Tag: Frank Mir

Henderson vs. Pettis: Complete Guide to UFC 164 Fight Card

With Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann II on deck for Wednesday night, fans might already feel more than excited for what this week has in store. But after Fight Night 27 comes to a close, the combat will only be getting started—on Saturday, Augu…

With Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann II on deck for Wednesday night, fans might already feel more than excited for what this week has in store. But after Fight Night 27 comes to a close, the combat will only be getting started—on Saturday, August 31 the UFC will finish off this frenzied week by granting Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis a second go at one of the most iconic matchups in MMA history when the two square off during UFC 164‘s championship main event.

Will Henderson erase any memory of the “Showtime kick,” or will Pettis dazzle us all with a new technique that manages to overshadow one of the most memorable strikes to ever grace a highlight reel?

It’s worth noting the nostalgia doesn’t end with the main event. Two of the sport’s grittiest veterans will square off as Frank Mir and Josh Barnett go toe-to-toe in the evening’s co-main event. 

And just think: this will all be taking place when the result of Condit vs. Kampmann II will still be fresh in our minds. So many bouts in so little time.

Super fight week, indeed.

It’s easy to get a bit overwhelmed as to the specifics. Thankfully, Bleacher Report has you covered with an in-depth guide as to the what, when, where and how of UFC 164 on Saturday night.

 

Full Fight Card and Start Times

Main Card PPV 10PM EST
Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson vs. challenger Anthony Pettis
Josh Barnett  vs.  Frank Mir 
 Clay Guida vs. Chad Mendes 
Ben Rothwell  vs.  Brandon Vera 
 Erik Koch  vs. Dustin Poirier 
 Preliminary Card  Fox Sports 1 8PM EST 
 Gleison Tibau  vs. Jamie Varner 
 Tim Elliott  vs.  Louis Gaudinot
 Pascal Krauss vs.  Hyun Gyu Lim 
 Chico Camus  vs.   Kyung Ho Kang
Preliminary Card Facebook 6:30PM EST
Nikita Krylov vs. Soa Palelei
Ryan Couture vs. Al Iaquinta
Magnus Cedenblad vs. Jared Hamman

 

 

Countdown to UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis

Countdown to UFC 164: Mir vs. Barnett

Countdown to UFC 164: Mendes vs. Guida

 

UFC 164 Main Card Key Stats

Number of losses shared by both Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis: Two

Percent of Benson Henderson’s 18 victories that have gone to decision: 47 percent

Total number of career fights between Josh Barnett and Frank Mir: 61

Percent of victories by submission shared by both Josh Barnett and Frank Mir: 56 percent

Chad Mendes‘ takedown average: 4.72 per 15 minutes

Chad Mendes‘ takedown defense: 100 percent

Percent of Ben Rothwell‘s 32 victories that have gone to decision: nine percent

Dustin Poirier‘s significant strike average: 4.14 per minute

*Stats courtesy of FightMetric

Main Card Odds

Champion Benson Henderson -130 favorite over challenger Anthony Pettis +100

Josh Barnett -190 favorite over Frank Mir +155

Chad Mendes -450 favorite over Clay Guida +325

Brandon Vera -140 favorite over ben Rothwell +110

Erik Koch -150 favorite over Dustin Poirier +120

*Betting odds via Bovada 

 

Artem Moshkovich is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for MMA news and more. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Classic Fight: Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar at UFC 81 [VIDEO]

(Match starts at the 10:48 mark. Props: YouTube.com/UFC)

To hype up Frank Mir‘s return to the Octagon at UFC 164 this coming Saturday, the UFC has released one of Frank’s career highlights — his first-round submission victory against pro-wrestling star Brock Lesnar at UFC 81, back in February 2008. Lesnar had first dipped his toes into the MMA pool the previous June, when he swallowed up Min Soo Kim at Dynamite!! USA in Los Angeles. That was enough to earn him an invitation to the UFC, but his debut fight would not be an easy one.

Lesnar wasted absolutely no time in dumping Mir on his back and firing some nasty shots from above. Then, referee Steve Mazzagatti makes a rather controversial choice, halting the action after Lesnar lands some punches to the back of Mir’s head. Theoretically, it’s the right call to make; Lesnar clearly lands at least four rabbit-punches at the video’s 11:08-11:12 mark. But how many times have you actually seen a UFC referee enforce that rule so quickly, without previous warnings? The Mazz deducts a point from Lesnar and re-starts the action with the fighters in a standing position. It’s a lucky break for Mir, who gets a moment to clear the cobwebs.


(Match starts at the 10:48 mark. Props: YouTube.com/UFC)

To hype up Frank Mir‘s return to the Octagon at UFC 164 this coming Saturday, the UFC has released one of Frank’s career highlights — his first-round submission victory against pro-wrestling star Brock Lesnar at UFC 81, back in February 2008. Lesnar had first dipped his toes into the MMA pool the previous June, when he swallowed up Min Soo Kim at Dynamite!! USA in Los Angeles. That was enough to earn him an invitation to the UFC, but his debut fight would not be an easy one.

Lesnar wasted absolutely no time in dumping Mir on his back and firing some nasty shots from above. Then, referee Steve Mazzagatti makes a rather controversial choice, halting the action after Lesnar lands some punches to the back of Mir’s head. Theoretically, it’s the right call to make; Lesnar clearly lands at least four rabbit-punches at the video’s 11:08-11:12 mark. But how many times have you actually seen a UFC referee enforce that rule so quickly, without previous warnings? The Mazz deducts a point from Lesnar and re-starts the action with the fighters in a standing position. It’s a lucky break for Mir, who gets a moment to clear the cobwebs.

That is, until Lesnar punches Mir to the mat — or did Mir fall down on purpose, to bait him? — and gets back on top. As Brock fires down punches, Mir establishes guard, then wraps up Lesnar’s leg when Lesnar makes the mistake of standing up. Mir grabs a kneebar, and Brock taps.

For those MMA fans who felt that a pro-wrestler could never be competitive in “real fighting,” it was a satisfying moment to see the big man toppled. But Lesnar was far from finished: He dominated Heath Herring in his next UFC fight, TKO’d Randy Couture to become the UFC heavyweight champion (!), wrecked Frank Mir in a rematch at UFC 100 that took in 1.6 million pay-per-view buys, and defended his belt for the second time in a classic comeback-fight against Shane Carwin at UFC 116.

Eventually, diverticulitis and an inability to hang with dangerous strikers sent Brock packing back to the WWE. But from 2008-2010, Lesnar really was the “Next Big Thing” in MMA, and Frank Mir deserves much of the credit for putting him over.

UFC 164 Preview: Frank Mir vs. Josh Barnett Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 164 hits Milwaukee, Wis. this Saturday, and in the co-main event two heavyweight veterans step inside the Octagon against one another for the first time.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Frank Mir and Josh Barnett will finally go toe-to-toe in a to…

UFC 164 hits Milwaukee, Wis. this Saturday, and in the co-main event two heavyweight veterans step inside the Octagon against one another for the first time.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Frank Mir and Josh Barnett will finally go toe-to-toe in a top-10 battle. Mir, ranked No. 6, and Barnett, ranked No. 10, have been in the sport for a long time and have accomplished many things. They are still ranked, and they are still looking for that one last chance at glory.

Mir is coming off back-to-back losses to two of the division’s elite, and Barnett returns to the Octagon for the first time since winning the gold back in 2002. After years of speculation, we will finally get to see which heavyweight will get his hand raised in victory.

Looking ahead to the weekend, this is your head-to-toe breakdown of this vital heavyweight showcase between Barnett and Mir.

Begin Slideshow

UFC 164: Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis Main Card Odds and Predictions

UFC 164 hits the airwaves on Saturday, Aug. 31, from Milwaukee. The UFC Lightweight Championship is on the line in a highly anticipated rematch between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis.
The two met in the final WEC fight for that lightweight title a…

UFC 164 hits the airwaves on Saturday, Aug. 31, from Milwaukee. The UFC Lightweight Championship is on the line in a highly anticipated rematch between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis.

The two met in the final WEC fight for that lightweight title and Pettis came away with a narrow win by decision thanks to his Showtime Kick. Henderson has had to live with the highlight being replayed endlessly, but he finally has a chance to exact his revenge.

In the co-main event, a long-overdue heavyweight battle takes place when former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Josh Barnett square off. The two longtime veterans of the sport will finally meet inside the Octagon in Barnett’s return to the organization.

Three more main-card bouts will come your way on Saturday and the main card is stacked with top-10 talent across three divisions.

Here is a look at the current betting odds along with fight predictions heading in to UFC 164.

Begin Slideshow

Today in TRT News: Rothwell Jumps on the Testosterone Train, Brazilian Commission Loses Its Only Accredited Testing Facility


(Doughy, smooth IFL Ben and lean, hairy UFC Ben. Man, that acai berry stuff really works wonders.)

Ben Rothwell has requested and received a Therapeutic Use Exemption for TRT at his upcoming UFC 164 bout in Milwaukee. So has former heavyweight champ Frank Mir, but he’s no stranger to the TRT TUE game.

MMA Junkie obtained the information from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services recently. According to Junkie, both fighters were not available for comment but Rothwell’s opponent Brandon Vera was.

“The Truth” was not amused. “It won’t help,” he said of Rothwell’s TRT use.

In a related story, legendary fighters and noted TRT users Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson will indeed fight as we gave you a heads up about the other day; the match will be held at 205 pounds and it appears that neither fighter will face many obstacles in using TRT to their hearts’ content. Belfort has tested positive for a banned substance before, prompting the chief executive of the world’s most important athletic commission, the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s Keith Kizer, to opine that he didn’t think Vitor would ever be likely to receive a TUE for TRT in the state.

As states like Nevada and New Jersey go, so usually do the rest of the United States. Belfort has fought three out of his last four fights in Brazil with the other taking place in Canada. But hey, Brazil has a regulatory commission, right? They surely do: The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA).

The doctor who serves as medical director for that commission, Marcio Tannure, recently told MMAFighting.com that “Henderson needs to send him the exams to prove his medical conditions (hypogonadism) to apply for a TRT use, and they will analyze the request,” and that Belfort has blood tested before and after fights to ensure that “his levels are good.” Usually, fighters with TUEs for TRT still have to maintain “normal” testosterone levels.

In the Southern hemisphere, the national Brazilian star Belfort is the one in good standing, his prior failed drug test not being a deterrent to CABMMA in granting him a TUE whereas Henderson, who is allowed his TUE in the states, is the one who appears to face more of a hurdle. Coincidence, I’m sure.

However, don’t expect either Belfort or Henderson to be denied TUEs for TRT because, well, CABMMA’s drug testing isn’t considered to be quite as legitimate by international standards any more. BloodyElbow has the info:


(Doughy, smooth IFL Ben and lean, hairy UFC Ben. Man, that acai berry stuff really works wonders.)

Ben Rothwell has requested and received a Therapeutic Use Exemption for TRT at his upcoming UFC 164 bout in Milwaukee. So has former heavyweight champ Frank Mir, but he’s no stranger to the TRT TUE game.

MMA Junkie obtained the information from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services recently. According to Junkie, both fighters were not available for comment but Rothwell’s opponent Brandon Vera was.

“The Truth” was not amused. “It won’t help,” he said of Rothwell’s TRT use.

In a related story, legendary fighters and noted TRT users Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson will indeed fight as we gave you a heads up about the other day; the match will be held at 205 pounds and it appears that neither fighter will face many obstacles in using TRT to their hearts’ content. Belfort has tested positive for a banned substance before, prompting the chief executive of the world’s most important athletic commission, the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s Keith Kizer, to opine that he didn’t think Vitor would ever be likely to receive a TUE for TRT in the state.

As states like Nevada and New Jersey go, so usually do the rest of the United States. Belfort has fought three out of his last four fights in Brazil with the other taking place in Canada. But hey, Brazil has a regulatory commission, right? They surely do: The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA).

The doctor who serves as medical director for that commission, Marcio Tannure, recently told MMAFighting.com that “Henderson needs to send him the exams to prove his medical conditions (hypogonadism) to apply for a TRT use, and they will analyze the request,” and that Belfort has blood tested before and after fights to ensure that “his levels are good.” Usually, fighters with TUEs for TRT still have to maintain “normal” testosterone levels.

In the Southern hemisphere, the national Brazilian star Belfort is the one in good standing, his prior failed drug test not being a deterrent to CABMMA in granting him a TUE whereas Henderson, who is allowed his TUE in the states, is the one who appears to face more of a hurdle. Coincidence, I’m sure.

However, don’t expect either Belfort or Henderson to be denied TUEs for TRT because, well, CABMMA’s drug testing isn’t considered to be quite as legitimate by international standards any more. BloodyElbow has the info:

“Brazil’s only WADA accredited testing facility (and thus, only truly legitimate anti-doping testing location) [was] suspended by WADA earlier this month. WADA’s release on the situation said ‘WADA has suspended the accreditation of the LAB DOP – LADETEC / IQ – UFRJ Doping Control Laboratory (LADETEC) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The suspension, which is effective as of August 8, 2013, prohibits the LADETEC from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities.’

“WADA stated that the lab did not meet the International Standard for Laboratories and could face full revocation of their accreditation.”

We’re not saying that either Belfort or Henderson will use TRT in ways that will result in their having higher-than-normal testosterone levels, we’re just saying that, at this point, we should all recognize the fact that there will be no one credible ensuring that they don’t when they fight November 9th. Well, at least neither fighter will be able to use the excuse of not being 100% for the bout.

– Elias Cepeda

UFC 164: Early Preview and Predictions for Henderson vs. Pettis, Barnett vs. Mir

UFC 164 is a mere 10 days away, so what better time to take a look at the top two fights and offer some early predictions?
In my latest video offering for Bleacher Report, I take a look at the lightweight title fight between Benson Henderson and Anthon…

UFC 164 is a mere 10 days away, so what better time to take a look at the top two fights and offer some early predictions?

In my latest video offering for Bleacher Report, I take a look at the lightweight title fight between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis. The pair faced off in the final World Extreme Cagefighting event, where Pettis used the now-infamous Showtime Kick to help wrest control of the WEC lightweight title away from Henderson. 

Pettis was supposed to go on to fight for the UFC lightweight title after the win. But these things usually have a funny way of working out, and it was Henderson who fought for and captured the UFC belt instead. Now, a few years later, Pettis is finally getting his chance at the belt, while Henderson is looking for redemption.

What else could you possibly want in a fight?

In the co-main event, we have my own personal dream match: Josh Barnett vs. Frank Mir. I’ll tell you why I cannot wait for this fight in the video, and I’ll also tell you who will win the heavyweight showdown and how he’ll do it.

Check out the video above and let me know your thoughts on each of these fights in the comments below.

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