Tag: UFC 167

Loser Leaves Town Alert: Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir Booked for UFC 167


(“You mean Soa Palelei, right? No? Aw crap.” / Photo via Getty)

In what might be the most obvious win-or-get-fired match in UFC history, a bout between struggling heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir has just been added to UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks, the promotion’s 20th-anniversary show slated for November 16th in Las Vegas.

We’re less than a week removed from Mir’s first-round TKO loss to Josh Barnett at UFC 164 — which followed two previous losses to Daniel Cormier and Junior Dos Santos — and it seems almost cruel that the UFC will be throwing him back into the fire less than three months later…especially against an opponent who certainly carries the potential to beat him up. This ain’t exactly a rebound fight; it’s like the UFC’s accountants need to know by the end of the calendar year whether they’re keeping Murr on their ledgers or not.

Of course, Overeem finds himself in the exact same situation. The Dutch striker is 0-2 in the UFC since being forced to sit out most of 2012 due to a PED-related licensure suspension, and his job security was by no means guaranteed after he suffered his second-straight knockout loss against Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 26. But with this booking, he’ll be given another chance to prove that he’s not one of the UFC’s biggest hype-busts of all time. Your predictions on this one? And how long before the loser shows up in Bellator?

Aside from the welterweight title fight main event and this latest heavyweight addition, UFC 167 will also feature Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans, Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler, and Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley.


(“You mean Soa Palelei, right? No? Aw crap.” / Photo via Getty)

In what might be the most obvious win-or-get-fired match in UFC history, a bout between struggling heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir has just been added to UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks, the promotion’s 20th-anniversary show slated for November 16th in Las Vegas.

We’re less than a week removed from Mir’s first-round TKO loss to Josh Barnett at UFC 164 — which followed two previous losses to Daniel Cormier and Junior Dos Santos — and it seems almost cruel that the UFC will be throwing him back into the fire less than three months later…especially against an opponent who certainly carries the potential to beat him up. This ain’t exactly a rebound fight; it’s like the UFC’s accountants need to know by the end of the calendar year whether they’re keeping Murr on their ledgers or not.

Of course, Overeem finds himself in the exact same situation. The Dutch striker is 0-2 in the UFC since being forced to sit out most of 2012 due to a PED-related licensure suspension, and his job security was by no means guaranteed after he suffered his second-straight knockout loss against Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 26. But with this booking, he’ll be given another chance to prove that he’s not one of the UFC’s biggest hype-busts of all time. Your predictions on this one? And how long before the loser shows up in Bellator?

Aside from the welterweight title fight main event and this latest heavyweight addition, UFC 167 will also feature Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans, Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler, and Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley.

Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir Added to Stacked UFC 167 Card in Las Vegas

Two former champions will try to put an end to recent skids when Frank Mir meets Alistair Overeem at UFC 167 in November as part of the promotion’s 20th anniversary show in Las Vegas.
The promotion announced the fight via The Las Vegas Review-Journal o…

Two former champions will try to put an end to recent skids when Frank Mir meets Alistair Overeem at UFC 167 in November as part of the promotion’s 20th anniversary show in Las Vegas.

The promotion announced the fight via The Las Vegas Review-Journal on Thursday.

Both Overeem and Mir will enter the fight in November behind the eight ball after recent setbacks in their respective careers.

Following a run in Strikeforce where he won the heavyweight title while also taking on the K-1 Grand Prix championship in kickboxing, Overeem joined the UFC with hopes of battling for the title on day one in the promotion.

He got off to a quick start by battering former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and dispatching of him via first-round TKO, but just about everything since that moment has been downhill for the giant Dutchman.

Overeem was scheduled to fight for the UFC heavyweight title a few months after the Lesnar fight, but a pre-fight drug screening done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed he had elevated levels of testosterone in his system. The UFC promptly removed him from the bout and he was denied a fight license and effectively suspended by the commission for nine months.

Upon his return to action, Overeem was then knocked out by fellow former Strikeforce fighter Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, before facing Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 26 just a few weeks ago. Overeem came out strong, blasting Browne with heavy punches and knees, but he was unable to finish the fight and it came back to haunt him in a big way.

Browne launched a front kick straight into Overeem’s chin that knocked him to the ground, and a few punches later the fight was over.

Meanwhile, Mir comes into the fight at UFC 167 on a three-fight losing streak of his own. The first of those losses came to former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos when it was Mir who replaced Overeem after the positive drug test. Mir then dropped a lackluster decision to Daniel Cormier before being flattened by former heavyweight champion Josh Barnett last weekend at UFC 164 in Milwaukee.

It may be do-or-die time for both fighters as another loss would not only send them spiraling further out of the top 10 in the division, but could also put either man dangerously close to the cut line as they approach multiple defeats in a row.

UFC 167 will be headlined by welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre against Johny Hendricks, while Chael Sonnen faces Rashad Evans in the co-main event on the card.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Thy Gangster’s Will Be Done: Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans Set For UFC 167


(Further proof that Chael Sonnen is a direct descendant of Prometheus.) 

One of the most well known Bible verses is Matthew 6:10, which in the King James version reads: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Although scholars believe that the verse was/is a plea for all of mankind to obey the will of God, recent evidence indicates that it was clearly describing the will of Chael P. Sonnen. For ye, whenever the “American Gangster” speaketh, so the UFC shall maketh it a reality.

Two days ago, we reported that the mushroom cloud of anger that Wanderlei Silva has become would have to wait until next year to rearrange Sonnen’s butt face (and to think, he coulda been in the NFL if it weren’t for his bum back). Being that Chael loves fighting more than Jack Donaghy loves negotiation, he figured he might as well keep busy while his (next) Brazilian nemesis recuperated by calling out his UFC Tonight co-worker Rashad Evans in “The Axe Murderer’s” place.

Which brings us to today’s announcement: The Oregonian will indeed be facing Evans at UFC 167, because shit happens when you were one half of the highest selling UFC PPV of all time. The event will mark the UFC’s 20th anniversary and will transpire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 16th.


(Further proof that Chael Sonnen is a direct descendant of Prometheus.) 

One of the most well known Bible verses is Matthew 6:10, which in the King James version reads: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Although scholars believe that the verse was/is a plea for all of mankind to obey the will of God, recent evidence indicates that it was clearly describing the will of Chael P. Sonnen. For ye, whenever the “American Gangster” speaketh, so the UFC shall maketh it a reality.

Two days ago, we reported that the mushroom cloud of anger that Wanderlei Silva has become would have to wait until next year to rearrange Sonnen’s butt face (and to think, he coulda been in the NFL if it weren’t for his bum back). Being that Chael loves fighting more than Jack Donaghy loves negotiation, he figured he might as well keep busy while his (next) Brazilian nemesis recuperated by calling out his UFC Tonight co-worker Rashad Evans in “The Axe Murderer’s” place.

Which brings us to today’s announcement: The Oregonian will indeed be facing Evans at UFC 167, because shit happens when you were one half of the highest selling UFC PPV of all time. The event will mark the UFC’s 20th anniversary and will transpire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 16th.

After dropping back-to-back contests against two guys you’ve probably never heard of, Sonnen got back in the win column with a decisive and dominant first round submission over Mauricio Rua in August. Evans, on the other hand, is coming off a much less decisive split decision victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 161. The trash-talking alert for this matchup has already reached threat level double rainbow.

Does anyone see Sonnen making it two straight at light heavyweight, or will he end up licking Rashad’s boot once again?

–J. Jones

Thy Gangster’s Will Be Done: Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans Set For UFC 167


(Further proof that Chael Sonnen is a direct descendant of Prometheus.) 

One of the most well known Bible verses is Matthew 6:10, which in the King James version reads: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Although scholars believe that the verse was/is a plea for all of mankind to obey the will of God, recent evidence indicates that it was clearly describing the will of Chael P. Sonnen. For ye, whenever the “American Gangster” speaketh, so the UFC shall maketh it a reality.

Two days ago, we reported that the mushroom cloud of anger that Wanderlei Silva has become would have to wait until next year to rearrange Sonnen’s butt face (and to think, he coulda been in the NFL if it weren’t for his bum back). Being that Chael loves fighting more than Jack Donaghy loves negotiation, he figured he might as well keep busy while his (next) Brazilian nemesis recuperated by calling out his UFC Tonight co-worker Rashad Evans in “The Axe Murderer’s” place.

Which brings us to today’s announcement: The Oregonian will indeed be facing Evans at UFC 167, because shit happens when you were one half of the highest selling UFC PPV of all time. The event will mark the UFC’s 20th anniversary and will transpire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 16th.


(Further proof that Chael Sonnen is a direct descendant of Prometheus.) 

One of the most well known Bible verses is Matthew 6:10, which in the King James version reads: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Although scholars believe that the verse was/is a plea for all of mankind to obey the will of God, recent evidence indicates that it was clearly describing the will of Chael P. Sonnen. For ye, whenever the “American Gangster” speaketh, so the UFC shall maketh it a reality.

Two days ago, we reported that the mushroom cloud of anger that Wanderlei Silva has become would have to wait until next year to rearrange Sonnen’s butt face (and to think, he coulda been in the NFL if it weren’t for his bum back). Being that Chael loves fighting more than Jack Donaghy loves negotiation, he figured he might as well keep busy while his (next) Brazilian nemesis recuperated by calling out his UFC Tonight co-worker Rashad Evans in “The Axe Murderer’s” place.

Which brings us to today’s announcement: The Oregonian will indeed be facing Evans at UFC 167, because shit happens when you were one half of the highest selling UFC PPV of all time. The event will mark the UFC’s 20th anniversary and will transpire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 16th.

After dropping back-to-back contests against two guys you’ve probably never heard of, Sonnen got back in the win column with a decisive and dominant first round submission over Mauricio Rua in August. Evans, on the other hand, is coming off a much less decisive split decision victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 161. The trash-talking alert for this matchup has already reached threat level double rainbow.

Does anyone see Sonnen making it two straight at light heavyweight, or will he end up licking Rashad’s boot once again?

–J. Jones

Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans Confirmed for UFC 167 in November

Chael Sonnen wanted to co-main event the UFC 167 card as a part of the UFC’s 20th anniversary show, and he’ll get his wish as he faces another former light heavyweight champion in November.
Sonnen confirmed during the Fox Sports 1 pre-fight show ahead …

Chael Sonnen wanted to co-main event the UFC 167 card as a part of the UFC’s 20th anniversary show, and he’ll get his wish as he faces another former light heavyweight champion in November.

Sonnen confirmed during the Fox Sports 1 pre-fight show ahead of UFC Fight Night 28 in Brazil that he will face Rashad Evans in November in a light heavyweight contest.

“The most well-dressed man, future Hall of Famer, former world champion Rashad Evans,” Sonnen said during the pre-show. “He will be fighting on Nov. 16 against the man with the biggest arms, the greatest charms and does all the harm. You simply know him as Chael P.”

Sonnen was lobbying hard for the UFC 167 card ever since he tapped out former light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC Fight Night 26, which helped launch the Fox Sports 1 network.

Originally, Sonnen appeared ready to face Pride legend Wanderlei Silva in a grudge match after the two fighters had exchanged words for each other a number of times in different interviews.

Unfortunately, Silva is suffering from a back injury that will keep him out of action until at least January 2014, so that eliminated him from fighting Sonnen in November.

Instead, Sonnen turned his attention to a good friend and co-worker in Evans, who he routinely shares space with during the Fox Sports pre- and post-shows as well as UFC Tonight (which Sonnen co-hosts).

Evans was more than happy to accept, and he will look to tack another win on his record when he faces Sonnen following his last win over Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in June.

Sonnen and Evans will battle at 205 pounds in a fight that is expected to serve as the co-main event on the UFC 167 fight card.

The main event will pit welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre against current top contender Johny Hendricks in a battle for the 170-pound title.

More fights for the UFC 167 fight card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the UFC moves closer toward the celebration of 20 years in business as the top MMA promotion in the world.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Rashad Evans: Fight with Chael Sonnen ‘Going to Happen’ at UFC 167

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans remains extremely confident he will square off with fellow FUEL TV analyst Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 on November 16. 
In an appearance on Alchemist Radio, “Suga” said the pivotal light heavyweight m…

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans remains extremely confident he will square off with fellow FUEL TV analyst Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 on November 16. 

In an appearance on Alchemist Radio, “Suga” said the pivotal light heavyweight matchup is “definitely something the UFC wants.” 

“That fight is going to happen,” Evans said. “ … We’re still talking about it, but it’s definitely something the UFC wants. It’s something that we want to do well. If it does happen, it will happen on November 16th. Hopefully it’ll be in the co-main event slot. I definitely think its co-main event worthy, honestly speaking no matter where it falls, it’s not about ego for me, and it’s going to be a fight the people want to see. That’s the most important thing. There are things sometimes where a lot of people get caught up in ego and their fight has to be main event, but it really doesn’t matter to me.”

“The American Gangster” issued a friendly challenge to Evans last week on Twitter, which the 33-year-old promptly accepted.  

Evans, the co-founder of the Blackzilians training camp, located in Boca Raton, Florida, has won five of his past seven bouts, most recently defeating ex-Pride and Strikeforce titleholder Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in June.

Prior to that victory, Evans had dropped back-to-back decisions to divisional champ Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Sonnen is riding high following a submission win over a former Pride and UFC champion in Mauricio Rua, tapping the Brazilian brawler with a guillotine choke in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 26 encounter last month.

The Reign Training Center fighter is just 3-3 in his past six matchups, though he has an impressive 8-1 mark in his past nine non-title bouts.

UFC 167, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is headlined by a welterweight title clash between Georges St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks and currently does not have a co-headline fight booked.

 

UPDATE: 4:10 P.M. Eastern Time

MMA Fighting’s Dave Doyle reports that Sonnen vs. Evans is official for UFC 167.

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com