Filed under: UFC, NewsIt’s been over a year since the UFC has staged a show in the UK. As is customary when the promotion parks the octagon on British land, fans bought tickets in droves. According to managing director of international development for …
It’s been over a year since the UFC has staged a show in the UK. As is customary when the promotion parks the octagon on British land, fans bought tickets in droves. According to managing director of international development for the UFC Marshall Zelaznik, the organization has already been informed that UFC 138 will break the all-time gate record for the LG Arena in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Still, there have been some complaints about the card. There are no title matches, no No. 1 contender matches, and no former champions spotlighted.
All main-event participants Chris Leben and Mark Munoz can do about that is put on a show of their own, and at Thursday press conference, both agreed that anyone watching won’t be disappointed.
“You guys have a main event you’re not going to have to worry about,” said Leben, who is known for his always aggressive, often reckless style. “Sometimes we put these main events together because they’re names, and it sucks. We’re going to get in there and we’re going to do it. I promise you a great show.”
Munoz echoed those thoughts.
“He throws bombs, and I throw bombs, so bombs away,” he said.
Both Munoz (11-2) and Leben (22-7) have performed well over the last two years. Munoz has captured six of his last seven bouts, most recently defeating Demian Maia in June. And Leben, a winner of four of his last five, is coming off a 27-second knockout of Wanderlei Silva.
Leben said that because the two enter the fight with so much recent success, the winner deserves to be the No. 1 contender. That’s not likely, especially with Chael Sonnen campaigning for a rematch with Anderson Silva. But Leben said for the sake of the fans, he’s just the type of fighter that should be fighting for the belt.
“I’ve been watching a lot of fights lately where the champs, they seem to …maybe it’s just me, but it seems like they’re fighting not to lose,” he said. “For myself, I’d quit if that’s what I start doing. I fight to win, I fight to finish my opponent. I don’t fight to not lose. And that’s what you’re going to see.”
Munoz has had the experience of facing southpaws before, but he probably hasn’t faced anyone with the punching power and fearlessness of Leben. Munoz said he’s blessed to have lots of lefties in his camp, and he’s also studied a lot of tape in preparation of the fight. Everything to be ready. Everything to put on a good show.
“We want to be the best, and I definitely want to be the best,” Munoz said. “I’m getting closer and closer, and this is one of the steps to get there, so I’m definitely going to take it.”
The welterweight division is on notice that Thiago “Pitbull” Alves is back, and he’s looking to return to his ferocious ways. Alves (18-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) returns to the Octagon against Papy Abedi (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC 138 on Spike …
The welterweight division is on notice that Thiago “Pitbull” Alves is back, and he’s looking to return to his ferocious ways.
Alves (18-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) returns to the Octagon against Papy Abedi (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC 138 on Spike TV and, with the full-time addition of famed coach Mike Dolce providing him with world class tutelage, he’s primed for a run to the top of the welterweight division.
Leading up to Saturday’s clash inside LG Arena at the National Exhibition Centre, Alves has linked all the pieces together for his televised bout against Abedi, in what is the first step in his climb to the championship.
“I feel great, this is the best I’ve ever felt in whole life,” Alves recently told BleacherReport.com. “The funny thing is, I went to the Doctor a few weeks ago and they did full blood work and he said, ‘Thiago, this is the healthiest you’ve ever been since I started working with you.’ I think I moved down here in 2004 if I’m not mistaken, but I feel great. I’ve been through so much in my personal life and my career, I’ve got a very positive attitude when it comes to everything, even all the problems that I faced. I believe it (will) only make me better, I got really high goals for myself to where I want to be in this sport.
“Teaming up with Mike was just the final link to get to that goal. Especially right now, working with not only the nutrition, but the strength and conditioning also. So, it’s a perfect blend, I was 189 (pounds) today (and) usually I hit the 80’s three (or) four days before the weigh-ins. I see the 80’s already, I feel great, my cardio is better than ever and through the roof and I’m ready to fight tonight if I have to. Just everything, when I met Mike I had this problem that I have to make weight otherwise I don’t know where my career is going to be, if I’m gonna have to move up weight or not, (the) second fight we did six weeks and just because I worked so hard between the camp I thought the fight was going to be easy. I didn’t want to work as hard, I still don’t think I lost the fight, but it’s in the past and I don’t want to dwell on that. But for the next fight, I said ‘Dolce, I want to do the whole camp with you. The guy’s a genius, he knows exactly what he’s doing, and I believe everything he says and it makes sense. I’ve been in the sport long enough to know if what they’re saying makes sense or not and it was the final link that was missing.”
Teaming with, and learning under, the tutelage of Dolce has Alves mentally and physically prepared for his sixteenth trip to the Octagon.
Dolce, who is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most knowledgeable coaches, couldn’t be more pleased with how Alves’ camp has come together, and he’s embraced every moment of his increased coaching role.
“I embrace it, I love it. I think what Thiago’s asked me to do as part of this camp fits perfectly with my skillset,” Dolce said. “And it compliments each of the things that I do. I’m blessed that Thiago has a great team of coaches behind him that we all work very well together. So, within this new role, I know we’re going to see the best version of Thiago Alves ever in this fight. I say that with supreme confidence.”
Alves believes that it takes time to find the appropriate team, and if UFC middleweight champion and pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva is any indication, Alves may be correct.
Silva suffered defeat three times between 2003-2006 before his dominant reign in the UFC. A highly motivated Alves believes that he’s found all the pieces to the championship puzzle prior to UFC 138.
“It takes about two or three years to find yourself, find a great frequency with all the coaches, with the lifestyle, and I truly know that I have that now,” Alves said. “I have a great team behind me, Dolce’s came to blend in everything, I’m more comfortable with my striking coach, my jiu-jitsu, my wrestling coach, and Dolce coming in to take care of the whole body physiology, the nutrition, the strength and conditioning. This (is) the best I’ve ever been, I’m much more hungry and rising in the UFC and now is just put the pieces in place and go all the way to the top.”
Alves is a far different fighter than the one who dominated Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck, Karo Parisyan and Chris Lytle en route to the top of the welterweight division in 2009.
According to Dolce, Alves is a vastly improved version from the one who nearly cleaned out the division two years ago, and their sole focus is on destroying organizational newcomer Papy Abedi.
“First and foremost is the destruction of Papy Abedi at UFC 138,” Dolce said. “That’s the only thing on our plan right now. Knowing that we have to get through that first hurdle to get to the next and part of what we’ve done is we’ve taken the pressure off Thiago. He’s one of the most well-known fighters in the world, he gets mobbed everywhere he goes, and to get him away from that mentality because there’s a lot of pressure there and just let him focus on destroying another man for 15 minutes.
“That’s all he has to do, is beat up one man, it doesn’t matter what financial implication is tied to that, what his ranking in the division, who his next opponent is, what sponsor is going to jump on or jump off, none of that stuff matters. Because with that 15 minute performance, everything falls into place, so that was one of the themes with this camp.”
For Alves, he’s taken all the necessary steps in order to ensure victory on Saturday night and he plans on delivering a message with dominant performance over Abedi.
“I’m very excited, I think this is the first time I’m going to be fighting on Spike TV card and I’m excited to show off this new body, show off this new Thiago Alves,” he said. “Every day I wake up I’m excited again and I’m like ‘Yeah man, let’s train, let’s get better, let’s see how much better I can get today, how much more I can push myself today.’ I’m very excited and I can’t wait to step in there, he’s a newcomer, and I know exactly what’s going through his head. I remember when I got the opportunity to fight in the UFC, this is it man you got to take everything you got, so I know it won’t be an easy fight especially he’s undefeated, I know I got a little bit of an edge on him because I’ve been in there so many times. The first time in the UFC is never easy and I’m prepared, I’m prepared for everything, wherever the fight takes place I’m going to beat him up.
“That’s my goal right now and every fight I’m going to send a message to the division, I’m going to destroy and demolish people. The old ‘Pitbull’ is back and we’re going to send a message on November 5 for the whole world to see.”
For additional information on UFC 138 follow Joshua Carey onTwitter.
Chris Leben has every intention of making his bout a slugfest, but he is unsure of his Mark Munoz’s gameplan heading into their main event at UFC 138.The heavy-handed Leben is notorious for his knockout power and is often the one who initiates the stan…
Chris Leben has every intention of making his bout a slugfest, but he is unsure of his Mark Munoz’s gameplan heading into their main event at UFC 138.
The heavy-handed Leben is notorious for his knockout power and is often the one who initiates the stand-up early on. However, in Munoz, he will be facing a decorated wrestler with a strong grappling ability and improved striking, which is a far contrast from most of Leben’s opponents.
While he prepares for “The Filipino Wrecking Machine,” Leben is confident that his superior striking will overcome Munoz’s wrestling ability, which could turn the bout in his favour.
“Everybody says they want to stand and bang with me, everyone says they will stand and bang with me. But if Wanderlei Silva can’t do it, Mark Munoz definitely can’t do it,” Leben told Fighters.com.
Leben’s recent destruction of former Pride FC legend, Wanderlei Silva, proved that he doesn’t fear who stands across from him and that he has the capability to end the fight with one punch. Leben said part of what helps him perform well is the energy he receives from the fans.
He described the feeling like walking into the Roman Coliseum as he prepares to do battle.
“When I go out there I know it’s time…it’s time for me to go to battle,” he said. “I’m prepared to put it all on the line to bring those fans exactly what they want to see and that’s ‘The Crippler’ smash somebody.”
And Leben will look to put on a show for the fans in Birmingham, England this weekend.
You can throw Chris Leben’s name into the sweepstakes for a shot at Anderson Silva and the UFC middleweight title.Coming off a first-round knockout victory over MMA legend Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132, Leben has positioned himself to climb back into the …
You can throw Chris Leben’s name into the sweepstakes for a shot at Anderson Silva and the UFC middleweight title.
Coming off a first-round knockout victory over MMA legend Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132, Leben has positioned himself to climb back into the contender’s picture with a win over Mark Munoz this Saturday night at UFC 138.
“It was five years ago that I fought Anderson Silva, and I believe I’ve changed immensely. I don’t know how much he’s progressed,” Leben told Bobby Cavian of StudioMMA.
“I would love to get that shot again, and personally, I’m getting older,” he said. “I’ve been in this sport long enough that I think if I win this fight in decisive fashion, people should be able to go, ‘OK, look, he’s won five of his last six fights. We know he was sick going into the [Brian] Stann fight, but he took it anyways. He didn’t pull out. Give him a shot.'”
Leben is notorious for rolling out the welcome wagon for Silva in June 2006.
“The Spider” made quick work of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 alumni, Leben, in the bout that catapulted his career toward the UFC title and pound-for-pound supremacy.
Other than a minor hiccup against Stann, Leben has impressed as of late, with victories over Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Aaron Simpson and Jay Silva.
A win over Munoz would be huge in climbing his way back up the middleweight ladder, but the line for a title shot remains crowded.
UFC 138 is set to take place at LG Arena in Birmingham, England. Leben and Munoz will serve as the main event for the fight card, which will air free on Spike TV.
Filed under: UFCA UFC event in the U.K. means two things: 1) lots of griping from American fighters (and UFC executives) about the food, and 2) a card full of local blokes, European imports, and some other fighters just barely holding on to their UFC c…
A UFC event in the U.K. means two things: 1) lots of griping from American fighters (and UFC executives) about the food, and 2) a card full of local blokes, European imports, and some other fighters just barely holding on to their UFC contracts.
That mix of desperation and nationalism often makes for memorable fights, but it also means that there are a few fighters on the UFC 138 lineup who are facing must-win scenarios.
Who are they, and what are their chances of staying on the UFC’s good side this Saturday night? For answers, we turn to the Cut List.
Thiago Alves (18-8, 10-5 UFC) Who he’s facing: Papy Abedi Why he’s in danger: Alves is another UFC welterweight who was on a tear until getting beat by Georges St-Pierre, after which he immediately fell on hard times. Including the loss to GSP at UFC 100, he’s lost three of his last four. His only recent win came against John Howard, who’s no longer with the organization. Alves seems to have finally conquered his weight issues, thanks to nutritionist Mike Dolce, but his last few performances in the cage have been fairly mediocre. Now he faces Octagon newcomer Abedi, who, while talented, seems like exactly the kind of fighter Alves should throttle. He’ll stand and trade, probably won’t shoot for a single takedown unless it’s out of desperation, and he’s relatively inexperienced, particularly at this level of MMA. So Alves should smash him, right? Probably, yeah. But if he slips up and manages to lose this fight (don’t act like it can’t happen), “The Pitbull” slides even further down ladder — maybe even all the way off of it. Chances of getting cut: Very unlikely. You know how Dana White is always saying that he likes guys who “bring it”? That’s Alves. And here the UFC has found him an opponent who will stand and at least attempt to bring it right back. All Alves has to do is not screw it up.
Eddie Faaloloto (2-2, 0-1 UFC) Who he’s facing:Terry Etim Why he’s in danger: Faaloloto is winless under the Zuffa banner, having dropped back-to-back fights to Anthony Njokuani in the WEC and then Michael Johnson in the UFC. Now he has to fight in a Brit in Britain, and if he doesn’t see this as a fight for his job then he hasn’t been paying attention to the way the UFC does things. On paper, it seems like the plan is to give Etim a relatively easy opponent so he can impress his countrymen with a dominant win after an injury layoff. If that is indeed what happens, Faaloloto will almost certainly find himself off the roster. With as many good lightweights as there are in the UFC right now — not to mention all the talented, experienced 155ers who are still trying to get a look — there’d be no reason to keep a guy who’s a 2-3 fighter with no wins in the Octagon. Chances of getting cut: Very good. Etim’s a heavy favorite to win the fight, and with good reason. If Faaloloto can’t pull out a minor miracle, he’s out of here.
Anthony Perosh (11-6, 1-3 UFC) Who he’s facing:Cyrille Diabate Why he’s in danger: Perosh can’t say that the UFC didn’t give him a chance. After an 0-2 bid back in 2006, the Aussie got back on the books by stepping up to fight Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic on short notice in Sydney. That didn’t go well, but he rebounded with his first UFC win thanks to a submission over Tom Blackledge, and against Diabate he even gets to fight someone his own age. But then, that’s kind of the problem. If Perosh can’t win this one (and oddsmakers don’t like his chances), what use does the UFC have for a 39-year-old light heavyweight who’s 1-4 in his career inside the Octagon? Perosh is a strong grappler, but guys like that don’t often fall under White’s “bring it” umbrella. You know who does? Lanky kickboxers like Diabate, who will likely eat Perosh up if the fight stays standing. Perosh has value for the UFC in Australia, but he’s not much of a draw elsewhere. In fact, this will only be his third pro fight away from his home country. The other two were both in Las Vegas for the UFC, and he lost them both. Chances of getting cut: Very good. If Perosh can’t get Diabate down early and submit him, he’s in a lot of trouble. And sure, maybe Randy Couture could compete at the UFC level well into his 40s, but Perosh is no Couture.
Michihiro Omigawa (12-10-1, 0-4 UFC) Who he’s facing:Jason Young Why he’s in danger: Omigawa’s winless streak in the Octagon is comprised of two different stints with the UFC, but the current stay isn’t going much better than the previous one. The 35-year-old featherweight has dropped back-to-back decisions against Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins, though the latter seemed to be a case of judging incompetence. Still, if he can’t pick up a win soon he’ll start to look like yet another failed Japanese import who got to the UFC too late in his career to make an impact. He could still turn things around, of course, but it’s got to start here. Oddsmakers have him as a roughly 3-1 favorite over his British opponent, who is himself on somewhat shaky ground with an 0-1 start in the UFC. If Omigawa is going to finally get a win in the UFC, he might never get a better chance than this. He might never get another chance, period, if he doesn’t make the most of this opportunity. It’s now or never, and this is not a good time for a Japanese fighter to try and make a living back home. Chances of getting cut: Moderate. If he loses he’s almost guaranteed to find himself out of a job, but this is a very winnable fight for Omigawa. The UFC would no doubt love to see him stick around long enough to help out with its Japanese invasion in 2012.
Mark Munoz will compete in his first five-round fight Saturday night when he meets Chris Leben at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” recently granted MMAFighting.com access to his one of his intense training days at the Reign Training Center in California for another installment in our “Fight Journal” series, shot and edited by E. Casey Leydon.
Mark Munoz will compete in his first five-round fight Saturday night when he meets Chris Leben at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” recently granted MMAFighting.com access to his one of his intense training days at the Reign Training Center in California for another installment in our “Fight Journal” series, shot and edited by E. Casey Leydon.
It’s been over a year since the UFC has staged a show in the UK. As is customary when the promotion parks the octagon on British land, fans bought tickets in droves. According to managing director of international development for the UFC Marshall Zelaznik, the organization has already been informed that UFC 138 will break the all-time gate record for the LG Arena in Birmingham on Saturday night.
The welterweight division is on notice that Thiago “Pitbull” Alves is back, and he’s looking to return to his ferocious ways.
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