Filed under: UFC, NewsThe first-ever UFC on FUEL fight card features a Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger main event on Feb. 15 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
Sanchez fought once in 2011, beating Martin Kampmann by unanimous decis…
The first-ever UFC on FUEL fight card features a Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger main event on Feb. 15 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
Sanchez fought once in 2011, beating Martin Kampmann by unanimous decision at UFC on Versus 3. Meanwhile, Ellenberger is coming off a first-round TKO over Jake Shields last September at UFC Fight Night 25.
(I bet if that cameraman had been The Undertaker, Lesnar would have just let him do his job. Video props via MiddleEasy.)
OK, so maybe the above video was taken in the aftermath of Brock Lesnar’s first round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem, but we imagine he had a similar reaction when informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he must have an abdominal injury cleared by a doctor before he can compete in any physical activity for the next 6 months. Remember, given his recent retirement, the “physical activity” that Lesnar would be limited from would be his two favorite things, illegally tag-and-bagging mule deer and “getting on top of his wife.” Livestrong, Mr. Lesnar. BTW, that was kind of a dick move, shoving a poor cameraman like that. Way to go out with class.
But Lesnar was not the only fighter who walked out of UFC 141 facing a possible 6 month suspension. Nate Diaz, who, after out landing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes, somehow faces a longer suspension than that of “The Cowboy” — Diaz must have his right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist or will also be out of action until June 28th.
Join us after the jump for the full list.
(I bet if that cameraman had been The Undertaker, Lesnar would have just let him do his job. Video props via MiddleEasy.)
OK, so maybe the above video was taken in the aftermath of Brock Lesnar’s first round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem, but we imagine he had a similar reaction when informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he must have an abdominal injury cleared by a doctor before he can compete in any physical activity for the next 6 months. Remember, given his recent retirement, the “physical activity” that Lesnar would be limited from would be his two favorite things, illegally tag-and-bagging mule deer and “getting on top of his wife.” Livestrong, Mr. Lesnar. BTW, that was kind of a dick move, shoving a poor cameraman like that. Way to go out with class.
But Lesnar was not the only fighter who walked out of UFC 141 facing a possible 6 month suspension. Nate Diaz, who, after out landing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes, somehow faces a longer suspension than that of “The Cowboy” — Diaz must have his right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist or will also be out of action until June 28th.
UFC 141 medical suspensions:
Alistair Overeem: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contest until Jan. 30 for cuts on right eye
Brock Lesnar: Must have abdominal injury cleared by a doctor or no contest until June 28
Nate Diaz: Must be cleared by an ophthalmologist or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for right eye injury
Donald Cerrone: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30 for cut on lower lip
Jon Fitch: Suspended until Feb.29; no contest until Feb. 14
Alexander Gustafsson: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for right tibia contusion
Vladimir Matyushenko: Must have left knee cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30
Nam Phan: Suspended until Feb. 29; no contact until Feb. 14 for cut on right eyebrow
Junior Assuncao: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for cut on right cheek
Dong Hyun Kim: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for left foot contusion
Diego Nunes: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30 for cut on left eye
Manny Gamburyan: Must have right shoulder x-rayed and cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21
(Gina making sure her fighting career is dead with the help of an Uzi.)
Well, it’s really seeming less and less likely that Gina Carano will be coming back to compete in MMA.
In spite of the fact that she says she is undecided whether or not her professional future resides in the cage or on the big screen, Carano, who attended Friday’s UFC 141 event in Las Vegas to help promote the upcoming January 20 release of her film, “Haywire,” seems to be talking a lot in the past tense when addressing her fight career.
Gina told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani that she spent the past two-and-a-half years making the film and getting to know herself better and flip-flopped between explaining that she pulled out of her June fight with Sarah D’Alelio due to medical and personal reasons, adding that she wished that the media would just stop asking what the issue was.
Check out the video and read the most telling quotes after the jump.
(Gina making sure her fighting career is dead with the help of an Uzi.)
Well, it’s really seeming less and less likely that Gina Carano will be coming back to compete in MMA.
In spite of the fact that she says she is undecided whether or not her professional future resides in the cage or on the big screen, Carano, who attended Friday’s UFC 141 event in Las Vegas to help promote the upcoming January 20 release of her film, “Haywire,” seems to be talking a lot in the past tense when addressing her fight career.
Gina told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani that she spent the past two-and-a-half years making the film and getting to know herself better and flip-flopped between explaining that she pulled out of her June fight with Sarah D’Alelio due to medical and personal reasons, adding that she wished that the media would just stop asking what the issue was.
Check out the video and read the most telling quotes after the jump.
“I had some personal issues. I had some personal issues and I had to take care of it, and…uh…yeah,” Carano explained uncomfortably. “I know everybody’s tryin’ to get the answer. I hope that people will just let that go. It was…uh…I couldn’t fight.”
Perhaps the most telling statement Carano made during the brief Q&A came when Helwani asked the former face of EliteXC and Strikeforce if she was anxious to right the ship after incurring her first MMA loss to Cris “Cyborg” Santos nearly three years ago.
“I don’t think my ego works like that. I kind of wish it did, cos maybe if it did I would have been a better fighter,” she said. “I really feel that I’m a late bloomer in a lot of ways and I really got pushed out there fast — almost too fast.”
Notice the “could have been,” rather than “could be.” It may be a coincidence, but it seems like she’s talking a lot like a former fighter.
When asked by Helwani if she would have changed her career trajectory, “Crush” says she wouldn’t change any aspect of her life.
“This was obviously God’s plan to kinda show me what life’s about and I have gotten some of the most beautiful experiences that a person could possibly ask for, so I’m not at all complaining. I got pushed out fast and I got to pave a beautiful way,” Carano explained. “There’s a lot of great female MMA fighters out there right now and there will be more in the future and I’ve absolutely adored being one of those people that’s helped that.”
“I don’t know [if I’ll keep acting or go back to fighting]. I think that acting is something that I’d like to get to know better. Acting is definitely something you can do longterm, but I don’t really have an answer to that right now and I’m not going to force one. Because one thing I know is you can’t force anything,” she pointed out. “As much as I’d love for this movie to be a great hit, you can’t force that and as much as I’d like to be the best female MMA fighter in the world, you can’t force that. It’s gotta come from somewhere pure and It’s gotta happen, not cos you’re forcing it. I’m a big fan of not forcing myself down people’s throats.”
Carano says that there have been a number of offers for work since she’s been away from fighting and that she hasn’t had time to contemplate her next move since she’s been so consumed with promoting the film.
“We do have a lot of opportunities and a lot of things that we’re looking at. Really, I just honestly cannot wait to get on the other side of [the movie]. I really do. I want to get on the other side of January 20th and really sit down and see what Gina really wants to do,” Carano explained. “It’s been a two-year deal. It’s given me some time to spend with my family and it’s given me some time to sit and figure some things out. I’m still the same person, but with a little bit more knowledge on how to be healthy and how to love myself a little bit better. I don’t know [if I’ll fight again]. We’ll see. I really don’t have an answer. I just think after January 20th we’ll know a lot more.”
As far as Carano’s longtime dream of fighting under the UFC banner, she seemed to be talking on behalf of women’s MMA, rather than herself when she told Helwani that she is hopeful that Zuffa will one day have WMMA featured in the Octagon.
“It’s also kind of interesting because I always thought it would happen, and I’m also still holding onto a dream that women will fight in the UFC. I don’t understand why they don’t put a superfight on between two females that people really want to see fight. And there’s so many great females out there now, so yeah, it’s still a dream.”
Filed under: UFC, NewsCanadians Mark Hominick and Mark Bocek will play host to Eddie Yagin and Matt Wiman, respectively, at UFC 145 on March 24 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The UFC announced Tuesday that verbal agreements are in place for the two b…
Canadians Mark Hominick and Mark Bocek will play host to Eddie Yagin and Matt Wiman, respectively, at UFC 145 on March 24 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The UFC announced Tuesday that verbal agreements are in place for the two bouts.
Featherweight Hominick (20-10) will look to end a two-fight losing streak that began with his unsuccessful title challenge against Jose Aldo in April 2011 and extended with a seven-second knockout loss to Chan-Sung Jung last month.
Yagin (15-5-1) is a Filipino-American out of Hawaii who fell short in his UFC debut last September against Junior Assuncao.
In 2011, Toronto’s Bocek (9-4) fought to a decision loss against lightweight title contender Ben Henderson and then bounced back with a win over Nik Lentz.
Wiman (14-6) has won four of his last five fights and in his most recent fight in October, earned a decision over Mac Danzig.
UFC 145 will be the promotion’s first event in Canada of 2012 and its first trip back to the Bell Centre since UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2 in December 2010.
(NOW we get why Kyle’s friends often refer to him as “The Poke” Noke.)
After collecting three straight stoppage victories in as many UFC contests, EliteXC and TUF 11 veteran Kyle Noke was quickly building up a reputation as one of the top up-and-comers in the middleweight division. Being one of the few successful Australian fighters to grace the UFC (sorry, Elvis), Noke carried a bit more pressure on his shoulders than the average TUF alum, especially when heading into his UFC Live 5 match against resurgent TUF 3 veteran Ed Herman. Unfortunately Noke (and therefore the Australian MMA community), would fall to a first round heel hook in that fight, placing all Aussie UFC hopes in the hands of a man nicknamed after an animal relative to Africa.
But fret not, ye Fosters enthusiasts, for Noke’s path to redemption will begin in the land from which he was birthed. Yes, “KO” recently announced that he will be taking on Jared Hamman at UFC on FX 2, which goes down at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. Hamman, whom we will forever be in debt to for knocking CB Dolloway out of the UFC, will also be looking to build up a win streak; he was most recently flattened in the first round by Constantinos Philippou at UFC 140. This match has yet to be confirmed by the UFC.
Join us after the jump for some juicy featherweight and bantamweight gossip…
(NOW we get why Kyle’s friends often refer to him as “The Poke” Noke.)
After collecting three straight stoppage victories in as many UFC contests, EliteXC and TUF 11 veteran Kyle Noke was quickly building up a reputation as one of the top up-and-comers in the middleweight division. Being one of the few successful Australian fighters to grace the UFC (sorry, Elvis), Noke carried a bit more pressure on his shoulders than the average TUF alum, especially when heading into his UFC Live 5 match against resurgent TUF 3 veteran Ed Herman. Unfortunately Noke (and therefore the Australian MMA community), would fall to a first round heel hook in that fight, placing all Aussie UFC hopes in the hands of a man nicknamed after an animal relative to Africa.
But fret not, ye Fosters enthusiasts, for Noke’s path to redemption will begin in the land from which he was birthed. Yes, “KO” recently announced that he will be taking on Jared Hamman at UFC on FX 2, which goes down at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. Hamman, whom we will forever be in debt to for knocking CB Dolloway out of the UFC, will also be looking to build up a win streak; he was most recently flattened in the first round by Constantinos Philippou at UFC 140. This match has yet to be confirmed by the UFC.
Also rumored for the UFC’s return to Australia will be TUF 5 alum Cole Miller’s featherweight debut, which will pair him against seasoned TUF 14 vet Steve Siler. Fresh off a second round submission of T.J. O’Brien, the 6’1”, Miller was already lanky for a lightweight, but will now be entering Corey Hill territory at 145 pounds. Stay away from the leg kicks is all were saying, Cole. After getting eliminated via a Diego Brandao steamrolling in his run on The Ultimate Fighter 14, Siler rebounded at the TUF 14 Finale with a decision win over Josh Clopton.
And in UFC on FX 1 news, bantamweight prospect Mike Easton will be looking to improve upon his second round TKO over Byron Bloodworth when he takes on WEC vet Ken Stone. Stone, who suffered brutal back-to-back knockouts at the hands of Eddie Wineland (via slam) and Scott Jorgensen (via punches), finally learned what it was like to be the one standingover an unconscious body when he choked out Donny Walker back at UFN 25.
UFC on FX is set to go down on January 20th from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Yours truly will be handling the liveblog duties, so make sure to stop by and inform me of how poor a job I am doing.
Filed under: UFC, NewsLyoto Machida recently had successful left elbow surgery, and moments after the procedure, he took to Twitter to lay down a challenge to the loquacious Chael Sonnen.
“Chael Sonnen, I just had surgery but I can still give you your…
Lyoto Machida recently had successful left elbow surgery, and moments after the procedure, he took to Twitter to lay down a challenge to the loquacious Chael Sonnen.
“Chael Sonnen, I just had surgery but I can still give you your present in the octagon with just one arm. All you have to do is accept,” he wrote.
Machida, who is coming off a light heavyweight title loss to Jon Jones at UFC 140, perhaps saw or heard about Sonnen’s recent remarks on a FUEL TV promo clip. It was part of the “UFC Tonight” show that airs Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET, suggesting some mouthwash for the former light heavyweight champion, who drinks his first urine of the day. If not, he may have heard one of the other countless shots Sonnen has taken about him or his country mates over the past couple of years.
Machida’s response is notable because, in the past, Sonnen’s Brazilian targets, most notably Anderson Silva, have chosen to ignore his remarks or simply take the high road when asked about them.
Of course, Sonnen dismissed Machida’s challenge in classic “Chael P. Sonnen” style.
“I don’t have time for ‘pee pee’ mouth,” he tweeted. “All the time I can spare him is enough to cold cock him and walk away.”
As for the elbow surgery, Machida’s second, “The Dragon” wrote that it “went very well.”
Sonnen returns to action on Jan. 28 against Mark Munoz. A win would earn him a rematch against the middleweight champion Silva.
The first-ever UFC on FUEL fight card features a Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger main event on Feb. 15 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
Canadians 
Lyoto Machida