The Orleans Parish District Attorney will not seek criminal charges against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz following his involvement in a brawl on Bourbon Street earlier this year. In April, Diaz was charged with second-degree battery after a video went viral that showed the ‘Stockton Samurai’ choking social media influencer Rodney Peterson unconscious during an altercation […]
The Orleans Parish District Attorney will not seek criminal charges against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz following his involvement in a brawl on Bourbon Street earlier this year.
In April, Diaz was charged with second-degree battery after a video went viral that showed the ‘Stockton Samurai’ choking social media influencer Rodney Peterson unconscious during an altercation following a Misfits Boxing event in The Big Easy.
Nate Diaz turned himself into the New Orleans Police Department shortly after the incident, but per a report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the TUF alumnus will not face any charges.
“Since Rodney Peterson sought out to fight Nate on Bourbon Street, we have maintained Nate’s actions were 100 percent in self-defense,” Diaz’s representative Zach Rosenfield said in a statement. “
It was clear on the video, clear in pictures, and clear from the multiple other videos Rodney posted before and after Nate has a right to defend himself against those who want to make a name for themselves and did so. We appreciate the Orleans Parish District Attorney taking the time to review all aspects of this case and their decision to not proceed with it.”
Nate Diaz choked out Logan Paul’s lookalike in New Orleans brawl
The report also reveals that a representative from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office confirmed to ESPN that they would not proceed with charges against Diaz.
Will Nate Diaz Return to the UFC?
After becoming one of the biggest stars in UFC history during his 15-year tenure, Nate Diaz parted ways with the promotion in September 2022 to seek a big-money matchup inside the squared circle. He got exactly that, landing a fight with social media sensation Jake Paul. The pair stepped into American Airlines Center in August and delivered a highly entertaining 10-round scrap that reportedly landed Diaz upwards of $20 million.
Diaz has not yet announced his next move, but an appearance at Noche UFC earlier this month added to the speculation that he could find himself once again back under the UFC banner before long.
(Man, you know Dana’s heart isn’t in this one when he can’t even be bothered to put on a funky t-shirt. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle. For more photos from this album, click here.)
Tonight in New Orleans, Jake Shields and Jake Ellenberger will lock horns in a pivotal welterweight contest. Will Shields shows flashes of his old submission-machine self, or will Ellenberger spoil the party in the Big Easy?
Plus: Middleweights Alan Belcher and Jason MacDonald kick off the main card, and Court McGee and Jonathan Brookins take the next steps in their post-TUF careers. Meanwhile on pay-per-view, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is boxing Victor Ortiz, and hell, maybe we’ll give you updates on that one as well.
Live round-by-round updates from the Spike TV broadcast of “UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger” will be piling up after the jump starting at 9 p.m. ET. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Here, we, go.
(Man, you know Dana’s heart isn’t in this one when he can’t even be bothered to put on a funky t-shirt. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle. For more photos from this album, click here.)
Tonight in New Orleans, Jake Shields and Jake Ellenberger will lock horns in a pivotal welterweight contest. Will Shields shows flashes of his old submission-machine self, or will Ellenberger spoil the party in the Big Easy?
Plus: Middleweights Alan Belcher and Jason MacDonald kick off the main card, and Court McGee and Jonathan Brookins take the next steps in their post-TUF careers. Meanwhile on pay-per-view, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is boxing Victor Ortiz, and hell, maybe we’ll give you updates on that one as well.
Live round-by-round updates from the Spike TV broadcast of “UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger” will be piling up after the jump starting at 9 p.m. ET. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Here, we, go.
So they’re going to start airing King of Queens re-runs on Spike? EXTREEEEEME, BRO!!!!!!!
Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald
Round 1: Belcher stalking with his jab. MacDonald tries for a takedown but Belcher defends, and they lock up against the fence. MacDonald re-sets for a single leg, and drags Belcher down after some effort. But Belcher lands on top, in MacDonald’s guard. Belcher with a stiff punch from the top. MacDonald trying to hold him, but Belcher opens up and blasts down heavy punches. MacDonald covers up, then grabs an arm for a kimura attempt. Belcher defends and moves to side-control. MacDonald re-establishes guard and gets slugged in the face. He looks hurt. Now elbows and more punches from Belcher and MacDonald turtles under the onslaught. Belcher pours it on until the ref stops it. It’s all over. Impressive return performance from the Talent. Belcher def. MacDonald via verbal submission (strikes), 3:48 of round 1. Damn, I didn’t see Jason cry uncle, but there you go.
Jonathan Brookins vs. Erik Koch
Round 1: Koch starts with a leg kick. Brookins throws a teep, and shoots, Royce Gracie style. He’s a little slow with it, but he still grabs onto Koch’s leg. Koch defends, and Brookins sneaks in a sharp standing elbow in the clinch. Koch lands a knee to Brookins’s grill. Knee to the gut from Brookins, then another elbow. Koch gets free and lands a long straight left. Leg kick Koch. Another straight left. Brookins works his way inside and grabs onto Koch’s leg again. Brookins drops to the mat with it, but Koch makes him pay with hammerfists and elbows to the temple. Koch shakes free. Brookins with another short elbow. The round ends with Brookins flipping Koch to the mat.
Round 2: Koch opening up with his punches. Brookins dashes forward trying to grab Koch’s leg, but can’t convert. Koch lands his straight left again. Brookins works again for a takedown. Brookins drags Koch down, but Koch is quickly back up, with the TUF winner still hanging off of him. The crowd begins their inevitable booing. Koch breaks free. Leg kick from Koch. Great punch combo and leg kick from Koch. Brookins goes back to his wall-and-stall. Finally he puts Koch’s back on the mat. Koch pushes off and gets to his feet, eating a punch on the way up. Brookins is on him like glue. Koch with an elbow to his head to end the round.
Round 3: Nice 1-2 from Koch. Clinch and knee from Brookins. Brookins shoots in for the single but Koch pulls out. Koch sticks the jab. Leg kick Koch. Another single-leg attempt from Brookins. Good defense from Koch. Koch tries to disengage but Brookins follows him and sticks an elbow. They break, and Koch scores a head kick, followed by a leg kick. Brookins tries a superman punch. They tie up and Koch takes Brookins down for a half-second. Koch puts Brookins against the fence. They separate and trade punches before Brookins grabs on again. Dirty boxing from Brookins to the last bell. Kind of an ugly one. Erik Koch def. Jonathan Brookins via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28). Whoa. Two judges gave Koch all three rounds? No love for takedown attempts tonight. Not that I’m complaining; Koch definitely won the majority of striking exchanges.
An interview appearance by Jon Jones and Rampage Jackson turns into an argument about the alleged Jones spy in ‘Page’s camp. “You gettin’ destroyed, homey,” Rampage says.
Court McGee vs. Dongi Yang
Round 1: Yang throws a straight to McGee’s body. He throws and lands to the head. Yang is a step quicker than McGee in the opening moments of the round, avoiding all of McGee’s punches. But McGee finally lands with a short right, and it’s a good one. Yang with a hook. They trade leg kicks. Yang catches a leg kick, but misses the counter punch. Yang stumbles after a leg kick. McGee reaches out at Yang’s face, not for the first time, and follows it up with a punch. McGee dashes forward with some punches at the bell.
Round 2: Inside leg kick Court. Both guys swing hooks at each other. McGee rushes in to clinch, Yang tosses him off. Yang lands a pair of counter-punches as McGee attacks. McGee jabs. Slick 1-2 from Yang. McGee fires the head kick. Hard straight left from Yang. McGee shoots and grabs Yang around the waist, but the Judo black belt easily gets out. Leg kick Yang as the crowd boos. Body shot Yang. Yang sticks him with a counter as McGee lumbers in. Head kick McGee, followed by a leg kick, then some punches. McGee shoots, Yang ain’t having it. There’s the bell.
Round 3: Yang jabs. McGee shoots in, Yang defends and chases him off. McGee throws a kick, eats a hook. Yang’s nose is bloodied. McGee lands a right. Yang staggers McGee with a hook and darts in with a flying knee! He takes Court to the mat but McGee is up and slugging. Now Yang looks stunned, but he fires back with a punch and kick. Now it’s a fight. McGee clinches up, Yang shakes off. McGee landing more punches now. Nice uppercut in close. McGee shoots, Yang defends, but McGee stays on him and puts Yang down briefly. McGee outboxing Yang now, but is it too late? McGee with another takedown, and drops elbows on Yang. McGee grabs a guillotine and cranks it, but Yang pulls out just as the round ends. Court McGee def Dongi Yang via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-28). No time for a post-fight interview. Hey, that third judge scored one of the first two rounds 10-10. Good for him!
Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger
Round 1: Ellenberger comes out throwing hard. Jake looking to implement his gameplan right away, but can’t get Ellenberger down on his first attempt. They clinch up, and Ellenberger lands a knee to the body and one to the chin that drops Shields to the mat. Holy crap! Ellenberger jackhammers some left hands into Shields’s dome until the referee jumps in. Shields in la-la land, trying to grapple with the ref. And now you’ll remember the name “Ellenberger.” Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields via TKO, 0:53 of round 1.
Shields thinks it was an early stoppage. “Ref’s decision, [but] I wanted to keep fighting.” Huh. I mean, he was clearly unconscious. Maybe he was still out of it while giving that interview. And we are officially living in a post-Shields era. What did y’all think?
PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
– Vagner Rocha def. Cody McKenzie via submission (rear-naked choke), 3:49 of round 2
– Evan Dunham def. Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
– Lance Benoist def. Matt Riddle via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Ken Stone def. Donny Walker via submission (rear naked choke), 2:47 of round 1
– Seth Baczynski def. Clay Harvison via submission (rear naked choke), 1:12 of round 2
– TJ Waldburger def. Mike Stumpf via submission (triangle choke), 3:52 of round 1
– Robert Peralta def. Mike Lullo via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
– Justin Edwards def. Jorge Lopez via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
Two TUF champions—Jonathan Brookins and Court McGee—are presently on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 25 card, but fans should anticipate a more impressive return to the Octagon Saturday by McGee. McGee and Brookins are pretty even regard…
Two TUF champions—Jonathan Brookins and Court McGee—are presently on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 25 card, but fans should anticipate a more impressive return to the Octagon Saturday by McGee.
McGee and Brookins are pretty even regarding stats, so how does one figure that McGee’s fight will be the better one?
McGee has 13 wins out of 14 professional fights, while Brookins has 12 wins out of 15 professional fights.
McGee is currently on a seven-win streak, in comparison to Brookins’ four-fight win streak, and McGee’s two most recent wins took place in the Octagon. McGee, however, has not fought in 11 months.
Court McGee, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 11, also spent the past several weeks recuperating a torn ACL.
Both fighters have more victories via submission than knockout.
Several things stand out about McGee’s fight against Dong–Yi Yang, placing it as the more exciting fight in comparison to the Brookins-Koch fight.
Due to potential ring rust built up over nearly a year, and an opponent who has achieved nine out of 10 of his professional victories via knockout, McGee has a lot going against him.
Brookins, on the other hand, still has yet to make his Octagon debut, originally delayed due to injury. This does not hurt his case, but it does not help him.
In a recent interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Brookins said that the time off to heal a broken orbital he received during training gave him time to reflect and reassess his strategy.
Brookins’ time away from the Octagon allowed him to train and drop down from the lightweight division to the featherweight division. His more natural weight is 145.
“I had already gotten a spot in the UFC at 155, so it was a little harder for me. But I thought it was a good part of my career where I could implement a little more focus.”
UFC is not doing any favors for Brookins after his time off and his move to a lower and smaller weight division.
If featherweight is Brookins’ more natural weight, in addition to his yet untested skills under the big lights, it makes sense that Dana White would not make his first fight an easy one. Brookins, however, claims he is ready for the challenge.
Regarding winning the reality show, Brookins went on to tell the Sun, “It’s a blessing I really don’t want to go to waste.”
“I don’t want it to be something I didn’t have the full respect for. It’s something that comes with a lot of responsibility. I want to be that person who really covets it for the position, while not making it the highlight of their life.”
Brookins will be facing the younger, equally talented and very hungry Erik Koch, who told MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview that he is looking to knock out Brookins.
Having previously won Knock out of the Night from both the WEC and the UFC for his two most recent fights, Koch’s aspirations are not impossible. Brookins will have to overcome Koch’s explosive inertia in order to secure a win.
Koch is also very capable on the ground; 58 percent of his wins have been by submission, ranging between chokes and armbars. On the other hand, 53 percent of Brookins’ wins have been by submission, making him only slightly less successful in that regard.
Everybody likes an underdog, and Brookins must overcome several obstacles to achieve a win. In another regard, McGee’s successful reentry into the Octagon means he must neutralize Yang’s strikes by bringing him to the ground and beating him there.
Despite possessing similar profiles, the length of McGee’s time off recovering from a severe injury that affects major mobility, places him at a distinct disadvantage against a very skilled striker.
This is precisely why his victory would be the more impressive of the two TUF champions.
The Battle on the Bayou goes down Saturday, September 17th, at 9PM ET on SPIKE TV.Headlined by a welterweight showdown between grappling ace Jake Shields and the heavy-handed Jake Ellenberger, the main card features four competitive fights showcasing s…
The Battle on the Bayou goes down Saturday, September 17th, at 9PM ET on SPIKE TV.
Headlined by a welterweight showdown between grappling ace Jake Shields and the heavy-handed Jake Ellenberger, the main card features four competitive fights showcasing several promising up-and-comers:
Alan “The Talent” Belcher vs. Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald
Erik “New Breed” Koch vs. Jonathan Brookins
Court “The Crusher” McGee vs. Dongi “The Ox” Yang
Jake Shields vs. Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger
Though likely to be overshadowed by boxing’s Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz, this card is a gem for fight fans, and is free on TV to boot. Oh, and it has a few nice betting opportunities, which never hurts.
Without further ado, let’s get to the fights…
All betting odds courtesy of Bodog.eu. I take no responsibility for your crushing gambling addiction.
Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – In a lot of ways, had Jason MacDonald reinjured the ankle that he hurt at UFC 113, it would have at least kept him from being conflicted down the road.
As it is, MacDonald’s ankle feels healthy, he said, and he fee…
NEW ORLEANS – In a lot of ways, had Jason MacDonald reinjured the ankle that he hurt at UFC 113, it would have at least kept him from being conflicted down the road.
As it is, MacDonald’s ankle feels healthy, he said, and he feels good about where he’s at heading into his Saturday fight against Alan Belcher at UFC Fight Night 25.
MacDonald said a reaggravation of that injury might have forced him to retire from MMA. But it’s not the ankle that will ultimately wind up deciding when it’s time for him to quit – it’s the realistic mindset he prides himself on.
“I’m interested, I’m still motivated to go train every day, I still enjoy it – so I’m still going to do it,” MacDonald said Thursday at the New Orleans Athletic Club. “The moment I don’t want to put in the work, I’ll be a guy who steps away. I’m not going to wait until I’ve been knocked out four times in a row and just hang on for that one more pay day. I have things to fall back on. There are other things in my life besides fighting. When I stop having fun, I’m going to move on in life.”
It’s ironic that MacDonald was recently in the position to come back after a long injury layoff. An injury against John Salter at UFC 113 in Montreal last year kept him on the shelf until UFC 129 in April, when he ignited his home country Canadian fans in Toronto with a submission win over Ryan Jensen.
Now MacDonald (25-14, 6-6 UFC) faces Belcher (16-6, 7-4 UFC), who has been out since, coincidentally, UFC 113 with eye problems that required surgery. And MacDonald said he knows what Belcher has on his mind.
“I can relate to what he’s going through,” MacDonald said. “I know the things that were going through my head before Toronto: ‘Am I gonna get back good enough to do this? Am I gonna reaggravate the injury and call it wrap, call it a career?’ There are lots of unanswered questions there. I was able to answer those questions in Toronto, and obviously Alan’s going to have to answer those questions. I think I can understand some of the things going through his head.”
Belcher had plenty of momentum on his side before his layoff – four straight fight night bonuses and a 3-1 mark which had just a controversial split decision loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama as a blemish.
But MacDonald said even a win over Belcher doesn’t mean he can necessarily count on sticking around for a while to go on a title run.
“For me, I know I belong here,” MacDonald said. “I’m no one-fight wonder. If you look at my fights and my record, I’ve fought a who’s who of the middleweight division. It’s not a question of if I belong here, it’s how much longer can I do this for? How much longer do I want to do this for?”
MacDonald said Chris Lytle‘s retirement last month had him thinking about his own situation with four kids at home, and being closer to 40 than 30. He also said keeping it real comes in handy.
“I’m not a title contender,” MacDonald said. “People might say that’s a poor thing to say, but I’m realistic. Even if I beat Alan on Saturday, I’m a lot of fights away from a title shot. You start asking yourself, ‘How many more fights do I want to do this for?’ When it’s time to step away, it’s time to step away. I don’t know the answer to that question yet. I’m 37 years old, I’ve had a good run and now it’s time to start looking forward.
“But right now, right here, right this second, I’m focused on Saturday night.”
MacDonald and Belcher open the main card of UFC Fight Night 25 on Spike TV at 9 p.m. Eastern. The main event features a welterweight fight between Jake Shields and Jake Ellenberger.
NEW ORLEANS – It’s not like Court McGee wanted to be on the sidelines for 11 months.
But while out of action, he managed to find a way to get his frame of mind reinvigorated for what he needs to be doing, one day at a time.
For the 26-year-old, who doesn’t shy away from talking about his past as a heroin addict if it’s brought up, a potentially frustrating and lengthy layoff – thanks to a bad knee and a busted-up hand – turned into an affirmation of his mindset.
“Having some time off, I got to rethink – and I never questioned the reason I was fighting,” McGee said Thursday after a short workout at the New Orleans Athletic Club. “No. 1, I do it to carry the message. No. 2, I do it because the payout means I can better take care of my family – my wife, my two sons, my training partners, my team. And No. 3, because I love competition.”
For McGee, that message is to help make a difference for someone who might be venturing down the path he found himself on more than five years ago. “Whatever changed in me made a difference,” he said. “If I can do this for someone else and make a difference, that’s a big deal.”
McGee (13-1, 2-0 UFC) fights Dong Yi Yang (10-1, 1-1 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 25 on Saturday in New Orleans, the promotion’s first trip back to “The Big Easy” since UFC 27.
The Season 11 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” had built up some nice momentum in his first two UFC middleweight bouts – both submission victories. He tapped Kris McCray to win the TUF 11 title, then submitted Ryan Jensen at UFC 121 last October.
But despite his generally positive outlook on everything, McGee said the injury did have him down when it happened – but just for a couple days, and then just sporadically when he was reminded that he could be in a training camp instead of watching with his hand in a cast after a training injury on the heels of a knee injury.
“The frustration (came from) putting in over 4,000 hours to get where I was at,” McGee said. “I won at UFC 121, I’m in the UFC, and now it’s time to come in and prepare and focus and really pursue greatness, and to have the injury it was just like … man. All I can control is healing my hand, healing my knee and making sure I’m there for my wife and sons, and I’m there for my teammates and coaches. So that’s what I do. That’s part of my job – a place of maximum usefulness and service to others. That’s my job. My career is an MMA fighter.”
Against Yang, who has nine of his 10 wins by knockout, McGee said the that though on paper it would appear he would want to take the fight to the ground, the challenge of mixed martial arts is never knowing just what’s going to happen.
“I love being in the fight,” McGee said. “I love taking 15 minutes and figuring out how to beat somebody. He’s a bigger, quite possibly stronger opponent. So I’m going to have to overcome that and figure out how to beat him, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
And that is perhaps what keeps McGee the most grounded. He’s not throwing around lofty goals of winning titles. He’s not saying he wants to fight Anderson Silva. All he said he’s trying to think about is what’s next – even if what’s next isn’t the fight, or making weight. Even if what’s next is just talking to three reporters.
“I take this one day at a time,” McGee said. “I don’t look at a destination, I don’t look at the championship. Of course the goal is to be the world champion, but it’s not a realistic goal today. My goal today is to stay focused, relaxed, be in this interview and give you guys 100 percent of my attention.”
Two TUF champions—Jonathan Brookins and Court McGee—are presently on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 25 card, but fans should anticipate a more impressive return to the Octagon Saturday by McGee. 
NEW ORLEANS – In a lot of ways, had 
NEW ORLEANS – It’s not like