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Saturday
UFC Middleweights Patrick Cote vs. Alessio Sakara Set For Montreal This November
A pair of veteran middleweights will face-off on opposite sides of the Octagon this November when Patrick ‘The Predator’ C�t� (17-8) welcomes Alessio ‘Legionarius’ Sakara (15-9, 1NC) to his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada as part of UFC 154. Officials with the promotion confirmed the matchup on Friday at UFC.com. A middleweight matchup that should [...]
The Agony of Defeat and How Three Fighters Have Dealt with It
Watch a fighter's face when he's won and the story is all there ? the relief, the elation, the euphoria.� And yet, what of the other half to that equation?� What of those who've been forced to swallow the bitter pill of defeat?� It's an inescapable truth that, for someone to be the victor, someone else must lose, and that karmic flipside is what makes the sport a cruel and harsh mistress to all who dare strap on four-ounce gloves and step into the cage.� To compete is to flirt with a very particular, very exacting kind of agony.� For the sake of examining further what it means to be on the losing side of things, Cagewriter tracked down a trio of accomplished fighters to get their perspective.� The three all share two common denominators: they're very, very good at what they do, and they've all dealt with defeat.
Tom DeBlass, UFC Fighter
In 2003, New Jersey native Tom DeBlass fought his first amateur bout.� He'd been a track star in college, and had only three months of martial arts training, but hey, what the heck, right?� Unfortunately, his opponent was veteran kickboxer and experienced mixed martial arts fighter, and things didn't go so well.� So DeBlass went back to the drawing board and sought to gain the skills necessary to succeed.� By the time he made his return to the cage, he was now a black belt under Ricardo Almeida, with successful runs as a competitor in everything from the Jiu-Jitsu Worlds to the Pan-Ams to the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championship Trials.� He was, quite literally, a completely different person.
"I lost my first fight as a youngster because I really just ? I didn't even train jiu-jitsu, I didn't even know anything," says the 30-year-old DeBlass.� "With that skill set, I would've lost a hundred out of a hundred times, because I didn't know any better."
It took only seven pro fights in New Jersey's Ring of Combat promotion for DeBlass to earn his shot in the UFC's Octagon ? seven fights in a little over a year and a half, each one flawless and won by quick submission or knockout or protracted war.� But when that shot came, it was for a UFC on Fuel TV held in Sweden, and it was on short notice against a vastly more-experienced Cyrille Diabate.� No one says no when the UFC comes calling, so DeBlass took the fight; he lost via majority decision ? his first defeat as a pro and his first loss in nine years.
"This one with Cyrille, it hit me pretty hard," says DeBlass.� "I was pretty upset.� Just because I know, with all respect to him, I'd finish him probably fairly quickly if I was in a full training camp.� This was one fight where I was really, really out of shape.� Usually in between fights I stay in shape, but I'd hurt my ankle.� I'd pulled out of a Ring of Combat fight, and I was letting my ankle heal.� I was on vacation with my fianc�e the week before, and I got fat and I got out of shape.� I knew that, so it was kind of a terrible feeling going into a fight knowing you're not prepared for it.� But I still thought I could win.� And you know, the fight was going my way.� Not even just going my way, it was an easy fight.� I was dominating.� Then I just had nothing left.� I was so exhausted.� And when I lost, I was just very disappointed ? I'm still very disappointed."
What did DeBlass do to cope?� "Right away, as soon as possible, I tried to find the positive," he says.� "I changed my whole training.� As much as I was doing before, I'm doing things differently now, working on different aspects.� And everything happens for a reason, man.� In this sport, you've got to be ready for anything."
The UFC already had DeBlass scheduled to fight on another UFC on Fuel TV, but the bout was cancelled when his opponent got injured. �Regardless, DeBlass ? who's moving down to middleweight for the first time ? fully anticipates being ready for anything when the UFC calls again.� Just as he did after losing that first amateur bout all those years ago, he's making the adjustments necessary to assure future success.
�
James Jenkins, Ring of Combat Fighter
Things were going great for James Jenkins until he walked face-first into a nose-breaking right hand.� Up to that point, the 26-year-old Matt Serra/Ray Longo product was beating all comers in Ring of Combat ? so much so that, to give Jenkins someone to fight for the promotion's featherweight belt, an opponent was flown in from Chicago.� Still, Jenkins was the heavy favorite going into the bout.� But all it takes is one mistake in this game.� One mistake.
"I felt absolutely horrible," says the Long Island, N.Y. native.� "I felt like I had a great shot in front of me and I had worked hard to get this far.� I didn't have any regrets as far as training hard, I didn't take him lightly ? I could be fighting a 13-year old and I wouldn't take him lightly."
Says Jenkins: "I'm a prideful guy.� I don't take losing? I couldn't lose at a game of Monopoly.� So this was pretty rough.� It was hard.� A lot of bad feelings.� I don't want to have to feel it again for ? well, if I could have my way, never."
What was it like for Jenkins after the fight? �"I get down to the locker room, and I was just trying to wash the blood off my face and everything," he says.� "I think for a few days I did nothing but think about it.� I'd be sitting in a car with my girlfriend and I was just start zoning out thinking about it.� For a while, I had this feeling like I could just go back in time.� Like if I could just think about it hard enough, I could go back in time and I could fix it and I could make it all better.� I had to sit there and really tell myself, 'You can't go backwards.� What's done is done.� The only thing I can do is work for the future.'� That's the only thing you can do when [expletive] goes wrong, you just have to work to make sure it doesn't happen again."
What's next for the still-rising featherweight star?� "I took a little time off to be with my friends and family, but now I want to be back in the gym and fighting at the next Ring of Combat.� I want to come out with a strong showing.� I really think that's the only thing that will take away some of the bad feelings.� You know, to get a win."
When Cagewriter interviewed Jenkins, it was outside of former UFC champ Matt Serra's gym, right before a training session; clearly, Jenkins is already on his way back to the cage.
Dan Miller, UFC Fighter
There are few fighters in the UFC ? or even the world ? who can impress in defeat like the veteran middleweight-turned-welterweight Dan Miller.� In eleven fights in the Octagon, Miller has amassed a 6-5 record, and those five losses were after hard-fought scraps against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt and Rousimar Palhares ? tough guys, one and all.� Still, the New Jersey native knows of the sting a fresh "L" on your record can leave.
"It is tough," he says.� "I going into every fight believing that I can win, and wanting to win, but it's part of the sport and somebody has to lose."� He adds: "The way I feel is, as long as I put everything I had into it and got beaten by a better fighter that night, it makes it a little easier."�
"For me it was never okay.� I never walked out of the ring not disappointed in myself.� But again, it's something that sucks, but it's not the end of the world.� I go into the gym and it makes me work harder.� Every time I lost I just tried to get better and improve myself."
Miller's advice to any young bucks out there who find themselves on the inevitable losing end?� "Keep your head up and learn from it, basically.� Pretty much everyone is going to lose at some point in their career, and it's one of those things where you're going to have to learn from it.� If you didn't learn from it, then it's bad."
*��������� *��������� *��������� *
That's it for me, folks.� It's been a blast writing for Cagewriter, and hopefully you'll see me again.� Follow me here on Twitter; this is where I blog about local fights shows of both the sanctioned and unsanctioned variety; this is the book I wrote on underground fighting.� I've been writing about MMA since 2001, and I sure as hell ain't stopping now!
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/agony-defeat-three-fighters-dealt-003155154--mma.html
ONE FC: Pride of a Nation Results: Sylvia-Arlovski ruled No Contest, Pulver stopped with strikes
ONE FC is poised to continue their conquering of the Asian market this morning (or tonight if you live overseas) with ONE FC: Pride of a Nation, a card boasting a slew of regional talent in addition to a number of notable competitors including Bibiano Fernandes, Phil Baroni, Jens Pulver, and Rolles Gracie, as well [...]
Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/08/31/one-fc-pride-of-a-nation-real-time-results/
Friday
The Agony of Defeat and How Three Fighters Have Dealt with It
Watch a fighter's face when he's won and the story is all there ? the relief, the elation, the euphoria.� And yet, what of the other half to that equation?� What of those who've been forced to swallow the bitter pill of defeat?� It's an inescapable truth that, for someone to be the victor, someone else must lose, and that karmic flipside is what makes the sport a cruel and harsh mistress to all who dare strap on four-ounce gloves and step into the cage.� To compete is to flirt with a very particular, very exacting kind of agony.� For the sake of examining further what it means to be on the losing side of things, Cagewriter tracked down a trio of accomplished fighters to get their perspective.� The three all share two common denominators: they're very, very good at what they do, and they've all dealt with defeat.
Tom DeBlass, UFC Fighter
In 2003, New Jersey native Tom DeBlass fought his first amateur bout.� He'd been a track star in college, and had only three months of martial arts training, but hey, what the heck, right?� Unfortunately, his opponent was veteran kickboxer and experienced mixed martial arts fighter, and things didn't go so well.� So DeBlass went back to the drawing board and sought to gain the skills necessary to succeed.� By the time he made his return to the cage, he was now a black belt under Ricardo Almeida, with successful runs as a competitor in everything from the Jiu-Jitsu Worlds to the Pan-Ams to the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championship Trials.� He was, quite literally, a completely different person.
"I lost my first fight as a youngster because I really just ? I didn't even train jiu-jitsu, I didn't even know anything," says the 30-year-old DeBlass.� "With that skill set, I would've lost a hundred out of a hundred times, because I didn't know any better."
It took only seven pro fights in New Jersey's Ring of Combat promotion for DeBlass to earn his shot in the UFC's Octagon ? seven fights in a little over a year and a half, each one flawless and won by quick submission or knockout or protracted war.� But when that shot came, it was for a UFC on Fuel TV held in Sweden, and it was on short notice against a vastly more-experienced Cyrille Diabate.� No one says no when the UFC comes calling, so DeBlass took the fight; he lost via majority decision ? his first defeat as a pro and his first loss in nine years.
"This one with Cyrille, it hit me pretty hard," says DeBlass.� "I was pretty upset.� Just because I know, with all respect to him, I'd finish him probably fairly quickly if I was in a full training camp.� This was one fight where I was really, really out of shape.� Usually in between fights I stay in shape, but I'd hurt my ankle.� I'd pulled out of a Ring of Combat fight, and I was letting my ankle heal.� I was on vacation with my fianc�e the week before, and I got fat and I got out of shape.� I knew that, so it was kind of a terrible feeling going into a fight knowing you're not prepared for it.� But I still thought I could win.� And you know, the fight was going my way.� Not even just going my way, it was an easy fight.� I was dominating.� Then I just had nothing left.� I was so exhausted.� And when I lost, I was just very disappointed ? I'm still very disappointed."
What did DeBlass do to cope?� "Right away, as soon as possible, I tried to find the positive," he says.� "I changed my whole training.� As much as I was doing before, I'm doing things differently now, working on different aspects.� And everything happens for a reason, man.� In this sport, you've got to be ready for anything."
The UFC already had DeBlass scheduled to fight on another UFC on Fuel TV, but the bout was cancelled when his opponent got injured. �Regardless, DeBlass ? who's moving down to middleweight for the first time ? fully anticipates being ready for anything when the UFC calls again.� Just as he did after losing that first amateur bout all those years ago, he's making the adjustments necessary to assure future success.
�
James Jenkins, Ring of Combat Fighter
Things were going great for James Jenkins until he walked face-first into a nose-breaking right hand.� Up to that point, the 26-year-old Matt Serra/Ray Longo product was beating all comers in Ring of Combat ? so much so that, to give Jenkins someone to fight for the promotion's featherweight belt, an opponent was flown in from Chicago.� Still, Jenkins was the heavy favorite going into the bout.� But all it takes is one mistake in this game.� One mistake.
"I felt absolutely horrible," says the Long Island, N.Y. native.� "I felt like I had a great shot in front of me and I had worked hard to get this far.� I didn't have any regrets as far as training hard, I didn't take him lightly ? I could be fighting a 13-year old and I wouldn't take him lightly."
Says Jenkins: "I'm a prideful guy.� I don't take losing? I couldn't lose at a game of Monopoly.� So this was pretty rough.� It was hard.� A lot of bad feelings.� I don't want to have to feel it again for ? well, if I could have my way, never."
What was it like for Jenkins after the fight? �"I get down to the locker room, and I was just trying to wash the blood off my face and everything," he says.� "I think for a few days I did nothing but think about it.� I'd be sitting in a car with my girlfriend and I was just start zoning out thinking about it.� For a while, I had this feeling like I could just go back in time.� Like if I could just think about it hard enough, I could go back in time and I could fix it and I could make it all better.� I had to sit there and really tell myself, 'You can't go backwards.� What's done is done.� The only thing I can do is work for the future.'� That's the only thing you can do when [expletive] goes wrong, you just have to work to make sure it doesn't happen again."
What's next for the still-rising featherweight star?� "I took a little time off to be with my friends and family, but now I want to be back in the gym and fighting at the next Ring of Combat.� I want to come out with a strong showing.� I really think that's the only thing that will take away some of the bad feelings.� You know, to get a win."
When Cagewriter interviewed Jenkins, it was outside of former UFC champ Matt Serra's gym, right before a training session; clearly, Jenkins is already on his way back to the cage.
Dan Miller, UFC Fighter
There are few fighters in the UFC ? or even the world ? who can impress in defeat like the veteran middleweight-turned-welterweight Dan Miller.� In eleven fights in the Octagon, Miller has amassed a 6-5 record, and those five losses were after hard-fought scraps against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt and Rousimar Palhares ? tough guys, one and all.� Still, the New Jersey native knows of the sting a fresh "L" on your record can leave.
"It is tough," he says.� "I going into every fight believing that I can win, and wanting to win, but it's part of the sport and somebody has to lose."� He adds: "The way I feel is, as long as I put everything I had into it and got beaten by a better fighter that night, it makes it a little easier."�
"For me it was never okay.� I never walked out of the ring not disappointed in myself.� But again, it's something that sucks, but it's not the end of the world.� I go into the gym and it makes me work harder.� Every time I lost I just tried to get better and improve myself."
Miller's advice to any young bucks out there who find themselves on the inevitable losing end?� "Keep your head up and learn from it, basically.� Pretty much everyone is going to lose at some point in their career, and it's one of those things where you're going to have to learn from it.� If you didn't learn from it, then it's bad."
*��������� *��������� *��������� *
That's it for me, folks.� It's been a blast writing for Cagewriter, and hopefully you'll see me again.� Follow me here on Twitter; this is where I blog about local fights shows of both the sanctioned and unsanctioned variety; this is the book I wrote on underground fighting.� I've been writing about MMA since 2001, and I sure as hell ain't stopping now!
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/agony-defeat-three-fighters-dealt-003155154--mma.html
Yahoo! Sports and Heavy present Fight Day Live
Fight Day is back this Saturday, live from UFC 150 in Denver, Colorado. Host Dave Farra will guide you through the entire night's action with expert analysis from industry veterans John Morgan of MMA Junkie, Brett Okamoto of ESPN, and Mike Straka of Tapout Radio. Fight Day's Maggie Krol takes you behind the scenes for interviews with all the fighters on the main card. UFC 150 is headlined by a UFC lightweight title fight between champion Ben Henderson and former champion Frankie Edgar. The co-main event of the night is sure to produce fireworks as power strikers Donald Cerrone and Melvin Guillard lock horns. Don't miss Fight Day at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT.
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Bruce Buffer explains ?It?s fight time?
During recent UFC events, you may have noticed UFC Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer changing up his signature call of, "It's tiiiiiiiiiime" to "It's fight tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime."
I was confused by this. Why would Buffer mess with such announcing perfection...
I was confused by this. Why would Buffer mess with such announcing perfection...
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/bruce-buffer-explains-fight-time-174055101--mma.html
Anderson Silva: 'A Lot Of People Thought I Was Gay'
"A lot of people thought I was gay," Anderson Silva admits.
It has been observed numerous times over the years that the middleweight champion has an...
It has been observed numerous times over the years that the middleweight champion has an...
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/104834-anderson-silva-lot-people-thought-i-gay.html
Thursday
Tim Sylvia Plans To Send Andrei Arlovski Into Retirement With His Fists
A battle of former UFC heavyweight champions will take place at ONE FC 5: Pride of a Nation Friday morning, as Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski square off in the Philippines. The card, which can be purchased for streaming at the ONE FC website, will feature the fourth meeting between Sylvia and Arlovski. Sylvia (31-7) [...] 
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/N8gZWX0C6Ig/
ONE FC 5: ?Pride of A Nation? Eduard Folayang vs. Felipe Enomoto Preview (Video)
ONE FC has released yet another video preview ahead of ONE FC 5: “Pride of A Nation”. This time around, the evening’s co-main event �between lightweights Eduard Folayang and Felipe Enomoto is highlighted. Folayang, will hold home court advantage as the Filipino enters the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The wu shiu expert looks to put his [...]
Kickboxing star Tyrone Spong signs with GLORY
26-year old knockout machine Tyrone Spong, one of the brightest young stars on the kickboxing scene, has officially inked a deal with the new big kid on the sport?s block, GLORY. According to an official press release from the promotion, Spong?s contract involves multiple fights and is exclusive meaning he won?t be transitioning to MMA for at least another two years.
Though no opponent has been named for Spong, it was stated he will participate in GLORY?s upcoming Heavyweight Grand Prix alongside other K-1 stand-outs like Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt, and Jerome Le Banner.
?The best stand-up fighters in the world are taking part in this league, and I want to prove that I am the best. I will be the king of the GLORY ring,? said Spong in a prepared statement.
Spong holds an overall record of 68-6-1 including 42 knockouts. His last outing involved a third-round knockout of Aerts, improving his current winning streak to four.
PHOTO CREDIT – GLORY
TweetSource: http://www.fighters.com/08/22/kickboxing-star-tyrone-spong-signs-with-glory
Vitor Belfort Recruits Rashad Evans to Prepare for Jon Jones
There’s an old phrase that goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” In Vitor Belfort’s (Pictured) case, the enemy of my UFC 152 opponent is my new head coach.� Shortly before “The Phenom” decided to challenge light heavyweight king Jon Jones for his crown on just one month’s notice, he started honing his [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/126545/vitor-belfort-calls-on-rashad-evans-to-prepare-for-jon-jones/
Wednesday
Ronda Rousey: ?(Cyborg) really disgraced herself and her sport and her country by cheating all those years??
It doesn?t look like Strikeforce star Ronda Rousey has any intention of backing off her stance regarding the need for Cristiane Santos to drop down to 135 pounds to face her. Santos, who held promotional gold at 145 pounds, is currently serving a yearlong suspension after anabolic steroids were found in her system. She has recently said she is unable to make the bantamweight limit in a healthy manner.
However, Rousey isn?t buying it as she made clear during a recent stop by the set of ESPN?s SportsCenter.
?I really don?t think it?s unreasonable for me to expect that when she?s not doing steroids she would lose some weight. She really disgraced herself and her sport and her country by cheating all those years, and I really don?t think the best way to deal with it is to reward her with a title-shot with all the considerations that she wants,? said a to-the-point Rousey. ?I think it?s her only option. I have plenty of other options so if she doesn?t want to do it then I?ll do something else.?
Santos Thinks Rousey is a ?Spoiled Little Girl?
Rousey is currently basking in the glory of her sixth straight win by opening round Armbar, a 54-second finish of Sarah Kaufman earlier this month.
Check out the complete interview with Rousey below where she also talks about the controversy surrounding UFC 151 and the possibility of a career in Hollywood:
PHOTO CREDIT – ESPN
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Lyoto Machida Cites Lack of Time as Reason for Turning Down UFC 152 Title Bout
When news hit late last night that Jon Jones would be facing Vitor Belfort instead of Lyoto Machida at UFC 152, it was met with a collective head-scratch from the MMA community. Machida has released a statement regarding his decision through Blackhouse, citing an inability to put together a proper camp to face someone the [...]
Attila Vegh KOs Travis Wiuff at Bellator 73 (Video)
Attila Vegh won the summer series light heavyweight tournament with a 25 second knockout of Travis Wiuff at Bellator 73. Vegh landed a quick uppercut then right which floored the pressing Wiuff. He followed up with a flurry of ground strikes to the fallen Wiuff before the referee called off the punishment. With the win, [...]
Attila Vegh KOs Travis Wiuff at Bellator 73 (Video) is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
Source: http://www.mmainterplay.com/bellator-news/attila-vegh-kos-travis-wiuff-at-bellator-73-video-59359/
Tuesday
UFC on Fox 5 Update: Schaub vs. Johnson and Brown vs. Swick Added
The UFC's already stacked "UFC on Fox 5" card just added two explosive matches to the Seattle card. Heavyweights Lavar Johnson and Brendan Schaub will square off in a hard hitting matchup, while Matt Brown and Mike Swick will go to war at welterweight. The UFC announced the move Monday evening.
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/30147/ufc-on-fox-5-update-schaub-vs-johnson-and-brown-vs-swick-added/
UFC President Dana White softens stance on having female fighters inside the Octagon
If you?d asked UFC President Dana White a year ago for his opinion on the role of women in MMA he would have offered up an answering involving respect for their endeavors while adding the notion of females inside his organization?s cage was unlikely. However, at this point in 2011 the name Ronda Rousey was only one of a budding star rather than the substantial draw she has become since.
Rousey?s rise to the top, along with a number of other recent bouts between women, have apparently changed White?s mind on the topic to the point he has spoken openly about adding a women?s division (likely bantamweight) to the UFC at some point in the near future.
White was asked about the matter during an MetroPCS online chat with fans and the outspoken executive mentioned he was ?warming up? to the idea of females inside the Octagon, stating he had already begun weighing the idea of bringing women in or possibly a 115-pound male weight-class instead.
?I don?t think I?ve been too shy about what I think about Ronda Rousey,? explained White on his appreciation of what he?s seen from females as of late. ?She just looked impressive, and not only did she look impressive on Saturday night, her numbers killed it on Showtime, too.?
Rousey Says Improved Maturity Assisted with Win Over Sarah Kaufman
He also referred to the entertaining effort turned in by Julie Kedzie-Miesha Tate earlier in the evening.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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