Tag: UFC 144

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Set for UFC 144 In Japan

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsA lightweight meeting pitting Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon has been agreed to for UFC 144 in Japan, MMA Fighting has learned.

The UFC confirmed the matchup to MMA Fighting’s Ben Fowlkes on Tuesday.

The m…

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A lightweight meeting pitting Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon has been agreed to for UFC 144 in Japan, MMA Fighting has learned.

The UFC confirmed the matchup to MMA Fighting’s Ben Fowlkes on Tuesday.

The matchup had previously been rumored, with a possible date in Las Vegas. Instead, it will go international.

The fight should prove to be a high-octane battle between two of the division’s most offensive-minded fighters.

Lauzon is riding a two-fight win streak, most recently upsetting the surging Melvin Guillard with a first-round submission win at UFC 136. That improved his record to 21-6.

Pettis recently rebounded from a loss that snapped a four-fight win streak by defeating Jeremy Stephens by decision, also at UFC 136. With the win, he’s now 12-2.

The duo essentially booked the match on their own. Shortly after UFC 136, Pettis said he would welcome a match with Lauzon, and Lauzon accepted, setting the future date.

UFC 144 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on February 26, 2012. It will mark the promotion’s first time in the Land of the Rising Sun under the Zuffa banner. The main event will also be a lightweight match, with champion Frank Edgar defending the belt against newly named No. 1 contender Ben Henderson.

 

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Yushin Okami to Face Tim Boetsch at UFC 144 in Japan

Filed under: UFC, NewsYushin Okami will take on Tim Boetsch in a middleweight bout at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012 in Japan, UFC president Dana White said Tuesday on UFC.com.

Okami (26-6), who is coming off a failed attempt in August to dethrone Anderson …

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Yushin Okami will take on Tim Boetsch in a middleweight bout at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012 in Japan, UFC president Dana White said Tuesday on UFC.com.

Okami (26-6), who is coming off a failed attempt in August to dethrone Anderson Silva, will be fighting in Japan for the first time since June 2006. Two months after the GCM fight in Tokyo, Okami joined the UFC and went on to compile a 10-3 record.

Boetsch (14-4) out of AMC Pankration has reinvented himself as a middleweight this year, scoring wins over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring.

The last time the UFC presented an event in Japan was back at UFC 29 in December 2000.

In championship action at UFC 144, Frankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson. Yoshihiro Akiyama will also appear on the card, making his welterweight debut against Jake Shields.

 

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MMA Monday Headlines with The SI Swimsuit Calendar Girls

Just in time to compete with Arianny Celeste and Brittney Palmer calendar sales, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar 2012 was released today. And judging by the cover [above] the people over at SI still know.

Just in time to compete with Arianny Celeste and Brittney Palmer calendar sales, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar 2012 was released today. And judging by the cover [above] the people over at SI still know how to make a calendar.

Yoshihiro Akiyama will make his Welterweight debut against Jake Shields at UFC 144 in Japan.

KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista booked for December 17th Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masivdal card.

Mackens Semerzier files appeal with CSAC to contest headbutt loss to Robert Peralta at UFC on Fox 1.

UFC 142 adds Stanislav Nedkov vs. Fabio Maldonado and Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Erick Silva to January 14th card in Rio de Janeiro.

Newly belted UFC Heavyweight Champ, Junior dos Santos fought with a torn meniscus in his knee at UFC on Fox 1.

Arianny Celeste’s 2012 calendar goes on sale tomorrow on her website here, so just look at the pictures below of the SI swimsuit models and try to save your calendar money for Miss Celeste.

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‘Sexyama’ to Make Welterweight Debut in February Against Shields at UFC 144 in Japan


(Will one of these two men find themselves unemployed with a loss against the other?)

The UFC has added a second bout to its return to Japan on February 26 for UFC 144.

According to UFC president Dana White, joining a main event lightweight championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson on the card will be a welterweight showdown between former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields and Japanese fan favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama, who will be make his 170-lb debut that night.


(Will one of these two men find themselves unemployed with a loss against the other?)

The UFC has added a second bout to its return to Japan on February 26 for UFC 144.

According to UFC president Dana White, joining a main event lightweight championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson on the card will be a welterweight showdown between former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields and Japanese fan favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama, who will be make his 170-lb debut that night.

0-2 in his last two outings with back-to-back losses to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 and Jake Ellenberger at UFN 25, Shields will be looking to right the ship by handing “Sexyama” his fourth straight loss in the Octagon and possibly his walking papers in the process.

Akiyama is an unimpressive 1-3 in his four UFC appearances, with a hotly contested split decision win over Alan Belcher in his debut at UFC 100, followed by a trio of losses to Chris Leben, Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort at UFCs 116, 120 and 133, respectively.

UFC 144 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and will also feature Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against a yet-to-be-named opponent.

UFC 144: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields Headed to Japan

Fan favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama will officially be making the drop to the welterweight division come this February.After a long and storied career as a middleweight, where Akiyama has scored memorable victories over the likes of Melvin Manhoef, Denis Ka…

Fan favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama will officially be making the drop to the welterweight division come this February.

After a long and storied career as a middleweight, where Akiyama has scored memorable victories over the likes of Melvin Manhoef, Denis Kang and Alan Belcher, the Judoka finds himself in need of a win, and what better way to motivate yourself than have a clean slate as a welterweight.

Since entering the Octagon in July of 2009, Akiyama has been a part of three “Fight of the Night” performances in his four outings under the Zuffa banner, though he is currently on an 0-3 skid as of late.

After back-and-forth battles against Chris Leben and Michael Bisping, Akiyama fell victim to the brutal punching power of former champion Vitor Belfort, who recorded the knockout victory in less than two minutes in their battle this August.

Now trying to make amends at 170 pounds, the grappling ace will be taking on former Strikeforce champ Jake Shields in a “do or die” battle for both men, as the loser is likely to be served with his walking papers from the UFC with a poor performance.

Shields has also been in dire straits as of late. After making good on his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann, Shields challenged Georges St-Pierre for the title, though the Cesar Gracie black belt dropped a close decision victory to the Canadian, who snapped his previous 15-fight win streak.

After the the contentious battle with St-Pierre, Shields fell victim to “The Juggernaut” Jake Ellenberger, who throttled the submission ace in less than one minute thanks to an onslaught of knees and punches which recorded the knockout victory in 53 seconds.

Looking to remain relevant fixtures in the UFC, both Shields and Akiyama will likely be fighting for their positions within the organization as they do battle at UFC 144, which takes place at the Super Saitama Arena in Japan—where the former HERO’s light heavyweight Grand Prix champion first built his star under the K-1 banner.

Stay tuned to the Bleacher Report for further development. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Yoshihiro Akiyama Drops to Welterweight, Faces Jake Shields at UFC 144

Filed under: UFC, NewsYoshihiro Akiyama will make the move down to welterweight to tangle with former divisional No. 1 contender Jake Shields at UFC 144 in Japan.

The UFC confirmed the bout on Monday afternoon.

Akiyama had lost three straight as a mi…

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Yoshihiro Akiyama will make the move down to welterweight to tangle with former divisional No. 1 contender Jake Shields at UFC 144 in Japan.

The UFC confirmed the bout on Monday afternoon.

Akiyama had lost three straight as a middleweight, dropping bouts to Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, and it had been feared that he may be cut from the promotion. Instead, he finds new life as a 170-pounder.

The 36-year-old, who is 13-4 with 2 no contests, will no doubt help sell tickets in his native Japan.

Meanwhile, Shields will be looking to bounce back from his 53-second knockout loss at the hands of Jake Ellenberger in September. The defeat came just two weeks after the passing of his father, Jack.

Shields is 26-6-1 overall.

UFC 144 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and features a main event of UFC lightweight champ Frank Edgar against challenger Ben Henderson.

 

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