Tag: UFC 156

Booking Alert: Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia Added to UFC 156 in February


(Demian Maia’s neck-crank of Rick Story — it just never gets old, does it? / GIF via Fightlinker)

With Jon Fitch coming off a redemptive Fight of the Night victory over Erick Silva at UFC 153 — his first win in over two years — the Indiana-bred wrestler is suddenly a factor again in the welterweight division. And so, the UFC will be giving him another opportunity to cement his contender status at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (February 2nd; Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas), where he’ll face off against Brazilian grappling specialist Demian Maia. The promotion confirmed the booking last night.

After hitting a wall at middleweight, Maia dropped to 170 earlier this year, debuting with a fluke-ish TKO-via-muscle-spasm victory over Dong Hyun Kim. But against Rick Story at UFC 153, we finally saw flashes of the Old Maia, as he picked up his first submission victory since his triangle-choke of Chael Sonnen in February 2009. And man, was it nasty.

We all know that this is going to be a grapple-fest, and odds are that it’ll go the distance. But considering that Fitch has turned over a new leaf in his approach to fighting — and that Maia has located his jiu-jitsu again — it could be an entertaining scrap. Who y’all got?


(Demian Maia’s neck-crank of Rick Story — it just never gets old, does it? / GIF via Fightlinker)

With Jon Fitch coming off a redemptive Fight of the Night victory over Erick Silva at UFC 153 — his first win in over two years — the Indiana-bred wrestler is suddenly a factor again in the welterweight division. And so, the UFC will be giving him another opportunity to cement his contender status at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (February 2nd; Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas), where he’ll face off against Brazilian grappling specialist Demian Maia. The promotion confirmed the booking last night.

After hitting a wall at middleweight, Maia dropped to 170 earlier this year, debuting with a fluke-ish TKO-via-muscle-spasm victory over Dong Hyun Kim. But against Rick Story at UFC 153, we finally saw flashes of the Old Maia, as he picked up his first submission victory since his triangle-choke of Chael Sonnen in February 2009. And man, was it nasty.

We all know that this is going to be a grapple-fest, and odds are that it’ll go the distance. But considering that Fitch has turned over a new leaf in his approach to fighting — and that Maia has located his jiu-jitsu again — it could be an entertaining scrap. Who y’all got?

UFC: Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia Added to UFC 156 on Super Bowl Weekend

This weekend’s UFC 154 event isn’t the only card with exceptional welterweight talent duking it out. As reported by MMAJunkie.com, an intriguing contest between Jon Fitch and Demian Maia has been added to Superbowl weekend’s UFC 156 event.Maia had prev…

This weekend’s UFC 154 event isn’t the only card with exceptional welterweight talent duking it out. As reported by MMAJunkie.com, an intriguing contest between Jon Fitch and Demian Maia has been added to Superbowl weekend’s UFC 156 event.

Maia had previously mentioned Fitch as an opponent that he would like to square off with in an interview with Tatame magazine:

Dude, I think Nick Diaz and Jon Fitch that opponents would surely have much name this division and I would climb fast. The others, I think they are marked with struggles, but these two guys are certainly very tough and they would have proved much I climb in the division.

I think the two have much jiu-jitsu. Both with Nick as with Fitch. Both are good with that, just that I feel more focused on the Fitch’s wrestling than with his jiu-jitsu, and Nick is a guy more with boxing than jiu-jitsu.

The fight has been discussed by many in the MMA community even before it became a reality. Bleacher Report’s own Nathan McCarter broke down a potential fight between the esteemed grapplers in October.

A former challenger for the middleweight championship, Maia has notched a perfect 2-0 record since dropping down to 170 pounds. His victories came over established opponents Dong Hyun Kim and Rick Story, and both wins came in quick and violent fashion.

Fitch has also competed for a championship during his UFC career, although he has been a welterweight for every bout with the company sans his promotional debut. He recently rebounded from a 12-second knockout at the hands of Johny Hendricks by coming out victorious in a stellar fight against Erick Silva at UFC 153.

The AKA veteran is known for a wrestling-centric attack that has stifled any fighter unfortunate enough to be beneath him. With Maia being one of the most elite jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet, it will be interesting to see what sort of game plan each man brings to the table.

Both men are members of the Top 10, and the victor of this contest should only be another fight or two away from a bout with title implications.

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Alistair Overeem to Return From Suspension Against Antonio Silva at UFC 156


(Overeem and Silva [2nd and 3rd from left], back when they were just a couple of hungry up-and-comers, competing in something called a ‘Strikeforce’. / Photo via FCFighter.com)

The UFC has confirmed that heavyweight behemoth Alistair Overeem will return to the Octagon at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (February 2nd, Las Vegas), where he’ll face Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. According to UFC.com, the bout “has been scheduled pending licensing approval of Overeem by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That decision will be finalized in early 2013.”

Overeem’s most recent appearance was at UFC 141 last December, where he smoked Brock Lesnar in the first round. Following that fight, Overeem was booked to challenge Junior Dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title, but failed a random NSAC drug test in stupendous fashion, and was barred from licensing for nine months. Overeem blamed the test result on “an anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone” prescribed by his doctor, which ranks just below Antonio Silva’s “I took a testosterone-booster for my acromegaly” excuse on the believability scale. (Yes, the winner of this fight will be a former steroid suspect, and so will the loser.) Overeem will be able to re-apply for licensure in Nevada next month.


(Overeem and Silva [2nd and 3rd from left], back when they were just a couple of hungry up-and-comers, competing in something called a ‘Strikeforce’. / Photo via FCFighter.com)

The UFC has confirmed that heavyweight behemoth Alistair Overeem will return to the Octagon at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (February 2nd, Las Vegas), where he’ll face Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. According to UFC.com, the bout “has been scheduled pending licensing approval of Overeem by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That decision will be finalized in early 2013.”

Overeem’s most recent appearance was at UFC 141 last December, where he smoked Brock Lesnar in the first round. Following that fight, Overeem was booked to challenge Junior Dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title, but failed a random NSAC drug test in stupendous fashion, and was barred from licensing for nine months. Overeem blamed the test result on “an anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone” prescribed by his doctor, which ranks just below Antonio Silva’s “I took a testosterone-booster for my acromegaly” excuse on the believability scale. (Yes, the winner of this fight will be a former steroid suspect, and so will the loser.) Overeem will be able to re-apply for licensure in Nevada next month.

As for his opponent, Antonio Silva rescued his career in October with a first-round TKO of Travis Browne, which followed back-to-back knockout losses. But the win was somewhat controversial; would Bigfoot still have been able to beat Browne if “Hapa” wasn’t hobbled by a hamstring injury early in the fight?

Overeem and Silva were originally slated to face off in the semi-finals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix. However, Overeem was removed from the tournament (and booted from Strikeforce altogether) when he refused to compete due to nagging injuries. Daniel Cormier replaced the Reem, beat Bigfoot’s ass, went on to win the tournament, and probably made a couple of ballsy gamblers rich in the process.

We’re hoping for a good, competitive scrap between The Reem and The Chin, but this matchup looks tailor-made to put Alistair back in the spotlight, and re-establish him as the UFC’s #1 heavyweight contender. Anybody else see it differently?

UFC 156: Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva Head-to-Toe Breakdown

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Alistair Overeem is expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 156 and face off against an opponent he was previously linked to in Strikeforce in Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.Silva and Overeem each have their st…

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Alistair Overeem is expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 156 and face off against an opponent he was previously linked to in Strikeforce in Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

Silva and Overeem each have their strengths—ways they could each win a potential fight—but how are you to know which one has the edge?

Check out this head-to-toe breakdown of the heavyweight matchup between Overeem and Silva.

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Report: Alistair Overeem to Face Bigfoot Silva at UFC 156

Many expected that UFC heavyweight contender, Alistair Overeem, would be in line for an immediate title shot upon his return from a nine-month suspension. However, it appears that will not be the case, as there is a report (Las Vegas Review-Journa…

Many expected that UFC heavyweight contender, Alistair Overeem, would be in line for an immediate title shot upon his return from a nine-month suspension. However, it appears that will not be the case, as there is a report (Las Vegas Review-Journal) stating that Overeem will face Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at the UFC’s annual Super Bowl card, UFC 156 on February 2.

This fight nearly happened in Strikeforce during the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Silva defeated Fedor Emelianenko after the second round by doctor stoppage, while Overeem defeated Fabricio Werdum in a less than thrilling decision.

Overeem was then forced to pull out of the matchup against Silva, citing a foot injury and not enough time to rehab it before Strikeforce and Showtime wanted him to fight.

Silva instead faced tournament alternate, and eventual winner, Daniel Cormier, whom he lost to by first-round knockout. Overeem’s next fight would take place in the UFC against Brock Lesnar, whom he defeated by first-round TKO.

Overeem and heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos, have been going back and forth saying that the other is afraid of them, and dos Santos even went as far to say as he’d rather face Overeem than current No. 1 contender, Cain Velasquez, for a second time.

Overeem was originally scheduled to face dos Santos at UFC 146 for the heavyweight title, but in a pre-fight drug test, Overeem’s testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was 14:1 when the highest accepted level is 6:1.

After his removal from the card and subsequent suspension, dos Santos faced Frank Mir, whom he defeated by second-round knockout. He’s now scheduled for a rematch with Velasquez which will take place at UFC 155 on December 29.

Should dos Santos and Overeem both come out on top in their upcoming fights, they will certainly be scheduled to meet each other in the not-so-distant future. It’ll be a fight between two of the biggest and baddest heavyweight strikers on the planet.

 

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @TimMcTiernan.

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Urijah Faber Plans to Return to the Octagon at UFC 156

Former WEC champion Urijah Faber hasn’t been seen inside a cage since UFC 149. “The California Kid” was outmatched against the Brazilian Renan Barao and saw his chances of a third bout with Dominick Cruz slip away. Faber has been linked to a number of …

Former WEC champion Urijah Faber hasn’t been seen inside a cage since UFC 149. “The California Kid” was outmatched against the Brazilian Renan Barao and saw his chances of a third bout with Dominick Cruz slip away.

Faber has been linked to a number of scenarios for possible fights (including a war of words with Michael Bisping), but recently told UFC Tonight that he plans to return in February 2013 for UFC 156. MMA Junkie has the details and also information as to where Faber’s next fight will take place.

“No way. I put on 18 pounds last night, and I would probably not be here if I was trying to get to 125. No, 135 is where I’ll be,” Faber said.

UFC 156 is the promotion’s Super Bowl card and is usually one of the most stacked events of the year.

Faber was the king of the featherweight division for years while he competed in the WEC, but was forced to move down a weight class after getting mauled by Jose Aldo’s leg kicks. There, Faber met a familiar foe in his rival Cruz.

The two met at UFC 132 with Cruz edging Faber in a very close fight. They were set to have their rubber match after coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter, but Cruz tore his ACL. The injury forced the UFC to create an interim title.

Putting Faber on UFC 156 would be a great move by the UFC. He’s still a big draw with fans and carries a popular name into any fight. Despite losing to the UFC champion and interim champion, Faber is also still relevant in the division due to a lack of depth.

Faber against someone like Michael McDonald could be a very interesting and explosive way to kick off UFC 156. He could also be in line to face Brad Pickett if the Englishman gets past Eddie Wineland at UFC 155.

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