Zuffa will continue a huge month of June with its fourth MMA event this Sunday night, UFC on Versus 4 from the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. As always, Bleacher Report will be your home for the latest news, predictions and results of the even…
Zuffa will continue a huge month of June with its fourth MMA event this Sunday night, UFC on Versus 4 from the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. As always, Bleacher Report will be your home for the latest news, predictions and results of the event.
The main event will feature the welterweight debut of former middleweight contender Nate “The Great” Marquardt as he fights up-and-comer Rick Story in what will likely be a very important bout when it comes to future title aspirations for both men.
That fight will replace the original main event which was scheduled to be Marquardt against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, who recently thoroughly beat Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis in late-March. Johnson was forced out of the bout, though, with a rotator cuff injury.
The event will air on Versus in the U.S. and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, with the preliminary fights being available on Facebook. The following is the official finalized fight card.
Preliminary Card (on Facebook):
Michael Johnson vs. Edward Faaloloto (lightweight bout) Ricardo Lamas vs. Matt Grice (featherweight bout) Nik Lentz vs. Charles Oliveira (lightweight bout) Charlie Brenneman vs. TJ Grant (welterweight bout) Daniel Roberts vs. Rich Attonito (welterweight bout) Joe Lauzon vs. Curt Warburton (lightweight bout) Joe Stevenson vs. Javier Vasquez (featherweight bout) Tyson Griffin vs. Manny Gamburyan (featherweight bout)
Main Card (on Versus):
Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft (heavyweight bout) Matt Brown vs. John Howard (welterweight bout) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (heavyweight bout) Nate Marquardt vs. Rick Story (welterweight bout)
If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at each fight with some predictions, read on!
Filed under: UFCIt’s been six months since the UFC began experimenting with preliminary card fights on Facebook, and on Sunday it will set a new high-water mark.
The promotion on Monday announced that all eight undercard fights for the upcoming UFC o…
It’s been six months since the UFC began experimenting with preliminary card fights on Facebook, and on Sunday it will set a new high-water mark.
The promotion on Monday announced that all eight undercard fights for the upcoming UFC on Versus 4 show will stream live on the social networking site. Just last week, with UFC 131, the promotion set a new best with six prelims streaming on Facebook.
This will mark the 11th consecutive fight card that the UFC has streamed fights for free at Facebook, and it will be the fifth consecutive show the promotion has provided a way for fans to see each fight on the card live.
UFC on Versus 4 will feature a four-fight main card that airs live on the Versus cable channel, the second of the UFC’s four-fight 2011 deal with the channel. The Facebook live stream is scheduled to begin at 4:55 p.m. Eastern. The main card starts at 9 p.m. Eastern on Versus. Versus will also again produce a live pre-fight preview show and post-fight analysis show before and after the main card featuring Todd Harris, UFC light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar and MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.
To gain access to the fights, viewers must “like” the UFC on Facebook. As of Monday evening, the UFC has more than 5.7 million fans at the site.
The “main” and “co-main” events of the Facebook prelims are featherweight bouts featuring a pair of former lightweights dropping down – both looking to snap out of disastrous three-fight losing skids.
Tyson Griffin (14-5, 7-5 UFC) returns to featherweight for the first time since the early part of his career to face Manny Gamburyan (11-5, 2-3 UFC), who fights for the first time since a knockout loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo last November in a WEC title fight. Griffin has split decision losses to Evan Dunham and Nik Lentz in the last year, plus a quick first-round knockout loss to Takanori Gomi last August on Versus. Gamburyan fights in the UFC for the first time in two years after dropping to featherweight and sliding over to the WEC, where he went 3-0 before his loss to Aldo.
And Joe Stevenson (31-13, 8-7 UFC), the Season 2 welterweight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter,” goes for his first win since October 2009 when he takes on Javier Vazquez (15-5), who makes his UFC debut after going 2-3 in the WEC. Stevenson has dropped decisions to George Sotiropoulos and Danny Castillo, and was knocked out by Mac Danzig in December. Stevenson is 3-6 since challenging BJ Penn for the lightweight title at UFC 80 three and a half years ago, including the loss to Penn. Monday, on “The MMA Hour,” Stevenson talked about his dislike of Vazquez and why he dropped to featherweight.
The Facebook prelims stream opens with a lightweight bout between TUF 12 runner-up Michael Johnson, fighting for the first time since losing to Jonathan Brookins in December on the show’s finale, against Edward Faaloto, who makes his UFC debut after a loss in his WEC debut last November.
Nik Lentz (21-3-2, 5-0-1 UFC) tries to remain unbeaten in the UFC against submission specialist Charles Oliveira in a lightweight bout.
Rich Attonito drops from middleweight after a loss to Dave Branch in December to make his welterweight debut against Daniel Roberts, who lost to Claude Patrick at UFC 129 in April. Attonito was original scheduled to face Matt Brown, but an injury to Martin Kampmann forced him out of a fight with John Howard, and Brown moved up the card for that fight. Roberts stepped in to face Attonito.
Other bouts include a featherweight contest between Ricardo Lamas and Matt Grice, a welterweight bout between Charlie Brenneman and TJ Grant, and Joe Lauzon returns for the first time since a UFC 123 loss in November to Sotiropoulos to face England’s Curt Warburton.
The UFC began streaming preliminary fights in January with its Fight for the Troops 2 show at Fort Hood, Texas. Since then, the promotion has included free Facebook fights for each event, regardless of the main card’s platform – be it on pay-per-view, Spike or Versus.
UFC on Versus 4 takes place Sunday at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, and will be the promotion’s first event in the Pennsylvania city. The card features a main event between Nate Marquardt and Rick Story – with Marquardt making his welterweight debut and Story fighting on short notice after a win just a month prior against Thiago Alves at UFC 130. Marquardt was scheduled to face Anthony Johnson, but an injury forced Johnson off the card.
And in a pair of heavyweight bouts, kickboxing specialists Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo clash, and Matt Mitrione looks to stay unbeaten against Christian Morecraft, whose last win sent Mitrione friend and training partner Sean McCorkle packing from the UFC.
These 10 fighters need a win, and they need it bad. They are all currently on losing streaks, and that is something that reduces their chances of fighting in the leading MMA organization in the world.Some of have upcoming bouts where their ca…
These 10 fighters need a win, and they need it bad. They are all currently on losing streaks, and that is something that reduces their chances of fighting in the leading MMA organization in the world.
Some of have upcoming bouts where their careers will be on the line. Others are waiting to hear from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva on whether or not they will actually get another chance or a pink slip.
Whatever is the case, expect them to fight as if their careers are on the line in their next bouts.
Nick Diaz to Pass on Boxing Recently, Nick Diaz and his manager, Cesar Gracie, have publicly campaigned for a professional boxing match. First, they called out Fernando Vargas. Then, when that did not materialize, they turned their attention to Jeff La…
Nick Diaz to Pass on Boxing
Recently, Nick Diaz and his manager, Cesar Gracie, have publicly campaigned for a professional boxing match.
First, they called out Fernando Vargas. Then, when that did not materialize, they turned their attention to Jeff Lacy. Lacy picked up on the story and accepted the challenge.
Not so fast, according to Strikeforce President Scott Coker.
“I believe that’s been worked out,” Coker said in regards to Diaz attempting to box. “I think that he should be fighting in MMA.”
As for when the enigmatic welterweight champion will step back in the cage, Coker was not exactly sure.
“We traditionally fight Nick three times a year,” Coker said, “and he’s already fought twice. We’ll probably fight him again before the end of the year.”
Las Vegas Challengers
Strikeforce’s prospect show will be moving to a new, permanent home.
Since May 2009, the series has moved from location to location with most of the cards originating from Northern California. Now, following the June 24 show in Kent, Wash., all Strikeforce Challengers shows will take place in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino.
Coker explained how the change came about.
“Previously, we couldn’t come to Vegas for obvious reasons,” the Strikeforce CEO said, noting the UFC’s presence in the city, “and the Palms always wanted more fights.”
The first show at the new home will be on July 22 and will feature the third match-up between Roger Bowling and Bobby Voelker.
Bowling won the first bout by technical decision when he could not continue after an eye poke from Voelker, and Voelker rebounded to win the second contest by TKO.
Mitrione on Ortiz
At the recent UFC fighter summit in Las Vegas, Matt Mitrione nearly got into a physical confrontation with former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.
The problem arose due to disparaging comments Mitrione made about Ortiz and his famous wife, Jenna Jameson.
Mitrione is still not letting up on the former champion.
“Who’s that?” Mitrione said, when asked if the disagreement was over. “Oh, I thought he retired already. I didn’t know he was still fighting.”
Batista to MMA?
With the massive pay-per-view success of former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Brock Lesnar, other professional wrestlers have entertained the idea of crossing over to MMA.
Last year, Dave Batista began training at the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Publicly, Batista stated that he was negotiating to fight with Strikeforce.
While many were skeptical that Batista would attempt the transition, Coker confirmed that he was negotiating with the former WWE star.
“Absolutely,” Coker said, when asked if he thought Batista was serious about fighting.
“I just haven’t hooked up with him recently, but we’ll have a chat together at some point.”
Next Featherweight Contender
All the recent talk about who Jose Aldo will fight next has revolved around Chad Mendes and Kenny Florian.
Florian, who will be making his featherweight debut at UFC 131 against Diego Nunes, is not the only former UFC lightweight switching down to the lighter weight class.
Tyson Griffin will also be making his debut at 145 lbs. He is set to take on former featherweight title challenger Manny Gamburyan at UFC Live: Marquardt vs. Johnson on June 26.
“I think he’s a tough guy. He’s very well rounded,” Griffin said about Gamburyan.
As for the lower weight class, the twelve time (7-5 record) veteran is prepared.
“I’m moving down in weight, but it’s not my first time fighting down there,” Griffin said. “I know a lot more about diet and nutrition, now so it should be easy.”
Back in 2004, Griffin dropped to 145 pounds and defeated former WEC champion Urijah Faber.
With his name recognition, Griffin may have a chance to make an immediate impact in the division.
“If it puts me in line, that would be awesome,” Griffin said about potentially facing Aldo.
Any time you watch a 47-year-old man get kicked in the face by a levitating karate master – man, if we only had a nickel for every time that happens, right? – you have to wonder how the elder statesman is going to bounce back from it. In the case of Randy Couture, he appears to be recovering nicely. Aside from a small bruise under his eye, the newly retired “Natural” seems in great spirits when he meets up with MMA30’s Dave Fara at a gala event for the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation, which seeks to raise money for wounded vets. Couture also looks fully in control of his faculties, as evidenced when he correctly uses the word “assimilate” in casual conversation.
The teeth however, were more of a problem. In the above vid, listen to Couture discuss the five-plus hours he spent at the dentist getting his pearly-white Hollywood-level choppers realigned. All that, and he even has to go back for more. Nonetheless, The Old Man is taking it in stride, relating to Fara that Lyoto Machdia put in a personal phone call to him a couple of days after the fight to make sure he was OK. Couture laughs off the Steven Seagal angle, keeps right on using the word “cat” as much as possible (which is only slightly less annoying than when guys in MMA insist on calling everyone “kid”) and even comments on rumors he personally took out Osama bin Laden. “It was a long plane ride,” says Couture. So you know, (if you’ll excuse the phrase) business as usual. Now if we could just do something about the epaulets on his dress blazer …
The rest of Couture’s quotes are after the jump, followed by a bevy of other Las Vegas-based fighters making appearances to pay homage to the 14-year vet. And damn, check out the jacket on Ray Sefo at 4:15. Looking good.
Any time you watch a 47-year-old man get kicked in the face by a levitating karate master – man, if we only had a nickel for every time that happens, right? – you have to wonder how the elder statesman is going to bounce back from it. In the case of Randy Couture, he appears to be recovering nicely. Aside from a small bruise under his eye, the newly retired “Natural” seems in great spirits when he meets up with MMA30’s Dave Fara at a gala event for the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation, which seeks to raise money for wounded vets. Couture also looks fully in control of his faculties, as evidenced when he correctly uses the word “assimilate” in casual conversation.
The teeth however, were more of a problem. In the above vid, listen to Couture discuss the five-plus hours he spent at the dentist getting his pearly-white Hollywood-level choppers realigned. All that, and he even has to go back for more. Nonetheless, The Old Man is taking it in stride, relating to Fara that Lyoto Machdia put in a personal phone call to him a couple of days after the fight to make sure he was OK. Couture laughs off the Steven Seagal angle, keeps right on using the word “cat” as much as possible (which is only slightly less annoying than when guys in MMA insist on calling everyone “kid”) and even comments on rumors he personally took out Osama bin Laden. “It was a long plane ride,” says Couture. So you know, (if you’ll excuse the phrase) business as usual. Now if we could just do something about the epaulets on his dress blazer …
The rest of Couture’s quotes are after the jump, followed by a bevy of other Las Vegas-based fighters making appearances to pay homage to the 14-year vet. And damn, check out the jacket on Ray Sefo at 4:15. Looking good.
“I had a rough day yesterday,” Couture says. “Got the teeth fixed yesterday. Five and a half hours in the dental chair. My lip is still a little swollen (and) I still feel like I’m talking a little funny, but (it’s) temporarily fixed now. The real bridge comes in a week and we’ll be back up and running.”
When asked by Fara what it was like to be feted by 55,000 strong at Rogers Centre during his final fight, Couture admits it was hard to wrap his mind around the whole thing. Especially that last part. The part with the flying crane kick.
“It was a little surreal,” he says. “It almost doesn’t sink in when it’s happening, you have to kind of sit back and reflect on it later. It was an amazing experience. Lyoto was a terrific competitor, obviously he’s a tremendous athlete. He’s everything he was billed to be, he’s elusive (and) he’s hard to get a handle on. That kick, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone set up that kick in competition. It’s been kind of the year for those strange kicks.”
Stick around for the full nine minutes and you’ll also get to hear from Ryan Couture, Sefo, Tyson Griffin, Frank Mir, Jay Glazer and some dude who looks like he just wandered off the set of “21 Jump Street” who claims to be Mike Pyle.
Filed under: UFC, NewsMired in a three-fight losing streak, Tyson Griffin is in danger of losing his job in the UFC. But Griffin will get one more chance to try to turn things around, as the UFC has announced that he’ll move down to featherweight to ta…
Mired in a three-fight losing streak, Tyson Griffin is in danger of losing his job in the UFC. But Griffin will get one more chance to try to turn things around, as the UFC has announced that he’ll move down to featherweight to take on Manny Gamburyan at UFC on Versus 4.
For Griffin, the move down to featherweight makes a lot of sense. He has had a great deal of success at 145 pounds in the past (he beat Urijah Faber to win the Gladiator Challenge featherweight title in 2005), and he probably would have stayed at 145 all along if the UFC had had a 145-pound division. In that sense, he’s a lot like Gamburyan, who left the UFC’s lightweight division for the WEC’s featherweight division in 2009.
It’s been six months since the UFC began experimenting with preliminary card fights on 
Mired in a three-fight losing streak,