Strikeforce’s Virgil Zwicker ready to impress tonight in 205-pound debut
The attention for tonight’s Strikeforce card will be centered around the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Josh Barnett taking on the undefeated former Olympian Daniel Cormier. Also guaranteed to garner its fair share of attention is the third bout between Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and the last man to beat him Josh Thomson. Considering that these four... [Read More...]
Alan Belcher: “I don’t plan on losing anytime soon.”
When UFC middleweight Alan Belcher steps inside the Octagon this Saturday to face Brazilian leg lock specialist Rousimar Palhares it will be just his third fight in two years. He defeated Patrick Cote at UFC 113 in May of 2010 and was forced to the sidelines afterwards because of an injury to his eye in training that almost cut his career short. Luckily for Belcher the eye surgery he underwent saved... [Read More...]
Liz Carmouche ready to show off improved skill-set tonight at Invicta FC against Ashleigh Curry
Tonight in Kansas City, Invicta Fighting Championships will hold an all-female mixed martial arts card featuring some of the world’s best female fighters. Two of the most notable fighters are former Strikeforce bantamweight champ Marloes Coenen and the lady who gave the Golden Glory fighter all she could handle when the two met in March of last year, Liz Carmouche. No one gave the 28-year-old Carmouche... [Read More...]
Randy Couture weighs in on Jon Jones-Rashad Evans feud
With UFC 145 on the horizon everyone has been voicing their thoughts on the main event which will see former teammates Rashad Evans and Jon Jones battle one another for Jones’ light heavyweight title – who will win, how will they win, and was Jones wrong for seemingly breaking the vow he and Rashad made never to fight one another. Many wonder whether or not Evans will be able to control... [Read More...]
Lex McMahon shares the secrets of Alchemist Managment’s success
Alchemist President Lex McMahon has an extensive background that includes time spent four years in the US Marines with two tours of duty in Somalia in the early 1990s. McMahon, who holds a B.A. in English, a J.D. from the California School of Law, and an MBA from Pepperdine, has taken the reigns of Alchemist with the same passion and approach that he has done throughout his life. Whenever McMahon does... [Read More...]
Fights to Look Forward to in May
Previously I took a look at the top fights that we had to look forward to for the month of April. This time around I’ll go over what’s in store for May. Beginning with UFC on FOX 3 in New Jersey on May 5, Zuffa hosts a total of four cards when you include the Strikeforce event on May 19 that will finally give us a conclusion to the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Let’s take a look and see which fights... [Read More...]
The Secret of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s Power
It’s been a little over a month since Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson made his spectacular debut against Dan Stittgen at UFC 143 in Las Vegas. There was a lot of buzz leading up to that fight due to Thompson’s association with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre who he began training with in 2005. Momentum continued to build as highlight videos of Thompson during his undefeated kickboxing... [Read More...]
Rashad Evans: “A lot of the back and forth and a lot of the drama is so old.”
Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans has come a long way since winning The Ultimate Fighter 2 back in 2005. Since then he has turned into one of the more recognizable athletes in the UFC today and has elevated his game from that of just a wrestler to a well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist who can beat anyone put before him in the cage. “Sugar” ‘Shad has proven time and time... [Read More...]
Rashad Evans Out to Right Wrongs at UFC 145
The chain of events that will eventually lead us to Atlanta on April 21 and allow the world to witness a battle for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship between current title holder Jon Jones and former champion Rashad Evans was set in motion long before Jones ever stepped foot inside the Octagon. You may agree with this assessment or not, but in my opinion UFC President Dana White is a master puppeteer... [Read More...]
Looking Ahead to the Highlights of April
As winter ends and spring approaches the MMA community can look forward to a plethora of great fights. The first two months of 2012 have been both busy and entertaining, culminating with the thrilling main event of the UFC on FX 2 in addition to the show’s excellent 125-pound pairings. If Thiago Alves-Kampmann doesn’t sum up the meaning of MMA I don’t know what does. No matter how close you... [Read More...]
Brittney Palmer: “I plan on being in the UFC for many years to come and riding this wave.”
Octagon girl, aspiring artist, and now Playboy model – is there anything Brittney Palmer isn’t capable of? She’s as talented as she is beautiful and has been entertaining MMA fans since her days as a WEC ring girl. She began her career in entertainment as a Magician’s Assistant and Dance Captain for the Ultimate Variety Show in 2006. From 2007-2010 she was an Ensemble Dancer for X Burlesque... [Read More...]
Ian McCall: “We’re going in there and we are going to try to take each others’ heads off!”
Much has been made recently of Ian McCall’s struggles with addiction and how he overdosed only to receive a second chance at life. He has certainly made the most of his gift as he is the #1 ranked flyweight in the world and is preparing to make his UFC debut in the organization’s flyweight tournament, set to start this Friday night in Australia. McCall faces Demetrius Johnson in one bout while... [Read More...]
Alex Morono ready to smash Rashon Lewis at Legacy FC 10
The beautiful thing about writing about MMA is not only do I get to talk to some of the biggest stars in the sport I am also presented with numerous opportunities to talk to guys just getting their start. For instance, when I first spoke to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson he had yet to fight in the UFC. Then lo and behold I had five conversations with him in a month and now he could very well be on... [Read More...]
Benson Henderson: “This fight is going to be good. It’ll be like two cats trapped inside of a bag.”
15-2 lightweight Benson Henderson has yet to step into the Octagon with champion Frankie Edgar yet he’s already seen their fight play out countless times in his mind. Not only is visualization a part of his training but he also has a great deal of respect for Edgar, understanding how much concentration is needed on the talented title-holder to find the answer to “The Answer.” Edgar is coming... [Read More...]
Why Create an Interim Title that Won’t Be Defended?
When UFC President Dana White announced that the bout between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz scheduled for UFC 143 would be for the UFC Interim Welterweight Title it made sense. Both men were scheduled to face reigning champion Georges St. Pierre at one point in time or another. Diaz lost his first opportunity because of his inability to follow directions and like Condit before him lost an opportunity... [Read More...]
Johny Hendricks: “The bigger the fight the better I come out.”
Anyone who follows the UFC undoubtedly remembers where they were when rising welterweight start Johny Hendricks knocked Jon Fitch out. If not just for the actual fight, but for the true show of emotion Hendricks had afterwards. The Oklahoma State product has never been one to to hold in his emotions and has had some real entertaining post-fight actions as a result. The bottom line is, Hendricks immediately... [Read More...]
Nick Diaz Gets His Way Again but Was It the Right Call?
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before – Nick Diaz bitches and Dana White hands him the keys to the castle. For the second time since UFC 137, Diaz has thrown a fit with the UFC President giving him his way. After blowing his initial shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship because he decided that the pre-fight press conferences were unnecessary, White still granted Diaz main event status... [Read More...]
Stephen Thompson: “The UFC is where I want to be and I plan on making the most of it.”
A lifelong martial artist, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has fighting in his blood. The 28-year-old Simpsonville, SC native has been under the tutelage of his father Ray since he was just three years old. The senior Thompson owns, operates and instructs at the family owned Upstate Karate dojo which also houses Pitchblack MMA. Having basically grown up inside of the gym, it was very clear early... [Read More...]
Chris Weidman: “Getting a win over Demian Maia will definitely change my life and my career.”
When UFC middleweight Mark Munoz was forced out of his number one contender’s fight with Chael Sonnen, the organization made the most logical choice they could by taking Michael Bisping out his bout with Demian Maia and inserting him into Munoz’s slot against Sonnen with the winner scheduled to face Anderson Silva sometime this summer. What to do with Maia was the question at hand. There was an... [Read More...]
Phil Davis: “I like to think that a win would put me in line for a title shot.”
Much has been made of Rashad Evans wrestling credentials and how he used them during his mixed martial arts career, but what some fail to realize is that his collegiate record is a mediocre 48-34 during his three years at Michigan State. Davis on the other hand has a superb record of 116-17. Will that translate for Davis when the two meet on January 28? “Mr. Wonderful” certainly thinks... [Read More...]
