Lyoto Machida Blocking Out Pressure for UFC 129 Fight With Randy Couture

Filed under: UFC, NewsPressure? As far as Lyoto Machida is concerned, it’s a case of been there, done that.

After Machida stormed through his first six UFC opponents, never even so much as losing a round, he made quick work of Rashad Evans at UFC 98 …

Filed under: ,

Pressure? As far as Lyoto Machida is concerned, it’s a case of been there, done that.

After Machida stormed through his first six UFC opponents, never even so much as losing a round, he made quick work of Rashad Evans at UFC 98 to win the light heavyweight title. Joe Rogan declared it the start of “The Machida Era.” Talk about pressure.

Brendan Schaub, Erik Koch Lead UFC 128 Bonuses

NEWARK, N.J. – Brendan Schaub, Erik Koch, Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani are each $70,000 richer after their performances at UFC 128 on Saturday night.

Those four top performers on the UFC’s pay-per-view at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., …

NEWARK, N.J. – Brendan Schaub, Erik Koch, Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani are each $70,000 richer after their performances at UFC 128 on Saturday night.

Those four top performers on the UFC’s pay-per-view at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., were given post-fight bonuses for their work. UFC president Dana White announced the bonus winners and amount at the post-fight press conference.

The card was without a submission, so White elected to give two knockout bonuses instead – to Schaub and Koch. Barboza and Njokuani won bonuses for Fight of the Night.

Dream a Little Dream of Strikeforce vs. UFC

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceSaturday’s announcement that Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, had bought top rival Strikeforce took the MMA world by surprise.

It also gave UFC president Dana White a new No. 1 catch phrase when “business as usual,” spok…

Filed under: ,

Anthony Pettis ninja kicks Ben Henderson.Saturday’s announcement that Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, had bought top rival Strikeforce took the MMA world by surprise.

It also gave UFC president Dana White a new No. 1 catch phrase when “business as usual,” spoken dozens of times during his interview with MMA Fighting and on Monday’s media call, replaced “he’s in the mix,” his previous favorite go-to response.

But even though, as White says, the UFC and Strikeforce will continue, for now, to operate the same way as they did last week, last month and last year – “business as usual” as separate promotional entities – it hasn’t stopped MMA fans from early salivation over some potential fights that used to be just pipe dreams.

And even though “business as usual” might prove to be legit and they may never happen, having the UFC and Strikeforce under the same banner at least can make us feel a little bit like Lloyd Christmas in “Dumb and Dumber”: “So you’re tellin’ me there’s a chance …”

Let’s take a look at a pair of dream superfights in each crossover weight class (lightweight to heavyweight) between current UFC fighters and current Strikeforce fighters. And hey, if any of them ever get booked, you can always say you read it here first.

With Thiago Silva Out, Rampage Jackson Gets Matt Hamill at UFC 130

Filed under: UFC, NewsIn a change of plans brought about when Thiago Silva was removed from the show, UFC 130 now has a new light heavyweight bout for its main card.

Former light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will fight Matt Hamill on…

Filed under: ,

Rampage JacksonIn a change of plans brought about when Thiago Silva was removed from the show, UFC 130 now has a new light heavyweight bout for its main card.

Former light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will fight Matt Hamill on the UFC’s Memorial Day weekend show, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 28 in Las Vegas.

The news of the signing was reported Friday by Heavy.com. Hamill’s head coach, Duff Holmes, confirmed the news to MMA Fighting and said Hamill had signed the bout agreement earlier in the day.