Tag: UFC on Versus 5

After Layoff, Jacob Volkmann Ready for Return – and Still Has Beef With Obama

As a professional fighter, Jacob Volkmann will likely have many stories to tell his grandkids. But none will be stranger than the one about his visit from the Secret Service.

The story is now well known – it got a mention from Jay Leno. After his UFC 125 win, Volkmann, speaking to MMA Fighting‘s Ariel Helwani, called out President Barack Obama. On video. And the Secret Service took that seriously.

Volkmann has been on the sidelines since that fight. He finally returns Sunday against Danny Castillo – but he doesn’t believe his run-in with the Obama camp, so to speak, is the reason he’s been out of the cage.

“I think the merger with the WEC (is the reason why),” Volkmann told Helwani on Monday’s edition of “The MMA Hour.” “I talked to the PR guys at the UFC and they said keep it up. At least that’s what they told me. I wasn’t trashing (Obama) – I was being an honest American.”

Volkmann was critical of Obama’s health care plans – saying that as a chiropractor, aside from being a fighter, he had a vested interest in what was happening. Volkmann, in the interview with Helwani in January, said he wanted to fight Clay Guida. Then he relented and said: “Actually, Obama. He’s not too bright. … His health care plan – someone’s gotta knock some sense into that idiot. … I’m a chiropractor, so I know the health care situation – but he’s making it worse.”

Though Volkmann won’t likely go down that road twice, should he win on Sunday in Milwaukee, he still was critical of the president on Monday when Helwani asked about his long layoff.

“Since I haven’t fought, I have less income and more debt,” Volkmann said. “What can you expect when you’re spending so much money on worthless stuff, like Obama’s salary?”

Volkmann (12-2, 3-2 UFC) has won three straight – two by split decision since starting his UFC career with a pair of losses to Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. Against Castillo (11-3, 1-0 UFC), a UFC veteran who also rides a three-fight streak, Volkmann is expecting a stiff test.

“From what I saw, he’s a goer and will be throwing a lot of haymakers,” Volkmann said. “I don’t know if he’ll try to take me down, but who knows. I want to go to the ground with him.”

And if he wins, he said he won’t call out Obama again – but does plan to drop a name.

“I can’t really give out hints … I’m not gonna tell you who I’m calling out,” Volkmann said. “It’s not political, though. No beef. He asked me to.”

Volkmann and Castillo fight on the preliminary card of UFC on Versus 5 on Sunday at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The prelims will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 5:45 p.m. Eastern. The four-fight main card airs live on Versus at 9 p.m. Eastern.

 

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As a professional fighter, Jacob Volkmann will likely have many stories to tell his grandkids. But none will be stranger than the one about his visit from the Secret Service.

The story is now well known – it got a mention from Jay Leno. After his UFC 125 win, Volkmann, speaking to MMA Fighting‘s Ariel Helwani, called out President Barack Obama. On video. And the Secret Service took that seriously.

Volkmann has been on the sidelines since that fight. He finally returns Sunday against Danny Castillo – but he doesn’t believe his run-in with the Obama camp, so to speak, is the reason he’s been out of the cage.

“I think the merger with the WEC (is the reason why),” Volkmann told Helwani on Monday’s edition of “The MMA Hour.” “I talked to the PR guys at the UFC and they said keep it up. At least that’s what they told me. I wasn’t trashing (Obama) – I was being an honest American.”


Volkmann was critical of Obama’s health care plans – saying that as a chiropractor, aside from being a fighter, he had a vested interest in what was happening. Volkmann, in the interview with Helwani in January, said he wanted to fight Clay Guida. Then he relented and said: “Actually, Obama. He’s not too bright. … His health care plan – someone’s gotta knock some sense into that idiot. … I’m a chiropractor, so I know the health care situation – but he’s making it worse.”

Though Volkmann won’t likely go down that road twice, should he win on Sunday in Milwaukee, he still was critical of the president on Monday when Helwani asked about his long layoff.

“Since I haven’t fought, I have less income and more debt,” Volkmann said. “What can you expect when you’re spending so much money on worthless stuff, like Obama’s salary?”

Volkmann (12-2, 3-2 UFC) has won three straight – two by split decision since starting his UFC career with a pair of losses to Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. Against Castillo (11-3, 1-0 UFC), a UFC veteran who also rides a three-fight streak, Volkmann is expecting a stiff test.

“From what I saw, he’s a goer and will be throwing a lot of haymakers,” Volkmann said. “I don’t know if he’ll try to take me down, but who knows. I want to go to the ground with him.”

And if he wins, he said he won’t call out Obama again – but does plan to drop a name.

“I can’t really give out hints … I’m not gonna tell you who I’m calling out,” Volkmann said. “It’s not political, though. No beef. He asked me to.”

Volkmann and Castillo fight on the preliminary card of UFC on Versus 5 on Sunday at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The prelims will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 5:45 p.m. Eastern. The four-fight main card airs live on Versus at 9 p.m. Eastern.

 

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Hump Day Headlines with Stephanie Ann Cook

UFC on Versus 5 to stream entire preliminary card on Facebook this Sunday, August 14th. UFC on Versus 6 headlined by Bantamweight title fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson full card finalized. Ryan Couture back.

UFC on Versus 5 to stream entire preliminary card on Facebook this Sunday, August 14th.

UFC on Versus 6 headlined by Bantamweight title fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson full card finalized.

Ryan Couture back in action at Strikeforce Challengers 19 on September 23rd. Couture is currently (2-1) in MMA pro career.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson sends video message to his fans, “Don’t worry. I got this.”

Stefan Struve makes his own training for Pat Barry video.

Pro-Elite promotion close to broadcast deal with CBS.

Dan Hardy Wants to Scrap; Chris Lytle Says He’ll Oblige at UFC on Versus 5

Filed under: UFCDan Hardy will admit it – he pretty well blew it his last time out, dropping his third straight with a unanimous decision loss to Anthony Johnson.

The Brit said he wanted to put on an exciting fight, but instead didn’t do his part to …

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Dan Hardy will admit it – he pretty well blew it his last time out, dropping his third straight with a unanimous decision loss to Anthony Johnson.

The Brit said he wanted to put on an exciting fight, but instead didn’t do his part to deliver, especially for his fans in the U.K. “I had a lot of people, especially over in the U.K. waiting up till early hours of the morning to watch a good fight – and I ended up having a nap for 15 minutes,” Hardy said last week on a media call for UFC on Versus 5, which he headlines Sunday in Milwaukee against Chris Lytle.

Believing he has fallen victim in the past to lay-and-pray wrestlers – including Johnson in March – Hardy is hopeful his fight with Lytle won’t be a carbon copy of the Johnson fight.

“Regardless of where the fight goes, I just don’t want a boring fight,” Hardy (23-9, 1 NC, 4-3 UFC) said. “There are a lot of wrestlers out there that use their wrestling really well in MMA – they use it aggressively, they win fights with it. Jim (Miller) is a great example. I just don’t want a boring fight, and I don’t think Chris has got that in him.”

And for his part, Lytle (30-18-5, 9-10 UFC) said Hardy has nothing to worry about.

“They picked Dan and I to be the main event, and let me tell you something,” Lytle said. “They didn’t pick me and Dan to be there to put on a boring fight. So if you think I’m going to try to sit there and get him on the ground and hold him down for 15 minutes and then dry hump him, that’s not going to happen.”

Hardy may find himself in must-win territory against Lytle, who also is coming off a loss. After starting his UFC career with four straight wins, Hardy was thrust into a welterweight title fight with Georges St-Pierre. His loss last year started a three-fight skid that included Johnson in March and a knockout loss to Carlos Condit last October.

But Hardy says each of those three losses is explainable. A fourth straight, to Lytle on Sunday, might have him really searching for answers.

“Breaking each one of the three fights I lost down, every one of them was forgivable in a way,” Hardy said. “Georges is the champ. He’s one of the best in the world, and that was a fight where I just kind of went and gave it my best. … The Condit fight was just my arrogance got the better of me. I just got caught there. That was my own fault. And the Anthony Johnson one, he’s a big strong wrestler and it was just one of those days that sometimes you just don’t win.”

Hardy said he adjusted his training camp this time around, starting in Las Vegas, then moving to his Team Rough House in England, then returning to Vegas, where he trained with Roy Nelson, Evan Dunham and Gilbert Yvel, among others.

The UFC seldom keeps fighters on its roster with three straight losses, so Hardy is already in short company. A fourth straight setback, regardless of his popularity with the crucial U.K. fanbase, could be devastating.

“I just feel ready,” Hardy said. “I feel that this is a turning point in my career. I’ve got to get things back on track, and I’m in the right place to do it.”

Hardy and Lytle are the main event of UFC on Versus 5, which takes place Sunday at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis. It will be the UFC’s debut in Wisconsin. The four-fight main card, which also includes an important lightweight co-main event between Jim Miller and Ben Henderson, airs live on Versus at 9 p.m. Eastern.

 

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Donald Cerrone in for John Makdessi, Faces Paul Taylor at UFC in Milwaukee

Filed under: UFCDonald Cerrone’s 2011 will continue to stay busy. “Cowboy” will step in for an injured John Makdessi to fight Paul Taylor at UFC on Versus 5 in August in Milwaukee.

The UFC announced Monday night that Makdessi had pulled out of the fi…

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Donald Cerrone‘s 2011 will continue to stay busy. “Cowboy” will step in for an injured John Makdessi to fight Paul Taylor at UFC on Versus 5 in August in Milwaukee.

The UFC announced Monday night that Makdessi had pulled out of the fight with Taylor, of England, due to an injury. And Cerrone, already 2-0 this year and fresh off a unanimous decision win over Vagner Rocha at UFC 131 just over two weeks ago, will step in.

The fight could prove to be a standup battle – both fighters are renowned kickboxers. But Cerrone has 80 percent of his career victories by submission.

Cerrone (15-3, 1 NC, 2-0 UFC), one of the WEC’s standout and most popular fighters before the merger with the UFC, went 6-3 with one no contest as a lightweight in that promotion. His three losses all came with the WEC lightweight title on the line – once in a controversial split decision loss to Jamie Varner, and twice to Ben Henderson.

Cerrone, a Greg Jackson-trained fighter, won five Fight of the Night bonuses in the WEC and started his UFC career with a submission win over Paul Kelly that also won a Fight of the Night award at UFC 126 in February. That win gave Cerrone four straight.

Taylor (11-6-1, 1 NC, 4-5 UFC) is coming off a head kick knockout of Gabe Ruediger at UFC 126, which snapped a two-fight skid that saw him drop decisions to Sam Stout and John Hathaway.

Taylor has been with the UFC since UFC 70 in April 2007, a win over Edilberto de Oliveira. After that TKO victory, Taylor won Fight of the Night bonuses in three of his next four fights – though all three of those came in losses to renowned bonus hounds Chris Lytle and Marcus Davis, and one to fellow Englishman Paul Kelly.

UFC on Versus 5 will be the promotion’s debut in Wisconsin after MMA sanctioning was passed there recently. The show will take place at the Bradley Center, home to the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

The card will feature a main event between Lytle and former welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy, who has lost three straight. The show also will feature a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Henderson – with Miller looking for his eighth straight victory and a likely title shot if he gets past the former WEC lightweight champ.

 

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Bonnar Out, Ronny Markes in for UFC on Versus 5


Is it odd that Paulo Filho seems like one of the more normal aspects of this picture?

Just over a month out from the UFC’s Wisconsin debut, Stephan Bonnar has announced that he is no longer able to compete at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee. Originally scheduled to face off against Karlos Vemola, Bonnar has suffered a torn MCL while training. According to MMAFighting.com:

Saturday, Bonnar told MMA Fighting the injury is a Grade II tear of his medial collateral ligament, or MCL. Bonnar said the injury will not require surgery, but will have him in a brace for six weeks. He said the injury is similar to ones that recently sidelined Rashad Evans and Kenny Florian.


Is it odd that Paulo Filho seems like one of the more normal aspects of this picture?

Just over a month out from the UFC’s Wisconsin debut, Stephan Bonnar has announced that he is no longer able to compete at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee.  Originally scheduled to face off against Karlos Vemola, Bonnar has suffered a torn MCL while training. According to MMAFighting.com:

Saturday, Bonnar told MMA Fighting the injury is a Grade II tear of his medial collateral ligament, or MCL. Bonnar said the injury will not require surgery, but will have him in a brace for six weeks. He said the injury is similar to ones that recently sidelined Rashad Evans and Kenny Florian.

Replacing Stephan Bonnar will be current Shooto Brazil light heavyweight champion Ronny Marki Sales da Silva, better known as Ronny Markes. The 11-1 Nova Uniao prospect is riding a four fight win streak, most recently defeating the famously level headed Paulo Filho by unanimous decision on April 29th.  Aside from that fight, the last time Ronny Markes went the distance was in his third professional fight.

The timing is unfortunate for Stephan Bonnar.  After dropping three straight to Jon Jones, Mark Coleman and Krzysztof Soszynski, Bonnar rebounded with a pair of victories against K-Sos and Igor Pokrajac. The injury dampens the momentum that Bonnar has been building, but at least Bonnar now has the time to worry about some other things he’s been dealing with.

Stephan Bonnar Injured, Out of UFC’s Milwaukee Debut

Filed under: UFCStephan Bonnar has suffered a training camp injury and is out of his August fight against Karlos Vemola.

The UFC announced Bonnar’s withdrawal from the fight late Friday, but did not disclose the nature of the injury.

Saturday, Bonn…

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Stephan Bonnar has suffered a training camp injury and is out of his August fight against Karlos Vemola.

The UFC announced Bonnar’s withdrawal from the fight late Friday, but did not disclose the nature of the injury.

Saturday, Bonnar told MMA Fighting the injury is a Grade II tear of his medial collateral ligament, or MCL. Bonnar said the injury will not require surgery, but will have him in a brace for six weeks. He said the injury is similar to ones that recently sidelined Rashad Evans and Kenny Florian.

Stepping in for the TUF 1 vet will be promotional newcomer Ronny Marki Sales da Silva, better known as Ronny Markes, to face Vemola at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee.

Bonnar (13-7, 7-6 UFC) was looking to extend a two-fight winning streak that began with a TKO in his rematch with Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 116 last July. In December, at the TUF 12 Finale, Bonnar dominated Igor Pokrajac to win a unanimous decision.

Those two wins had put a three-fight skid in Bonnar’s rearview mirror. After returning from a long layoff from a severe knee injury, Bonnar lost to current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 94 in Jones’ second UFC fight, then lost to UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman at UFC 100. In his first fight against Soszynski, at UFC 110 in Sydney, Bonnar lost by TKO when doctors stopped the fight thanks to a cut from an accidental headbutt. That loss prompted his rematch with Soszysnki.

Vemola (8-1, 1-1 UFC), a Czech native fighting out of London, now gets Markes, from Brazil, who has nine of his 11 wins by stoppage. Markes will be fighting for the first time in the United States. His last win came in April, a unanimous decision over former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho in Brazil.

The Bonnar-Vemola fight had been booked for the main card and was to be televised live on Versus. It is not known if the Vemola-Markes fight will remain on the four-fight main card or if a bout previously scheduled for the prelims will be elevated to TV status. Top contenders to move up from the undercard would appear to be a middleweight fight between CB Dolloway and Jared Hamman and a bantamweight bout between former title challenger Joseph Benavidez and former champion Eddie Wineland.

UFC on Versus 5 takes place Aug. 14 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It will be the UFC’s debut in Wisconsin. The card features a main event welterweight fight between former title challenger Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle, plus a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and former WEC champion Ben Henderson.

 

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