Tag: UFC on FX 8

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Draws Costa Philippou for UFC Debut at UFC on FX 8 in May


(“OH GOD, OH GOD. I CAN’T FIND A PULSE, YOSEMITE!”) 

Considering Anderson Silva has all but left the middleweight division for the more lucrative worlds of light-heavyweight squash matches and straight-to-DVD cop films, we think it’s going to be pretty difficult for the UFC to put their patented “winner gets a title shot” rub on the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card scheduled for May 18th. Sure, the event features both a headlining fight between top contenders Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold and now a middleweight clash between Ronaldo Souza and Costa Philippou, but when your division’s champion has been turning down the matchups that have been offered to him for months now, to what extent can you start promoting number one contenders?

Be that as it may, UFC on FX 8 will now feature a pair of middleweight showdowns that should have title implications written all over them, as the pairing of Souza and Philippou was just made official a few hours ago. Since losing his Strikeforce middleweight title to Rockhold in September of 2011, “Jacare” has collected three straight stoppage victories, including a first round kimura submission of Ed Herman at Strikeforce’s final event last month.


(“OH GOD, OH GOD. I CAN’T FIND A PULSE, YOSEMITE!”) 

Considering Anderson Silva has all but left the middleweight division for the more lucrative worlds of light-heavyweight squash matches and straight-to-DVD cop films, we think it’s going to be pretty difficult for the UFC to put their patented “winner gets a title shot” rub on the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card scheduled for May 18th. Sure, the event features both a headlining fight between top contenders Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold and now a middleweight clash between Ronaldo Souza and Costa Philippou, but when your division’s champion has been turning down the matchups that have been offered to him for months now, to what extent can you start promoting number one contenders?

Be that as it may, UFC on FX 8 will now feature a pair of middleweight showdowns that should have title implications written all over them, as the pairing of Souza and Philippou was just made official a few hours ago. Since losing his Strikeforce middleweight title to Rockhold in September of 2011, “Jacare” has collected three straight stoppage victories, including a first round kimura submission of Ed Herman at Strikeforce’s final event last month.

Philippou, on the other hand, has been quietly stringing together increasingly impressive wins since entering the UFC’s middleweight division back in March of 2011. After compiling a 4-1 record in the promotion, Philippou stepped in on short notice for injured teammate Chris Weidman against Tim Boetsch at UFC 155 and battered the top contender (and eye-poked him, and headbutted him) en route to a third round TKO victory.

So while a win for any of these four could mean a potential title shot (at least by today’s definition of “top contender”), we already know who Andy will be rooting for, and that’s pretty much all that matters.

Who do you like for this fight, Potato Nation, and more importantly, should we even fool ourselves into thinking the winner will pop up on Silva’s radar?

–J. Jones

UFC News: Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza vs. Costa Philippou Set for UFC on FX 8

UFC on FX 8 has given another former Strikeforce middleweight champion a key matchup at 185 pounds. Just days after Luke Rockhold, the last reigning Strikeforce champ at 185 pounds, was announced to headline the card against Vitor Belfort, the UFC…

UFC on FX 8 has given another former Strikeforce middleweight champion a key matchup at 185 pounds. 

Just days after Luke Rockhold, the last reigning Strikeforce champ at 185 pounds, was announced to headline the card against Vitor Belfort, the UFC has now announced Ronaldo Souza versus Costa Philippou for the May 18 event. 

MMA Fighting was the first media outlet to report the fight. 

Philippou enters the matchup on the strength of a five-fight win streak, most recently pulling off a big upset over Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch at UFC 155 in December, catapulting him inside the division’s top 10. 

On the other hand, Souza has won seven of his past eight fights, with his only loss being a close decision against Rockhold back in Sept. 2011. 

While this matchup, hosted at the Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil, marks his Octagon debut, “Jacare” easily dispatched of UFC veteran Ed Herman at the last Strikeforce event in January. 

Souza easily controlled the fight on the ground before locking up a brutal kimura from side control, earning the first-round submission. 

A two-time gold medalist at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championships, Souza will no doubt try to get this fight to the ground and add to his 13 submission victories. 

Philippou provides an interesting test for the highly regarded Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, as the Serra-Longo Fight Team product is known for his precise boxing and exceptional takedown defense. 

The winner of this fight will likely be inside the UFC’s middleweight top five and could need to have their hand raised just one more time before getting a showdown with divisional kingpin Anderson Silva.

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Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold Headlines UFC on FX 8 in Brazil, Set for May 18

The details surrounding the blockbuster middleweight matchup between Luke Rockhold and Vitor Belfort did not take long to come. One day after the fight booking was confirmed, Brazilian media outlet Tatame (translation via MMA Mania) has …

The details surrounding the blockbuster middleweight matchup between Luke Rockhold and Vitor Belfort did not take long to come. 

One day after the fight booking was confirmed, Brazilian media outlet Tatame (translation via MMA Mania) has confirmed when and where the bout will take place. 

The bout will be the headliner for UFC on FX 8, set for May 18, which takes place at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil. 

“The Phenom” may not be thrilled with the booking, considering he recently asked for a rematch with either UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones or UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. 

Apparently the higher ups of the UFC weren’t interested in seeing Belfort fight for a title again just yet, but a win against the last reigning Strikeforce middleweight title holder could be the boost he needs. 

Belfort is 5-1 since making his middleweight debut in July 2008, with his only loss at 185-pounds being a devastating highlight-reel knockout by Silva back at UFC 126 in Feb. 2011. 

He had another chance at UFC championship gold when he was a late replacement for Jones this past September, but he was thoroughly dominated by his younger, larger opponent before getting submitted in the fourth round. 

To his credit, Belfort looked like he may pull off a monster upset by submitting “Bones” with an armbar early in the first round. 

Meanwhile, this fight marks Rockhold’s UFC debut after going a perfect 6-0 under the Strikeforce banner. 

The American Kickboxing Academy Product has a professional mixed martial arts record of 10-1, winning nine straight since suffering his only loss in Nov. 2007. 

Who wins the pivotal middleweight match up that could easily equal a meeting with “The Spider” by the end of the year?

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UFC’s Hector Lombard: Michael Bisping Is a ‘Douchebag’ with ‘Small Hands’

Middleweight contender Hector Lombard has a few sharp words for plenty of fighters in the UFC, with some of his harshest criticism pointed at Michael Bisping.During an interview with MMA Junkie, the former Bellator champion discussed a wide range of to…

Middleweight contender Hector Lombard has a few sharp words for plenty of fighters in the UFC, with some of his harshest criticism pointed at Michael Bisping.

During an interview with MMA Junkie, the former Bellator champion discussed a wide range of topics, talking about fighting at his adoptive home in Australia, death threats from the Japanese mafia and everything that he thinks is wrong with mixed martial arts today.

When asked about a recent encounter with Michael Bisping, Lombard revealed that he wasn’t impressed in the least by the famous Englishman:

The funny thing for me is this sport has become a joke. And no disrespect, but it’s become a joke with all these fighters trying to copy Chael Sonnen. OK, Chael was the original, right? It’s good for him what he became with all his media trash, which I have respect for him, because he was the first person who came up with the idea. And now, what’s this douchebag that’s always talking s— about me? Michael Bisping. He thinks that he’s funny. Now, he’s just copying him.

Bisping has been a noted trash-talker ever since he first stepped into the spotlight on The Ultimate Fighter, but the quick rise of Sonnen has apparently drawn a lot of comparisons between the two UFC stars. But it’s not just the talking that bothers Lombard:

I actually saw him at the elevator, and Michael Bisping has got the smallest hands I’ve ever seen in my life. He says I’m a midget. OK. Fair enough. But I squeeze his hand – I didn’t want to shake his hand, but I said, I don’t want to leave you like that because I have a little bit of education – and he was about to cry, so I let it go.

Both Lombard and Bisping are gunning for shots at the UFC Middleweight Championship, currently held by pound-for-pound kingpin Anderson Silva.

Lombard faces off against dangerous submission specialist Rousimar Palhares in the main card of UFC on FX 6 on Saturday, with a title shot potentially hanging in the balance. Lombard made his UFC debut last July, where he was upset by decision against former light heavyweight Tim Boetsch.

Bisping has a risky fight of his own coming up in enemy territory, as he faces Vitor Belfort this January 2013 at UFC on FX 7. That match takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and could likely determine the next challenger to Silva’s middleweight title.

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