Wrestler and fighter Ron Waterman talked with Sherdog.com from the unique perspective of having spent a good amount of time with both Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.  Carwin and Lesnar are slated to meet at UFC 106.  He talked about each of their strengths and wrestling abilities, as well as professional wrestling in general.  Also, this is the first I've heard of Waterman fighting Lashley.

Sherdog.com: Back to you and Lesnar in OVW: was it quiet, or did anyone ever want any trouble?

Waterman: It never happened. We just spent a lot of time together hanging out at the mall and going out to eat. No one had that much courage. There were a group of guys: Dave Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton, Mark Henry -- just a bunch of big freaks.

More juicy bits of the interview after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Wanderlei Silva, a former PRIDE champion and generally terrifying human being, has been pretty quiet about his surgery up until now.  In this video he talks about what work he had done, a new tattoo, and developing his gym and fight team.  It seems that Wanderlei is looking to establish his future role in MMA for days long after his own fight career has finished.

I know a lot of people are saying that Silva looks like a different person, but really, did the Silva who fought Rampage for the third time look (facially) at all similar to the one who fought in the early PRIDE days?  Silva's face had taken a lot of punishment and was really scarred and swollen.  I think he looks better.

This one kind of throws a wrench into the welterweight division.  According to MMAJunkie.com, Mike Swick got a concussion while training for his UFC 103 contender fight against Martin Kampmann.  He has pulled out of the fight and will be replaced by UK stand-out Paul Daley.  Swick versus Kampmann was already questionable to determine the next to fight for the welterweight belt, but Kampmann versus Daley, a fighter who has demonstrated a lack of a ground game, is even less appealing.  Daley always has a chance to knock Kampmann out, but chances are this will be a showcase for Kampmann before he gets a title shot.  The welterweight division is looking pretty thin now that GSP has embarassed all of the top fighters.

A few days ago, Sean Salmon, perhaps better known as the guy in every Rashad Evans highlight reel, wrote a piece for MMA Junkie.com where he talked about giving an opponent his arm so he could lose a fight and stay healthy.  Well, Ohio, the state where that fight took place, didn't take too kindly to Salmon admitting that he intentionally lost a fight.  Sherdog.com interviewed Salmon so he could set the record straight.

Sherdog: When you escaped the armbar in the second round, did you stick your arm back in knowing he would grab it?
Salmon: No. I wrote it the wrong way. He got the arm. I knew it was a position I could defend. If I fought and struggled the way you’re supposed to, I could’ve gotten out. But I didn’t have that fight in me. On that night, at the time, I did not have the motivation to fight that any more. I wanted to be anywhere else in the world but that cage, that night.

I understand what Salmon means, and if that's really what happened, there is no way he should be punished for it.  Last I checked, having a bad mind for fighting isn't worthy of a suspension.  A video of the fight might answer the question since it's an issue of him escaping an armbar and then putting himself back in.

If you're an MMA fan and have never watched MMA Live on ESPN.com, you really owe it to yourself to do so.  The panel regularly includes MMA fighters (Kenny Florian being on nearly every episode, and Miguel Torres, Stephan Bonnar, and others also being on on a semi-regular basis) and covers all of the big news that happens every week.  It is by far my favorite weekly MMA show (I have two to choose from, and I don't have access to HDNet anymore). Take a look.

I don't think it was any secret that the head honchos over at Strikeforce wanted Gina Carano to win.  She's American, has developed minor celebrity here in the states, and most men on the internet say creepy things whenever they see photos of her.  I also don't think that it was any secret that Carano was doomed to be steamrolled by Cris "Cyborg" Santos.  So, what's an organization to do?  Work some magic and give your new female champ a makeover?  Whether Strikeforce was behind this new look or not, you have to think they're encouraging this type of stuff.

Cyborg is expected to make her first title defense against Dutch fighter Marloes Coenen.  Coenen has a record of 16-3.  After Coenen, it will be interesting to see how Strikeforce decides who will fight for the belt.  UFC President Dana White explained that the lack of talent in the female division was his reason for not bringing Carano into the fold, and with Coenen coming off of a decision loss and still being the favorite to get first crack at the belt, he might be right.

More pictures after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

You know why I like Brock Lesnar?  Because fighters like him are going to help make this sport popular enough so that I don't have to watch terrible interviews like this anymore.  Let me dig up a video of this reporter interviewing Frank Sinatra and asking him, "So you really like this singing stuff, eh?"  Without further ado, here is a bizarre and awkward interview with Shogun and Machida from KTLA5.

This one is kind of sad to watch now that we know what happened in Chris Tuchscherer's UFC debut against Gabriel Gonzaga.  In it, he discusses with Carmichael Dave how someone becomes friends with Brock Lesnar, how he felt about his opportunity to fight Gonzaga, racing cars, and other intangibles.  Here's hoping that the UFC gives him another chance considering the monstrous shot to the groin he received and the head kick he managed to stay conscious after.

The video and the aforementioned groin shot after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

The days after a big event are usually pretty sad for an MMA fan:  even if your favorite fighter won, you have to wait at least a week to watch some solid live fights again.  August was supposed to be a month of non-stop fights with UFC 101, WEC 42, Affliction Trilogy, Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, and UFC 102.  One of those got cancelled and one of those got half-destroyed by bad luck, so the month become somewhat less action-packed.  Fear not, for Zuffa has another fight on the way as they fight for global MMA domination and control of our thin wallets.  UFC 103 will feature Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort and Cro-Cop vs. Junior Dos Santos as co-main events.  If that doesn't get you excited, what will?

The rather lengthy preview video and full fight card after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

As Sherdog.com reports, DirecTV was unable to come to an agreement with Comcast, and thus DirecTV customers will no longer be able to watch the WEC at home.  Fight fans who are also Time Warner Cable subscribers might remember a similar situation between TWC and HDNet, which ended with fans losing access to Inside MMA, K-1, DREAM, and other fighting related television.  DirecTV said:

"Versus is no longer available on this channel," read the message. "Comcast, which owns Versus, has forced us to take down the channel because we will not submit to their unfair and outrageous demands."

The WEC has served as an exciting showcase for MMA fighters for years, and recently shifted to only showing the lighter weight classes.  The loss of the WEC on DirecTV is sure to dissapoint many an MMA fan.  The next WEC event is scheduled for October 10th and will feature Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson for the interim lightweight championship.

Former UFC champion Frank Mir is back at it again.  Ever since Mir's comeback win against Brock Lesnar at UFC 81, he seems to have become an expert on most subjects.  Do you have questions about fighting?  Potentially deadly illnesses?  The meaning of life?  Miguel Torres?  Frank Mir has got you covered.

During the early part of the video, I'm not sure what Mir is actually referring to (since he has a tendency to speak backwards).  He is either saying that "I think that's pretty sad and pathetic" that Joe Rogan brought up the fact that Nogueria had staph infection when Frank Mir beat him, or that he thinks that it's "pretty sad and pathetic" that Nogueira actually got staph infection.  You be the judge!

Mir goes on to say:

"I have a certain viciousness about the way I fight.  That's why there's many a people who have steel plates put inside their body because of me afterwards."

I ran this one through Babelfish and translated it from old timey English to modern English and it said, "I submitted Tim Sylvia a long time ago and will milk it forever."  Man, I didn't even know that was a language!

The video and more after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

I'd say that the state athletic commission needs to stop worrying about entertainment dollars and start putting the safety of the fighter first. And that the UFC referees need to be quicker to stop fights. And that the gloves of the fighters should have more padding.

First, I guess I should thank John Canzano for not using overly ridiculous descriptions of the fighters and fights.  Unfortunately, if he is really concerned about athletes and feels that it is his duty to improve their lives by writing about it, he is failing at his job.  In the name of safety for all athletes, I encourage Canzano to write a piece about the dangers of cheerleading, which a recent study found to be the most dangerous sport in the world. 

How about basketball, baseball, or football?  Hell, don't just write about them (I know, he already does), but target the main organizations for each and encourage them to use more padding, add more rules, and essentially change the sports.  If you're concerned about injuries, these sports should be looked at before MMA, according to the facts that are out there. 

Continue reading this post »

Here it is, finally.  If you saw the fight and watched the press conference afterwards, there isn't much in here that is super interesting.  If you didn't watch the press conference, you might as well watch this (but why aren't you watching the press conferences?).  Lots of backstage happenings that the average fan isn't privy to in here.  Enjoy.

This installment has Randy on the day of the fight, bumping into Rashad Evans and Wanderlei Silva in the elevator, getting ready backstage, chatting with Brock Lesnar, and walking out to the cage.  That is one loud arena.  Look for the last part to be posted as soon as it's available.

If you're not regularly trolling the ABC website, you might have missed these pictures of Chuck Liddell preparing for the September premiere of Dancing With The Stars.  Here, Chuck secures double-underhooks and looks to take his partner down so he can choke her out.  More awkward photos of the former UFC champion can be found after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Photo Courtesy of SHERDOG.COM

I found a video of a crowd reaction (a bar crowd) to Todd Duffee's record setting KO last night against Tim Hague.  For those of you who missed it, Duffee landed a jab that floored Hague and then layed him out within six or seven seconds, setting a new UFC record for the fastest KO.  But wait, why read this when you can listen to a recap of the fight, complete with creative pronunciations of last names.  Duff?  Hog?  Hagoo?  After watching that bar reaction, these videos were suggested to me by my favorite Skynet-like video service, YouTube.  I love it. 

Also, can someone explain to me what is up with so many people reading play by plays and making videos of them?  It isn't just younger people either, there are lots of grown men who seem to think that their dramatic reading of a Marcus Aurelio fight is going to land them a seat next to Wolf Blitzer.  Being into something is great, but I really can't understand the motivation to create these sorts of videos.  I haven't seen the future of journalism, but it is probably not this.

Watch the videos, after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

All four of the main event fighters at UFC 102 were coming off of losses.  Randy Couture and Keith Jardine were considered the favorites in their respective fights, and both were upset when it was all said and done.

In the main event, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira out-struck Couture on the feet and out-worked him on the ground.  Nogueira threatened to end the fight with a submission on multiple occasions, but Couture fought through the attempts and survived.  While Couture landed solid shots on the feet, it was Nogueira who landed the heavier punches and sent Couture wobbling more than once.  At one point, Nogueira knocked Couture to the ground and nearly finished him with hammer punches, a la Brock Lesnar.  The win represents the "return" of "MInotauro," even though he hadn't really gone anywhere.  A loss to Frank Mir created doubt in the minds of critics and fans that Nogueira had endured one too many battles, but the fight with Couture proved the critics wrong, as Nogueira took solid punches but, in typical Nogueira fashion, survived and kept plugging away at his game.  In the end, the judges awarded Nogueira a dominant unanimous decision.

Details and implications for the Silva/Jardine bout, as well as the results for all of the fights at UFC 102 after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

That's right, even though the heavyweight champion didn't fight at UFC 102, he had a pretty bad night.  First, his training partner Chris Tuchscherer had his reproductive organs delivered about three feet north courtesy of a kick to the groin from Gabriel "I Almost Killed Cro Cop" Gonzaga.  After Tuchscherer recovered from the shot, Gonzaga landed a head kick and finished him off on the ground.

Ok, so maybe Brock Lesnar has no feelings and doesn't care too much about what happens to his training partners.  Lesnar decided to give his cage-side advice another shot during the main event and screamed instructions at one-time opponent Randy Couture.  I can't think of a logical reason for Lesnar to help Couture to win... except for the fact that Couture is a much smaller version of Lesnar whereas Nogueira is a more technical stand-up fighter and has the potential to finish the still green Lesnar on the ground.  At the post-fight press conference, Dana White confirmed that Lesnar was rooting for Couture and was even asking for a rematch with Couture if "The Natural" won his bout.  Yeah, if I was Brock Lesnar, I wouldn't want to fight Nogueira either.

Continue reading this post »

Earlier today I posted the first three parts of Randy Couture's video blog.  Today, the latest blogs before the fight were posted on the UFC's YouTube account.  Here they are, hot off the presses... that is, if the internet had some sort of heat press used to create content.  But it doesn't.  Still, be one of the first 400 people to see this and feel very special!  Both parts can be found after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

After Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira's technical knockout loss to Frank Mir, many fans wondered whether the former PRIDE star was nearing the twilight of his career.  Prior to the fight, Nogueira had never been stopped, even by the conscensus top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, whom he fought to decision twice.  After the fight, details came to light which offered "Big Nog" fans hope, and were seen as excuses by detractors: Nogueira had been battling staph infection before the fight, and was unable to train.  He came into his UFC 92 bout against Mir heavy, but Nogueira has never been the type of fighter to look lean and ripped anyway.  Still, comparing his weigh-in photo from UFC 92 to UFC 102 has to excite his fans...  Comparison photos are after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Now that Dana White has discontinued his video blogs, it seems that there will be more emphasis on fighter blogs.  After the jump are the first three video blogs from Randy Couture for UFC 102, as well as one from middleweight Nate Marquardt.

Continue reading this post »

Sherdog.com has an exclusive video interview with fan favorite Wanderlei Silva following the victory of one of his fighters.  Silva gives insight into his life as a trainer, as well as being a fan at UFC 102.  Also of note, this is one of only a few videos after Silva reportedly recieved surgery to remove scar tissue and repair a deviated septum in his nose.  Silva would not comment on the surgery in the interview, but it appears that the swelling is going down, and, to this fan, he looks much more like the old "Axe Murderer" than the scarred version we have recently seen in the UFC.  Click here to watch.

One of the worst parts about being an MMA fan in 2009 is that the sport still doesn't recieve mainstream coverage.  One of the best parts about being an MMA fan in 2009 is that the sport still doesn't recieve mainstream coverage.

This means that we, the fans, get much more access to direct news.  Why rely on quotes in news stories about what somebody said when you can find the entire press conference online and then find a post-press conference conversation with information on all the things the fans want to hear?

The Las Vegan Sun has a video from after the official UFC 102 press conference where Dana White talks about Chuck Liddell's future, re-signing Randy Couture, the possibilities of Anderson Silva fighting Georges St. Pierre, the middleweight contender lineup, and more on why he chose to end his popular video blogs.

While there had been some speculation from fans that Dana White's YouTube video blogs were deleted due to an upcoming TV deal that might feature similar content, the UFC president explained the decision after the UFC 102 press conference, and Kevin Iole at Yahoo! detailed White's comments.

"Something weird happened to me during the blogging and I just feel that me doing the blogs is not a good thing," White said. "It’s not the right time, with what’s going on in the world right now, to be doing the blogs. Let me put it this way: I’ve been very fortunate and I have a very fortunate life. My life is pretty crazy. Other people aren’t that fortunate. I started getting some pretty crazy letters from people, anywhere from talking about losing their homes to a guy who wrote me a letter talking about what a home means.

"What a home means is that it’s a safe place for you and your family and this guy was losing his house. It just [expletive] me up. It really did. We had this video blog of me jumping on airplanes and doing this crazy [expletive] and I just don’t think it’s the right time for me to be doing video blogs and for people to see the life that I live."

Undefeated prospect Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal ran through his late replacement opponent Mark Kerr at Friday's M-1 Global "Breakthrough" event.  Lawal was originally slated to face off against Don Frye, but Frye pulled out of the fight citing a lack of promotion and professionalism on M-1's part.  Kerr, a UFC and Pride veteran whose career and personal battles were highlighted in the documentary "The Smashing Machine," was considered a heavy underdog in the fight (Lawal was a -1100 favorite).

The two fighters circled for roughly ten seconds before Kerr threw a short leg kick.  Lawal, who was outweighed by nearly 50 pounds, caught the leg and awkwardly slammed Kerr down.  From there, Lawal landed a number of heavy shots while on Kerr's back and Kerr appeared to lose consciousness.  The referee stepped in to stop the fight and Kerr was left laying on his stomach on the mat.  With the win, Lawal improves his record to five wins and zero losses.

RussiaToday.com has an exclusive video story on top ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko's recent trip to New York City for an open training session.  There's also a brief interview included.  In case you missed it, it was announced recently that Emelianenko will be facing undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers in his Strikeforce debut.

Word that the UFC was picking up Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the younger brother of former Pride Heavyweight Champion and UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, surfaced recently, and according to MMA Junkie, Dana White has confirmed that the signing is all but done.  Nogueira will be added to the UFC's ultra-competitive light heavyweight division and, given his career performances, he should fit in quite well. 

"It should be done," White said. "If it's not done, somebody's in trouble."

The reason this should be of more interest to MMA fans than other similar signings is that the signing of "Little Nog" comes at a time when the UFC is set on signing a number of other veteran fighters who they have otherwise ignored in the recent past.  Fans have desired the addition of the smaller Nogueira to the UFC for years, but it is only after the entrance of Strikeforce on the UFC's turf that the UFC finally picked up the smaller Nogueira.  Consider the addition of Phil Baroni, a great MMA personality but a questionable

Continue reading this post »

Sorry, this is not an upcoming triple-threat match at UFC 110. The three former champions took part in a covershoot for Fighter's Only Magazine and the magazine threw up a video of some of the experience on their YouTube page. This probably shouldn't be all that entertaining but if you are obsessed with fighting, it probably will be. I'm just glad the best guy got the center spot on the cover.

Only a few weeks after Dana White answered a question at a UFC Q&A by saying that the preliminary fights on cards were a bonus he meant to reserve only for fans who actually attended the event, MMA Junkie is reporting that UFC 103's preliminary fights will air on Spike TV during a two-hour, commercial free block. That doesn't seem like enough time to fit all the preliminary fights in, but it's unlikely that the sport's hardcore fans, who have been asking for this type of preliminary fight access for a while now, will be complaining any time soon.

While the main card of UFC 103 includes Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin, Mirko Cro Cop, Junior Dos Santos, the return of Frank Trigg, along with other big names, the undercard is almost also interesting, with fighters like former IFL champion Vladimir Matyushenko making his UFC return, as well as Jim Miller, Cole Miller, Dan Lauzon, and the always exciting Drew McFederies.

That is basically all we learn from an appearance of both fighters on Good Day Philadelphia. Tito says that Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are the same thing and Matt Serra gets insecure over the fact that he is nearly the same height as the reporter. Oh, and news reporters are about 90% more likely to pull off a flying armbar than a non-training MMA fan. I tried to put my brother in a triangle one Christmas when he tried to steal the TV remote from me and it probably looked worse than her attempt at a flying armbar. An entertaining appearance, none-the-less.