Tag: FanHouse Exclusive

Anthony Pettis’ Striking Coach Duke Roufus Talks About ‘Showtime Kick’

Filed under: UFC, WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveIt was the Kick Heard ‘Round the World, a climbing, twisting, off-the-cage, out-of-the-video-games-and-into-Ben-Henderson’s-face, mind-scrambler of a strike in the 25th and final minute of a WEC championship mat…

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It was the Kick Heard ‘Round the World, a climbing, twisting, off-the-cage, out-of-the-video-games-and-into-Ben-Henderson’s-face, mind-scrambler of a strike in the 25th and final minute of a WEC championship match that shot Anthony Pettis into the consciousness of sports fans everywhere.

While his aim is to stay there for more than just one night, it’s safe to say that regardless of his future, the 23-year-old cemented himself a place in MMA history by authoring one of the sport’s most incredible moments.

According to his striking coach, kickboxing great Duke Roufus, it was no accident. Roufus told MMA Fighting that it’s a kick that was conceived a few years ago and practiced weekly by Pettis during training camp.

Chris Horodecki Hopes to Close Out WEC Career ‘With a Bang’

Filed under: WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveCanadian lightweight Chris Horodecki is set to take a step up in competition this Thursday when he faces three-time WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone at WEC 53 in Glendale, Ariz.

For the 23-year-old out of London,…

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Canadian lightweight Chris Horodecki is set to take a step up in competition this Thursday when he faces three-time WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone at WEC 53 in Glendale, Ariz.

For the 23-year-old out of London, Ontario, a win over Cerrone would almost certainly guarantee himself a UFC roster spot alongside close friends, training and business partners Mark Hominick and Sam Stout.

In an exclusive interview below, Horodecki talks about fighting Cerrone on the last-ever WEC card, “fighter years,” the UFC’s announcement to run a show in Toronto and much more.

The MMA Hour With Toney, Harris, Zahabi, Struve and Pickett

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, WEC, FanHouse Exclusive, VideosAnother Monday, another live edition of The MMA Hour. Here’s who we have on deck for this episode:

* James Toney will stop by to discuss his desire to fight “Rampage” Jackson and his future …

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Gerald HarrisAnother Monday, another live edition of The MMA Hour. Here’s who we have on deck for this episode:

* James Toney will stop by to discuss his desire to fight “Rampage” Jackson and his future fighting plans.

* Recently released UFC middleweight Gerald Harris will discuss what’s next for him.

* Georges St-Pierre’s head trainer, Firas Zahabi, will discuss GSP’s win on Saturday night and what’s next for the 170-pound champion.

* Heavyweight Stefan Struve will look back on his big win over Sean McCorkle.

* Brad Pickett will talk about his upcoming fight aginst Ivan Menjivar at WEC 53.

* UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione will debut his new weekly segment: “The Mitrione Minute.”

* And MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta will stop by to look back at UFC 124 and ahead to WEC 53.

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.

WEC Champ Ben Henderson: ‘I’ll Fight Anyone on the Planet at 155 Right Now’

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, interview A voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy novels, WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson is currently in the midst of plowing through a a re-telling of the King Arthur myth called “King Maker,” a fitting t…

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A voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy novels, WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson is currently in the midst of plowing through a a re-telling of the King Arthur myth called “King Maker,” a fitting title for someone whose stated goal is to become the sport’s pound-for-pound best.

Even a year ago, it seemed highly unlikely Henderson could reach such a level anytime soon while under the banner of the WEC. But a sudden merger paired with a crack at the UFC lightweight champion for the winner of Thursday’s WEC title match between champ Henderson and No. 1 contender Anthony Pettis puts him two wins away from likely adding his name to the pound-for-pound list.

The first obstacle will be at WEC 53, with Henderson and Pettis closing out the last show in organizational history, but the ultimate goal remains somewhere in the back of his mind.

Kamal Shalorus: ‘I’m Going to Miss the WEC’

Filed under: WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveBritish-Iranian lightweight Kamal Shalorus will miss the promotion that gave him his big break in mixed martial arts.

“Honestly, I love WEC,” Shalorus recently told MMAFighting.com. “WEC is kind of like my home and …

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British-Iranian lightweight Kamal Shalorus will miss the promotion that gave him his big break in mixed martial arts.

“Honestly, I love WEC,” Shalorus recently told MMAFighting.com. “WEC is kind of like my home and I know UFC and WEC [will be] coming together. I’m going to miss the WEC.”

While the WEC and UFC are within the same family and by default, share much in common, there will still be something lost once the WEC-UFC merger is completed.

“It’s such a great organization, but at the end, the WEC and the UFC are the same, so I’m so super excited if I could get inside the UFC,” he continued. “Yeah, I’m super excited, but I feel like I wish WEC were there too, you know?”

Jamie Varner: ‘I Can Win a World Title Again’

Filed under: UFC, WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveJamie Varner is over Donald Cerrone.

Kinda. Sorta. OK, not really.

The former WEC lightweight champ has been defined the last two years by his feud with “Cowboy.” And even though Varner is 10 weeks removed f…

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Jamie Varner is over Donald Cerrone.

Kinda. Sorta. OK, not really.

The former WEC lightweight champ has been defined the last two years by his feud with “Cowboy.” And even though Varner is 10 weeks removed from his last fight with his nemesis, a unanimous decision loss at WEC 51, and even though it could be years before the world sees a rubber match between the two, and even though Shane Roller is waiting on Thursday night, Cerrone never seems to be far from his mind.

“He’s just the most disrespectful person that I’ve ever met,” Varner told MMA Fighting last week. “He shows no class in the ring, he shows no class out of the ring. I mean, he got into a fight at some amateur show with a guy – over a girl. The guy has no class. Whether I win or I lose my fights, at least I can hold my head up high. I’ve got dignity and integrity, and that guy has nothing. He’s just a lonely, uneducated hillbilly that will go nowhere in his life after fighting.”