The Walk Out – Strikeforce Challengers 13
Strikeforce runs their first event of 2011 this Friday but lets just think of this as the appetizer to the main course that Strikeforce is serving up in the coming months. Not only is this event part of Strikeforce’s Challengers Series, which are notoriously overlooked, but Strikeforce just announced a major heavyweight tournament that features Alistair Overeem facing Fabricio Werdum, Fedor Emelianenko... [Read More...]
Jorge Gurgel signs multi-year deal with Strikeforce, fighting in March
Brazilian lightweight Jorge Gurgel is a rare breed in Mixed Martial Arts ripe with respect and possessing as big a heart as there is in the sport. A BJJ blackbelt, Gurgel often opts to stand and exchange on his feet against opponents rather than rely on his grappling background out of a love for the competition and appreciation for fans’ expectations of excitement. Beyond that, in a brutal bout with... [Read More...]
Marcus Davis joins list of UFC 125 casualties
Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis has joined Antonio McKee and Brandon Vera among the notable names receiving their release after losing performances last weekend at UFC 125. Though the popular 37-year old had initially appeared to be winning his match-up against Jeremy Stephens he was caught with a stiff shot midway through the third round and knocked out as a result. The defeat was Davis’... [Read More...]
9-0 Olympian Rick Hawn confirmed for Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament
Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that supremely talented judoka Rick Hawn, who competed in 2004 at the Olympics in Athens, will throw his name into the mix this March during the promotion’s upcoming welterweight tournament with hopes of earning an opportunity to face current divisional champion, a fellow Olympian, Ben Askren. “Rick was incredibly impressive in his first fight with... [Read More...]
5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another ediition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… A Discussion with Scott Coker Regarding Strikeforce’s Upcoming Heavyweight Tournament (MMAFighting.com) Quinton Jackson Has a Few Choice Words for James Toney (MMAScraps.com) Brock Lesnar’s Beard Growing to Epic Proportions... [Read More...]
Brandon Vera issued release after lopsided loss to Thiago Silva
Fighters face adversity at any given event due to the nature of their chosen endeavor, but in the case of calamity attached to Brandon Vera’s performance against Thiago Silva last weekend at UFC 125 there’s no doubting “The Truth” hurts. Vera, once viewed as being a double-divisional title-contender, was not only soundly beaten by his Brazilian adversary but also suffered a horrific broken... [Read More...]
Antonio McKee handed walking papers after UFC 125 performance
In a move perhaps reflecting the UFC’s unstated policy on performance, newly signed Antonio McKee has been cut from the company’s roster after a single split-decision defeat inside the Octagon. The loss was the first for McKee, who was said to have originally inked a four-year deal with the organization, since February 2003. News of the professional separation was confirmed by Five Ounces of Pain... [Read More...]
Fedor Emelianenko’s deal with Strikeforce includes three-fight extension
When this week’s exciting news regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s future with Strikeforce broke, as expected, the legendary Russian was also announced has having signed a new contract with the organization he’ll be calling home for the foreseeable future. While the terms of the deal were stated as being “multi-year”, it appears the label may be minimal in nature as Five Ounces of Pain has confirmed... [Read More...]
Two reserve bouts rumored for Strikeforce’s upcoming heavyweight tournament
Anticipating the possibility of an injury or suspension interfering with the three-round, eight-man heavyweight tournament planned for the next several months, Strikeforce appears to already have a contingency plan in place and is looking at a pair of match-ups to provide replacements if necessary. Both fights are targeted for February 12 in New Jersey when the tournament’s opening quartet, including... [Read More...]
Looming legal issues earn Chael Sonnen UFC suspension
Chael Sonnen’s self-imposed troubles worsened this week when Dana White announced the outspoken middleweight’s contract had been frozen in hopes of allowing Sonnen to straighten out his personal life. While it is believed he will eventually return to the divisional fray in the future, the decision to suspend Sonnen is certainly another blow to the career of a man was three minutes away from doing... [Read More...]
Joseph Benavidez poised for UFC debut this March
Bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez is set to make his Octagon debut alongside teammate, and mentor, Urijah Faber at UFC 128 in Newark, New Jersey on March 19 on a card headlined by 205-pound champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua defending his title against Rashad Evans. Benavidez will face 14-7 Ian Loveland at the event, a well-rounded Team Quest competitor who has won his last seven fights. The... [Read More...]
The Fab Fifteen – Lightweights
Lightweight is one of MMA’s most-interesting groupings to rank based on how the top 155-pound talent is spread out over multiple promotions as opposed to the lot, or even bulk, calling the UFC home as is the case outside of the division. With DREAM, Strikeforce, and Bellator all having a stake in the “Top 5” it’s difficult to compare common opponents or know how each man would fare if paired... [Read More...]
Fedor Emelianenko fighting in February, involvement in Strikeforce tournament announced
Thanks to a multi-year extension between the parties, M-1 Global and Strikeforce will co-promote a series of shows headlined by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko starting with his involvement in match-up against Antonio Silva as one of the opening round affairs in a eight-man, single-elimination tournament planned for the next several months. The bout will take place on February 12, live on Showtime, from... [Read More...]
Ben Henderson vs. Mark Bocek targeted for UFC 129 in Toronto
Former WEC lightweight champ Ben Henderson looks to have both a date and opponent set for his UFC debut, as it is being reported “Smooth” will face widely respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Mark Bocek on April 30 at UFC 129 in Toronto. Bocek is also a Toronto native meaning Henderson will have the crowd to contend with in addition to the BJJ blackbelt’s polished ground game. News... [Read More...]
Georges St. Pierre defending title in Toronto against Jake Shields on April 30
UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre will put his belt on the line again while once again surrounded by the comfy confines of a Canadian crowd, as UFC President Dana White has publicly confirmed the popular title-holder is facing Jake Shields on April 30 in Toronto. UFC 129 will mark the promotion’s debut in Ontario and is expected to draw the largest audience ever in North America for a Mixed... [Read More...]
Ryan Ciotoli: “The tough fights are what make you better.”
While it’s likely a number of Mixed Martial Arts fans think the sport’s training facilities are limited to those found on “UFC Undisputed” or receiving a particularly large amount of buzz, the reality is a number of quality gyms exist throughout the United States including the one Team Bombsquad, and Ryan Ciotoli, calls home. In the following piece, Five Ounces of Pain‘s... [Read More...]
Nine UFC 125 fighters, including both headliners, receive medical suspensions
This past Saturday may have been great for fans tuning in to “UFC 125: Resoultion” but it was a nightmare for noses. Though the fights far from stunk, four of the evening’s competitors walked away from their match-ups with problematic proboscises and will be sidelined for at least a few months as a result including main-event fighter Frank Edgar. Joining Edgar on the list of nasal fractures were... [Read More...]
Chael Sonnen cuts deal in response to federal money laundering charge
It looks as though Anderson Silva’s anticipated rematch against Chael Sonnen won’t take place anytime soon regardless of how the current middleweight champ fares against Vitor Belfort next month at UFC 126. In fact, it may never go down at all. According to an official statement from the U.S. District Attorney’s office, Sonnen plead guilty earlier today in an Oregon court on a charge of money... [Read More...]
Frank Edgar leaves Las Vegas with title, event-high payday
More than a million dollars was dished out to fighters at UFC 125 including an event-high $162,000 for lightweight champion Frank Edgar. Joining “The Answer” in earning a six-figure salary for their performances at the event were Gray Maynard ($112,000), Thiago Silva ($110,000), and Clay Guida ($122,000). In addition to having netted $60,000 for “Fight of the Night” honors,... [Read More...]
Jason High added to Titan Fighting Championships 16 line-up
It appears 12-3 welterweight Jason High already has his next fight lined up only a few days removed from outpointing Hayato “Mach” Sakurai on New Year’s Eve at “Dynamite!! Power of Courage”, as Titan Fighting Championships has announced High will have an opportunity to fight in front of his home-town fans on January 28 in Kansas City against another product from the area,... [Read More...]
