Today it was announced that Alistair Overeem not only signed with the UFC, but will be facing Brock Lesnar on December 30th. Overeem is perhaps best known for holding the Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 heavyweight championships at the same time, making him…
Today it was announced that Alistair Overeem not only signed with the UFC, but will be facing Brock Lesnar on December 30th.
Overeem is perhaps best known for holding the Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 heavyweight championships at the same time, making him one of the biggest stars outside the UFC.
Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion and MMA’s biggest draw, who has been recovering from a second bout with diverticulitis.
This will be one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Here’s a look at some of the other highly anticipated fights left in 2011.
Matt Hughes will enter UFC 135 as one of the most established fighters of all time. He is a nine time UFC Welterweight Champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.Over the course of his mixed martial arts career, Hughes has fought an amazin…
Matt Hughes will enter UFC 135 as one of the most established fighters of all time. He is a nine time UFC Welterweight Champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
Over the course of his mixed martial arts career, Hughes has fought an amazing 53 times, winning 45 of them.
Hughes has defined toughness since entering the UFC in September of 1999. His work ethic, time and dedication to a sport that he so greatly loves has catapulted him into a class of his own.
Over the years Hughes has produced some of the greatest fights in UFC history. We’ve seen him put an end to his opponent by knockout and we’ve seen him go the distance.
But what makes Hughes one of the greatest of all time is his ability to submit his opponent? Of his 45 career victories, 18 of them have come by submission.
The following slides display the five greatest submission victories of Matt Hughes’ career.
Look, you can’t trust Nick Diaz — but you can always trust Nick Diaz to be Nick Diaz. The Winnipeg Free Press has the story:
Challenger Nick Diaz was a no-show Tuesday so welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was left to plug their UFC 137 showdown on his own.
The UFC offered no reason for Diaz’s absence in Toronto but the former Strikeforce champion is no fan of such media events…
“I don’t know why he did not show up. Maybe he has personal issues, I have no idea,” St-Pierre said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I know they bought two flights (tickets) for him and he didn’t show up. I have no idea. I can’t talk about it because I don’t know what’s going on in his life. Hopefully he’ll be OK and I’ll see him in the cage.”
Look, you can’t trust Nick Diaz — but you can always trust Nick Diaz to be Nick Diaz. The Winnipeg Free Press has the story:
Challenger Nick Diaz was a no-show Tuesday so welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was left to plug their UFC 137 showdown on his own.
The UFC offered no reason for Diaz’s absence in Toronto but the former Strikeforce champion is no fan of such media events…
“I don’t know why he did not show up. Maybe he has personal issues, I have no idea,” St-Pierre said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I know they bought two flights (tickets) for him and he didn’t show up. I have no idea. I can’t talk about it because I don’t know what’s going on in his life. Hopefully he’ll be OK and I’ll see him in the cage.”
“I’m a little bit mad, because it’s a little bit unfair,” the 30-year-old champion from Montreal added. “I missed days of training to come here. Plus jet lag and everything. I think it’s not fair — he should do the same thing that I do.”
Good job, Nick, you’re already in GSP’s head. And yes, of course Nick shouldplay the game a bit, and act professionally, and show up for his media obligations. But you can’t really be surprised when he doesn’t.
St. Pierre soldiered on through the media event by himself, and gave the following analysis of his opponent on October 29th:
“He’s dangerous everywhere. He’s got a very good set of skills. He’s a good boxer, good on the floor as well. He’s also a champion. Nick Diaz is a champion so he’s got the spirit that comes with it. So he’s not going to give up mentally. You see a lot of guys give up mentally and that’s why they get knocked out or submitted. They give up mentally before they lose. It happens to loads of people. I can give you many examples but Nick Diaz is a champion so he has the spirit. it’s going to be very hard to break his spirit. So it’s going to be a tough tough fight.”
After it was learned that Diego Sanchez had suffered a broken hand and could no longer compete at UFC 135, Josh Koscheck has apparently stepped up to replace him and challenge Matt Hughes. Koscheck will only have about three weeks to prepare for t…
After it was learned that Diego Sanchez had suffered a broken hand and could no longer compete at UFC 135, Josh Koscheck has apparently stepped up to replace him and challenge Matt Hughes.
Koscheck will only have about three weeks to prepare for the former UFC Welterweight champion, as he was last seen in the Octagon at UFC 124 against Georges St-Pierre. But Koscheck said he is prepared to fight once again.
“My job is to fight. It’s what I like to do,” Koscheck told USAToday.com.
“Matt Hughes is a nine-time UFC welterweight champion or something like that. He’s a good, quality opponent. I’ve told the UFC that from here on out, I only want big names and big fights.”
Koscheck has proven his status as one of the best welterweights in the world, facing such fighters as Paulo Thiago, Thaigo Alves and Georges St-Pierre, so there is reason to believe why he accepted the fight on short notice.
As for Hughes, who was on a comfortable run for a short period before losing to BJ Penn at UFC 123, he proved he still has the ability and passion to remain relevant and a competitive force in the 170 lb division. Hughes’ recent performances have Koscheck feeling confident that he’ll accept the bout, despite being on three weeks notice.
“He wants big-name fighters. He’s getting near the end of his career,” he said.
“I think he’ll take the fight because it’s good for the sport and good for the UFC.”
Whether his decision is good for the sport, or more for the sake of the event, UFC 135 will still hold some stability with a co-main event confirmed. And if anything, Koscheck said Hughes should accept the bout for himself.
“I told UFC I’d do it, and if Matt Hughes is man enough, he’ll step up and do it,” he said.
This is an important week for next month’s UFC 137 pay-per-view as the organization is hosting a pre-fight press conference and ticket sales go on sale over the next four days.UFC officials announced that fans will be allowed to attend the pre-fight pr…
This is an important week for next month’s UFC 137 pay-per-view as the organization is hosting a pre-fight press conference and ticket sales go on sale over the next four days.
UFC officials announced that fans will be allowed to attend the pre-fight press conference, which takes place at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday.
In addition to UFC president Dana White, Georges St. Pierre (22-2 MMA, 16-2 UFC) and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz (25-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) are set to appear for fans and media.
With that being said, tickets go on sale for UFC Fight Club members Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. ET, UFC e-newsletter subscribers get their opportunity before the general public on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The general public finally receives the opportunity to get their hands on tickets for the highly anticipated event on Friday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Diaz has claimed victory in 10 consecutive fights and hasn’t lost since 2007. Nine of those victories have come by way of knockout or submission. He relinquished his Strikeforce championship in hopes of dethroning St. Pierre.
St. Pierre also hasn’t lost since 2007, he’s won nine in a row and has defeated the likes of Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck (twice) and Diaz’ teammate Jake Shields.
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Jake Shields entered UFC 129 having won 15 straight fights, defeating opponents such as Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit, Dan Henderson and Martin Kampmann. He was essentially on top of the world in the welterweight division.He entered UFC 129 just one vict…
Jake Shields entered UFC 129 having won 15 straight fights, defeating opponents such as Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit, Dan Henderson and Martin Kampmann. He was essentially on top of the world in the welterweight division.
He entered UFC 129 just one victory away from being declared the welterweight champion of the world. His opponent: the longtime champion, George St. Pierre.
St. Pierre had been tops of the welterweight division since his victory over Matt Hughes at UFC 79. Since then St. Pierre has defended his title seven straight times and has remained the greatest 170-pound fighter in the world.
When Shields and St. Pierre squared off at UFC 129, something was different, something wasn’t the same. It had been the first time in over four years that an opponent stood toe to toe with the champion.
Despite being in the home country of St. Pierre, Shields didn’t back down. He exchanged almost identical strikes with St. Pierre throughout five grueling rounds. The only difference in the fight was Shields was taken down twice but the rest remained even.
The judges’ scorecards indicated the victory to St. Pierre by unanimous decision. Instead of giving credit to Shields, UFC fans across the globe believed St. Pierre just had an off evening.
They didn’t want to admit their longtime champion had finally met his match. While Shields walked out of UFC 129 with his first loss in nearly six years, he caught the eyes of many.
Shields will square off with Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, September 17th in hopes of getting another title shot.
Ellenberger, no slouch himself, will look to win his fifth straight fight and move himself also closer to a title shot.
If Shields walks out of UFC Fight Night with another impressive victory he will have earned himself another immediate title shot against St. Pierre, granted he defeats Nick Diaz at UFC 137.
Would a title shot be too soon? Absolutely not. Shields has been the only man to truly test St. Pierre in nearly four years.
With a win at UFC Fight Night, expect to see Shields back in the Octagon against St. Pierre fighting for the welterweight championship very soon.
After it was learned that Diego Sanchez had suffered a broken hand and could no longer compete at