If you were curious as to how different a night of fights being put together by Nick Diaz would be from a typical night of fights heading into last night’s WAR MMA 1, the short answer is “not too much (yet).” Despite some rule changes designed to prevent stalling and a one point deduction due to timidity during Cody Gibson vs. Darin Cooley – this is right around where you can insert your own Stockton Rules joke – seven out of twelve bouts went to decision. This isn’t to say that the fights were boring, but rather, that the special rules didn’t make much of a difference.
The main event of the evening saw UFC veteran Daniel Roberts take on Justin Baesman. The fight looked like it was in danger of being stopped just seconds into the first round, as Roberts caught Baesman’s kick, took him down and began punching away. But Baesman hung on, and survived the subsequent choke attempt, to get back to his feet and earn two takedowns by the end of the first round.
The second round saw Baesman continue to outwork Roberts, who was visibly spent from his opening efforts by this point. Roberts would earn a takedown of his own at the start of the third round – and spend most of the round in top control – but in the end it wasn’t enough to convince two of the three judges that he did enough to win the fight.
If you were curious as to how different a night of fights being put together by Nick Diaz would be from a typical night of fights heading into last night’s WAR MMA 1, the short answer is “not too much (yet).” Despite some rule changes designed to prevent stalling and a one point deduction due to timidity during Cody Gibson vs. Darin Cooley – this is right around where you can insert your own Stockton Rules joke – seven out of twelve bouts went to decision. This isn’t to say that the fights were boring, but rather, that the special rules didn’t make much of a difference.
The main event of the evening saw UFC veteran Daniel Roberts take on Justin Baesman. The fight looked like it was in danger of being stopped just seconds into the first round, as Roberts caught Baesman’s kick, took him down and began punching away. But Baesman hung on, and survived the subsequent choke attempt, to get back to his feet and earn two takedowns by the end of the first round.
The second round saw Baesman continue to outwork Roberts, who was visibly spent from his opening efforts by this point. Roberts would earn a takedown of his own at the start of the third round – and spend most of the round in top control – but in the end it wasn’t enough to convince two of the three judges that he did enough to win the fight.
Full Results from WAR MMA 1:
Justin Baesman def. Daniel Roberts via split decision
Evan Esguerra def. Caleb Mitchell via unanimous decision
Clayton McKinney def. Mike Persons via unanimous decision
D.J. Linderman def. Mike Hayes via unanimous decision
Cody Gibson def. Darin Cooley via third-round TKO (3:46)
Roy Boughton def. Mike Martinez via verbal submission (toehold) (R1, 0:28)
Dominic Clarke def. Chris Quitiquit via second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage, 0:37)
Marcel Fortuna def. CJ Marsh via submission (side choke) (R2, 2:40)
Anthony Tatum def. Joey Cabezas via split decision
Adrian Adona def. Beau Hamilton via second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage, 5:00)
Mike Ortega def. Jordan Powell via split decision
Derek Brown def. Aziz Rashid via unanimous decision
So what was your impression of WAR MMA’s first event? Do you feel the fights were worth whatever you donated to watch them? Let us know what you think.
Hell, tickets even went on sale, with ringside (yes, as in a ring not a cage) seats still available as of writing this!
Unsurprisingly, the main event will feature a Team Cesar Gracie fighter – UFC veteran Daniel Roberts (14-4, 3-4 UFC) – fighting against the most formidable local opponent the promotion can find. Via NickDiazPromotions.com:
Hell, tickets even went on sale, with ringside (yes, as in a ring not a cage) seats still available as of writing this!
Unsurprisingly, the main event will feature a Team Cesar Gracie fighter – UFC veteran Daniel Roberts (14-4, 3-4 UFC) – fighting against the most formidable local opponent the promotion can find. Via NickDiazPromotions.com:
Fighting out of San Francisco, Daniel Roberts is set to face challenger Justin Baesman from the East Bay of California. Roberts has had numerous bouts in the UFC and trains with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team. Baesman now with a 12-4 record, has looked good as of late and a win over Roberts would catapult him to the next level of his career.
Main Card:
Daniel Roberts vs. Justin Baesman
Antonio Banuelos vs. Benny Vinson
Caleb Mitchell vs. Evan Esguerra
Mike Persons vs. Clayton McKinney
Darin Cooley vs. Cody Gibson
Roy Boughton vs. Liron Wilson
Chris Quitiquit vs. Dominic Clark
There haven’t been any announced bouts for the undercard, so if you’re holding out on hope that there will be a gloriously preventable screw-up somewhere in the planning of this event, it may come here. But as for now, things appear to be running very smoothly, despite all of us expecting the contrary.
So now the only question that remains is, do you plan on watching War MMA’s inaugural event in a few weeks?
Guillard choking, in every sense of the word. (Photo: UFC.com)
While the ‘UFC on FX’ debut may have lacked the big names of UFC 142, the fights themselves packed just as much fire-power. For the second straight week, six fighters were able to put away their opponent and double their earnings in less than a round. Punches, chokes, and a torrent of brutal hellbows were all used to send grown men into la-la land, and we’ve got the GIF’s to prove it.
Guillard choking, in every sense of the word. (Photo: UFC.com)
While the ‘UFC on FX’ debut may have lacked the big names of UFC 142, the fights themselves packed just as much fire-power. For the second straight week, six fighters were able to put away their opponent and double their earnings in less than a round. Punches, chokes, and a torrent of brutal hellbows were all used to send grown men into la-la land, and we’ve got the GIF’s to prove it.
The frantic pace of UFC events and the multitude of FOX-owned cable networks on which to show those events has at least one upside: more fights means a greater demand for fighters. In turn, that might mean that some of the pressure to win, win, win jus…
The frantic pace of UFC events and the multitude of FOX-owned cable networks on which to show those events has at least one upside: more fights means a greater demand for fighters. In turn, that might mean that some of the pressure to win, win, win just to stay in the UFC will slacken just a tad, though I wouldn’t bet on it.
The UFC is still in the business of rewarding winners and jettisoning losers. As we’ve seen lately, there is a place for guys who put on a good show even in defeat. It’s just still unclear what that place is. The UFC might need guys to fill out these FX and FUEL TV fight cards, but it’s not as if there’s a shortage of MMA fighters who want a shot in the big leagues. When in doubt, it’s best to win and keep your neck off the chopping block.
So who needs a victory in a bad, bad way on Friday night’s UFC on FX card, and what are their chances of getting it? For answers, we turn to the Cut List.
Pat Barry (6-4, 3-4 UFC) Who he’s facing: Christian Morecraft Why he’s in danger: First off, let me say that I like Barry. I like him as a person, and I enjoy watching him fight. This is his eighth fight in the UFC, and he’s yet to have a boring or even mediocre one. That said, Pat Barry needs to win. He’s lost two straight, and three of his last four. This trend simply cannot continue much longer. The tough part is, it’s not like he’s getting outclassed. He had Cheick Kongo all but knocked out before that one slipped away, and he seemed to be well on his way to beating Cro Cop before he broke almost every bone that he needed for that fight. I know every fighter has to deal with his share of bad luck now and then, but the way Barry’s career has been going I’m started to suspect he hit a gypsy with his car or built his gym on top of an Indian burial ground. The good news is, he’s well liked by fans and has the guns-a-blazing style that the UFC loves. It seems like just about everybody wants him to be successful, and how could you not? Just read this, this, and this, and then try and tell me he’s not the most down-to-earth, self-aware fighter in the UFC. But if you’re going to stay in the UFC, you have to win some fights. Eventually even the nice guys run out of second chances. Outlook: Cautiously optimistic. He should beat Morecraft, who has a size but not a skill advantage over him. Even if he doesn’t, I predict at least one more go-round for Barry. He’s too much fun to have around for the UFC to cast him out before it absolutely has to.
Jorge Rivera (18-9, 7-7 UFC) Who he’s facing: Eric Schafer Why he’s in danger: Rivera had the best run of his UFC career in 2009/10, beating a trio of guys who have since left the organization to seek their fortunes elsewhere. His current two-fight skid began with the TKO loss to Michael Bisping, which you could argue was a very raw deal in many respects, then continued with a split decision loss to Constantinos Philippou. That rough stretch has dropped him from co-main event territory to the prelim portion of a Friday night fight card. Where’s the next stop if he can’t halt his fall there? The 39-year-old Rivera would probably rather not find out. Outlook: Hopeful, but fading fast. It’s Rivera’s age more than his record that gives one pause. He’ll be 40 next month, and his is not a fighting style that tends to age well. Maybe he can beat Schafer, but even then, how much time is left on the clock? Rivera’s a good dude and a tough fighter, but no one gets to do this forever.
Eric Schafer (12-6-2, 3-5 UFC) Who he’s facing: Jorge Rivera Why he’s in danger: If you’re like me, you reacted to the news of this pairing by shouting out loud, ‘Hold up, Eric Schafer’s still in the UFC?!’ Then, when the grouchy librarian came over to tell you that you had to either be quiet or leave, you used your remaining seven minutes of internet time to research Schafer’s recent career stats in search of an answer. Turns out he’s been victorious just three times in his eight trips inside the Octagon, and all three of those opponents were booted from the UFC immediately after losing to him. Granted, Houston Alexander was later brought back for a fight with Kimbo Slice, but that doesn’t change the fact that, thus far in his MMA career, Schafer has been the guy who helps the UFC decide if you should be fired or not. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a place for that. But what happens when that guy loses? Better yet, what happens when that guy hasn’t won a fight in the UFC in three years, and the last person he beat in the Octagon then went on to lose five of his next seven in the smaller shows? The last time Schafer lost two in a row, he got cut. Then he won one fight outside the UFC before coming back to lose to Aaron Simpson at the start of his current stay. If he can’t beat Rivera, that’s another two-fight skid for Schafer. He’s been around this sport long enough to know what that would mean for his career. Outlook: Grim. Look, this is a winnable, though by no means easy fight for him. What it definitely isn’t is a losable fight. Not if he wants to stick around.
Daniel Roberts (12-3, 3-3 UFC) Who he’s facing: Charlie Brenneman Why he’s in danger: Roberts got off to a rough start in the UFC with a brutal KO loss to John Howard, but then he rebounded with three straight victories — two by submission. That led to a step up in competition, which in turn led to some hard times for Mr. Roberts. After losing back-to-back decisions to Claude Patrick and Rich Attonito, he now finds himself just one loss away from the dreaded three-fight skid. The worst part is, not many people expect him to win this one. Brenneman is a 3-1 favorite according to most oddsmakers, and the bout itself is stuck in the middle of the FUEL TV prelims. With his 3-3 mark in the organization, this bout feels like a fork in the road for Roberts, who has some genuine talent. You just wonder if he’s good enough to stay at this level. You also wonder how many chances the UFC will give him to prove it. Outlook: Slightly pessimistic. Brenneman is a tough draw for a guy in Roberts’ shoes, but that’s life in the UFC. As long as he’s upright and conscious, he’s got a chance to pull off the upset and turn this thing around. If he doesn’t, he might be headed straight off a cliff.
(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.
Filed under: UFCThe UFC’s Pittsburgh debut got another shakeup overnight.
The UFC announced late Monday that Martin Kampmann has stepped out of his UFC on Versus 4 fight against John Howard with an injury. To compensate, Matt Brown moves up the card …
The UFC’s Pittsburgh debut got another shakeup overnight.
The UFC announced late Monday that Martin Kampmann has stepped out of his UFC on Versus 4 fight against John Howard with an injury. To compensate, Matt Brown moves up the card to face Howard, and Brown’s original opponent, Rich Attonito, will now face Daniel Roberts. The UFC did not disclose the nature of Kampmann’s injury.
Just last week, the card’s main event, between Anthony Johnson and Nate Marquardt, had to change when Johnson pulled out with an injury. Marquardt, dropping from middleweight to make his welterweight debut, now faces Rick Story, who just 10 days ago upset Thiago Alves at UFC 130.
UFC on Versus 4 takes place at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on June 26. The main card airs live on the Versus cable channel, part of a four-fight deal the UFC has with Versus for 2011. Versus previously was the home of the WEC, which was folded into the UFC at the start of this year.
Kampmann was looking to get back in the win column after a pair of decision losses – both controversial – to Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez. Shields beat Kampmann by split decision at UFC 121 last October to get a shot at Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title. In March, at UFC on Versus 3, Kampmann lost a unanimous decision to Diego Sanchez – though many believe Kampmann won the fight, and FightMetric’s stats indicate Kampmann did more damage.
Brown has lost three straight, all by submission, to Ricardo Almeida, Chris Lytle and Brian Foster. Howard has lost two in a row, to Jake Ellenberger and Alves, after a 4-0 start to his UFC career.
Attonito also drops down from middleweight to welterweight for the first time. He is coming off a loss to Dave Branch at the TUF 12 Finale in December. Roberts had his three-fight streak stopped by Claude Patrick at UFC 129 in April.
“I feel I’m finally down at the weight class I should have been the entire time,” Attonito said in a release from his management company. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt physically and athletically.”
With just four bouts on the main card on Versus, the event will tie a UFC record for most preliminary card fights on one show with eight. UFC 103, in September 2009, was the first card in the promotion’s history with 13 fights – eight of which were prelims. That was also the first time a pair of prelims aired live on Spike TV.
Though not yet announced by the UFC, some of all of the UFC on Versus 4 prelims could wind up on Facebook. All of the UFC’s events since January’s Fight for the Troops 2 show have included preliminary fights streaming for free on the social networking site. Including this Saturday’s UFC 131 pay-per-view, the last four have aired each fight on the card with a combination of Facebook, Spike and pay-per-views.
The frantic pace of UFC events and the multitude of FOX-owned cable networks on which to show those events has at least one upside: more fights means a greater demand for fighters. In turn, that might mean that some of the pressure to win, win, win just to stay in the UFC will slacken just a tad, though I wouldn’t bet on it.
The UFC’s Pittsburgh debut got another shakeup overnight.