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...]
UFC 143 Breakdown: The Main Event
It has been quite a roller coaster ride for UFC 143‘s main event participants. After being scheduled to take on champion Georges St. Pierre – on two separate occasions each — a plethora of unfortunate circumstances led to Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit squaring off for the UFC interim welterweight title. On the heels of an underwhelming year on PPV, St. Pierre’s injury is a major... [Read More...]
Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 15
After a couple of weeks away, the Sixth Ounce Podcast is back with a variety of topics to discuss. First, Jeremy Lambert is joined by Mark Radulich to discuss this past weekend’s UFC on FOX event whether or not the UFC is 0-2 on FOX, what changes they can make to the production, and if peoples expectations are too high from fans. Plus we’ll preview this weekends main event between Nick... [Read More...]
UFC 143 Breakdown: The Main Card
On the heels of a somewhat underwhelming UFC on FOX 2 card, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be hoping to recapture the momentum that saw them produce a string of crowd-pleasing main events in the past few months. Originally scheduled to be headlined by a blockbuster Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz bout, UFC 143 now has to settle for an incomparably less marketable — but far more intriguing,... [Read More...]
Memo to the UFC/Dana White: Try Solving Piracy Instead of Just Fighting It
I know, I know. It’s silly to ask a fight promoter not to fight. Let’s be clear here up front: I understand why Dana White and Zuffa would support legal action like SOPA & PIPA, and were I in their place I’d be concerned about piracy too. They have a company whose foundation is built upon their customers paying to see events live, so anything that undermines that business is clearly going... [Read More...]
Five Ounces of Podcast: Episode 18
It’s another Five Ounces of Podcast with this episode recorded immediately following UFC on FOX 2 so you know it’s a good one. Join Samer Kadi and Jeremy Lambert as we discuss the underwhelming UFC on FOX event including Rashad Evans cruising to victory against Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping engaging in a close battle, and another fight that we don’t bother to talk about... [Read More...]
The Scorecard – UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis
The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA. Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math. It was the UFC’s big return to FOX and despite nearly one hour of in-cage action, fans were left just as disappointed as they were back in November when they only saw 64 seconds of fighting. Chicago hardcores, used to... [Read More...]
UFC on FOX 2 Breakdown: The Main Event
On the heels of a three-fight winning streak, you would be forgiven to think that Rashad Evans has done enough to earn a shot at the title he lost to Lyoto Machida back in 2009. In fact, Evans accomplished that feat after besting arch rival Quinton Jackson in 2010, and then again after crushing Tito Ortiz last summer. And yet, a bizarre sequence of unfortunate events left the former light heavyweight... [Read More...]
UFC on FOX 2 Breakdown: The Main Card
If fans were dissatisfied with the UFC‘s decision to employ a one-fight card for its historic debut on FOX, they should be far more appeased the second time around, as the world’s MMA leader is staying true to its promise of delivering “PPV caliber” cards on network television, with a hat-trick of mouth-watering bouts. Both the headlining fight and the co-main event bear direct... [Read More...]
Grappling with Issues – 1/27/12
Do you consider Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva 2 in Brazil to be a lock? Is Phil Davis more likely to pull off an upset at UFC on FOX 2 than Chris Weidman or Michael Bisping? Will this weekend’s show on FOX pull in more viewers than their original offering in November? Who should the UFC match Melvin Guillard with next? Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with... [Read More...]
The Unfair UFC Career of Phil Davis
From the moment Phil Davis stepped into the Octagon, he was never given a fair chance. In the second round of his first UFC fight against Brian Stann, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan compared his skills and physique to Georges St. Pierre. In the third round, with three minutes remaining in the bout, Rogan was already bringing up the possibility of Jon Jones vs. Davis. That’s right, before Davis had already... [Read More...]
Five Ounces of Podcast: Episode 17
After an energetic podcast last week, the Five Ounces of Podcast is back with a more subdued version as we recorded this episode on little to no sleep. Join Samer Kadi and Jeremy Lambert as we look at back UFC on FX 1, which featured Samer calling Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard exactly as it went and Jeremy continuing to sing the praises of “Future Star” Pat Barry. Also we’ll preview... [Read More...]
The Scorecard – UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA. Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math. Usually fans that go to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville see a hockey team filled with hard working and consistent players but very little star power. Things weren’t that much difference when the UFC came to town this... [Read More...]
Let’s Reject, Not Inject: Steroids in MMA
Have you ever been walking through the city streets and a man offers you something that makes you, “run faster, jump higher, and lift heavier”? Some people would accept this “mysterious substance” and reap the rewards. Me? I throw it on the ground. Have you ever been told that something is good for you, but you have no clue what’s actually in it or even bother to check? You just go ahead... [Read More...]
UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller Breakdown
2012 promises to be a monumental year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For the first time since 2005, the world’s MMA leader will no longer be associated with Spike TV. Instead, a historic deal with Fox – and its affiliates — means the Zuffa based promotion will now have a home on network television. Headlining the UFC’s first ever card on the FX network is a lightweight... [Read More...]
Grappling with Issues 1/19/12
Is Jose Aldo destined for dominance in 2012? Have UFC fans seen the last of Anthony Johnson inside the Octagon? Who should Rousimar Palhares fight next? How big of an issue is “fighter pay” in the UFC? Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse... [Read More...]
Five Ounces of Podcast: Episode 16
It’s the latest episode of the Five Ounces of Podcast and it’s quite possibly the funniest, while still informative, podcast we’ve ever done. Recorded almost immediately following UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi talk about the PPV in depth, discussing the greatness of Jose Aldo, how Vitor Belfort created his own atmosphere, criticism of Anthony Johnson‘s... [Read More...]
The Scorecard – “UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes”
The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA. Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math. Every time UFC heads to Brazil, magic happens. Maybe it’s because the crowd inspires the fighters, maybe it’s because the match ups are perfect, or maybe it’s because Jesus is in Brazil and not with Tim Tebow. Whatever... [Read More...]
UFC 142 Breakdown: The Main Event
When the WEC merger was first announced some fifteen months ago, featherweight champion Jose Aldo was deemed to be the star acquisition. Eager to see him delight those who are oblivious to his immense talent, the UFC scheduled him for a quick Octagon debut on the year’s first fight card. Things didn’t go according to plan however, as a shoulder injury forced Aldo on the sidelines for a... [Read More...]
The Pressure is on Vitor Belfort
*Author’s Note: This column was written before Anthony Johnson severely missed weight, thus changing just how much pressure Vitor Belfort faces. While a loss would still be damaging to him, it would be marked with an asterisk.* Pressure in sports is a funny thing. Some athletes rise to the occasion, even if they’re not superstars, while some athletes shy away or crack from the pressure, even... [Read More...]
