Rematch Between Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz Nixed By Condit Camp

An immediate rematch between welterweights ‘The Natural Born Killer’ Carlos Condit (28-5) and Nick Diaz (26-8, 1NC) appears to be out of the question according to Condit’s manager Malki Kawa. Condit earned a unanimous decision over Diaz this weekend in the main event of UFC 143 earning the UFC interim welterweight title. There was some […]

Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

An immediate rematch between welterweights ‘The Natural Born Killer’ Carlos Condit (28-5) and Nick Diaz (26-8, 1NC) appears to be out of the question according to Condit’s manager Malki Kawa.

Condit earned a unanimous decision over Diaz this weekend in the main event of UFC 143 earning the UFC interim welterweight title. There was some controversy as Diaz was the aggressor moving forward throughout the five rounds. Condit appeared to win the fight by outpointing his opponent with his counter-striking by scoring with a few strikes before darting away.

Speaking to MMAFighting.com on Monday, Kawa offered his fighters position on a possible rematch saying Condit is focused on injured champ Georges St-Pierre next.

“At this point, [a rematch] is not something we’re looking to do,” he said. “We’re looking for Georges. People forget, Carlos waited a long time to get this fight. He was moved around, and shuffled around between fights. He won the fight. It doesn’t interest us at all. I think clearly and decisively, he won the fight. Even [UFC president] Dana [White] scored it for him. All of the opinions that matter scored Carlos as winner… ”

“Carlos is a fighter,” Kawa said. “At the end of the day, this is not a guy who wants to sit around and wait. He wants to fight. You never know. Right now, the idea is that we want Georges St-Pierre. The goal is to fight Georges St-Pierre. He wants to be the best in the world, so that’s the fight that interests us at this moment.”

Dave Herman Says Opponent Struve Loses Due To Stylistic Matchups

Heavyweight Dave ‘Pee Wee’ Herman (21-2) is set to return to the Octagon in just ten days when he faces the ‘Skyscraper’ Stefan Struve (22-5) in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger. In a recent interview with MMAMania.com, Herman didn’t seem too concerned with the difference in height between him […]

Photo by Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Heavyweight Dave ‘Pee Wee’ Herman (21-2) is set to return to the Octagon in just ten days when he faces the ‘Skyscraper’ Stefan Struve (22-5) in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger.

In a recent interview with MMAMania.com, Herman didn’t seem too concerned with the difference in height between him and Struve who stands a full 6″ taller. ‘Pee Wee’ was more interested in the matchup styles of the ‘Skyscraper’s’ previous opponents, saying that Struve has beaten fighters ranked higher than him while being beaten by fighters ranked much lower, all due to stylistic matchups.

In Struve’s last five fights he’s earned wins over Pat Barry, Sean McCorkle, and Christian Morecraft, while losing to Travis Browne and Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson.

Where Herman’s style fits in that range of Struve’s former opponents ‘Pee Wee’ doesn’t know but feels he’ll “do real well. If not, anything can happen.”

Let’s talk about this upcoming fight with Stefan Struve. You’re 6’5, you’re 235 pounds or so. You’re a big guy but Stefan Struve, he’s 6’11 and he’s gonna be coming in at the heavyweight limit, might even have to cut weight, so what are your thoughts on facing a guy who’s so much bigger than you?
Dave Herman: I don’t think he’s at the top of the weight class, he’s definitely taller than me that’s for sure and I’ve never faced anyone that tall. I’ve had one fight with a guy that was taller than me like significantly and a reach advantage but it was one of my first fights and I didn’t even really know what I was doing so that’ll be something that I’ll have to deal with when I get in there. Honestly, it seems like, Struve’s beat a lot of guys that are good, that are ranked higher than him, but he’s also lost to some guys that aren’t, that are below him so it seems like it’s kind of a stylistic, “can you deal with his height and his length or not?” type of deal so that’s gonna be something I find out that day. Can I deal with this or not? If I do, I think I’ll do real well. If not, anything can happen.

When you picture this fight with Struve, what do you see? How do you see victory?
Dave Herman: I don’t know. I don’t really do that so much. Actually, I don’t think about it at all. I just try to go in. People ask me, “How do you think you’re going to win?” and I never have a clue. My one fight, I was fighting a striker and I won by omaplata. I never would have guessed that in a million years. I actually would have bet money against it but it happens. I just kind of go in and have fun, see where it ends up. That’s part of it, I don’t care where it ends up. I just try to go in and try to win it no matter where you’re at.

Herman debuted with the UFC last June at UFC 131, earning a second round TKO victory over Jon-Olav Einemo at UFC 131 in the “Fight of the Night” match.

Brandon Vera Explains Why He Had To Withdraw From Thiago Silva Rematch

UFC light heavyweight Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera (12-5, 1NC) got a little bit ahead of himself, as he tells it, when he accepted a rematch with Brazilian fighter Thiago Silva. The two were recently announced for this May’s UFC on FX 3 event, but Vera was forced out due to injury. Both men had fought […]

UFC light heavyweight Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera (12-5, 1NC) got a little bit ahead of himself, as he tells it, when he accepted a rematch with Brazilian fighter Thiago Silva.

The two were recently announced for this May’s UFC on FX 3 event, but Vera was forced out due to injury.

Both men had fought in January 2011 at UFC 125, and saw Silva dominate Vera to a unanimous decision. ‘The Truth’ was cut and Silva saved himself from two straight losses. As it turned out, Silva had falsified the urine sample he provided to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and was subsequently suspended for one year.

The loss to Vera was changed to a “No Contest” and ‘The Truth’ was brought back into the UFC.

Since then he’s been chomping at the bit at the chance to rematch Silva in the Octagon and immediately said “yes” when offered the chance. Unfortunately for him, his doctors said no and in a video message on Facebook, Vera explains the whole story.

“Hey everybody, it’s Brandon “The Truth” Vera here. I wanted to clear up some stuff, and apologize. I’ve been bugging my manager, I’ve been bugging Joe Silva and the UFC, so as soon as Thiago Silva’s suspension was over and he was available, I would like to be the first one to fight him and get back in there with him. Kind of a welcome back thing. Finally the fight came, Joe said the fight can happen May 15th. My manager told me the fight is happening May 15th…and without thinking, without talking to my coaches, without talking to my doctors, I verbally said ‘Yes, I’m down for the fight, let’s do this, let’s get it done. I’m in.’ Super excited, hung up the phone, promptly went on a run, and got super excited.

“The next morning I went to my doctors after training and told my doctors that I was planning on fighting May 15th, and…everybody looked at me like I was crazy. They said there’s no way I’ll be ready by then, and I need to focus on getting better. So I sat down and was thinking ‘Yeah, maybe those guys are right.’ So I didn’t check with my doctors, I didn’t check with my coaches. I apologize to both you guys. I apologize to Joe Silva and my manager Matt Stansell. I apologize to my fans. I still wanna fight you bad Thiago, Thiago, however you say your name juice monkey. I still wanna fight you bad. So whenever you’re ready, whenever I’m healthy enough, I’m your huckleberry.”

No new opponent has been named for Thiago, but one can be assured that a rematch is in the making sometime this year whenever both fighters are ready.

Props to BloodyElbow.com for the transcription.

“I Earned My (Title) Shot And Won It,” Jay Hieron On The Bellator Welterweight Title

Last fall, Bellator season four welterweight tournament winner Jay ‘The Thoroughbred’ Hieron (22-5) fought current champ Ben ‘Funky’ Askren in the main event of Bellator 56, battling for five exciting rounds only to lose via controversial split decision. With many, including Hieron, calling for an immediate rematch the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion has stuck to […]

Last fall, Bellator season four welterweight tournament winner Jay ‘The Thoroughbred’ Hieron (22-5) fought current champ Ben ‘Funky’ Askren in the main event of Bellator 56, battling for five exciting rounds only to lose via controversial split decision.

With many, including Hieron, calling for an immediate rematch the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion has stuck to it’s guns by not booking the fight and has offered ‘The Thoroughbred’ a spot in the Season Six Welterweight Tourny this coming March.

Hieron tells MMAWeekly.com that he turned down the spot, feeling that since he defeated Askren on October 29, 2011 “why would I go back and do the tournament again to claim what’s mine already?”

“I still believe I won that fight,” he said. “Of course, the decision didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, but I feel I performed great. I think right now I’m the Bellator champion. He knows it, I know it, and everyone who watched the fight knows it.”

“Bellator goes by the tournament format, and I’m not doing the tournament again,” he said. “I feel I won the tournament and I feel I’m the Bellator champion and won the title; why would I go back and do the tournament again to claim what’s mine already?

“I like Bellator as an organization. I like how you earn your shot there, but I earned my shot and won it… ”

“Everything happens for a reason. I just try to stay positive and know there’s a plan for me and keep moving forward. I’m in the gym, training and keeping my body healthy. Once they call, I’ll be ready to go. It’s going to be a big year. I’m going to get back in there and show people what I can do.”

“Being A Pure Striker Against Pat Barry Is The Wrong Way To Go,” UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub

With heavyweights Pat ‘HD’ Barry (7-4) and Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (16-5) coming off big wins in the month of January, officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship felt the two would be a great pair to matchup versus one another for the promotions third FOX event set for this May. During Thursday’s live TapouT Radio program, […]

With heavyweights Pat ‘HD’ Barry (7-4) and Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (16-5) coming off big wins in the month of January, officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship felt the two would be a great pair to matchup versus one another for the promotions third FOX event set for this May.

During Thursday’s live TapouT Radio program, heavyweight Brendan ‘The Hybrid’ Schaub was asked his thoughts on the recently announced fight.

The former TUF 10 finalist sided with Barry, feeling the former kickboxer’s had the better striking credentials and that Johnson’s standup would be no match for ‘HD’.

“I think for (Pat) Barry, his whole thing for Lavar (Johnson), I think he is the more technical striker. Speed will be the difference in this one… To be honest, I don’t know a ton about Lavar. I did see his fight against (Joey) Beltran and I’m aware of him being in Strikeforce like that, but fighting Pat Barry..especially when Lavar is a pure striker, that is what he appears to be from the fights I’ve seen, his footage. Being a pure striker against Pat Barry is the wrong way to go. Pat is one of the best strikers in the business and I’m a fan of Pat.”

Check out more from TapouT Radio at TapouTLive.com

Pat Barry Under No Illusion, Against Lavar Johnson Someone Is Getting Knocked Out

Late Wednesday night, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a heavyweight bout that is sure to end in a knockout for the promotions upcoming UFC on FOX 3 event. Recent winners Pat ‘HD’ Barry (7-4) and Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (16-5), both of whom won big by KO, will meet on May 5th at the third FOX […]

Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Late Wednesday night, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a heavyweight bout that is sure to end in a knockout for the promotions upcoming UFC on FOX 3 event.

Recent winners Pat ‘HD’ Barry (7-4) and Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (16-5), both of whom won big by KO, will meet on May 5th at the third FOX show.

Speaking on Thursday’s “The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo” both men talked about their upcoming fight, with Barry predicting a knockout finish for one of them (Barry joins the show at 6:35).

“Everybody knows what I do. I come in for the kill as soon as the bell rings. I’m either knocking people out or I get knocked out or submitted. That’s just a fact. My fights are never planned to go the distance. I don’t want to fight for 15 minutes. Lavar Johnson has a ridiculous first-round knockout resume. This is insane. This guy is huge. He can hit anybody in the head and kill them. He’s gigantic, he’s got confidence, he swings for the fences and he goes for the kill at all times. This guy knocked out Joey Beltran. I kicked Joey Beltran in the head five times, punched him and kicked him in the legs and he was still alive. How hard does one have to hit in order to knock out a guy (Beltran) who is incapable of being knocked out? That’s just beyond belief.”

(Quote via thescore.com)

On Thursday’s podcast was Barry, Johnson, AMA Fight Club head trainer Mike Constantino, Kings MMA trainer Master Rafael Cordeiro, ProElite heavyweight Ryan Martinez, and ESPN analyst Kieran Mulvaney.