Tag: Breaking News

Uriah Hall Talks About the Influence Ronda Rousey Has Had on His UFC Career

Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Uriah Hall had a mountain of expectations following him into his finale fight against former teammate Kelvin Gastelum last month in Las Vegas.Hall came up short in his efforts and he was accused of not taking Gastelum s…

Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Uriah Hall had a mountain of expectations following him into his finale fight against former teammate Kelvin Gastelum last month in Las Vegas.

Hall came up short in his efforts and he was accused of not taking Gastelum seriously, letting the hype of the show go to his head, and all manner of problems that cost him the fight.

Needless to say, Hall didn’t buy any of that and just chalked it up to a bad day for him and a good day for Gastelum

After the fight, Hall was ready to immediately jump back into training to try to forget the bad memories of the loss he just suffered, but instead, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey offered him some sage advice and he took it.

“After the finale, she convinced me to come down there and just take some time off,” Hall said about Rousey. “I was actually ready to go back to training. Just hanging out with her and watching how her mindset is with a lot of things, and it motivated me to get back in there and just push even harder.”

Following his exit from his old gym at Team Tiger Schulmann’s in New York, Hall has landed at Mark Munoz’s Reign Training Center for now while he’s on the West Coast to pick up some training.

While there, he discussed several hot topics, including Vitor Belfort’s dramatic spinning head kick knockout from over the weekend that mimicked Hall’s own finish while on The Ultimate Fighter.  He also talks about his time on the show and much more.

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Rory MacDonald Says He’s 100 Percent, ‘Overtrained’ for Carlos Condit

Rising UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald said Monday that he is fully recovered from a neck injury that derailed his ballyhooed rematch with Carlos Condit.”My neck and back is not an issue anymore. It doesn’t bother me at all,” MacDonald …

Rising UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald said Monday that he is fully recovered from a neck injury that derailed his ballyhooed rematch with Carlos Condit.

“My neck and back is not an issue anymore. It doesn’t bother me at all,” MacDonald said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast.  

The bout, originally scheduled for March 16 at UFC 158, was cancelled in February after MacDonald sustained the injury. He also was unable to train for about a month. 

The news disappointed fight fans, who were excited to watch the 23-year-old MacDonald (14-1, 5-1 in UFC) try to take revenge against the only man to defeat him in his professional MMA career.

Back in 2010, at UFC 115, many viewers and pundits believed MacDonald was headed for a decision victory when Condit scored a TKO with seven seconds remaining in the contest. The UFC deemed the effort to be the Fight of the Night for UFC 115.

Apparently, MacDonald was pretty excited by the opportunity himself. On Monday, he chalked up the injury to overtraining for Condit, who MacDonald personally called out in December.

“I’m just going to try to train similar to the fight against B.J.,” MacDonald said, referencing his December thrashing of B.J. Penn. “I think I was too anxious when they announced I was going to fight Carlos…Sometimes I overtrain. And sometimes I just have to settle down.”

After MacDonald pulled out of UFC 158, Condit instead faced Johny Hendricks. Condit fought well but lost by unanimous decision.

Condit (28-7) does not currently have another announced opponent. Hendricks is now expected to fight next for the UFC welterweight title, currently held by Georges St-Pierre.

MacDonald, meanwhile, is set to face another contender in Jake Ellenberger, who is on a two-fight win streak and is known for dishing out big knockouts. The two will fight on July 27 at UFC on Fox 8.

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‘EA Sports UFC’ Game Reportedly Getting First News Update During Xbox Event Day

Several months have passed since the last UFC game, and despite a promising announcement last year, EA Sports UFC has been nowhere in sight.That’s going to change, with EA confirming on the video game’s official Facebook page that the “first news”…

Several months have passed since the last UFC game, and despite a promising announcement last year, EA Sports UFC has been nowhere in sight.

That’s going to change, with EA confirming on the video game’s official Facebook page that the “first news” would appear on Tuesday.

Coincidentally—or not—Tuesday is also the same day that Microsoft is expected to reveal the successor to their Xbox 360 console, commonly dubbed the “Xbox 720” by both gaming industry journalists and fans.

Given the timing, it’s fair to assume that EA Sports UFC will be announced for the next Xbox console, either as part of Microsoft’s event, or during a separate reveal from EA.

UFC Undisputed 3 released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in February 2012 to wide critical acclaim, but various things have changed since then—most notably, the bankruptcy and dissolution of the game’s original publisher, THQ.

Ironically, EA had a previously contentious relationship with UFC president Dana White prior to the release of THQ’s first UFC installment, when White detailed his first meeting with the company to seek them as a potential publishing partner (via MMA Junkie):

It’s easy to sit on the other side of the table and judge me on how I react to stuff like this. But let me tell you what – I’ve been in the trenches for almost 10 years, and I’ve been dealing with all these businesses, and EA was one of them.

EA Sports told us, ‘You’re not a real sport. ‘We wouldn’t touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.’

We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world. We go out there and do this thing, and it’s successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a video game. Really? That’s not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago. 

You told us you’d never be in business with us. They wouldn’t even take a meeting because mixed martial arts disgusted them. This wasn’t a real sport. Boy, they got over that real quick, didn’t they?

After the success of UFC Undisputed 2009, EA further drew the ire of White by releasing EA Sports MMA, which mainly featured Strikeforce fighters like Nick Diaz and Fedor Emelianenko, with an added controversy over the inclusion of then-UFC fighter Randy Couture.

However, the two companies saw fit to patch things up immediately after EA bought out THQ’s license to the video game series.

In a surprise move, White even traveled out to Los Angeles on late notice in order to take the stage at E3 2012, helping announce EA Sports UFC during EA’s conference keynote at E3 2012.

Microsoft’s Xbox event starts at 10:00 a.m. PST on Tuesday (May 21) and will be viewable both on the official Xbox.com website and the “Live Events” hub on Xbox Live—more updates will likely be found on the Xbox Twitter account.

 

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.

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Kyle Noke Wants Ultimate Fighter Coaching Job and Then Fight Patrick Cote

Former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Kyle Noke is hoping that he can bring his UFC career full circle by putting his name in the hat to become a coach on the new international season of the reality show, which pits his native Australia against Canada…

Former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Kyle Noke is hoping that he can bring his UFC career full circle by putting his name in the hat to become a coach on the new international season of the reality show, which pits his native Australia against Canada.

Noke, who was one of the first fighters to come to prominence out of Australia, has been nursing a wrist injury after having surgery just weeks ago, but he’s already targeting his next mission in the UFC.

While he missed out on the first season of the international reality show while fellow countryman George Sotiropoulos took on Ross Pearson, Noke is ready for the challenge in the next version.

“That’s something that I definitely want to do, and I think me versus probably Patrick Cote would be the most logical choice for the coaching job,” Noke told MMA’s Great Debate Radio recently.  “I’d love to fight him, I’d love to see it.  I know he’s been tweeting about it and would love the job also.  So we both want the job, let’s get in there and do it.

“He’s another big guy, he just came down a weight division.  I think that would be a great fight, and it would be a great show to have me versus him.”

Cote also told Bleacher Report recently, after inking a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, that a job coaching Team Canada on the The Ultimate Fighter would be a dream come true.  Just like Noke, Cote is a former contestant on the reality show and has plenty of real world UFC experience to pass on to the next crop of Octagon hopefuls.

For his part more than anything, Noke just wants to be a part of the show so he can continue to help drive the sport of MMA in his native country.  While he trains primarily in New Mexico now as part of Team Greg Jackson, Noke still travels home whenever he can to help fighters in Australia as well.

He believes being on the The Ultimate Fighter would be a great showcase to take the sport to the next level, and he wants to be a part of it.

“It would mean a lot to me.  I’d love to have the opportunity to coach the young Australians, and help them pursue their dreams and it would mean the world to me,” Noke stated.  “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I’d be happy.”

Noke thinks that Cote is the natural choice as an opponent and as a fellow coach on the reality show, but no matter who he’d be matched up with, he wants in as the head of Team Australia.

If it’s Cote or another Canadian, it really doesn’t matter much to Noke.  He just wants to be a part of this season and represent Australia like he’s been doing since day one when he first stepped on the mats.

“I think it would be the best option for both of us.  Either way I don’t care who it is,” Noke stated.   “I want the job and I’m prepared to fight anyone for it.  For me, Patrick would probably be the best opposing coach.”

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Kyle Noke Wants Ultimate Fighter Coaching Job and Then Fight Patrick Cote

Former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Kyle Noke is hoping that he can bring his UFC career full circle by putting his name in the hat to become a coach on the new international season of the reality show, which pits his native Australia against Canada…

Former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Kyle Noke is hoping that he can bring his UFC career full circle by putting his name in the hat to become a coach on the new international season of the reality show, which pits his native Australia against Canada.

Noke, who was one of the first fighters to come to prominence out of Australia, has been nursing a wrist injury after having surgery just weeks ago, but he’s already targeting his next mission in the UFC.

While he missed out on the first season of the international reality show while fellow countryman George Sotiropoulos took on Ross Pearson, Noke is ready for the challenge in the next version.

“That’s something that I definitely want to do, and I think me versus probably Patrick Cote would be the most logical choice for the coaching job,” Noke told MMA‘s Great Debate Radio recently.  “I’d love to fight him, I’d love to see it.  I know he’s been tweeting about it and would love the job also.  So we both want the job, let’s get in there and do it.

“He’s another big guy, he just came down a weight division.  I think that would be a great fight, and it would be a great show to have me versus him.”

Cote also told Bleacher Report recently, after inking a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, that a job coaching Team Canada on the The Ultimate Fighter would be a dream come true.  Just like Noke, Cote is a former contestant on the reality show and has plenty of real world UFC experience to pass on to the next crop of Octagon hopefuls.

For his part more than anything, Noke just wants to be a part of the show so he can continue to help drive the sport of MMA in his native country.  While he trains primarily in New Mexico now as part of Team Greg Jackson, Noke still travels home whenever he can to help fighters in Australia as well.

He believes being on the The Ultimate Fighter would be a great showcase to take the sport to the next level, and he wants to be a part of it.

“It would mean a lot to me.  I’d love to have the opportunity to coach the young Australians, and help them pursue their dreams and it would mean the world to me,” Noke stated.  “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I’d be happy.”

Noke thinks that Cote is the natural choice as an opponent and as a fellow coach on the reality show, but no matter who he’d be matched up with, he wants in as the head of Team Australia.

If it’s Cote or another Canadian, it really doesn’t matter much to Noke.  He just wants to be a part of this season and represent Australia like he’s been doing since day one when he first stepped on the mats.

“I think it would be the best option for both of us.  Either way I don’t care who it is,” Noke stated.   “I want the job and I’m prepared to fight anyone for it.  For me, Patrick would probably be the best opposing coach.”

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

John Cholish: UFC Underpays Fighters, Many Don’t Break Even

Former UFC lightweight John Cholish, who abruptly retired before his loss Saturday night at UFC on FX 8, said Monday that he retired from fighting because his pay was too low.“I can say from how I’ve been treated directly and on my understa…

Former UFC lightweight John Cholish, who abruptly retired before his loss Saturday night at UFC on FX 8, said Monday that he retired from fighting because his pay was too low.

“I can say from how I’ve been treated directly and on my understanding of what the UFC takes in on an annual basis that they could compensate the lower-level fighters…and even the upper-level fighters a little bit better,” Cholish said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast.

The issue of fighter pay has long been a radioactive topic for MMA in general and particularly for the UFC, a promotion that has long defended itself against claims of undercompensation and resisted calls for reform but does not formally release fighter salary or revenue figures.

Cholish, 29, finished 8-3 in his MMA career and 1-2 in the UFC Octagon. Cholish, who also works full time for an energy commodities brokerage firm on Wall Street, said he had spoken with other fighters and professionals in and around the sport and in both the UFC and other promotions who share the belief that fighters are underpaid.

To date, however, few have spoken out on the issue. Apparently, as a result of his public stance on such a sensitive topic, Cholish said an unnamed fighter who also was on the UFC on FX 8 card Saturday refused to take a picture with Cholish.

“I just think a lot of fighters feel the same exact way I do but are just in a situation or a position where for lack of a better word they’re just scared to speak out because they’re worried about the repercussions,” Cholish said.

Cholish said he personally earned $8,000 to show up for his fight Saturday night, with another $8,000 if he won (he lost to Gleison Tibau). However, Cholish said he “probably won’t receive any money” for his efforts after subtracting expenses. Cholish estimated that the costs of his camp and for his team to travel to Brazil for UFC on FX 8 would probably total between $5,000 and $10,000. Those costs included medical tests, extra visas, licensing fees and payments to coaches and management.

“I think if you’re a fighter on the lower level you should at least be getting enough income win or lose in your fight so that…you can go into that fight fully focused on the fight,” Cholish said. “I don’t understand how [lower-level fighters] can live off the income at this level.”

Cholish said a relatively small difference—adding “$5,000 or $10,000” to the base pay of lower-level fighters—could go a long way for fighters.

“Going into these fights, I knew I was going to lose money,” Cholish said. “If I’m losing money, is it really something I want to keep doing, especially if I’m putting myself at risk?”

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