There are some guys in the UFC that you want to like, but they just make it so hard. Maybe they’ve been around a long time and represent and era gone by, or sometimes offer up nuggets of wisdom in interviews that you appreciate, and it makes you …
There are some guys in the UFC that you want to like, but they just make it so hard. Maybe they’ve been around a long time and represent and era gone by, or sometimes offer up nuggets of wisdom in interviews that you appreciate, and it makes you like them.
But then other times they’re out there making excuses, offering backhanded compliments to opponents who thrash them, or speaking with such delusion that it leaves you flabbergasted. As a result, you reconsider anything that you like about them, and you’re left with indifference. Or worse.
It’s a fine line to walk to be a fan favourite who speaks his mind or a guy that people just don’t like.
Here are some of the dudes on the UFC roster that are trying to walk that line at the moment.
(Gina Carano, rising above her fears. Pic: MenVersus.com)
When signing a business contract, one must be acutely aware of the fine print. Companies often try to sneak in language and terms which may later allow them to catch the other party off guard and emerge victorious in the battle for the almighty dollar.
I’d like to think that signing a contract for an MMA bout is a bit more straightforward. You’re told upfront in no uncertain terms that the opposing party’s objective is to physically hurt you. It’s a special breed that can accept those terms and believe in themselves enough to sign on the dotted line.
Despite that rampant self-confidence—or perhaps because of it—many fighters attempt to psyche out their opponent and gain the upper-hand before the first punch has even been thrown. When successful, it makes for an easier night’s work. When it fails, the would-be intimidator is left looking foolish. The comeuppance may come in a laugh at his expense or a lop-sided asswhooping, but either way it’s a sight to behold.
Join us for a closer look at what happens when fear is not a factor in mixed martial arts.
(Gina Carano, rising above her fears. Pic: MenVersus.com)
When signing a business contract, one must be acutely aware of the fine print. Companies often try to sneak in language and terms which may later allow them to catch the other party off guard and emerge victorious in the battle for the almighty dollar.
I’d like to think that signing a contract for an MMA bout is a bit more straightforward. You’re told upfront in no uncertain terms that the opposing party’s objective is to physically hurt you. It’s a special breed that can accept those terms and believe in themselves enough to sign on the dotted line.
Despite that rampant self-confidence—or perhaps because of it—many fighters attempt to psyche out their opponent and gain the upper-hand before the first punch has even been thrown. When successful, it makes for an easier night’s work. When it fails, the would-be intimidator is left looking foolish. The comeuppance may come in a laugh at his expense or a lop-sided asswhooping, but either way it’s a sight to behold.
Join us for a closer look at what happens when fear is not a factor in mixed martial arts.
Bonello’s Bark Proves Worse Than His Bite
Tony Bonello walked into his bout with Murilo Rua with an undefeated 15-0 record and a massive chip on his shoulder. With allegations of worked fights in his native Australia, Bonello was looking forward to a breakthrough performance that would put him on the map in the US scene and prove that he was more than a can crusher.
Bonello’s trash talk in the staredown was as unwarranted as it was aggressive. But tough talk can be tough to back up when directed at a seasoned product of the Chute Boxe Academy. As Bonello barked slurs in his direction, the calm, wide smile on Ninja’s face reflected great confidence in what he had planned for his foe. Though it only lasted a scant three minutes and fifteen seconds, the bout couldn’t have ended quickly enough for Bonello. “The Gun” failed to fire a single round before Rua began a violent drubbing chock-a-block with indignities such as passing the black belt’s guard, elbows from the crucifix position, full mount, and the always popular knee-on-belly/rape choke combination.
They say you can’t give yourself a nickname—but don’t tell former UFC champ Tito “Bad Boy” Ortiz that. Correction: “The People’s Champ.” Our friends at Fighting Famous caught up with Mr. Ortiz and did so in style, putting sexy Strikef…
They say you can’t give yourself a nickname—but don’t tell former UFC champ Tito “Bad Boy” Ortiz that. Correction: “The People’s Champ.”
Our friends at Fighting Famous caught up with Mr. Ortiz and did so in style, putting sexy Strikeforce ring girl Corissa Furr in front of the microphone.
Not just another pretty face, Furr held her own with the fighter formerly known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” while she displayed a great knowledge of the sport—and looking oh so easy on the eyes while doing so.
As far as what Tito had to say, we’ll let you check out the video, but if you like your teasers then we can divulge that he talks about UFC on FOX and UFC 140—and of course no MMA interview would be complete without some PRIDE banter.
It was May 30, 1997, when Tito Ortiz stepped into the Octagon for the very first time.And, fortunately for Ortiz, his UFC debut lasted a short 31 seconds as he was declared victorious over Wes Albritton via technical knockout.Nearly three years later, …
It was May 30, 1997, when Tito Ortiz stepped into the Octagon for the very first time.
And, fortunately for Ortiz, his UFC debut lasted a short 31 seconds as he was declared victorious over Wes Albritton via technical knockout.
Nearly three years later, the Huntington Beach Bad Boy was fighting for the UFC light heavyweight championship against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25.
Ortiz would take Silva to the judge’s scorecards and was announced as the new 205-pound champion.
The winning didn’t stop there as Ortiz would go on to defend his title in five consecutive bouts until he was finally dethroned by Randy Couture at UFC 44.
Many fans felt Ortiz would never be the fighter he once was as he would lose in his very next fight to Chuck Liddell by way of knockout in Round 2.
But, Ortiz returned to the ‘Tito’ we once knew as he reeled off five consecutive wins from 2004 to 2006.
However, that is where Ortiz’s era of dominance would end, as his career would take a turn for the worse.
Following his win over Ken Shamrock in October 2006, Ortiz would lose four of his next five bouts including a draw against Rashad Evans at UFC 73.
Ortiz would step away from the Octagon only to return less than nine months later.
In his first fight back, Ortiz earned his first win in nearly five years as he submitted Ryan Bader via Guillotine Choke at UFC 132.
But Ortiz proved he wasn’t back to being an elite contender as he was dominated by Rashad Evans in his very fight at UFC 133.
Ortiz is now set to square off with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 in Toronto on Dec. 10.
And, if the Huntington Beach Bad Boy were to fall short against Nogueira in their light heavyweight showdown, he’ll have posted a 1-6-1 record in his last eight outings.
Ortiz is clearly on the down slope of his mixed martial arts career, which leaves UFC fans across the globe with one question…
Will this be the last fight of Tito Ortiz’s career?
Once in a while, a singular talent will arise and utterly dominate this sport. He comes out of nowhere, immediately starts whipping top-ranked fighters with years’ more experience, and leaves both fans and his opponents in awe of his abilities. Jon Jones is that guy right now. And nobody knows how fleeting that moment is better than Lyoto Machida, whose invincible aura (and “era“) went up in smoke as quickly as it arrived.
That’s what gives Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida such a great storyline for their meeting on December 10th in Toronto. Besides Machida’s unorthodox style, which could be an effective counter to Bones’s own funky attacks, the Dragon stands as a living reminder that nobody is invincible — seriously, not even Jon Jones — and defeat is simply a matter of running into the wrong guy on the wrong night.
Once in a while, a singular talent will arise and utterly dominate this sport. He comes out of nowhere, immediately starts whipping top-ranked fighters with years’ more experience, and leaves both fans and his opponents in awe of his abilities. Jon Jones is that guy right now. And nobody knows how fleeting that moment is better than Lyoto Machida, whose invincible aura (and “era“) went up in smoke as quickly as it arrived.
That’s what gives Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida such a great storyline for their meeting on December 10th in Toronto. Besides Machida’s unorthodox style, which could be an effective counter to Bones’s own funky attacks, the Dragon stands as a living reminder that nobody is invincible — seriously, not even Jon Jones — and defeat is simply a matter of running into the wrong guy on the wrong night.
Supporting the light-heavyweight title fight at UFC 140 are two matches featuring former UFC champions from America (Frank Mir and Tito Ortiz) trying to hold the line against a pair of battle-weathered Brazilian twins who made their names halfway around the world. It’ll be the second meeting between Mir and Minotauro, and aside from the struggling Lil’ Nog, the other three fighters have shown brief flashes in recent fights that their glory days might not be over yet. So who will add another highlight to their legendary resumes, and who will continue to fade back into history?
Semi-related, below: Jon Jones gets in some cross-gender sparring with Team Jackson camp-mate Holly Holm, the prettier half of the third toughest couple in MMA.
A win for either fighter could easily launch them back into the title mix, and given Rampage earns title shots almost as easy as Urijah Faber, if he is able to finish Bader impressively, I am going as far as to predict that he leapfrogs Rashad Evans for another crack at Jones.
UFC 144 goes down February 26th at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
You know the deal, who you got for this one, Potato Nation?
They say you can’t give yourself a nickname—but don’t tell former UFC champ Tito “Bad Boy” Ortiz that. Correction: “The People’s Champ.”