The main event could easily take up this entire article, but this card is stacked and that means there are a lot of questions to ponder coming in. It will be interesting to hear the jawing that comes from Jon Jones and Rashad Evans on the UFC Primetime…
The main event could easily take up this entire article, but this card is stacked and that means there are a lot of questions to ponder coming in. It will be interesting to hear the jawing that comes from Jon Jones and Rashad Evans on the UFC Primetime special before the event, and that is definitely something that I am looking forward to for sure. But, I could talk about Jones and Evans all day, and there are 11 other bouts on this card.
Some of the bouts that I am looking forward to are the bouts between Chad Griggs and Travis Browne, Mac Danzig and Efrain Escudero, John Makdessi and Anthony Njokuani and the return of Mark Hominick just to name a few. This is one of the most stacked cards in a long time, and the great part for the fans is that UFC 146 is an even more impressive card.
In the next few slides, I will reveal the seven questions I’m burning on leading into fight night in Atlanta.
Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira is back in training following surgery to a broken arm he sustained when he locked horns with Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 140. Initially, it was thought he’d be out of action for a longer period of …
Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira is back in training following surgery to a broken arm he sustained when he locked horns with Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 140. Initially, it was thought he’d be out of action for a longer period of time.
I felt very good, I missed being able to train. I was only supposed to do ‘shadow’ training, but I couldn’t (hold myself).
I still need another three weeks of physical therapy to sharpen my boxing, and after that I will call Master De La Riva and start training jiu-jitsu. I believe I’ll be back in a month’s time.
Soon Junior dos Santos will be coming here to train for his fight against Alistair Overeem and thereafter it will be Big Foot and Anderson Silva coming to train. I need to be 100% to train with these guys because they’re tough.
Nogueira’s injury occurred in the third round, when the former UFC heavyweight champion locked in a kimura, and with the jiu-jitsu master refusing to tap, Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) continued to apply the pressure, resulting in the breakage, as well as injuries to his shoulder.
The Brazilian has been widely regarded as one the foremost practitioners in the art of submission, but in Mir, Nogueira was up against a fellow black-belt exponent, who, prior to their meet, had already amassed eight victories via submission in 15 career wins.
Conversely, Big Nog (33-7-1-1NC MMA, 4-3 UFC), a former UFC interim heavyweight titlist, has compiled a record of 20 submissions.
Though to date, he has only one kimura execution on his submissions résumé, and that took place on his professional debut back in June of 2009.
For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.
It has barely been a fortnight since Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria had his arm snapped into a thousand pieces compliments of a first round Frank Mir kimura at UFC 140. Besides being perhaps the most shocking, or at least unpredictable, finish in UFC History, it was a loss that to many signaled the end of the road for the former UFC Interim Heavyweight champ and PRIDE star. But leave it to a man who was run over by a Mac truck as a child to prove us wrong once again.
Yes, the above video serves as undeniable proof that “Minotauro’s” bones are made from some form of otherwordly carbon based material, or possibly the liquid metal that flows through Wolverine’s veins. Where most of us would still be at home trying to figure out the reverse monkey grip, Big Nog has already resumed training, and looks to be coming along nicely in his rehabilitation. The question is, who should he face next?
DISCUSS.
-J. Jones
It has barely been a fortnight since Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria had his arm snapped into a thousand pieces compliments of a first round Frank Mir kimura at UFC 140. Besides being perhaps the most shocking, or at least unpredictable, finish in UFC History, it was a loss that to many signaled the end of the road for the former UFC Interim Heavyweight champ and PRIDE star. But leave it to a man who was run over by a Mac truck as a child to prove us wrong once again.
Yes, the above video serves as undeniable proof that “Minotauro’s” bones are made from some form of otherwordly carbon based material, or possibly the liquid metal that flows through Wolverine’s veins. Where most of us would still be at home trying to figure out the reverse monkey grip, Big Nog has already resumed training, and looks to be coming along nicely in his rehabilitation. The question is, who should he face next?
Whether he won or lost at UFC 142, Anthony Johnson was going to be in UFC president Dana White’s dog house for missing weight for the third time in his UFC career.That being said, a win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 could have easily given Johnson anot…
Whether he won or lost at UFC 142, Anthony Johnson was going to be in UFC president Dana White‘s dog house for missing weight for the third time in his UFC career.
That being said, a win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 could have easily given Johnson another chance to continue competing in the world’s premier MMA organization.
As the bout between Johnson and Belfort began, “Rumble” looked to be in good shape, as he secured two takedowns and damaged his opponent with ground and pound. However, after both takedowns, referee Dan Miragliotta gave Johnson less than one minute to work before standing the fighters up.
It could be argued that Johnson was attempting to stall his way to a decision victory, but a fighter who has worked hard to take their opponent to the ground should be given more opportunity than one minute to show that he is prepared to work for the finish on the ground.
While Miragliotta may have been in the wrong to stand the bout up so quickly, the blame cannot be placed fully on his shoulders.
Miragliotta was not responsible for what seemed to be a serious lack of conditioning on Johnson’s part. After the fight was stood up for a second time, Johnson appeared completely out of gas.
A sloppy takedown attempt then gave Belfort the top position, and Johnson was in survival mode from that point forward. Belfort eventually locked up a rear naked choke before the opening round came to an end, securing victory and sending Johnson packing from the UFC.
The fight may have featured some poor refereeing by Miragliotta, but Johnson has nobody to blame for the loss but himself.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.
Dana White is a polarizing figure. Some love him, some hate him, and those in the MMA blogosphere that have never even met him, take every opportunity they have to crucify his every move.I read the blogs daily and always read the comments section…
Dana White is a polarizing figure. Some love him, some hate him, and those in the MMA blogosphere that have never even met him, take every opportunity they have to crucify his every move.
I read the blogs daily and always read the comments sections where keyboard warriors can tell you an event sucks before it takes place, why B.J. Penn has no motivation, or how Cain Velasquez could have beaten Junior Dos Santos. The scenarios are endless and the accountability is non-existent.
When a UFC story breaks about a separation or contract talk breakdown, the answer is always the same. “It is Dana White’s fault,” they say, not caring that they know nothing of the details or facts (see: Fedor contract negotiations, Brittany Palmer leaving UFC, and Golden Glory fighters released).
As a lifelong New York Yankees fan, Dana’s “character” reminds me very much of George Steinbrenner (though others might say WWE star Vince McMahon). He takes care of business and makes no apologies for his style, his opinion, or his success.
I am convinced that even if he were to find a cure for cancer, the comments sections would still be overflowing with reasons to hate him.
Although I realize this opinion will not win me any fans, I feel it is time to defend Dana White on a few topics.
After having an unprecedented run last year, Jon Jones is ready to return to the Octagon and continue his dominance throughout the light heavyweight division.After defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, Jones went on to capture the UFC light heavyweight crow…
After having an unprecedented run last year, Jon Jones is ready to return to the Octagon and continue his dominance throughout the light heavyweight division.
After defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, Jones went on to capture the UFC light heavyweight crown from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. He then successfully defended it against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida. Following his recent victory over Machida at UFC 140, the 24-year-old said he would like to take some time off and relax.
However, it looks like Jones might ditch that idea and come back sooner than later.
“Originally I said I wanted to take off four or five months, but I may reconsider and come back sooner and have three or four fights this year,” Jones told ESPN.com.
Should the 205-pound champion decide to return, it is expected that he would compete in April, which would likely see him square off against either Rashad Evans or Dan Henderson. Evans is scheduled to meet light heavyweight prospect Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2 on January 28.
Jones’ four consecutive wins have led many fans to consider it the most successful year ever produced by a mixed martial artist. And after having such a remarkable year, Jones is poised to replicate that same success.
“I’ve been thinking recently about trying to compete four times in the year again. I grew so much as a person that by doing that again in 2012 will just make me a better athlete,” he said. “My goal is to finish every fight in 2012. If I do that, a lot of other things will fall into place naturally.”
Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira is back in training following surgery to a broken arm he sustained when he locked horns with