Anderson Silva has no intentions on leaving the middleweight division.The constant demand for the Brazilian to change weight classes has been ongoing for a few years. But despite having previous success at 205 pounds, Silva doesn’t plan on going anywhe…
Anderson Silva has no intentions on leaving the middleweight division.
The constant demand for the Brazilian to change weight classes has been ongoing for a few years. But despite having previous success at 205 pounds, Silva doesn’t plan on going anywhere and vacating the UFC middleweight title.
Silva said some of his teammates compete in the heavier weight classes. As a result, he won’t move up.
“‘We have a couple of athletes on the above division, which are Rafael Feijao (Strikeforce), who’s a big name in the division and Fabio Maldonado, who just fought and lost by points. We have many guys in this division,'” Silva told TATAME.com.
Silva has not been the only fighter whom fans have dreamed of seeing switching weight classes, in hopes of watching potential fights with some of the sport’s top stars. Other champions like Georges St-Pierre and Jose Aldo have also faced the same amount of criticism.
It’s often the case when one fighter tends to dominate his division that fans believe a possible move to a heavier weight class could benefit his career. It was no more evident than in his bout against Forrest Griffin in 2009, when Silva displayed such skill and ability to dispatch his larger opponent in less than three minutes.
Of course, if Silva were to move up, he’d likely face current champion Jon Jones, but “The Spider” believes there are plenty of contenders that could challenge the 24-year-old.
“‘I’m gonna leave it to Maldonado, Feijao or even Rogerio (Nogueira) too. They are on his weight division, so they’ll deal with him,'” he said to TATAME.com.
Meanwhile, Silva is currently preparing for a title defense against Chael Sonnen scheduled for UFC 148.
Urijah Faber’s new opponent at UFC 148 is a tough one. In some ways, Renan Barao may be a tougher opponent for Faber than even Dominick Cruz. The Brazilian has put together an incredible winning streak and has a devastating all-around game that could r…
Urijah Faber‘s new opponent at UFC 148 is a tough one. In some ways, Renan Barao may be a tougher opponent for Faber than even Dominick Cruz. The Brazilian has put together an incredible winning streak and has a devastating all-around game that could really give Faber problems when they meet for the interim bantamweight title on July 7 in Las Vegas.
Faber never thought he would be facing Barao, though. According to an interview with Pro MMA Radio, Faber was under the impression that Ivan Menjivar, and not Barao, would be the replacement for Cruz. Faber noted that Dana White told him that Michael McDonald was injured and that Barao didn’t want to leave Brazil, leaving him with the idea that he’d be facing Menjivar.
For like two days I thought I might be fighting Menjivar. Then the day of the announcement, I was like ‘Are you sure it’s not Barao?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ But I had a feeling that it was. Then Dana apologized right before he announced it, for basically lying, which is kinda weird, I thought, because Barao was there. I don’t care who I fight, I told Dana I wouldn’t say anything anyway, if he was thinking I might spoil the surprise, or what the deal was.
This is par for the course. The UFC works hard to make fight announcements themselves, using a combination of their website and Twitter account.
A year ago, we saw most fights broken by a handful of major MMA websites. But the UFC decided to change the game by making their own fight announcements, often before they even have written bout agreements in hand from the fighters in question. Releasing news of fight bookings shortly after they receive verbal agreements from the fighters gives them a speed edge that can’t be replicated by journalists outside of the company.
I understand White’s need for secrecy in this situation. One of the drawing points for last Friday’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter was the announcement of Faber’s new opponent, so they took every precaution to keep that from happening.
In the end, we’re still getting the best fight possible. Barao is a legitimate stern test for Faber, and although I think “The California Kid” will ultimately come out on top, he’s facing a guy who he will not, and should not, take lightly.
The domino effect in the UFC’s bantamweight division caused by Dominick Cruz’s leg injury has ended with Mike Easton stepping in to face Ivan Menjivar this July at UFC 148.The Dominator’s trip to the DL forced Urijah Faber to search for a new opponent,…
The domino effect in the UFC’s bantamweight division caused by Dominick Cruz’s leg injury has ended with Mike Easton stepping in to face Ivan Menjivar this July at UFC 148.
The Dominator’s trip to the DL forced Urijah Faber to search for a new opponent, which he found in rising Brazilian star Renan Barao. Barao had been tapped to take on Jeff Hougland at UFC 148, but Hougland was called upon to fight on the UFC on Fuel TV card last week.
For a time, Hougland’s removal paired Menjivar and Barao against one another, but the latter was propositioned to challenge the California Kid in the UFC 148 co-main event.
Now, UFC.com reports that Menjivar will remain on the UFC 148 card and will take on Mike Easton.
“Barao was already scheduled to fight at UFC 148 against Ivan Menjivar. With Barao stepping in for the injured Dominick Cruz, Mike Easton will become Menjivar’s new opponent on July 7th.”
Menjivar is coming off three straight wins, including stoppages over Charlie Valencia and John Albert.
Easton is the winner of seven consecutive matches, including the first two contests of his UFC career. He holds wins over John Dodson and Chase Beebe, though Menjivar embodies the most accomplished opponent that the 28-year-old has faced to date.
A win would do wonders for either fighter as both are looking to propel themselves up the 135-pound ladder.
The fight will likely join UFC 148 as part of the event’s undercard rather than its pay-per-view portion.
Chael Sonnen may be the “People’s Champ” and the “West Linn Gangster,” but at the beginning of each day, he puts on a pair of pants just like everyone else.For the past two years, fans have questioned the legitimacy of Sonnen’s wise-cracking persona.Do…
Chael Sonnen may be the “People’s Champ” and the “West Linn Gangster,” but at the beginning of each day, he puts on a pair of pants just like everyone else.
For the past two years, fans have questioned the legitimacy of Sonnen’s wise-cracking persona.
Does he truly believe everything that comes out of his own mouth, or is he merely a talented promo artist who missed his boat in the world of professional wrestling?
In a must-see interview, Sonnen joined UFC commentator Joe Rogan on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast to talk about random, interesting topics and his upcoming championship rematch with Anderson Silva.
He also gave fans a rare look into what went through his mind in the first fight back in August 2010, when he was submitted by Silva in the waning minutes of the final round.
“It was devastating. I had no idea what was happening in that fight, none. When the fight was over, I was devastated. I came to, and I said to the ref, you know the typical thing like a doofus, ‘What happened?’ The referee, Josh Rosenthal, is a fantastic referee, simply says, ‘You tapped out.’ And he looks at me for a response like I was going to argue, and I simply say, ‘I believe you.'”
It was hard for anyone to believe. After four-and-a-half rounds of dominating perhaps the greatest fighter of all time, Sonnen found himself trapped in the same submission hold that has plagued him throughout his career, the triangle choke.
The sheer devastation of an entire dream being crushed with only a minute and fifty seconds left on the clock is incomprehensible to most. All of the countless hours spent training and dedicating one’s self to achieving a lifelong goal. Some would even consider it a tragedy.
“I knew [I tapped out] because ESPN zoomed in on it and showed it. But that’s all I said was, ‘I believe you.’ I remember falling asleep. It’s a very weird experience you know, when you’re actually going to sleep, but you’re trying to stay within reality, and I remember having a dream thinking, ‘Well if I tap, I can get out of this, nah, let’s not tap.’
“The fight was over. I had already tapped. I hit his foot, and I really didn’t fully know what happened. When it was over and I came to, I didn’t fully know what happened. I was trying to figure out what just happened.”
Losing makes humans of us all. No one is perfect. As fans, it’s easy to forget the humanity of those who find the courage to step into the cage.
Sonnen is undoubtedly a confident and talented individual, but no amount of skill frees a person from the binds of human emotion.
For two years, fans have been mesmerized by the “Uncle Chael” routine, which generally consists of classic punch lines and elongated pro wrestling-style promos.
For one night, things changed for Sonnen. The joke was on him. After months of trash talk, he was forced to watch UFC President Dana White wrap the world title back around the waste of his most bitter rival.
“Aside from being choked, don’t forget, I had fatigue issues, I got blood and Vaseline in my eyes, I have exhaustion, I have anxiety. I’m a normal human being. I feel every emotion. So many people say to me, ‘Oh you’re never scared.’ Come on, I’m a human, I feel it all. So, I lose the fight, we got to the back and they bring me the Fight of the Night check. They pay you immediately if you get a bonus. Boom, here’s your check.
“I remember thinking, ‘You gave me this out of sympathy because that was such a boring fight, nothing happened, you gave it out of sympathy, I’ll take it.’ I’m fighting back the tears, I’m just devastated, I’m absolutely devastated by this defeat.”
Second chances in life don’t come around often, but Sonnen has managed to secure one in a highly anticipated rematch with Silva set for July 7.
While he put forth an impressive performance in the first bout, Sonnen hopes to be more prepared mentally this time around. Competing for a world title can be taxing on any individual, even if they are the self-proclaimed “best in the world.”
“The point I’m trying to make is, that is how out of touch I was with what was happening in the ring. At one point, my corner told me it was round five when it was round four or it was round four when it was round three, whatever it was, the corner had the rounds off. I just didn’t fully know what was going on.
“In this next fight, I’d like, as I visualize and plan for it, that’s one of the things, I’d like to be a little more aware and in touch with what’s happening. But it’s hard, it’s hard in the Octagon man. A lot of stuff goes out the window, you get hit, you get kicked, it’s tough. It’s tough to stay focused.”
After having his rubber match against UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz cancelled, Urijah Faber now has a new opponent for what has become an interim title fight in UFC 148’s co-main event. During Friday’s episode of The Ultimate F…
After having his rubber match against UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz cancelled, Urijah Faber now has a new opponent for what has become an interim title fight in UFC 148‘s co-main event.
During Friday’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter, rising Brazilian Renan Barao was announced as Faber’s new adversary. Barao is currently riding a 28-fight winning streak, dating back to a split decision loss in his MMA debut, and recently defeated former top 135-pound contender Scott Jorgensen.
On May 7th, it was discovered UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz had torn his ACL and was removed from a highly anticipated rubber match with Faber. Cruz has already been out of action for more than seven months, so his lengthened absence has given the UFC reason to introduce an interim title in the bantamweight division.
Despite the injury, Cruz will continue to coach for the rest of the current season of The Ultimate Fighter. Though the winner of the bout between Faber and will be handed a UFC title, Cruz, who is expected to miss nine months to recover from the knee injury, doesn’t believe that belt will put the winner on the same level as him.
“First of all, it’s not like Faber is a lock to beat whoever they put him against,” Cruz told Yahoo.com. “If he gets it, and that’s a big if, he won’t be carrying around the championship belt. I am the champion and I have the belt. He’ll have a No. 1 contender’s belt.”
While it may not be exactly what he was hoping for, this new matchup against Barao could give Faber, one of the best featherweights in MMA history, the chance to finally wear UFC gold around his waist. At the same time, it is an opportunity for the 25-year-old Barao to meet lofty expectations earlier than expected.
“I’m very surprised to be the No.1 contender to now fight Urijah Faber, but I’m so very excited to fight for the title and replace Dominick Cruz,” Barao said of his first chance to fight for a UFC title. “I’m very confident. I have been training a long time for this chance and I will be ready to go out there and put on a good show.”
Barao quote provided to B/R MMA via the UFC.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.
Chael Sonnen has been making his rounds throughout the media lately.In his most recent appearance, Sonnen was featured on TMZ Live and stopped by to promote his new book, The Voice of Reason.The middleweight contender discussed a variety of topics incl…
Chael Sonnen has been making his rounds throughout the media lately.
In his most recent appearance, Sonnen was featured on TMZ Live and stopped by to promote his new book, The Voice of Reason.
The middleweight contender discussed a variety of topics including his political views, disliking vegans and, of course, his upcoming bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 148.
“We fought for five rounds and he gets a submission in the fifth (round), now I didn’t understand the rules. I thought if you tapped, you lost that round,” Sonnen said as he recalled his first bout with the Brazilian at UFC 117 in 2010.
Sonnen’s media appearances have certainly made him a much more recognizable fighter and one of the sport’s most talked-about athletes in recent memory.
While he might be perceived as arrogant and outspoken, Sonnen’s charm and charismatic personality allows journalists to feel more comfortable around him and be more open with their questions.
As Sonnen continues to promote his new book, it will not only further his image, but it will also further the UFC’s image as an overall brand. Once considered as “human cock-fighting,” UFC fighters are becoming more accepted by mainstream media and are looked upon more as professional athletes than fighters.
UFC 148 is on July 7, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
