Over the course of this summer, UFC fans have witnessed some of the greatest fights known to man. We have seen spectacular TKOs, submissions and decisions. We have seen fighters make names for themselves, while others have fallen off the charts. Becaus…
Over the course of this summer, UFC fans have witnessed some of the greatest fights known to man. We have seen spectacular TKOs, submissions and decisions. We have seen fighters make names for themselves, while others have fallen off the charts.
Because of these athletes’ exceptional performances, the UFC continues to become the world’s fastest growing sport. While we have seen a countless number of great fights, there were some that stood above the rest.
The following is a power ranking of the five best UFC fights of this summer. Sit back and enjoy.
(Meathead says he and HD will throw down if it makes dollars and cents.)
Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry are a one-of-a-kind duo. The former training partners turned close friends are two of UFC’s most likable fighters, as goofy as can be while still possessing lethal knockout power.
They enjoy their jobs, carry a demeanor unlike most into the Octagon and definitely have fun outside of the UFC (maybe Barry more than Meathead, see Barry underwear pic).
“Pat and I really sincerely enjoy our positions,” Mitrione pointed out in an exclusive interview he did with TapouT’s Virtual Training Center on behalf of CagePotato.com recently. “We understand that it’s a job, it’s a very, very tough boat. You get in, you earn your money or you get your ass cut and we understand that so we both respect the grind, we respect the sport, but I feel that as a result of that we enjoy it.”
By CagePotato guest contributor Mike Schmitz
(Meathead says he and HD will throw down if it makes dollars and cents.)
Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry are a one-of-a-kind duo. The former training partners turned close friends are two of UFC’s most likable fighters, as goofy as can be while still possessing lethal knockout power.
They enjoy their jobs, carry a demeanor unlike most into the Octagon and definitely have fun outside of the UFC (maybe Barry more than Meathead, see Barry underwear pic).
“Pat and I really sincerely enjoy our positions,” Mitrione pointed out in an exclusive interview he did with TapouT’s Virtual Training Center on behalf of CagePotato.com recently. “We understand that it’s a job, it’s a very, very tough boat. You get in, you earn your money or you get your ass cut and we understand that so we both respect the grind, we respect the sport, but I feel that as a result of that we enjoy it.”
Mitrione and Barry developed a close bond training at Roufusport where the two heavyweights became “very, very good friends,” according to Meathead.
They help each other game-plan for their opponents, but would they ever dare to come to blows in a UFC bout?
The answer is a unanimous, “yes.”
“Yeah, sure I would absolutely fight Pat. Pat and I have talked about it before, but the money needs to be right. I’m not going to fight Pat — who’s a very, very good friend of mine — I’m not going to fight him for normal money,” Mitrione, who next faces Cheick Kongo at UFC 137 explains. “If they want that fight to happen then they’re going to have to pay that fight out. Pat knows that, Pat agrees the exact same way.”
There’s no doubt that Barry and Mitrione would sell the fight and ultimately deliver. Four out of “Meathead’s” five fights have ended by stoppage, and six of “HD’s” nine bouts resulted in a knockout.
The moral of the story: Mitrione and Barry are willing to fight for the right price, and there’s no question that they’d put on a damn good show.
“If Pat and I ever scrap it’s going to be worth our time. It’s going to be worth everybody else’s time because we’re going to get in there and try to hurt each other. We’re going to do it,” Mitrione says. “We’re going to stand up, earn our money. I’m going to try to submit Pat or put my chin across his forehead and he’s going to do the exact same thing to me.”
Train with Barry and Mitrione at TapouT VTC
(Video courtesy of YouTube/TapouTVTC)
Barry and Mitirone brought their friendship to TapouT VTC, where they teach two modules each like the sample lesson in the video above. Mitrione teaches stand-up and grappling while Barry focuses on punching and kicking.
TapouT VTC offers over 400 “on demand” MMA training videos from the top coaches and fighters in the game. Learn from over 30 fighters and trainers with content updated on a weekly basis.
“With TapouT VTC you can watch the best MMA fighters and trainers teach the best techniques, which is pretty damn good for your development,” Mitrione said. “It’s much better than watching YouTube or DVDs because it’s explicit and very direct. You can also take it to the gym and say ‘I just saw this, I want to try this piece out.’ Or even put it on at the gym and say ‘hey guys let’s try this because it looks pretty crafty. I saw Bob get stuck in this the other day.’”
Members also get MMA workout videos, nutritional tips and exclusive interviews.
Train with Mitrione and Barry at TapouT VTC today.
At UFC on Versus 4, Cheick Kongo showed a ton of heart as he made a huge comeback against Pat Barry.Barry had Kongo hurt bad, landing a flurry of punches. But Kongo regained his composure good enough to land a couple of hard sh…
At UFC on Versus 4, Cheick Kongo showed a ton of heart as he made a huge comeback against Pat Barry.
Barry had Kongo hurt bad, landing a flurry of punches. But Kongo regained his composure good enough to land a couple of hard shots of his own, knocking out the American Kick boxer.
With the win, Kongo showed just how much he could overcome.
Here are some fights the Frenchman should consider if he wants to move up in the division.
It was another night of main event changes as the Ultimate Fighting Championship presented their fourth show on Versus, shown live in the early hours of this past Monday morning on ESPN here in Britain.The broadcast began in the heavyweight division as…
It was another night of main event changes as the Ultimate Fighting Championship presented their fourth show on Versus, shown live in the early hours of this past Monday morning on ESPN here in Britain.
The broadcast began in the heavyweight division as Matt Mitrione faced Christian Morecraft.
Old Meat Head put in another great performance in his blossoming MMA career. From the outset, his striking looked top-notch as he rocked Morecraft a couple of times with big lefts.
Morecraft had some success in the second with his take downs, but when the referee stood the fighters up because of inactivity, Mitrione went to work with the combinations, sending Morecraft crashing with a three-punch combo. Mitrione didn’t follow him down, and the referee stopped the fight to give him the knockout win.
The welterweight division was next, as John Howard took on Matt Brown.
This was a pretty even three-round affair. Both fighters put in some good work at times, with Howard’s leg kicks and his take-downs looking particularly effective in the first round.
Brown was more than able to keep up with him, with some good take down defence and ground work of his own.
All three judges scored in favour of Brown.
The welterweight action continued with Ricky Story taking on Charlie Brenneman.
The fight that was intended to be the main event saw Brenneman put on a good display of ground fighting in the first two rounds, continually frustrating Story with his superior work rate.
Story’s best moments came in the third round, when he finally managed to take control on the ground with a leg triangle. But Brenneman regained control towards the end of the fight.
It was too little too late for Story though, with all three judges giving the fight to Brenneman.
The new main event saw Cheick Kongo taking on Pat Barry in the heavyweight division.
This battle of the kick boxers proved to be an explosive affair. Both fighters tested the waters early on with a series of kicks. But when Barry connected with a big right, it looked to be all over.
Barry went in for the kill, and at one point it looked like the referee was going to stop the fight; but when he saw that Kongo was trying for a take down, he let the action continue.
Seconds later it was over. Kongo got to his feet and connected with a right uppercut that sent Barry crashing. A brief moment of ground-and-pound followed before the referee stopped the fight, giving Kongo the incredible knockout win.
In conclusion, despite all of the changes this proved to be a top-notch show with four good fights, from the excellent ground fighting display of Brenneman and Story to the explosive striking of Barry and Kongo.
So in all this show gets the thumbs up, a perfect appetiser for this weekend’s big event.
Filed under: UFC, NewsFive fighters from Sunday’s UFC on Versus 4 card in Pittsburgh have been hit with medical suspensions following their fights, three of them for 60 days.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission released the post-fight suspensi…
Five fighters from Sunday’s UFC on Versus 4 card in Pittsburgh have been hit with medical suspensions following their fights, three of them for 60 days.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission released the post-fight suspensions to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.
Most notably, main event heavyweight Pat Barry was suspended for 60 days and will need clearance from a neurologist before returning. Barry looked to be on his way to a win over Cheick Kongo after dropping him twice, and it looked as if referee Dan Miragliotta was close to stopping the fight.
But Kongo rallied back, still wobbly on his feet, and delivered a massive right hand that put Barry on his back. Kongo’s win is already being discussed as one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
And the damage he took from an illegal knee by Charles Oliveira will have Nik Lentz out for 60 days, as well. He also must have his right eye cleared before returning. Lentz said Monday on Twitter that he had broken bones around his eye that will likely require surgery, and his coach, Greg Nelson, told MMA Fighting on Tuesday his fighter has a broken eye socket.
After an exciting first round – one that led to a Fight of the Night bonus – Lentz took a knee to the head in the second that the referee didn’t see. Lentz’s right knee was grounded, and Oliveira went on soon after to secure a fight-ending rear naked choke. The PSAC has confirmed the result of the fight is under review. It is possible Oliveira’s win could be overturned to a no contest.
And Christian Morecraft, who ate a three-punch combination from Matt Mitrione that knocked him cold, also was hit with a 60-day suspension. The win by Mitrione, who will appear on Tuesday’s edition of “The MMA Hour” to talk about the fight with host Ariel Helwani, improved his record to 5-0 in the UFC with four wins by TKO or knockout.
Additionally, Matt Grice, who suffered a first-round TKO loss to Ricardo Lamas in the fighters’ featherweight debuts, will be on the shelf for 45 days. And Edward Faaloloto, who opened UFC on Versus 4 with a first-round TKO loss to Michael Johnson, Season 11 runner-up on “The Ultimate Fighter,” will be shut down for 30 days.
None of the fighters involved in unanimous decisions were issued suspensions, and only one fighter involved in a stoppage loss was spared a suspension – Curt Warburton. Warburton tapped to a kimura just 1:58 into the first round against Joe Lauzon, and it appeared that his right arm might be damaged. But Warburton said Monday on Twitter that his arm and shoulder were OK after the fight.
UFC Live Aftermath: PSAC Says Marquardt’s Issue Was Not a Failed Drug TestBleacher Report’s John Heinis:While various questions still remain in regards to Nate Marquardt’s bizarre failed medical test situation, PSAC executive director Gregory Sirb …
UFC Live Aftermath: PSAC Says Marquardt’s Issue Was Not a Failed Drug Test
Additionally, Sirb indicated that Marquardt was actually licensed to fight in the main event of UFC on Versus 4.
“He was licensed. He completed all of his paperwork for licensing probably a week before,” Sirb clarified.
Unfortunately for Nate “The Great,” licensing in any state comes pending with a passed set of medical tests.
As fans, fighters, and analysts alike anxiously await for the former middleweight contender to address the situation on Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour,” Sirb explained:
Five fighters from Sunday’s