Filed under: UFC, NewsThe UFC is headed back to the “Peach State” for the first time since 2008.
UFC 146 will take place April 21 in Atlanta, according to a report on Tuesday’s episode of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV. No fights were announced for the card, …
The UFC is headed back to the “Peach State” for the first time since 2008.
UFC 146 will take place April 21 in Atlanta, according to a report on Tuesday’s episode of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV. No fights were announced for the card, which is expected to take place at Phillips Arena.
The last event held in Atlanta was UFC 88 on Sept. 6, 2008, also at Phillips Arena. That night was highlighted by Rashad Evans‘ second-round knockout of Chuck Liddell. The event drew a crowd of 14,736 and a gate of $2.6 million.
UFC 146 will mark the promotion’s fourth trip to Georgia. Augusta, Ga., was the site of UFC 11 in 1996 and UFC 13 in 1997.
UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann was on his way to coach wrestling practice at White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota last week when the school’s athletic director called him in for an impromptu meeting. If he didn’t know where this was headed based on past experience, he probably should have.
Following his most recent bout — a unanimous decision win over Efrain Escudero at UFC 141 in December — he again veered into political commentary in his post-fight remarks, this time telling UFC color commentator Joe Rogan that he wanted Obama to call him about scheduling a “glass-ectomy,” which, according to Volkmann, “is when you cut your belly button out and put a piece of glass in there so when you have your head up your butt you can see where you’re going.”
Once again, White Bear Lake High administrators were not amused. And once again, Volkmann was placed on paid administrative leave. But this time, he told MMA Fighting, he thought he had followed the rules that school officials had given him, thanks to some intentionally clever wording.
“They gave me four rules to follow, and I thought I followed them,” said Volkmann. “The first was, you’ve got to be respectful of people when you do your interviews, which is very vague. The second was, no interviews on school property. The third was, no White Bear Lake clothes during interviews, which is easy to follow. And the fourth was, I can’t tell people to go attack the [White Bear Lake High School Athletic Director] or the human resources lady, which is kind of a foolish rule.”
The way Volkmann saw it, the athletic director was wrong to accuse him of offering to give Obama a glass-ectomy.
“I said ‘Call me so we can schedule a glass-ectomy.’ Not saying for him, not saying for who. …I was trying to cover my butt. I purposely did that,” he said.
It apparently made little difference to school officials, who told Volkmann he’d be placed on administrative leave while they investigated the matter and decided what to do next.
For Volkmann, it’s just the latest chapter in the strange pseudo-political tale that’s come to define the last year of his MMA career. He’s become the guy fans know not so much for his fights, but for his statements afterward. The clip of his initial callout of Obama landed on “The Tonight Show,” and he was even visited by the Secret Service. He’s chosen to run with the attention, wearing a “Volkmann for President” t-shirt down to the cage and carving out time in his post-fight interviews to take shots at President Obama. And for those who don’t like politics mixed in with their sports?
“Too bad,” Volkmann said. “This is working, so I’m going to stick with it.”
But yet again Volkmann is finding that what works as an attention-getting routine in the UFC doesn’t always go over so well with his employers at a public high school, even if the two are entirely separate in his mind.
“The thing with my coaching job is, I don’t teach the kids politics; I teach them wrestling,” he said. “I do my best to teach them what I can with wrestling. And they don’t understand, I need to do and say what I can to get fans. Sometimes you have to say some kind of weird stuff to get people to notice you. Because you only have, what, 30 seconds out there with Joe Rogan? I have to say what I can in that 30 seconds to try and get people interested so they’ll look me up afterwards to figure out why I was saying it.”
Once you actually sit down and talk to him, however, it becomes clear that Volkmann’s anti-Obama routine isn’t just schtick. Ask him what, exactly, he dislikes about our current president, and he gives a heavy sigh before asking, “You ready?”
The tone itself tells you that you might as well get comfortable.
From the Obama administration’s mortgage refinancing policy to health care reform to government grants for green energy, Volkmann can hold court on any number of political topics, and he can even tell you how he was personally affected by many of those issues as a homeowner, a chiropractor, and Minnesotan. His political views aren’t limited to just jokes and quips, in other words, so why not make those the centerpiece of his public persona, rather than vaguely threatening statements that only earn him visits from the Secret Service and headaches at his coaching job?
Because, Volkmann explained, substantive political statements aren’t known for captivating the attention of the average sports fan. And that is, after all, the goal.
“I think I did it the right way, because who cares if I have a problem with a policy? That would have never made any news.”
You have to admit that he has a point. Clever sound bytes always get more airtime than policy discussion, and his way has generated its share of headlines so far. Of course, it’s also generated some problems, as his current predicament demonstrates.
The last time he was put on administrative leave from his coaching job, he said, it was over in a couple of weeks. This time he hopes to be back in the wrestling room even sooner, but school officials have given him no timeframe for a decision. In the meantime, he can’t have any contact with the wrestlers he coaches — not even to explain to them in his own words why he can’t be at practice. Sure, he still gets paid, but with a yearly assistant coach’s salary of $1,800, the job was never about money to begin with.
“I don’t make very much,” said Volkmann. “I do it more to give back to wrestling. I had so many coaches who helped me out, so I figured maybe this is a good way for me to give back and help some other kids out.”
Only now that he can’t do that — and now that his political views are threatening to overshadow his fighting ability in the eyes of many fans — even Volkmann thinks it might be time to give it a rest.
“To be honest, I’m probably not going to bring it up again unless Joe Rogan does, because it’s kind of like beating a dead horse at this point. I kind of made a comedy thing of it…and it’s kind of getting old.”
Then again, if someone puts a political question to him directly, Volkmann admitted, “I’m going to be honest, no matter what.”
UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann was on his way to coach wrestling practice at White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota last week when the school’s athletic director called him in for an impromptu meeting. If he didn’t know where this was headed based on past experience, he probably should have.
Following his most recent bout — a unanimous decision win over Efrain Escudero at UFC 141 in December — he again veered into political commentary in his post-fight remarks, this time telling UFC color commentator Joe Rogan that he wanted Obama to call him about scheduling a “glass-ectomy,” which, according to Volkmann, “is when you cut your belly button out and put a piece of glass in there so when you have your head up your butt you can see where you’re going.”
Once again, White Bear Lake High administrators were not amused. And once again, Volkmann was placed on paid administrative leave. But this time, he told MMA Fighting, he thought he had followed the rules that school officials had given him, thanks to some intentionally clever wording.
“They gave me four rules to follow, and I thought I followed them,” said Volkmann. “The first was, you’ve got to be respectful of people when you do your interviews, which is very vague. The second was, no interviews on school property. The third was, no White Bear Lake clothes during interviews, which is easy to follow. And the fourth was, I can’t tell people to go attack the [White Bear Lake High School Athletic Director] or the human resources lady, which is kind of a foolish rule.”
The way Volkmann saw it, the athletic director was wrong to accuse him of offering to give Obama a glass-ectomy.
“I said ‘Call me so we can schedule a glass-ectomy.’ Not saying for him, not saying for who. …I was trying to cover my butt. I purposely did that,” he said.
It apparently made little difference to school officials, who told Volkmann he’d be placed on administrative leave while they investigated the matter and decided what to do next.
For Volkmann, it’s just the latest chapter in the strange pseudo-political tale that’s come to define the last year of his MMA career. He’s become the guy fans know not so much for his fights, but for his statements afterward. The clip of his initial callout of Obama landed on “The Tonight Show,” and he was even visited by the Secret Service. He’s chosen to run with the attention, wearing a “Volkmann for President” t-shirt down to the cage and carving out time in his post-fight interviews to take shots at President Obama. And for those who don’t like politics mixed in with their sports?
“Too bad,” Volkmann said. “This is working, so I’m going to stick with it.”
But yet again Volkmann is finding that what works as an attention-getting routine in the UFC doesn’t always go over so well with his employers at a public high school, even if the two are entirely separate in his mind.
“The thing with my coaching job is, I don’t teach the kids politics; I teach them wrestling,” he said. “I do my best to teach them what I can with wrestling. And they don’t understand, I need to do and say what I can to get fans. Sometimes you have to say some kind of weird stuff to get people to notice you. Because you only have, what, 30 seconds out there with Joe Rogan? I have to say what I can in that 30 seconds to try and get people interested so they’ll look me up afterwards to figure out why I was saying it.”
Once you actually sit down and talk to him, however, it becomes clear that Volkmann’s anti-Obama routine isn’t just schtick. Ask him what, exactly, he dislikes about our current president, and he gives a heavy sigh before asking, “You ready?”
The tone itself tells you that you might as well get comfortable.
From the Obama administration’s mortgage refinancing policy to health care reform to government grants for green energy, Volkmann can hold court on any number of political topics, and he can even tell you how he was personally affected by many of those issues as a homeowner, a chiropractor, and Minnesotan. His political views aren’t limited to just jokes and quips, in other words, so why not make those the centerpiece of his public persona, rather than vaguely threatening statements that only earn him visits from the Secret Service and headaches at his coaching job?
Because, Volkmann explained, substantive political statements aren’t known for captivating the attention of the average sports fan. And that is, after all, the goal.
“I think I did it the right way, because who cares if I have a problem with a policy? That would have never made any news.”
You have to admit that he has a point. Clever sound bytes always get more airtime than policy discussion, and his way has generated its share of headlines so far. Of course, it’s also generated some problems, as his current predicament demonstrates.
The last time he was put on administrative leave from his coaching job, he said, it was over in a couple of weeks. This time he hopes to be back in the wrestling room even sooner, but school officials have given him no timeframe for a decision. In the meantime, he can’t have any contact with the wrestlers he coaches — not even to explain to them in his own words why he can’t be at practice. Sure, he still gets paid, but with a yearly assistant coach’s salary of $1,800, the job was never about money to begin with.
“I don’t make very much,” said Volkmann. “I do it more to give back to wrestling. I had so many coaches who helped me out, so I figured maybe this is a good way for me to give back and help some other kids out.”
Only now that he can’t do that — and now that his political views are threatening to overshadow his fighting ability in the eyes of many fans — even Volkmann thinks it might be time to give it a rest.
“To be honest, I’m probably not going to bring it up again unless Joe Rogan does, because it’s kind of like beating a dead horse at this point. I kind of made a comedy thing of it…and it’s kind of getting old.”
Then again, if someone puts a political question to him directly, Volkmann admitted, “I’m going to be honest, no matter what.”
Saturday, Jan. 14 will mark the return of UFC legend Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6) after having been out of the Octagon for nearly 15 months. Gonzaga will be replacing the injured Rob Broughton at UFC 142 in a heavyweight showdown against Ednaldo Oliveira, wh…
Saturday, Jan. 14 will mark the return of UFC legend Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6) after having been out of the Octagon for nearly 15 months. Gonzaga will be replacing the injured Rob Broughton at UFC 142 in a heavyweight showdown against Ednaldo Oliveira, who holds a record of 13-0-1 with one No Contest. UFC 142 will […]
Saturday, Jan. 14 will mark the return of UFC legend Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6) after having been out of the Octagon for nearly 15 months.Gonzaga will be replacing the injured Rob Broughton at UFC 142 in a heavyweight showdown against Ednaldo Oliveira, who…
Saturday, Jan. 14 will mark the return of UFC legend Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6) after having been out of the Octagon for nearly 15 months.
Gonzaga will be replacing the injured Rob Broughton at UFC 142 in a heavyweight showdown against Ednaldo Oliveira, who holds a record of 13-0-1 with one No Contest.
UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT and 10:00 p.m. ET.
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Gonzaga shared how his time away from the Octagon was the best thing that’s happened to him.
I believe the time away from the Octagon was really good, as it allowed me to take care of some smaller projects in my life. It also allowed me to regain my focus on my career as a mixed martial artist.
I’m very happy to be back fighting for the UFC. I’m hungry to get back in there and fight. I want to prove that I can make a big run in the heavyweight division. It’s time to focus on winning my fights and getting back to where I was before I left.
With Gonzaga’s hectic schedule and constant training, he hadn’t had the opportunity to hear directly from UFC president Dana White. Instead, Gonzaga was informed of his return by his manager, Marco Alvan.
I actually didn’t get to talk to Dana. It was all done and completed through my manager, Marco, and Joe Silva. I just got the great news that I was going to be back in the UFC. The best news was that I was going to be fighting at UFC Rio in front of my home country.
Despite being off for a significant amount of time, Gonzaga is confident he will make his return known to all when he steps foot inside the Octagon to take on Oliveira.
However, while Gonzaga may be confident, he is well aware and respects the fact that his opponent has never lost a fight.
I truly believe that I’m the better fighter. But, I’ll need to prove that I’m the better fighter inside the cage, not just by saying it. I’m training extremely hard for this fight against Oliveira, and I’m confident that I will win.
What many fail to realize is that while Gonzaga hasn’t fought in the UFC since UFC 121, he’s remained active and is coming off one the biggest fights of his career. Gonzaga recently defeated Parker Porter by arm-triangle choke in the third round of action, declaring him the Reality Fighting heavyweight champion.
I had a pretty big fight last October when I decided to come back and pursue my dream again. It was for the Reality Fighting heavyweight title. I was able to win by submission and become the new champion at the Casino Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. I was very well prepared for that fight, and I’ll be even more prepared for this one.
Gonzaga will have more than one opportunity to prove to the world he still has what it takes to make a run towards the top of the heavyweight division, as he recently signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC.
“I just signed a four-fight contract with the UFC, and I’m very excited about my future. I want to focus on Oliveira and go step by step all the way back to the top,” said Gonzaga.
A key component to Gonzaga’s return was finding the right training partners to maintain his focus on his journey back to the UFC. Gonzaga found the support he needed, as he’s currently training with Team Link located in Ludlow, Massachusetts.
I’m very thankful for the support from my team here in Massachusetts. We’re having an awesome training camp, and I’m ready to get back in the Octagon. I look forward to representing Team Link in Rio.
To learn more about Gabriel Gonzaga, follow him on Twitter.
For additional information, follow Garrett Derr onTwitter.
On Saturday, Jan. 14, Mike Massenzio (13-5) will enter the Octagon at UFC 142 to take on arguably the toughest opponent of his mixed martial arts career in Rousimar Palhares. UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil beginning…
On Saturday, Jan. 14, Mike Massenzio (13-5) will enter the Octagon at UFC 142 to take on arguably the toughest opponent of his mixed martial arts career in Rousimar Palhares. UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT and 10:00 p.m. ET.
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Massenzio discussed his upcoming bout with Palhares and the opportunity to fight in Brazil. As Massenzio counts down the hours until the biggest fight of his life, he is often reminded of how he got to where he is today.
I’ve wrestled my whole life and was always a huge fan of mixed martial arts. It was definitely something I thought about and wanted to do after college. So in 2005, I made my MMA debut. Right then and there, I knew if I wanted to be the best, I would have to dedicate my whole life to this, and that’s exactly what I did.
Massenzio’s dedication paid off in his most recent bout where he defeated Steve Cantwell by unanimous decision at UFC 136. Not only did Massenzio’s win over Cantwell get his career back on track, but it allowed him to get back to being the fighter he once was.
The Cantwell win was big for me. He’s a tough guy and a world class athlete, so I knew in order to beat him, I was going to have to put on a great performance.
In 2008, I had some serious injuries, so it was difficult there for a while, but I never gave up. I just kept telling myself to keep moving forward, and in the Cantwell fight, I felt like I found my groove again.
While Massenzio is certainly excited to have captured his first win inside the Octagon since Sept. 2008, his main focus is on Palhares.
“Fighting Palhares is a great opportunity for me. He’s very well-rounded and a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt,” Massenzio said.
When action begins on Jan. 14, Massenzio will attempt to live up to his nickname of “The Master of Disaster,” but in a controlled way, as he is well aware of Palhares’ strengths.
My plan is to make him fight my way and not get caught up playing into his game. My goal is to keep the pressure coming the whole fight. I feel anywhere the fight goes, I will be ready. This is the biggest test of my life, and I’m looking forward to it.
Not only is Massenzio looking forward to his middleweight showdown with Palhares, but the challenge of fighting in his opponent’s home country as well.
I love challenges, and fighting him in Brazil is a big test. However, the moment I walk out that tunnel, I’ll be focused. I’ll act like the place is empty whether they’re booing me or cheering. My mind will only be on Palhares. We both will be ready, and I expect the best Palhares that night.
While Massenzio will certainly be up against the odds when he travels to Palhare’s home country of Brazil, he won’t be the only one.
In the main event of the evening at UFC 142, Chad Mendes will be fighting for a chance at the featherweight title. In order to capture his desired dream of UFC gold, Mendes will have to defeat Jose Aldo, who will also be fighting in front of his hometown fans.
Massenzio weighed in on how he thinks the championship bout will unfold.
That’s a tough fight to call. Aldo is such an explosive and technical fighter, but so is Mendes. Mendes is also a great wrestler. It’s definitely going to be a war. But, I’m going to have to go with Mendes on this one. I just think his wrestling will be too much for Aldo to handle when all is said and done.
Massenzio isn’t concerned with what the future may hold, as he is focused on living with no regrets and taking one fight at a time.
My ultimate goal is to be the best I can be, and my dream is to be the UFC middleweight champion. But right now, it’s one fight at a time, and Palhares is standing in my way. That’s all I’m concerned with right now.
When that day comes that Massenzio steps away from the sport he’s dedicated his life to, he wants to look back and know he gave every ounce of effort he had.
At the end of it all, I want to know I gave it my all in this sport. I want to know that I did everything I possibly could to reach my goals.
I want to be remembered for living with no regrets.
To learn more about Mike Massenzio, follow him on Twitter.
For additional information, follow Garrett Derr onTwitter.
With the new year beginning with a bang, we begin to look forward to what 2012 may hold.As we’ve seen over the course of 2011, several fighters have fallen from their ranks while others have grown leaps and bounds.As expected, 2012 will be a year of ma…
With the new year beginning with a bang, we begin to look forward to what 2012 may hold.
As we’ve seen over the course of 2011, several fighters have fallen from their ranks while others have grown leaps and bounds.
As expected, 2012 will be a year of many title fights, great rivalries and, of course, more rising stars.
While every mixed martial artist certainly has the opportunity to write their own story, few will have a realistic shot at UFC gold.
Through recent success, these specific fighters are quickly approaching unmarked territory with hopes of coming home with gold.
So, the following slides display 10 fighters who have a realistic chance of wearing UFC gold in 2012.
UFC lightweight 
Saturday, Jan. 14 will mark the return of UFC legend