Tag: FanHouse Exclusive

For Small Town Fighter Woodard, Bellator Tourney Offers Chance to Shine

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorMISSOULA, Mont. – When undefeated lightweight Lloyd Woodard (10-0) heard he’d finally get a shot at the big leagues via Bellator’s 155-pound tournament, he did what any self-respecting Montanan would do: he star…

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MISSOULA, Mont. – When undefeated lightweight Lloyd Woodard (10-0) heard he’d finally get a shot at the big leagues via Bellator’s 155-pound tournament, he did what any self-respecting Montanan would do: he started growing a mustache.

We’re not talking some Brooklyn hipster lip fuzz, either. There is nothing ironic about Woodard’s facial hair, though it is intended to send a message when he shows up on MTV 2 to face Carey Vanier on Saturday night.

“I want everybody to know I’m from Montana,” said the 26-year-old Woodard.

It’s not simply regional pride, although, sure, there’s some of that wound up in Woodard’s Western-style ‘stache. But there’s a strategic element to this, too.

Bellator Champ Zack Makovsky Looks to Join World Bantamweight Elite

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorZack Makovsky captured his first championship belt in 2010 after winning Bellator’s inaugural bantamweight tournament. Makovsky’s rise to glory came quietly, which is not surprising given his soft-spoken nature….

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Zack Makovsky captured his first championship belt in 2010 after winning Bellator’s inaugural bantamweight tournament. Makovsky’s rise to glory came quietly, which is not surprising given his soft-spoken nature. Still, it was an accomplishment worthy of some bragging rights, particularly given his grinding schedule; Makovsky fought six times in eight months in 2010, winning all his fights.

With the championship, Makovsky put himself on the international MMA radar, though he hasn’t been a surprise to those in the know. Among those was his Philadelphia Fight Factory teammate and fellow Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez, who told MMA Fighting that he forecasted Makovsky’s success from the beginning.

“For people who don’t know about Zack, you’re going to find out,” Alvarez said. “You don’t need my words to tell you, you’re going to find out very soon. The first time I met him, before I ever won a title, I said to him, ‘You’re going to be a world champion.’ That was maybe 5-6 years ago. He just had certain qualities where you knew that he was not going to have it any other way. Some guys just have what it takes. It’s not the talent, speed, strength or whatever, it’s the attitude. And he had that attitude to be a world champion.”

Victor Conte, Kyle Kingsbury and the Making of the Modern Fighter

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveIt started small, the way these things often do. Kyle Kingsbury knew a guy who knew a guy. A training partner of his at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. was hooking him up with some pre-workout sup…

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It started small, the way these things often do. Kyle Kingsbury knew a guy who knew a guy. A training partner of his at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. was hooking him up with some pre-workout supplements that he really liked, and eventually it occurred to him to seek out the source.

One thing led to another and pretty soon Kingsbury, who had just come off a decision loss in his UFC debut, was sitting down for a meeting with none other than Victor Conte – the man whose name had become synonymous with steroids in the sporting world. It’s the kind of thing that might have made UFC president Dana White pop a forehead vein, had he known about it at the time.

“I had my reservations at first,” said the 28-year-old Kingsbury (10-2-1). “That first meeting I had with Victor, we sat down and we must have talked for two and a half hours. I think what allowed me to have trust in him was him telling me about everything that had gone on with him going to jail, how his wife had passed away, and it was just all on him to take care of his four daughters, and there was no way he could ever take a chance on going back to jail. He just had a lot of regret.”

Injury, Impending Fatherhood Sideline Matt Serra

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsMatt Serra hasn’t competed since his September loss to Chris Lytle at UFC 119, and chances are he won’t be returning to action in the immediate future.

Serra’s long-time coach, Ray Longo, said on Monday’s epis…

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Matt Serra hasn’t competed since his September loss to Chris Lytle at UFC 119, and chances are he won’t be returning to action in the immediate future.

Serra’s long-time coach, Ray Longo, said on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, that with Serra’s wife expecting the couple’s second child in April and a lingering hand injury still bothering the former UFC welterweight champion, the 36-year-old Serra will most probably remain on the sidelines for a good portion of 2011.

Eddie Alvarez: ‘Any Night, I Have the Ability to Beat Anyone in the World’

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, BellatorNo matter which publication you favor, you don’t have to look too far down the lightweight rankings before you find the name of Eddie Alvarez. With a record of 21-2, and wins in 11 of his last 12 fights, he is b…

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No matter which publication you favor, you don’t have to look too far down the lightweight rankings before you find the name of Eddie Alvarez. With a record of 21-2, and wins in 11 of his last 12 fights, he is by far the most highly ranked fighter in any division on the Bellator roster.

The across-the-board respect for his impressive resume is a long overdue development for the 27-year-old Philadelphian, whose quest for widespread acclaim — done completely outside the UFC machine — has been a slow burn.

Alvarez has done it with an in-cage work ethic worthy of his city’s blue-collar roots. Philly has always been a notorious fight town, home to boxing greats like Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston and Bernard Hopkins, but with no new pugilists coming to the forefront, Alvarez has essentially filled the void, watching his popularity grow over the last few years. Now, with the promotion’s arrival on MTV2, Alvarez may see his profile and reputation expand even further.

The MMA Hour With Tito Ortiz, Heath Herring, Chris Weidman, Joe Lozito

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour finally returns on Monday with a full lineup of guests from around the MMA world.

* UFC light heavyweight Tito Ortiz will discuss the recent injury that forced him to pull out of his fight again…

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The MMA Hour finally returns on Monday with a full lineup of guests from around the MMA world.

* UFC light heavyweight Tito Ortiz will discuss the recent injury that forced him to pull out of his fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueria and when he expects to return to action.

* Heavyweight Heath Herring will explain why he hasn’t fought since August 2008 and if a return to MMA is in his plans for the future.

* UFC middleweight Chris Weidman will stop by the studio once again to look back on his Octagon debut victory against Alessio Sakara on Thursday.

* New York City subway hero Joe Lozito will talk about how MMA helped him take down a murderer and how his life has changed since the incident.

* UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione will deliver his popular “Mitrione Minute.”

* We will also be giving away 2010 UFC Knockout packs (suggested retail price $20 per pack and $160 per box), which are currently available in hobby shops and select online retailers. It is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia). For a chance to win, just have the best call of the day. Here are the official rules of the contest.

And of course, we’ll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193 or 212-254-0237.

Watch the show live below beginning at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT. Download previous episodes of The MMA Hour on iTunes here.