-minted UFC lightweight champion suffered a knee injury, but UFC President Dana White, as he so often does, insisted the bout was still going to go down. Pettis was supposed to fight Thomson, the former Strikeforce lightweight champion who recently knocked out Nate Diaz, in the main event of the December 14 card. 

With the lightweight title fight nixed, the UFC has moved the flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez from The Ultimate Fighter season 18’s Finale to UFC on Fox 9’s top billing. Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard will be elevated to the main event of the November 30 card, replacing Johnson vs. Benavidez.

There is no word yet on the severity of Pettis’ knee injury, and how long he is expected to be out. As of Saturday, Pettis was in Las Vegas visiting the UFC’s preferred doctor for knee injuries, Dr. Steven Sanders. Pettis lives and trains in Wisconsin.

Additionally, it is unknown whether the UFC is committed to keeping Thomson as Pettis’ next opponent. Thomson was originally an injury fill-in for heavy-handed Canadian TJ Grant, and if the injury keeps him out of the cage for an extended period of time, it could put Thomson into the thick of a crowded upper tier of the division that also sees Gilbert Melendez, Rafael dos Anjos and Khabib Nurmagomedov all clawing towards a title shot.

Dominick Cruz is slated to finally make his return to the Octagon after two years out of action due to knee injuries. Here’s hoping Pettis doesn’t end up holding up a far-more-stacked lightweight division with a serious knee injury of his own.

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Dana White: Little Nog Never Accepted Fight with Alexander Gustafsson

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is getting a ton of flack for withdrawing from a matchup with top contender Alexander Gustafsson, but according to UFC President Dana White, the highly regarded Brazilian fighter never accepted the bout. 
White shed some l…

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is getting a ton of flack for withdrawing from a matchup with top contender Alexander Gustafsson, but according to UFC President Dana White, the highly regarded Brazilian fighter never accepted the bout. 

White shed some light on the matter at the UFC Fight Night 32 post-fight press conference, per MMA Fighting (transcription via Mixedmartialarts.com).

“The fight isn’t for four months, and he’s already determined he’s hurt,” White said regarding Nogueira. “I don’t understand that. The guy is always hurt. Every time you call him, he’s hurt. What happened was that night we decided to make the fight, Gustafsson said yes, and they couldn’t get hold of (Little Nog), so I said, ‘F— it,’ and just went with it and announced the fight. And of course, he’s hurt.”

According to the UFC’s official rankings, “Little Nog” is the fifth-best 205-pounder in the world, and rightfully so, after back-to-back wins over former champions Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. 

Nevertheless, it is impossible to ignore Nogueira’s recent durability issues, only competing six times in the past four years. 

At 37 years old, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt may want to start considering retirement as the long-term training injuries continue to pile up. 

Instead of Nogueira, Gustafsson will now face undefeated prospect Jimi Manuwa in London on March 8 at a yet to be named event, per MMA Mania. 

UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones was critical of the initial matchmaking, stating that Nogueira vs. Gustafsson made no sense from a rankings standpoint, per MMA Fighting. 

Will Nogueira ever be able to turn back the clock and return to the vintage form he enjoyed inside the Pride ring, or are his best days as a fighter clearly behind him at this point? 

  

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com. 

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UFC Fight Night 31: Twitter Reacts to Dan Henderson vs. Vitor Belfort

Vitor Belfort continued his ascent in the middleweight division and scored his third straight KO with a brutal win over the fading Dan Henderson in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 32 on Saturday.
Belfort stunned the ever-durable “Hendo” ear…

Vitor Belfort continued his ascent in the middleweight division and scored his third straight KO with a brutal win over the fading Dan Henderson in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 32 on Saturday.

Belfort stunned the ever-durable “Hendo” early before rendering the former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler unconscious with a vicious high kick just 77 seconds into the bout.

Becoming the first man to KO Henderson, who’s fought 40 times, impressed Dana White enough for the UFC president to rave about Belfort at the UFC Fight Night 32 post-fight presser:

Vitor’s a completely different fighter than he was when he was younger. He’s mentally there, he’s physically there, he’s more well-rounded than, yeah, I’m blown away by tonight’s performance, we’ll see what’s next.

Belfort lived up to his billing as a swift finisher when he cracked and dropped the iron-jawed Henderson with a left uppercut that landed flush on his chin roughly a minute into the fight.

Once he got a whiff of blood, Belfort shifted from first to fifth gear and began raining punches on the scrambling Hendo.

Henderson eventually got to his base and then back to his feet, where Belfort uncorked a left high kick that put one of the most resilient fighters in MMA history to sleep.

After the press conference, White made the most significant wave on Twitter by posting the following:

Here’s a look at some other interesting Twitter reactions to Hendo’s first KO loss.

Critics will continue to discredit Belfort because of his use of testosterone replacement therapy. However, it’s a futile argument to contest that any middleweight deserves to fight the winner of Anderson Silva/Chris Weidman II more than the 36-year-old Brazilian. 

The 43-year-old Hendo, who’s ranked sixth at light heavyweight, should reevaluate his future plans of continuing to compete against top-flight competition. After all, he finished his current contract on a three-fight losing streak, and it seems unlikely that a legend like Henderson would assume a gatekeeper role.

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