(Trunchface: When a troll face meets a punch-face, the result is always legendary.)
You see, this is what we love about “old school” fighters like Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. They don’t give a shit about rankings (probably because they know the UFC’s official ones are shit anyways), the easiest path to a title shot, or sponsorship deals with anyone not named Praetorian. They only care about scores, and specifically, settling them. It is for this reason alone that Lil’ Nog — the same one currently riding a two-fight win streak including a win over Rashad Evans at UFC 156 earlier this month — recently stated an interest in a rematch with Rua — the same one who has gone loss-win in his past 7 contests and is on the heels of a UD loss to Alexander Gustafsson in December. That is of course, according to UFC President Dana White:
(Shogun vs Evans) is a fight, yeah. That is a fight that could happen, yeah. But I keep hearing this thing that Nogueira and Shogun want to fight each other, they want to do the rematch. I don’t know how that makes sense for Nogueira, but that’s what they want, that’s what I’m hearing they want. Far be it from me to not give somebody what they want.
Let’s just act like that last sentence never happened for a moment and focus on the potential matchup at hand. Rua and Nogueira first met back at PRIDE FC – Critical Countdown 2005, where Rua emerged victorious by way of unanimous decision in a fight that became an instant classic amongst fans of the sport. The rematch (and a TUF: Brazil coaching gig) was first suggested by Nog back in August, and while circumstances have surely changed in the time since, we can’t imagine there would be a lot of resistance to the idea from a fan’s point of view. Clearly White agrees, but how about you Taters?
Now break out your foam fingers and chug some Yunker Fanti, because we’ve thrown a full video of Rua/Nogueira 1 after the jump to get you amped for the all but inevitable rematch. PRIDE NEVA DIE!!!
(Trunchface: When a troll face meets a punch-face, the result is always legendary.)
You see, this is what we love about “old school” fighters like Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. They don’t give a shit about rankings (probably because they know the UFC’s official ones are shit anyways), the easiest path to a title shot, or sponsorship deals with anyone not named Praetorian. They only care about scores, and specifically, settling them. It is for this reason alone that Lil’ Nog — the same one currently riding a two-fight win streak including a win over Rashad Evans at UFC 156 earlier this month — recently stated an interest in a rematch with Rua — the same one who has gone loss-win in his past 7 contests and is on the heels of a UD loss to Alexander Gustafsson in December. That is of course, according to UFC President Dana White:
(Shogun vs Evans) is a fight, yeah. That is a fight that could happen, yeah. But I keep hearing this thing that Nogueira and Shogun want to fight each other, they want to do the rematch. I don’t know how that makes sense for Nogueira, but that’s what they want, that’s what I’m hearing they want. Far be it from me to not give somebody what they want.
Let’s just act like that last sentence never happened for a moment and focus on the potential matchup at hand. Rua and Nogueira first met back at PRIDE FC – Critical Countdown 2005, where Rua emerged victorious by way of unanimous decision in a fight that became an instant classic amongst fans of the sport. The rematch (and a TUF: Brazil coaching gig) was first suggested by Nog back in August, and while circumstances have surely changed in the time since, we can’t imagine there would be a lot of resistance to the idea from a fan’s point of view. Clearly White agrees, but how about you Taters?
Now break out your foam fingers and chug some Yunker Fanti, because we’ve thrown a full video of Rua/Nogueira 1 after the jump to get you amped for the all but inevitable rematch. PRIDE NEVA DIE!!!
If the title of this post sounds familiar, it might be because Alessio Sakara has kind of become a master of the do-over during his time in the UFC. Back in 2010, Sakara was scheduled to face the now-retired Jorge Rivera at UFC 118, but the bout was eventually cancelled when both men pulled out due to injury. The fight was rescheduled for UFC 122, but was cancelled again at the last second when Sakara came down with some Jamie Varner-esque flu symptoms that may or may not have been caused by tuna fish. The fight was then tentatively rescheduled for an August event but was eventually scrapped altogether.
So perhaps you should take the news that Sakara has been rebooked against Patrick Cote at UFC 158 on March 16th in Montreal with a grain of salt, because if history is any indication, Sakara ain’t making it to this fight in one piece.
If the title of this post sounds familiar, it might be because Alessio Sakara has kind of become a master of the do-over during his time in the UFC. Back in 2010, Sakara was scheduled to face the now-retired Jorge Rivera at UFC 118, but the bout was eventually cancelled when both men pulled out due to injury. The fight was rescheduled for UFC 122, but was cancelled again at the last second when Sakara came down with some Jamie Varner-esque flu symptoms that may or may not have been caused by tuna fish. The fight was then tentatively rescheduled for an August event but was eventually scrapped altogether.
So perhaps you should take the news that Sakara has been rebooked against Patrick Cote at UFC 158 on March 16th in Montreal with a grain of salt, because if history is any indication, Sakara ain’t making it to this fight in one piece.
As we all know, Sakara and Cote first met at UFC 154, where Sakara followed an incredibly impressive feat (dropping the iron-jawed Cote with a few well-placed elbows) with an incredibly stupid one (turning the soft part of Cote’s skull into a makeshift ash tray with a series of illegal hammerfists), resulting in a victory via DQ for Cote. Despite the vicious onslaught and the fact that the loss dropped Sakara to 0-3 in his last…three octagon performances (and 6-7 with 1 NC overall), Sakara recently signed a four fight contract extension with the promotion, so we can look forward to seeing him either disqualified or knocked unconscious at least two more times before all is said and done.
Honestly, the Sakara/Cote pairing might be one of the most appropriate pairings in UFC history. Foreign-based fighters known for their striking prowess? Check. Losing records in the octagon? Check. Consistently entertaining despite this? Check. The closest Sakara ever came to a title shot (or ever will) was when he defeated one of the most undeserving title challengers ever in Thales Leites in a snoozer at UFC 101, whereas Cote became the number one contender following a snoozer over Ricardo Almeida at UFC 86 and subsequently blew out his knee in what many fans consider to be one of the least deserving title fights in the promotion’s history at UFC 90. Like Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos before them, these two were destined to engage in a series of decreasingly important fights that all end in some form of disqualification or no contest.
So let’s place our chips on the table, Potato Nation: What will be responsible for the inevitable freak ending of Cote/Sakara II? An axe-kick to the taint? Sudden-onset narcolepsy? Trench mouth? A FRACTURED DICK?!
If it’s that last one, someone is gonna have some splainin’ to do.
Alessio Sakara has been sidelined for three months because of a kidney ailment.
The Italian welterweight has been having pains and other issues for some time and recently underwent testing to try and diagnose the issues. He ended up seeing a kidney specialist and tests confirmed that he has problems with them.
Three days ago I got some test results and the doctor (Nephrologist; kidney specialist) has ordered that I stop everything for three months because of the renal (kidney) stress. Right now my manager is getting the date moved [for the rematch]. I’ll be more motivated with the nutritionist to never again risk my health any more.
(The best way to stop Cheick Kongo from kneeing you in the jewels? Turns out, it’s a simple jab. Who woulda thunk it?)
As is the case for approximately 95% of the UFC’s current roster, Mark Hunt was forced to pull out of his last scheduled fight (against Stefan Struve) due to injury. But while he’s been quietly recuperating his knee and enjoying his current, not to mention improbable 3 fight win streak in the UFC, he’s apparently also been thinking about leveling the score with some of his former foes. Mainly, that of Alistair Overeem, who defeated Hunt by first round keylock when the two clashed back in June of 2008 at DREAM 5. It was Hunt’s third straight loss to come via form of arm-lock, but it certainly wouldn’t be his most painful.
In either case, it appears that Hunt may have heard through the grapevine that Alistair stated he would prefer to fight as soon as he got his license back, title shot or not, and figured he could kill two birds with one stone. Those two birds being a bit of redemption and possibly the next heavyweight title shot. He told The MMA Hour:
If they’d like to get me a fight I’d like to get a rematch with Alistair Overeem, you know, when he comes back from his injury or from whatever, his hiatus. You know? I’d like to have my rematch with him. I’d be willing to fight next year so it doesn’t matter. If he gets a title shot, that’s good on him.
We hate to sound like a bunch of little schoolgirls but OMG JOE SILVA BOOK THIS FIGHT WE’LL LUV U 4EVER PLZZ!!
(The best way to stop Cheick Kongo from kneeing you in the jewels? Turns out, it’s a simple jab. Who woulda thunk it?)
As is the case for approximately 95% of the UFC’s current roster, Mark Hunt was forced to pull out of his last scheduled fight (against Stefan Struve) due to injury. But while he’s been quietly recuperating his knee and enjoying his current, not to mention improbable 3 fight win streak in the UFC, he’s apparently also been thinking about leveling the score with some of his former foes. Mainly, that of Alistair Overeem, who defeated Hunt by first round keylock when the two clashed back in June of 2008 at DREAM 5. It was Hunt’s third straight loss to come via form of arm-lock, but it certainly wouldn’t be his most painful.
In either case, it appears that Hunt may have heard through the grapevine that Alistair stated he would prefer to fight as soon as he got his license back, title shot or not, and figured he could kill two birds with one stone. Those two birds being a bit of redemption and possibly the next heavyweight title shot. He told The MMA Hour:
If they’d like to get me a fight I’d like to get a rematch with Alistair Overeem, you know, when he comes back from his injury or from whatever, his hiatus. You know? I’d like to have my rematch with him. I’d be willing to fight next year so it doesn’t matter. If he gets a title shot, that’s good on him.
We hate to sound like a bunch of little schoolgirls but OMG JOE SILVA BOOK THIS FIGHT WE’LL LUV U 4EVER PLZZ!!
It may have only taken Overeem a little over a minute to dispatch Hunt the first time they met, and you have to wonder whether or not Overeem would follow a very similar gameplan were these two to fight again, but if there’s even a chance that we can see two PRIDE legends slug it out for the right to the next heavyweight title shot, then we’re all for it. Obviously, the UFC is eyeing Overeem as the next title contender, but on the off chance — and by “off chance,” I mean “with 100% certainty” — that either Junior dos Santos or Cain Velasquez are injured in their upcoming rematch at UFC 155, pitting Overeem against Hunt is basically a win-win. For hardcore fans at least.
On one hand, if Overeem is able to easily dispatch Hunt again, he will at the minimum be given a fight to shake off any ring rust he might have acquired in his time off and cement his status as the #1 contender, whatever that means these days. On the other, if Hunt is able to emerge victorious, it would set up one of the most inconceivable career comeback stories in MMA history. If the UFC couldn’t make some money off of that — which, let’s be honest, is the only thing they’re interested in when it comes to title shots — they should fire their marketing department immediately and hire this guy.
Since Overeem was popped for steroids and cost us one of the greatest fights of 2012, he might as well make it up to both the fans and the UFC in 2013 by accepting this rematch. I know that line of logic doesn’t make any sense, BUT I WANNA SEE THIS FIGHT GOD DAMN IT.
When Alan Belcher and Yushin Okami first met at UFC 62 all the way back in August of 2006, both men were actually making their promotional debut. In a hard fought contest, Okami used his superior grappling prowess to reel in a unanimous decision victory over “The Talent,” and would follow the victory with three more before dropping a unanimous decision to Rich Franklin at UFC 72. Belcher, on the other hand, would rebound from the defeat by scoring a head kick KO over woeful UFC washout Jorge Santiago, then dropping a third round submission via Brabo choke to TUF 3 winner Kendall Grove.
But although Belcher was a considerable underdog heading into their first contest, one has to imagine that he may find himself the favorite heading into their rematch at UFC 155 in light of their recent momentum swings.
When Alan Belcher and Yushin Okami first met at UFC 62 all the way back in August of 2006, both men were actually making their promotional debut. In a hard fought contest, Okami used his superior grappling prowess to reel in a unanimous decision victory over “The Talent,” and would follow the victory with three more before dropping a unanimous decision to Rich Franklin at UFC 72. Belcher, on the other hand, would rebound from the defeat by scoring a head kick KO over woeful UFC washout Jorge Santiago, then dropping a third round submission via Brabo choke to TUF 3 winner Kendall Grove.
But although Belcher was a considerable underdog heading into their first contest, one has to imagine that he may find himself the favorite heading into their rematch at UFC 155 in light of their recent momentum swings. Belcher’s ground game has looked nothing short of outstanding as of late, and his striking has always been top notch. The outlier here, as was the case in their first matchup, lies in Belcher’s ability to defend the takedown and/or deal with the ridiculous top control that Okami displayed throughout his career, especially in his recent win over Buddy Roberts.
So it’s not exactly the title-earning fight with Belfort or a shot at Chris Weidman that Belcher was asking for, but a chance to erase his very first UFC loss has to be enough to get “The Talent” motivated.
Attitude is everything, or so the saying goes, and if there is one fighter in the UFC that is positively brimming with attitude it would be Michael Bisping, winner of season three of The Ultimate Fighter. Since winning the TUF crown, “The …
Attitude is everything, or so the saying goes, and if there is one fighter in the UFC that is positively brimming with attitude it would be Michael Bisping, winner of season three of The Ultimate Fighter. Since winning the TUF crown, “The Count” has put together a record of 11-4 and found himself firmly […]
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is the best female fighter in the world today. There’s no doubt about that. Six professional fights, six first round armbars—that feat is simply incredible. It appears that none of her opponents have given h…
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is the best female fighter in the world today. There’s no doubt about that. Six professional fights, six first round armbars—that feat is simply incredible. It appears that none of her opponents have given her a sufficient test thus far. The stats don’t lie. Her toughest opponent to date was none other […]
