Tag: Breaking News

UFC’s Hector Lombard: ‘Let’s Cut the Bullshit’ About Fight vs. Anderson Silva

Hector Lombard isn’t happy that he’s being overlooked for a shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship, and he’s calling out every title contender.During an interview with News.com.au, “Lightning” Lombard essentially called out every top 185-pounder in …

Hector Lombard isn’t happy that he’s being overlooked for a shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship, and he’s calling out every title contender.

During an interview with News.com.au, “Lightning” Lombard essentially called out every top 185-pounder in the division, stating that he wants to leave no guess to who should really getting the next crack at the MMA pound-for-pound kingpin:

I just don’t want to fight guys that they say: “[Oh,] that was [an] easy match-up for him.” I want to fight the hardest match-up. I wish they (the UFC) could go now and make a pool of the toughest guys at 84kg that no one wants to fight and I want to fight that guy.

Not many people want to fight Palhares. Before we had the fight people were saying: “Hector is gone, Phalares [sic] is taking Hector’s leg back to Brazil.” I would like to fight Chris Weidman, he’s a big name. I’ve been asking for (Yushin) Okami, I’ve been asking for Okami but they (UFC) won’t give him to me because of his chin. Okami has no chin, he can’t cop the punches. And where’s Jake Shields? He’s been around forever, he beat Dan Henderson. Those are the guys I want to fight.

Originally, the UFC seemed to be angling Lombard towards title contention after a high-profile contract signing that brought the Cuban-Australian fighter up from Bellator’s own middleweight division.

But despite a long reign with Bellator’s middleweight title, three regional MMA titles, an extremely decorated Judo background and a gaudy 32-3-1 record (with one “No Contest”), a past upset to loss Tim Boetsch took away much of Lombard’s steam.

However, Lombard says that the UFC just won’t give him Anderson Silva, despite his hyped arrival into the promotion and dominant 25-1-1 stretch over nearly six years:

Let’s cut the bullshit, let’s be honest, they won’t give me Anderson Silva. We have to be realistic and talk about things that might happen.

I’ve got to take one fight at a time and one-by-one I can take them out and by the end of the year people are going to say he deserves the title shot. I want it to just be my hard work. I want people to say that no one deserves the title more than him.

Future plans aside, Lombard will have the chance to improve his 1-1 UFC record when he faces Yushin Okami during the main card of UFC on Fuel 8, taking place on March 3 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

That fight will support a heavy card of matches, including a main-event bout between Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann.

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UFC 158: Sean Pierson vs. Rick Story Added to Welterweight Heavy Card

MMA Weekly reports that Sean Pierson vs. Rick Story will be the sixth welterweight fight on the UFC 158 fight card, set to take place in Montreal on March 16. The card is headlined by Georges St-Pierre’s long awaited title defence against Nick Di…

MMA Weekly reports that Sean Pierson vs. Rick Story will be the sixth welterweight fight on the UFC 158 fight card, set to take place in Montreal on March 16.

The card is headlined by Georges St-Pierre’s long awaited title defence against Nick Diaz, while Rory MacDonald gets a chance to avenge his loss to Carlos Condit in the co-main.

Pierson adds to the Canadian flavour of the card. A former Toronto police officer, Pierson has gone 2-2 in his last four matches. Having lost two back-to-back fights in 2011 against Jake Ellenberger and Kim Dong Hyun, he did well last year with two wins against Jake Hecht and Lance Benoist.

Going against him is Story who—between 2010 and 2011—was rocketing towards a title shot by winning six straight fights and defeating the likes of Thiago Alves and current top welterweight contender Johny Hendricks.

However, he’s gone 1-3 since, losing to Charlie Brenneman, Martin Kampmann and Demian Maia in his last match, leaving his future at the promotion in a precarious situation.

The remaining fights on the UFC 158 card will also feature Canadian welterweights. Patrick Côté takes on Bobby Voelker, and Jordan Mein takes on Dan Miller.

Côté will be making his welterweight debut after losing to Cung Le last July and then winning by disqualification due to punches to the back of the head against Alessio Sakara. He was expected to rematch Sakara, but has instead decided to drop down a division.

UFC 158 will be a big night for the whole division. Not just because the champion defends his belt once again but because the No. 2 contender, Johny Hendricks, will also be fighting for his shot.

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Wanderlei Silva Destroys Training Partners in Preparation for Brian Stann

Is the “Axe Murderer” of old back? Not to be ants at a picnic (yes, I said that), but no, the gloriously ferocious Wanderlei Silva of Pride fame is probably not back.In fact, he’ll never be back, because the human brain simply isn’t designed to ge…

Is the “Axe Murderer” of old back? 

Not to be ants at a picnic (yes, I said that), but no, the gloriously ferocious Wanderlei Silva of Pride fame is probably not back.

In fact, he’ll never be back, because the human brain simply isn’t designed to get scrambled like Sunday morning eggs and continue to function properly. 

That said, it sure is fun to watch him beat up on his training partners at Wand Fight Team, isn’t it? 

In the video, courtesy of bjpenn.com, “The Axe Murderer” looks quick and spry, and his partners clearly cannot match his intensity. Silva claims these partners are all “first-class fighters,” but they certainly look to be more parts punching bag than professional fighter in this clip. 

Is the video just a pump-you-up promotional piece from Wandy’s camp leading up to his bout with Brian Stann at UFC on Fuel TV 8? 

Probably. 

There’s nothing wrong with that, though. The matchup is already as tantalizing as any in the near future, so what’s the harm in fueling the already-raging fire? 

I like to watch Wandy succeed, and as a fan of mixed martial arts, I enjoy myself a healthy dose of controlled rage—so this video is A-OK by me. 

What do you make of it? Is Wandy better than ever, or is he just sparring some nobodies?

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Greg Jackson Talks Upcoming Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis Bout

UFC on Fox 6 is set for Jan. 26,  and will feature a flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson.Though the night’s main event promises to deliver, perhaps the most anticipated bout of the evening comes in the form of a l…

UFC on Fox 6 is set for Jan. 26,  and will feature a flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson.

Though the night’s main event promises to deliver, perhaps the most anticipated bout of the evening comes in the form of a lightweight scrap between two former WEC title players, namely Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis.

Both Cerrone and Pettis have made waves in the UFC since making the jump to Zuffa’s primary promotion, and their impending bout is one that will have nostalgic MMA fans salivating. Each fighter is highly regarded for their respective skill levels, but it’s the flare they fight with that has earned each man his fan favorite label.

Cerrone‘s trainer and cornerman Greg Jackson expects the match to be a good one, something he recently expressed to Sherdog:

I don’t think it’s going to be a typical fight anywhere just because both of these guys are so talented. It’s going to be one of those fights where you have to fight for small things and try to get the advantage where you can. It’s a real war. I’m really looking forward to the fight. Pettis is amazing. He comes from a great camp, and I think it’s going to be a hell of a fight.

Jackson went on to comment on Cerrone‘s preparedness for Pettis‘s unorthodox techniques, like the “Showtime Kick,” noting that “Cowboy” will “be ready for that.” 

And he’ll have to be, if he hopes to slow the dynamic Pettis who seems no farther than two wins from a shot at Ben Henderson’s lightweight crown. Indeed, a victory for “Showtime” at UFC on Fox 6 might just ensure a redo of the WEC‘s last ever fight.

Cerrone himself isn’t too far removed from the lightweight title either. He’s 6-1 since hooking up with the UFC, and is coming off a spectacular knockout of Melvin Guillard.

Between title implications riding on both sides, the immense talent shared by Cerrone and Pettis and the strong likelihood that it will be an action-packed affair, Greg Jackson seems to be very much on the mark in his assessment of the contest.

“It’s going to be one hell of a fight.”

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UFC on FX 7: Vitor Belfort Gives Bizarre Answer When Questioned About TRT

UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort unquestionably has one of the best physiques out of all the fighters at 185 pounds, but is he all natural? That was one of the topics of conversation in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on T…

UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort unquestionably has one of the best physiques out of all the fighters at 185 pounds, but is he all natural? 

That was one of the topics of conversation in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on Tuesday. Belfort was asked if he has used or would ever consider using testosterone replacement therapy.

The 35-year-old “Phenom” gave a very strange response to question, without giving a definitive yes or no answer:

If a question is private, I have the choice to answer or not. If I make it public, it’s not private anymore. If I want to say something private I will say it, but I keep to myself and I respect the laws of the sport. Whatever the organization, whatever the law — they know what to do. This is too controversial, why am I going to say something that doesn’t accomplish anything? If it’s legal, they know what to do. If it’s legal, there’s nothing to say about it. It’s legal. 

When Okamoto followed up by asking if Belfort felt TRT was creating a bad image for MMA, Belfort again gave a less than straightforward answer. 

It’s hard. Like, you’re either a Republican or Democrat. Who is right? I think it’s this: The truth is always in the middle. Of course, some things are non-negotiable. I think in life, you just need to find a balance. That’s the problem with the rule, is that everyone is so radical. That’s my opinion. I’m very faithful to the things I believe in and I’m working on myself. I don’t like to judge. When you judge people, it sounds like you are God. We live in a freedom country. It is what it is.

While it remains unclear if the former UFC light heavyweight champ has used TRT, one thing for certain is that he did test positive for the anabolic steroid 4-hydroxytestosterone after losing a Oct. 2006 PRIDE bout to Dan Henderson. 

The Brazilian argued that he either ingested the performance-enhancing drug from either an over-the-counter supplement or from rehabilitative injections received from a doctor. 

The Nevada State Athletic Commission didn’t buy it, though, suspending Belfort for nine months and fining him $10,000 for the positive test. 

Belfort is set to take on Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7, hoping to play spoiler to the title dreams of “The Count,” since he has been promised a shot at Anderson Silva if he can outlast Belfort. 

What is your analysis of Belfort‘s cryptic comments about testosterone replacement therapy?

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Dana White: MMA Is ‘the Safest Sport in the World, Fact’

UFC president Dana White has proclaimed that his organization is safer than the NFL. Furthermore, he said that MMA as a whole is the world’s safest sport. It seems ironic to think that a sport with choke holds, elbows, knees, kicks, joint locks an…

UFC president Dana White has proclaimed that his organization is safer than the NFL. Furthermore, he said that MMA as a whole is the world’s safest sport. 

It seems ironic to think that a sport with choke holds, elbows, knees, kicks, joint locks and strikes is the least hazardous, but White doesn’t seem to think so. 

White told MMAMania the following: 

Concussion is a huge dilemma right now for the NFL. Here’s the difference between the UFC and the NFL as far as concussions are concerned. First of all, if you get a concussion, if you get knocked out or you get hurt whatsoever in the UFC, three months suspension. You are on suspension for three months and you cannot come back until you are cleared by a doctor. You can’t have any contact whatsoever. In the NFL, you’re not going to lose Tom Brady for three months, man. You lose Tom Brady for three months and your whole season is wiped out. So, the UFC, listen, we don’t hide from it, it’s a contact sport and that’s what these guys do, (is) much safer. In the 20-year history of the UFC, it will be 20 years in November, there has never been a death or a serious injury. Never been a death or serious injury in 20 years because we go above and beyond when it comes to the safety of these guys. When you know you have two healthy athletes getting ready to compete, they get the proper medical attention before and after, it’s the safest sport in the world, fact.

White is certainly correct about the perils of getting a concussion in the NFL. There are no medical suspensions issued by athletic commissions to protect football players. They simply get concussed, and then come back some weeks later for a new round of brain trauma. 

However, his disquisition on concussions and safety reeks of Dana White the promoter. That is, the diatribe is partly triumphalist hot air. 

Yes, it’s true that there hasn’t been a death in the UFC’s Octagon, but there have been deaths in MMA. And the UFC can tow the “we’re safe, we don’t have athletes who wind up with long-term brain injuries” line because the company is so young. 

It was founded in 1993, but the early days didn’t feature competitors that fought for decades. Some did, but others did not. For example, initial UFC mainstay Royce Gracie only fought 12 times in the 1990s.

The UFC wasn’t the sprawling juggernaut it is now. There weren’t as many “professional” MMA fighters then. 

Also, the early days of the UFC didn’t have gloves. 

This seems like it’d make the sport safer but, in reality, it’s the opposite. How many fighters were knocked out cold from strikes in the old days? The most prominent KO was when Tank Abbott fought John Matua at UFC 6. And what was Abbott wearing? Gloves. 

It was made evident early on that punching someone in the head with bare hands wasn’t the most efficient way to win.

Keith Hackney did that at UFC 3 against Emmanuel Yarborough and walked away with a broken hand for his efforts. He got the “W” but couldn’t continue in the tournament. Meanwhile, grapplers like Gracie took people down, choked them out, and usually walked away just fine. 

Adding gloves to “regulate” the sport made punching people in the face safer for a fighter’s hands, and let knockouts come in droves.

It wasn’t until Dana White and his financial backers, the Fertitta Brothers, purchased the company 2001 that it started to aggressively expand.

White and Co. have only been at the helm for 12-odd years. The initial cadre of full-time fighters has evolved into an entire generation of them.

Still, we haven’t had enough time to see swaths of battered athletes retire and grow old. MMA is safe, yes, and the UFC does take precautions to protect its fighters, true. But calling the sport “the safest sport in the world” is errant hyperbole. 

 

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