Tag: UFC Fight Night 25

UFC Fight Night 25 Weigh-In Results: Jake Shields, Jake Ellenberger on Weight

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – For a bunch of fighters cutting weight all week, there might not be a better city in the country to put a few pounds back on than New Orleans.

All 24 fighters for UFC Fight Night 25 made weight Friday at Spanish Pl…

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NEW ORLEANS – For a bunch of fighters cutting weight all week, there might not be a better city in the country to put a few pounds back on than New Orleans.

All 24 fighters for UFC Fight Night 25 made weight Friday at Spanish Plaza in New Orleans on the banks of the Mississippi River. UFC Fight Night 25 takes place Saturday at the Ernest R. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the UFC’s first trip to “The Big Easy” since UFC 29.

Main event fighters Jake Shields (171) and Jake Ellenberger (170) each made weight for their welterweight bout. Shields fights for the first time since the death of his father and manager, Jack Shields, last month. Shields is coming off a five-round decision loss to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Ellenberger seeks his fifth straight win.

Also on the main card, co-main event fighters Court McGee and Dong-Yi Yang weighed in at 184.5 and 186 pounds, respectively, for their middleweight bout. McGee returns for the first time since a UFC 121 submission win over Ryan Jensen, moving him to 2-0 on the UFC after winning Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Hand and knee injuries have kept him on the shelf since then.

Another TUF winner, TUF 12 champ Jonathan Brookins, weighed in at 145.5 for his fight against Erik Koch, who is looking for his third straight fight night bonus award and fourth straight win. Koch was 146.

And Alan Belcher returns for the first time in 16 months following a pair of surgeries for a detached retina to fight Jason MacDonald in a middleweight bout to open the televised card on Spike TV. MacDonald returned in April after a nearly yearlong layoff for a broken leg and submitted Jensen at UFC 129. Belcher was 186 after stripping down; MacDonald was 185.

On the preliminary card, “The Ultimate Fighter” vets Shamar Bailey (156) and Cody McKenzie (155.5) were each on weight for their fights against Evan Dunham (156) and Vagner Rocha (155.5), respectively. The eight-fight preliminary card streams live on the UFC’s Facebook page.

The complete weigh-in results are below:

Main Card
Jake Shields (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170)
Court McGee (184.5) vs. Dongi Yang (186)
Jonathan Brookins (145.5) vs. Erik Koch (146)
Alan Belcher (186) vs. Jason MacDonald (185)

Facebook Prelims
Cody McKenzie (155.5) vs. Vagner Rocha (155.5)
Evan Dunham (156) vs. Shamar Bailey (156)
Matt Riddle (171) vs. Lance Benoist (170.5)
Ken Stone (136) vs. Donny Walker (135.5)
Clay Harvison (170) vs. Seth Baczynski (171)
TJ Waldburger (171) vs. Mike Stumpf (171)
Mike Lullo (146) vs. Robert Peralta (145.5)
Justin Edwards (171) vs. Jorge Lopez (171)

 

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UFC’s Erik Koch Looking to Finish Jonathan Brookins, Move into Title Contention

At 22 years of age, Roufusport featherweight Erik Koch (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is quickly placing himself into title contention. Koch’s knockout victory over Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Raphael Assuncao in his UFC debut was nothing short of impres…

At 22 years of age, Roufusport featherweight Erik Koch (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is quickly placing himself into title contention.

Koch’s knockout victory over Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Raphael Assuncao in his UFC debut was nothing short of impressive.

Additionally, he’s on a three fight win streak that includes a knockout and submission victory during his final two bouts in the now defunct WEC. According to Koch, the success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

“I was just talking about it yesterday,” Koch recently told BleacherReport.com. “When I say I’m training like a mad man (and) I’m always in the best shape of my life, I’m not joking man. Every chance, I try to push it just a little bit more and when I say ‘I’m doing more things each day,’ I’m not even joking. It’s my job, I take it very seriously, and this is all I do. So, I feel like if this is going to be your full-time job, then you need to treat it like one. I think the last couple fights have shown (that) it’s paid off. I didn’t even get to show my conditioning or anything like that just because skill kind of just took over. Other than that, you got to be ready anything and that’s why I train like an animal.

”I’m originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and that’s the Iowa work ethic, one of my favorite expressions is ‘Embrace the grind.’ Sometimes you just have to be crazier than the next guy, you have to think (that) all these guys in the UFC want the same thing, they want the same title, everybody’s shooting for the same goal, and no one’s resting. They’re training and they’re looking forward to the one day that they can get in the cage and beat you up and you have to do that exact same thing.”

Koch will put his countless hours of training to the test against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at Ultimate Fight Night 25, which will be aired Saturday night on Spike TV.

The Wisconsin based fighter has the opportunity to take the spotlight off Brookins and place himself in the top-tier of featherweights in the organization.

“It’s definitely a good fight for me,” Koch said. “Because he is an Ultimate Fighter alumni, he won the show, and it’s just good that I get to get in there and get a spot on the main card. People are really going to see what I can do and it’s the same thing, it’s another fight and I’m going to go in there and do the exact same thing I do to everybody and that’s either submit them or knock them out. I don’t want to go to a decision, I want to finish it.”

Getting a spot on the aforementioned main card isn’t something that Koch was able to get in his organizational debut.

Of course, the fact that he debuted on a pay-per-view event didn’t help his chances. But with two vicious knockouts in back-to-back fights, Koch’s stock is high, and he’s excited to showcase his skills on national television.

“I’m pumped,” Koch said. “I haven’t been on the main card except for once (In the WEC). I’ve got on T.V., but that’s because of my performance. To be guaranteed a main card, it shows me a little respect and it shows that what I’m doing is paying off and it also gets to hype the fight a little more. People get to know the backstory and they already know what the card is and they know what fights are going to be on T.V. So, I’m already getting a lot more recognition because it’s on T.V. alone rather than being on a preliminary card. I’m excited and I’m loving it.”

Success against Brookins, who’s coming down from lightweight, likely places him in the upper echelon of fighters at 145 pounds, and it’s exactly where Koch believes that he belongs.  

“Beating Brookins, I place myself in the top three,” Koch said. “I want to fight somebody like Jose Aldo, Kenny Florian, rematch with (Chad) Mendes, any of those fights. I want the tough fights, if I can really put a stamp on this and destroy Brookins then I think I deserve my shot. Not only am I on a tear, I’m really tearing people up, I’m giving knockouts, and if I can keep performances like that going then I definitely think I deserve it.”

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Erik Koch Believes Another Quick Win Should Earn Him a UFC Title Shot

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.”

That quote is from Aristotle, not Erik Koch. But even if the 22-year-old featherweight has never heard it before, he seems to be putting that advice to good us…

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NEW ORLEANS – “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.”

That quote is from Aristotle, not Erik Koch. But even if the 22-year-old featherweight has never heard it before, he seems to be putting that advice to good use.

Koch has made a good habit of first-round wins – three straight – and Knockout of the Night bonuses – two in a row – and he’s of the belief that one more of each on Saturday will make all the difference that could get him a title shot.

Koch, one of the rising stars from Duke Roufus’ Roufusport gym in Milwaukee, fights season 12 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Jonathan Brookins on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans. And teeming with confidence, Koch said he’s ready to have his name officially on the map.

“I think if I can do what I want and get another Knockout of the Night or (win) fast in the first round, I think I deserve (a title shot) right away,” Koch said Thursday after a workout at the New Orleans Athletic Club.

Koch (12-1, 1-0 UFC) last lost in March 2010, a unanimous decision to current featherweight contender Chad Mendes. Since then, he’s been on a tear, closing out his WEC career with a pair of wins before making a big statement with a first-round knockout of Rafael Assuncao in his UFC debut at UFC 128 in March.

Featherweight champ Jose Aldo has, of course, been on the division’s biggest streak. He defends his belt next month against Kenny Florian, who will fight for just the second time in the weight class. But aside from Mendes, who is unbeaten at 11-0, Koch doesn’t see why his name isn’t right there at the top of the list.

“That would be four in a row in the first round – it’s a hell of a streak,” Koch said. “I don’t know anyone else at 145 with a (winning) streak like that other than Chad, and I know he definitely deserves it.”

The beauty of all of this, as Koch sees it, lies in the ambition with which he’s attacking his goal of becoming a UFC champion. At only 22, one would think he has more than his fair share of time ahead of him in the sport. But that has made Koch all the hungrier.

“I definitely want a Top 3 spot (if I win) – Aldo for a title, or Florian, or the loser of that, or Mendes,” Koch said. “I want one of those top fights – I want my title. And I want to do it while I’m still young. I want it by the end of 2012.”

It’s a lofty goal, but one that seems to suit Koch’s personality.

“My confidence level has always been really high,” he said, before also explaining that he sure is having fun with it. “It’s hard work, and it’s my job, but I’m fortunate that I love my job. It’s a roller coaster ride, but I’m enjoying it.”

Koch and Brookins fight on the main card of UFC Fight Night 25 at the Ernest R. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on Saturday. The main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. Eastern.

 

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UFC Fight Night and Bellator: Rating the Weekend’s Fights for Their Fun Factor

This weekend we have the Bellator fights, but we also have a UFC fight night. Both fights are free on TV, but no matter what platform fights appear on, they should still be rated by how exciting they’re going to be. So with that said lets get to t…

This weekend we have the Bellator fights, but we also have a UFC fight night. 

Both fights are free on TV, but no matter what platform fights appear on, they should still be rated by how exciting they’re going to be. So with that said lets get to the rating breakdown.

1 = Only use this as an aide to cure insomnia.

2=Will have some entertainment value.

3=Decent fight that, just like most matinee movies, you won’t remember three hours after you watch it, but you’ll enjoy yourself while it’s on.

4=A good fight that will keep you on your toes.

5=A fight with a little bit of everything.

6=They don’t get much better than this. After watching it your voice is a little hoarse from all the yelling but it will worth it.

7=They don’t get any better than this… ever.  Forget sleep and forget your voice, because you won’t be speaking normal again until Friday.

Now that that’s out of the way, lets move on.

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Win a ‘Warrior’ Prize Package in Our ‘Shields vs. Ellenberger’ Fight-Picking Contest!

If you still haven’t made it out out to the multiplex to see The Greatest MMA Movie Ever Filmed™, today might be your lucky day. Lionsgate just hooked us up with a box of Warrior-related goodies — free movie passes, Warrior t-shirts, and a copy of The Men of Warrior photo-book — and we’re going to unload it all in a Fight-Picking Fire Sale.

This Saturday, UFC Fight Night 25: Shields vs. Ellemberger goes down in New Orleans, featuring Jake Shields‘s battle against surging contender Jake Ellenberger, and Court McGee‘s return against South Korean middleweight prospect Dongi Yang. Submit your predictions for these two fights in the comments section below, including the winner’s name, the method of victory, and the time/round of stoppage, if any. Your entry should be in this format:

If you still haven’t made it out out to the multiplex to see The Greatest MMA Movie Ever Filmed™, today might be your lucky day. Lionsgate just hooked us up with a box of Warrior-related goodies — free movie passes, Warrior t-shirts, and a copy of The Men of Warrior photo-book — and we’re going to unload it all in a Fight-Picking Fire Sale.

This Saturday, UFC Fight Night 25: Shields vs. Ellemberger goes down in New Orleans, featuring Jake Shields‘s battle against surging contender Jake Ellenberger, and Court McGee‘s return against South Korean middleweight prospect Dongi Yang. Submit your predictions for these two fights in the comments section below, including the winner’s name, the method of victory, and the time/round of stoppage, if any. Your entry should be in this format:

– Jake Shields def. Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision, (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
– Dongi Yang def. Court McGee via TKO, 1:36 of round 3

Please include the judges’ scores if you think a fight will end in a decision, in case we need them for a tie-breaker. The most accurate prediction wins a pair of movie passes, a shirt, and the book. Second place just gets the movies passes. But still, not a bad deal for being the first loser, right? Entries must be in by tomorrow at noon ET, and we’ll announce the winner by Monday. One entry per person, please. Any other questions, let us know. Thanks for playing, and follow Warrior on Twitter @lionsgatemovies!

UFC Fight Night 25: Predictions You Can Take to the Bank

The Battle on the Bayou goes down Saturday, September 17th, at 9PM ET on SPIKE TV.Headlined by a welterweight showdown between grappling ace Jake Shields and the heavy-handed Jake Ellenberger, the main card features four competitive fights showcasing s…

The Battle on the Bayou goes down Saturday, September 17th, at 9PM ET on SPIKE TV.

Headlined by a welterweight showdown between grappling ace Jake Shields and the heavy-handed Jake Ellenberger, the main card features four competitive fights showcasing several promising up-and-comers:

  • Alan “The Talent” Belcher vs. Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald
  • Erik “New Breed” Koch vs. Jonathan Brookins
  • Court “The Crusher” McGee vs. Dongi “The Ox” Yang
  • Jake Shields vs. Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger

Though likely to be overshadowed by boxing’s Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz, this card is a gem for fight fans, and is free on TV to boot. Oh, and it has a few nice betting opportunities, which never hurts.

Without further ado, let’s get to the fights…

All betting odds courtesy of Bodog.eu. I take no responsibility for your crushing gambling addiction.

 

 

Follow Matt on Twitter, @TheFightingPost

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