At UFC Rio, fans will be treated to a rematch four years in the making. At UFC 76, Forrest Griffin shocked the world when he submitted Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, earning him a shot for the title. Since the first match, both men have been cham…
At UFC Rio, fans will be treated to a rematch four years in the making.
At UFC 76, Forrest Griffin shocked the world when he submitted Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, earning him a shot for the title.
Since the first match, both men have been champions but both have failed to defend it.
While Griffin has since won two straight, Rua is coming off a loss.
He’s hungry for a win, wants to avenge the loss Griffin handed him on his UFC debut, and wants to please his fans.
In what will probably be an all-out war, only one fighter can come out on top.
UFC 134 will be the promotion’s first event in Brazil in 13 years, and they are bringing pound-for-pound king and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, who many consider to be the greatest mixed martial artist in the histor…
UFC 134 will be the promotion’s first event in Brazil in 13 years, and they are bringing pound-for-pound king and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, who many consider to be the greatest mixed martial artist in the history of the sport.
This week’s edition of Ultimate Insider showcases the eight greatest fighters to ever come out of Brazil, including Silva and other UFC 134 fighters Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
The UFC has showcased the skills of many of its champions, including Lyoto Machida, Royce Gracie and Jose Aldo, and they all make up part of the list.
When Silva enters the cage this Saturday, he will be opposite to the last man to beat him in Yushin “Thunder” Okami. The muay-thai expert and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt was disqualified after knocking Okami out with an illegal kick in a 2006 bout.
The co-main event features “Shogun” Rua going up against Forrest Griffin in a rematch of their 2007 fight. Griffin upset the former UFC light heavyweight champion by submitting him in the third round.
The video features Griffin giving insight into his background and personal life outside the cage in an exclusive interview with Joe Rogan.
Also on the card from Brazil, Nogueira goes up against an up-and-comer in Brendan Schaub in a heavyweight fight that could have serious title implications.
Other main card bouts include Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson and Stanislav Nedkov vs. Luiz Cane.
While Forrest Griffin approaches his upcoming rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 134, not many fans are giving him a chance to get past the Brazilian again, including himself. But Rashad Evans does. According to the former UFC Light He…
While Forrest Griffin approaches his upcoming rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 134, not many fans are giving him a chance to get past the Brazilian again, including himself.
But Rashad Evans does.
According to the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Griffin already holds the psychological edge from his first win over Rua, but he points to Rua’s conditioning issues that will contribute to Griffin earning the victory.
“Shogun does not have the best conditioning,” Evans told Tapout Radio.
“I think that was a problem in their first fight, and I think it’s going to be a problem in this second fight.”
Evans knows full well of what Griffin is capable of. The two competitors squared off at UFC 92 that saw Evans beat Griffin and capture the light heavyweight title. Griffin kept a good, strategic pace during the fight as he pressed forward, imposing his massive frame, and attacked aggressively with combinations and leg kicks.
While Griffin might not be the most talented fighter, he makes up for it with heart and determination. It’s an attribute that few fighters can possess and clearly Evans saw it in him then and still sees it in him now.
Evans said it is Griffin’s ability to constantly wear on his opponent that forces them to break down. Evans believes Griffin took Rua’s will after their first bout.
“There’s something that happens in a fight sometimes, and the way Forrest beat him the first time, he took a piece of him with him,” he said.
“I think they might pick up right where they left off, because there’s no fear. That’s gone.”
Certainly there is no fear or quit in Griffin, despite his self-depreciating manner. It is what retains his relevancy in the 205 lb division and popularity with the fans. And at UFC 134, he will look to finish what he started against Rua.
UFC 134 weigh-ins took place earlier today with all 22 fighters stepping on the scale and successfully making weight. UFC middleweight champion and pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami each made the 185-pound limit. Mauricio “Shog…
UFC 134 weigh-ins took place earlier today with all 22 fighters stepping on the scale and successfully making weight.
UFC middleweight champion and pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami each made the 185-pound limit.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Forrest Griffin appeared in tremendous shape for the rematch, which will be the night’s co-main event.
Additionally, the six remaining main card fighters looked sharp and charged up for the organizations return to Brazil.
Who were the biggest winners and losers at weigh-ins? Follow inside to learn who has the edge heading into tomorrow night’s action.
Here we go folks! It’s time for the main event.
Can Yushin Okami pull off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history?
Without Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami comes out, and he gets more boos than any fighter yet. He weighs in at an extremely lean 183-pounds.
…
Here we go folks! It’s time for the main event.
Can Yushin Okami pull off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history?
Without Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami comes out, and he gets more boos than any fighter yet. He weighs in at an extremely lean 183-pounds.
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva comes out with his son, and as expected, he’s a major crowd favorite. It looks like he left his white mask at home for this bout.
“I’m going to do my best, and I’m going to take home the belt,” contender Yushin Okami told UFC commentator Mike Goldberg at the weigh-ins. “Don’t miss it. I’m going to be here with my all, and I’m going to win.”
Goldberg makes his way over to Silva, and the champ seems confident and thankful for the opportunity to fight in his native land.
“Thank you everyone for coming. I hope everyone comes here and watches this great event because it’s Brazil versus the rest of the world.”
Stanislav Nedkov isn’t getting any love in his UFC debut. He’s enemy No. 1 against Brazilian Luis Cane, who is a standout light heavyweight.
He weighs in at a considerably light 203-pounds.
Cane comes out to a loud pop and hits his mark at 204-pounds. …
Stanislav Nedkov isn’t getting any love in his UFC debut. He’s enemy No. 1 against Brazilian Luis Cane, who is a standout light heavyweight.
He weighs in at a considerably light 203-pounds.
Cane comes out to a loud pop and hits his mark at 204-pounds. Despite a multitude of experience, Cane hasn’t really fought a solid wrestler, and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the powerful takedowns of Nedkov.
