Tag: UFC 168

Renzo Gracie: Chris Weidman ‘Is Going to Take Anderson Down and Submit Him’

One of the most respected faces in the fight game, Renzo Gracie, believes his protege—UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman—will have no problem handling Anderson Silva a second time. 
Gracie told Ariel Helwani on last week’s edition…

One of the most respected faces in the fight game, Renzo Gracie, believes his protege—UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman—will have no problem handling Anderson Silva a second time. 

Gracie told Ariel Helwani on last week’s edition of “The MMA Hour“ that he expects another decisive finish from “The All-American” at UFC 168 next month. 

He will submit him. I do believe he’s going to submit him, yes. He’s getting better every day. If Anderson doesn’t improve his ground game, he will be in trouble this time. … I like Anderson a lot, he’s an unbelievable champion. It’s going to be a tough fight, but Weidman is the one for that task. If Anderson is not that careful, (Weidman) is going to take Anderson down and submit him.

Weidman entered UFC 162 in July as a modest underdog, considering the long reign of dominance “The Spider” had at 185 pounds, with pundits almost unanimously admitting the former two-time Division I All-American had the clear grappling advantage entering the title bout. 

Also earning a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the Baldwin, N.Y. native was able to get the fight to the mat early into the first round and land some solid ground-and-pound before diving on a kneebar. 

Silva, a BJJ black belt in his own right, defended the attack and got the fight back to the feet, but unpredictably ended up getting knocked out cold for the first time in 38 professional bouts early in the second round. 

While Weidman calls Long Island’s Serra-Longo Fight Team his home away from home, he also frequents the Renzo Gracie Fight Academy in Brooklyn from time to time. 

The 29-year-old heads into the Dec. 28 rematch with a perfect 10-0 record as a professional mixed martial artist, which includes four knockouts and three submissions. 

Prior to the loss to Weidman, Silva had won 17 consecutive bouts, including a UFC record of 10 consecutive title defenses.

Despite being 38 years old, most fans are expecting a much more competitive version of Silva in the rematch due to his impressive resume. 

Will Weidman be able to prove he’s the real deal with another decisive victory over the legendary Silva? Or will the Brazilian pound-for-pound great show that his loss at UFC 162 was just an aberration? 

 

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

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UFC 168: Travis Browne Will Join Josh Barnett for Additional WADA Drug Testing

UFC heavyweight Travis Browne has volunteered to subject himself to the same enhanced drug testing his opponent Josh Barnett will have to undergo in the run-up to their fight at UFC 168.
The tests were ordered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (N…

UFC heavyweight Travis Browne has volunteered to subject himself to the same enhanced drug testing his opponent Josh Barnett will have to undergo in the run-up to their fight at UFC 168.

The tests were ordered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) as a condition for granting Barnett his first license to fight in the state since 2006.

Browne confirmed his decision to undergo the same WADA-certified drug testing as Barnett in a statement released through his manager John Fosco (H/T MMA Junkie).

I think it’s a great idea, and I’m a big supporter of it. I think our sport and the commission taking actions like this is putting us ahead of the game compared to other sports. We’re not putting out a fire. We’re attacking the problem before it becomes an epidemic.

As with Barnett, the UFC has agreed to foot the bill for all of the tests involved. However, Browne will undergo testing only in the month and a half leading up to their Dec. 28 clash, as well as immediately after the match as per standard commission practice. Barnett, meanwhile, will continue to be tested for all of 2014.

Barnett has been subjected to such extensive scrutiny after having failed three separate drug tests in his career. He failed twice in 2001 and 2002, in two consecutive matches fighting for the UFC in the state of Nevada; the latter of which cost him his UFC heavyweight title. Then, in 2009, he failed a third drug test in the lead-up to a much anticipated fight between him and Fedor Emelianenko in the state of California.

During his hearing with the NSAC last week, Barnett explained that his previous failures were due to the consumption of supplements that were later reclassified as anabolic steroids or were contaminated. He also said that he would never apply for a therapeutic-use exemption for testosterone—a controversial practice many would argue disguises cheating.

Browne, meanwhile, has never failed a drug test in his career.

Both fighters have shot up the UFC rankings after scoring first-round KOs against their opponents in their last outings. Indeed, the winner of their match at UFC 168 could determine who gets the next shot at heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who is set to face Fabricio Werdum sometime next year.

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Chael Sonnen: Weidman vs. Silva Was ‘the Worst Weidman I’ve Ever Seen’

Three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is always just milliseconds away from making headlines these days and all he needs to do it is a microphone. 
In an in-depth interview with MMA Crazy TV yesterday, “The American Gangster” spoke on a wid…

Three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is always just milliseconds away from making headlines these days and all he needs to do it is a microphone. 

In an in-depth interview with MMA Crazy TV yesterday, “The American Gangster” spoke on a wide array of topics, but inevitably, old rival Anderson Silva came up in conversation. 

While Sonnen shockingly revealed he may ask “The Spider” to coach alongside him on season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, per Bloody Elbow, he also stated that people aren’t giving middleweight champion Chris Weidman enough credit heading into UFC 168. 

The December 28 pay-per-view has “The All-American” rematching Silva for the middleweight strap, the same man he dethroned after an incredible 17-fight undefeated streak. 

Sonnen believes Weidman didn’t fight anywhere up to his potential at their first fight at UFC 162 in July, yet he still won decisively, transcription via Bloody Elbow. 

Let’s not forget, Chris Weidman dominated him on the ground and then got up and dominated on the feet. This was not a close fight. It was also the worst Chris Weidman I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen Chris Weidman fight so poorly. He slowed down significantly. When he was on top in the first round, it was off a very sloppy takedown. He gave up position going for a very reckless submission. He was taking a couple of kicks. He just didn’t fight very well, and he still dominated and ended with a finish inside seven minutes… You have to understand, in the history of combat, never, not one time ever, ever, ever has a rematch ever favored the older fighter. There’s a 10-year age gap here. It will be amazing if Anderson can beat him. Anderson Silva is a very smart fighter. He’s very skilled. He’s very experienced. I just don’t think he wants to be in there. They asked him right after he lost, and he openly said ‘my time as champion is done.’ And I believe him.

While the former two-time All-American collegiate wrestler is yet to cross paths with Weidman inside the Octagon, he had two memorable middleweight championship bouts against Silva. 

Despite convincingly winning the first four rounds of their UFC 117 encounter, The Team Reign Training Center fighter tapped out to a Hail Mary triangle choke midway through the fifth and final round. 

In their rematch at UFC 148 last July, Sonnen again used his wrestling advantage to win the first round, but ended up being TKO’ed in the second frame of the title bout. 

In the same interview, Sonnen indicated he would like a third fight with the legendary Brazilian, though the FOX Sports 1 analyst has competed at light heavyweight since his second loss to Silva. 

Weidman, who boasts a perfect 10-0 record as a professional mixed martial artist, is the only fighter to knock out Silva in his 16-year, 38-fight career. 

Is Sonnen right on the money in predicting another convincing Weidman victory over Silva or will Anderson get his revenge and prove he still has plenty of good fights left in him?

 

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

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Chris Weidman Taking Access to the Next Level with Latest Project

Chris Weidman will forever be known for what he accomplished on July 6 at UFC 162 in Las Vegas.
With the MMA world locked in on his fight with middleweight king Anderson Silva, the 29-year-old flipped the fight game on its ear when he landed a perfectl…

Chris Weidman will forever be known for what he accomplished on July 6 at UFC 162 in Las Vegas.

With the MMA world locked in on his fight with middleweight king Anderson Silva, the 29-year-old flipped the fight game on its ear when he landed a perfectly timed left hook that floored and dethroned the pound-for-pound great.

In that moment before what was difficult to imagine became reality, fans and media around the sport were stopped cold at the sight of what just happened. It took the Ray Long-trained fighter less than two full rounds to do what 16 other men who faced “The Spider” under the UFC banner couldn’t accomplish. And he has every intention to do it again.

In what Dana White is billing as the “biggest fight in UFC history,” per ESPN, Weidman and Silva will step back into the Octagon to settle the score at UFC 168. The rematch will take place on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, the same building where the Brazilian king was felled the first time around.

During the lead-up to his first championship opportunity, the Long Island native’s confidence never wavered. While defeating Silva seemed to be a mythical accomplishment, the pressure and mystique was absent for the challenger.

He knew he had the tools to get the job done the first time, and his confidence is such going into the rematch that he’s taking a step no other high-profile fighter in combat sports has taken before with his latest endeavor, TheChampChallenge.com.

MMA is a sport where strategy, talent and preparation are woven into an intricate six-to-eight-week dance, and Weidman is allowing fans, or Silva and his team if they so choose, to gain full access to everything he’s doing in the lead-up to their rematch.

Secrecy or disclosure be damned, Weidman is taking the hood off the machine to allow the world to see how the engine runs. Other athletes have taken part in behind-the-scenes features the likes of HBO’s 24/7 or the UFC’s own Primetime series, but with his “Champ Challenge,” the middleweight title holder is giving new meaning to the term “all access.”

From the onset of his training camp, fans will get an intimate look at every aspect of Weidman‘s road to UFC 168. Every workout inside the gym will take place under the watchful eyes of multiple cameras, as they stream a live feed to the website throughout the 10-week training camp.

Whether it is grappling, sparring, strength and conditioning routines or his nutritional plan, nothing Weidman does to prepare for Silva will be off-limits.

Where there are plenty of moving parts in play to make this situation unique, perhaps the most interesting is what the project says about Weidman‘s approach to the rematch with Silva. Taking on an endeavor of this magnitude, all while settling in for his first camp as the 185-pound champion, shows Weidman‘s continued willingness to face unique challenges in order to take his career to the next level.

Four short months ago, Silva was the most feared mixed martial artist on the planet, and Weidman‘s steadiness served to take a chunk out of the Brazilian’s legacy. Now, with that same focus intact, the newly crowned champion is upping the ante across the board in the sport by pulling back the curtain and letting the world in.

Although the fruits of his labor in the aftermath of one of the greatest upsets in UFC history have been his to enjoy, Weidman is putting this next endeavor up for the fans. The support he’s received since becoming the middleweight champion has been overwhelming, and the chance to keep up with him every step of the journey is an option he’s happy to provide.

“It’s pretty much giving access to everything I do to the fans because I think they deserve it,” Weidman told Bleacher Report. “You get my nutritional plan for the day, every single day. You get my list of workouts and the videos of those workouts. My gym is set up for 24-hour access, and everyone who signs up will get to see everything I’m doing to beat Anderson Silva in this fight. It’s a new and exciting step for me and the sport as well. It’s not going to be easy. It is going to be a lot of work, but the fans have given me so much support, and I believe they deserve it.”

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Tito Ortiz: UFC Protecting ‘Little Brat’ Ronda Rousey from Fighting Cyborg

Bellator light heavyweight Tito Ortiz remains one of the most outspoken competitors in the fight game, whether he’s talking about his career or one of his clients. 
The self-proclaimed “People’s Champion” tore into UFC women’s bantamweight titleho…

Bellator light heavyweight Tito Ortiz remains one of the most outspoken competitors in the fight game, whether he’s talking about his career or one of his clients. 

The self-proclaimed “People’s Champion” tore into UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey in an interview with Fighters Only, saying the UFC was protecting her from a showdown with his star client, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino. 

They (the UFC) pushed this fight of her and Ronda at 135 so much. The last time I saw Ronda call out Cris Cyborg, Ronda was actually at 145. So she cut down to 135 to stay avoid Cris. … I think her head is getting to her. I watched a couple episodes (of The Ultimate Fighter) and she seems like a little brat, likes she’s too good for everybody else. That’s the attitude you don’t want, especially as a coach. People see me on The Ultimate Fighter season three, season eleven, I never thought I was better than anybody else. … She’s being protected by the UFC and if she keeps being protected she will always be known as second-best. I haven’t seen any great stand-up skills. I have seen her closing the gap and taking a girl down and arm-barring her. I don’t think she even knows any moves other than an armbar.

Ortiz, who returns from a 16-month layoff from the cage to fight follow ex-UFC champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 106 on November 2, asked to have Justino released from her UFC contract in February, per MMA Weekly. 

The two sides parted ways after an agreement could not be reached for a Rousey-Cyborg superfight.

Justino has fought her entire career at featherweight, while Rousey cut down to bantamweight for the first time in March 2012, where she won the Strikeforce strap from rival Miesha Tate.

Rousey is currently 7-0 as a professional mixed martial artist, finishing each opponent with a predictable, yet seemingly unstoppable, armbar. 

She next defends her title against Tate at UFC 168, with the women’s title bout serving as the co-main event of the December 28 pay-per-view. 

Meanwhile, the equally dominant Cyborg hasn’t lost since her pro debut in May 2005, though her record was tarnished when she tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol in December 2011, per MMA Junkie.   

After serving her nine-month suspension, the hard-hitting Brazilian has rallied back with three straight technical knockouts, capturing the Invicta Fighting Championships featherweight title in July and also winning her first Muay Thai fight in nearly seven years late last month. 

Ortiz also told Fighters Only that he expects Justino “to do an Anderson Silva” and put together a very lengthy undefeated streak. 

Prior to losing the UFC middleweight title to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July, Silva won 17 fights in a row, including a record-setting 10 title defenses, and went over seven years without tasting defeat. 

Will the intriguing Rousey vs. Cyborg matchup ever come to fruition or will the compelling women’s title bout remain just a fantasy fight? 

 

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

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Dana White: Uriah Hall Will Be Cut from UFC If He Loses Next Fight

A few months ago, Dana White was singing Uriah Hall’s praises as MMA’s next breakout star, but now he is reportedly prepared to sever ties with The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 runner-up.
During the world tour for UFC 168, via BJPenn.com, the…

A few months ago, Dana White was singing Uriah Hall’s praises as MMA’s next breakout star, but now he is reportedly prepared to sever ties with The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 runner-up.

During the world tour for UFC 168, via BJPenn.com, the UFC President broke the news that Hall’s future hangs in the balance in his next fight:

I don’t ever think of matches as the loser leaves town unless you’re talking about Uriah Hall’s next fight.  Uriah Hall needs to win a fight, or Uriah Hall will be leaving town.

Hall’s UFC career hasn’t panned out like most expected.

In his debut, he lost a split decision to Kelvin Gastelum in the TUF 17 Finale. White was especially upset about Hall’s performance. At the post-fight media scrum for the event, he said Hall “mentally broke” during the fight.

As shocking as it may seem, those comments were relatively tame in comparison to what White had to say at the post-fight scrum for UFC Fight Night 26, where Hall lost another split decision to John Howard:

I love Uriah Hall. I have a great relationship with this kid. He’s one of the nicest human beings you can ever meet. He’s not a fighter man. …Uriah Hall has all the physical attributes to be amazing. He’s got speed, he’s got power, he’s unbelievable. He doesn’t have what it mentally takes to fight [in the UFC].

White’s damnation of Hall as a fighter is interesting considering both of the losses ended in split decisions against legitimate opposition.

Gastelum is arguably the most underrated fighter to ever come off TUF, and Howard is an incredibly tough veteran who always puts up a valiant effort against upper-echelon opposition. It isn’t like Hall is dropping convincing losses to fighters at the bottom of the totem pole.

Few fighters steal White’s attention to this degree. As stated above, White even claimed he doesn’t like making “loser leaves town” fights. Why do so in Hall’s case?

Perhaps White is upset that Hall hasn’t developed into the fighter he hoped he would become. There certainly isn’t any questioning White’s assessment on Hall. He has all of the physical tools to be a serious force at 185 pounds, but for whatever reason he hasn’t been able to get the job done when it really counts.

The mantra in the UFC is typically three strikes and you’re out. At UFC 168, Hall will try to avoid a third strike when he faces Chris Leben.

White’s tough love and the threat of having everything taken away from him may finally awaken the untapped potential within Hall. If not, then perhaps White is right.

Hall doesn’t have what it takes to fight in the UFC.

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