Tag: UFC 140

UFC 140 Fight Card: Mark Bocek "Nik Lentz Is a Tough Guy" Coming off a Loss

There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight c…

There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight contender and Canadian Mark Bocek.

I asked if I could chat with him about a couple of topics and sat down beside him. I didn’t turn on my video recorder and we just chatted for five minutes. Well I ended up dropping the ball huge on that one because Bocek turned out to be cordial, intelligent, and extremely honest in his words on the questions I asked him.

It is widely known that Bocek teaches jiu-jitsu in Las Vegas to none other than UFC President Dana White and the Fertitta brothers aside from being a formidable fighter in the UFC as well.

He quite frankly turned out to be one of the most interesting guys I have talked to in the game so far, though I have only talked to a few.

Here are some highlights of our conversation

DW: “Can I talk to you a minute about a few things Mark?”

MB: “Sure have a seat.”

DW: “I wanted to ask you first about your opponent at UFC 140 Nik Lentz. Are you OK with that matchup, I mean coming off of Benson at 129, i would expect a bigger guy?”

MB: “Well, people don’t know Nik maybe but he is a tough tough guy. He’s got over 20 wins and he’s undefeated in the UFC. Plus, coming off a loss, it’s not like you can really demand anybody.”

I then switched the topic to that loss to Ben Henderson at UFC 129.

DW: “Were you happy with your performance at 129?”

Bocek looked me dead in the eye and shook his head from side to side.

MB: “I mean, he pushed a pace and not taking anything away he beat me, and he beat Miller whom I have also fought so, he’s a tough guy.”

Then came the zinger…

MB: “Let’s just say that’s what happens when you maybe take a fight lightly…” he looked at my surprise and smirked

DW: “Oh really? well, he beat you in that fight but he didn’t really you know, hurt you.”

MB: “Well, I don’t want to take anything away from him. These guys coming in from other organizations, they are proving they are legit. They are tough but…”

You can tell that Bocek would love another shot at Henderson or a Pettis, or any other top lightweight if he can get past Lentz in December.

I then turned the subject to a dream fight for me and a subject I have been harping on for a while now.

I want to see a fight for the UFC Canadian Lightweight Championship of the world between Bocek and Sam Stout. Many have told me that Mark’s jiu-jitsu and size would be too much for Sam to handle, but I beg to differ. I’m not saying who would win but surely the fight would be a close one in my eyes.

DW: “Is that a fight you would be interested in? I’ve asked Sam Stout about it and he says if the UFC would be interested it would be kinda cool but…?”

MB: “Well, it’s an interesting question for sure, I really stopped fighting in the regional shows up here very early for that reason, you know, the titles don’t mean much. My fourth fight was in the UFC.”

DW: “I agree some local named title is irrelevant but at the level that you and Sam are at, you guys are right up there, surely it could be a UFC Canadian title or something like that.?”

Bocek smirked but disagreed.

MB: “I just can’t see it happening, I mean they just did it with two Brazilian guys I guess but there was no Brazilian official title on the line or anything like that.”

Even if there wasn’t I would love to see that fight done in Canada. Sam Stout and Mark Bocek have both been in the UFC and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Canada for a long time now. This Canadian fight fan wants a score settled.

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 140 Press Conference: Proof That the UFC Has Hit the Mainstream in Canada

It is interesting times in the world of your local MMA media pit. The press conference for UFC 140 this past week in Toronto saw an emerging trend peaking in a melting pot of media, as the usual internet representatives on hand were now mixing wit…

It is interesting times in the world of your local MMA media pit. The press conference for UFC 140 this past week in Toronto saw an emerging trend peaking in a melting pot of media, as the usual internet representatives on hand were now mixing with the mainstream writers and personalities that have been in the print game for a long time.

I was able to chat with usual suspects like Spencer Miller and Charles Rock from MMACanada.net, as well as James Brydon of Sportsnet.ca. Mixed martial arts journalists, Showdown Joe Ferraro of Rogers Sportsnet and Showdown Productions, Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press and Mauro Ranallo of The Score were also on hand as is the norm.

What was pleasantly surprising for me, was to see such notable Canadian sports journalists as Stephen Brunt of Rogers Sportsnet, Steve Simmons of The Toronto Sun and James Cybulski of TSN Radio on in attendance as well. Brunt has incredible boxing pedigree, and has been covering the sweet science for a long time.

I spoke with Stephen and he confirmed his take on MMA.

“As a spectator, jiu-jitsu is not my thing. I don’t really prefer to see that myself.” He confirmed that it is the stand up aspect that he enjoys.

“But I have seen some very gruesome things in boxing, much worse than MMA.” I told him one of the reasons why I like him most as a journalist is he has an open mind and educates himself to what he is covering.

“I’ve heard some really stupid things said about MMA for sure. Guys like Jon Jones, you can’t help but appreciate what incredible athletes they are.

It doesn’t get any more mainstream media than Stephen Brunt, he has covered every sport you can imagine for The Globe and Mail for most of his career. He is a best selling author and co-host of the top sports radio show in Canada.

Onward and upward for the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 140 Fight Card: What Lyoto Machida Needs to Do to Beat Jon Jones

If you’re not extremely excited for Jon Jones versus Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, you’re either wildly confused or you’re new to the sport of MMA. Jones and Machida are both very successful fighters. With Jones’ highly unpredictabl…

If you’re not extremely excited for Jon Jones versus Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, you’re either wildly confused or you’re new to the sport of MMA.

Jones and Machida are both very successful fighters. With Jones’ highly unpredictable striking and Machida’s unique defensive fighting style, it’ll be an interesting tactical battle.

Many people will have Machida as the underdog going into this fight, but he actually stands a very good chance of winning.

Many of us MMA fans can suffer from having very short-term memory. Not long ago, Machida was an undefeated light heavyweight champion and we were all caught up, and warned to be in a prolonged “Machida Era.”

Machida needs to come out strong against Jones; doing so will give him a very good chance of throwing Jones off of his game plan.

Everyone expects Machida to use his speed and karate to fight a defensive battle against Jones. That’s the way Machida fights, and it’s been mostly successful.

However, one of Jones’ biggest strengths as a fighter is his ability to create a game plan for each of his opponents and stick to it. If Machida comes out and does the unexpected, it’ll be something Jones isn’t expecting.

Machida has the skills to fight an aggressive battle in this bout. It wouldn’t be the first time a fighter has come out and fought the fight no one expected.

No matter what happens in their title match at UFC 140, us fans will win. But if “The Dragon” comes out looking for the kill, he stands a great chance of upsetting Jones.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 140 Fight Card: Frank Mir vs. Big Nog II Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC star heavyweights Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira are set for a rematch this December 10 at UFC 140 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto.Mir comes in on a nice roll, gaining victories in his last two fights over Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson, …

UFC star heavyweights Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira are set for a rematch this December 10 at UFC 140 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto.

Mir comes in on a nice roll, gaining victories in his last two fights over Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson, respectively. Meanwhile, Nogueira regained some relevancy with his own knockout victory over young lion Brendan Schaub last month in Brazil.

Despite what some people may think or say, a fight between the two aging stars carries some significance in the heavyweight division, as the winner may find himself in a No.1 contender match sometime in 2012, possibly against the winner of Brock Lesnar-Alistair Overeem, or the loser of Cain Velasquez-Junior Dos Santos. Meanwhile, the loser of this fight may never come close again.

The fighters first clashed in 2008 at UFC 89, and the fight and the outcome did not play out how many people thought it would. Heading into that fight, many people had written Mir off and said that he only had a slight chance if the fight hit the ground. Nogueira was seen to have a heavy edge in the stand-up, toughness and experience categories.

In a perfect example of why fights are never fought on paper, Mir came out and dominated Big Nog on the feet with superior boxing footwork and combinations, gaining a shocking TKO victory.

Information came out shortly after the fight saying that Big Nog was suffering from a knee injury and staph infection that did not allow him to be at his best that night.

A healthy Big Nog, combined with the stakes, should provide a very intriguing and exciting rematch.

Here is my head-to-toe breakdown of Mir versus Big Nog II.

Begin Slideshow

Rashad Evans Actually Says Something Nice About Jon Jones!

Rashad Evans gave an interview to Fight Hype where he actually spoke of his respect for Jones as a fighter: “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jon [Jones] as a fighter and I.

Rashad Evans gave an interview to Fight Hype where he actually spoke of his respect for Jones as a fighter:

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jon [Jones] as a fighter and I really like to watch him fight. I enjoy the growth that I have seen him have as a fighter just from the short time I have seen him come in the gym until now.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be Rashad not to get under Jone’s skin. This time, he offers some detail how Lyoto Machida can beat Jones at UFC 140 and warns him what to look out for:

“If anybody can give him trouble, I would think it would be Machida, and for a couple of reasons. One reason is Machida’s used to that kind of craftiness and movement because he trains with Anderson Silva, so he’s used to seeing that. That’s where Jon Jones got a lot of his style from is Anderson Silva. So Lyoto is used to training with the originator. One thing Jones brings to the table that Anderson doesn’t is the ability to take the fight to the ground. He brings that ground and pound and Jon is very good at that, so there are a couple of areas where Lyoto will have to watch out for Jon. But for the most part, if he can use his footwork and watch out for some of the tricks and not stay on the outside and watch like everyone else does… I think he could do pretty good in this fight.”

UFC 140 tickets are on sale to the public this Saturday, October 15th.

Dana White Calls Toronto UFC’s ‘Fight Capital of the World’

Filed under: UFC, NewsThe UFC is returning to Toronto for UFC 140, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, less than eight months after making its debut in the market in April for the record-breaking UFC 129 event.

However, this time around, the org…

Filed under: ,

The UFC is returning to Toronto for UFC 140, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, less than eight months after making its debut in the market in April for the record-breaking UFC 129 event.

However, this time around, the organization will be setting up shop at the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, not the cavernous Rogers Centre.

“We felt that this was the right move our second time back here,” UFC president Dana White said at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday.

UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields set UFC and North American MMA records with a 55,724 attendance and a $12.075 million gate ($11.5 million Canadian).

White was asked on Wednesday whether the UFC would consider holding another mega-show at Rogers Centre, and considering how successful the first one was, it’s no surprise his answer was yes.

“We’ll do another massive fight here when we have the right fight,” White said.

“Vegas has always been known as the fight capital of the world, well in our sport, Toronto is becoming well known for that. So, yes, we’ll do another major fight (in Toronto) and do it like we did last time.”


The UFC president has often called Canada “the Mecca of MMA,” and despite the promotion’s packed schedule, this marks the second year in a row that the UFC will visit the Great White North three times in a calendar year. And plans are already in place to hold an event in Montreal, site of four previous UFC events, in the first quarter of 2012.

“This is without a doubt the strongest market on the planet,” White said.

UFC 140 tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, Oct. 15, and the arena is expected to be configured for approximately 20,000 fans. Ticket prices will range between $700 and $85.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments