Newly minted UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold may have emerged from last December’s UFC 194 as the promotion’s new 185-pound king thanks to a vicious mid-round onslaught on former champion Chris Weidman, but apparently he didn’t escape without some health issues of his own. After the former Strikeforce champ took advantage of an ill-advised spinning
Newly minted UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold may have emerged from last December’s UFC 194 as the promotion’s new 185-pound king thanks to a vicious mid-round onslaught on former champion Chris Weidman, but apparently he didn’t escape without some health issues of his own.
After the former Strikeforce champ took advantage of an ill-advised spinning wheel kick attempt by Weidman in the third, he swayed the fight in his favor with a takedown and a brutal onslaught of ground and pound that involved some seriously devastating punches and elbows from the mount.
Repeatedly banging his ‘bows against Weidman’s dome must have taken their toll, as Rockhold posted a video to his Facebook page of a trip to the doctor to get his elbow drained. Watch the video on the following page, and be forewarned: it’s most certainly not for the faint of heart.
(No caption needed, that’s just a straight-up brilliant photo. via Getty.)
It’s hard not to see Chris Weidman‘s brutal defeat at the hands of Luke Rockhold on Saturday as being swept under the rug in favor of all this “Conor McGregor obliterating Jose Aldo” business. If you ask us, it’s for the best, because we happen to appreciate Chris Weidman: The Person just as much as Chris Weidman: The Fighter. Rockhold can be as handsome as he wants, but he ain’t saving no old ladies in between fights and shitting in the trash cans of his future wife, that’s for sure. Dude’s got the personality of a Wheat Thin compared to The Chris, and we say that as the unbiased, legitimate, journalistically integritous reporters that some of you on Facebook seem to think we are.
In any case, Weidman took his first career loss like a champion, sticking around for his post-fight interview and gutting it through Joe Rogan’s always insufferable questions. As you might expect, he’s been keeping away from social media in the days since, because like we said, some of you people on it are the worst. Yesterday, however, Weidman broke his silence via a Facebook post that is just so f*cking classy, you guys, so check it out after the jump.
(No caption needed, that’s just a straight-up brilliant photo. via Getty.)
It’s hard not to see Chris Weidman‘s brutal defeat at the hands of Luke Rockhold on Saturday as being swept under the rug in favor of all this “Conor McGregor obliterating Jose Aldo” business. If you ask us, it’s for the best, because we happen to appreciate Chris Weidman: The Person just as much as Chris Weidman: The Fighter. Rockhold can be as handsome as he wants, but he ain’t saving no old ladies in between fights and shitting in the trash cans of his future wife, that’s for sure. Dude’s got the personality of a Wheat Thin compared to The Chris, and we say that as the unbiased, legitimate, journalistically integritous reporters that some of you on Facebook seem to think we are.
In any case, Weidman took his first career loss like a champion, sticking around for his post-fight interview and gutting it through Joe Rogan’s always insufferable questions. As you might expect, he’s been keeping away from social media in the days since, because like we said, some of you people on it are the worst. Yesterday, however, Weidman broke his silence via a Facebook post that is just so f*cking classy, you guys, so check it out after the jump.
“I will remember this moment forever,” wrote Weidman.
“It has already changed me for the better. The motivation I have inside myself has never been stronger. I did not feel like myself in there for many reasons but it was a loss that I needed and deserved. I have been playing back different moments in the fight where i didn’t do or react the way I should have but this was all part of a true master plan that God has in store for me. I will be back and I will be champion again. I just wanna let everyone know that I am ok. I am so blessed with an amazing family, friends, team and fans. Thank you all so much for the support. It means more now than ever.”
How anyone can claim to dislike this guy is beyond me. Weidman’s a family man, keeps a level head, is humble in both victory and defeat, and is still somehow mean enough to punch a f*cking hole in your chest should you ever step out of line. He should be the next President of the United States, for Christ’s sake, not groveling amongst the Tapout-donning dudebros our once noble sport has been infected with! In my professional, unbiased opinion, I kind of wish that Chris Weidman was my older brother.
While it’s obviously too early to see what will happen to Weidman next — a former champion receiving an immediate rematch after getting torched seems oddly out of the question all of a sudden, unless you’re Ronda Rousey or Cain Velasquez — it’s evident that he’s taken a lot away from his loss, at least. And knowing is half the battle.
(No caption needed, that’s just a straight-up brilliant photo. via Getty.)
It’s hard not to see Chris Weidman‘s brutal defeat at the hands of Luke Rockhold on Saturday as being swept under the rug in favor of all this “Conor McGregor obliterating Jose Aldo” business. If you ask us, it’s for the best, because we happen to appreciate Chris Weidman: The Person just as much as Chris Weidman: The Fighter. Rockhold can be as handsome as he wants, but he ain’t saving no old ladies in between fights and shitting in the trash cans of his future wife, that’s for sure. Dude’s got the personality of a Wheat Thin compared to The Chris, and we say that as the unbiased, legitimate, journalistically integritous reporters that some of you on Facebook seem to think we are.
In any case, Weidman took his first career loss like a champion, sticking around for his post-fight interview and gutting it through Joe Rogan’s always insufferable questions. As you might expect, he’s been keeping away from social media in the days since, because like we said, some of you people on it are the worst. Yesterday, however, Weidman broke his silence via a Facebook post that is just so f*cking classy, you guys, so check it out after the jump.
(No caption needed, that’s just a straight-up brilliant photo. via Getty.)
It’s hard not to see Chris Weidman‘s brutal defeat at the hands of Luke Rockhold on Saturday as being swept under the rug in favor of all this “Conor McGregor obliterating Jose Aldo” business. If you ask us, it’s for the best, because we happen to appreciate Chris Weidman: The Person just as much as Chris Weidman: The Fighter. Rockhold can be as handsome as he wants, but he ain’t saving no old ladies in between fights and shitting in the trash cans of his future wife, that’s for sure. Dude’s got the personality of a Wheat Thin compared to The Chris, and we say that as the unbiased, legitimate, journalistically integritous reporters that some of you on Facebook seem to think we are.
In any case, Weidman took his first career loss like a champion, sticking around for his post-fight interview and gutting it through Joe Rogan’s always insufferable questions. As you might expect, he’s been keeping away from social media in the days since, because like we said, some of you people on it are the worst. Yesterday, however, Weidman broke his silence via a Facebook post that is just so f*cking classy, you guys, so check it out after the jump.
“I will remember this moment forever,” wrote Weidman.
“It has already changed me for the better. The motivation I have inside myself has never been stronger. I did not feel like myself in there for many reasons but it was a loss that I needed and deserved. I have been playing back different moments in the fight where i didn’t do or react the way I should have but this was all part of a true master plan that God has in store for me. I will be back and I will be champion again. I just wanna let everyone know that I am ok. I am so blessed with an amazing family, friends, team and fans. Thank you all so much for the support. It means more now than ever.”
How anyone can claim to dislike this guy is beyond me. Weidman’s a family man, keeps a level head, is humble in both victory and defeat, and is still somehow mean enough to punch a f*cking hole in your chest should you ever step out of line. He should be the next President of the United States, for Christ’s sake, not groveling amongst the Tapout-donning dudebros our once noble sport has been infected with! In my professional, unbiased opinion, I kind of wish that Chris Weidman was my older brother.
While it’s obviously too early to see what will happen to Weidman next — a former champion receiving an immediate rematch after getting torched seems oddly out of the question all of a sudden, unless you’re Ronda Rousey or Cain Velasquez — it’s evident that he’s taken a lot away from his loss, at least. And knowing is half the battle.
Back in 2008, a fresh faced (well, maybe “fresh faced” is a little disingenuous) Conor McGregorwas quoted as saying that he would be the future champion of the UFC’s lightweight division — “I’m the fucking future” was how he summed it up, I believe. Over the next four years, McGregor would put together a string of vicious performances that seemed to align with that belief, becoming CWFC’s first two-division champion in the process.
It was on April 6th, 2013 that McGregor was first tested on the world’s premier mixed martial arts stage, and to say that he passed with flying colors would be a bit of an understatement. McGregor tore through Marcus Brimage like tissue paper, starching the TUF 13 alum in just over a minute and collecting a well-earned 60 G’s (babayy!!) in bonus money to boot.
McGregor’s naysayers used a lot of words to describe his subsequent rise to fame — “protected,” “unearned,” and “all talk” among them — but time after time when it came to fight night, there McGregor would be, his hand raised, a thoroughly bewildered and semi-unconscious opponent beside him. He talked the talk, he walked the walk, and on Saturday, Conor McGregor fulfilled the prophecy that he and he alone created in devastating fashion.
Back in 2008, a fresh faced (well, maybe “fresh faced” is a little disingenuous) Conor McGregorwas quoted as saying that he would be the future champion of the UFC’s lightweight division — “I’m the fucking future” was how he summed it up, I believe. Over the next four years, McGregor would put together a string of vicious performances that seemed to align with that belief, becoming CWFC’s first two-division champion in the process.
It was on April 6th, 2013 that McGregor was first tested on the world’s premier mixed martial arts stage, and to say that he passed with flying colors would be a bit of an understatement. McGregor tore through Marcus Brimage like tissue paper, starching the TUF 13 alum in just over a minute and collecting a well-earned 60 G’s (babayy!!) in bonus money to boot.
McGregor’s naysayers used a lot of words to describe his subsequent rise to fame — “protected,” “unearned,” and “all talk” among them — but time after time when it came to fight night, there McGregor would be, his hand raised, a thoroughly bewildered and semi-unconscious opponent beside him. He talked the talk, he walked the walk, and on Saturday, Conor McGregor fulfilled the prophecy that he and he alone created in devastating fashion.
Much has been made about McGregor’s, let’s call them “linguistic skills” over the years, but arguably more impressive than the Irishman’s gift for gab has been his foresight. He said he would knock out Dustin Poirier in a round, and he did. He said he that Chad Mendes would crumble, and he did. Perhaps most insane of all, he said that Jose Aldo — the pound for pound king and only featherweight champion in the UFC’s history — would “overreact, overextend, and then be KO’d unconscious.” And he did.
In the blink of an eye at UFC 194, all doubt about “Mystic Mac’s” abilities were erased via an emphatic knockout of Aldo that was eerily reminiscent of one from early in his career. It was Aldo’s first defeat in ten years, and it happened in just over 10 seconds. It was a moment that’s still indescribable, even when looking back at the road it took to get there.
Speaking of prophecies, Luke Rockhold seemed to know something we all didn’t heading into his UFC 194 co-main event with Chris Weidman. The middleweight title challenger oozed confidence in the build-up to the fight despite being paired against the man best known for defeating one of the sport’s greatest fighters twice, and his confidence was evident from the very first punch thrown.
We all knew Rockhold’s size would be a factor, but the extent to which he was able to wear down Weidman with body kicks and clinch work was a sight to behold. Even the final sequence of the fight, where Rockhold secured a takedown on the two-time Division 1 wrestler that would lead to the fight-ending onslaught of ground-and-pound (which seemed to last for no less than 90 minutes), was a testament to how well-rounded the former Strikeforce champion has become, and just how dominant he will be moving forward…barring any steroid-fueled spinning head kicks.
And Rockhold will need to bring every bit of confidence to the cage should he face Yoel Romero, who secured a split decision over fellow top contender Jacare Souza just one fight earlier at UFC194, next. Despite Romero’s penchant for stretching the rules and slowing down over the course of three round affairs, his momentary flashes of brilliance (I’m referring to that nasty spinning backfist he landed in the first round, of course) still paint him as a dangerous potential challenge to anyone at 185 . But Romero’s controversial win, coupled with Rockhold’s upset, doesn’t exactly make the middleweight title picture any clearer — in fact, we might have to see Weidman vs. Romero to determine who gets a shot at the new champ next.
In any case, a whole lot of possibilities have just opened up in two of the UFC’s most steady divisions, and that’s always an exciting prospect for those of us who choose to embrace the chaos that the sport oft dwells in.
Main Card
Conor McGregor def. Jose Aldo via first-round KO
Luke Rockhold def. Chris Weidman via fourth-round TKO
Yoel Romero def. Jacare Souza via split decision
Demian Maia def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision
Max Holloway def. Jeremy Stephens via UD
Undercard
Urijah Faber def. Frankie Saenz via unanimous decision
Tecia Torres def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger via UD
Warlley Alves def. Colby Covington via submission (guillotine choke)
Leonardo Santos def. Kevin Lee via first-round TKO (3:26)
Magomed Mustafaev def. Joe Proctor via TKO (strikes) at 1:54 of R1
Yancy Medeiros def. John Makdessi via split decision
Court McGee def. Marcio Alexandre Jr. via UD
The MMA gods have, for the most part, safely guided one of the most stacked cards in UFC history to fruition. Amidst those ever-prevalent claims of oversaturation, the UFC have mustered up an ubercard for the ages. Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will finally defend his title against interim champion Conor McGregor. Middleweight champion Chris Weidman takes on No.1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. Then you’ve got Romero vs. Souza, Maia vs. Nelson…the list goes on and on.
Nation, it’s been an emotional journey. An unprecedented world media tour. Fractured ribs. Interim titles. More heated staredowns. These have all led to this mammoth main-event. I don’t know about you, but I’m giddy with excitement as months of trash-talking all culminate this weekend. To honour this epic event, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 194. Join me?
The MMA gods have, for the most part, safely guided one of the most stacked cards in UFC history to fruition. Amidst those ever-prevalent claims of oversaturation, the UFC have mustered up an ubercard for the ages. Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will finally defend his title against interim champion Conor McGregor. Middleweight champion Chris Weidman takes on No.1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. Then you’ve got Romero vs. Souza, Maia vs. Nelson…the list goes on and on.
Nation, it’s been an emotional journey. An unprecedented world media tour. Fractured ribs. Interim titles. More heated staredowns. These have all led to this mammoth main-event. I don’t know about you, but I’m giddy with excitement as months of trash-talking all culminate this weekend. To honour this epic event, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 194. Join me?
Rockhold’s stand-up skills pave the way for his buttery smooth ground game. Weidman will have to be wary of the former Strikeforce champions efficiency on the mat.
C is for Coaches
As well as the primed fighters, the two title-bouts also pit masterful coaches against one another in Pederneiras vs. Kavanagh and Longo/Serra vs. Cook/Mendez.
D is for Division I
The middleweight challenger does indeed own a fierce, aggressive jiu-jitsu game, but Weidman brings his Division I wrestling credentials to the table pitting the two noble disciplines.
The main-card will open in style with Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens, a fight that is largely flying under the radar when compared to the simply epic fights that come after it. Come to think of it, the whole card other than Aldo-McGregor is flying under the radar.
Don’t be surprised to see ‘The Notorious’ in movie theatres near you in the future. McGregor claims Hollywood is screaming for him, so let’s hope it doesn’t get to his head like certain other fighters.
I is for Interim
Interim champion McGregor doesn’t want to be labelled as interim champion, which, okayyyyy.
J is for Jiu-Jitsu
Ice-cool Gunnar Nelson will take on the equally stoic Demian Maia. Two of the finest jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet going head-to-head, which can only mean that a sloppy stand-up war is what will ensue.
K is for Kicks
Rockhold’s kicks > Aldo’s kicks. Yeah, I said it.
L is for Lightweight
Win or lose, is McGregor planning his exit from the featherweight division? He’s stated on numerous occasions about his intentions of challenging for the 155lbs title, and has already talked his way into a fight with the Donald Cerrone-Rafael Dos Anjos lightweight title winner.
M is for Movement
Being a so-called “student of movement” with an obsession over the mechanics of the human anatomy, McGregor linked up with martial art guru Ido Portal recently, as seen in the UFC 194 embedded vlog series, where he polished and further enhanced his range of movements.
N is for Newcomer
Newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger would make a huge statement in the women’s strawweight division if she could take out the No.5 ranked Tecia Torres.
O is for “Overaggressive”
According to Rockhold, the undefeated champion is “overaggressive” and “clumsy.” Does anyone agree with the challenger’s statement?
P is for Pay
In case you were worried that MMA referees are overpaid, they’re not. ‘Big’ John McCarthy will make a measly $1,900 for reffing Aldo-McGregor. Stay classy, NSAC.
Q is for Quality
The quality of the top three fights goes without saying, but the combined record of those 6 fighters, in case you were wondering? 102-9. Ridiculous.
Aldo’s sneaky-good wrestling, as displayed against Mark Hominick and Chan Sung Jung, coupled with his jiu-jitsu black belt could be his way to victory against McGregor, whose only losses have come on the ground.
Urijah Faber is the pound-for-pound king of headlining prelims. At UFC 194, he’ll be taking on huge underdog Frankie Saenz in the coveted “featured prelim” slot once again.
V is for Vocal
Come fight night, The MGM Grand Garden Arena is going to be a melting pot of vocal Irish and Brazilian fans. Event security is going to have their hands full.
W is for Weapons
It seems fans and critics alike are heavily obsessing over the possible inefficacy of Aldo’s leg-kicks due to McGregor’s southpaw stance. Newsflash: the Brazilian has many other potent weapons in his arsenal like the power in his hands as well as his stellar ground game.
X is for X-Rated
Middleweight champion Chris Weidman recently recalled his worst injury on Huffington Post Live. FYI: It’s penis-related.
Summer is winding down, which means we’re in the latter stages of 2015. It also means football season is finally here. But do you know what else it means? There’s still a whole slew of mixed martial arts fights that we have to look forward to, so with that in mind, here are the top 10 fights that you, Potato Nation, should check out or – at the very least – set your DVR to as we wind down the year:
Summer is winding down, which means we’re in the latter stages of 2015. It also means football season is finally here. But do you know what else it means? There’s still a whole slew of mixed martial arts fights that we have to look forward to, so with that in mind, here are the top 10 fights that you, Potato Nation, should check out or – at the very least – set your DVR to as we wind down the year:
(Countdown to UFC 191: Andrei Arlovski vs Frank Mir, via the UFC.)
Both of these guys are in the midst of a career resurgence – and probably the second or third such resurgence for Mir. Both are also riding multiple-fight win streaks, and the winner of this fight has to be considered the top contender in UFC’s heavyweight division. But given what we’ve seen lately with title shots in the UFC, who knows?
(Highlights from Dantas vs. Galvao 1, via Bellator.)
Galvao memorably made Joe Warren scream in pain at Bellator 135 earlier this year, securing the bantamweight title in the process. Dantas succumbed to Warren in a previous title fight, but secured another shot after besting Mike Richman at Bellator 137. Oh yeah, Dantas also happens to hold a vicious knockout victory over, you guessed it, Marcos Galvao. Both of these guys can finish their opponent by either knockout or submission, so don’t expect this fight to go to a decision.
Freire has been a thorn in Straus’ side, already getting the better of him on two separate occasions. Besides his losses to Freire, Straus has been on an absolute tear in Bellator, winning all but one fight. Straus is chomping at the bit for redemption against Freire, and I expect this fight to be teeming with animosity and fireworks.
7. David Branch vs. Teddy Holder (World Series of Fighting 23 – Sept. 18)
(Holder vs. Thiago Silva, WSOF 19.)
Holder emphatically made his presence known in WSOF, stepping in as a last-minute replacement against Thiago Silva and needing all but two minutes to knockout Silva in both men’s organizational debut. Knocking out a dangerous (literally) fighter like Silva in two minutes? I’d say that warrants a title shot. Holder and Branch are squaring off for WSOF’s inaugual light heavyweight title, with Branch boasting an undefeated record in WSOF and getting the best of fighters like Paulo Filho and Yushin Okami. Both guys like to stand and bang, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this fight probably won’t go the distance.
Putting this fight here is more or less a sentimental pick, given the stature of the two guys involved. Hendo showed the world he’s not quite finished yet by brutally knocking out Tim Boetsch in the first round earlier this summer. Belfort was demolished by UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in his last fight, but had a highlight-reel knockout of Hendo in their previous meeting. These guys are surefire hall of famers and at the latter end of their careers, so you want to catch them while you can. Especially when they’re facing each other.
5. Bellator: Dynamite (Sept. 19)
This is an entire card you should check out, not just one fight. Bellator is partnering with GLORY kickboxing to put on a joint card on the same night. The arena will house both the Bellator cage and GLORY’s kickboxing ring, right next to each other. Simply put, this is a combat sports fan’s wet dream. The Bellator portion of the card will feature a light heavyweight tournament with fighters like Phil Davis and Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal. Liam McGeary will defend his light heavyweight title against Tito Ortiz, and Bellator’s Paul Daley will actually compete in a GLORY kickboxing match against Fernando Gonzalez. If you love combat sports, you do not want to miss this event.
4. Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino II (World Series of Fighting 23 – Sept. 18)
(Gaethje vs Palomino 1 highlights, via Youtube)
These two engaged in an absolute war earlier this year. They traded bomb after bomb after bomb and pummeled each other mercilessly. Gaethje scored a third-round TKO victory, but Palomino’s tremendous heart and aggression against Gaethje secured him another chance at the gold. Their first meeting has been one of the less-heralded fights of 2015. But after this sequel, both of these guys should be household names.
These two are probably the two best middleweight fighters in the world right now. They’ve been circling each other for a while now and after Weidman’s demolition of Belfort and Rockhold running through Lyoto Machida in their previous bouts, the time is now for Weidman and Rockhold to go toe-to-toe for UFC’s middleweight title. These guys are sharing the UFC 194 with Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. While that fight will likely get the lion’s share of the promotion, Weidman/Rockhold has all the making of a classic. Neither man gives an inch and will bring everything they have to the table. This will be a terrific fight to watch.
It may have suffered a slight setback thanks to an unfortunate thumb injury, but simply put, if you like violence, you will enjoy this fight. Both Lawler and Condit enjoy rearranging their opponent’s faces – Lawler with Rory MacDonald, and Condit with Thiago Alves. Expect nothing less than a brutal, bloody, punishing affair with this one. There will be no strategy, no gameplan. If any fight encompasses the saying “Two men enter, one man leaves,” it’s this one. Just sit back, relax and enjoy violence in its purest form with this one.
(Aldo vs. McGregor promo, once again via BrattMamley)
The fight EVERYONE’S talked about. This was supposed to happen at UFC 189 in July, and even had a world tour to go with it. Unfortunately, Aldo had to pull out right before the fight with an injury. McGregor defeated Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title, and will now face Aldo to determine UFC’s true featherweight champion. The hype surrounding this fight will be off the charts, and it will be almost a full calendar year before the anticipation for this fight really kicked into gear. Aldo and McGregor are the two best featherweights in the world. It is long past time for these two to square off, and it can’t come at a better time than just before the holidays. Merry Christmas to all of us.
Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also opines on various topics within UFC, Bellator and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, and follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.
