Tag: UFC 145

Wednesday Morning MMA Link Club: Schaub vs. Rothwell Booked for Montreal, Japan’s Worst NYE Fights, Mayhem’s Uncertain Future + More

(And now, two useless MMA commentators miss a fantastic standing heel-hook finish while trying to figure out how to pronounce “Vovchanchyn.” Props: EliteMMA)

Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere…

– UFC 145: Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell Booked for March 24 in Montreal (MMA Mania)

– Frank Mir Says Alistair Overeem’s Cardio Will “Suck” Against Brock Lesnar (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

– Top 10 Worst New Year’s Eve MMA Fights in Japan (The Fight Nerd)

– Nate Diaz Denies October Run-In With Donald Cerrone (5th Round)

– The $8.18 UFC 141 Parlay That Will Literally Make You a Millionaire (MiddleEasy)

– As He Reflects on Loss to Michael Bisping, ‘Mayhem’ Miller Focuses on Uncertain Future (MMA Fighting)

– NYE Storylines: Who Retires First After a Loss, Fedor or Lesnar? (Fight Opinion)

– Moving Past ‘Worst Time Ever,’ Karo Parisyan Rediscovering Fire To Compete (FightLine)

– Gabriel Gonzaga: ‘The UFC Is My Home’ (Five Ounces of Pain)

– Countdown to UFC 141 Attracts Just 15,000 Viewers on FUEL (MMA Payout)

– Inside MMA: The 2011 Bazzie Awards (MMA Convert)

– Jon Fitch Says He Should Fight the Winner of Condit-Diaz if Victorious Against Johny Hendricks (Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)


(And now, two useless MMA commentators miss a fantastic standing heel-hook finish while trying to figure out how to pronounce “Vovchanchyn.” Props: EliteMMA)

Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere…

– UFC 145: Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell Booked for March 24 in Montreal (MMA Mania)

– Frank Mir Says Alistair Overeem’s Cardio Will “Suck” Against Brock Lesnar (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

– Top 10 Worst New Year’s Eve MMA Fights in Japan (The Fight Nerd)

– Nate Diaz Denies October Run-In With Donald Cerrone (5th Round)

– The $8.18 UFC 141 Parlay That Will Literally Make You a Millionaire (MiddleEasy)

– As He Reflects on Loss to Michael Bisping, ‘Mayhem’ Miller Focuses on Uncertain Future (MMA Fighting)

– NYE Storylines: Who Retires First After a Loss, Fedor or Lesnar? (Fight Opinion)

– Moving Past ‘Worst Time Ever,’ Karo Parisyan Rediscovering Fire To Compete (FightLine)

– Gabriel Gonzaga: ‘The UFC Is My Home’ (Five Ounces of Pain)

– Countdown to UFC 141 Attracts Just 15,000 Viewers on FUEL (MMA Payout)

– Inside MMA: The 2011 Bazzie Awards (MMA Convert)

– Jon Fitch Says He Should Fight the Winner of Condit-Diaz if Victorious Against Johny Hendricks (Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)

Chad Griggs vs. Travis Browne Booked for UFC 145 in Montreal


(Travis Browne makes Stefan Struve do his fainting cat impression at UFC 130. / Photo via MMAFighting)

A little update to our “Hell yeah, Chad Griggs is coming to the UFC” story from last week: The UFC has announced that Griggs’s Octagon debut will come against Travis “Hapa” Browne, the towering up-and-comer whose 3-0-1 UFC record includes first-round knockouts of Stefan Struve and James McSweeney, and a recent decision win over Rob Broughton. (He also had that ugly draw against Cheick Kongo, but the less said about that fight the better.) Griggs and Browne will meet at UFC 145, March 24th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

In other words, Griggs won’t be developed slowly against hand-picked opponents — it’ll either be sink or swim against one of the most talented heavyweights coming up the ranks. Then again, Griggs made his name in Strikeforce by beating up guys who were supposed to be better than him, so really, who knows. As of now, the only other fight slated for UFC 145 is a welterweight feature between Rory MacDonald and Che Mills.


(Travis Browne makes Stefan Struve do his fainting cat impression at UFC 130. / Photo via MMAFighting)

A little update to our “Hell yeah, Chad Griggs is coming to the UFC” story from last week: The UFC has announced that Griggs’s Octagon debut will come against Travis “Hapa” Browne, the towering up-and-comer whose 3-0-1 UFC record includes first-round knockouts of Stefan Struve and James McSweeney, and a recent decision win over Rob Broughton. (He also had that ugly draw against Cheick Kongo, but the less said about that fight the better.) Griggs and Browne will meet at UFC 145, March 24th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

In other words, Griggs won’t be developed slowly against hand-picked opponents — it’ll either be sink or swim against one of the most talented heavyweights coming up the ranks. Then again, Griggs made his name in Strikeforce by beating up guys who were supposed to be better than him, so really, who knows. As of now, the only other fight slated for UFC 145 is a welterweight feature between Rory MacDonald and Che Mills.

UFC 145 Set for Montreal, Rory MacDonald Slated to Face Che Mills

The UFC has announced their return to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in March 2012.At UFC 145, young welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) returns to the Octagon for the first time since suffering an injury that forced him out of a schedul…

The UFC has announced their return to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in March 2012.

At UFC 145, young welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) returns to the Octagon for the first time since suffering an injury that forced him out of a scheduled UFC 140 bout against Brian Ebersole.

MacDonald is slated to face Che Mills (14-4, 1 NC MMA, 1-0 UFC) who made an impressive Octagon debut at UFC 138 by defeating Chris Cope courtesy of first-round technical knockout.

At 22 years of age, MacDonald truly is one of the brightest prospects on the UFC roster.

He’s collected three wins since making his organizational debut in January 2010 and his most recent victories against Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle were nothing short of impressive.

Diaz was on the receiving end of an one-sided beating for 15 minutes at UFC 129, while Pyle was dispatched in the opening round of action by technical knockout.

Mills is riding a five-fight win streak that includes three victories by knockout. While he may certainly have a bright future in the organization, it’s hard to see him defeating the future of the welterweight division in MacDonald.

It remains to be seen if MacDonald and Mills will fight on the pay-per-view main card.

For additional information on UFC 145, follow Joshua Carey on Twitter.  

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills Penciled in for UFC 145 in March in Montreal


(If you squint, you can see Simpsons characters in their abs.)

Rory MacDonald will face a fellow up-and-coming welterweight in his adopted hometown of Montreal on March 24 when he takes on British standout Che “Beautiful” Mills at Bell Centre at UFC 145.

Sportsnet’s “Showdown” Joe Ferraro was the first to report the potential bout via Twitter and we have since confirmed the news with a source close to one of the fighters.


(If you squint, you can see Simpsons characters in their abs.)

Rory MacDonald will face a fellow up-and-coming welterweight in his adopted hometown of Montreal on March 24 when he takes on British standout Che “Beautiful” Mills at Bell Centre at UFC 145.

Sportsnet’s “Showdown” Joe Ferraro was the first to report the potential bout via Twitter and we have since confirmed the news with a source close to one of the fighters.

A native of Quesnel, BC, MacDonald has been impressive in four UFC starts, compiling a 3-1 record with wins over Mike Guymon, Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle. “Ares” was just seven seconds away from maintaining his status as an undefeated fighter at UFC 115, but was caught by Carlos Condit and finished by “The Natural Born Killer” at 4:53 of the third round and lost by TKO. Since then the 22-year-old, who has been fighting since he turned 16, made a permanent move to Montreal to train with some of the country’s best fighters including UFC champion Georges St-Pierre at Tristar Gym. An injury forced him out of a planned UFC 140 pairing with Brian Ebersole this weekend, and he was replaced by fellow Canuck Claude Patrick on the card.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/lordblaketha)

Although he isn’t as well known as MacDonald, Mills is no slouch himself, having decimated Chris Cope in his Octagon debut last month in just 40 seconds at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. The 29-year-old former Cage Rage 170-pound champ and Gloucester native also holds a pair of KO victories over DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/mrmills13)

No other bouts have been announced for the card, and the UFC has yet to confirm this pairing.