We can’t remember Anderson Silva ever releasing a video blog around a fight but thank goodness he decided to do so for UFC 162. This past Saturday, of course, Silva was upset by Chris Weidman in dramatic fashion.
The above video blog released today by the Silva camp offers a glimpse at some intimate, painful, and sometimes touching moments with the former champion. Then, there’s Anderson getting a sit-down speech from Usher after the fight, in which the pop-star — and Silva’s Black House training partner?? — offers his own criticism of the Spider’s performance. That part is just surreal and hilarious.
Other highlights include: Anderson acting anything but aloof with fans as he exits the arena in Las Vegas after losing his title to Weidman, and a composed Silva giving credit to Weidman at the post-event press conference, then breaking down and crying in a hotel room afterwards only to then lead an inspiring cheer-circle with his friends, family and teammates. It’s a level of access we’ve rarely seen before with Silva, so check it out.
We can’t remember Anderson Silva ever releasing a video blog around a fight but thank goodness he decided to do so for UFC 162. This past Saturday, of course, Silva was upset by Chris Weidman in dramatic fashion.
The above video blog released today by the Silva camp offers a glimpse at some intimate, painful, and sometimes touching moments with the former champion. Then, there’s Anderson getting a sit-down speech from Usher after the fight, in which the pop-star — and Silva’s Black House training partner?? — offers his own criticism of the Spider’s performance. That part is just surreal and hilarious.
Other highlights include: Anderson acting anything but aloof with fans as he exits the arena in Las Vegas after losing his title to Weidman, and a composed Silva giving credit to Weidman at the post-event press conference, then breaking down and crying in a hotel room afterwards only to then lead an inspiring cheer-circle with his friends, family and teammates. It’s a level of access we’ve rarely seen before with Silva, so check it out.
As the sport of wrestling continues to grapple with baseball/softball and squash to return to the Olympic Games in 2020, a former NCAA wrestler took his turn in the limelight this past Saturday, and that unexpected success could be a boon to again rais…
As the sport of wrestling continues to grapple with baseball/softball and squash to return to the Olympic Games in 2020, a former NCAA wrestler took his turn in the limelight this past Saturday, and that unexpected success could be a boon to again raising the profile of wrestling among casual fans as the summer moves along.
Long Island native and former Hofstra University All-American Chris Weidman has been a rising star in the UFC, but his sudden second round knockout of legendary champion Anderson Silva (33-5 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in Las Vegas Saturday sent the MMA world into a frenzy and gave Weidman’s roots—wrestling—a boost not just in the Octagon but around the world.
How close is Weidman’s tie to wrestling? He sports a “USA Wrestling” tattoo on his arm. That real estate, along with the viral and media frenzy that surrounds the UFC, can help keep wrestling top of mind globally across a hot and crowded summer athletic schedule.
The relationship between elite MMA promotions like the UFC and Bellator is strong but not over the top, per se. While several disciplines included in MMA are part of the Olympic program, MMA itself is not a recognized sport by the International Olympic Committee, and many members of the IOC have been public about their concerns of the violence associated with MMA, despite its ever-growing global popularity.
Therefore, wrestling officials have welcomed the halo effect that MMA, from leaders like the UFC’s Dana White and Bellator’s Bjorn Rebney, has brought to the Olympic wrestling cause without publicly acknowledging the ties between the sports.
What does that halo effect mean for the Olympic cause? “It is support and credibility you can’t buy,” said Chris Lencheski, CEO of Front Row Marketing, one of the leading brand marketing and sales companies in the global sports and entertainment space.
“While you never want to upset the IOC by officially aligning with a sport or a person that may be seen as controversial, that passionate support is a nice boost for wrestling,” he added. “It’s a type of support you really don’t see from baseball players and that sport’s Olympic push, and you can’t downplay the value of promotions like the UFC in keeping the wrestling cause front and center.”
Weidman was one of several elite former wrestlers who has shown support for wrestling in and around the Octagon in recent weeks. Champion Frankie Edgar, who has spent time coaching wrestling at Rutgers University, also sported a “Save Olympic Wrestling” T-shirt during Saturday’s pay-per-view, and former wrestling All-American Mark Munoz also posted a win in the Octagon Saturday.
Some of the other biggest stars of the UFC and Bellator have also done so on their own, with more support expected as the vote nears in September.
For Weidman, what has his new-found success been like?
“It’s been a little bit of a blur, but it’s been good,” he said. “It’s been a bit surreal. It still hasn’t sunk in all the way, but it feels good.”
His win was also a nice boost for Hofstra, the Long Island school that has had a history of steady success in wrestling. Others like Bryan Vetell and Jay Hieron have had success in transitioning to MMA—but none at the level of Weidman’s win Saturday.
“If you are a wrestling official or a fan, you have to be rooting for these guys to be successful,” Lencheski added. “It is exposure you can’t buy, and it certainly doesn’t hurt the cause. They are great stories and great examples of the success that wrestling can bring to athletes once their careers are over.
“Whether it is in the Octagon or in the boardroom, the discipline has provided a great base for life success, and that, more than anything is what wrestling’s real value is to its participants and to the Olympic programme.”
For Weidman, wrestling success has led to an avalanche of support and business opportunities in and out of the Octagon, and that success for the long and short term should make wrestling officials around the globe smile, even if they have to cheer from a distance for now.
Jerry Milani is a featured writer at Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted.
Beautiful destruction is what Cub Swanson wanted to display at UFC 162 against Dennis Siver, and that’s exactly what he delivered.
The 29-year-old Palm Springs native battled toe-to-toe with the German-born striker throughout the first two rounds befor…
Beautiful destruction is what Cub Swanson wanted to display at UFC 162 against Dennis Siver, and that’s exactly what he delivered.
The 29-year-old Palm Springs native battled toe-to-toe with the German-born striker throughout the first two rounds before his power punches melted Siver in the final frame. The victory was “Killer Cub’s” fifth consecutive and now has him banging on the door of a title opportunity.
The only catch in the equation is that the Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter is now standing in a crowded line that includes fellow contenders Ricardo Lamas and Chad Mendes, who are also seeking an opportunity to compete for championship gold.
While Swanson has lost to both men in past years, the current version of the SoCal representative whom the MMA world has seen over the past 18 months is not the same fighter who fell to Lamas and Mendes on previous occasions.
Swanson has been a wrecking machine since his loss to “The Bully” at UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011 and is on a mission to become the featherweight champion.
“Any of those top fights would make me excited,” Swanson told Bleacher Report. “That’s what I want. I want the big fights, not only to get the title shot but to secure my future and whatever I pursue after fighting. It is very important I live up to my own expectations as far as popularity and knowing that I left my mark on the sport. Whatever big fights I can get, I’m up for the challenge.
“I think it’s very safe to say I’m a different fighter,” he added about his evolution since previous bouts with Mendes and Lamas. “I would say I’m the same fighter I was when I fought Lamas but that was the first test as the ‘new me.’ I made a small mistake and I got caught. I was dominating him in that fight. I would say I’m the same fighter, but I learned from that, and I’m never going to make that mistake again.”
While Swanson has always been one of the most dynamic strikers in the featherweight division, his current five-win run has shown a continued evolution in his approach. The surging contender has always had a unique blend of speed, power and unpredictability in his arsenal, but his love for the scrap had at times caused him to become reckless.
The latest version of Swanson showed tremendous growth in the patience department as he methodically picked apart Siver at UFC 162. The Californian had Siver hurt on several occasions but resisted the urge to flurry. Instead, he chose to dole out damage shot by shot, which resulted in Swanson crumpling the 34-year-old striker midway through the final round.
While Swanson acknowledged the impact of his improved patience and was satisfied with the victory, he also saw areas where he can improve his skill set.
“There are still parts of my game I need to fix,” Swanson said. “I think I have a lot of room for improvement. I am really just sharpening up everything. But every fight is different and sometimes it just takes a little bit to find your rhythm and your range and neutralize what they are trying to do to you. All in all, I’m happy, but there is still work to be done.
“I knew I won the second round and I was confident I was going to go out and finish the third round in good fashion because I was in such good shape. I didn’t know I was going to get the knockout, but I knew I was going to throw everything I had to get it.
“Patience is definitely a big part of it,” Swanson offered about his approach. “Especially in this fight because Siver was slowing down and the holes in his game were getting bigger. I knew being patient and waiting until later in the round were going to be key for me.”
With a wake of destruction in his path, confidence on full tilt and a steadily increasing profile with the MMA fanbase, there is no telling where the ceiling rests for Swanson. He’s had his foot mashed on the gas pedal for the past year-and-a-half, and there are no signs of him slowing down anytime soon.
Whether his next fight is a championship opportunity or a title eliminator is fine by him. Swanson simply wants to keep the process of progress alive and promises he’ll always give fans what they paid to see.
“I either want a title shot or a guaranteed No. 1 contender fight,” Swanson added in regard to his next outing. “I feel like I deserve it. I feel like the fans are backing up on this and it will come.
“From here on out, as long as I’m doing this sport, I’m going to come in incredible shape, try to take people’s heads off, put on a show for the crowd and never be in a boring fight.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Beautiful destruction is what Cub Swanson wanted to display at UFC 162 against Dennis Siver, and that’s exactly what he delivered.
The 29-year-old Palm Springs native battled toe-to-toe with the German-born striker throughout the first two rounds befor…
Beautiful destruction is what Cub Swanson wanted to display at UFC 162 against Dennis Siver, and that’s exactly what he delivered.
The 29-year-old Palm Springs native battled toe-to-toe with the German-born striker throughout the first two rounds before his power punches melted Siver in the final frame. The victory was “Killer Cub’s” fifth consecutive and now has him banging on the door of a title opportunity.
The only catch in the equation is that the Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter is now standing in a crowded line that includes fellow contenders Ricardo Lamas and Chad Mendes, who are also seeking an opportunity to compete for championship gold.
While Swanson has lost to both men in past years, the current version of the SoCal representative whom the MMA world has seen over the past 18 months is not the same fighter who fell to Lamas and Mendes on previous occasions.
Swanson has been a wrecking machine since his loss to “The Bully” at UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011 and is on a mission to become the featherweight champion.
“Any of those top fights would make me excited,” Swanson told Bleacher Report. “That’s what I want. I want the big fights, not only to get the title shot but to secure my future and whatever I pursue after fighting. It is very important I live up to my own expectations as far as popularity and knowing that I left my mark on the sport. Whatever big fights I can get, I’m up for the challenge.
“I think it’s very safe to say I’m a different fighter,” he added about his evolution since previous bouts with Mendes and Lamas. “I would say I’m the same fighter I was when I fought Lamas but that was the first test as the ‘new me.’ I made a small mistake and I got caught. I was dominating him in that fight. I would say I’m the same fighter, but I learned from that, and I’m never going to make that mistake again.”
While Swanson has always been one of the most dynamic strikers in the featherweight division, his current five-win run has shown a continued evolution in his approach. The surging contender has always had a unique blend of speed, power and unpredictability in his arsenal, but his love for the scrap had at times caused him to become reckless.
The latest version of Swanson showed tremendous growth in the patience department as he methodically picked apart Siver at UFC 162. The Californian had Siver hurt on several occasions but resisted the urge to flurry. Instead, he chose to dole out damage shot by shot, which resulted in Swanson crumpling the 34-year-old striker midway through the final round.
While Swanson acknowledged the impact of his improved patience and was satisfied with the victory, he also saw areas where he can improve his skill set.
“There are still parts of my game I need to fix,” Swanson said. “I think I have a lot of room for improvement. I am really just sharpening up everything. But every fight is different and sometimes it just takes a little bit to find your rhythm and your range and neutralize what they are trying to do to you. All in all, I’m happy, but there is still work to be done.
“I knew I won the second round and I was confident I was going to go out and finish the third round in good fashion because I was in such good shape. I didn’t know I was going to get the knockout, but I knew I was going to throw everything I had to get it.
“Patience is definitely a big part of it,” Swanson offered about his approach. “Especially in this fight because Siver was slowing down and the holes in his game were getting bigger. I knew being patient and waiting until later in the round were going to be key for me.”
With a wake of destruction in his path, confidence on full tilt and a steadily increasing profile with the MMA fanbase, there is no telling where the ceiling rests for Swanson. He’s had his foot mashed on the gas pedal for the past year-and-a-half, and there are no signs of him slowing down anytime soon.
Whether his next fight is a championship opportunity or a title eliminator is fine by him. Swanson simply wants to keep the process of progress alive and promises he’ll always give fans what they paid to see.
“I either want a title shot or a guaranteed No. 1 contender fight,” Swanson added in regard to his next outing. “I feel like I deserve it. I feel like the fans are backing up on this and it will come.
“From here on out, as long as I’m doing this sport, I’m going to come in incredible shape, try to take people’s heads off, put on a show for the crowd and never be in a boring fight.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar got back on track last Saturday night with a dominant performance over Charles Oliveira, winning by unanimous decision. It was a necessary win for Edgar, who had dropped his last three fights in a row, alb…
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar got back on track last Saturday night with a dominant performance over Charles Oliveira, winning by unanimous decision.
It was a necessary win for Edgar, who had dropped his last three fights in a row, albeit in consecutive championship fights that all ended with very close scores when it was over.
Coming out against Oliviera at UFC 162, Edgar wanted to leave no doubt in anyone’s mind who was the victor and he accomplished that with a unanimous decision victory.
Unfortunately, the win wasn’t as unanimous as his head coach, Mark Henry, would have liked.
While two of the judges scored the fight 30-27 for Edgar, one judge had the fight 29-28, which means they gave at least one round to Oliveira.Now Henry isn’t crying controversy over a single round on one judge’s scorecard, but in a fight that most saw as Edgar winning the biggest part of each round, he’s still left wondering what the New Jersey fighter has to do to make sure all of the scores are coming in his favor.
“We were so excited and I’m walking to the locker room and I’m saying to myself one judge didn’t say 29-28 did they?That’s what I’m saying.It just gets so depressing, it’s like Frankie is on a different scale for what he has to do when he goes into a fight,” Henry told Bleacher Report.
“I don’t know what the kid has to do.He took him down a million times, kept him down, out struck him two to one in power shots.He rocked him in the first, rocked him in the third.I don’t know how he lost a round on one of the judge’s cards.Sometimes I’m just baffled.”
Henry isn’t sure if it’s Edgar’s size matched up to his opponent’s or because he’s known for almost always bleeding from his nose from a fight even when he really doesn’t take much damage.
“Frankie, like sometimes we go in there and I don’t know if it’s his size or because he bleeds or what it is,” Henry explained.“Maybe he’s the smaller guy or maybe he’s bleeding and I know he’s fine because he bleeds all the time.It’s like this grading scale with Frankie, I don’t even notice any more.”
Edgar has been at the center of some controversial decisions over the past few years including his title fight against Gray Maynard that ended in a draw and two championship bouts against Benson Henderson.In both fights against Henderson there were a fair share of fans and journalists who believe Edgar should have gotten the nod.
Either way, Edgar’s coach says the fighter is done with close decisions.As a matter of fact, he’s done with decisions all the way around.
“The new game plan with Frankie is we just have to finish guys,” Henry stated.“Like I know we didn’t get it, but we have to try to finish everybody he fights now because we don’t even know what the rules are with him.He out strikes people, takes them down, his cardio’s better so with Frankie I don’t even know how to scale it any more. It’s just simple to say kill the guy, leave no doubt.”
Now it’s easier said than done to finish fights.It’s a safe bet that almost every fighter enters the Octagon with the goal of putting their opponents away, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.
Henry just wants the mentality and the preparation for Edgar to change so it’s just ingrained in his every move to put his opposition away and leave no doubt that he won the fight.
“That’s just the game plan now.Just be ultra aggressive. Frankie’s always been a Sugar Ray (Leonard) type, moving around, but the last two camps we’ve really been working on him pressuring people and going after them more,” Henry said.
“He did it more in the (Jose) Aldo fight and in this last one, and it’s something he’s had to learn more in his career.He was always kind of a slip and move guy and we had to teach him a totally different game. After those (Benson) Henderson fights, we wanted to teach him to also know how to pressure guys a lot.”
“So that’s where we’re at, every round finish this guy.Let’s get out of here. Let’s not go to the judges.I think that’s a way better way to fight, too.Dana (White) always says it, and I have to agree with them.I’ve kind of changed my ways.”
Regardless of the one judge who didn’t score the entire fight for Edgar, he still walked out of the fight victorious.Now it’s back into training as they await word from the UFC on which opponent they draw next as Edgar tries to start his path back to title contention.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted
Anderson Silva’s 17-year-old daughter, Kaory, has taken to Twitter to voice her opinions on her father’s loss over the weekend. The former middleweight champion’s eldest daughter attacked the UFC for chasing profits and losing respect…
Anderson Silva’s 17-year-old daughter, Kaory, has taken to Twitter to voice her opinions on her father’s loss over the weekend.
The former middleweight champion’s eldest daughter attacked the UFC for chasing profits and losing respect for the martial arts, while crediting her dad as the sole reason for his success.
“It was thanks to my father that my life changed, it was thanks to his talent that our life changed, it was thanks to his adversaries that my life changed and not because of the UFC,” she wrote (H/T Fighters Only Magazine). “It was because people valued my father’s work that my life changed, not because of UFC.”
Silva’s seven year reign as champion came to a dramatic end on Saturday after he got knocked out by Chris Weidman in the second round. Thus ended the longest winning streak in UFC history, but there are many who still believe the Brazilian lost on purpose.
They point to his showboating antics during the match, which were extreme even for Silva, as the cause of his downfall, rather than crediting Weidman for the win. After the fight, Silva himself seemed relieved to relinquish the belt and declared that he no longer intends to chase the title.
Kaoryalso said that she is happy her father is no longer champion.
“He will always be a champion. He has already showed to the world that nobody can beat him if he doesn’t want it,” she wrote. “I never liked the ideal of my father being a fighter and now that I know he is tired of it I will give him all my support.”
Such sentiments may be short lived, however, as the UFC hastily plans the Silva/Weidman rematch. In fact, according to some reports, Silva is itching to get back in the cage and avenge his first UFC loss.
Beautiful destruction is what