Ponder this: When was the last time UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (33-4) had a title fight coming that fans and fighters were seriously debating that he might lose? I’m not talking the lip service that gets paid in these situations whe…
Ponder this: When was the last time UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (33-4) had a title fight coming that fans and fighters were seriously debating that he might lose?
I’m not talking the lip service that gets paid in these situations where the challenger’s fans blather on about how this is the fight that their guy shows Silva is done. I’m talking where fans, fighter and pundits honestly believe that Silva may lose his title. When was the last time that happened?
It may have been the ChaelSonnen rematch at UFC 148, but I think a lot of that talk was due to Sonnen being a great salesman and convincing people that he had a chance to defeat Silva. Of course, this line of thinking totally discounted the fact that while Sonnen was selling his awesomeness, Silva was most likely working away on exactly how to not allow himself to be in the position he was in during the first meeting with Sonnen at UFC 117.
So, back to reality. The last serious debate regarding Silva losing his title may have been ahead of the Dan Henderson bout at UFC 82, but even there, the odds were in favor of Silva.
Heading into UFC 162, the odds are once again titled to the side of the champion, but many are disregarding those odds and siding with the challenger, Chris Weidman (9-0). Even UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is getting in on the act.
According to UFC president Dana White, St-Pierre is saying that there is no way a superfight between he and Silva will take place, because he positively knows that Weidman is going to come out the victor at UFC 162.
Rick J. Lee caught up with Uriah Hall, who has a loss on his record to Weidman, and got his feelings on the fight.
(Thursday’s media scrum with Dana White, via MMA Heat)
Just a couple days after floating the possibility that middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light-heavyweight king Jon Jonescould meet in a super fight within the year, UFC President Dana White gave the media another tantalizingly qualified statement pertaining to the matchup.
“[Jones and I] talked [Wednesday],” White told assembled media during a scrum Thursday after the UFC 160 press conference. “His thing is, he says he feels great and the toe’s healing good. But the problem was that ligament. That ligament popped. Anywhere you tear a ligament, blood flow helps the thing repair itself and heal, and you don’t get a lot of blood flow at the toe.”
Jones injured his toe in his successful title defense over Chael Sonnen last month. He is currently in Russia but White says that when Jones returns, he’ll get an MRI to get a sense of how soon his toe might be ready for training and fighting again.
“Who knows – this thing could be six weeks, or it could be six months,” White said. “It’s a pain in the ass. It’s always some crazy little thing. He’s in Russia, and when he gets back he’s getting an MRI done on his toe again.”
(Thursday’s media scrum with Dana White, via MMA Heat)
Just a couple days after floating the possibility that middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light-heavyweight king Jon Jonescould meet in a super fight within the year, UFC President Dana White gave the media another tantalizingly qualified statement pertaining to the matchup.
“[Jones and I] talked [Wednesday],” White told assembled media during a scrum Thursday after the UFC 160 press conference. ”His thing is, he says he feels great and the toe’s healing good. But the problem was that ligament. That ligament popped. Anywhere you tear a ligament, blood flow helps the thing repair itself and heal, and you don’t get a lot of blood flow at the toe.”
Jones injured his toe in his successful title defense over Chael Sonnen last month. He is currently in Russia but White says that when Jones returns, he’ll get an MRI to get a sense of how soon his toe might be ready for training and fighting again.
“Who knows – this thing could be six weeks, or it could be six months,” White said. “It’s a pain in the ass. It’s always some crazy little thing. He’s in Russia, and when he gets back he’s getting an MRI done on his toe again.”
So there you have it, ‘taters: Anderson Silva and Jon Jones will totally, maybe, fight each other this year. Silva just has to beat Chris Weidman in July and Jones’ mangled toe has to heal very quickly. Then all that will be left is for the two to want to fight each other which, you know, they haven’t shown any particular interest in doing for the past couple years.
So close.
Damn it, elusive super fights. Why can’t we quit you?
Bellator MMA is currently fighting to keep Eddie Alvarez on their roster, but he’s not the only top talent that’s had contract issues with the company.According to The New York Post, Chris Weidman very nearly found himself trapped in a Bellator contrac…
Bellator MMA is currently fighting to keep Eddie Alvarez on their roster, but he’s not the only top talent that’s had contract issues with the company.
Back in 2011, just after an undefeated two-year four-fight stint in Ring of Combat, Weidman nearly signed up with the minor league MMA promotion, which was just about to run three back-to-back-to-back seasons on MTV2.
Fortunately for Weidman, he said that a last-minute glance at the paperwork revealed a clause in the contract that could’ve extended it “to three or four years”—despite the fact that Bellator allegedly told the All-American wrestling star it would be a maximum of two years:
I felt like I was betrayed by them. They never told me that. It was a little sneaky.
I was so upset. I was so let down. I was excited to go to Bellator… Everything happens for a reason. Thank God I took my time and didn’t just rush into it.
And as they say, the rest is history.
Weidman’s refusal to sign with Bellator paved the way for his UFC debut against Alessio Sakara in March 2011, which was quickly followed by a four-fight winning steak over Mark Munoz, Demian Maia, Tom Lawlor and Jesse Bongfeldt.
Now, Weidman is scheduled to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship, despite having fewer professional MMA bouts than “The Spider” has title defenses.
That match goes down during the main event of UFC 162 on July 6 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Weidman will attempt to become the very first fighter to ever hand Silva a defeat inside the UFC Octagon.
If Weidman does pull out a victory, it’ll be on the short list for the greatest upset in MMA history.
The cage door may have closed for the last time behind Aaron Simpson as a mixed martial artist, but the next chapter of his career is already under way.Since announcing his retirement in late March on the heels of his loss to Josh Burkman at WSOF 2, th…
The cage door may have closed for the last time behind Aaron Simpson as a mixed martial artist, but the next chapter of his career is already under way.
Since announcing his retirement in late March on the heels of his loss to Josh Burkman at WSOF 2, the Power MMA co-owner has been hard at work on his next endeavor.
As a lifelong competitor in the world of wrestling—both as an athlete and a coach—walking away from the realm of live competition was undoubtedly a difficult decision to make. And to this Simpson was no exception.
Having spent the better part of his 38 years grinding out the work to prepare in order to step onto the mat or inside the cage to see if the sacrifices paid off, competition is what Simpson knows best.
When you factor in the glory and recognition that comes from not only competing, but winning at the highest levels of the sport in which you choose to compete, it becomes easy to see why letting go and starting anew can be a difficult process.
Luckily for Simpson, the work he’s now dedicated to will still serve to pay dividends inside the cage.
The former UFC veteran has been selected by Sanford Health in South Dakota, the nation’s largest rural health care system, to head their Profile Performance program.
An off-shoot of the Profile program which is aimed at weight loss, Profile Performance was created to focus on helping athletes to achieve peak conditioning through a personalized nutritional regimen and a structured workout program.
When Vice President of Marketing for Sanford Profile Mark Elliot was putting the future of Profile Performance into scope; with the wealth of knowledge Simpson has accrued throughout his competitive career, he was the first option to head the new endeavor.
“We are very happy to bring Aaron Simpson on board for this program,” Elliot told Bleacher Report. “At Sanford Health—especially with Profile Performance—we are dedicated to the pursuit of helping our athletes reach optimal performance.
“With Aaron’s commitment to nutrition and his track record of being such a well-conditioned athlete throughout his career, we saw him as the perfect fit for what we want this program to accomplish.”
The program mixes athlete-specific nutrition plans with an interactive facing which allows doctors and coaches to monitor the daily activity of their athletes. Simpson believes the system is truly cutting edge and provides the high-level attention professional athletes require.
“The big thing with Profile Performance is we are tying technology in with high-level nutrition,” Simpson told Bleacher Report. “Not only are we providing them with what to eat and the reason they are eating it, but we also give them a scale that reads their metabolic rate and their weight and sends that information to an application on their phone and a website as well.
“This allows their coach to monitor the information as their athlete is going through the program. A coach can’t always be there every day to see how things are going and this allows them to log in and monitor the situation as it’s happening. They can see the losses and gain and make the necessary adjustments.
“It’s very interactive and hands-on. Coming from a wrestling background, I think people really have a mixed message when it comes to nutrition. They think they need to “carb up” and eat a bunch of pasta and they are not necessarily getting the correct foods to fuel their bodies.
“They may be lacking on the greens or fruits, nuts and different types of protein. They also need to know what to take and when. This information is very important and our program is going to take this process to the next level.”
Where most new positions come with a feeling out period of sorts, Simpson jumped immediately into the deep end of the pool so to speak. As head of the Profile Performance program he began work with title contenders Gray Maynard and Chris Weidman for their respective upcoming bouts.
“The Bully” will step in against T.J. Grant this weekend at UFC 160 to determine the next contender for the lightweight crown, while Weidman has the task of dethroning the most prolific champion in the history of the organization, Anderson Silva, on July 6 in Las Vegas.
Playing such a crucial role in his client’s preparation is a task Simpson does not take lightly.
“I’ve always monitored my nutrition and my lifestyle on top of that,” Simpson said. “As a wrestler, I’ve been cutting weight all my life, but the focus really intensified when I made the drop from middleweight to welterweight. That was over a year and a half ago now. That is when I really honed in my focus on my personal nutrition.
“But I’ve taken nutrition seriously; it has just come in different phases. When I got out of college and was attempting to make the Olympic wrestling team, my focus changed again. Basically, throughout my career as an athlete, I’ve constantly tried to evolve my nutrition and preparation to ensure I get the very best out of myself.”
“Chris [Weidman] and Gray [Maynard] are huge for us. Chris is on track to become a world champion and Gray has the opportunity to earn a title shot in his next fight. Having those guys on board and committed to the program that will enhance their performances is a great thing.
“Knowing nutrition is such a big part of the daily regimen of training and recovery from training and with the program they have made solid strides. It has already made a significant difference for Chris. He’s eight weeks out and he’s looking better than he ever has.”
Simpson’s sentiment on Weidman‘s early progression is certainly something the surging contender echoed. The Long Island native is preparing the biggest fight of his young career and wants to ensure every possible angle of his preparation is covered in the lead up. Where most fighters who were sidelined for eight months with injury typically have a sluggish start to their training camps, Weidman has hit the ground running in that aspect.
“I’m lighter than I’ve ever been starting camp,” Weidman told Bleacher Report. “I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been and my body is primed perfectly for the challenges ahead. This is an opportunity I’ve wanted for a long time. I finally got it and I’m going to do everything in my power to make the most of it and become champion. I’m doing my very best to make sure the odds are in my favor and to make sure I don’t have any regrets by the time the fight comes.
“I think the No. 1 thing I thought was really cool and different is you step on the scale every single morning and I have doctors, nutritionists, and Aaron as my coach, monitoring my weight every single day. They monitor my heart rate and blood pressure. They know if I’m under-training or over-training. That’s the biggest thing for me.
“Next comes my diet. I called up when they were working on my diet and they had seven nutritionists in one room working on my specific diet. Anytime you get that type of attention from professionals who know what they are doing, it is an awesome thing to have as a professional athlete.
“Everything is set up exactly for me and my body type,” he added. “They have the Profile shakes and bars and they worked my diet in conjunction to the Monster Milk products I am using. Everything is specified for me. I’m blessed to have Monster Milk and Profile working together to put me in the best shape to win this fight and become a healthier athlete.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
UFC on FX 8 featured three top 10 middleweights, and after their performances on Saturday night, there was a mild shake-up in the division.No. 5 Luke Rockhold stepped inside the Octagon for the first time to battle No. 2 Vitor Belfort. The fight didn’t…
UFC on FX 8 featured three top 10 middleweights, and after their performances on Saturday night, there was a mild shake-up in the division.
No. 5 Luke Rockhold stepped inside the Octagon for the first time to battle No. 2 VitorBelfort. The fight didn’t make it past the first round because Belfort pulled off an incredible KO. A spinning back kick leveled Rockhold, and The Phenom finished him off with heavy punches on the mat.
No. 8 Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza took on Chris Camozzi and made quick work of the young prospect. Once he took the fight to the ground, it was academic. Jacare locked in an arm-triangle and picked up an impressive debut victory.
The division has certainly heated up over the past year, and the inclusion of the Strikeforce middleweights has only deepened the talent pool. These are exciting times in the 185-pound division.
Here are the middleweight power rankings after UFC on FX 8.
The UFC has officially released their first promotional poster for UFC 162, and needless to say, they are highlighting the main-event bout between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. Here’s a look from the UFC’s official Twitter page:
First look at …
The UFC has officially released their first promotional poster for UFC 162, and needless to say, they are highlighting the main-event bout between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.
Silva enters the bout with a unblemished 16-0 record inside the Octagon, with 10 of those wins being successful UFC middleweight title defenses. That’s a record for the 185-pound division.
“The Spider” last defended his belt at UFC 148 against rival ChaelSonnen, whom he defeated via second-round TKO.
He also competed in the main event of UFC 153, scoring a first-round TKO of “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar, but that bout was contested at the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds.
The challenger for the July 6 event, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Nevada, boasts a perfect professional record as well.
Weidman has been on the shelf for almost 10 months due to shoulder surgery, so he hasn’t fought since UFC on FUEL 4 in July.
The event marked “The All-American’s” most impressive victory to date, scoring a brutal and bloody knockout over Mark Munoz in the second round.
Weidman, a two-time All-American collegiate wrestler as Hofstra University, has stated that he knows his takedowns and top control will be too much for the Brazilian pound-for-pound great to handle (via MMA Mania).
While wrestling is surely Silva’s weak point, his knockout power and underrated submission skills have not failed since he tapped out to a flying heel hook against RyoChonan all the way back in December 2004.
Will Weidman be just another victim for the dominant champion, or will his grappling chops be enough to finally crown a new king of the UFC’s middleweight division?
Bellator