Within the past 12 hours, Roy Nelson went from knowing who he would be fighting next to not having a clue.
The durable UFC heavyweight, who likely retired Mirko Filipovic in his last bout at UFC 137, tweeted last night that he would be facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 143 Superbowl weekend. According to the UFC, however, it has other plans for the French striker who handed Matt Mitrione his first loss on the same card that “Big Country” fought “Cro Cop” on .
(So, who IS Roy fighting next, then?)
Within the past 12 hours, Roy Nelson went from knowing who he would be fighting next to not having a clue.
The durable UFC heavyweight, who likely retired Mirko Filipovic in his last bout at UFC 137, tweeted last night that he would be facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 143 Superbowl weekend. According to the UFC, however, it has other plans for the French striker who handed Matt Mitrione his first loss on the same card that “Big Country” fought “Cro Cop” on .
The news may have also come as a surprise to Kongo, whose friend, actor Gilles Marini told MMA H.E.A.T.’s Karyn Bryant at UFC on Fox that the fight was set.
UFC on FX to air in January 2012 with 2 bouts announced: Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer and Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft. MMA Junkie website (which was newly acquired by USA Today) will debut.
UFC on FX to air in January 2012 with 2 bouts announced: Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer and Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft.
MMA Junkie website (which was newly acquired by USA Today) will debut a live MMA news magazine show on Spike TV in January 2012.
Shane Carwin is recovering from back surgery which was necessary to keep him from “feeling paralyzed” when he competes.
UFC 141 books Nam Phan vs. Jim Hettes for December 30th event in Las Vegas.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio added to UFC 142 event on January 14th in Rio.
UFC 143 receives Dustin Poirier vs. Eric Koch in February.
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch and Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis set for UFC 144 in Japan.
Justin Bieber paternity suit is dismissed by Mariah Yeater.
*UPDATE: The Bieber paternity case is still on. Reports earlier from TMZ indicated Mariah Yeater had dismissed the case but her lawyer says Yeater “believes Justin Bieber is the father.” In other news, judging by these recent pics both Yeater and Bieber look like excellent parental figures:
Fresh off his upset Submission of the Night victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC 136, Joe Lauzon was quick to call out former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who scored a decision victory over Jeremy Stephens at the same event. Well it looks like he’ll be getting his wish, as the two have been booked to lock horns at UFC 144, in what could easily be a Fight of the Night match-up. Prior to their 136 victories, Lauzon scored a quick and nasty kimura victory over Kurt Warburton at UFC Live 4 whereas Pettis was wrestlefucked into oblivion by Clay Guida at the TUF 13 Finale in June. This is the point where I’d normally say that a victory here would rocket either man near the top of the lightweight ladder, but considering that the division is currently more crowded than a So-Cal Quinceanera, let’s just say that a victory here will keep either man…from losing.
(A classic battle of style vs. SUBstance.)
Fresh off his upset Submission of the Night victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC 136, Joe Lauzon was quick to call out former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who scored a decision victory over Jeremy Stephens at the same event. Well it looks like he’ll be getting his wish, as the two have been booked to lock horns at UFC 144, in what could easily be a Fight of the Night match-up. Prior to their 136 victories, Lauzon scored a quick and nasty kimura victory over Kurt Warburton at UFC Live 4 whereas Pettis was wrestlefucked into oblivion by Clay Guida at the TUF 13 Finale in June. This is the point where I’d normally say that a victory here would rocket either man near the top of the lightweight ladder, but considering that the division is currently more crowded than a So-Cal Quinceanera, let’s just say that a victory here will keep either man…from losing.
In other fight booking news, a battle between top featherweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Eric Koch has been set for UFC 143 in February, which also features the probable welterweight number 1 contender match between Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit. Poirier most recently scored a brilliant submission via D’arce over Pablo Garza at the inaugural UFC on FOX card. Koch, on the other hand, is coming off a gritty decision victory over TUF 13 winner/existential caveman Jonathan Brookins in Brookins’ featherweight debut at UFC Fight Night 25. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming Aldo/Mendes clash at UFC 142, we could easily be looking at the next challenger to the title right here.
Add Josh Koscheck’s name to the long list of people who isn’t giving Nick Diaz much of a shot against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.The former title contender took to Twitter recently to give his thoughts on the highly-anticipated champio…
Add Josh Koscheck’s name to the long list of people who isn’t giving Nick Diaz much of a shot against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
The former title contender took to Twitter recently to give his thoughts on the highly-anticipated championship bout.
“Nick D has no chance with GSP, can’t fight wrestlers. Look at his history with them. That’s why he got booted the 1st time,” Koscheck posted. “I hope Nick D wins but I don’t think he can. GSP by wrestling.”
Koscheck knows a thing or two about what St-Pierre brings to the table. He has lost two unanimous decisions to the French Canadian, with the most recent coming in their lopsided title bout in December 2010 at UFC 124.
Some may disagree, but Koscheck makes great points about Diaz’s tendency to struggle against world-class wrestlers.
When dissecting Diaz’s record, he really hasn’t faced anyone fitting that description since Sean Sherk, whom he lost a unanimous decision to in April 2006.
Is the Cesar Gracie student prepared to fend off St-Pierre’s takedowns?
Apparently, Koscheck isn’t alone in his skepticism of Diaz’s chances.
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes and former two-division champion B.J. Penn both like St-Pierre over the ever-controversial Nick Diaz.
“I think it’s going to be very, very tough for Nick Diaz to defend Georges St-Pierre’s takedowns, and if Georges St-Pierre wants to turn this into a takedown type fight, I think he’s definitely going to have an advantage,” Penn said in an interview at “Pro Elite: Big Guns” with HDNet’s Michael Schiavello.
Before Diaz’s removal from the originally slated championship bout at UFC 137, Hughes was also leaning in the direction of his former rival.
“Against Diaz, I think [GSP] is going to do real good. This will be the first time he’s going to face someone that will be in better shape than he is. Diaz is in great shape, and that’ll be the only thing I think Diaz will have an edge on, but GSP is not going to wear out,” said Hughes in a Q&A session for fans at UFC 132.
“Striking, submissions and groundwork…I think he’s going to win everyone of those. I see GSP winning.”
Another busy week wrapped up in the MMA world with the UFC announcing plans for upcoming cards and the new year. Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva’s next opponent will be the man who nearly dethroned him at UFC 117, Chael Sonnen.Although Carlos …
Another busy week wrapped up in the MMA world with the UFC announcing plans for upcoming cards and the new year.
Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva’s next opponent will be the man who nearly dethroned him at UFC 117, Chael Sonnen.
Although Carlos Condit will no longer be fighting for the welterweight title at UFC 143, the contender will take on former title-challenger Josh Koscheck at the February event.
In 2012, the UFC’s preliminary card bouts will no longer stream on Facebook and will instead be shown on the cable network Fuel TV.
Additionally, a former Strikeforce champ is suing his former management, as well as a Bellator champ returning to action.
Rob Tatum is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can also find Rob’s work at TheMMACorner.com. For anything related to MMA, you can follow Rob on Twitter @RobTatumMMA.
With the explosion of attention Nick Diaz has recently gotten, his manager and trainer Cesar Gracie has become more of a figurehead in MMA as well.The reason, of course, is Diaz’s well-publicized aversion to media commitments, which leaves Gracie…
With the explosion of attention Nick Diaz has recently gotten, his manager and trainer Cesar Gracie has become more of a figurehead in MMA as well.
The reason, of course, is Diaz’s well-publicized aversion to media commitments, which leaves Gracie shouldering the load as his star pupil prepares for a much-anticipated showdown with UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.
The reason that fight is happening? Gracie’s willingness to push Diaz into saying the occasional crazy thing. In this case, calling out GSP.
Now, make no mistake, calling out St-Pierre is a double-edged sword.
It’s genius, because it ensures Diaz will get a title shot and the payday that comes along with it. It also makes him one of the most marketable antiheroes in MMA given his willingness to speak without a filter and prod opponents into fighting out of anger instead of fighting with a game plan.
But it’s also not the smartest thing in the world to put heat on the usually mild St-Pierre. Every time someone does, they end up seeing a version of the champion that’s hungrier and more motivated than usual, and that utterly decimates particularly mouthy opposition.
Look at the past.
Josh Koscheck talked a whole bunch of (often poorly conceived) trash during their run as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, and St-Pierre beat him all over the Octagon. He smashed Koscheck so badly that he couldn’t take an airplane out of Montreal for medical reasons, and has permanent nerve damage in his face.
B.J. Penn wasn’t shy with his thoughts on St-Pierre going into UFC 94, and the result was a pounding so ugly that Penn’s corner wouldn’t let him continue after the fourth round. Arguments persist to this day about GSP greasing, but the reality is that Penn was outclassed regardless, and if they were to meet again, you can rest assured the fight would be no closer.
Matt Serra said some interesting things going into the rematch between the two, where GSP was hunting to get his title back. I believe “Frenchy” was one of the slurs thrown out there. Not wise at the best of times, less wise fighting a Quebec-born martial artist in Quebec. Serra couldn’t get out of Round 2.
So it is that it becomes hard to believe this call-out is in the best interest of Nick Diaz inside the cage. He already has a considerable wrestling disadvantage to overcome, as well as St-Pierre’s capacity to play it safe and win on points, which flies in the face of everything Diaz stands for and is likely to frustrate him.
If you motivate St-Pierre by lipping him off and calling him out, history suggests that it’s going to make life that much harder on you.
At the end of the day though, good idea or not, this fight was the one the world wanted to see at 170 lbs. and calling out GSP was the only way it was going to happen. It pits one of the most exciting fighters in the sport against a champion who has been criticized for being overly safe, and that matchup creates a dynamic that people will want to watch.
Add Josh Koscheck’s name to the long list of people who isn’t giving Nick Diaz much of a shot against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.