Tag: Demetrious Johnson

Video: ‘Uncle Creepy’ Is One of the Most Appropriate Nicknames in MMA History

(You will be hit with the creepy at the 0:11 mark. Props: HDNetFights via MiddleEasy.)

Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall made a recent appearance on Inside MMA to discuss the UFC’s addition of flyweights, and Jesus Christ, would you look at that guy. It’s like him and her had a baby. The long-haired surfer vibe that Ian used to rock in his WEC days is gone, replaced by a gentleman who looks like he might drive a surprise van in his spare time. Are the UFC’s fans ready for such mustachioed intensity?


(You will be hit with the creepy at the 0:11 mark. Props: HDNetFights via MiddleEasy.)

Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall made a recent appearance on Inside MMA to discuss the UFC’s addition of flyweights, and Jesus Christ, would you look at that guy. It’s like him and her had a baby. The long-haired surfer vibe that Ian used to rock in his WEC days is gone, replaced by a gentleman who looks like he might drive a surprise van in his spare time. Are the UFC’s fans ready for such mustachioed intensity?

I’ll give McCall credit, though: He’s a good talker, and every division needs at least one. After warping our minds with a statement like “I’m the greatest flyweight of all time, for the past year,” he follows it up with the more straightforward “I need my weight class, it’s mine, give it to me, because I’m gonna beat up everybody.” Demetrious Johnson responds in humble fashion, which is no way to get attention.

UFC Officially Adding Flyweight Class With Four-Man Tournament to Crown Champ

Before the weekend, UFC president Dana White said he expected to officially announce the addition of a flyweight division within days. It was a promise he kept.

During the UFC 140 post-fight press conference, White announced a four-man tournament that…

Demetrious JohnsonBefore the weekend, UFC president Dana White said he expected to officially announce the addition of a flyweight division within days. It was a promise he kept.

During the UFC 140 post-fight press conference, White announced a four-man tournament that would involve current bantamweights Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, who will shed 10 pounds to fight in their more natural class.

The tournament will eventually crown the division’s first champion.

White announced a March 3 start date for the tournament. Right now, the promotion has yet to officially announce the date and location of that event, but speculation has placed it in Australia, which would actually make it a March 4 event given its location to the west of the international date line.

Regardless, the fights are set.

Johnson will take on Ian McCall (11-2), who was the 125-pound division champ in Tachi Fighting Championship, and Benavidez will face Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-4-6), the Shooto 123-pound champ.

Johnson was last seen losing a decision to Dominick Cruz during an Oct. 1 UFC on Versus event. He’s 9-2 overall. Meanwhile, Benavidez is 15-2, riding a three-fight win streak with victories over Eddie Wineland, Ian Loveland and Wagnney Fabiano.

An addition of a flyweight division had been a longtime goal for the UFC. White first brought up the plan over a year ago, but various other projects and initiatives sidetracked it until now. The addition gives the UFC championships in eight weight classes, including bantamweight (135), featherweight (145), lightweight (155), welterweight (170), middleweight (185), light-heavyweight (205) and heavyweight (265).

 

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UFC Plans to Announce Flyweight Class This Weekend

Filed under: UFC, NewsCHICAGO — The wait is almost over for the arrival of a 125-pound weight class in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White said Wednesday that he expects to make a formal announcement about a flyweight class within a matter of days, l…

Filed under: ,

Dana WhiteCHICAGO — The wait is almost over for the arrival of a 125-pound weight class in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White said Wednesday that he expects to make a formal announcement about a flyweight class within a matter of days, likely when he’s in Toronto for UFC 140.

“This weekend. We should have something by this weekend. But it’s happening,” White said.

Several current UFC bantamweights, including Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, Charlie Valencia and recent Ultimate Fighter winner John Dodson, would appear likely to move down to 125 pounds. But that will be their decision alone. For his part, White said he won’t tell any bantamweights to move down.

“I’m not moving anybody. Those guys can make that decision themselves,” White said.

At the moment, the flyweight class is known only to the hardest of hard-core MMA fans, but White said he sees that changing in a hurry, and he thinks adding flyweights will help the UFC attract more fans in Asia and Latin America.

“I have a feeling that 125-pound division is going to be as talented as 155 and 170,” White said. “I’ve been working on it for months. At 125 pounds you’re going to see a lot of Hispanic, a lot of Asian fighters now coming to compete at that weight. Traditionally when you look at boxing, Asians or Hispanics have dominated those weights.”

The most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, which featured featherweights and bantamweights, is part of what has White bullish about smaller fighters — especially Dodson.

“If anything proved how awesome the small guys are it was this season of The Ultimate Fighter,” White said. “How about that Finale? The Finale was incredible The Diego [Brandao] fight was probably the best one round I’ve ever seen. And John Dodson is just phenomenal. The guy is an amazing, explosive athlete.”

And he could be a future flyweight champion.

 

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UFC Plans to Announce Flyweight Class This Weekend

Filed under: UFC, NewsCHICAGO — The wait is almost over for the arrival of a 125-pound weight class in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White said Wednesday that he expects to make a formal announcement about a flyweight class within a matter of days, l…

Filed under: ,

Dana WhiteCHICAGO — The wait is almost over for the arrival of a 125-pound weight class in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White said Wednesday that he expects to make a formal announcement about a flyweight class within a matter of days, likely when he’s in Toronto for UFC 140.

“This weekend. We should have something by this weekend. But it’s happening,” White said.

Several current UFC bantamweights, including Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, Charlie Valencia and recent Ultimate Fighter winner John Dodson, would appear likely to move down to 125 pounds. But that will be their decision alone. For his part, White said he won’t tell any bantamweights to move down.

“I’m not moving anybody. Those guys can make that decision themselves,” White said.

At the moment, the flyweight class is known only to the hardest of hard-core MMA fans, but White said he sees that changing in a hurry, and he thinks adding flyweights will help the UFC attract more fans in Asia and Latin America.

“I have a feeling that 125-pound division is going to be as talented as 155 and 170,” White said. “I’ve been working on it for months. At 125 pounds you’re going to see a lot of Hispanic, a lot of Asian fighters now coming to compete at that weight. Traditionally when you look at boxing, Asians or Hispanics have dominated those weights.”

The most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, which featured featherweights and bantamweights, is part of what has White bullish about smaller fighters — especially Dodson.

“If anything proved how awesome the small guys are it was this season of The Ultimate Fighter,” White said. “How about that Finale? The Finale was incredible The Diego [Brandao] fight was probably the best one round I’ve ever seen. And John Dodson is just phenomenal. The guy is an amazing, explosive athlete.”

And he could be a future flyweight champion.

 

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MMA Monday Headlines with the TUF 14 Finale Octagon Girls (EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS)

Michael Bisping tops TUF 14 Finale salaries by A LOT with $425,000 payout. Some mugger tried to rob an MMA fighter and quickly found out that was a bad idea. Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson.

Michael Bisping tops TUF 14 Finale salaries by A LOT with $425,000 payout.

Some mugger tried to rob an MMA fighter and quickly found out that was a bad idea.

Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson set for UFC 144 in Japan.

UFC on FX 1 to feature Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel “Ninja” Roberts.

UFC on Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis adds George Roop vs. Cub Swanson and Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland.

TUF 15 tryouts in Vegas gets over 350 fighters including Kultar Gill and Jamie Yager.

Our exclusive photos of the lovely Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell by Joe Pic Photography below:

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Booking Roundup: Thiago vs. Pyle at UFC 142, “Mighty Mouse” vs. Wineland at UFC on FOX 2


(I guess it’s true what they say; life imitates art.) 

It has recently been reported that a welterweight contest between Paulo Thiago and Mike Pyle has been added to the rapidly awesoming UFC 142 card, which goes down January 14th in Rio. Thiago, a Brazilian superhero of sorts, last competed in the UFC’s return to Brazil at UFC 134, notching a unanimous decision victory over David Mitchell. It was Thiago’s first win in his past three contests, so a win over Pyle is likely necessary if he wants to keep his job that doesn’t involve Brazilian gangs, which, according to this one documentary I saw, are fucking terrifying. Pyle, on the other hand, just saw a three fight win streak (one that included an upset win over British prospect John Hathaway) snapped at the hands of Canadian wrecking machine Rory MacDonald.


(I guess it’s true what they say; life imitates art.) 

It has recently been reported that a welterweight contest between Paulo Thiago and Mike Pyle has been added to the rapidly awesoming UFC 142 card, which goes down January 14th in Rio. Thiago, a Brazilian superhero of sorts, last competed in the UFC’s return to Brazil at UFC 134, notching a unanimous decision victory over David Mitchell. It was Thiago’s first win in his past three contests, so a win over Pyle is likely necessary if he wants to keep his job that doesn’t involve Brazilian gangs, which, according to this one documentary I saw, are fucking terrifying. Pyle, on the other hand, just saw a three fight win streak (one that included an upset win over British prospect John Hathaway) snapped at the hands of Canadian wrecking machine Rory MacDonald.

Coming off a close decision loss to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz at UFC on Versus 6, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will be looking to get back in the win column against the first ever WEC bantamweight champion, Eddie Wineland. Wineland is in a similar position as Thiago, having dropped two straight unanimous decisions to Team Alpha members Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez at UFC 128 and UFC Live: Lytle vs. Hardy, respectively, and will be a huge underdog coming into this bout.

UFC on FOX 2 is set to transpire January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

-Danga