Tag: UFC on FX 7

UFC on FX 7: Justin Salas Out; Edson Barboza Gets New Opponent

It sure didn’t take long for the injury bug to bite in 2013. MMAJunkie.com reports that only 17 days away from UFC on FX 7, Justin Salas has withdrawn from a preliminary bout with Edson Barboza due to a training injury.This would have been the thi…

It sure didn’t take long for the injury bug to bite in 2013. MMAJunkie.com reports that only 17 days away from UFC on FX 7, Justin Salas has withdrawn from a preliminary bout with Edson Barboza due to a training injury.

This would have been the third UFC fight for Salas, who debuted successfully with the company back in February. Since that time, he was quickly stopped by Tim Means at UFC on FX 3.

Filling in on short notice is Lucas Martins, an undefeated prospect fighting out of Chute Boxe. Sporting a record of 11-0, Martins has been tremendously active in recent months, winning five fights since October 25.

This will be the first fight for Barboza since a shocking loss to Jaime Varner on the undercard of UFC 146. Varner served as a late replacement for an injured Evan Dunham and he overwhelmed the Brazilian in the first round.

Prior to the loss, Barboza was an undefeated prospect himself. At that time, he was 4-0 inside the Octagon and had recently picked up a highlight-reel knockout over Terry Etim that earned him an ESPY Award nomination for Play of the Year.

UFC on FX 7 takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 19, 2013. In the evening’s main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Michael Bisping.

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UFC on FX: Early Main Card Predictions for Belfort vs. Bisping

The UFC returns to Brazil this month with an FX card that boasts a big-time middleweight main event.Top contenders Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort are set to square off in the Octagon in a fight which may provide the next challenger to Anderson Silva…

The UFC returns to Brazil this month with an FX card that boasts a big-time middleweight main event.

Top contenders Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort are set to square off in the Octagon in a fight which may provide the next challenger to Anderson Silva‘s throne. 

Also on the card are a number of Brazilian fighters fighting on home soil, as well as universal prospects looking to make a splash in their respective divisions.

Here is are early main card predictions for UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping.

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Michael Bisping: Fight Against Vitor Belfort Will Be an ‘Easy Night’

MMAInterviews.tv was lucky enough to sit down with British superstar Michael “The Count” Bisping just weeks before he steps into the main event of UFC on FX 7 against Vitor Belfort.The sharp-tongued basher didn’t waste time with pleasantries regarding …

MMAInterviews.tv was lucky enough to sit down with British superstar Michael “The Count” Bisping just weeks before he steps into the main event of UFC on FX 7 against Vitor Belfort.

The sharp-tongued basher didn’t waste time with pleasantries regarding his opponent.

Citing the suspicious cardio of his opponent, Bisping feels that he will make Vitor “a walking punching bag” after the first round and called the fight an “easy night.”

Dana White has assured the Ultimate Fighter winner that his elusive title shot will finally be delivered if he defeats Belfort on January 19.

Some feel that Bisping shouldn’t leapfrog over top contender Chris Weidman, who is 5-0 in the UFC and undefeated as a professional. However, the Serra-Longo middleweight is injured, and a victory over a former world champion like Belfort gives Bisping a stronger list of credentials.

Belfort nearly shocked the MMA community in September when he challenged Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship. “The Phenom” took the fight on short notice and was successful in securing an armbar against the heavy favorite.

Jones persevered and ultimately won the contest, but Belfort proved that he can still compete with the best in the world.

Bisping competed on the same card. Taking on Brian Stann, the Brit did enough to earn a unanimous decision victory. It was the only win of 2012 for The Count after an injury forced him out of a planned UFC 149 contest against Tim Boetsch.

In January, he was unsuccessful in a title eliminator against Chael Sonnen.

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UFC on FX 7 Preview: Can Khabib Nurmagomedov Back Up His Shady 18-0 Record?

Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov is an oddity in the MMA world for many reasons.One of those is his name, a tongue-twisting trap of conflicting consonants that’s nearly impossible to spell or pronounce without some outside help.But Nurmagomedov…

Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov is an oddity in the MMA world for many reasons.

One of those is his name, a tongue-twisting trap of conflicting consonants that’s nearly impossible to spell or pronounce without some outside help.

But Nurmagomedov‘s other distinguishing feature is his 18-0 undefeated professional fight record.

That’s 18 fights over four years without a single huccup—no draws and not a single “no contest” marring that flawless record.

According to Fight Matrix‘s exhaustive database, not one single active MMA fighter in the world holds an undefeated streak like that—and at a glance, it’s even more impressive when you consider that “The Eagle” is just 24 years old.

But ultimately, that 18-0 record has a few major asterisks attached.

It’s only when looking a bit closer at his career that Nurmagomedov suddenly doesn’t appear to be as good as the raw numbers suggest. In fact, it’s fair to say that the international Sambo champion has done a lot of work padding his record against overmatched journeymen.

Prior to joining the UFC, Nurmagomedov fought 16 men exclusively in Russia and Ukraine, stomping out opponents in promotions such as M-1 Global and Pro FC.

But put together, all 16 of those opponents currently add up to a combined 96 wins and 88 losses—not a stellar mark by any means, especially since only eight of them have a winning record.

Most damning of all are Nurmagomedov‘s past bouts against the likes of Ashot Shahinyan (0-4) and Vadim Sandulitsky (2-2).

By the time “The Eagle” faced them in combat, he was already a dominant prospect with double-digits in the win column—not exactly an even playing field.

But even with clear can-crushing padding his record, Nurmagomedov has nonetheless defeated far more talented men like current Bellator fighter Shahbulat Shamhalaev (11-1), former UFC competitor Kamal Shalorus and six-year UFC veteran Gleison Tibau.

That’s why heading into UFC on FX 7, Nurmagomedov‘s main card fight with Thiago Tavares will be a more interesting opener than fans might think.

After all, staying undefeated in 18 fights is only impressive as long the fighter in question continues to win. Now that “The Eagle” is settling himself into the talent-stacked lightweight division, he may as well be a 2-0 prospect rather than a seasoned pro with 18 career wins.

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[VIDEO] Vitor Belfort Seduces All the Women Via Song in New ‘UFC on FX 7? Trailer

In light of recent events, it perhaps makes sense that the UFC would pull out all the stops to stir up some interest in the ever-elusive female demographic. That being said, the idea of having Vitor Belfort seduce our girlfriends/wives right out from underneath us, while clever, could have the opposite effect on the male demographic that basically built the sport from the ground up.

Regardless, the new trailer for UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping — which goes down on January 19th in Sao Paulo, Brazil — forgoes the typical knockout-heavy highlight reels in favor of Belfort, a flamenco guitar, and a voice that will turn your woman’s pantalones into the Typhoon Lagoon at DisneyWorld. We’ll give them props for originality, but at the same time, they better deliver Ronda Rousey on a stripper pole when the UFC 157 promos start rolling out or there are going to be some serious problems.

We hear they shot a similar promo featuring Michael Bisping going apeshit on a turntable while “Ooonts! Ooonts! Ooonts!” blared in the background, but it was later scrapped for being — as the head of the UFC’s marketing department put it — “Way too Goddamned douchey.”

–J. Jones

In light of recent events, it perhaps makes sense that the UFC would pull out all the stops to stir up some interest in the ever-elusive female demographic. That being said, the idea of having Vitor Belfort seduce our girlfriends/wives right out from underneath us, while clever, could have the opposite effect on the male demographic that basically built the sport from the ground up.

Regardless, the new trailer for UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping – which goes down on January 19th in Sao Paulo, Brazil – forgoes the typical knockout-heavy highlight reels in favor of Belfort, a flamenco guitar, and a voice that will turn your woman’s pantalones into the Typhoon Lagoon at DisneyWorld. We’ll give them props for originality, but at the same time, they better deliver Ronda Rousey on a stripper pole when the UFC 157 promos start rolling out or there are going to be some serious problems.

We hear they shot a similar promo featuring Michael Bisping going apeshit on a turntable while “Ooonts! Ooonts! Ooonts!” blared in the background, but it was later scrapped for being — as the head of the UFC’s marketing department put it — “Way too Goddamned douchey.”

–J. Jones

Gunnar Nelson vs. Justin Edwards Set for UFC on Fuel 7

Rising Icelandic welterweight fighter Gunnar Nelson will take on Justin Edwards at UFC’s next event in London, the promotion has confirmed. UFC on Fuel TV 7 is scheduled for February 16 at London’s Wembley Arena, and with Nelson coming off …

Rising Icelandic welterweight fighter Gunnar Nelson will take on Justin Edwards at UFC’s next event in London, the promotion has confirmed.

UFC on Fuel TV 7 is scheduled for February 16 at London’s Wembley Arena, and with Nelson coming off an emphatic win against DaMarques Johnson last time he was in the country, the Renzo Gracie BJJ black belt will be hoping for a repeat performance against Edwards.

Edwards himself is coming off a stunning 45-second victory over Josh Neer that earned “Submission of the Night” honours at UFC on FX 5, with the former Ultimate Fighter contestant looking to put together the first back-to-back win of his career.

The fight has been confirmed by MMA Junkie, although there is no word as yet as to where in the lineup the fight will take place.

Both Nelson and Edwards are ones to watch at 170 lbs., however, they have a long way to go before they become recognised names in the UFC.

The UFC has struggled to make an impact in the UK and has been reluctant to put on title fights there. But the main event in February does promise an interim bantamweight title fight between Renan Barao and Michael McDonald as the headliner.

That fight has been put together after an injury sidelined bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, who was meant to face Urijah Faber. Faber was instead slated to fight Barao for the title, but he too is now injured, forcing McDonald to step up for the interim belt in February.

The main card will air on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook.

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