Tag: UFC 156

Jose Aldo Considering Move to Lightweight If He Beats Frankie Edgar

Jose Aldo suffers one of the harshest weight cuts in the roster of featherweight fighters.In fact, that’s likely a key reason the UFC pulled an infamous video (from a UFC Brazil preview) that chronicled the champion’s brutal preparation…

Jose Aldo suffers one of the harshest weight cuts in the roster of featherweight fighters.

In fact, that’s likely a key reason the UFC pulled an infamous video (from a UFC Brazil preview) that chronicled the champion’s brutal preparation for the scales. It could’ve been a bit too graphic for the company’s public image.

Footage showed a desperate Aldo practically destroying his body to shed extra weight on the day of the UFC 129 weigh-ins, mentally breaking under the pressure in the process.

That’s why a move to lightweight could be an attractive prospect for the Brazilian, whose bad weight cut nearly resulted in him losing his UFC title to Canada’s Mark Hominick. As Aldo explained to Los Angeles-area reporters during a media session (via MMA Fighting), his next title defense at 145 pounds could be his last one.

“I’ve considered going to lightweight,” said Aldo. “As soon as my trainer decides that I can go up, then I will. This fight with Edgar will be a turning point. If I can win [against] him well, then I can prove that I can go [to lightweight].”

“He has a very strong reputation thanks to destroying several opponents,” Aldo continued. “That’s the motivation for me to face him and that will be probably my last biggest challenge [at featherweight].”

Ironically, many pundits and fans have stated that former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is really little more than a blown-up featherweight, as the New Jersey native typically gives up a lot of size and mass against other 155-pounders.

However, that didn’t stop “The Answer” from stamping a 9-3-1 record in the lightweight division, capping it off with victories over BJ Penn (twice) and Gray Maynard, along with close-decision losses against current champion Ben Henderson. Aldo and Edgar will face-off in Las Vegas at UFC 156 this February, the promotion’s first pay-per-view event in 2013.

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UFC 156: Demian Maia vs. Jon Fitch Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Jon Fitch and Demian Maia took home victories at UFC 153, and later agreed to meet in an important welterweight showdown at UFC 156.Maia defeated Rick Story in a quick submission victory, while Fitch derailed Erick Silva’s bid to become the next b…

Jon Fitch and Demian Maia took home victories at UFC 153, and later agreed to meet in an important welterweight showdown at UFC 156.

Maia defeated Rick Story in a quick submission victory, while Fitch derailed Erick Silva’s bid to become the next big thing in the division with a decision win.

A win for either man could put them in the mix at 170 pounds in 2013.

While Fitch picked up his first win since his quick KO loss to Johny Hendricks, Maia is 2-0 in the welterweight division with two impressive victories. Defeating a guy like Fitch would potentially move Maia in position for a title shot.

Here is how the fight between the two talented welterweights breaks down.

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“The California Kid” is Back, Faces Vaughan Lee in #1 Contender Bout at UFC 156 [BA DUM TSSH]


(“It looks like this artist…*puts on sunglasses*… finally got his SHOT at fame. AWWWW YEAAAAHHHH!!!) 

There is perhaps no fighter in MMA history who has looked more deadly in victory and more broken in defeat than former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. After dropping his umpteenth title bid (albeit one of those pesky interim ones) to Renan Barao at UFC 149, many MMA pundits were calling for “The California Kid’s” retirement, because in their eyes, being able to beat 98% of your division just isn’t good enough to warrant your existence.

Yet for some reason, it appears that Faber still wants to continue making boatloads of cash in this thing called MMA, and will return at UFC 156 to face off against Vaughan Lee.

Who in the blue Hell is Vaughan Lee, you ask? Good question.


(“It looks like this artist…*puts on sunglasses*… finally got his SHOT at fame. AWWWW YEAAAAHHHH!!!) 

There is perhaps no fighter in MMA history who has looked more deadly in victory and more broken in defeat than former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. After dropping his umpteenth title bid (albeit one of those pesky interim ones) to Renan Barao at UFC 149, many MMA pundits were calling for “The California Kid’s” retirement, because in their eyes, being able to beat 98% of your division just isn’t good enough to warrant your existence.

Yet for some reason, it appears that Faber still wants to continue making boatloads of cash in this thing called MMA, and will return at UFC 156 to face off against Vaughan Lee.

Who in the blue Hell is Vaughan Lee, you ask? Good question.

Currently 12-8-1, Lee has dropped two of his three octagon appearances, with the sole win coming over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto by way of first round armbar at UFC 144. Lee is currently on the heels of a first round neck crank submission loss to TUF 14 runner-up T.J. Dillashaw at UFC on FUEL 4. He’s cannon fodder is what we’re saying, and after Faber is through with him, he will place Lee’s head in a fish tank right next to the remains of Jens Pulver and quietly reflect on his triumphs whilst sipping whiskey all by his lonesome.

UFC 156 will also feature welterweight prospect Erick Silva making his return against UFC 0fer Jay Hieron and a bunch of other really exciting fights that I simply refuse to get excited for because we are living in “the pussy era” of MMA and half of these fighters will likely bow out in the coming weeks.

–J. Jones

Erick Silva vs. Jay Hieron Booked for ‘UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar’ Card in February


(The way Erick leaves the cage after a victory? Totally ripped off from Van Morrison. / Photo via Esther Lin @ MMAFighting)

After having his momentum slowed by a beast-mode version of Jon Fitch last month, Brazilian welterweight prospect Erick Silva will attempt to rebound against veteran Jay Hieron at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar, February 2nd in Las Vegas. The UFC confirmed the booking last week.

Hieron is an unexpected choice for Silva’s return opponent, as the Thoroughbred is currently in the “hanging on by a thread” stage of his UFC career. When Hieron lost a unanimous decision to Jake Ellenberger during his promotional return fight in October, his lifetime UFC record dropped to 0-3 — which means that if Hieron loses this next fight, he’ll become just the fourth fighter in UFC history to go 0-4 in the Octagon, after Tiki Ghosn, Seth Petruzelli, and John Alessio. And trust me, brother, that is not a club you want to join.


(The way Erick leaves the cage after a victory? Totally ripped off from Van Morrison. / Photo via Esther Lin @ MMAFighting)

After having his momentum slowed by a beast-mode version of Jon Fitch last month, Brazilian welterweight prospect Erick Silva will attempt to rebound against veteran Jay Hieron at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar, February 2nd in Las Vegas. The UFC confirmed the booking last week.

Hieron is an unexpected choice for Silva’s return opponent, as the Thoroughbred is currently in the “hanging on by a thread” stage of his UFC career. When Hieron lost a unanimous decision to Jake Ellenberger during his promotional return fight in October, his lifetime UFC record dropped to 0-3 — which means that if Hieron loses this next fight, he’ll become just the fourth fighter in UFC history to go 0-4 in the Octagon, after Tiki Ghosn, Seth Petruzelli, and John Alessio. And trust me, brother, that is not a club you want to join.

Meanwhile, Silva has earned previous UFC victories against Charlie Brenneman and Luis Ramos (both by first-round stoppage), and his disqualification against Carlo Prater in January was one of those Jones/Hamill-style “losses,” where Silva was clearly beating the dude’s ass before the controversial rule-infraction.

In addition to the headlining featherweight title fight, UFC 156 will also feature Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva, and Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia.

Erick Silva vs. Jay Hieron Confirmed for UFC 156 on February 2nd

An intriguing welterweight match with significant divisional relevance has been confirmed for UFC 156 by the promotion’s Brazilian wing.Erick Silva and Jay Hieron will clash this coming February on the still-growing Las Vegas card, which takes place at…

An intriguing welterweight match with significant divisional relevance has been confirmed for UFC 156 by the promotion’s Brazilian wing.

Erick Silva and Jay Hieron will clash this coming February on the still-growing Las Vegas card, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Both welterweights are coming off hard losses, but this fight should provide some critical support for the upcoming event.

UFC Brazil just made the call earlier today via its official Twitter account:

 

That makes the fifth official fight for UFC 156, which is currently headlined by a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar. Here’s how the card looks so far:

  • Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
  • Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
  • Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
  • Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia
  • Erick Silva vs. Jay Hieron

Erick Silva most recently turned heads with a gritty “Fight of the Night” performance in Rio de Janeiro, battling Jon Fitch to a decision at UFC 153. He put up a solid fight with tight submission attempts but eventually wilted under the pressure of Fitch’s consistent wrestling attack.

Hieron is coming off a loss against Jake Ellenberger at UFC on FX 5, but unlike previous UFC appearances, the former Bellator competitor is not getting bounced after one defeat. Hieron is currently on his third UFC stint with prior runs ending in one-and-done losses against Georges St-Pierre and now-retired Jonathan Goulet.

Both Silva and Hieron are still hot commodities in the welterweight division despite recent setbacks. Silva may even find himself entering the title hunt with a win—the young Team Nogueira fighter entered the UFC on a 10-fight winning streak and hadn’t legitimately lost a fight in the promotion before facing Fitch.

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Alistair Overeem Not Licensed Despite Fight with Silva Being Promoted for Feb. 2

MONTREAL – If you think that the recent announcement that Alistair Overeem would be fighting Antonio “Big Foot” Silva at UFC 156 means that Overeem has been given an all clear on the suspension he is currently serving, you would be wrong. A…

MONTREAL – If you think that the recent announcement that Alistair Overeem would be fighting Antonio “Big Foot” Silva at UFC 156 means that Overeem has been given an all clear on the suspension he is currently serving, you would be wrong. At least that’s the message that UFC president Dana White sent on Saturday night following the UFC 154 press conference.

White spoke to the media and made it clear that while the Nevada Athletic Commission gave the UFC the green light to begin promoting the Overeem and Silva bout, Overeem was still subject to a hearing in front of the commission in relation to his March 27 suspension.

“We got the permission from the commissioner to set up a fight with him or whatever,” White said. “But he still has to go in front of the commission and that still doesn’t mean that the outcome could be good, but I think that Alistair’s been doing the right thing as far as the commission’s concerned.”

The suspension that Overeem is serving was handed down after a urine sample he provided on March 27 came back with a 14-to-1 ratio of epitestosterone to testosterone, far above the 6-to-1 level allowed by the Nevada Commission.  That suspension will run its course on Dec. 27. At that date, Overeem will be eligible to stand in front of the commission and apply for a license to fight in Nevada.

White sounded confident that Overeem would be granted that license to face Silva on the Feb. 2 fight card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. “He’s doing all the things he needs to do to get back in their good graces,” White said.  “It’s looking positive because he’s been doing what he’s supposed to do.”

If Overeem is granted his license, his fight vs. Silva will land on the pay-per-view portion of the card that will be headlined by a title bout between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

**all quotes obtained first hand by BRMMA

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