Video: UFC 143 Danavlog #1

By now, you know the deal when it comes to Dana White’s videoblogs, and today’s “episode” is no different. Taking a behind-the-scenes look at the aftermath of the UFC’s second Fox event, the UFC 143 videoblog contains the familiar mix of upper and downer moments, with an emphasis on the downer. Especially tough to watch is Joey Beltran’s realization that his Zuffa career may have reached a temporary standstill in the wake of his first round KO loss to Lavar Johnson. Keep your chin up, “Mexicutioner.”

Let’s get right to the highlights.

(0:45) – Jon Jones, seen here for the last time before disappearing into a thicket of notes from which he has yet to emerge.

(1:22) – God damn it, will someone give Beltran a hug and tell him that everything is going to be alright?

(1:40) – Eric Wisely, still in awe of the calf-slicer Charles Oliveira was able to pull on him. The pain was apparently so incredible that Wisely has trouble explaining to the backstage physician where exactly the strain was.

(2:48) – Jon Jones explains how Cub Swanson is one of the “nastiest dudes” on Team Jackson. He makes a good point.

By now, you know the deal when it comes to Dana White’s videoblogs, and today’s “episode” is no different. Taking a behind-the-scenes look at the aftermath of the UFC’s second Fox event, the UFC 143 videoblog contains the familiar mix of upper and downer moments, with an emphasis on the downer. Especially tough to watch is Joey Beltran’s realization that his Zuffa career may have reached a temporary standstill in the wake of his first round KO loss to Lavar Johnson. Keep your chin up, “Mexicutioner.”

Let’s get right to the highlights.

(0:45) – Jon Jones, seen here for the last time before disappearing into a thicket of notes from which he has yet to emerge.

(1:22) – God damn it, will someone give Beltran a hug and tell him that everything is going to be alright?

(1:40) – Eric Wisely, still in awe of the calf-slicer Charles Oliveira was able to pull on him. The pain was apparently so incredible that Wisely has trouble explaining to the backstage physician where exactly the strain was.

(2:48) – Jon Jones explains how Cub Swanson is one of the “nastiest dudes” on Team Jackson. He makes a good point.

(3:30) – “Shit man, he take some knees, huh?” – John Olav Einemo, who seems a little more pissed about the clusterfuck of a plane ride he had to take from Norway in retrospect. He still manages to congratulate Mike Russow on his win, however. Stay classy, J.O.E.

(4:45) – Another look at the gash under Nick Lentz’s left eye that “cut” *snicker* his bout with Evan Dunham short.

(5:10) – Does anyone know who the older gentleman responsible for hyping up Michael Bisping is? He could give Flavor Flav a run for his money is all we’re saying.

(5:50) – The agony of defeat, paired here with the thrill of victory. And it’s honestly hard to tell which one is which.

(6:08) – Example #327 of why you never let it go to the judges. It’s like jumping off an air hockey table; it only opens the door for bitter disappointment.

(6:27) – After mirroring the above sentiment, Bisping says that Chael Sonnen “punches like a woman,” before congratulating him on the win. Oh, the ironing.

(6:50) – Bisping, now claiming that Sonnen agreed “The Count” may have taken the first two rounds of their middleweight clash. Man, Bisping just doesn’t have it in him to give a straight compliment to someone, does he? Though we agree, 30-27 was bullshit.

(8:19) – We’d be more grossed out by Phil Davis‘ shin wound if we hadn’t recently come across this.

(9:07) – Perhaps it’s due to my limited knowledge of the Hip hop genre, but it took me like 10 rewinds to figure out that the gentlemen asking DW for an autograph wasn’t T.I. It isn’t, right?

-J. Jones

GIF Party: ‘UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis’ edition


Swanson vs. Roop provided an early candidate for Side-Punchface of the Year. Props: UFC.com

Remember how last night, you invited your non-MMA fan friends over to introduce them to our sport? You spent the past week talking about how Chael Sonnen is one of the best trash talkers in professional sports, and how technical and talented these fighters were. You figured that after three fights that were guaranteed to be exceptional, your friends would be won over to MMA fandom. Then you’d continue to drink and be merry all night, and we’d all meet up here today for our traditional post-UFC event GIF party where we all high five over how awesome the fights were.

Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Instead, you found yourself doing damage control as you watched three fights worth of sloppy brawling, wall and stall and Chael Sonnen’s blatant swaggerjacking of homage to “Superstar” Billy Graham. You tried to convince them that the fights are usually nothing like this, and that these guys gassing out and the end of the first round are world class athletes. Eventually, one of your friends said “I bet Pacquiao would destroy ANY of these guys” as the rest of your friends grabbed their coats and said they’d call you next time they wanted to watch the fights.

Okay, so last night sucked. But we’ve been planning this party all week, and we’ll be damned if we cancel it at this point. So grab an alcoholic beverage, put on your gaudiest Affliction shirt and join us for our traditional post-UFC event GIF Party.

As always, praise be to Zombie Prophet at IronForgesIron.com for the GIFS.


Swanson vs. Roop provided an early candidate for Side-Punchface of the Year. Props: UFC.com

Remember how last night, you invited your non-MMA fan friends over to introduce them to our sport? You spent the past week talking about how Chael Sonnen is one of the best trash talkers in professional sports, and how technical and talented these fighters were. You figured that after three fights that were guaranteed to be exceptional, your friends would be won over to MMA fandom. Then you’d continue to drink and be merry all night, and we’d all meet up here today for our traditional post-UFC event GIF party where we all high five over how awesome the fights were. 

Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Instead, you found yourself doing damage control as you watched three fights worth of sloppy brawling, wall and stall and Chael Sonnen’s blatant swaggerjacking of homage to “Superstar” Billy Graham. You tried to convince them that the fights are usually nothing like this, and that these fighters gassing out and the end of the first round are world class athletes. Eventually, one of your friends said “I bet Pacquiao would destroy ANY of these guys” as the rest of your friends grabbed their coats and promised they’d call you next time they wanted to watch the fights.

Okay, so last night sucked. But we’ve been planning this party all week, and we’ll be damned if we cancel it at this point. So grab an alcoholic beverage, put on your gaudiest Affliction shirt and join us for our traditional post-UFC event GIF Party.

As always, praise be to Zombie Prophet at IronForgesIron.com for the GIFS.  

Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson

Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller

Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely

 

Cub Swanson Felt the Trash Talk Gave Him Extra Motivation

Trash talk in MMA is starting to become the norm, but Cub Swanson felt he never had to do it. That all changed in his preparation to face George Roop at UFC on Fox. Looks like it worked, as Swanson got his forst victory inside the octagon (16…

Trash talk in MMA is starting to become the norm, but Cub Swanson felt he never had to do it. That all changed in his preparation to face George Roop at UFC on Fox. Looks like it worked, as Swanson got his forst victory inside the octagon (16-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) by defeating Roop via TKO at 2:22 of RD 2.

Swanson talks about his victory George Roop at UFC on Fox 2, whether he was motivated by the trash talk and much more.

Swanson on if the trash talk on Twitter gave him that extra added motivation: “Definitely, I’m not one to get into trash talking battles unless somebody starts it. He definitely got me fired up. I mean last week, when i was supposed to be calming down one day.

“I was like you know what, I’d rather not get injured, I’m a little tired, I’m not gunna spar today. I sat down and I looked at my phone and I got a message from him saying he was gunna smash me. I put on my gear and went right to sparring. It was just like extra motivation.”

You can email me with question/comments here.

You can follow me on Twitter @fightclubchi.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Cub Swanson Explains Bad Blood With George Roop

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CHICAGO — Watch below as Cub Swanson breaks down his knockout win over George Roop at UFC on FOX 2. Swanson discusses his first win in the UFC, how the war of words started between the two fighters, his emotions after the fight and much more.

 

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CHICAGO — Watch below as Cub Swanson breaks down his knockout win over George Roop at UFC on FOX 2. Swanson discusses his first win in the UFC, how the war of words started between the two fighters, his emotions after the fight and much more.

 

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Cub Swanson: ‘I’ve Always Believed That Fighters Owe the Fans a Show’

From a very young age, UFC featherweight Cub Swanson knew he was destined to become a professional athlete of some kind.If you had told Swanson he’d be fighting inside an Octagon for one of the world’s fastest growing organizations such as the UFC, he’…

From a very young age, UFC featherweight Cub Swanson knew he was destined to become a professional athlete of some kind.

If you had told Swanson he’d be fighting inside an Octagon for one of the world’s fastest growing organizations such as the UFC, he’d probably say you’re crazy.

But that’s exactly what Swanson will be doing when he takes on George Roop at UFC on FOX 2 on Saturday, Jan. 28th.

UFC on FOX 2 will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois beginning at 5 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. ET.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Swanson discussed how his unexpected journey led him to a career inside the Octagon.

“I always thought I would make it as a professional athlete but I thought it would be playing soccer,” said Swanson. “I decided to pursue MMA after training Brazilian jiu-jitsu for about a year and seeing my first fight. I told myself, that looks scary but I think I could do that.”

“So, I started training MMA and those around me started telling me I had potential. I started to think I could maybe make it a career, but it wasn’t a popular sport at the time. I knew the sport would be huge someday and I figured I could make it big right as the sport got big,” stated Swanson.

At first glance, Swanson’s track record has caused many to mistake him for just another average fighter.

However, Swanson has fallen to the jaws of defeat to some of the greatest martial artists of all time in Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Jens Pulver.

Swanson’s stiff competition has come to prove that Zuffa has a great deal of confidence in his talents and ability.

“I believe the UFC knows I’m capable of fighting the top guys and that I’m willing to take them all on. There aren’t any easy fights in Zuffa,” said Swanson. “It’s the greatest fighters in world trying to see who’s the best of the best.”

While Swanson’s No. 1 priority is to have his hand raised, he feel he owes the fans an exciting fight in the process.

“I’ve always believed that fighters owe the fans a show. I’m a fighter and my job is to beat the man in front of me, but, I want to do it in a way that is memorable to people,” stated Swanson.

“Cub” will have the opportunity to give the fans what they desire when he meets Roop in a featherweight showdown in front of a sold out United Center.

Swanson recognizes Roop as a serious contender in the 145-pound weight division as he’s coming off an impressive performance against Hatsu Hioki at UFC 137.

However, Swanson feels he has what it takes to get his first Octagon victory when the two meet in a few short days.

“George did great in that fight and I thought he won, but that was a completely different fight than what ours will be like,” said Swanson. “Obviously his reach will be a factor in this fight but I’m not overly concerned.”

“I really love this matchup because Roop is always game to brawl and that gets me fired up for this fight. I’m the more complete fighter and I have the tools to shut him down,” stated Swanson.

Swanson’s main goal for his FOX debut is simple.

“I really want to show the fans that he isn’t on my level and that I’m a much better fighter,” said Swanson. “I just really want to smash this kid.”

Over the course of his career, for some reason or another, Swanson has developed a somewhat “mean” personality or is at least portrayed that way.

But that isn’t who Swanson is at all, as looks can be deceiving.

“I think fans see me fight and think I’m a very mean and intense person but in reality I’m very shy, quite and laid back.”

“I want all the fans to know that this is not just a job but it’s my life. I have sacrificed so much to be here in the UFC and all I want is to entertain them,” stated Swanson. 

At just 28 years of age, Swanson clearly has much more to offer to the sport of MMA and feels that he is just getting started.

As time progresses, Swanson is determined to make every moment count as he knows in a blink of an eye it could all be over.

“I want people to remember me as being an exciting fighter and that I fight my heart out every time I’m out there,” stated Swanson. “For myself I want to retire knowing I reached my full potential as a martial artist, so that I can move on to my next chapter in life.”

Swanson concluded by stating,

“I don’t want to ever wonder if I could’ve done more.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Booking Roundup: Swanson vs. Roop at UFC on FOX 2, Brenneman vs. Roberts at UFC on FX 1


(Roop: seen here enforcing the theory that a straight shot to the head will kill any zombie.) 

Looking to rebound from his controversial decision loss to Hatsu Hioki at UFC 137, featherweight contender and TUF 8 alum George Roop has recently agreed to face Cub Swanson at UFC on Fox 2. Prior to the Hikoi loss, Roop scored a brilliant thrid round TKO over Josh Grispi at the TUF 13 Finale in June. Swanson, on the other hand, is coming off a less-than-controversial second round submission via arm triangle choke to Ricardo Lamas in his UFC debut at UFC on Fox 1. The Team Jackson product has dropped three of his last five and should need a win here if he wants to continue fighting under the Zuffa banner.

Fun fact: Roop hasn’t put together a win streak since 2007 and has gone loss-win in his past 9 bouts (excluding a draw with Leonard Garcia), so pure logic dictates that he will emerge victorious from this one. You can’t argue with that science, Potato Nation.


(Roop: seen here enforcing the theory that a straight shot to the head will kill any zombie.) 

Looking to rebound from his controversial decision loss to Hatsu Hioki at UFC 137, featherweight contender and TUF 8 alum George Roop has recently agreed to face Cub Swanson at UFC on Fox 2. Prior to the Hikoi loss, Roop scored a brilliant thrid round TKO over Josh Grispi at the TUF 13 Finale in June. Swanson, on the other hand, is coming off a less-than-controversial second round submission via arm triangle choke to Ricardo Lamas in his UFC debut at UFC on Fox 1. The Team Jackson product has dropped three of his last five and should need a win here if he wants to continue fighting under the Zuffa banner.

Fun fact: Roop hasn’t put together a win streak since 2007 and has gone loss-win in his past 9 bouts (excluding a draw with Leonard Garcia), so pure logic dictates that he will emerge victorious from this one. You can’t argue with that science, Potato Nation.

In other booking news, Daniel “Ninja” Roberts announced on his Twitter yesterday that he will be facing inaugural Pros vs. Joes winner (whaa?) Charlie Brenneman in a welterweight tilt set for the UFC’s debut on FX, which features a headlining bout between Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller. Roberts has dropped two straight bouts to Claude Patrick and Rich Attonio at UFC 129 and UFC Live 4, respectively; a loss here will surely secure him a spot in the unemployment line alongside his past three UFC victims.

Brenneman recently saw a two-fight win streak, including a decision upset over Rick Story, snapped at the hands (and feet) of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson in October. Unfortunately for Brenneman, his only wins inside the octagon other than Story have similarly come over now released fighters in Jason High and Amilcar Alves, so this match-up could likely be Zuffa’s way of trimming some fat from its welterweight division.

UFC on FOX 2 goes down January 28th from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. UFC on FX transpires just eight days prior at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

-Danga