Tag: UFC 155

Phil Davis Doesn’t Want to Think about Forrest Griffin Running Away

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin has taken a blow to his reputation for leaving the Octagon when he loses a fight (or thinks he’s lost a decision).That’s something Phil Davis doesn’t want to think about.Regardless of Griffin’s ecce…

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin has taken a blow to his reputation for leaving the Octagon when he loses a fight (or thinks he’s lost a decision).

That’s something Phil Davis doesn’t want to think about.

Regardless of Griffin’s eccentric behavior, Davis still considers his UFC 155 opponent one of his favorite fighters, as he explained to UFC.com during a short pre-fight interview:

I’m talking to my buddies and I’m like, “man, I gotta fight Forrest Griffin.” They [said], “dude, are you gonna make him run out of the cage?” Man, don’t do that to me. Don’t make me think about that. He’s one of my favorite fighters.

I’m ready for everything that goes along with fighting Forrest Griffin. I’m more or less ready to write my own story, this is one of those fights. Everything he has, he will try to hit you with. [Griffin’s] almost better when he’s down a round-and-a-half. That’s when he’s most dangerous.

Davis also noted Griffin’s previous statements about his trademark pink shorts, citing that his choice of attire was indeed partly meant to gain a psychological edge against his opponents.

“It’s true, nobody wants to lose to a guy in pink shorts,” Davis admitted. “It’s a little emasculating, it’s part of the deal, you know, it’s part of the handshake.”

Pink shorts or not, Davis will test his advanced wrestling and evolving striking game against Griffin in just a little over a month at UFC 155 in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena.

Davis recently snapped a two-fight winless streak with a dominant submission victory over Brazilian prospect Wagner Prado at UFC 153 last October. Griffin enters the match at 3-1 in his last four fights, winning a rubber match against Tito Ortiz at UFC 148.

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UFC: 5 Reasons to Be Excited for a Very Active December

The month of December is poised to be a very busy time for the UFC.Between now and December 31st, there are a total of four UFC events on tap.These shows feature a wide variety of fights including a heavyweight and lightweight title fight, a legend ret…

The month of December is poised to be a very busy time for the UFC.

Between now and December 31st, there are a total of four UFC events on tap.

These shows feature a wide variety of fights including a heavyweight and lightweight title fight, a legend returning and top middleweight contenders fighting for a shot at Anderson Silva.

There are many reasons to be excited for a very active month of UFC fights. The UFC has delivered in spades, and now it’s time for fans to reap the benefits of some pulse-pounding and exciting fights.

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Cain Velasquez: "There’s Nobody Better than Me, Especially Junior Dos Santos"

Cain Velasquez still believes he is the rightful king of the heavyweight division.At UFC 155, Velasquez will have an opportunity to recapture the UFC heavyweight title and avenge the only loss in his professional career, but it won’t be easy.Brazilian …

Cain Velasquez still believes he is the rightful king of the heavyweight division.

At UFC 155, Velasquez will have an opportunity to recapture the UFC heavyweight title and avenge the only loss in his professional career, but it won’t be easy.

Brazilian knockout artist and UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos stands in his way.

Velasquez may have to lean heavily on selective memory to draw confidence for this heavyweight showdown; it only took Dos Santos 64 seconds to finish him in their first bout back in November 2011.

“I’m going to win this fight because I feel like I’m the better guy. I’m hungry, and I want that belt back,” Velasquez said in his pre-fight interview for UFC 155.

After losing the UFC title, Velasquez returned with a vengeance at UFC 146, where he made Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva look more like Little Foot from The Land Before Time.

It was a performance that really put the entire heavyweight division on notice. Velasquez is back, and he is coming for the UFC title.

For some, the rematch between the world’s best heavyweights is happening too soon. It is unlikely there will be any rematches down the road if Velasquez loses to Dos Santos a second time.

Unfortunately, the first bout ended too quickly to get an actual grasp on how Velasquez and Dos Santos match up. The key to the fight will obviously be Velasquez’s takedowns. If Dos Santos can keep the bout standing, he will probably earn the twelfth knockout of his professional career.

For Velasquez, it’s all about sticking to what made him UFC champ in the first place. He continues in his pre-fight interview:

I got myself into this sport to be the best. I’m not there right now. There’s one guy I have to go through to be that…The only reason why I’m here right now is to be the best, be the champ. That’s the only thing that I want is the belt and to keep it and keep defending it. I’m going to go in there and take what’s mine.

Going out there, taking him down and finishing it on top would be the ultimate thing for me. I’m going to prove I’m the best when I take my belt back. There’s nobody better than me, especially Junior Dos Santos.

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UFC: Chris Weidman Has Successful Shoulder Surgery, Will Return in 2013

After being forced out of a planned UFC 155 bout opposite Tim Boetsch later next month due to an injured shoulder, rising middleweight contender Chris Weidman announced via Twitter earlier Thursday evening that he had a successful surgery on the ailmen…

After being forced out of a planned UFC 155 bout opposite Tim Boetsch later next month due to an injured shoulder, rising middleweight contender Chris Weidman announced via Twitter earlier Thursday evening that he had a successful surgery on the ailment and plans on returning to the Octagon some time in 2013.

Right after getting out of surgery, Weidman tweeted:

Surgery went perfect.On my way back to Long Island now.Had a torn labrum and rotator cuff, AC joint seperation and slight tear in ligament

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) November 29, 2012

Soon after tweeting the details of his injury, the surging middleweight added in his expected time table for a full recovery, saying:

This is awesome news for MMA fans—myself included—as I can’t wait to see Weidman get back inside the Octagon and hopes he has a speedy recovery.  If this rising 185er can continue his hot streak when he returns in 2013, a title shot just might be in his immediate future.

If Weidman should ever face UFC champ Anderson Silva, he better make sure he at least looks a bit more cognisant than he does in this hilarious video following his surgery.

He sort of reminds me of that “David After Dentist” video from a few years back.

 

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UFC 155: Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 155 received a tweak in mid-November when Jim Miller was named as the replacement for an injured Gray Maynard in his fight against Joe Lauzon at the December 29 event.In my eyes, this has now become a closer, more intriguing matchup.Both men are ar…

UFC 155 received a tweak in mid-November when Jim Miller was named as the replacement for an injured Gray Maynard in his fight against Joe Lauzon at the December 29 event.

In my eyes, this has now become a closer, more intriguing matchup.

Both men are arguably top-10 lightweights in the UFC, who are likely a couple of wins away from title contention. A win will likely propel them to a top-five opponent or better.

Here is a head-to-toe breakdown of their impending matchup.

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UFC Star Forrest Griffin Doesn’t Like Phil Davis’ Trademark Pink Shorts

Forrest Griffin doesn’t want to lose to a man who wears pink shorts into the Octagon.Sure, Phil Davis has a lot of other attributes that the former UFC lightweight champion should arguably be more worried about, but the original The Ultimate Fighter&nb…

Forrest Griffin doesn’t want to lose to a man who wears pink shorts into the Octagon.

Sure, Phil Davis has a lot of other attributes that the former UFC lightweight champion should arguably be more worried about, but the original The Ultimate Fighter winner has jokingly stated that’s why a loss to “Mr. Wonderful” would be rather embarrassing.

During a pre-fight interview with the UFC, Griffin poked fun at Davis and his unique attire choice:

Y’know, the thing about Phil Davis is [that] I really don’t want to get beat up by a guy in pink tights…”Mr. Wonderful” is a very unique nickname. I don’t know the origin story behind it. Maybe there’s a comic book that explains why he’s really powerful. I don’t know, I don’t want to judge him.

Maybe there’s nuclear materials that turned his shorts pink. I don’t know that. He’s probably got superpowers.

However, the story behind Davis’ nickname is actually far simpler. In a 2011 interview with the UFC, Davis revealed that his moniker actually came from his pet cat.

According to Davis, his cat was stolen from him in 2007 during his college wrestling days at Penn State. Sadly, “Mr. Wonderful” never reappeared and has been missing ever since.

Griffin also took a moment to analyze Davis’ elite ground game, citing the anaconda choke as one of the young star’s greatest weapons. Aside from a “great shot” and “great wrestling,” Griffin noted that Davis has a knack for grinding an opponent into the ground until his form slips, presenting Davis the opportunity to lock in the submission.

Griffin and Davis will face off on the UFC’s last 2012 card this year at UFC 155, which is headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. Davis comes into the match off an impressive submission win (by anaconda choke) over Brazilian prospect Wagner Prado.

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