(“Okay, we need a relatively short actor with a prominent facial scar who can do a believeable Portuguese accent. Just kidding, we’re gonna go with Mark Wahlberg.” Photo courtesy of Esther Lin)
Following in the footsteps of the Matt Hamill biopic Hamill, a movie based on Jose Aldo‘s life is reportedly in the works. According to Fighters Only, film director Afont Poyart — who Google has never heard of, but we’re guessing it’s this guy — is making the final tweaks to the script before starting filming, and the flick is slated to come out by early 2013. Aldo is clearly psyched about the news, telling UOL Desporte:
“It’s a dream, right? My life to turn into a movie, a story…I guess those who don’t know either me or my story, will know a little more through this film that we will make. It will tell a lot of stories that previously are known only to close friends.”
Let’s just hope the barbecue pit scene is tastefully done. As for the lead actor, Aldo has an interesting casting idea…
(“Okay, we need a relatively short actor with a prominent facial scar who can do a believeable Portuguese accent. Just kidding, we’re gonna go with Mark Wahlberg.” Photo courtesy of Esther Lin)
Following in the footsteps of the Matt Hamill biopic Hamill, a movie based on Jose Aldo‘s life is reportedly in the works. According to Fighters Only, film director Afont Poyart — who Google has never heard of, but we’re guessing it’s this guy — is making the final tweaks to the script before starting filming, and the flick is slated to come out by early 2013. Aldo is clearly psyched about the news, telling UOL Desporte:
“It’s a dream, right? My life to turn into a movie, a story…I guess those who don’t know either me or my story, will know a little more through this film that we will make. It will tell a lot of stories that previously are known only to close friends.”
Let’s just hope the barbecue pit scene is tastefully done. As for the lead actor, Aldo has an interesting casting idea…
Aldo is a big fan of Brazilian soap operas and suggested actor Malvino Salvador to play his role. “I watch so many soap operas and I am a big fan of him. He’s a guy who gives me a good energy. For me, it would be Malvino Salvador.”
To summarize, Aldo is a soap opera fanatic, and this guy “gives [him] a good energy.” Oh, Jose, you funny little dreamer…
“We the people of CagePotato.com, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Bans, insure comments section Tranquility, provide for the common noob, promote the general Lack of Welfare, and attempt to secure the Blessings of Dana to ourselves and our readers, do ordain and establish this Comparison of fighters and fireworks for the Potato Nation.”
There are plenty of MMA fighters out there who love to bring the pyrotechnics to the cage, lighting up their opponents for the enjoyment of the fans and the pleasure of a paycheck. In honor of Independence Day weekend — and our new friends at Wild Turkey — here’s a list of actual 4th of July fireworks that remind us of some well-known scrappers. Celebrate safely, and please try not to lose any fingers.
Call ’em what you want, these small novelty fireworks are perfect for youngsters. You throw them against a wall, floor, or sleeping grandparent, and they make a satisfying POP! Cool, huh? It’s hard not to think of a ‘Snap-n-Pop’ and not think of these guys, whose limbs unfortunately made the same noises in their past fights.
Roman Candles: Clay Guida
Excitement. Power. Flash. Seemingly unending performance. Fun. Clay ‘The Carpenter’ Guida is more than your average firework. Hey may not blow up any doors but rest assured he’s always going to be a crowd favorite. No one has ever had a Roman Candle war or watched a Guida fight and not had the time of their life. For every colorful ball that is emitted from the candle, Guida whips his hair back and shoots in for a takedown. Regardless of what happens, they both just keep going until the final bell. When messing around with either, be careful; someone usually ends up a bloody mess.
“We the people of CagePotato.com, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Bans, insure comments section Tranquility, provide for the common noob, promote the general Lack of Welfare, and attempt to secure the Blessings of Dana to ourselves and our readers, do ordain and establish this Comparison of fighters and fireworks for the Potato Nation.”
There are plenty of MMA fighters out there who love to bring the pyrotechnics to the cage, lighting up their opponents for the enjoyment of the fans and the pleasure of a paycheck. In honor of Independence Day weekend — and our new friends at Wild Turkey — here’s a list of actual 4th of July fireworks that remind us of some well-known scrappers. Celebrate safely, and please try not to lose any fingers.
Call ‘em what you want, these small novelty fireworks are perfect for youngsters. You throw them against a wall, floor, or sleeping grandparent, and they make a satisfying POP! Cool, huh? It’s hard not to think of a ‘Snap-n-Pop’ and not think of these guys, whose limbs unfortunately made the same noises in their past fights.
Roman Candles: Clay Guida
Excitement. Power. Flash. Seemingly unending performance. Fun. Clay ‘The Carpenter’ Guida is more than your average firework. Hey may not blow up any doors but rest assured he’s always going to be a crowd favorite. No one has ever had a Roman Candle war or watched a Guida fight and not had the time of their life. For every colorful ball that is emitted from the candle, Guida whips his hair back and shoots in for a takedown. Regardless of what happens, they both just keep going until the final bell. When messing around with either, be careful; someone usually ends up a bloody mess.
Snakes: Jon Fitch
Much like those awful expanding snakes, Jon Fitch‘s fights are predictably dull, and when it’s all over you’re left feeling like you just wasted your money. They stay on the ground and do not emit sparks, flares, any form of projectiles, or any sound, but may induce sleeping. That should sound familiar to anybody who has endured the cruel and unusual punishment of a fifteen-minute, semi-clothed preview of War Machine’s next film, also known as a Jon Fitch decision victory.
Does that say Brown Pride?
Tanks: Cain Velasquez
The UFC Heavyweight champion has much in common with the super elite tank fireworks. For instance, both are short, stocky, and pack a mean punch. Both prefer to end their wars decisively with a brutal finish. Moreover, neither is going to be steamrolled anytime soon. For the fans, there’s just nothing like seeing a complete beast like Brock Lesnar getting manhandled by the sturdy, stoic Velasquez.
Bottle Rockets: Shane Carwin
I’ll spare you from the incredibly lazy innuendo and instead offer up this little nugget; Shane Carwin’s best stuff lasts about as long as it takes for a bottle rocket to scream through the BBQ smoke, reach its apex, explode, and fall to the ground. Carwin always delivers in the first round but don’t expect much beyond that. Although the action is short-lived, the excitement and hype leading up to launch time is furious because we know something potentially incredible is going to happen.
Firecrackers: Jose Aldo
The Brazilian champion has shredded his opponents by going undefeated for nearly six years, leaving most of his opponents second-guessing why they even took the fight in the first place. Weighing only 145 lbs., this tiny explosive does severe damage to his opponents legs with his expertly placed kicks (*BANG BANG BANG*!) and jacks your face up with his crisp striking (*BANG BANG BANG*!). Just like the Black Cats pictured above, don’t let the size fool ya…one mistake can cost youdearly.
Sparklers: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
I believe the phrase is “All Sizzle, No Steak.” Sure, his weigh-ins and entrances are flashy and entertaining, but the overall performances leave a little to be desired — kind of like the gas station sparklers your dad brought home when you were a kid. Still, it’s hard not to feel patriotic when watching them.
Catherine Wheel: Chael Sonnen
Legend has it that the firework got its name from an instrument of torture, the breaking wheel, on which St. Catherine was martyred. I’m not sure who that broad was or what that has to do with Chael Sonnen but I do know this: both are really, really good at going in circles, both literally and figuratively. Mr. Sonnen, as his PO calls him, and Ms. Wheel have that X factor that mesmerizes audiences leaving them wanting more. Despite their obvious limitations and shady past, you’d give your last dollar to see them one last time if the opportunity presented itself.
Smoke Bombs: Ben Askren
Ahh, the smoke bomb. You fail to do any actual harm, instead you’d much rather annoy the hell out of everyone in reach. Such a colorful little brat, full of spunk and enough sulfuric smoke to gag a dolphin. Similarly, Askren’s wrestling prowess envelops his hapless opponents causing them to retort to their high school wrestling knowledge — which by the way is weak sauce. Once you’ve been attacked by one of these bad boys you might as well give up any hope of impressing the ladies. C’mon, I mean look at the army dude above me. He just lost 10 bro points for being in the same picture as a purple haze. (That still beats getting dry humped for fifteen minutes by a white dude with a ‘fro though.)
Fountains: Diego ” The Vision” Sanchez
The Class 1.4G explosive is highly reminiscent of the very first Ultimate Fighter winner. I’m not suggesting that all Diego Sanchez is capable of is shouting as he cartwheels into the distance — that’s just one similarity among others. Of all the pyrotechnics one could legally obtain without being licensed by the ATF, fountains display the most heart. From the initial ear-piercing scream to the crackling sparks to the changing colors and shooting flares, they leave it all out there. Like Sanchez, they do everything they physically can to put on an unforgettable performance and make you get up out of your seat and cheer. Damn, they’d fly if only they had wings. The Vision may be mentioned in the same breath as the firework displays in Montreal, San Jose, or Honolulu but until then, we’ll gladly accept the fountain that is Sanchez and enjoy every breathtaking moment.
After 17 years, the UFC is ready to deliver the first sub-155-pound main event in Octagon history. The headlining honors belong to 135-pounders Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. hosts UFC 132 this Saturday …
After 17 years, the UFC is ready to deliver the first sub-155-pound main event in Octagon history.
The headlining honors belong to 135-pounders Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. hosts UFC 132 this Saturday night.
Their last meeting in Sin City occurred in March 2007 when Faber, then the WEC featherweight champion, retained his belt versus Cruz via first-round guillotine choke. Four years later, Cruz has the opportunity to defend his 135-pound crown for the third time in his UFC debut while avenging the lone loss of his 18-fight career (17-1) against “The California Kid” (25-4).
“That’s exactly what I feel I’m doing: I’m staking my claim and showing what I can do and that I deserve to be the king of this weight class,” the UFC bantamweight champion told Bleacher Report.
UFC parent company Zuffa experimented with the marketability of the lower weight classes by showcasing them in the WEC for the last three years. It was successful largely because of Faber, the face of the organization, who headlined the WEC’s lone pay-per-view offering opposite Jose Aldo.
Participating in another landmark bout for the sub-155-pound divisions is the latest in a long line of Faber’s headlining duties that date back to his third ever contest.
“I feel lucky to have been in this position but it’s also come on the back of a lot of hard work. There hasn’t been all highs in my career,” Faber said to Bleacher Report, “and to stay on course and not get deserted and create opportunities for yourself—that’s what this is about. This is me creating opportunities by winning by staying persistent and consistent and going after what I want.”
The UFC’s inaugural bantamweight title tilt suggests the lower the weight, the higher the stakes. The chemistry for this bout fuels the rematch with heavyweight hype.
At 26 years old, Cruz is riding an impeccable three-fight run that began with capturing the WEC bantamweight belt as a four-to-one underdog and ended with winning the UFC’s first bantamweight title.
The Alliance MMA representative’s first two title defenses saw him fight 10 rounds totaling 50 minutes with a busted left hand, earning decisions versus top-five world ranked opponents Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen.
Despite all the accolades, the Arizona native has not approached the same star status Faber is known for relishing.
“In order to be considered the best, there’s certain guys you got to beat and a lot of people believe [Faber]’s the guy for me to beat in order to prove that,” said Cruz, aiming for nine consecutive victories. “Okay, I’m ready to do it. I get to get my only loss back. I’m excited to go out there and prove what I can do.”
The merit of Faber’s ledger became stronger with his UFC debut in March when the 32-year-old bested the WEC’s inaugural bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland. It was Faber’s second straight victory and his third in four outings.
His proven star quality rendered him the obvious choice to challenge Cruz for the UFC bantamweight belt first. With a 1-3 record in his last four title fights, Faber must perform like the fighter that successfully defended his belt five times to remain relevant for title tenures more than marketing muscle.
“I was dealing with a lot of adversity in those fights. I pushed through it and tried to win the whole time. I think he’s a lot less dangerous than the other guys I’ve fought for the title the last two times,” said the Sacramento, Calif. based fighter, who plans to further his legacy by joining Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as a two-division titleholder.
“I’m a lot more elusive and have a more even playing field at this weight.”
Victory against Cruz, who is 3-1 in his last four title fights, would restore Faber’s kingpin credibility. Conversely, a win for “The Dominator” would infuse the champion’s in-ring accomplishments with the popularity of a UFC titleholder.
Cruz pulls main event duty for the second time in his career, while Faber enjoys top billing for the 14th time in his career—remarkably one shy of headlining half his career contests.
The champion summed up what is up for grabs at Cruz vs. Faber II perfectly: “I’m here to make history and not be history.”
Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend.
By now ya’ll know that Hioki has some prime wins under his belt (something you can’t always say about fighters competing on the other side of the Pacific), including Mark Hominick (twice) and an upset over Marlon Sandro for the Sengoku featherweight strap. Hioki hit a rough stretch in 2007, dropping consecutive decisions under the Shooto banner, but he hasn’t really lost since if you don’t count the decision loss to Michihiro Omigawa that the judges hung on him–and we don’t.
By now ya’ll know that Hioki has some prime wins under his belt (something you can’t always say about fighters competing on the other side of the Pacific), including Mark Hominick (twice) and an upset over Marlon Sandro for the Sengoku featherweight strap. Hioki hit a rough stretch in 2007, dropping consecutive decisions under the Shooto banner, but he hasn’t really lost since if you don’t count the decision loss to Michihiro Omigawa that the judges hung on him–and we don’t.
Following UFC 131, it would be all but confirmed that Kenny Florian would be next in line to challenge UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo. Aldo made a successful debut inside the Octagon defeating Mark Hominick at UFC 130. While speaking with T…
Following UFC 131, it would be all but confirmed that Kenny Florian would be next in line to challenge UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo.
Aldo made a successful debut inside the Octagon defeating Mark Hominick at UFC 130. While speaking with TATAME.com, Aldo discussed the potential of facing Florian and commented on his most recent bout vs. Aldo’s teammate, Diego Nunes.
“He showed many positions and did a good fight, he just didn’t win it,” Aldo said of Nunes.
Aldo said he was unsure of who his next opponent will be, but he intends to defend his title later this year and put on a good performance for the sake of his position within the company.
“If it’s Kenny Florian, I’ll get there and do my job,” he said.
“I just want to add good things for Ultimate. So, if they tell me to fight Kenny, it’s okay by me. If they think he deserves it, I don’t see a problem. I’ll get there and do my best.”
The Brazilian has gone on a nine-fight winning streak, earning wins over such fighters as Urijah Faber and Mike Thomas Brown. A potential bout with Florian will be Aldo’s fifth title defense, a bout where he sees himself utilizing his entire arsenal more effectively on the Boston native.
“My striking game is sharpened. Every time I’m fighting, I can fight standing up, on the floor, wherever it goes,” he said.
“I’m a BJJ black belt, and I can never forget where I came from, so if I have the chance, depending on my game plan, I may try to take him down and work my ground and pound.”
Josh Grispi earned the next shot at WEC featherweight champ Jose Aldo with his win over LC Davis at this show held in Edmonton, Alberta. Because of an injury, Aldo had to pull out of their planned UFC 125 bout. Rather than wait for his shot, Grispi took a fight with Dustin Poirier on the January card and lost via unanimous decision. As a result, another fighter who impressed on the UFC 49 card earned the next shot at Aldo.
Mark Hominick was en route to a unanimous decision loss to fellow Canadian Yves Jabouin in Edmonton, but pulled out one of the most impressive come from behind wins in WEC history.
Stunned and dropped by a stiff right hand, Hominick weathered the ensuing ground and pound onslaught, swept Jabouin and forced a TKO stoppage via punishment from the mount.
A quick first round TKO win over teammate George Roop in his next bout earned him a shot at Aldo at UFC 129 this past April. Although he couldn’t finish the Aldo, Hominick showed the heart of a champion by fighting through a massive, disgusting hematoma to give Aldo the fight of his life and finishing the last round in dominating fashion.
(Time sure does fly…)
WEC 49 went down 1 year ago.
Why it matters:
Josh Grispi earned the next shot at WEC featherweight champ Jose Aldo with his win over LC Davis at this show held in Edmonton, Alberta. Because of an injury, Aldo had to pull out of their planned UFC 125 bout. Rather than wait for his shot, Grispi took a fight with Dustin Poirier on the January card and lost via unanimous decision. As a result, another fighter who impressed on the UFC 49 card earned the next shot at Aldo.
Mark Hominick was en route to a unanimous decision loss to fellow Canadian Yves Jabouin in Edmonton, but pulled out one of the most impressive come from behind wins in WEC history.
Stunned and dropped by a stiff right hand, Hominick weathered the ensuing ground and pound onslaught, swept Jabouin and forced a TKO stoppage via punishment from the mount.
A quick first round TKO win over teammate George Roop in his next bout earned him a shot at Aldo at UFC 129 this past April. Although he couldn’t finish the Aldo, Hominick showed the heart of a champion by fighting through a massive, disgusting hematoma to give Aldo the fight of his life and finishing the last round in dominating fashion.
Banner Promotions: Night of Combat went down 3 years ago.
Why it matters:
Although the show that took place at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas, NV wasn’t a particularly good one, besides the main event bout that saw John Alessio beat Pete Spratt by second-round rear naked choke in spite of a broken arm, one bout received much media attention, perhaps for all the wrong reasons.
Kim Couture made her MMA debut on the card against Kim Rose. Like her Xtreme Couture teammate, Alessio, Couture fought through the pain of a grisly broken bone and continued to fight. Unlike Alessio, she came up short, losing to Rose by unanimous decision after sustaining a broken jaw in the first round.
One year later, Kim tapped out on her marriage to Randy Couture, but kept “Captain America’s” last name. She has continued to fight, compiling an un-Couture-like 3-4 record.
Jackson disproved the conventional theory that to be successful in MMA today, a fighter needs to be well rounded. Rampage’s style is known as sprawl and brawl and predominantly focuses on the Memphis, Tennessee native knocking fool’s brains around in their skulls. Although he has a wrestling pedigree and a trio of submission victories under his belt, Jackson, who has stated on more than one occasion that he hates when a fight turns into a “boring jiu-jitsu” match, prefers to stand and bang, and if he gets the chance he may slam you on your head for good measure.
He held the UFC light heavyweight title for 406 days, which is the fourth longest title run for a holder of the strap.Tito Ortiz (1,260 days), Chuck Liddell (770 days) and Frank Shamrock (703 days) were the only fighters to hold it longer. Only Jackson and Lyoto Machida have successfully defended the title since Jackson won it from Chuck Liddell in 2007. Since then, it has changed hands five times.
With wins over Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona, Chuck Liddell, Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante and Matt Lindland, Jackson has been a perennial top ten for several years. Recent wins over Lyoto Machida (split decision) and Matt Hammil (unanimous decision) have somehow allowed him to leapfrog Rashad Evans to a shot at Jon Jones at UFC 135 in September.
Roy “Big Country” Nelson was born 35 years ago.
Why he matters:
In addition to winning The Ultimate Fighter 10, “Big Country” is also the former IFL heavyweight champion. He has beaten prospects Stefan Struve, Brendan Schaub, but is perhaps better known for his highlight-reel loss against Andrei Arlovski and his ballsy decision losses to Ben Rothwell, Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/EpicKiler187)
Although he may never wear UFC gold, Nelson is a good litmus test (read: gatekeeper) for any contender who is being considered a viable contender.
