Tag: Rashad Evans

State of the UFC Light Heavyweights

Filed under: UFCNovember is a month without any title fights, which makes it a good time to take a long view of the future title picture in each weight class. Today we look at the light heavyweight division.

The light heavyweight division is both the …

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November is a month without any title fights, which makes it a good time to take a long view of the future title picture in each weight class. Today we look at the light heavyweight division.

The light heavyweight division is both the UFC’s most talented weight class and — right now anyway — its most frustrating. There are so many good fights that can be made, but the championship belt is tied up because the champion, Shogun Rua, is recovering from knee surgery.

It’s been almost a year and a half since anyone other than Shogun and Lyoto Machida has fought for the light heavyweight title, and it’ll probably be another six months or so until we see Shogun defend his title again. So as we look at the light heavyweight division, we’re looking at a division with a wealth of contenders but a shortage of title fights.

Trainer Trevor Wittman Explains Why He’s the Happiest Man on Fight Night

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveIn some ways, Trevor Wittman is to a UFC pay-per-view as a great character actor is to a Hollywood blockbuster. Even if you don’t know his name, you recognize him as soon as you see him on screen.

That’s because th…

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In some ways, Trevor Wittman is to a UFC pay-per-view as a great character actor is to a Hollywood blockbuster. Even if you don’t know his name, you recognize him as soon as you see him on screen.

That’s because the 36-year-old Wittman — trainer to fighters like Shane Carwin, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, and several others– has a trademark. While other trainers and coaches are scowling their way to the cage, Wittman is the slightly goofy guy who’s grinning like a golden retriever with his head stuck out the car window.

“Brock [Lesnar] told me, ‘Man, you’ve got the most intimidating smile in the game,’ Wittman laughs. “You look across the cage at the other guys and you usually see that tough guy look. Me, I’m just happy to be there and excited to see my guy perform.”

MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Penn Falls Out

Filed under: UFC, WEC, Rankings, OverallWith his second straight unanimous decision loss to Frankie Edgar, B.J. Penn is no longer one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

He’s long been considered one of the truly elite fighters in mix…

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With his second straight unanimous decision loss to Frankie Edgar, B.J. Penn is no longer one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

He’s long been considered one of the truly elite fighters in mixed martial arts, but the soon-to-be 32-year-old Penn has looked in his two fights this year like he has slowed down. Penn is the greatest lightweight ever to fight in MMA, but even the greatest decline eventually.

So Penn isn’t in my pound-for-pound Top 10 anymore. To find out who is, read on.

MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Anderson Silva Slips

Filed under: UFC, WECThere’s another change at the top of my pound-for-pound rankings.

A month ago I dropped Fedor Emelianenko from the top of the list to all the way off the list following his loss to Fabricio Werdum. When Fedor dropped out I moved A…

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There’s another change at the top of my pound-for-pound rankings.

A month ago I dropped Fedor Emelianenko from the top of the list to all the way off the list following his loss to Fabricio Werdum. When Fedor dropped out I moved Anderson Silva to the top. But on Saturday night we watched the worst performance of Anderson Silva’s UFC career, and although Silva pulled off a brilliant submission to win the fight, he struggled enough through the first four and a half rounds that he deserves to drop in the rankings.

Find out who’s No. 1 now, and how far Silva fell, below.

The Truth About Losing

Brendan Schaub felt sure that people were staring at him. No matter where he went, whether he was among a crowd of strangers or trusted friends, he could feel their eyes on him.

“I felt like I’d walk into the mall or a room somewhere, even the trainin…

Brendan Schaub felt sure that people were staring at him. No matter where he went, whether he was among a crowd of strangers or trusted friends, he could feel their eyes on him.

“I felt like I’d walk into the mall or a room somewhere, even the training room, and people would be like, there’s the guy who got knocked out,” Schaub said. “I just felt so embarrassed.”

That embarrassment stemmed from his first, and so far only defeat – a knockout loss to Roy Nelson at the “Ultimate Fighter” 10 finale last December. Afterwards, when he went back home, Schaub spent the next two weeks convinced that there wasn’t a soul in the world who hadn’t seen him get floored on live TV.

Rampage Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida in November Likely, but Not Finalized

Filed under: UFC, NewsIf signed, it would be a battle of former UFC light-heavyweight champions, but a reported Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida matchup has yet to be officially added to the UFC calendar.

That’s the word coming from UFC Pre…

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If signed, it would be a battle of former UFC light-heavyweight champions, but a reported Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida matchup has yet to be officially added to the UFC calendar.

That’s the word coming from UFC President Dana White, who responded to an MMA Fighting inquiry about whether the bout was finalized with a text reading “Not yet.”

Still, at least one of the fighters has agreed to it. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting that Jackson has agreed to the November bout.