All that hype about a possible Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo superfight can be thrown out the window for now, as it is being confirmed that Pettis’ first lightweight title defense will come opposite TJ Grant. Via Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole on Twitter:&nb…
All that hype about a possible Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo superfight can be thrown out the window for now, as it is being confirmed that Pettis’ first lightweight title defense will come opposite TJ Grant. Via Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole on Twitter:
TJ Grant went from being an average welterweight in 2010 to, by 2013, being one of the most fearsome lightweights in MMA. Since dropping to 155 pounds, Grant is undefeated, posting a 5-0 record with three stoppage victories.
Earlier this year, he squared off against former lightweight contender Gray Maynard. While Maynard was heavily favored, courtesy of his potent ground-and-pound and clinch work, Grant scored a shocking first-round knockout, setting up a title fight with then-champion Ben “Smooth” Henderson at UFC 164.
However, Grant suffered a serious concussion while training for the fight, forcing him to withdraw. He was replaced by Milwaukee native Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who would go on to defeat the champ via first-round armbar.
While Grant had earned the title shot by defeating Maynard, many wondered if he would get his promised time in the spotlight. After beating Henderson, Pettis called out featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who he was originally scheduled to face at UFC 163. The fight was scuttled as “Showtime” injured his knee and was replaced by “The Korean Zombie”, Chan-Sung Jung.
Pettis, however, suffered a knee injury during his fight with Henderson. The severity is unknown at this time, and the new lightweight king is currently awaiting MRI results that will determine how soon he is capable of returning to the cage.
Keep an eye on Bleacher Report for exact details on the bout when they become available.
Update:
Pettis’ MRI results have come in, and he sustained minimal damage to his knee and can return to fighting in seven weeks. You can read our full article here.
The UFC’s return to the Land Down Under reportedly has a main event of mammoth proportions.
One of Oceania’s most popular fighters, Mark Hunt, is said to be squaring off against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a heavyweight affair in the main attraction. Ho…
The UFC’s return to the Land Down Under reportedly has a main event of mammoth proportions.
One of Oceania’s most popular fighters, Mark Hunt, is said to be squaring off against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a heavyweight affair in the main attraction. However, a city and venue has not been nailed down yet.
Both Silva and Hunt look to get back into the win column after recent losses.
“The Super Samoan” took a setback at UFC 160, where Junior dos Santos broke through the legendary chin of Hunt with a spinning heel kick. That loss reversed a four-fight win streak that saw the hulking New Zealand kickboxing legend knock out Stefan Struve, Cheick Kongo and Chris Tuchscherer.
“Bigfoot” lost his last bout in a bid for the heavyweight title when was knocked out by Cain Velasquez. Previous to that, Silva fired off impressive knockout wins over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem.
A matchup of the two is interesting. Both are powerful strikers, but Silva has a vastly superior ground game and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. That being said, Hunt has a great chin and needs just one strike to end Silva’s night.
Both men are looking to get back in the title hunt that knockout losses pulled them out of. One has to believe a win would make them one of a few names within title contention.
The event is set to take place December 21st and from judging the events already announced, it will probably be labeled UFC Fight Night 33. Talent from Australia and New Zealand is likely to have a solid presence on the card as well.
When looking at talent from the area, fighters such as Dylan Andrews, James Te Huna and Robert Whittaker are all possibilities of making the card.
There are no other fights announced for this card, so stay tuned with Bleacher Report as more fights on this card become available.
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has been a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for just a few months now, but fans of grappling and MMA alike know the fighter for his uncanny submission defense.
That’s why it was completely unexpected to…
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has been a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for just a few months now, but fans of grappling and MMA alike know the fighter for his uncanny submission defense.
That’s why it was completely unexpected to see long-time rival Anthony Pettis submit “Bendo” in the first round of their UFC 164 encounter this Saturday, locking up a picture perfect armbar to earn the tap and capture the lightweight gold.
Pettis, a Roufusport fighter known for his electric striking, obviously has been working on improving his submission game as well.
The most intriguing part of the whole story is, according to his jiu-jitsu coach, Diego Moraes, “Showtime” is just a blue belt in BJJ, though he has proven he is ready for his purple belt, according to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.
Anthony Pettis’ coach just told me he’ll promote the UFC champ to purple belt in jiu-jitsu next week. Yes, a blue belt submitted Henderson.
When Cruz asked Moraes what he would do if Pettis tapped UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo, another respected black belt, despite his striking prowess, the instructor joked Pettis may skip wearing his brown belt all together.
And what if Pettis submits Jose Aldo, another black belt, next? “Well, then I’ll have to give him the black belt already (laughs),” he said.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with the submission-heavy martial art, the belt rank system goes as follows: white, blue, purple, brown and, finally, black.
Also worth mentioning is that many jiu-jitsu academies across the world typically only promote their students based on the progress they have made training in the gi, as opposed to no-gi, a more MMA-oriented environment.
Despite a novice to intermediate rank on the ground, Moraes told MMA Fighting yesterday that Pettis “has jiu-jitsu skills to defeat anyone in this division.”
Pettis suffered a knee injury during his title clash with Henderson leaving his return to the Octagon uncertain, though many expect his next opponent to be Aldo.
Pettis called out Aldo moments after putting on the championship gold Saturday night and subsequent comments by “Scarface’s” manager asked Pettis to vacate the title before matching up with the featherweight sensation.
However, Aldo has since put any notion that he was afraid to fight Pettis to rest, imploring UFC President Dana White to book the fight at any weight he sees fit (via MMA Junkie).
According to the UFC’s official rankings, Pettis is of course the top-ranked lightweight in the world but also cracks the pound-for-pound list at number 8.
JohnHeinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
For the last few years, whenever Joseph Benavidez woke up in the morning and walked out to his living room, one of the first things he saw everyday was a picture of a UFC title sitting on his mantel.
It was a visualization technique that Benavidez empl…
For the last few years, whenever Joseph Benavidez woke up in the morning and walked out to his living room, one of the first things he saw everyday was a picture of a UFC title sitting on his mantel.
It was a visualization technique that Benavidez employed because he so badly wanted to clasp the UFC gold, and it consumed his every waking moment.
For Benavidez, winning a UFC title was the culmination of a life’s work, and the payoff for every hour he’s spent in training, and each fight he’s won to be considered one of the best fighters in the world.
The first time he had a chance at a belt it was back in the WEC when he battled Dominick Cruz to a split decision in 2010. When he didn’t go home with the title that night, the desire to hold the gold became that much more important for Benavidez.
Two years later and Benavidez was now considered the best flyweight in the world, but he didn’t have the belt just yet, and as it turns out he wouldn’t claim that title either. Benavidez ultimately lost in his bid to claim the 125-pound championship when he lost another close decision to Demetrious Johnson last year at UFC 152.
Benavidez bounced back quickly.
He has now won his last two fights in a row, and as he stands at the ready for his next trip to the Octagon on Wednesday night to face former top ranked flyweight Jussier Formiga, there’s a lot on his mind as always, but the obsession about becoming champion no longer clouds his every thought.
“I feel like I never really left the title picture, even right after the Demetrious (Johnson) fight. I could have made a stink or whatever (about another shot), not that I would have got it, but I was in the picture,” Benavidez said. “After the Ian McCall fight I was definitely in the picture, probably could have gone for it, but it was just kind of my choice as a fighter and as an improving fighter and individual to really just not obsess over the title as much.
“I made the mistake of really obsessing over the title and when I was going to get it. At 135, fighting Dominick Cruz two times within a year, losing, and then no matter what I did after that, I could be ranked No. 2 in the world the whole time I was never going to get another title shot. With the (flyweight) division so new, I just wanted to see it develop, and I feel like I had just fought Mighty Mouse. That’s kind of the outlook I’ve took since that.”
When Benavidez wasn’t fighting for the gold, he was a completely different fighter.
He decimated opponents at both bantamweight and flyweight for several years, but that elusive gold strap somehow haunted him so much, that the obsession outweighed his performances and led to two defeats in two title fights.
Now, Benavidez isn’t saying that Cruz or Johnson didn’t deserve to get the nod in either fight, or that they weren’t part of the reason he lost, but the desire to become champion overwrought his mind to the point where he was no longer having fun and enjoying himself in the cage during those fights.
As Benavidez enters his third fight since losing in the title bout against Johnson, he’s realizing there’s much more to life than just winning the UFC gold. Benavidez forced himself to look at the bigger picture when it comes his happiness, and he has a lot to be thankful for, even if he can’t say he’s a UFC champion.
“It’s really an outlook I’ve always had, except when I had the title fight,” Benavidez said. “It was like it was life or death when I was going in there fighting for the flyweight title. Now, it’s fun for me again, and doing what I love to do. I just need to remember even if I don’t get the title, I have an awesome life and an awesome family and friends.”
With a win on Wednesday night in Brazil, Benavidez realizes his name is going to come up again for the title shot and a rematch against Johnson.
He’s tactical in his approach these days when discussing the title because Benavidez knows the mistakes he’s made in the past, and those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Benavidez has never wavered when it came to his training or preparation for a fight, but now he’s got his mind in the right place when it comes to his standing in the sport, and what it means to be called “the best.” If the call comes after his next fight that he’s getting a title shot, it will definitely be special, but it will no longer saturate his mind with a single fixation of becoming champion.
“It looks like after this fight there aren’t many options left as far as the division goes,” Benavidez said. “It’s not something I could really say no to. After three wins, and I’m starting to feel a whole lot better, I’m improving every fight. So we’ll see what happens.”
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Frank Mir, the two-time UFC heavyweight champion who has now lost three consecutive fights and two of three by TKO, has no plans to retire anytime soon, according to the fighter’s manager.
“Yes, he definitely wants to fight,” Mir’s manager, Malki…
Frank Mir, the two-time UFC heavyweight champion who has now lost three consecutive fights and two of three by TKO, has no plans to retire anytime soon, according to the fighter’s manager.
“Yes, he definitely wants to fight,” Mir’s manager, MalkiKawa, said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani. “Frank has actually improved. He’s actually gotten better. And he hasn’t had an opportunity to show it.”
Mir, 34, took a TKO loss to Josh Barnett last Saturday at UFC 164. Less than two minutes into the fight, Barnett landed a heavy knee to Mir’s head, Mir fell to the canvas and referee Rob Hinds waved off Barnett moments later.
“Yeah, it was too early. It was definitely too early,” Kawa said of the stoppage. “In talking to Frank, Frank was completely aware and conscious of what was going on. He wasn’t rocked, he just didn’t want to get hit again.”
In the end, it all amounted to just the latest setback for Mir.
Eleven months after suffering a devastating and demoralizing TKO in a title bout with then-champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, Mir (16-8) then dropped an uninspiring decision to Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in Cormier‘s UFC debut. After the dos Santos loss, Mir moved his training camp home base from his native Las Vegas to Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn’s vaunted MMA gym in New Mexico. Despite claims that Mir is feeling and fighting better than he ever has, the improvement has yet to materialize when the bright lights are on.
Three consecutive losses marks the end of a UFC tenure for many professional fighters. UFC officials have not yet revealed any future plans or intentions for Mir.
The stoppage marred a strong Octagon return for the 35-year-old Barnett (33-6), himself a former heavyweight champion. After testing positive for steroids back in 2002 following his defeat of Randy Couture at UFC 36, Barnett left the UFC. Saturday night marked his first UFC fight since that win over Couture, which netted him the UFC heavyweight title.
Joe Warren, bean spiller?
On Monday, the Bellator bantamweight and Fight Master coach was presumably poised to discuss his bout this Thursday at Bellator 98. Instead, Warren may have also broken a bit of UFC news, nonchalantly noting that his friend Sc…
Joe Warren, bean spiller?
On Monday, the Bellator bantamweight and Fight Master coach was presumably poised to discuss his bout this Thursday at Bellator 98. Instead, Warren may have also broken a bit of UFC news, nonchalantly noting that his friend Scott Jorgensen is moving down to the flyweight division. Jorgensen has never fought professionally at 125 pounds.
“Now that he’s a 125-er, he can’t talk [smack] to me anymore,” Warren said of Jorgensen Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani.
When pressed on the topic, Warren didn’t backpedal, saying, “Yeah, it is news, and I’ll be the first one to say it. He walks around at 138 right now and he’s going to have that belt within a year.”
Jorgensen has not publicly commented either way via Twitter or any other means. The 30-year-old bantamweight veteran is 14-7 overall and 3-3 in the UFC Octagon. His last fight, a submission loss to Urijah Faber, happened in April, and the UFC has not yet announced a new fight for Jorgensen.
Well respected as a tough out among fighters and fans alike, Jorgensen has at times appeared a bit undersized at the elite echelons of the 135-pound division. On its surface, a run at flyweight may make sense for Jorgensen, who was a three-time Pac-10 champion wrestler at Boise State University.
The flyweight division is one of the UFC’s thinnest weight classes, though it has moved recently to add depth with signings of top prospects like Darrell Montague, Ali Bagautinov, Dustin Ortiz and Justin Scoggins.
Though Warren’s interview ironically stood out most for letting the Jorgensen weight-drop cat out of the bag, he still discussed his role on Bellator’s reality TV series Fight Master, as well as his Bellator 98 tangle with Nick Kirk. The 36-year-old Warren, Bellator’s former featherweight champ, is looking for one more title run. Thursday’s fight is the part of the first round of Bellator’s latest bantamweight tournament.
For the last few years, whenever