Tag: quick quote

Dana White Looking To Bring “Memorable” Sports Moment To Fans On Nov. 12 With UFC on FOX

Tweet The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set for it’s big leap onto National television this coming Saturday as the UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos one-hour special airs live on November 12th. UFC President Dana White hopes to catch the interest of a whole new fan base with just one bout, a UFC heavyweight […]

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images North America)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set for it’s big leap onto National television this coming Saturday as the UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos one-hour special airs live on November 12th.

UFC President Dana White hopes to catch the interest of a whole new fan base with just one bout, a UFC heavyweight title match between champ Cain Velasquez, and challenger, Junior dos Santos.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and will feature a full fight card, which is set to air on the web before the one-hour live special on FOX.

In a recent Blog for the SunTimes.com, White compares the upcoming event to one of those great moments in sports history such as “Oct. 15, 1988, when an injured Kirk Gibson hit a stunning walk-off homerun off Dennis Eckersley in game one of the World Series,” or “Jan. 3, 1993, when the Buffalo Bills pulled off “The Comeback” against the Houston Oilers, erasing a 32-point deficit to win the now legendary playoff game,” or any of the other examples he uses.

It would be nigh impossible to predict any of those great moments mentioned above, but White wants fans to believe that this fight could be one of those moments and is hoping that you’ll tune in.

In just a few days, we at the Ultimate Fighting Championship are presenting fans across the world with another opportunity to be a part of sports history. This Saturday, live and free on FOX from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., the UFC heavyweight championship of the world will be decided when undefeated Cain Velasquez defends his crown against knockout artist and number one contender Junior dos Santos.

Not only does this mark our first event on FOX since we announced a multi-year broadcast agreement with the network this past summer, but it marks a return to the glory days for many sports fans. It signals a return to the days when sports’ biggest prize – the world heavyweight title – is decided live and free on network television.

It’s no doubt that if your reading this, then you will be watching the show this coming weekend, and whether or not it turns into one of those great “moments” in sports history is irrelevant. What matters is that fans tune in to see if it will actually turn out that way.

No Immediate Title Rematch For Welterweight Jay Hieron, Bellator CEO Says Hieron Has To Start All Over

Tweet Just over a week removed from a very close split decision win at Belltor 56 for Welterweight Champ Ben ‘Funky’ Askren over Season Four Tournament winner Jay ‘The Thoroughbred’ Hieron, many were calling for an immediate rematch between the two. The close match would go all five rounds with the judges scoring the very […]

Just over a week removed from a very close split decision win at Belltor 56 for Welterweight Champ Ben ‘Funky’ Askren over Season Four Tournament winner Jay ‘The Thoroughbred’ Hieron, many were calling for an immediate rematch between the two.

The close match would go all five rounds with the judges scoring the very entertaining fight 47-48, 48-47, 48-47. Some critics felt the judges got it wrong, while others felt they got it right, adding fuel to the fire for the call of “rematch” between the two welterweights.

Recently, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney spoke to MMAFighting.com and he cleared up any thoughts of Hieron getting the next title match.

Ben Askren beat Jay Hieron in a very close split decision to retain the Bellator welterweight title. Would you consider booking an immediate rematch between the two of them?
Bjorn Rebney: I thought it was a great fight. The reason I went out and signed Jay Hieron was because I thought he was a world-class fighter who had never been given his shot. The key selling point I had with Jay was that if you come here you’ll have a clear path to the title. He got it, he bought into it, Ben faced the best fighter he has faced thus far in his career. I thought Ben won the fight. I think the world of Jay Hieron and it would be my pleasure to have him back in another tournament and give him another shot at fighting either Ben Askren or the Ben Saunders-Douglas Lima winner, whoever of them might beat Ben Askren. But I don’t give anyone a title shot. Guys earn a title shot in Bellator. So I’m not going to deviate from what’s made Bellator unique, and that is that you earn it. Jay got super close, and it was a great fight, but the judges decided Ben won the fight, and if Jay wants another shot he’ll come back and earn it.

It will be interesting to see what route Hieron will take after a grueling journey of three wins in three months to take the Season Four Tournament. The next tournament won’t likely take place until next summer as part of Bellator’s “Summer Series” as Rebney is looking at featuring the Featherweight, Lightweight, and Light-Heavyweight divisions for Season Six.

Askren, meanwhile, will have to prepare himself for the winner of this coming weekends Bellator 57 Season Five tournament winner, as Ben Saunders takes on former MFC champ Douglas Lima.

A Win For Eddie Alvarez At Bellator 58 Will Earn Him A Rematch With Shinya Aoki Next Year

Tweet A rematch between current Bellator lightweight champ Eddie ‘The Silent Assassin’ Alvarez (22-2) and DREAM champ Shinya Aoki (29-5, 1NC) is very close to being a reality. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the news to MMAWeekly.com recently, telling them that the only obstacle in Alvarez’ path is his upcoming title defense against Mike Chandler […]

Photo via Sherdog.com

A rematch between current Bellator lightweight champ Eddie ‘The Silent Assassin’ Alvarez (22-2) and DREAM champ Shinya Aoki (29-5, 1NC) is very close to being a reality.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the news to MMAWeekly.com recently, telling them that the only obstacle in Alvarez’ path is his upcoming title defense against Mike Chandler later this month at Bellator 58.

“To be completely honest, Ed (Alvarez) has got his hands full against Mike Chandler. Mike Chandler is an absolute freak of nature in terms of his wrestling. His stand-up has really come around. Chandler’s a beast,” said Rebney.

“Ed’s completely focused. He’s 110-percent as good as he’s ever been. So we’ll see what happens in that fight. That is going to be a wickedly difficult fight for both of those guys.”

“If Ed wins that fight then we would look at doing the Aoki fight probably February sometime,” Rebney revealed. “An early February date, cause Ed’s fight’s going to happen right around Thanksgiving, and then you want at least a couple of months. You want at least a couple of months before you jump in there with one of the best lightweights in the world.”

Alvarez and Aoki first met back at the Dynamite!! 2008 event in Japan. Aoki would end the fight quickly after catching Alvarez with a heel hook submission at 1:32 of the first round.

Since that time Alvarez has gone on to join Bellator winning seven straight, including the Bellator lightweight championship. This bout with Chandler marks the Bellator champs second straight title defense having beaten Pat Curran in April.

For Aoki, the DREAM champ has gone 10-2 since that bout in December 2008. Aoki is currently riding a six-bout win streak himself, recovering from a unanimous decision loss to Gilbert Melendez in April 2010.

Johnny Eduardo Out With Injury, Search For Replacement Ongoing For Upcoming UFC 139 Event

Tweet Brazilian bantamweight Johnny Eduardo (25-9) has suffered a shoulder injury according to UFC officials, who are now on the search for a new opponent for Michael ‘Mayday’ McDonald (13-1) as part of UFC 131. Tatame.com was first to announce the injury to Eduardo on Friday. “I was training hard, super confident, but I hurt […]

Brazilian bantamweight Johnny Eduardo (25-9) has suffered a shoulder injury according to UFC officials, who are now on the search for a new opponent for Michael ‘Mayday’ McDonald (13-1) as part of UFC 131.

Tatame.com was first to announce the injury to Eduardo on Friday.

“I was training hard, super confident, but I hurt my left shoulder defending a takedown. Last week an felt too much pain and Dede (Andre Pederneiras) sent me to the doctor, who asked for a MRI”, Johnny explains.

“It’s 20 sessions before heading back to the doctor and reevaluate if I’m going to need more sessions on my shoulder or if I’ll be able to return to training. Unfortunately, I’m out of the fight. Actually, I don’t know if they’re going to postpone the bout of just find a replacement. It’s better wait and fight with no injures”.

Eduardo and McDonald had been scheduled to meet on the preliminary card of UFC 139: Shogun vs. Hendo, which is scheduled for Nov. 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Eduardo debuted with the top promotion in August, losing to Raphael Assuncao at UFC 134. That defeat ended an eleven fight win streak which saw the Brazilian stop nine of those opponents.

McDonald now waits for a new opponent with two weeks to go before the event. ‘Mayday’ won both of his UFC appearances and is riding a six-fight win streak. His last Octagon match took place in May where he earned a split decision over Chris Cariaso at UFC 130.

After UFC 137 Loss BJ Penn Taking Some “Time Off To Enjoy Life”

Tweet After a disappointing loss to Nick Diaz in the headliner of UFC 137 last weekend, former two division UFC champ BJ Penn told color commentator Joe Rogan that he had had enough and didn’t want to go home to his family battered and bruised anymore. Penn lost a split decision to Diaz, in a […]

After a disappointing loss to Nick Diaz in the headliner of UFC 137 last weekend, former two division UFC champ BJ Penn told color commentator Joe Rogan that he had had enough and didn’t want to go home to his family battered and bruised anymore.

Penn lost a split decision to Diaz, in a three round match that saw both men take a nasty beating.

With speculation running amok on the web as to whether or not this was really the end for Penn, the Hawaiian fighter posted a message to his fans on Monday from his site BJPenn.com.

“I want to thank all the fans for their love and support. I have decided to take some time off to enjoy life, train and teach. I will keep you guys posted with what’s next.”

– BJ Penn

I’m certain that Penn will take some time off, but it’s likely we’ll see him back again as I’m sure UFC President Dana White will offer him some generous compensation to fight again in the Octagon.

Update: Junior Assuncao “99% Sure” He’ll Fight Ross Pearson At UFC 141

Tweet It looks like a bout between Junior Assunção (13-4) and Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson (12-5) is close to being a reality as the Brazilian says he’s “99%” sure the fight will happen at UFC 141. If the bout goes down at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, the event is set to take place […]

It looks like a bout between Junior Assunção (13-4) and Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson (12-5) is close to being a reality as the Brazilian says he’s “99%” sure the fight will happen at UFC 141.

If the bout goes down at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, the event is set to take place on December 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Speaking to Sherdog.com, Assunção talked to them about welcoming Pearson to the UFC’s featherweight division.

“We haven’t signed yet, but I can say it’s a 99-percent chance that this fight will happen. I asked the UFC to face Pearson when I found out he was dropping to 145 pounds. He’s already telling everyone that he’ll fight me and I will welcome him.”

“I was with a student at a Florida-based event a while ago and [Pearson] started staring at me and didn’t stop. Thiago Tavares was beside me and told me to ask him if he was hungry and needed a sandwich,” revealed Assuncao. “Then, when I was with my brother, Raphael, at [UFC 134], he started staring at me again. When I noticed that he was dropping to my division, I immediately wanted to smash him.”

Assunção returned to the UFC this past September after going 7-1 since his last Octagon stint. Dropping to featherweight, Assunção faced Eddie Yagin at UFC 135 in September earning a unanimous decision at the Denver, Colorado event.

Pearson has talked about dropping to featherweight after going 1-2 recently. The Brit lost a split decision to Edson Barboza at UFC 134 in his last match, prompting his motivation to move weight divisions.

Update (10pm EST): The UFC promotion has made the Assunção vs. Pearson bout official, announcing the fight at UFC.com on Monday night.

Plus, another veteran with lots of firepower is entering the featherweight ranks. Ross Pearson is dropping a weight class and jumping into the division against Junior Assuncao.

Assuncao told one website that Pearson instigated a fight with him by staring him down at past events. The two called for the bout on Twitter, with Assuncao writing “I’ll give him the welcome to the 145 class” in response to a tweet announcing that Pearson had successfully made the featherweight limit on a test cut. “u may just get what u wish for, see u very soon!!” responded Pearson.