Tag: UFC

Love Him or Hate Him, Michael Bisping Deserves a Title Shot

After becoming the season three winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Michael Bisping would soon become a viable contender in the light heavyweight class.The brash Brit first came to prominence when he rattled off a four-fight win streak inside the Octagon, …

After becoming the season three winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Michael Bisping would soon become a viable contender in the light heavyweight class.

The brash Brit first came to prominence when he rattled off a four-fight win streak inside the Octagon, though future champion Rashad Evans stopped the momentum of “The Count,” earning a contentious split-decision over Bisping, prompting his move to the 185-pound class.

Since then, Bisping has made some enemies along the way, both amongst his peers and fans alike.

After compiling consecutive and decisive wins over Charles McCarthy, Jason Day and Chris Leben, Bisping was pegged as the season nine coach of TUF, pitted opposite of the legendary Dan Henderson.

Though the Wolfslair product edged Henderson in the series, with two of his fighters earning the coveted TUF title, the former Pride champion exacted revenge by savagely knocking out Bisping, putting an exclamation point in their rivalry that brewed on the show.

Whilst coaching on the TUF series, Bisping proved to be a formidable nuisance, constantly egging the mild-mannered Henderson while creating confrontations with Team USA’s DaMarques Johnson. 

Naturally, the “Team USA vs. Team UK” format didn’t do Bisping any favors, and it was his third run on the show that really pushed his villainous role over the edge. 

Recently, the Cyprus native wrapped up another coaching stint on the show during which fan favorite Jason “Mayhem” Miller opposed the 32-year-old.

After back-and-forth banter throughout, Bisping eventually met with the Bully Beatdown host a few weeks ago at the TUF Finale, finishing off the enigmatic fighter with a third-round TKO.

The win over Miller capped off a four-fight win streak in the UFC and will now culminate in a pivotal battle with former title challenger Demian Maia. 

As it stands, Bisping has already made the case for himself to earn a shot at the 185-pound title, since champion Anderson Silva has dispatched of all notable opposition, outside of the Brit.

An impressive victory over the world-ranked Brazilian Maia will go a long way for Bisping to finally secure a championship bout, which will make him one of only a few TUF competitors who have worked their way to the top of their respective divisions. 

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Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson Set For UFC 143

Tweet Heavyweight fighter Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1) will return to the UFC and he’ll do it against TUF 10 winner, Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (16-6). Rumors of the bout surfaced last week, with both fighters confirming the matchup on Tuesday. UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is scheduled to take place on Februar 4 at the Mandalay […]

Heavyweight fighter Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1) will return to the UFC and he’ll do it against TUF 10 winner, Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (16-6).

Rumors of the bout surfaced last week, with both fighters confirming the matchup on Tuesday.

UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is scheduled to take place on Februar 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout between Werdum and Nelson will certainly take place on the evenings pay-per-view card.

Werdum returns to the Octagon on a loss, having been eliminated from the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix tournament last June by Alistair Overeem. It was a re-match for the two fighters, with Werdum taking the first fight by submission in 2006, and Overeem winning this bout by unanimous decision. The loss ended a three fight win streak, which had the Brazilian coming off his biggest win, a submission victory over Fedor Emelianenko in June 2010. Werdem had his last fight in the UFC back in October 2008 at UFC 90, which ended with him losing to Junior dos Santos by first round knockout.

Nelson fought in October, ending a two fight losing skid by stopping Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic by third round TKO at UFC 137. Nelson had been highly criticized for his conditioning in his previous two losses, to Frank Mir at UFC 130 and to Junior dos Santos at UFC 117, coming into UFC 137 in much better shape by finishing his Croatian opponent. ‘Big Country’ is now 3-2 in the UFC which includes winning season ten of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

UFC on FX: 7 Fighters Who Will Be Fighting for Their Jobs

A pivotal lightweight affair is set to headline the UFC’s first venture on the FX network, as contenders Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller will look to get their careers back on track, after suffering defeat in their last outings. However, there may …

A pivotal lightweight affair is set to headline the UFC’s first venture on the FX network, as contenders Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller will look to get their careers back on track, after suffering defeat in their last outings. 

However, there may be some fighters more than others that will need a victory in order to secure their place in the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization.

A win will keep their dreams alive while a loss could set them back considerably in their respective careers. 

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Leaving Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce Is an Awful Idea

This is just stupid. Seriously. It is. You have the consensus No. 2 lightweight in the world under contract, you can put him on the biggest stage in the world and have him fight a champion whose legend seems to grow with every gutsy performance, and yo…

This is just stupid. Seriously. It is. You have the consensus No. 2 lightweight in the world under contract, you can put him on the biggest stage in the world and have him fight a champion whose legend seems to grow with every gutsy performance, and you’re not. There’s not even really a good reason. […]

UFC Betting

Leaving Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce Is an Awful Idea

Think Brock Lesnar Can’t Take a Punch? He Begs to Differ

Filed under: UFC, NewsAs isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC cha…

Filed under: ,

Brock LesnarAs isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC champ’s world. But as he told me when I spoke to him for a Sports Illustrated story this week, the key is not so much in avoiding those criticisms entirely, but rather in knowing what to make of them once they get there.

For instance, take the oft-repeated claim that Lesnar can’t take a punch.

“I think it’s a bunch of bulls—,” Lesnar said. “The fights that I’ve gotten hit, I’ve stood and banged with Heath Herring, Randy Couture, Frank Mir — I’ve taken a lot of shots. I mean, Shane Carwin. And I’ve yet to be knocked out. I had refs stop a fight for a submission and a TKO, which is a referee stoppage. I’ve never been knocked out cold.”


In fact, the ‘it’s a bunch of bulls—‘ response turns out to be Lesnar’s go-to move when confronted with MMA fans and media criticisms. It’s not that he doesn’t hear them — trust me, if you were around for the reception he got at the UFC on FOX event in Anaheim, you’d know there’s no way around it sometimes — it’s that he dismisses it as just another instance of haters hating. Not in those words, of course.

“Any time you’re on top, whatever it is, and I don’t care if it’s the business world or it’s in farming or fighting — and those are all things that I’m in — there’s people out to get you,” he said. “There’s criticism. I don’t know if it’s just that people don’t like to see other people succeed, or just if they want to see them fail.”

Which is, according to Lesnar, exactly what’s happening with Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow right now.

“There’s a stand-up guy who’s doing a lot of good things, a stand-up role model for kids, and this guy is taking a lot of criticism,” Lesnar said. “I guess it comes with the territory. When you’re in the spotlight and you’re one of the best people in your division, you better have some heavy armor.”

People can say his chin was exposed in the Cain Velasquez fight, Lesnar said, but as he pointed out, “in the heavyweight division, if guys are putting leather in the right spots, it’s hard to come back from that.”

As for Alistair Overeem, who has vowed to take Lesnar apart “piece by piece” at UFC 141, there’s no ill will there, according to the former WWE star.

“I don’t hardly even know him,” said Lesnar. “…He’s an opponent. He’s a guy I’m facing next Friday night, who I will have no remorse for, and who I will show no mercy to. I don’t have any emotions when I fight, for myself or anyone else.”

 

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Fabricio Werdum Says He Overtrained For Alistair Overeem Fight, Would Like A Grudge Match Versus Dutch Fighter

Heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is set to return to the Octagon this February when he meets Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson at UFC 143. In this interview, which was taken before both he and Nelson confirmed their fight, Werdum discusses his training since his last fight, his win over Fedor, overtraining for his Strikeforce Grand Prix fight against Alistair Overeem, plus much more.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is set to return to the Octagon this February when he meets Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson at UFC 143. In this interview, which was taken before both he and Nelson confirmed their fight, Werdum discusses his training since his last fight, his win over Fedor, overtraining for his Strikeforce Grand Prix fight against Alistair Overeem, plus much more.