Tag: UFC fight booking

Booking Update: Shogun vs. Sonnen to Headline ‘UFC on FOX Sports 1:1?, T.J. Grant vs. Ben Henderson Gets Top Billing at UFC 164


(God damn right.)

It’s official, Nation: Chael Sonnen vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua WILL headline UFC on FOX Sports 1:1, a.k.a “the best television card the UFC has ever done.” While at first glance, a fight between two guys coming off losses doesn’t seem like a great main event for a card this stacked (and makes you wonder if the UFC had a planned main event to begin with), it’s surely a matchup that fans can get excited about nonetheless. And if they aren’t, Sonnen will fondle every available Sportscenter anchor within a 500 mile radius to ensure that you are at least aware that the fight is going down.

The matchup was all but a done deal for next weekend’s UFC 161 card until visa issues forced Sonnen to bow out of the fight he had — like a true American Gangster — offered to take on short notice just days ago. Rua was thusly pulled from the card altogether, but hinted that a potential showdown with Sonnen could take place over the summer.

Sonnen vs. Shogun will now headline the August 17th-scheduled card that already includes such marquee matchups as Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne, Thiago Alves vs. Matt Brown, and Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson. Oh yeah, and Uriah Hall and Conor McGregor will be on the card as well. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go take a printout of this lineup behind the bushes for a few minutes.

In other fight booking news…


(God damn right.)

It’s official, Nation: Chael Sonnen vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua WILL headline UFC on FOX Sports 1:1, a.k.a “the best television card the UFC has ever done.” While at first glance, a fight between two guys coming off losses doesn’t seem like a great main event for a card this stacked (and makes you wonder if the UFC had a planned main event to begin with), it’s surely a matchup that fans can get excited about nonetheless. And if they aren’t, Sonnen will fondle every available Sportscenter anchor within a 500 mile radius to ensure that you are at least aware that the fight is going down.

The matchup was all but a done deal for next weekend’s UFC 161 card until visa issues forced Sonnen to bow out of the fight he had — like a true American Gangster – offered to take on short notice just days ago. Rua was thusly pulled from the card altogether, but hinted that a potential showdown with Sonnen could take place over the summer.

Sonnen vs. Shogun will now headline the August 17th-scheduled card that already includes such marquee matchups as Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne, Thiago Alves vs. Matt Brown, and Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson. Oh yeah, and Uriah Hall and Conor McGregor will be on the card as well. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go take a printout of this lineup behind the bushes for a few minutes.

In other fight booking news…

Speaking of the FS 1:1 card, the lightweight title fight between T.J Grant and Ben Henderson — which was also rumored for the Boston card — has been announced as the headliner for UFC 164. Featuring a heavyweight showdown between Josh Barnett and Frank Mir, as well as a pair of interesting featherweight bouts in Chad Mendes vs. Clay Guida and Dustin Poirier vs. Eric Koch, UFC 164 goes down in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 31st, making it the fourth UFC event to transpire in the month of August. This is normally where we’d accuse the UFC of spreading itself too thin, but with cards like these, we’ll just keep our trap shut for the time being.

And finally, it has recently been announced that TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum — like Jonathan Brookins, John Dodson, Mac Danzig, and a slew of TUF winners before him — will be dropping down a weight class for his first post-TUF fight. Gastelum will meet Paulo Thiago in a welterweight contest at UFC on FOX Sports 1: Kampmann vs. Condit on, you guessed it, August 28th in Indianapolis. Sheesh, looks like I’ll be working weekends in the near future.

–J. Jones

Whatever the Opposite of ‘Barnburer Alert’ Is: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis Booked for UFC 163


(“You’ll love it, son, it’s called a ur-pee.”) 

Yesterday, we informed you that a sure-to-be-slugfest in Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit II had been booked for the UFC’s second FOX Sports 1 card. There was much rejoicing. Today, however, we bring you word of a matchup slightly lower on The Chris Lytle Barnburner Scale: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis, which has recently been given the greenlight for UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis in August. Looks like “The Dragon” won’t be getting that title shot he was promised…again.

To be fair, Lyoto was offered a short notice shot against Jon Jones at UFC 152 after beating down Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4, but turned it down citing not enough time to prepare (meanwhile, Chael Sonnen just offered to fight Cain “El Pollo Grande” Velasquez — his words, not ours — in a Taco Bell parking lot tomorrow). Although Machida was again promised a title shot with a win over Dan Henderson at UFC 157, his somewhat uninspiring performance, coupled with Jon Jones’ toe injury, threw a wrench into those plans. Machida has been relegated to turning down a fight with Alexander Gustafsson, then begging for a fight with Alexander Gustafsson ever since. Sad.

Davis is also on the heels of a less-than-spectacular (fine, let’s call it what it was, abysmal) performance — albeit in victory — over Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159. Suffice it to say, if the thought of seeing Rashad Evans try to score 50 takedowns against Hendo at UFC 161 really gets your engine revving, then you are going to need a Valium or six to make it through the spectacle that will be Davis sauntering after Machida for three rounds attempting to do the same.

–J. Jones


(“You’ll love it, son, it’s called a ur-pee.”) 

Yesterday, we informed you that a sure-to-be-slugfest in Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit II had been booked for the UFC’s second FOX Sports 1 card. There was much rejoicing. Today, however, we bring you word of a matchup slightly lower on The Chris Lytle Barnburner Scale: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis, which has recently been given the greenlight for UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis in August. Looks like “The Dragon” won’t be getting that title shot he was promised…again.

To be fair, Lyoto was offered a short notice shot against Jon Jones at UFC 152 after beating down Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4, but turned it down citing not enough time to prepare (meanwhile, Chael Sonnen just offered to fight Cain “El Pollo Grande” Velasquez – his words, not ours — in a Taco Bell parking lot tomorrow). Although Machida was again promised a title shot with a win over Dan Henderson at UFC 157, his somewhat uninspiring performance, coupled with Jon Jones’ toe injury, threw a wrench into those plans. Machida has been relegated to turning down a fight with Alexander Gustafsson, then begging for a fight with Alexander Gustafsson ever since. Sad.

Davis is also on the heels of a less-than-spectacular (fine, let’s call it what it was, abysmal) performance — albeit in victory — over Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159. Suffice it to say, if the thought of seeing Rashad Evans try to score 50 takedowns against Hendo at UFC 161 really gets your engine revving, then you are going to need a Valium or six to make it through the spectacle that will be Davis sauntering after Machida for three rounds attempting to do the same.

–J. Jones

Report: Demian Maia to Face Josh Koscheck [WUT] at UFC 163 in Rio on August 3rd


(CUUUUURSSSSEE YOOOOUUUU JOOOOEEEE SILLLVVVVAA!!!)

Far be it from us to accuse UFC matchmaker and noted “mean little f*cker” Joe Silva of phoning it in, but when rumors started to circulate that former middleweight title challenger and reborn welterweight Demian Maia would be facing former welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck, we balked at the idea. Balked I tell you! Sure, Koscheck’s a seasoned veteran, perennial contender, and world-renowned motorboater, but in what universe does it make sense to have a guy on a two-fight losing skid fight a guy on a three-fight winning streak? This one, apparently.

Brazilian outlet NewsMMA was the first to report the matchup, which has since been confirmed by both fighters Sherdog pages.

Like we said, we were quick to dismiss the notion of this pairing…at first. But then we got to thinking: What possible motivation could the UFC have for booking this fight? And then, it all became so clear. The UFC is severing its ties with Josh Koscheck. 

Don’t buy it? Well, let’s just take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?


(CUUUUURSSSSEE YOOOOUUUU JOOOOEEEE SILLLVVVVAA!!!)

Far be it from us to accuse UFC matchmaker and noted “mean little f*cker” Joe Silva of phoning it in, but when rumors started to circulate that former middleweight title challenger and reborn welterweight Demian Maia would be facing former welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck, we balked at the idea. Balked I tell you! Sure, Koscheck’s a seasoned veteran, perennial contender, and world-renowned motorboater, but in what universe does it make sense to have a guy on a two-fight losing skid fight a guy on a three-fight winning streak? This one, apparently.

Brazilian outlet NewsMMA was the first to report the matchup, which has since been confirmed by both fighters Sherdog pages.

Like we said, we were quick to dismiss the notion of this pairing…at first. But then we got to thinking: What possible motivation could the UFC have for booking this fight? And then, it all became so clear. The UFC is severing its ties with Josh Koscheck. 

Don’t buy it? Well, let’s just take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

As we all know, the UFC’s current roster is about 100 fighters heavy — this is according to none other than UFC President Dana White. In an attempt to right the ship, the promotion has resorted to several mass firings over the past few months, mass firings that have left half the lot of TUF 17 contestants, unofficial Zuffa political advisor Jacob Volkmann, and the likes of Terry Etim and Paul Sass (among others) in the dust.

Also claimed by the great deluge of 2013 was former welterweight title challenger Jon Fitch, who was seemingly tossed out like yesterday’s trash after spending upwards of seven years with the promotion. Here’s what Dana White had to say about the “super f*cking expensive” AKA product when attempting to explain the reasoning behind his departure:

Jon Fitch was ranked number nine, OK, however you want to look at that, he’s ranked number nine, whether it’s right or wrong or the rankings are bullshit or whatever. Ranked number nine right now. Now, this isn’t a case where Jon Fitch was ranked No. 9, No. 7, No. 6, No. 4, No. 2 and then we cut him. He was ranked No. 1, fought for the title and then he was ranked No. 2. He was ranked No. 3, 6, 7, and now he’s 9. That’s called the downside of your career. He’s on the downside… He’s super f—ing expensive.

If a #9 ranked, former welterweight title challenger with a 2-2-1 record in his past 5 fights who makes $66,000 to show is “too expensive” and on the “downside” of his career, then how do you think DW will view Koscheck — the #10 ranked welterweight who makes $78,000 to show and is 2-3 in his last 5 — should he drop a third straight fight to Maia? And why, for that matter, would the UFC set up what is essentially a lose-lose matchup for Maia at this point?

The answer is simple; this is Koscheck’s sink-or-swim fight. It would appear that the UFC wants him to sink. He’s just come off the second TKO loss of his career — to a pretty hefty underdog, no less — and has next to no chance of fighting for the title as long as GSP is still around. According to our chart, Koscheck is simply too fucking expensive to continue fighting for the UFC, and the Zuffa Gods have realized this.

Watch your back, Crippler. There is a Judas in your midst.

–J. Jones

Barnburner Alert: John Makdessi vs. Edson Barboza Joins Stacked UFC 162 Card


(“I don’t mean to freak you out, Terry, but there’s a bee on your nose. Now if you just hold still…I’m gonna try something here.”) 

As if UFC 162 wasn’t already stacked enough, word broke earlier today that a lightweight matchup between John Makdessi and Edson Barboza has been booked for the event as well. Set to transpire on Fourth of July weekend, UFC 162 not only feature the much-anticipated middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman, but a trio of ridiculously awesome featherweight fights and yes, the return of Dave Herman.

After suffering his only career defeat in one of the greatest upsets of 2012 (via TKO to Jamie Varner), Barboza recently rebounded with a first round TKO of Lucas “Why me, God, WHY?!” Martins at UFC on FX 7. Currently 3-2 in the octagon, Makdessi has been able to right the course in his past two fights, bouncing back from a two fight skid with UD victories over Sam Stout and Daron Cruickshank.

We don’t mean to overhype it, but this fight has all the ingredients for a end of the night bonus at the minimum and a FOTY nomination at best. And what’s the only way to make a great fight even better? That’s right, a drinking game. Here are the rules we will be playing by during Makdessi/Barboza:

1. For every attempted spinning backfist/kick, take a drink.
2. For every landed spinning whatchamacallit, take two drinks.
3. If Mike Goldberg mentions “the slapping sound” made by a leg kick, finish your beer.
4. If Rogan informs Goldberg (for the billionth time) shortly thereafter that the best leg kicks are the ones that make no sound, shout out your favorite Goldbergism and take a shot.
5. If it ends in a knockout/TKO, finish your beer.
6. If Joe Rogan completely loses his sh*t during the fight (ala Boetsch/Okami), take a bong rip, finish your beer, and Ezekiel choke the person closest to you.

Check out the crazy lineup for UFC 162 after the jump. 


(“I don’t mean to freak you out, Terry, but there’s a bee on your nose. Now if you just hold still…I’m gonna try something here.”) 

As if UFC 162 wasn’t already stacked enough, word broke earlier today that a lightweight matchup between John Makdessi and Edson Barboza has been booked for the event as well. Set to transpire on Fourth of July weekend, UFC 162 not only feature the much-anticipated middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman, but a trio of ridiculously awesome featherweight fights and yes, the return of Dave Herman.

After suffering his only career defeat in one of the greatest upsets of 2012 (via TKO to Jamie Varner), Barboza recently rebounded with a first round TKO of Lucas “Why me, God, WHY?!” Martins at UFC on FX 7. Currently 3-2 in the octagon, Makdessi has been able to right the course in his past two fights, bouncing back from a two fight skid with UD victories over Sam Stout and Daron Cruickshank.

We don’t mean to overhype it, but this fight has all the ingredients for a end of the night bonus at the minimum and a FOTY nomination at best. And what’s the only way to make a great fight even better? That’s right, a drinking game. Here are the rules we will be playing by during Makdessi/Barboza:

1. For every attempted spinning backfist/kick, take a drink.
2. For every landed spinning whatchamacallit, take two drinks.
3. If Mike Goldberg mentions “the slapping sound” made by a leg kick, finish your beer.
4. If Rogan informs Goldberg (for the billionth time) shortly thereafter that the best leg kicks are the ones that make no sound, shout out your favorite Goldbergism and take a shot.
5. If it ends in a knockout/TKO, finish your beer.
6. If Joe Rogan completely loses his sh*t during the fight (ala Boetsch/Okami), take a bong rip, finish your beer, and Ezekiel choke the person closest to you.

Check out the crazy lineup for UFC 162 after the jump. 

-Champ Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman
-Chan Sung Jung vs. Ricardo Lamas
-Tim Boetsch vs. Mark Munoz
-Frankie Edgar vs. Charles Oliveira
-Dennis Siver vs. Cub Swanson
-Roger Gracie vs. Tim Kennedy
-Andrew Craig vs. Chris Leben
-David Mitchell vs. Mike Pierce*
-Edson Barboza vs. John Makdessi
-Seth Baczynski vs. Brian Melancon
-Shane Del Rosario vs. Dave Herman
* – Not officially announced

–J. Jones

Barnburner Alert: Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Added to UFC 161 in Winnipeg

 

Of all the attempts to exploit female MMA fighters for their looks, the above photo of Alexis Davis might be the most confusing. I mean, she’s clearly an attractive woman to those of us with non-Internet standards, but did the photographer responsible for this realize that WMMA is not Foxy Boxing? If you want to do a sexy photo shoot showcasing the “feminine” side of a female fighter (makeup, hurr did, etc.), then do a sexy photo shoot. If you want to showcase your female fighter as a female fighter, then have her throw on the gloves and maybe hit some heavy bags like you would with anyone else. Combining the two just seems…impractical and kind of counterproductive to the whole “we are more than just a pretty face” WMMA ideology, does it not?

Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox to pass along the news that Davis has just been booked to take on wrestling powerhouse and qualified osteopath Rosi Sexton at UFC 161 in June. According to the UFC, the fight will air on the pay-per-view portion of the card that already features Shogun vs. Lil’ Nog II and Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson (man, Hendo appears to just be rolling in it these days).

 

Of all the attempts to exploit female MMA fighters for their looks, the above photo of Alexis Davis might be the most confusing. I mean, she’s clearly an attractive woman to those of us with non-Internet standards, but did the photographer responsible for this realize that WMMA is not Foxy Boxing? If you want to do a sexy photo shoot showcasing the “feminine” side of a female fighter (makeup, hurr did, etc.), then do a sexy photo shoot. If you want to showcase your female fighter as a female fighter, then have her throw on the gloves and maybe hit some heavy bags like you would with anyone else. Combining the two just seems…impractical and kind of counterproductive to the whole “we are more than just a pretty face” WMMA ideology, does it not?

Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox to pass along the news that Davis has just been booked to take on wrestling powerhouse and qualified osteopath Rosi Sexton at UFC 161 in June. According to the UFC, the fight will air on the pay-per-view portion of the card that already features Shogun vs. Lil’ Nog II and Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson (man, Hendo appears to just be rolling in it these days).

A veteran of the sport since 2007, Davis is riding back-to-back submission victories over Hitomi Akano and Shayna Baszler at Invicta 2 and Invicta 4, respectively. Her battle with Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey easily ranked among the top 10 fights of 2012, if not the top 5, so expect her to put on a show against Sexton, who has collected three straight victories under the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship banner dating back to 2010.

Featuring a headlining interim bantamweight title fight between Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland, UFC 161 is scheduled for June 15th in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

–J. Jones

After Becoming the First Man to Finish Dan Miller, Jordan Mein Makes a Quick Turnaround Against Matt Brown at ‘UFC on FOX 7? [UPDATED]


(Photo courtesy of Getty Images.) 

While we were predicting who the biggest winners of UFC 158 should face in their next fights earlier this week, we unfortunately made one glaring omission: that of 23 year-old Canadian phenom Jordan Mein. If you recall, Mein became the first man ever to finish Dan Miller (via first round TKO) at the event — a feat made all the more impressive when you realize just what kind of killers Miller has faced over his career, along with the fact that he had Mein in a tight armbar just moments before being finished.

And being that Mein was able to come away from the fight practically untouched, it was announced earlier today that “Young Gun” will now being making a quick turnaround against Matt Brown at UFC on FOX 7, as Brown’s original opponent, Dan Hardy, has been forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Barns, they will be burned.

After suffering a horrific 1-4 stretch between 2010-2011, Brown was able to completely (and somewhat unexpectedly) turn his career around in 2012, putting together four straight victories including a KO win over Mike Swick at UFC on FOX 5 last December. Mein, on the other hand, has tasted victory in 9 of his last 10 performances, leaving the likes of Josh Burkman, Joe Riggs, and Evangelista Santos in his wake.

So, Potato Nation, do you have Mein by murder or Brown by…murder?

[UPDATE] 

Turns out Hardy wasn’t injured; he was not given medical clearance for the fight due to a pre-existing condition. Hardy gives us the details via his Twitter after the jump.


(Photo courtesy of Getty Images.) 

While we were predicting who the biggest winners of UFC 158 should face in their next fights earlier this week, we unfortunately made one glaring omission: that of 23 year-old Canadian phenom Jordan Mein. If you recall, Mein became the first man ever to finish Dan Miller (via first round TKO) at the event — a feat made all the more impressive when you realize just what kind of killers Miller has faced over his career, along with the fact that he had Mein in a tight armbar just moments before being finished.

And being that Mein was able to come away from the fight practically untouched, it was announced earlier today that “Young Gun” will now being making a quick turnaround against Matt Brown at UFC on FOX 7, as Brown’s original opponent, Dan Hardy, has been forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Barns, they will be burned.

After suffering a horrific 1-4 stretch between 2010-2011, Brown was able to completely (and somewhat unexpectedly) turn his career around in 2012, putting together four straight victories including a KO win over Mike Swick at UFC on FOX 5 last December. Mein, on the other hand, has tasted victory in 9 of his last 10 performances, leaving the likes of Josh Burkman, Joe Riggs, and Evangelista Santos in his wake.

So, Potato Nation, do you have Mein by murder or Brown by…murder?

[UPDATE] 

Turns out Hardy wasn’t injured; he was not given medical clearance for the fight due to a pre-existing condition. Hardy gives us the details via his Twitter after the jump.

–J. Jones