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UFC Heavyweight Antoni Hardonk Retires to Focus on Coaching

Please tell us where this song ranks in the all-time “MMA Rap” list in the comments section.

According to our pals over at UFC.com, Antoni Hardonk has retired from the sport of MMA. Given that his last fight took place over a year-and-a-half ago, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, nor will it impact the heavyweight rankings, but it’s always slightly unpleasant to officially scratch any name off of the organization’s shallowest division.

Please tell us where this song ranks in the all-time “MMA Rap” list in the comments section.

Hardonk brought his K1-experience to the UFC in late 2006, knocking out Sherman Pendergarst out in the first round of their fight at UFC 65. From there he found mixed results, going 4-4 under the Zuffa banner. His final two fights were losses to fellow stand-up standouts Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry, the latter battle earning him the “Fight of the Night” bonus.

Hardonk was best known for his brutal leg kicks and for thwarting robberies before thwarting robberies was cool, but just because he won’t be climbing in the cage again doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from the sport. It’s his new found love of coaching that has pulled him away from competing himself:

“At the end of 2009, I wasn’t happy with the way things were going, but I didn’t want to give up on fighting. I love fighting and I love competing. I love to go out there and test myself against the best in the world, and it’s a great lifestyle. You only have to worry about yourself, you can be pretty selfish at times (Laughs), and I’m very passionate about the sport. So at first, it wasn’t on my mind to quit fighting. But I also always loved teaching and I think I have a natural ability for it and I’m always trying to help people. And if there’s something I’m good at, like fighting, I love to share and help people accomplish their goals. I think it’s something I always had in me, but I put it away because I put myself first and I wanted to enjoy this lifestyle and fight and compete and test myself. But taking that year off and focusing more on that other side and that teaching and coaching aspect of myself, I found that I get as much satisfaction from that as from fighting itself.”

So far his coaching career is off to a solid start. Dynamix MMA student Jared Hamman has won his last two fights while earning “Fight of the Night” bonuses and pupil Vladimir Matyushenko has scored two consecutive first round KO’s.

Jon Fitch Keeping Active While Recovering From Shoulder Surgery

Not one to sit idly by while nursing an injury, UFC Welterweight Jon Fitch is working other aspects of his game while his shoulder heals up. Perhaps his love affair with fruits and vegetables is rockier than we’d been led to believe?

While You Were Out: Ian McCall and Various UFC Vets Fought at Tachi Palace Fights 9

And to think, only ONE of these guys is nicknamed “Uncle Creepy”. Image courtesy of Sherdog.com.

Last night, Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California hosted their ninth event. The card featured a Top 10 flyweight, Gerald Harris attempting to get back in the W column and the return of the greatest tattoo in MMA. And probably some other stuff, too.

Fresh off of his upset victory over then top ranked flyweight Jussier da Silva, “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall returned to action last night against Nashville prospect Dustin Ortiz. Before dropping to flyweight, Uncle Creepy compiled an 8-2 record as a bantamweight. You may remember him from his brief stint with the WEC, where he went 1-2 in three fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Dominick Cruz at WEC 38. Last night McCall dominated the entire fight, showboating to the crowd throughout the third round on his way to a unanimous decision win. The victory likely propels him to a flyweight title fight against Darrell Montague.

And to think, only ONE of these guys is nicknamed “Uncle Creepy”. Image courtesy of Sherdog.com.

Gerald Harris was also in action last night against journeyman Anthony Ruiz, who at one point was a contender for Strikeforce’s light heavyweight title. Ruiz has heavy hands, but he also throws punches so wildly that even Leonard Garcia wonders if the word “technique” means anything to him. Rather than get involved with that, Harris opted to clinch and secure takedowns on his way to a unanimous decision victory. After the fight, Harris claimed to have broken his hand in the first round.

Also of note, TUF-8 winner Efrain Escudero battled fellow UFC castaway Fabricio Camoes. Since being released by the UFC, Escudero won three straight fights coming into last night. However, Camoes showed off some improved boxing skills, as well as superior grappling. While Escudero managed to land a flying knee that damaged Camoes in the third round, he was unable to finish. The victory for Camoes marks his second straight since being released by the UFC.

Results, courtesy of MMAmania.com:

Ian McCall def. Dustin Ortiz via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Isaac DeJesus def. Russ Miura via knockout at 2:52 of Round 1
Fabricio Camoes def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Gerald Harris def. Anthony Ruiz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Mamoru Yamaguchi def. Kevin Dunsmoor via knockout at 4:03 of Round 2
Jorge Lopez def. Waachiim Spiritwolf via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

-Seth Falvo

Jeremy Horn and Rich Clementi Formally Protest Decision Losses at Superior Challenge 7

(Celementi’s post fight interview with Sweden’s answer to Ariel Helwani)

I can think of a few good reasons that last weekend’s Superior Challenge 7 card may have slipped of our radar. With the juggernaut that was UFC 129 dominating the MMA landscape at the time, former UFC fighters vying for mostly-irrelevant titles in a far away land just didn’t seem to matter too much. Fast forward one week and things get slightly more interesting.

As this event marked the first time that the Unified Rules would govern MMA bouts in Sweden, one might have expected a smooth night fights set to the harmonic backdrop of “The Sign”. However, following decision losses in their respective title bouts, Jeremy Horn and Rich Clementi have officially filed protests with the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation to have the results of those matches overturned.

(Celementi’s post fight interview with Sweden’s answer to Ariel Helwani)

One of MMA’s most seasoned veterans, Horn squared off against fellow former UFC title challenger Thales Leites for the vacant Superior Challenge Middleweight Championship. With neither man able to put away his opponent, the fight was turned over to the judges who awarded the victory to Leites. While this bout has been described as very close, neither reports on Sherdog.com nor Swedish MMA site Fighter Magazine (Google Translate, bitches) list possible grounds for Horn’s appeal. If Horn merely has a difference of opinion as to who won the fight, he won’t really have a compelling case to bring before the Federation. Now Clementi, on the other hand, just might.

The battle between UFC veteran Rich Clementi and Swedish fighter Reza Madadi to become Superior Challenge’s first Lightweight Champion was even closer, so much so that ringside judges declared the fight a draw. What’s odd is that this fight—unlike Horn vs. Leites–was not one of the three fights to be contested under Unified Rules. This meant that the Swedish athletic commission still enforced their “no draws allowed” policy for championship fights. So after rendering their draw verdict, the three ringside judges—including Madadi training partner Bobby Rehman—were forced to give one fighter the nod in a fight they felt was even. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to whom Rehman voted for?

In Madadi’s defense, and in Rehman’s, it was a fight too close to call and all three judges ruled him the victor. That being said, this situation should never have been allowed due to the obvious bias created when teammates and friends judge one another. George Sallfeldt, the new chairman of the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation, has promised to take a closer look at the relationships between judges and fighters and to conduct an investigation into the matter. The commission will rule on the protests on May 16^th. If only someone had warned of this scenario, the whole ordeal could have been avoided.

Matt Riddle, Cody McKenzie Pull Out of Upcoming Bouts

And if neither pulled out? My God what a beautiful baby!

The fight cards for UFC 130 and UFC on Versus 4 are undergoing some minor renovations. It was announced yesterday that both Matt Riddle and Cody McKenzie have sustained injuries forcing them from their respective bouts.

And if neither pulled out? My God what a beautiful baby!

McKenzie was hoping to get back in the win column after suffering his first professional career loss to Yves Edwards at UFC Fight for the Troops 2 last January, but an undisclosed injury has delayed his return to the cage. Now Gleison Tibau will have the honors of welcoming UFC newcomer Bart Palaszewski to the Octagon. Tibau will look to build on his victory over Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 128. Palaszewski, undoubtedly frustrated at all of the time he’s wasted training guillotine defense, last fought at WEC 53 where he dropped a split-decision to Kamal Shalorus.

Joining McKenzie in the bleachers will be welterweight Matt Riddle, who has also fallen victim to an undisclosed injury. Pennsylvania’s own Charlie Brenneman will add some local flavor to the card as he steps in to face T.J. Grant. Brenneman last competed at UFC Fight for the Troops 2, where he handed Amilcar Alves his walking papers via unanimous decision. Grant comes into this bout off of a loss to Ricardo Almeida at UFC 124, but has thus far maintained a perfect win-loss-win pattern in his six UFC appearances. So, you know, math is on his side.

Friday Afternoon Link Dump

(Video courtesy of YouTube/ncaasteve)

– 8 mothers who don’t deserve Mother’s Day (ModernMan)

– The 7 Least Intimidating MMA Nicknames (Clutch.MTV)

– 2011 summer movie preview (Bullz-Eye)

– Interview with UFC 129 doctor Jason Su (Sportsnet)

– Infographic: superhero movies, by the numbers (BamKapow)

– Car accident forces Del Rosario off of Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum card (MMAJunkie)

– 7 sports “feats” any average guy could do (Guyism)

– Wanderlei Silva wants 10 more fights (MiddleEasy)

– Mosley hasn’t run out of ‘Sugar’ time (TheRugged)

– FTW: how to build a fire without matches (MadeMan)

– Coach says lil’ Nog’ happy to fight Franklin and Big Nog’ will join him on the UFC Rio card if he’s healthy (Tatame)

– Dexter going back to the basics (ScreenJunkies)

– Rashad Evans talks Jones, Shogun and new camp (FightersOnly)

– Midnight gifs (HolyTaco)