Tag: Tyrone Spong

Oleksandr Usyk Set To Face Tyrone Spong In Chicago

Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight debut is set. According to The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger, Usyk will face former Glory kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong on October 12. It will take place in Chicago and will be broadcast on DAZN. Spong is currently unbeaten in boxing with a 13-0 record, however, he has not faced anyone on the level […]

The post Oleksandr Usyk Set To Face Tyrone Spong In Chicago appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight debut is set.

According to The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger, Usyk will face former Glory kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong on October 12. It will take place in Chicago and will be broadcast on DAZN.

Spong is currently unbeaten in boxing with a 13-0 record, however, he has not faced anyone on the level of Usyk yet. He faces Jeyson Minda this Saturday and Coppinger states he must win and come away unscathed if the Usyk fight is to happen next.

Usyk was notably the former unified cruiserweight champion who last defended his belts with a TKO victory over Tony Bellew. Following that win, the Ukrainian decided to make the move up to heavyweight. He was initially scheduled to face former title challenger Carlos Takam in May, however, an injury forced Usyk to pull out.

Takam eventually signed with a new promoter and with new purse demands, Usyk was given a different opponent in Spong.

What do you think of the matchup? Do you think Spong will face too big a task if he is to collide with Usyk?

The post Oleksandr Usyk Set To Face Tyrone Spong In Chicago appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Watch Tyrone Spong’s Leg Break Like Anderson Silva’s at GLORY 15 [GIF/Video]

To be honest, we’re not huge kickboxing fans here at CagePotato. In fact, we used to sacrifice kickboxers to high school wrestlers and BJJ blue belts in illegal challenge matches in the basement of CagePotato HQ until Johnny Law put a stop to it.

But we’re writing about this awful injury now because Tyrone Spong is still an MMA fighter (he’s 2-0 and fights for WSOF, in case you forgot) and this so closely mirrors Anderson Silva‘s (in)famous leg break that we had no choice but to post it (either that or it’s a slow news day, pick one).

On Saturday, Spong was fighting at GLORY 15 in Istanbul in a one night tournament. He bested Saulo Cavalari in the semifinals and faced Gokhan Saki in the finals. The leg break occurred only 97 seconds into the fight, when Saki checked one of Spong’s kicks. Here’s a GIF (via Zombie Prophet) in case you can’t watch the video:

To be honest, we’re not huge kickboxing fans here at CagePotato. In fact, we used to sacrifice kickboxers to high school wrestlers and BJJ blue belts in illegal challenge matches in the basement of CagePotato HQ until Johnny Law put a stop to it.

But we’re writing about this awful injury now because Tyrone Spong is still an MMA fighter (he’s 2-0 and fights for WSOF, in case you forgot) and this so closely mirrors Anderson Silva‘s (in)famous leg break that we had no choice but to post it (either that or it’s a slow news day, pick one).

On Saturday, Spong was fighting at GLORY 15 in Istanbul in a one night tournament. He bested Saulo Cavalari in the semifinals and faced Gokhan Saki in the finals. The leg break occurred only 97 seconds into the fight, when Saki checked one of Spong’s kicks. Here’s a GIF (via Zombie Prophet) in case you can’t watch the video:

This horrific leg break will actually have implications on MMA. Spong wanted to fight again in WSOF this summer. Obviously, that can’t happen now.

Friday Link Dump: “Cowboy” Goes Belly Up, “Sponge” Re-Ups With WSOF, News on Cigano’s Return + More

(Not MMA-related, but “Slow & Hot” < Wet Washcloth in Space.)

Tyrone Spong Signs New Multi-Fight Deal with World Series of Fighting (MMAFighting)

Donald Cerrone Says He’s ‘Broke,’ Wants 6 Fights in 2014 (BleacherReport)

UFC Fight Night 35 Medical Suspensions and Injuries: Derek Brunson Out Indefinitely with Fractured Jaw, Seven Others on Shelf for at Least 30 days (MMAMania)

Junior dos Santos’ camp targeting May or June return to UFC action (BloodyElbow)

35 post-event facts about ‘UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs. Philippou’ (MMAJunkie)

[VIDEO] Miss United States 2012 Wins Gold in BJJ Tournament (FightersOnly)

Revealed: Origins of the 11 Funniest Memes (EveryJoe)

FilmDrunk Awards: The Top 10 Movies Of 2013 (FilmDrunk)

Famous Television Show Home Floor Plans (HiConsumption)

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Muhammad Ali (Complex)

If NFL Announcers Were British…(Break)

7 Muscle-Building Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk (MensFitness)

8 Best Board Games of 2013 (TheEscapist)

The Ultimate Workout Fails Compilation (WorldWideInterweb)


(Not MMA-related, but “Slow & Hot” < Wet Washcloth in Space.)

Tyrone Spong Signs New Multi-Fight Deal with World Series of Fighting (MMAFighting)

Donald Cerrone Says He’s ‘Broke,’ Wants 6 Fights in 2014 (BleacherReport)

UFC Fight Night 35 Medical Suspensions and Injuries: Derek Brunson Out Indefinitely with Fractured Jaw, Seven Others on Shelf for at Least 30 days (MMAMania)

Junior dos Santos’ camp targeting May or June return to UFC action (BloodyElbow)

35 post-event facts about ‘UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs. Philippou’ (MMAJunkie)

[VIDEO] Miss United States 2012 Wins Gold in BJJ Tournament (FightersOnly)

Revealed: Origins of the 11 Funniest Memes (EveryJoe)

FilmDrunk Awards: The Top 10 Movies Of 2013 (FilmDrunk)

Famous Television Show Home Floor Plans (HiConsumption)

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Muhammad Ali (Complex)

If NFL Announcers Were British…(Break)

7 Muscle-Building Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk (MensFitness)

8 Best Board Games of 2013 (TheEscapist)

The Ultimate Workout Fails Compilation (WorldWideInterweb)

‘Glory 11? Exclusive: Five Questions With Kickboxing World Champion Tyrone Spong


(Photo via Glory/Tyrone Spong’s Facebook page)

By Elias Cepeda

Ten-time world champion Tyrone Spong made a name for himself punching and kicking people in the head as a kickboxer but has recently begun to establish a reputation for, well, punching and kicking people in the head in MMA competition. The Dutch striker is 2-0 in MMA but will next compete this Saturday under kickboxing rules at Glory 11 in Hoffman Estates, IL; you can watch the action live on Spike TV starting at 9 p.m. ET. CagePotato sat down with the “King of the Ring” and asked him five questions about his training, legacy, “real Muay Thai”, his upcoming opponent and his future plans.

CagePotato: What made you decide to branch out from kickboxing and start fighting in MMA as well? Was it just a matter of being able to make more money by fighting more and in different sports? And how hard has it been for you, physically and mentally, to balance it all?

Tyrone Spong: For me, being active in different disciplines — it’s a challenge but I enjoy doing that. Of course all pro fighters need to make money but what I’m really trying to do is build a legacy as one of the greatest of all time in combat sports. So far, everything is going well. But the training and fighting so often is hard. It’s hard. The key for me is to have my physical condition up there all the time. So, I always train. Then, once I get a fight, if it’s an MMA fight I focus on that or if it’s a kickboxing fight, I focus on that.


(Photo via Glory/Tyrone Spong’s Facebook page)

By Elias Cepeda

Ten-time world champion Tyrone Spong made a name for himself punching and kicking people in the head as a kickboxer but has recently begun to establish a reputation for, well, punching and kicking people in the head in MMA competition. The Dutch striker is 2-0 in MMA but will next compete this Saturday under kickboxing rules at Glory 11 in Hoffman Estates, IL; you can watch the action live on Spike TV starting at 9 p.m. ET. CagePotato sat down with the “King of the Ring” and asked him five questions about his training, legacy, “real Muay Thai”, his upcoming opponent and his future plans.

CagePotato: What made you decide to branch out from kickboxing and start fighting in MMA as well? Was it just a matter of being able to make more money by fighting more and in different sports? And how hard has it been for you, physically and mentally, to balance it all?

Tyrone Spong: For me, being active in different disciplines — it’s a challenge but I enjoy doing that. Of course all pro fighters need to make money but what I’m really trying to do is build a legacy as one of the greatest of all time in combat sports. So far, everything is going well. But the training and fighting so often is hard. It’s hard. The key for me is to have my physical condition up there all the time. So, I always train. Then, once I get a fight, if it’s an MMA fight I focus on that or if it’s a kickboxing fight, I focus on that.

CP: You fight this weekend in Glory — which has basically replaced K-1 as the biggest kickboxing organization in the world. Some of the very best kickboxers in the world fight there now, but the rules are far from real Muay Thai rules. Extended clinching isn’t allowed and elbows are not allowed, for example. Do you ever wish that the big kickboxing organizations, like K-1 before and Glory now, used real Muay Thai rules?

Spong: Yeah, I grew up training and fighting with those rules. I fought real Muay Thai fights with elbows and everything and did that at the highest level. I’ve been fighting Muay Thai since I was 18. I’ve been in Muay Thai main events since I was 18 years old.

CP: You have a rematch with Nathan Corbett this Saturday at Glory. (In their first fight in 2009, Corbett TKO’d Spong but then hit him once more after the ref stopped the fight. The fight result was then changed to a no contest.) You are obviously familiar with him. How do you characterize him as a fighter?

Spong: He’s very strong. Physically strong. And he’s experienced and so is able to put it all together well.

CP: After this fight, what’s next, another MMA fight or another kickboxing fight?

Spong: Well, we have to get through this fight first but I’m actually very active in boxing as well right now and I want to make my pro boxing debut before the year ends.

[VIDEO] Spong, Newell Victorious at World Series of Fighting 4

(Tyrone Spong vs Angel DeAnda.)

It may not have been the barnburner that we hoped it would be, but Tyrone Spong improved his MMA record to 2-0 in the main event of last night’s WSoF 4 by earning a unanimous decision over Angel DeAnda.

Spong fought smart, utilizing leg kicks throughout the fight while avoiding DeAnda’s heavy hands for most of the fight. To DeAnda’s credit, he was never dropped by Spong, but he also never mounted any significant offense. At least I don’t think he did; one of the judges scored this fight 29-28.

Okay, so it wasn’t exactly the most exciting fight in recent memory. Fortunately, the rest of the WSoF 4 main card made up for the disappointment that was the main event. After the jump, there’s also videos of a knockout and submission for your viewing pleasure.


(Tyrone Spong vs Angel DeAnda.)

It may not have been the barnburner that we hoped it would be, but Tyrone Spong improved his MMA record to 2-0 in the main event of last night’s WSoF 4 by earning a unanimous decision over Angel DeAnda.

Spong fought smart, utilizing leg kicks throughout the fight while avoiding DeAnda’s heavy hands for most of the fight. To DeAnda’s credit, he was never dropped by Spong, but he also never mounted any significant offense. At least I don’t think he did; one of the judges scored this fight 29-28.

Okay, so it wasn’t exactly the most exciting fight in recent memory. Fortunately, the rest of the WSoF 4 main card made up for the disappointment that was the main event. After the jump, there’s also videos of a knockout and submission for your viewing pleasure.


(Ray Sefo vs Dave Huckaba)

Though JZ Cavalcante’s (questionable) knockout over Tyson Griffin earned him a spot in the upcoming lightweight tournament, my favorite knockout from last night involved heavyweights Ray Sefo and Dave Huckaba. Yes, you read that correctly.

It’s funny how the fight that many of us were expecting to be one of the ugliest bouts of the year – two old-timers engaged in a conflict of interest will drastically lower your expectations – turned out to arguably be the best fight from last night’s card. Sefo was in control for most of it, but he was caught by a fierce counter left hook that put him out on his feet. A few follow-up punches later, and Huckaba was awarded the standing TKO.


(Nick Newell vs Keon Caldwell)

Also from last night’s card, Nick Newell’s WSoF debut ended predictably. We were given a few takedowns by Newell, a comparison of Newell to Anthony Robles from Todd Harris, and then Newell locked in the fight-ending choke before the end of the first round. Don’t look now, but Newell is now 10-0, with nine of those fights ending in the first round and seven of those fights ending by submission. Expect him to receive a step up in competition for his next bout.

Full Results

Main Card
Tyrone Spong def. Angel DeAnda via unanimous decision
Marlon Moraes def. Brandon Hempleman via unanimous decision
Nick Newell def. Keon Caldwell via submission (guillotine choke), 2:07 of Round One
Dave Huckaba def. Ray Sefo via TKO (punches), 4:32 of Round Two
Gesias Cavalcante def. Tyson Griffin via TKO (punches), 1:37 of Round Three

Preliminary Card
Gerald Harris def. Jorge Santiago via unanimous decision
Lewis Gonzales def. Antonio McKee via unanimous decision
Jared Papazian def. John Robles via unanimous decision
Victor Valenzuela def. Isaac Gutierrez via submission (rear-naked choke), 2:41 of Round Two

WSOF Check-In: Lightweight Tournament Announced, Newell & Spong Prepare for Fights This Saturday

(Learn more about lightweight rising star Nick Newell and the challenges he’s overcome | Video via MMA World Series Youtube page)

We’ve been following lightweight prospect Nick Newell’s unlikely and inspiring career for some time now here at CagePotato, and this Saturday he makes his next big move at the World Series of Fighting 4 event in Ontario, California. Newell will face TUF veteran Keon Caldwell.

Even though Newell hasn’t yet won his WSOF debut, the promotion announced that a win over Caldwell would earn Newell a spot in its upcoming lightweight tournament, which will crown the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound champion. If Newell does indeed enter that tournament, he’ll have a chance to prove once and for all that he’s truly a UFC-caliber fighter.

Why, you ask? Well, simply because the tournament is stacked with top international lightweights including a number of UFC veterans. Dan Lauzon will be in the tournament, as will the winner of an excellent WSOF 4 match up between Tyson Griffin and Gesias Calvacante.

Of course, all this doesn’t sit so well with Keon Caldwell’s camp, who tell MMA Junkie that they are worried of unfair treatment from the WSOF. While Newell has been publicly guaranteed a spot in the lightweight tournament if he’s victorious this weekend, Caldwell has been given no such offer. (“I just think they’re on the Nick Newell hype train,” said Caldwell’s trainer Richard Cox.)

Also fighting this Saturday will be kickboxing star Tyrone Spong, who will be headlining WSOF 4 against California-bred knockout artist Angel DeAnda. It will be Spong’s second World Series of Fighting appearance following his beat-down of Travis Bartlett in November. You can check out a lil’ video of Spong hitting people and acting cocky after the jump. Above, you can enjoy a mini documentary show on Newell’s life that takes you inside his camp, family, and home.


(Learn more about lightweight rising star Nick Newell and the challenges he’s overcome | Video via MMA World Series Youtube page)

We’ve been following lightweight prospect Nick Newell’s unlikely and inspiring career for some time now here at CagePotato, and this Saturday he makes his next big move at the World Series of Fighting 4 event in Ontario, California. Newell will face TUF veteran Keon Caldwell.

Even though Newell hasn’t yet won his WSOF debut, the promotion announced that a win over Caldwell would earn Newell a spot in its upcoming lightweight tournament, which will crown the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound champion. If Newell does indeed enter that tournament, he’ll have a chance to prove once and for all that he’s truly a UFC-caliber fighter.

Why, you ask? Well, simply because the tournament is stacked with top international lightweights including a number of UFC veterans. Dan Lauzon will be in the tournament, as will the winner of an excellent WSOF 4 match up between Tyson Griffin and Gesias Calvacante.

Of course, all this doesn’t sit so well with Keon Caldwell’s camp, who tell MMA Junkie that they are worried of unfair treatment from the WSOF. While Newell has been publicly guaranteed a spot in the lightweight tournament if he’s victorious this weekend, Caldwell has been given no such offer. (“I just think they’re on the Nick Newell hype train,” said Caldwell’s trainer Richard Cox.)

Also fighting this Saturday will be kickboxing star Tyrone Spong, who will be headlining WSOF 4 against California-bred knockout artist Angel DeAnda. It will be Spong’s second World Series of Fighting appearance following his beat-down of Travis Bartlett in November. You can check out a lil’ video of Spong hitting people and acting cocky after the jump. Above, you can enjoy a mini documentary show on Newell’s life that takes you inside his camp, family, and home.

– Elias Cepeda