Larson’s record dropped to 33-6 with the stoppage. He had gone 4-1 prior to the performance in his post-Octagon appearances including a quartet of finishes.

Pulling off the upset was Shark Fights veteran Eric Davila who has won four straight including a submission over Pete Spratt last September. He also holds wins over TUF alumni Richie Hightower and Lodune Sincaid.

Two other competitors with ties to the Ultimate Fighter also found success at EC 188, Paul Bradley and Tom Speer. The former scored his third consecutive victory via tap-out after locking in an Arm-Triangle Choke in the opening round of action against Eddie Larrea, while the latter made it four-in-a-row in the win column after outpointing well-rounded opponent Indalecio Tat Romero.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/WEC

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned of the news of the signing this evening in a statement issued through Bradley’s management at LionHeart Professional Management & Promotions.

“I am very excited for Paul,” said Chad Dubin, owner of LionHeart Management. “He has worked extremely hard over the last two years to become one of the top contenders at 170 & 185. Paul’s focus for the last 18 months has been to improve his stand up and this has made him a very complete and dangerous guy to fight. Most importantly, Paul will finally get a chance to showcase his talents in an organization that has some of the best fighters in the world. Above everything else, this is what Paul has wanted since he started training MMA over four years ago.”

A former state champion wrestler in high school, and a two-time All-American at 184 pounds in college, Bradley has established himself a force to be reckoned with in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions during his time in MMA. Sporting an impressive record of 11-1, Bradley’s sole defeat in his professional career came in the form of a hard-fought unanimous decision at the hands of fellow blue-chip prospect Mike Pierce.

The arrival of Bradley will add a little more depth in the ever growing Strikeforce 170 and 185 pound divisions.

According to Bradley, the move to Strikeforce is one he welcomes with open arms. He’s eager to show the world that he has arrived, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

“I am very pleased with the opportunity to be fighting in an organization such as Strikeforce,” said Bradley. “They are signing some of the top guys in the world as of late and I feel honored to be a part of this group of people. I look forward to putting on exciting fights for Strikeforce in the future as well as showing the company they made a good decision signing me.”

A standout wrestler at Iowa who was a two-time All-American as well as a three-time NCAA tournament qualifier, Bradley won a TUF 7 qualifying match and appeared to have had a spot with the final cast of 16 inside the TUF mansion all locked up. That was until Bradley experienced an outbreak of a condition common amongst amateur wrestlers known as Herpes Gladiatorum.

Upon inspection of the outbreak, UFC President Dana White hastily dismissed Bradley from the cast and released him from his obligations with the promotion. Soon after, Bradley inked a deal with EliteXC but was never used. However, he has remained active since leaving TUF having won four fights and improving his record to 9-0.

Bradley’s most recent win took place against fellow TUF 7 alum Dante Rivera this past November in Atlantic City under the Ring of Combat banner. Showing improved striking, Bradley needed just 34 seconds into the fight to record a TKO victory.

Bradley now has his sights on improving to 10-0 during the debut event for the World Cagefighting Alliance set for Friday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS).

Originally slated to fight former UFC veteran Roan Carneiro, Bradley will instead make his welterweight debut against fellow prospect Nathan Coy, a veteran of Matt Lindland’s Sportfight promotion in Oregon.

While both Coy and Bradley are standout wrestlers, Bradley expressed his belief during an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com that fans in attendance will end up seeing a standup battle between the two up-and-comers.

Sam Caplan: Dana White dismissed you from TUF 7 because of Herpes Gladiatorum. Yet since that time you’ve signed contracts with EliteXC and the WCA and you’ve improved to 9-0. Can you explain why so many other promotions and athletic commissions are willing to work with you when the UFC wasn’t?

Paul Bradley: When I went on the UFC show, my first obstacle was to just make the show. My first fight was kind of boring and I’m not going to lie about that. And then once I made the show I could see where Dana was coming from regarding the possible spreading of it. He didn’t want to have a staph outbreak like they did the one season. But since then I’ve gotten doctor’s clearance and nothing has come of it since.

Other organizations have seen that I’ve become a better fighter and they’re willing to take a chance on me. I’ve been lucky enough to sign with some pretty good organizations and fight for them and do well.

Sam Caplan: Do you feel like that if you had gone in and won a more exciting fight by knockout that White may have made a different decision?

Paul Bradley: It’s hard to say but I kind of can see where maybe my style dictated why I went home. Because I know previous systems they’ve always disliked wrestlers who used a lay ‘n pray style and I was a completely different fighter back then. I was pretty much training myself but since then I’ve gotten the proper training and the two main things I work on is my striking and jiu-jitsu. My wrestling will always be there.

It’s hard to say if I was sent home because of that. I wasn’t in the production room or with Dana White. I’d like to think maybe it was one of the reasons, but I can say with all certainty that it was the reason why I was sent home.

Sam Caplan: Do you have any animosity towards the UFC or Dana White?

Paul Bradley: No. In the beginning I was a little angry but I started to understand the reason why I had to go home due to the potential of a lawsuit in the unlikely event that it spread to someone.

I understand but at the same time I was still a little irked in the beginning but it just gave me a chance to go home and decide that this was what I really wanted to do. And it came out to be a plus in the end because I am training full-time and I am able to fight.

It sucked at the time but I think it was for the best.

Sam Caplan: Is fighting for the UFC still something that interests in you? And if so, do you think a second chance is possible?

Paul Bradley: Yes. I think that I’ve shown in my last two fights that I know how to stand and bang and that my hands have gotten a tons better since the show. I’m trying to be the exciting fighter that they want to bring in. They want to bring in these guys that can knock people out and make exciting fights. I’ve been working towards that. So yes (I am interested) but it’s totally in their hands because in the end it was them that let me go; it wasn’t me leaving on my terms. It’s always an option if they come back to me but right now I am just focusing on this next fight and seeing where it goes from there.

Sam Caplan: What’s the status of your EliteXC contract. They never used you but there are rumors that an acquisition could be completed soon, possibly with Strikeforce. Would it be possible to see you involved if and when the ownership changes there?

Paul Bradley: You know, they never even contacted me. The most contact that I got through them was with (former manager) Mike Camp. We tried to get one of the EliteXC shows for a while but they never had an opening for me. But I mean if it changes ownership to Strikeforce then I’d be more than happy to fight for Strikeforce.

Strikeforce is actually a company that I’d be very interested in fighting for in addition to the UFC. From what I hear the WEC is losing the 170 pound division so the UFC and Strikeforce are now really the only two shows in town. If EliteXC were to switch hands to Strikeforce, I’d be estatic.

Sam Caplan: You’re currently a trainer with Chad Dubin’s Lionheart Fight Team based out of State College, PA. I’m sure there are no shortage of world class wrestlers at the training center. Can you talk about what you’ve been doing to improve your standup?

Paul Bradley: Standup wise I just went out to San Diego for a month and a half to train with Brandon Vera at his Alliance Gym. I had some good standup training there working with Brandon, Scott Smith, Tim McKenzie, and some real good guys… guys in the WEC and the UFC.

I went up there and trained for a little over a month and other than that I train with our standup coach here on a day-to-day basis. Just getting into the sparring has been the key to learning new techniques because I am a better hands-on learned than just trying to learn the movements through drills. Hopefully I can keep working and get better and better.

Sam Caplan: Former NCAA champion Phil Davis is also with Lionheart and he’s a tremendous athlete and a great prospect in his own right. Do you think he has the potential to fight in the UFC one day?

Paul Bradley: Oh, I don’t have a doubt in my mind. He’s a strong wrestler, which is obvious. His jiu-jitsu is also very good as well. And he’s really getting better with his standup. It’s coming along. It’s not where it needs to be but as soon as he gets that standup I can’t see any reason why he wouldn’t end up in the UFC as athletic and talented as a guy like that is.

Sam Caplan: You will be returning to action this Friday, Feb. 6 in Atlantic City at the Boardwalk Hall for the debut of the World Cagefighting Alliance. I believe this will also be your debut as a welterweight. Can you talk about some of the adjustments you have had to make in order to get down to the range where you need to be to cut to 170?

Paul Bradley: Yeah, I started off at about 195/196. I realized after my fight with Dante Rivera (that I needed to cut). I actually ate the day of weigh-ins and I didn’t even really have to cut. I actually weighed in light at 184. So it just made sense to go down to welterweight. And since then I’ve just been dieting hard this past month and a half, two months. Everything is very strict as far as my intake.

It’s been going really well. I don’t feel like I’ve lost any strength and I feel like I’ve lost a lot of fat. The good thing is that I’ve been as low as 173 and I haven’t even really been trying. I’m really excited to be able to get down to welterweight considering everyone I’ve fought at middleweight has been six foot or over.

I think it’s in my best interest to drop down to welterweight and become a more powerful fighter. I feel like I am going to be very strong at this weight.

Sam Caplan: How did you get hooked up with the WCA and what’s it been like working with them thus far behind the scenes?

Paul Bradley: I hooked up with them through my manager, Chad Dubin. From what I know, I think they’re a West Coast organization but they’re making their first East Coast trip out here. They’ve been great. In the beginning I was a little worried about making 170 right out of the gate since I haven’t had to make this weight since high school. And they actually agreed to a catchweight of 175 but set it up so that I have to give up $100 for every pound I am over 171. It’s been good and I figure I am just going to make 171 since my weight has been steady. It’s been great and they’ve been very supportive and I can’t wait to fight for them in this big venue in A.C.

Sam Caplan: You were originally scheduled to fight Roan Carneiro. What happened with that matchup?

Paul Bradley: From what I hear he got banged up during his camp. I don’t know the details of the injury or what he has but I just hear that he got pretty banged up and they didn’t think he was going to be able to fight by the time the date came around. So they started to scrambling for a replacement as soon as they could.

Sam Caplan: And his replacement is Nathan Coy. He’s very similar to you: a strong welterweight prospect with a good wrestling base. Should fans in attendance expect a wrestling match on Friday night?

Paul Bradley: Fans should probably expect just the opposite. I sparred with him a little bit when I was out at Team Quest for a week and I think our wrestling will counteract each other. I actually think it’s going to be a standup war. I am going to be looking to get my angles on him and throw my punch combinations and get in and get out and take as little damage as possible while I go for the win.

Competing for Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Bradley was able to finish Rivera when referee Yves Lavigne called a stop to the bout due to strikes just 34 seconds into round 1.

Bradley won a qualifying match to make it into the field of 16 middleweights for TUF 7 but was dismissed from the show due to an outbreak of Herpes Gladitorum. Since being released by the UFC, Bradley has received documentation from medical officials stating that it is safe for him to compete and the former NCAA wrestling standout has gone 3-0.

Now training out of the Lionheart Gym in State College, PA, Bradley’s next fight could come as a welterweight.

The loss dropped the 33-year old Rivera to 10-4. A native of New York, Rivera advanced as far as the second round of TUF 7 before losing a unanimous decision to Jesse Taylor. Rivera returned for the live season finale in June but lost a unanimous decision to his nemesis on the show, Matt Riddle.

Also featured on the card were two former EliteXC veterans.

Lightweight competitor Chris Liguori, who defeated Jim Bova during the undercard for “EliteXC: Primetime” on May 31, was able to improve to 9-7 after submitting Cory Mahon with an armbar at 3:41 of round 2.

John Doyle, who lost via first round TKO to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante during “EliteXC: Street Certified” this past February was also in action. Facing rising prospect Costa Philipou in a light heavyweight encounter, Doyle was TKO’d at 3:05 of round 3 due to unanswered strikes.

Full results (courtesy of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board) for Ring of Combat XXII are as follows:

• Heavyweight: Pat Collins def. Jim Boudourakis via TKO (strikes) at 0:31 of round 1
• Bantamweight: Nick Pace def. Sean Santella via two-round unanimous decision
• Middleweight: Mike Stewart def. Chris Prestia via submission (arm triangle) at 3:34 of round 1
• Lightweight: John Salgado def. Jay Isip via submission (RNC) at 3:24 of round 1
• Lightweight: Dom Stanco def. Biff Walizer via KO (punch) at 0:40 of round 2
• Heavyweight: Joe Abouta def. Paul White via submission (RNC) at 3:06 of round 1
• Catchweight (150 lbs.): Jason McLean def. Jimmie Rivera via split decision
• Welterweight: Igor Gracie def. Troy Maxwell via unanimous decision
• Featherweight: David Sachs def. Tim Troxell via submission (rear choke) at 4:40 of round 1
• Lightweight: Chris Liguori def. Cory Mahon via submission (armbar) at 3:41 of round 2
• Middleweight: Paul Bradley def. Dante Rivera via TKO (punches) at 0:34 of round 1

Bradley’s management confirmed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com this afternoon that Bradley will be moving from middleweight to welterweight for the fight.

Bradley might be best known for his stint during the seventh season of Spike TV and the UFC’s hit reality show “The Ultimate Fighter.” After winning a qualifying match that granted him a spot in the final cast of 16 and admission in the TUF mansion, Bradley was dismissed from the show by UFC President Dana White after he disclosed he was a carrier of Herpes Gladiatorum, a skin condition not uncommon with amateur wrestlers.

Since being released from his UFC contract, Bradley, currently 6-0, signed on with LionHeart Management, which operates its own training center in State College, Pennsylvania. Bradley works as a trainer for Lionheart, which has enabled him to train full-time in MMA for the past four months.

Bradley is also under contract to EliteXC and could be used on an upcoming card, according to EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw. Shaw stated that Bradley’s camp has produced medical clearance that says he can compete in spite of his condition. He added that Bradley is a candidate to be used in an undercard fight during the final quarter of 2008 or in a televised ShoXC bout in early-2009.

Also, consider me a fan of afternoon MMA on pay-per-view. I guess I am showing my age because I am much more awake at 3 p.m. ET than I am at 10 p.m. ET. I also grew up watching sports on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and watching sports in those time slots are just my preference. While I didn’t have to pay to see games on TV, I’m more than willing to pay money to avoid having to be subjected to a billion commercials. But I’m in the minority here as I know the sport’s young audience would much rather make a night of it and with disposable income being hard to come by at times when you’re in your early-to-mid-20′s, the more free MMA the better.

There were a few negatives for me.

This was the first UFC PPV that I’ve seen in high definition. I watched the season finale for the sixth season of TUF on HD and was really impressed. However, I wasn’t anywhere near as impressed with Saturday’s HD telecast and I’m not sure why. The UFC controls all of their own production so it’s the same cameras, producers, etc. It just seemed like a lot of the shots weren’t even in HD. Some of the shots looked great, such as the overhead camera angles but at other times I completely forgot that I was watching a telecast that I had paid extra to see. Once again I was completely underwhelmed by the graphics.

I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to technology and have only had HD for a brief period of time. I’d love to hear from people who know more about the subject than I and what your thoughts are about the HD telecast. One thing I am sure of, Yarrenoka! in HD looked ten times better than UFC 80 in HD.

Another negative was the UFC’s decision to use Sean Sherk as a third member of the announce team during the main event between B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson. I understand the logic behind having him involved, as it helps promote a match down the line between him and Penn. However, considering the reason why he’s no longer champion it’s just a little hard for me to see him involved with almost no acknowledgment that he tested positive.

When they did their rap before the fight, Mike Goldberg sort of hinted at what the deal was and they hinted at it again during the match but they never addressed it with any sort of clarity. It almost seemed like that if you were a casual fan that wasn’t aware of the situation, the UFC wasn’t going to do anything to help inform you of the circumstances. From day one the company has tried to sweep the Sherk situation under the rug. It only seemed liked they announced it on their web site because they had no other choice. Dana White broke the news and in a way to call as little attention to it as possible.

The way Sherk was dealt with last night would never happen if it was the NFL, NBA, or Major League Baseball. But that’s what happens when MMA is covered like an entertainment show as opposed to a sport.

Sherk’s behavior to me is irrational, bizarre, and at times, borderline insane. Again, I’m not disgusted at him for testing positive for steroids and still don’t know whether he did it or not, but how he’s handled the situation is beyond embarrassing at this point. Saying during the match that he had no respect for B.J. Penn is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was Sherk’s expression when he entered the cage and got booed. What, did Dick Cheney tell Sherk he’d be greeted as a liberator?

Normally Goldberg and Joe Rogan’s commentary doesn’t bother me but it did Saturday night. There were just some statements made that left me scratching my head. During the pre-taped promo for Jason Lambert, I believe I heard Goldberg say that Lambert “was talked about in the light heavyweight title picture after his win over Sobral.” Huh? Who talked about him in the UFC light heavyweight title picture?

At another point Rogan chimed in and said something to the effect of that “Babalu was a highly-rated fighter at the time” when he was defeated by Lambert. Well, if he was a highly-rated fighter then, why would he be now after he beat David Heath? Hey, I was all for Babalu being let go after that fight but he still won it. Why is he no longer a top light heavyweight? Because he’s not in the UFC? Was Rogan told to phrase it that way or was he simply calling it like he sees it?

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And that’s a fact. What he’s done to his last two opponents is simply destroyed them. He carved through Jens Pulver and he completely dominated Joe Stevenson last night. It’s not due to Stevenson’s lack of preparation or skill level, either. Stevenson is highly skilled and has a very bright future ahead of him but he just happened to run into a buzzsaw in B.J. Penn. Penn was better at every facet of the game last night. Striking, grappling, wrestling, jiu jitsu, top control, you name it, B.J. was better.

It was almost like he was toying with Stevenson in the first round. He had him mounted a couple of times but didn’t do much with it. Once the cut opened up on Stevenson’s head, however, B.J. went in for the kill. Even if Stevenson wasn’t cut open during the fight, B.J. would have dominated him. If B.J. continues to fight like he has been in arguably the UFC’s most crowded division, he’s going to catapult himself into the talk for the #1 pound for pound spot in the world. For me, the lasting image of the night was B.J. licking Stevenson’s blood off his gloves directly after the fight. Is that the image of a warrior? I certainly think so.

Fabricio Werdum made a statement.

And the statement was that not only is he one of the best heavyweights in the world, but he’s not the same fighter that we saw against Andrei Arlovski. It was evident in the first round that Gonzaga’s gameplan was to take Werdum’s legs out from under him with killer leg kicks and he executed that plan to a tee, knocking Werdum down several times. At that point it looked like Gonzaga was on his way to a victory but the way that Werdum was able to adapt to Gonzaga’s gameplan in the second round was ultimately what won him the fight.

In the second, Werdum kept his distance from the leg kick and checked a few, countering with punches every time Gonzaga threw a leg kick. This allowed him to close the distance, clinch Gonzaga up, and pour on some brutal Chute Boxe style knees, eventually ending Gonzaga’s night via TKO. Werdum did two things last night. He erased the terrible performance against Arlovski and he let everyone know last night that he’s not a joke in the heavyweight division.

What happened to Gabriel Gonzaga?

Where did his toughness go? He looked very good in the first round but once Werdum adapted to his gameplan he had no answer. He looked gassed in the second round when almost no damage was landed on him in the first round. At this point in his career I think it’s safe to say that Gonzaga is a hot and cold fighter. He has flashes of brilliance but his cardio is always a factor and looked to be a factor last night. Sometimes Gonzaga is tough as nails. Other times he folds up like a chair. If Gonzaga can be more consistent and work on that cardio he could be a force in the heavyweight division. Right now, though, he’s got more questions surrounding him than answers.

Marcus Davis deserves a chance to fight a contender.

Davis has done enough for himself to earn a shot against one of the 170 lbs. division’s contenders. While I thought that his fight with Liaudin could be fight of the night, I was clearly wrong and Liaudin got slept in the opening minute of the fight. While it’s not likely that Davis will end up being a worldbeater or the next Georges St. Pierre, his heavy hands, knockout power, and winning streak in the UFC should earn him a shot against someone along the lines of Josh Koscheck or Diego Sanchez. Davis could surprise some people with his power at the top of the division but I think it’s due time for him to see where he stands against the division’s top dogs, not the Jess Liaudins of the world.

Wilson Gouveia’s got some serious power.

Hats off to Jason Lambert for controlling Gouveia for the first round and dominating the fight, but leaving your hands down and letting Gouveia create distance to let his hands go was a pretty bad mistake. Lambert paid for it dearly by eating a face full of leather and then a face full of canvas in the opening moments of the second round. Gouveia needs some work on his wrestling and he could be a legitimate top ten light heavyweight. As for Lambert, the loss is a disappointing one but he did show that he could be on the cusp of competing at a higher level in the UFC. Just gotta keep those hands up.

Kendall Grove did his best Steve Nelmark impression.

Kendall Grove is not a guy who takes fights lightly or doesn’t come to bang. He usually comes in top shape and ready to go. He may have taken Jorge Rivera lightly, however. Jorge was in his face all fight, punching him repeatedly and it looked like Kendall panicked. He panicked, tried to scramble, and left himself in bad positions to take more punishment. In the end, Jorge slept him and did to Kendall what Tank Abbott did to Steve Nelmark back in 1996 and that knockout was brutal. I don’t know where exactly Kendall Grove goes from here. He certainly stays in the UFC and continues to fight based on his name recognition and the middleweight division’s lack of talent. How much of a factor he will be from here on out is the big question. He’s been fed two guys who were tailor made for him to beat and lost badly on both occasions. Not good for Kendall Grove.

As of now, the card is expected to be UFC 85 on May 24 in Las Vegas with a light heavyweight match between Tito Ortiz and Lyoto Machida also possible.

Penn won the lightweight title last night for the first time in his career after two previous unsuccessful when he submitted Stevenson with a rear naked choke at 4:02 of round 2. The win made his just the second fight in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes, as Penn is the promotion’s former welterweight champion.

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These bonuses were $20,000 less than the more recent UFC events. No reason has been given yet as to why that is.

It was reported on the broadcast that B.J. Penn received “Submission of the Night” honors for his Rear-Naked Choke victory to secure the UFC lightweight championship against a bloody Joe Stevenson. The submission came toward the end of two rounds of complete domination by Penn. The beginning of the end of Stevenson was when Penn scored an elbow on Joe that brutally cut his forehead and caused him to bleed profusely all over the Octagon. There was in interesting interaction between Penn and Sean Sherk during the post-fight interviews when B.J. started out saying, “Sean Sherk, you’re dead!”

Wilson Gouveia received “Knockout of the Night” honors for his flash left hook knockout against Jason Lambert. Gouveia spent most of the first round on his back receiving ground and pound strikes to the face. He came out in the second round with a new-found determination and created some distance to score a few solid strikes against “The Punisher” before the KO at 0:37 into the round.

Paul Kelly and Paul Taylor both receive the bonus for “Fight of the Night” as the two British fighters kept a high-pace throughout the entire three rounds, ultimately resulting in a unanimous decision victory for Wolfslair Academy’s Paul Kelly. The two went back and forth in standup and ground battle, but Kelly seemed to continuously get the better of the exchanges in his UFC debut.

There is still plenty of post-UFC 80 to come. Stay close to Five Ounces of Pain for more UFC 80 coverage.

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Sam Stout def. Per Eklund – Unanimous Decision

• Alessio Sakara def. James Lee – TKO (Strikes) @ 1:30 of Rd. 1

• Paul Kelly def. Paul Taylor – Unanimous Decision

• Antoni Hardonk def. Colin Robinson – TKO (Strikes (JAB)) @ 0:17 of Rd. 1

MAIN CARD

• Jorge Rivera def. Kendall Grove – TKO (Strikes) @ 1:20 of Rd. 1

• Wilson Gouveia def. Jason Lambert – KO (Punch) @ 0:37 of Rd. 2

• Marcus Davis def. Jess Liaudin – KO (Punch) @ 1:04 of Rd. 1

• Fabricio Werdum def. Gabriel Gonzaga – TKO (Strikes) @ 4:34 of Rd. 2

• BJ Penn def. Joe Stevenson – Submission (Rear Naked Choke) @ 4:02 of Rd. 2

Because of all of the early finishes, viewers were able to enjoy 8 of 9 bouts televised. Sam Stout’s decision victory over Per Eklund was the only fight that got left off.

Stay close for TONS of UFC 80 News!

What sport would Joe’s parents NOT let him play (even though they said ‘yes’ to fighting MMA)?

Find the answer on www.joestevenson.com then HURRY back HERE to be the first person to post ALL SEVEN correct answers to the “Get to Know Joe” questions we’ve been asking all week.

Click here for all seven trivia questions and try to win the Joe Stevenson t-shirt bundle.

SPOILER ALERT: This chat will involve SPOILERS, especially with the event being early in the day. If you don’t care to know who the new lightweight champion is until you actually see the event, this might not be the place for you.

Click on the link below to enter!

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 19th @ 3 PM ET/12 PT

WHAT: 5 Oz. of Pain LIVE Results and Chat 

After the event, at 6 PM ET, I will be joining Luke live on the air to break down the results and happenings of UFC 80. We will take your calls LIVE on the air, PLUS Luke is giving away some free BetUS.com accounts as well.

WHERE: Any Given Saturday
WHEN: 6pm EST, Call in LIVE @ 646-478-5091

Check out more UFC 80 content on FiveOuncesofPain.com

While I don’t put much stock in a 73-year old boxing promoter who is a convicted criminal that has been sued by a lot of his fighters and is promoting a match between Roy Jones Jr. and Felix Trinidad that is five years too late, it still irks me when he says crap like this:

”I love the UFC,” King said. ”Dana White and the Fertitta brothers [Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and White own the UFC] have done a marvelous job, but their decline lately has been precipitous.

”If they don’t find a new way to stimulate interest, boxing will be all alone on top again.”

Those comments appear in today’s online edition of the Chicago Sun-Times and were preceded by a quote in which King attempted to denegrade Saturday’s UFC 80 card in New Castle:

”They have a mediocre fight in London that will be shown on a delayed basis,” he said. ”I have no problem with that.”

I can’t say that I blame King for not being worried about UFC 80. I think the so-called “crossover” audience between boxing and MMA has been exaggerated by many and there will be a lot of casual MMA fans who won’t be watching UFC 80 tomorrow afternoon during the live broadcast at 3 p.m. ET or the tape delayed showing at night. However, I’m not so sure those casual fans will be paying to see Trinidad vs. Jones, either.

That being said, King is talking out of his butt when he claims the UFC is experiencing a “precipitous” decline. If the UFC really is in decline, then boxing should be so lucky to have a decline like the one the UFC experiencing.

While I disagree with those who claim boxing is dead, it’s popularity in the United States has decreased. Boxing’s popularity is as strong as ever when it comes to certain demographics but for the most part its fanbase is aging and the sport itself is not doing a good job of luring the next generation of fans.

The reality is that King knows better. He likely said what he said to get a reaction and get some publicity for tomorrow’s card in New York, which from what I hear is not selling well. Well, if this column is any indication, King’s transparent strategy has worked to some degree.

Back in the day when I was a big boxing fan, Jones and Trinidad were two of my favorite fighters. Truth be told, I’m still interested in tomorrow’s fight between the two even though they are both past their peak. That being said, I’ll be damned if I am going to pony up $50 for it. It’s a fight that belongs on HBO or Showtime, not PPV.

UFC vice president of regulatory affairs, Marc Ratner, who is no stranger to King from his days with the Nevada State Athletic Commission pretty much feels the same way I do:

”Five or six years ago, Tito vs. Roy was a fight I couldn’t wait for. I’m interested to see which guy has the most left. I’ll watch it on video when I get home [from Great Britain].”

And while I am underwhelmed by UFC 80′s undercard, it still has a lot more to offer than the undercard for Trinidad vs. Jones, with Andrew “Groin Shot” Golotta the featured attraction.

Only in America? No thanks, I’ll take the fight card Penn vs. Stevenson in the UK over boxing any day of the week.

MAIN CARD
• B.J. Penn (154) vs. Joe Stevenson (154) (for vacant UFC lightweight title)
• Gabriel Gonzaga (255) vs. Fabricio Werdum (247)
• Jess Liaudin (170) vs. Marcus Davis (169)
• Wilson Gouveia (205) vs. Jason Lambert (204)
• Jorge Rivera (185) vs. Kendall Grove (186)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Antoni Hardonk (244) vs. Colin Robinson (238)
• Paul Kelly (170) vs. Paul Taylor (170)
• James Lee (206) vs. Alessio Sakara (206)
• Per Eklund (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)

Here is some video of the weigh-ins:

More UFC 80 information at Five Ounces of Pain!

Who gave Joe Daddy the only KO loss of his career?

Find the answer on www.joestevenson.com

The final “Get to Know Joe” trivia question will be revealed tomorrow midday. Be the first to post all seven correct answers to win a 4 pack of Joe Stevenson signature series t-shirts.

Click here for the first five trivia questions and full “Get to Know Joe” contest details.

Note: 5 Oz. of Pain wishes to state that any similarities in thoughts are purely coincidental and not worth getting ones panties in a knot for.

Sam Caplan’s picks are available on CBSSports.com.

B.J. Penn vs. Joe Stevenson

Sam Cupitt: I am rather looking forward to this fight and I think it’ll be a lot more hard fought than most people seem to think. Mainly because Joe Stevenson has the tools to survive against B.J’s strengths and then has the cardio to perhaps work him over in the later rounds. Also the fact that B.J. seems to be cursed when it comes to the lightweight title. I mean the judges that scored the fight with Uno a draw need to go the way of Old Yella. This fight is definitely a toss up for me, but I’m gonna back B.J. by unanimous decision after he wins the first 3 round and Joe starts coming back in the last 2 rounds.I also believe this is the best outcome for the UFC because I don’t think I’m out of line in saying almost all MMA fans want to see both Penn vs. Sherk and Penn vs. St. Pierre.

Ben Fowlkes: Penn has been called the best two-round fighter in MMA, which is as back-handed as compliments come.He says he’s rededicated himself to the sport and if that’s true, look out. Penn truly is a gifted fighter. The question is, has he developed a work ethic to match his skills? Stevenson has a good all-around game, but he doesn’t do any one thing significantly better than Penn. I’m taking Penn by late submission or unanimous decision.

Ram Maramba: Maybe it’s the hype, but I’ve become a believer in the re-dedication of The Prodigy. BJ Penn looked to be in awesome shape for his fight with Jens Pulver and he’s not taking Joe Stevenson lightly. If there’s any question on what Penn can accomplish when he’s a man possessed, take a look at his rocket to the top in the BJJ world. Stevenson will outwork him, but he’ll have enough gas in the tank to stick with the fight until Joe Daddy is caught slipping. Penn by submission in the first championship round.

Mike MacLeod: I’m not going to believe BJ Penn’s new approach to training until I see the results with my own eyes. Penn will win the first couple of rounds but he won’t overwhelm Stevenson the way he did to Jens Pulver. BJ will gas out again half way through the fight. Joe won’t catch him, but he will win the last three rounds. Stevenson by decision.

Paul Balsom: (I’m going to leave as many MMA fan cliches out of my picks as I possibly can.)  I have a slightly different viewpoint having already seen the weigh-ins.  BJ looked great, much like he did before he bout with Jens Pulver.  This will be an interesting fight to watch because BJ is facing a MUCH more competitive opponent than Pulver in his second bout after his return to the UFC lightweight division.  In addition to this, this is the first fight where Stevenson is facing an opponent that is in a higher realm of competition.  I think the real determining factor in this fight is BJ’s cardiovascular fitness (“gastank” if you will).  ”Daddy” is not going to be able to pull off his typical guillotine, but he will definitely push the pace on Penn.  Stevenson last and only submission loss was to Chris Brennan via triangle choke at Bas Rutten’s First King of the Cage event in 1999.  Therefore, I cannot assume BJ is going to put on a quick submission that Stevenson’s not ready for.  Based on that, I think sub attempts might be something that takes Penn over the top.  The betting lines definitely are not indicating how close this fight should be.  I have money on Stevenson, but I’ll take BJ Penn via unanimous decision for the vacant UFC lightweight title.

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum

Sam Cupitt: I don’t know what it is but for some reason I see this fight going the same way as Gonzaga vs Scherner instead of Werdum quitting he’ll just get dropped and beaten on with elbows that will probably still be a foreign concept to him. Gonzaga via TKO early in the 2nd round.

Ben Fowlkes: Gonzaga got what was perhaps a premature rankings boost after KO’ing “Cro Cop,” but a rematch with Werdum is a good test for him. Werdum can be plodding at times, ever the technician, and knows how to use his size and strength to slow the pace down. Gonzaga will have to win this fight by staying on his feet and making Werdum come to him. In a very tactical encounter, Gonzaga wins by decision.

Ram Maramba: Werdum suffers from Salaverry-torso, but he’s deceptively strong and highly-skilled. I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a counter-grappler, but the title suits him. Regardless, Gonzaga is too strong and will set too fast a pace for Werdum to keep up. Gonzaga has a similar skillset on the ground and has a slight advantage on his feet. In his contender-bout against Randy Couture, Gonzaga showed some nice combos with power equivalent to his size. Werdum seems to prefer those Chute Boxe-style wingers even before he joined their camp. If Gonzaga powers through his takedowns, it’s just a matter of time. Napao by GnP stoppage in the 2nd round.

Mike MacLeod: This won’t be the fight of the night, but it won’t be the snooze-fest that many are predicting. Werdum will be not be able to handle the combinations and elbows from Ganzaga and will be counting the lights before the second round ends. Gonzaga by HO in the second round.

Paul Balsom: Everyone seems to be going with Gonzaga.  While “Napao” weighs a bit more, Werdum is a bigger guy in build.  Aside from Gonzaga trying to continue the “Cro Cop killer” kick, like he tried to recreate with Randy, I will go ahead and give Werdum the nod by some solid strikes in the clinch, as well as some takedowns with ground and pound.  Maybe the Chutebox training will give Werdum the edge.  Werdum over Gonzaga via unanimous decision.

Marcus Davis vs. Jess Liaudin

Sam Cupitt: This to me is one of those fights where one guy is just a bit better than the other guy in every single facet of the game. I believe Davis will just beat Liaudin up every where the fight goes. I know we’ve seen “The Joker” sub Dennis Siver at UFC 70 and then knockout a walking ‘roided up punching bag in Torres but Davis is just a different kettle of fish and I predict Davis by TKO late in the 1st round.

Ben Fowlkes: Davis, “The Irish Hand Grenade”, is almost a given on any UFC card in the U.K. at this point. Guess why. In addition to his awesome nickname, Davis is an explosive, if somewhat reckless fighter. Liaudin’s best chance is to get it to the ground and look for a submission, though he claims he wants to keep it standing. I’m calling shenanigans. Davis by TKO.

Ram Maramba: I’ve only seen Jess Liaudin in action against “German Fighter of the Year” Dennis Siver, but came away a bit impressed for a dark-matcher with a mediocre record. Marcus Davis however is on a different level. If Davis has learned how to check kicks, the advantage is all his. Liaudin’s ceiling and Davis’ floor bump up against each other though, so I wouldn’t be surprised by an upset. All streaks come to an end, but I see a 2nd round KO by Davis.

Mike Macleod: This one is going to be short and sweet as Liaudin is going to be out-gunned. Davis by first round knockout.

Paul Balsom: With all the bickering around UFC 79′s Pain Poll, I’ll continue some devil’s advocate picking.  Jess Liaudin is on a mad streak of first-round KO’s and subs, so he can use this momentum into a huge win against Marcus Davis.  Paul Taylor was able to show Davis had a slight chin and Jess Liaudin will take advantage.  ”Joker” will get Davis to the ground, possibly with a punch, then throw on a submission technique.  Jess Liaudin via submission in Round 1.

Kendall Grove vs. Jorge Rivera

Sam Cupitt: Grove learned a valuable lesson in his fight with Patrick Cote. You play with fire you get burned. I remember the whole time I was watching that fight I just had this feeling it was a matter of time before Grove was gonna get dropped and Cote did not disappoint. Rivera on the other hand spent last year repairing his jaw after a big Terry Martin right hand so he’ll be a little rusty and a little over-matched by the once again hungry Grove. Grove via Submission in the 2nd round.

Ben Fowlkes: Grove needs a victory here to prove he’s not some flash-in-the-pan reality TV fighter. His improvement in every aspect of the sport has been rapid, but his loss to Cote really set him back. Rivera has the tools to be dangerous even if his ground game is suspect. If Grove fights smart, this is his night all the way. Grove by submission.

Ram Maramba: Ugh. Jorge Rivera, a Puerto Rican version of Elvis Sinosic, is being fed to a guy the UFC wants to recover from a really bad loss. Kendall Grove has shown a nice ground game, and that’s where he needs to take it to conquer the Conquistador. Grove by submission in round 1.

Mike MacLeod: The UFC is letting another one of their TUF stars build back his rep by giving him some fresh meat. Da Spider is going to take Rivera down and methodically move him into submission attempts. Grove by submission in round 2.

Paul Balsom: Not too much room for a devil’s advocate here.  Jorge Rivera is going to get overwhelmed.  Kendall Grove via submission in Round 1. 

Jason Lambert vs. Wilson Gouveia

Sam Cupitt: I’m actually really looking forward to this fight. It just seems like the strengths of either fighter are the weakness of the other one and just anything could happen. I like Gouveia as a fighter ever since he gave Jardine all he could handle on the TUF 3 final so I’m going to back him here to score a victoryvia triangle choke in the 2nd round.

Ben Fowlkes: Lambert is an old-fashioned tough guy who is at his best when he can grind away at opponents. The question, however, is whether his standup game is technically sound enough to match up against Gouveia’s. If Lambert can put Gouveia on his back and keep him there all night, he stands a good chance. I have to think that Gouveia’s expecting that. If he isn’t, he doesn’t deserve to be in there. Gouveia by late TKO or decision.

Ram Maramba: Gouveia is one of those more underrated fighters in the game. He’s riding a three-fight submission streak, but he’ll have a hard time climbing Jason “Cowbelly” Lambert (not an official nickname). Lambert proved he can handle a submission fighter with a poor gameplan when he KO’d Babalu. Unless Gouveia stays calm in the face of the intimidating Punisher, I call Lambert by decision.

Mike MacLeod: This is a really good contrast in styles. It has the potential for fight of the night. In the end, I think that Gouveia’s standup is better than Lamberts ground and pound. Both fighters will give out their own share of punishment but in the end, Gouveia wins by decision.

Paul Balsom: Lambert showed lots of endurance and “gameness,” if you will, in his last fight against Babalu.  It’s possible that this fight could go the same way.  Gouveia is much larger than Lambert, and will bring an early barrage of attacks, but if Lambert survives, I’ll give him the puncher’s chance.  Lambert via TKO/KO in Round 2. 

Sam Stout vs. Per Eklund

Sam Cupitt: It seems that after the war with Spencer Fisher, Dana White has a bit of a man crush on Sam Stout and I have a feeling this fight was set up for Per Eklund to lose. Whether or not this turns out to be the case is the question. With 5 out of 12 wins by submission Eklund could disappoint the country of Canada early if he gets a takedown early but I don’t think this will be the case. Sam Stout by TKO in the 1st round.

Ben Fowlkes: Eklund’s going to have a hard time with Stout, who’s seen better competition than the Swede has ever faced. Stout’s a tough guy and he seems to improve with every time out. He needs to garner another UFC win to get him back on track, and I suspect Eklund is being brought in with that in mind. As long as Stout doesn’t get careless, look for him to get a first-round TKO victory.

Ram Maramba: I’m the n00b contributor on this site for a reason. I’d never seen Per Eklund fight until I looked him up on the various video sharing sites. Looks like the man has a nice ground game and stays pretty heavy on top for his stature, but that’s all I can say about him. Stout, on the other hand, is a known commodity in North America with crazy kickboxing skills. I’m not a fan of the one-dimensional fighter, but hopefully Stout has picked up his ground game by working with Xtreme Couture and training with Joe Stevenson’s camp. If Stout can keep it standing, he’ll KO Eklund late in the 2nd round.

Mike MacLeod: Dana White isn’t the only one with a man-crush on Sam Stout. I love this guy. In order to have a chance, Eklund will need to take Stout down early and keep him there, but that’s not going to happen. Stout by first round KO.

Paul Balsom: Per “Jack of All Trades” Eklund has the potential to get Stout to the ground.  Sure, he’ll have to eat a few to get in close, but Stout is totally lost on the ground.  If Eklund gets him down, he may not get a TKO win, but I think he can score a decision with some takedowns and ground and pound.  Eklund via unanimous decision.

Antoni Hardonk vs. Colin Robinson

Sam Cupitt: Well, seeing how Wes Sims and Sherman Pendergarst have left the UFC and Eddie Sanchez beat Colin Robinson, it appears this fight will be for the unofficial tag of “worst heavyweight in the UFC”. Harsh…but true. As you can tell I don’t really have an interest in this fight, so I guess I am hoping for simultaneous KO but the safe bet would be Antoni Hardonk via TKO in the first round.

Ben Fowlkes: Something tells me the UFC would like to keep Hardonk around as a stepping stone for other fighters, but I’m not sure Robinson has it in him to take that step. This one smacks of putting local talent on a card to benefit ticket sales. Hardonk has the superior experience, but is inconsistent. Robinson has yet to show us anything against anyone who matters. Hardonk by TKO.

Ram Maramba: Something tells me Hardonk would be an exciting fighter if he could keep his opponents off his legs. He won’t have to worry about that against Robinson. Hopefully this match won’t disintegrate into and eye-drying Sanchez-Palelei mambo. I’m calling Hardonk by decision.

Mike MacLeod: I’ll be taking a restroom break during this fight. When I get back, my wife will tell me that Hardonk knocked the Irish guy out.

Paul Balsom: I may be in the bathroom, but this fight won’t be on my TV, because this is an undercard fight.  Hardonk is awesome… in the category of disappointing viewers no matter how easy his matchup is.  Robinson has a few wins via submission, and Hardonk is a blind man on the ground.  If Robinson plays it smart and gets him there, Colin Robinson via submission in Round 2.

Paul Kelly vs. Paul Taylor

Sam Cupitt: Paul Kelly probably has the submission game to defeat Paul Taylor but according to his interviews that’s not what he likes to do. It sounds like he is going to want to stand, but it wont be long before he is outclassed on his feet and then has to hit the takedown. Getting outclassed on his feet, is not something you want to do against Paul Taylor who showed against both Crocota and Davis that he is nasty with both hands and feet and for that reason, Paul Taylor via TKO in the 1st round.

Ben Fowlkes: Taylor has fought well against some rising mid-level talent like Marcus Davis, and Kelly has a string of wins over guys you’ve never heard of on the British scene. This one is purely for the local drawing power. Taylor would appear to be the more polished of the two, though who’s to say if Kelly’s undefeated record isn’t a sign that he’s some sort of diamond in the rough? Still, I’ll take Taylor by TKO.

Ram Maramba: Yet another guy I’ve never seen. All I know about Paul Kelly is that he trains with Michael Bisping at Wolfslair and can finish scrubs with a collective 27-44 record. Taylor’s standup looked nice against Marcus Davis at UFC 75 and he seems like a marketable fighter the UFC wants to keep around as a backup if Bisping fails. Look for Taylor to open a can on the can via TKO in the 1st round.

Mike MacLeod: So Kelly says his strength are ground and pound and submissions but he won’t be going for any takedowns? What good is being a good grappler if you don’t grapple? I guess he’ll be happy to headbutt Taylor’s fists for a few minutes before being knocked out in the first.

Paul Balsom: …. Paul Taylor via KO in Round 2. 

Alessio Sakara vs. James Lee

Sam Cupitt: Sakara is a boxer who seems not to be able to handle brawlers. James Lee is not a brawler, James Lee is looking for a submission and I think that Sakara’s brown belt from Big Nog will keep him out of trouble if the fight hits the mat and his boxing skills will put Lee in trouble if they stand. Sakara via TKO in Round 1.

Ben Fowlkes: The best thing I can say about Sakara is that he has awesome Ancient Roman tattoos and fast hands, but not much else. He’s stuck around in the UFC for longer than expected, considering his mediocre results. Lee is on quite a win streak, even if he hasn’t beaten anybody of note lately except Travis Wiuff. Lee should manage a submission or TKO win here.

Ram Maramba: You can’t say Sakara doesn’t look like a fighter. Whether he can actually put it all together will always be in question until he strings together some victories and gets above .500 in the UFC. For a former pro-boxer, he sure gets knocked out a lot; hopefully Legionarius will avoid the smelling salts against a ground-fighter like Lee. I’ll go out on a limb and predict a good showing by Sakara via 2nd round TKO.

Paul Balsom: After Sakara and Hardonk both lose tonight, they should fight at UFC 85-ish at a catch-weight to determine MMA’s version of The Biggest Loser.  God… I suppose James Lee is a breathing human being, which may be tough for Sakara to beat.  James Lee via TKO (referee stoppage when Sakara jumps to the ground while pretending to be KO’d) in Round 2.

What are the name’s of Joe’s 3 sons?

Find the answer on www.joestevenson.com

Click here for the first four trivia questions and full “Get to Know Joe” contest details.

MAIN CARD
B.J. Penn (-290) vs. Joe Stevenson (+235)
Gabriel Gonzaga (-325) vs. Fabricio Werdum (+250)
Marcus Davis (-350) vs. Jess Liaudin (+275)
Kendall Grove (-350) vs. Jorge Rivera (+250)
Wilson Gouveia (-145) vs. Jason Lambert (+155)

UNDERCARD
Sam Stout (-315) vs. Per Eklund (+260)
Antoni Hardonk (-340) vs. Colin Robinson (+280)
Paul Taylor (-220) vs. Paul Kelly (+180)
Alessio Sakara (-150) vs. James Lee (+140)

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