SB Nation User Blog: Nick Thomas

GSP talks BJ Penn and Anderson Silva (video) "I’m a different fighter than I used to be," he s...

Nick Thomas — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:43:12 -0000

GSP talks BJ Penn and Anderson Silva (video)

"I’m a different fighter than I used to be," he said. "And he (BJ) is as well. This time, I want to take him out. I don’t want to go to a decision. I want to finish him."

The fight is not signed yet, but St. Pierre thinks it will be sometime in the next week.

"A lot of people have been challenging me so far," he said. "I have a lot of friends at 185. To tell you the truth, I’m not afraid of challenging nobody at 185. I’m very confident in myself.

"I think I can do pretty well (against Silva). I think I’m a different fighter than all the guys who have fought him in the past. There’s only one way to find out."

Night of Combat II Weigh In Pictures

Nick Thomas — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:51:17 -0000

Hector "Sick Dog" Ramirez 7-3-1 vs. Rick "The Jet" Roufus 4-3 (205)

Betting Odds:

Hector Ramirez -310
Rick Roufus +250

Jay Hieron -1100
Bryson Kamaka +600

Mike Pyle -400
Brian Gassaway +320

John Alessio -450
Gideon Ray +370

Sean Salmon -275
Josh Haynes +215

Click here for fight card details. Photos via Combatlifestyle.com.

Bryson Kamaka 6-13 vs. Jay "The Thorobred" Hieron 15-4 (170)

Brian Gassaway 28-18-2 vs. Mike "Quicksand" Pyle 17-5-1 (170)

John "The Natural" Alessio 23-11 vs Gideon Ray 15-9-1 (167)

Josh "Bring The Pain" Haynes 10-10 vs Sean Salmon 15-5 (185)

ShoXC Oct 10th: Herman vs. Schall - Live Results Tonight

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:49:33 -0000

Make sure to join us here tonight as Bloodyelbow.com provides live updates on the final event in a three-week blitz of recent ProElite events, the ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series 10/10 on Showtime. We'll be taking you through the evening starting with the start of the broadcast at 11:00pm ET.

Televised Bouts:
- Dave "Pee Wee" Herman 11-0 vs. Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall 21-10
- Mamed "Cannibal" Khalidov 14-3-1 vs. Jason Guida 17-17
- Anthony Lapsley 13-3 vs. Mike Stumpf 10-1
- Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko 21-3 vs. Robert "Bubba" McDaniel 11-4
- Rafaello "Tractor" Olivera 5-0 vs. Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm 7-0

"Pee Wee", "Meat Truck", "Cannibal", "Bubba", "Fancy Pants"...it's sure to be an interesting night so spend it here with us.

ShoXC 10/10 Quick Results:

- Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm vs. Rafaello "Tractor" Olivera
R1 - Olivera is schooling Beerbohm in round 1. Both very active on the ground, Olivera landing knees and elbows. Wow... one elbow by Beerbohm cuts Olivera badly near the end of the round.
The fight has been stopped. Beerbohm wins by TKO (cut).

- Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko vs. Robert "Bubba" McDaniel
R1 - The USA USA chants start. Shlemenko working for a kimura. McDaniel has the back, landing shots; to full mount. McDaniel domintes round 1. Whoa... flying knee by Shlemenko right at the end of the round. McDaniel is completely floored and groaning.
McDaniel can't answer the second round. Shlemenko wins by TKO.

- Anthony Lapsley vs. Mike Stumpf
R1 - Lapsley comes out firing. Stumpf gets two takedowns...but Lapsley gets up from one and gets top position from the other. Lapsley dropping bombs from the top. Triangle choke by Lapsley. We're headed to round 2.
R2 - So far Lapsley is taking round 2. Lapsley controlling Stumpf mid-way. Nice elbows by Lapsley from guard. Stumpf turns a kimura into full mount. Great escapes, transitions. Lapsley looking good.
R3 - Lapsley is grinding out the win. The ref is making some stupid calls on stand ups. This one is going to the judges score cards.
29-29 (ummm ok), 30-27, 30-27 - Lapsely wins by majority decision.

- Jason Guida vs. Mamed "Cannibal" Khalidov
R1 - Guida bull rushes Khalidov. Both fighters going for leg locks. Khalidov has the armbar, the bigger Guida pulls out. Cut on the top of Guida's head. Khalidov is impressive. Guida looks gased.
R2 - Khalidov comes out with some great kicks. Guida is looking tired. Khalidov is pulling out all the tricks, spinning heal kick, spinning back fist. Khalidov with a nice uppercut, he's trying to finish. The mouth piece goes missing... Guida gets a bizarre break. What a mess. Fight starts - Khalidov landing shots... The ref stops the fight... and Guida pushes the ref.
Khalidov wins by TKO (strikes)

- Dave "Pee Wee" Herman vs. Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall
R1 - Herman landing teep kicks.... Herman gets the plum, adds some vicious knees. Schall falls, Herman finishes it with ground and pound. It was a possible low blow knee shot that dropped Schall.
Herman wins by TKO at 1:06, worst post fight/commentary ever

Thanks for joining us everyone. =) See you next weekend for UFC 89.

Women's MMA Knockouts, Volume 1 Featuring women's MMA knockouts by Kaitlin Young, Hisae...

Nick Thomas — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:41:26 -0000

Women's MMA Knockouts, Volume 1

Featuring women's MMA knockouts by Kaitlin Young, Hisae Watanabe, Gina Carano, Jen Howe and Tonya Evinger.

Helio Gracie Interview (with subtitles)

Nick Thomas — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:27:37 -0000

Helio Gracie Interview (with subtitles)

Kimbo Slice's younger brother responds...

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:57:32 -0000

Kimbo Slice's younger brother responds...

Jason MacDonald Talks Kimbo Slice Exposed

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:16:40 -0000

http://www.sportsnet.ca/bios/macdonald_jason/

Saturday night, Kimbo Slice finally got exposed for what most of us knew all along. He was built up by the internet, but he isn't that far along as an MMA fighter. James Thompson exposed him on the ground in his last fight, and Seth Petruzelli finished him off. The referee wasn't able to save him this time!

I think the fact that EliteXC is paying a guy like Kimbo $500,000 is almost insulting to other "real" mixed martial artists. If I were Jake Shields, who is a legitimate top 170-pound fighter, I would be very upset and angry. He's supposed to be a cornerstone of the organization and he's getting paid $50,000. That's a slap in the face for Shields, and pretty much every other top fighter there.

I guess the exception would be Andrei Arlovski. From his standpoint, leaving the UFC was probably the best thing for him. He got $750,000 for his Affliction fight, now $500,000 for EliteXC fight. And for fighting two guys that aren't exactly at his caliber.

Paul Daley's performance was disappointing. He may have Semtex in his hands, but he has bricks in his feet and back, because he's horrible on the ground.

Overall, it was a pretty disappointing card for CBS. I think they were happy with the ratings, but it wasn't great. Half the people didn't even realize until the last second that the Shamrock fight wasn't happening, me being one of them. And then to have talk that Petruzelli was paid to keep the fight standing. Not good.

This week I'm in Nova Scotia visiting my parents. But this will definitely be my last trip with the whole gang to Nova Scotia until my daughter is at least four years older. Because the trip here was the worst I've ever had in my life. My daughter screamed the entire 1.5-hour drive to the Calgary airport and then the entire 4.5-hour flight. Not just on and off. The entire flight! And then on the drive to my parents' place.

It got to the point where I was begging for my parents to bust out the alcohol when I got there, but they had none in the house. It was the longest flight of my life, and I'm not looking forward to the 5.5-hour flight going back.

Earlier this week, I received word from the UFC that they were working on a fight for me and I should know who I'll be facing by the end of the week. I've been trying to do the process of elimination but I still really don't know who I'm fighting.

I was thinking Nate Marquardt, we fought on the same night in Atlanta. But I'm thinking they might make Marquardt the coach of the next Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K. Obviously, Michael Bisping will be there other one.

As a fighter, you try to sit and figure it out. There are not too many guys out there not already slated to fight someone else. And Joe Silva said they were "working" on a fight for me. But if the guy they have in mind is already under contract, there's not much "work" involved.

So I'm wondering if it could be someone new. They've brought in the higher divisions from the WEC, so hey, you never know; maybe a Paulo Filho matchup.

As for my own promotion, I'm trying to match up fights for my fight card and looking to use local talent from Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. Yet I'm finding I'm not familiar with a lot of the guys who are fighting locally. I can't make it to a lot of the shows because I'm fighting in the U.S. all the time. I do with MFC, but since they signed with HDNet they've been having more international guys. I've had to call Mark and ask him for some advice and some contacts.

One thing that will help is that it looks like we'll push it back one weekend (to Nov. 29). The weekend I was originally looking at is the same weekend of a big fundraising festival in Red Deer called the Festival of Trees. I've been getting feedback from Red Deer from people saying they want to go to both events. So luckily I was able to secure the next weekend.

Last night I watched my first episode of this season's Ultimate Fighter. Up until now, I was looking for it on Thursday night. I just realized last night that it's on Wednesdays!

The episode was a bit of an embarrassment. I mean, these guys watch the show on TV and laugh and say, "Look at the jackass and how he's acting." And then they go on the show and start acting the same way.

After seven seasons, these guys still make complete asses of themselves. My hat's off to Krzysztof Soszynski for handling the situation the way he did. He's doing a great job, being a great representative of Canada for us. I have a suspicion he's going to do really well and be one of the last guys on the show.

Talk to you next week and we'll look at the upcoming UFC cards.

ShoXC Oct 10th Weigh In Pictures

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:50:13 -0000

265 lbs:. Dave "Pee Wee" Herman 11-0 (243) vs. Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall 21-10 (261)

Yes, I am still training alone and, no, I’m not really worried about joining a camp or team although I went and trained for a week in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. I worked on striking and how to block a punch … without using my face. I sparred with Frank Mir. That was fun.

-- Dave "Pee Wee" Herman

I’ve reached this gate-keeper status where they put guys up against me that, if they can get by me, then they can go on. They are legit then.

-- Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall

Catch the fights on Showtime at 11pm ET tonight.

Photos courtesy of Esther Lin and fighter quotes from TheGarv.com.

205 lbs:. Jason Guida 17-17 (204.5) vs. Mamed "Cannibal" Khalidov 14-3-1 (200.5)

(Referring to not making weight in the past) – "I know what I’m capable of and I’ve changed my diet. I know what I need to do. I got lazy; the training was there but I just wasn’t disciplined or focused and I wasn’t mentally there. I am now.

-- Jason Guida

I get a lot of exposure fighting on television in Poland, but nothing like this. I’m really looking forward to making new fans. I’ve been fighting at middleweight so he may be physically stronger, but I don’t think it is an issue. I’m confident.

-- Mamed "Cannibal" Khalidov

170 lbs:. Anthony Lapsley 13-3 (170.5) vs. Mike Stumpf 10-1 (172.5)

I want to fight EliteXC champion Jake Shields, but whoever is in the way, I’ll take them first.

-- Anthony Lapsley

I’m very excited to get this opportunity and definitely looking to set the pace early. I want to finish this fight; there’s no reason to go through any feeling out process.

-- Mike Stumpf

185 lbs:. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko 21-3 (184.5) vs. Robert "Bubba" McDaniel 11-4 (183.5)

I know almost nothing my opponent except that he is more a wrestler than a striker, so I will try to avoid the take down. I’m ready to fight on the ground if that’s where it goes, but will try and keep it standing. I have fought a southpaw only once before.

-- Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko

It’s hard to say what the victory over Kala Kolohe Hose did for my confidence, but I will find out Friday if it was a fluke or a legitimate step up. But, for sure, this is an exciting opportunity for me.

-- Robert "Bubba" McDaniel

160 lbs:. Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm 7-0 (161.5) vs. Rafaello "Tractor" Olivera 5-0 (160.5)

I’ve only been doing MMA 19 months but I wrestled in high school and am a natural fighter. This is my job. I train twice a day, that’s all I do.

-- Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm

My nickname is "Tractor" – I like to run over my opponents. The plan is to come out non-stop and knock him out or get him to submit. I would like best to win by stoppage but he is a tough dude, who I respect. But I came here to win and if I am mentally right, I will. I’m ready for anything.

-- Rafaello "Trator" Olivera

UFC 90 Preview: Rich Clementi talks Grey Maynard (video)

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:20:07 -0000

UFC 90 Preview: Rich Clementi talks Grey Maynard (video)

Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio talks about his heated feud with former student Hermes Franca.

Nick Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:49:59 -0000

Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio talks about his heated feud with former student Hermes Franca.