Tag: UFC on Fox 5

BJ Penn Holds Court at the UFC on Fox 5 Open Workouts

“BJ Penn still holds court, right?”As fans cheered for Penn as he took to the grappling mats, it was apparent that Penn is still as big a name as ever. It makes sense. Penn is considered by all to be a legend in MMA. However, his legacy has recently be…

“BJ Penn still holds court, right?”

As fans cheered for Penn as he took to the grappling mats, it was apparent that Penn is still as big a name as ever. It makes sense. Penn is considered by all to be a legend in MMA. However, his legacy has recently been called into question by Rory MacDonald, his UFC on Fox 5 opponent.

MacDonald is the young phenom in the welterweight division, and the heir apparent to Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title. At the UFC on Fox 5 media scrum, MacDonald had some choice words regarding Penn’s legacy and legendary status.

“He’s like me before. That’s what I would say. I would say what he said. ‘Oh he’s fighting to be remembered, I’m fighting to hurt him.’ That sounds like BJ Penn a couple years ago,” said Penn.

“I think he’s a good fighter. He’s very well-rounded ground and standup. Great coaches. That said, I think it will make for an exciting night for the fans.”

The fight between the two welterweights is unique as the fighters agreed to outside testing from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). Penn has always been outspoken when it comes to drug testing and keeping the sport clean. However, he was very honest when he stated his reasoning for wanting VADA testing for the bout with MacDonald.

“I can sit here and tell you a bunch of BS about how I’m trying to clean up the sport but it’s just to me. I’m just trying to save myself and keep myself healthy.”

After months away from the sport, some were surprised that Penn chose to return to the cage. Penn’s decision to fight at welterweight raised some eyebrows as he’s found the most success at lightweight. 

“I walked away not just because of the Nick Diaz fight but because of the last five fights. I had one win, three losses, and a draw. I was like ‘Where’s this going? What’s the point?’ But as I sat at home to train and do other things, I’m fine. I do well with everybody. Why not step back in?”

“I’m almost 34 now. I don’ t see the point of eating chicken salad and training for six hours off of that. I always thought and I always knew that if I prepared myself properly at 170 pounds that I could do well at 170 pounds.”

He added, “I’ve never walked into the ring and had a guy wipe me right out. It’s never ever happened. If I give a little extra, if I do it properly, I feel like I can be a force in the division.”

Penn faces Rory MacDonald on the main card of UFC on Fox 5 at the KeyArena in Seattle on September 8. 

*All quotes attained by Bleacher Report at the UFC Open Workouts.

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Rua vs. Gustafsson: Shogun Rua Will Wreck Alexander Gustafsson

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been alternating wins and losses since he defeated Chuck Liddell in April 2009.He will look for his first two-fight win streak since then when he faces a tough Swede in Alexander Gustafsson.It has been a tough road for Shogun …

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been alternating wins and losses since he defeated Chuck Liddell in April 2009.

He will look for his first two-fight win streak since then when he faces a tough Swede in Alexander Gustafsson.

It has been a tough road for Shogun in the UFC. After sporting a 12-1 record in PRIDE and winning the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix, he has gone 5-4, but it hasn’t been all bad, considering his reign as UFC Light-heavyweight champion.

Gustafsson isn’t one to back down from, as he is on a five-fight win streak and has only lost once in his 15 professional MMA bouts to date.

Gustafsson has a chance to make a name for himself by defeating a legend and a top-five light-heavyweight, moving him much closer to a future title opportunity.

But he won’t…and here’s why.

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MMA Contenders and Pretenders That Will Be Revealed in December

Tis the season of giving. With the holidays rapidly approaching, it’s almost time to unwrap our first UFC-themed present: UFC on Fox 5.Throughout the month of December, the UFC has elected to provide fans with many presents, including:Five former champ…

Tis the season of giving. With the holidays rapidly approaching, it’s almost time to unwrap our first UFC-themed present: UFC on Fox 5.

Throughout the month of December, the UFC has elected to provide fans with many presents, including:

Five former champs

Four main events

Three American cards

Two title fights

And a partridge in a pear tree.

Too cheesy? Sorry. Sometimes I get caught up in the holiday spirit. 

To make up for my awful attempt at Christmas humor, here is a look at nine fighters who will be competing in December. Each man has an opportunity to take a major step up their divisional ladder.

With quality placement within their respective divisions, there is a lot of ground that can be covered this month. Some of the men on this list can become a contender with a December victory, while others can become champion.

However, the mighty sometimes fall. A series of impressive wins can be washed away with a single defeat. Anyone who doesn’t believe me should ask Mark Munoz.

Here is a look at nine fighters who reveal themselves as either contenders or pretenders in the next four weeks.

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UFC on Fox 5 Fantasy Preview: How to Score Big with Your Henderson-Diaz Picks

Sure, they are stigmatized as a haven for nerds and misfits. They are mocked widely by athletes, television commentators, even by soft drink commercials (how dare you Dr. Pepper).But the truth?Fantasy sports are as mainstream as it gets, literally a…

Sure, they are stigmatized as a haven for nerds and misfits. They are mocked widely by athletes, television commentators, even by soft drink commercials (how dare you Dr. Pepper).

But the truth?

Fantasy sports are as mainstream as it gets, literally a billion-dollar industry.

Unfortunately, for years, mixed martial arts fans have been left on the outside looking in. The sport was mostly ignored by the mainstream media, to the point MMA fans didn’t even have a fantasy sports league of our own to inevitably infuriate us and force us to bore our friends with lame stories about our virtual careers as sports executives.

Yes, there were a handful of “picks” contests, but those are fantasy sports games in name only. Lacking the complexity of a good virtual showdown, they never seemed to gain much traction.

Enter Kountermove. Founder Aaron Ard explains the game:

“Our game is fairly simple on its face; our games are played over a single night during one event. Prior to the event, players get a total of $25,000 fantasy dollars and you get to pick five fighters for your team,” Ard said. “Each fighter is given a specific price by Kountermove. We assign a value for each fighter based on how we believe the fight will go.”

“Points are scored if your fighter scores a finish, wins a round, lands significant strikes, knocks an opponent down, scores takedowns, secures dominant positions or attempts submissions. The more dominant your fighter’s performance, the more points you’re going to score. If you score more points than your opponents, then you win the money.”

This sounds simple, but it’s nearly impossible to get just right. There is a steep, steep learning curve, but that’s where I come in. Kountermove has provided a free game for my readers to enjoy. Play the game, get your feet wet and even win some cash if you choose wisely.

UFC on Fox 5 Fantasy Preview:

The UFC is giving us a Christmas gift early this year, one of the very best cards of 2012, absolutely free on Fox this Saturday. With that holiday spirit in mind, here are five tips, from me to you, that will hopefully put you near the prize money.

Tip 1: You want finishers over grinders. Even if Jon Fitch types are your favorites, they don’t always pay off in fantasy. You get 100 points for a first-round finish, 75 for a second and 50 for a third. Picking guys who have the best chance to finish and finish early is a great way to win

Tip 2: There are exceptions…and a big one happens to pop up in the main event on Fox. You always, always, want to put a Diaz brother on your team. Even when they lose, the sheer volume of strikes tend to add up and score major points. Nate Diaz holds the Kountermove record for the most points by any fighter, scoring 149.5 points against Donald Cerrone earlier this year.

He throws a lot of punches during his fights and is very accurate. In other words, high-volume guys can be even more valuable than finishers, so keep an eye out for them.

Tip 3: Guys fighting in five-round bouts have more value than guys in three-round fights. That’s just simple math—they have two extra rounds to score points. So choose a main eventer, dummy.

Tip 4: My underdog special is Matt Brown. I expect this to be a great fight with both fighters throwing bombs. Mike Swick has a submission and striking advantage but potentially is a bit behind in the wrestling department. If Swick can’t finish quick, I like Brown to pull out a decision.

Tip 5: Best bet on the under-card is Daron Cruickshank. Not only is Cruickshank is bigger than Henry Martinez, he’s also the better striker and the better wrestler. Overall, he is a superior fighter in pretty much every area. What’s not to like?

Take a look at Kountermove and give the game a shot. It’s free, and you can win some cash in my tournament. There is no financial relationship between Kountermove and Bleacher Report or Kountermove and me. I just believe in their product and think it is a game worth playing.

We all consider ourselves experts. Now’s our chance to prove it. See you there.

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UFC on Fox 5 Fight Card: Which Fight Will Steal the Show?

The UFC on FOX 5 show will have no shortage of talent on Saturday night, as the card features three current or former world champions who are set to face three equally talented rising contenders.Billed as one of the biggest MMA cards on network televis…

The UFC on FOX 5 show will have no shortage of talent on Saturday night, as the card features three current or former world champions who are set to face three equally talented rising contenders.

Billed as one of the biggest MMA cards on network television in the recent “Road to the Octagon” special, each of this weekend’s main card fights has the potential to steal the show.  However, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bout with more potential for fireworks than the lightweight title fight between champ Benson Henderson and challenger Nate Diaz.

There’s a good reason why Henderson vs. Diaz is headlining UFC on FOX 5, and it has everything to do with their exciting fighting styles.  Look through their list of accomplishments, and their resumes pretty much speak for themselves.

Combined, Henderson and Diaz have earned 15 fight night bonuses under the Zuffa banner, with a total of nine Fight of the Night awards between the two.  “Smooth” even has two Fight of the Year awards under his belt stemming from his WEC title fights with Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, while Diaz boasts an impressive five Submission of the Night honors during his UFC tenure.

Tenacity, skill and a never-say-die attitude have aided these two top lightweights on their impressive runs to the pinnacle of the division and should make for an historic battle on Saturday night.

Henderson, a powerful and athletic 155er, brings a unique skill set that I doubt Diaz has ever faced before.  Not only is “Smooth” strong and extremely well-conditioned, but his fantastic mix of powerful strikes and kicks, slick submission skills and a solid wrestling base, makes the well-rounded Henderson a difficult champ to dethrone.

Henderson has the uncanny ability to wiggle out of even the tightest of submissions, which should make for an interesting battle on the ground opposite Diaz‘s black belt level BJJ skills.

The Stockton born lightweight also has insane boxing skills and cardio for days, so expect both guys to test each other in virtually every aspect of the game.  I wouldn’t be surprised if this bout fills all five rounds with non-stop action.

While I’m still torn over who I think will come out victorious this weekend, I am certain that this fight will steal the show and possibly go down as one of the year’s most exciting match-ups.

 

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UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub Breaks Down UFC on FOX 5 Fights

Brendan Schaub was supposed to participate in this Saturday’s UFC on Fox card in Seattle, but an injury to opponent Lavar Johnson means that Schaub is in Seattle to take on the sights, the sounds and the fights on Saturday.Bleacher Report caught up wit…

Brendan Schaub was supposed to participate in this Saturday’s UFC on Fox card in Seattle, but an injury to opponent Lavar Johnson means that Schaub is in Seattle to take on the sights, the sounds and the fights on Saturday.

Bleacher Report caught up with Schaub to get his own personal breakdown of the main card fights. Check out the video above, and stay tuned for more fight-week coverage from Bleacher Report!

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