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With unemployment looming, King Mo focused on defeating Larkin

Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. (Photo courtesy of Strikeforce.)

Everybody speculates that Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is headed to the UFC, everybody except him.

Lawal (Twitter: @KingMoFH) is competing in the last fight on his Strikeforce contract Saturday, at Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs. Jardine” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. “King Mo” meets undefeated light heavyweight striker Lorenz Larkin, a mixed martial artist with eight knockouts in his 12 victories.

Lawal will enter free agency after this bout; therefore a win would be an accommodating bargaining chip to approach the UFC with. “King Mo” isn’t focused on what happens after the fight, but more so what happens in the fight.

Fortunately, Lawal is prepared for a high-level striker after spending time in Brazil, assisting Lyoto Machida for his UFC 140 contest against Jon Jones.

“I learned a lot from Machida,” Lawal confessed. “I like his camp; they do different stuff over there. It was good to work with him. He was a little faster than most strikers, but he is solid. He’s a pretty well-rounded fighter. He showed me a few things.”

A challenge Lawal was lucky enough to avoid outside the cage is the food that accompanied last month’s holidays.

Lawal has American Kickboxing Academy teammate Luke Rockhold on the same card, so it’s beneficial for fight preparations, but not for cutting weight. While most fighters competing in late December or early January have to sacrifice Christmas dinner, Lawal evades that problem by staying close to 205 pounds.

“It’s pretty easy because I don’t cut that much weight,” Lawal said. “I cut maybe like 10 pounds, by the time its fight week I only cut like five pounds. But, it’s cool having Luke on the same card because we’re on the same schedule.”

Lawal and Rockhold may be on the same schedule leading into Saturday’s event, but afterwards one may still be the Strikeforce middleweight champ and the other will be unemployed.

“King Mo”, himself, has been vocal in the past about wanting to test the UFC waters. It won’t be surprising if UFC president Dana White attempts to contract Lawal if he defeats Larkin, or even Strikeforce may try to keep one of the promotion’s stars.

The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion is unsure of what the future holds, except one thing, and that is Larkin.

“We’ll see what happens in the fight and then we’ll go from there,” said Lawal. “I don’t even know if Strikeforce wants me to fight there, I honestly don’t know. I just have to get past Larkin and take it from there.”

Stephen Quadros is down with DMX, Quiet Riot and MMA

Stephen Quadros enjoying his favorite past time.

Stephen Quadros walks to the beat of his own drum.

Quadros (Twitter: @StephenQuadros) is the popular face from Pride Fighting Championship and Strikeforce, but his proficiencies in MMA go much beyond that. “The Fight Professor” is a martial arts practitioner, an actor, a fight choreographer, a commentator and a magazine editor, just to name a few.

With his vast knowledge and experiences in martial arts, it was only fitting that Quadros was the man to present MMA to the homes of anxious fans.

“I’ve been around mixed martial arts from pretty much since the beginning,” Quadros told Mike Fester and Amy Barton on MMA Beatdown on the MMA DieHards Radio Network. “I was the editor of the Kickboxing Ring Report from 1993 up until 1998. The disguise there was that the name of the magazine was called Kickboxing Ring Report, but I brought in all of the mixed martial arts content; back then it was called “No Holds Barred.” I insisted that we covered all of this and I was one of the first guys online that ranked fighters in the 90’s.”

Once MMA started to be televised, there were only a handful of people who had the talent to handle the task of commentating fights from the new sport to the masses. With Quadros holding all the puzzle pieces in his back pocket, he was a perfect fit for the job.

“I started acting in 1985 and I started training in martial arts in the 70’s,” Quadros said. “After Kickboxing Ring Report, I was also a contributing editor to Black Belt magazine and a columnist. Then they gave me my own magazine in 2001 called Fight Sport with Stephen Quadros. So, if you put those three elements together, you may think ‘wow, this guy has already been on camera as an actor, this guy knows the martial arts as a practitioner and he’s a writer. This could be a good commentator’.”

At the time one of the biggest fight promotions was K-1, featured out of Japan and ready to make the move to the N. American market. When in the search for their raconteur, K-1 was quick to approach “The Fight Professor”.

“K-1 was the first group to approach me in 1998 and flew me over to be a part of their American broadcast,” said Quadros. “Unfortunately, K-1 had a falling out with the then promoter Art Davie and they hung up the operation for two years until they got Scott Coker to do it. In the meantime, I got absorbed by Pride Fighting Championship and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Training in martial arts for four decades, Quadros adapted his art and molded it with the big screen when he became an actor and fight choreographer. The Clinch Gear Radio host has become a natural in front and behind the camera; staring, directing and fight choreographing in movies such as, Cradle 2 the Grave, Pit Fighter, Sworn to Justice, and Exit Wounds.

Quadros’ work in Exit Wounds not only landed “The Fight Professor” a gig with Cradle 2 the Grave, but also a friendship with co-star and rap sensation DMX.

“He and I bonded up in Canada, we were filming Exit Wounds and I was up there for three months in Toronto,” Quadros explained. “We were staying at this hotel called the Sutton Place Hotel and a lot of guys were calling it, for whatever reason, the Slutton Place Hotel. Denzel Washington was staying there and a bunch of other people that were working on a number of different movies. We were all staying at this place and I think what it was, he knew I wasn’t trying to impress him. I was trying to act along the lines of someone who may be from his hip hop culture. I’m basically a rock and roll guy, I like hip hop, even though I don’t listen to a lot of it. He liked me, so he had me rolling with him and his posse every night up in Toronto and then he asked me to go on tour with him. He didn’t come through with a concrete offer, but he went to bat for me and he got me hired on Cradle to the Grave.”

As a fan, you may not recall Tito Ortiz defeating Chuck Liddell, but it happened in Cradle 2 the Grave and not by Quadros’ choice.

“That’s a movie I got to hire Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell to be in that big cage scene. I was only allowed to choreograph one of the fight scenes, which was between Chuck and Tito. It was kind of in the background as Tom Arnold and Jet Li were walking into the scene, so you couldn’t really see it. I was doing Pride Fighting Championship at the time so I had to leave about three weeks before it wrapped. Chuck and Tito did this cool MMA fight scene and at the end it was supposed to be a draw. When I got home and went to the screening about three months later it ended in a TKO for Tito.”

For all the experiences Quadros has endured, he is most known from his involvement outside the cage or ring.

Quadros has been privileged enough to cover the commentating for top level MMA promotions such as Pride Fighting Championship, K-1, King of the Cage, and currently with the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce. Having the resume of knowledge that he does, Quadros has been dubbed “The Fight Professor” and he wears the hat with pride.

“Being a commentator, you’re a professional story teller,” Quadros said. “The fighter, for the most part, that is something that they learn to do begrudgingly – meaning to tell stories or do interviews with journalists – where some people like Chael Sonnen does it naturally. The rest of the fighters do it begrudgingly. So I think that it gives us the leg up in to having the inside scoop because a lot of times when we’re talking to the fighters, we can relate.”

With all of these talents and skills behind him, Quadros still has a love for something other than combative sports.

“Playing the drums,” Quadros confessed. “I’ve been playing drums probably since before you guys were born. I just had a reunion gig with my old band called Snow, which isn’t a rapper from the 90’s; it’s a heavy metal band from the 80’s. It features Carlos CavazoI from Quiet Riot and Wrath on guitar, his brother Tony on bass and Andrew Freeman from Offspring on vocals and me on drums. I love playing drums, but my career was stunted in the mid 1980’s when I got tendonitis really bad in my right hand, to the point where I couldn’t even hold on to a drum stick and it was a shattering experience.”

While Quadros continues to speak musically through his drums, “The Fight Professor” continues to shatter our minds with his lyrical breakdown of MMA.

(Editor’s Note: Jason Kelly contributed to this story.)

Twitter is fun, but Jim Hettes prefers to fight

by Jason Kelly on January 5, 2012 4:00:51 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Forget social media, Jim Hettes just wants to fight.

Hettes (Twitter: @jimhettes) is fresh off a lopsided decision victory over Nam Phan at UFC 141 on Friday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hettes dominated Phan to the extent that two judges scored the bout 30-25. It could be said that Hettes pulled off the upset, but in his mind he was always confident he could defeat the TUF 12 cast member.

Prior to the contest the more popular Phan was the favorite. Hettes was aware he was the underdog and knew the majority of fans counted him out before the two combatants entered the Octagon. Hettes viewed the message boards online and seen what MMA fans had to say, but he knows that is purely opinion and there is only one way to change them.

“At the end of the day it’s just you and your opponent, so whatever anyone else thinks doesn’t really matter,” Hettes told Michael Stets and Hector Castro on The Darce Side Radio on the MMA DieHards Radio Network. “I knew I could beat him, the people I train with know my potential, so it really didn’t matter. I looked on the internet and saw everything, like people telling me I was going to lose and stuff like that, but at the end of the day that doesn’t matter. That’s why we fight, opinions don’t really matter. We get in there and fight and settle the opinions right there.”

Indeed, Hettes changed a few people’s opinions about him after UFC 141.

Hettes worked Nam on the feet and on the canvas. It was high-energy bout, in which Hettes controlled for 15 minutes. The Pennsylvania native followed his game plan to a tee, but was cautious not to make the same mistake Shane Carwin did against Brock Lesnar.

“Right from the start the game plan was to keep him moving backwards,” Hettes explained. “In the first round I thought I was going to get the finish, not that the ref was going to stop it, but Nam is a tough guy. I knew there was no quit in him, so for the rest of the rounds I knew I had to keep coming forward.

“In the gym I can ground and pound for days and not get tired, but in the fight, with the adrenaline pumping and the nerves and everything like that, you have to watch you don’t expend all your energy.”

Hettes’ preparations for UFC 141 took place at his home gym, Northeastern Jiu Jitsu in Swoyersville, Pa., for the most part. Hettes also spent time in the New York and New Jersey locale working at world-class gyms with a plethora of elite mixed martial artists.

Fighters such as UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar assisted Hettes in getting a victory over Phan, therefore he intends on returning the favor.

“I’m going to head back to Jersey in a week or two and help some guys prepare for their fights,” Hettes said. “There’s a bunch of dedicated fighters there and everyone is hungry. You don’t have to beg anyone to train; people are in the gym constantly. The thing about Jersey is that we go to a bunch of different gyms. Ricardo Almeida’s, Renzo Gracie’s, Tom DeBlass’, Nick Catone’s, Brian Bleu’s for conditioning. (Also) Mark Henry’s, Rutgers Wrestling, Elite Wrestling, so there is always something going on and there’s hungry fighters in every gym.”

Hettes improved his undefeated record to 10-0 after defeating Phan, which also marked his second UFC victory. Fans are starting to take notice of the rising star and Hettes’ Facebook and Twitter are blowing up.

Having the opportunity to chat with fans is something Hettes finds unique; however he has a difficult responding.

“Before the fight I was just learning how to work the Twitter,” Hettes admitted. “I still don’t know how to retweet and stuff like that, but my girlfriend is helping me with the whole thing. It went from a 100 or 200 followers, and now I’m at almost 3000. I feel bad because people write to me and I don’t know how to write them back.

“Facebook is great because the fans I don’t usually get to talk to can friend request me and tell me good fight and stuff like that. It’s really cool, there’s positives in both and it’s good to hear from people I usually don’t get to speak to.”

Though, Hettes enjoys the fan support through social media, he does not appreciate the business proposals he receives as much.

“I get management requests and sponsorship opportunities, I would say like 10 every hour,” Hettes said. “I have a good group of guys surrounding me and I’m not looking to change it. I’m not a big interview guy or media guy, I just like to fight.

“I didn’t get into this sport to be famous, I love to fight and that’s why I do it.”

Mike “The Wolverine” Rio won’t be making apologies once he has entered the UFC

by Robert G. Reynolds on January 5, 2012 10:26:15 AM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Apologies will not change the outcome against Mike “The Wolverine” Rio. Fighting out of Championship Fighting Alliance, Rio (twitter: @MikeRioMMA) has been dominating the lightweight division along the Florida circuit. Developing a record of 3-1 in 2011, Rio’s only loss came by the hands of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner, Efrain Escudero at “CFA 2”.

In his most recent outing at “CFA 4,” Rio came out victorious in a last minute bout against Massachusetts native, John Ortolani, shortly after completing his tryouts for the fifteenth season of “TUF.” “I was in a situation where I needed to keep fighting and I didn’t want to sit out for too long,” Rio said to White Belt Radio which is heard exclusively on the MMA DieHards Radio Network.

“I know for a fact that the whole situation with the “TUF” takes a little while so I couldn’t sit out too long. I knew that I would have gotten the quick fight, took the fight, won the fight and came out with nothing hurt. Now I just wait and hope to either get a call-back or to hear really good news from the UFC.”

The experience of trying to make UFC’s reality show is a long, tough process that requires a level of patience and a certain demeanor. With the day starting at seven in the morning and concluding over 12-hours later, there was a lot of time for Rio to scope out the competition and prepare for the infamous, “interrogation round.”

“It is a huge honor to sit there with the people that could instantly change my life with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Rio said. “But it is also a little bit nerve racking. A lot of people go in there trying too hard and they lose it, so just go in there and be yourself. I tried to stay calm, cool and collected while impressing them on the ground, impressing them with my hands and trying to sound intelligent and professional because I’m not that guy to start cursing people off.”

Taking a fight after the tryouts proved to be a beneficial gamble for “The Wolverine”, as if he lost, it may have ruined his chances at appearing on “TUF” or even with the UFC altogether. However, the well-rounded Rio knew that the calculated risk would pay off.

“Ortolani is extremely strong and very athletic,” Rio admitted. “But due to the situation that I was in – picking up a fight directly after the “TUF” tryouts – it was a make or break fight for me. So I went into this fight very safe and very calm because the last thing that I wanted to do was put a loss on my record that could change my life. I managed to win the fight in the first round with both of us taking minimal damage.”

Before the fight even took place, there was a battle pursuing within the social media world that got a little out of hand. When the fight was announced, friends and fans of both sides decided to show their support for their chosen fighter. When words became more serious and personal, Rio took notice, but took the bigger approach and turned a blind eye.

However, Ortolani took notice and attacked the situation head on, providing retribution in a way not typically undertaken by fighters.

“What happened was, when you get friends of fighters that are set to fight,” Rio explained. “They can tend to take it too far with the favoritism and messages being sent. One of John’s friends or acquaintances ended up cursing me out publically on Facebook, I saw it, but I don’t slander my opponents so I just let it slide.

“Apparently John Ortolani told his friend to remove the comment and he took it upon himself to email my mother and apologies for what was said. John Ortolani is a top notch guy to me; he’s a gentleman, 100%.”

In return, Mrs. Rio will be writing an apology letter to the UFC, for what her son is going to do to the lightweight division.

Gian Villante’s growing confidence will be Trevor Smith’s downfall

by Robert G. Reynolds on January 4, 2012 12:00:19 PM in Features, Fighter Features | 7 Comments »

Gian Villante (L) with training partner Chris Weidman (R). (Photo: Hector Castro/MMADieHards.com.)

With the recent drop to light heavyweight, Gian Villante’s confidence has started to move up.

After a troublesome beginning in the heavyweight division, Villante meets Trevor Smith in a light heavyweight bout at Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs. Jardine” on Jan. 7 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

As Villante (Twitter: @GPVillante) made quick work of his opponents, Strikeforce took notice of the talent and he has since made his home with the organization. Villante entered the promotion as a heavyweight and lost his debut to Chad Griggs, which prompted a drop to light heavyweight.

“It seemed like the right move,” Villante said to Mike Stets and Hector Castro of Darce Side Radio on the MMA DieHards Radio Network. “Not that I’m opposed to fighting at heavyweight, but I don’t have that choice anymore now that Strikeforce is going to be eliminating the division. It was a tough fight for me against (Chad) Griggs, but I don’t think that it was because he was bigger than me (is) why I lost that fight. I feel that 205 (pounds) is the right fit for me as long as I keep my weight down and eat healthy, I feel like it is the better move.”

Since Villante’s loss to Griggs on Feb. 12 at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva” the former heavyweight has had judges’ decisions weigh in each favor, with a record of 1-1 at light heavyweight In the organization.

A valuable lesson that Villante has learned from his last two outings in the cage was that he has the ability to last for the duration of the entire 15 minute fight. It’s an accomplishment that that gives Villante a certain confidence.

“I always wanted to know that I could do those three five minute rounds and do it on the big stage,” Villante said. “So, it’s a good feeling knowing that I can do them with no problem and have confidence to know that if I can’t take the guy out I can win a decision. It also helps so that I can go out there and let my hands go because I know that I don’t have to conserve anything knowing that I can make the three rounds okay.”

Coming into this bout on Jan. 7 with Smith, Villante’s confidence has started to take a new form. With this being the third consecutive fight for Villante at his new divisional home, things are starting to become easier.

“The weight is coming off a lot easier than I expected,” admitted Villante. “I started eating clean, so I feel good. My cardio is great and I’ve been sparring with some good guys. I’ve been training with Chris Weidman and Constantinos Philippou, but my main training partner is Weidman.”

Training with UFC regulars has helped keep Villante in prime physical condition. With a training partner always having to prepare for an upcoming fight, the group has geared together to keep each other in motion.

“No matter what, I like to stick in the gym,” Villante said. “I was with two my buddies, Costas and Chris who had fights coming up, so it was a good thing prior to this fight. I was their main sparring partner because out in New York there aren’t too many options and we’re all each other really have. I was there for those guys and it was good because I was able to stay in shape.”

Having to train with high level competitors not only helps develop the skills of Villante, but bring his confidence to new heights. Villante knows that he is less likely to face a combatant that has wrestling skills as advanced as Weidman or striking skills as Philippou.

“It definitely gives you the confidence to go in there and strike with a guy like Costas,” said Villante. “I’ll try and keep it standing with him and that is not always fun with guy that has that level of boxing. That gives you confidence, than you have a guy like Weidman and try to fight off his takedowns for a little bit, and that is an Olympic level wrestler.”

Come Saturday, Villante feels he knows enough about Smith and what he has to prepare for to make his next step up the divisional food chain a successful one.

“I know that he is a guy that has finished a lot of his fights from the guillotine-choke and seems to be a good wrestler,” Villante admitted. “He’ll throw some strikes and kicks, but I just think he is a well-rounded guy. I plan on striking and then if the wrestling comes, I’ll be comfortable with that as well because I work with some of the best wrestlers, so I shouldn’t have a problem with him.”

No problem indeed, for a fighter with the growing confidence of Villante.

With a victory over Robbie Lawler, Adlan Amagov wants title shot

by Jason Kelly on January 4, 2012 8:00:54 AM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Adlan Amagov celebrates after KO victory over Anthony Smith. (Photo courtesy of Strikeforce.)

Somebody is going down, but it won’t be Adlan Amagov.

Amagov (Twitter @adlanamagov) owns an impressive 9-1-1 career record- with six knockouts- that began at Perm Regional MMA Federation MMA Professional Cup on Nov. 23, 2007 in Perm, Russia. He continued to compete in his native of Russia and amassed an eight-fight unbeaten streak, which lead to a contract with Strikeforce where Amagov has won back-to-back bouts.

Amagov defeated Ronald Stallings on July 22 at Strikeforce Challengers: “Voelker vs. Bowling III” and Anthony Smith on Nov. 18 at Strikeforce Challengers: “Britt vs. Sayers”. Heavy-handed Amagov is coming off a first round knockout victory over Smith, and has catapulted to a co-main event bout against veteran Robbie Lawler on Jan. 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

“I am happy with it and I believe I am ready,” Amagov told MMADieHards.com. “I am pleasantly surprised; I think it’s a good opportunity for me to prove myself.”

Adlan Amagov dominating Ron Stallings at Strikeforce: Voelker vs. Bowling. (Photo courtesy of allelbows.com.)

Hailing from a small village in Chechnya and competing in Europe, Amagov said he thinks fighters in the U.S. are more well-rounded than the opposition he faced back home. An experienced mixed martial artist to the extent of Lawler is surely more seasoned than Amagov’s native competition.

Amagov is aware of the challenge it is to conquer Lawlor and the rewards that lie in defeating the UFC veteran.

“I think that a win would allow me to advance my career, as well as give me title shot,” Amagov said. “I think a win over Lawler will give me an opportunity to fight for a title.”

Amagov trains primarily at KDojo MMA under Murat Keshtov in Fairfield, N.J., and frequents Mike Constantino’s American Martial Arts Fight Club a couple times a week. Amagov’s preparations for Lawler have involved some of the sport’s top combatants; therefore he is ready for the former UFC fighter’s style of combat.

“I think he will keep the fight on the feet,” Amagov admitted. “We will see a serious rumble. I can certainly tell you that this is a fight to watch. One of us is going down, hopefully not me.”

Speed Training for MMA: Improve your footwork speed with basic ladder drills.

by Brian Blue on January 3, 2012 3:41:59 PM in Features | No Comments »

Anthony Guzzi works on the ladder as guided by Brian Blue at Nick Catone's Mixed Martial Arts Academy.

Speed in the stand-up game is a killer. However, it is often viewed as something that a fighter has or does not have. Fighters constantly train to improve hand speed, yet working on foot speed is often over-looked. The best part is, there is a lot you can do off the mats to improve your speed that will easily carry over onto the mats.

The video below is an example of a basic footwork drill using an agility ladder that very easily and effectively transfers over to the stand-up game.

The focus on this drill should initially be on balance and coordination. As you become more comfortable with the pattern, you can pick up the pace and start to add some more variations to it (as you will see in the second video).

This drill is great for working on foot speed, as well as, weight transfer and balance.

When should I use these drills?

When you first start to incorporate speed drills into your training, I recommend working on them separately to focus on the pattern and rhythm. This may take a couple minute or a couple days depending on your athleticism.

Once you’ve built up an arsenal of drills, start to plug them into your normal conditioning circuits. A lot of my circuits will go immediately from a lower body exercise or an exercise on the ground immediately to a speed drill. The goal here is to be able to keep your foot speed and balance as you start to fatigue.

One of Frankie Edgar’s many qualities is his speed in the late rounds. This is due to boxing coach Mark Henry keeping him in constant movement during training, as well as, always training for speed in our conditioning rounds when tired.

Brian Blue is the owner of All Star Sports Academy in Toms River and Jackson, N.J. He possesses a Bachelor of Science in Phys. Ed. /Adult Fitness from Kean University in Hillside, N.J. Blue works with athletes of all levels, from children to professional, and from a variety of sports. Blue (Twitter: @ASsportsacademy) will be enlightening readers at MMADieHards.com on a weekly basis about physical training and conditioning, giving helpful tips and answering questions.

Twitter MMA: Best of the Week for Dec. 26- Jan. 2

by Jason Kelly on January 2, 2012 4:00:55 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

sonnench chael sonnen

Brock was robbed!!!

sonnench chael sonnen

Brock was getting ready to leap all over that big bum. He was loading himself on the floor, like a coiled spring, and they stopped it…

sonnench chael sonnen

I’ve grown skeptical of a sport that tolerates the type of injustice that Brock faced tonight. So, I am retiring.

sonnench chael sonnen

I’ve grown skeptical of a sport that tolerates the type of injustice that Brock faced tonight. So, I am retiring.

RondaRousey Ronda Rousey

@MieshaTate @mmasarah hahaha!!!Soup tastes better when you stir the pot ladies!If you’re so pissed I dare you to try to stop me

MieshaTate Miesha Tate

@mmasarah @rondarousey I don’t “Choose” my fights, u should know that but I have no prob fighting Rousey b4 u now

mmasarah Sarah Kaufman

@MieshaTate @RondaRousey ahhh so you’re going to choose the easier fight then

MieshaTate Miesha Tate

@mmasarah @rondarousey U just better hope u don’t have to fight Ronda next we all know Armbar is ur weakness

mmasarah Sarah Kaufman

@MieshaTate @rondarousey well getting hit is yours and we all know I’ll do that repeatedly to you

MFG16 Mike Goldberg

New Years Resolution…no longer react or respond to the many keyboard cowards who lack the sack to stop hiding behind their Moms computer..

CesarGracieBJJ Cesar Gracie

It’s official, Gilbert Melendez to the UFC…….to corner Nate Diaz. lol

BasRuttenMMA Bas Rutten

Although he’s Mini, he’s an adult, I think he wanted u guys to know that yfrog.com/eskyubj

MarkPavelich Mark Pavelich

I look around & wonder who all these pretenders are in the MMA business. I don”t know 85% off them. We’ve been here since the start. #MFC

CesarGracieBJJ Cesar Gracie

@ufc Nate just made the weight. We won’t trust the gym scales again

NamPhanMMA Nam Phan

I’m sorry i let everyone down, but my hats off to @jimhettes he had an awesome performance.

jimhettes Jim Hettes

@NamPhanMMA thanks u Nam. you are a class act my friend. wish u and your family a Happy New Years

danhendo Dan Henderson

I think I’m gonna have to go with fitch in this one.

danhendo Dan Henderson

Wow. Congrats to Hendricks

JacobVolkmann Jacob Volkmann

Don’t worry I wont plan my speeches any more for after my fights, ill just wing it. Im a bad joke teller. Sorry @ufc @joerogan

joerogan Joe Rogan

Jacob Volkman, sorry if I didn’t laugh at your Obama joke. I honestly didn’t expect it, or know exactly what to say. Love ya, buddy

effyescudero Efrain Escudero

Back to work on monday thanks for the support 0 injuries 0 anything Volkmann just held me down n didnt do nothing. I want to dance no hug!!!

joerogan Joe Rogan

I deeply respect @DCBROCKLESNAR for taking the most difficult path in professional MMA I’ve ever seen from debut to retirement.

In Their Own Words: The Week’s Noteworthy MMA Quotes

by Jason Kelly on January 2, 2012 11:54:34 AM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Brock Lesnar (Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)

“I wanna thank everybody. I wanna thank the Fertitta’s, Dana White. Brock Lesnar is officially retired. I promised my wife and my kids…if I won this fight I would get a title shot and that would have been my last one but if I lost tonight…everyone you’ve been great. Alistair, it’s been a pleasure.”
- Brock Lesnar announced his exit from MMA to Joe Rogan following the UFC 141 main event.

“I think I belong where I’m at now, you know what I mean? I just beat the number two ranked guy. GSP couldn’t do it in five rounds. B.J. Penn couldn’t do it, love the guy to death, he couldn’t do it. I just knocked the number two guy out in 12 seconds; you know what I’m saying? Where does that put me? Hopefully for a title, but if it doesn’t, I’m going to have to go out there and prove it again.”
- Johny Hendricks discussed his UFC 141 victory over Jon Fitch with mmamania.com.

“I thought Joe Rogan would laugh a little more. He kind of ruined it for me … He ruined it. I wanted to punch him in the nuts … I think he’s a Democrat even though I know he’s not.”
- Jacob Volkmann talked to mmafighting.com about Joe Rogan not laughing at “Christmas’” comments following his UFC 141 victory.

“I wanted to stand, I wanted to play, and I got outboxed. I talked a lot of s—, and the bigger, badder dog showed up tonight. My hat’s off to [Diaz], and it was a good fight. And I’d do it again. That’s the one promise I make every fight, [that I'll fight] to the end every time.”
- Donald Cerroone talks loss to Nate Diaz at the UFC 141 post-fight press conference.

“The funny thing was I predicted the [fight's finish] the evening before, to my fiancé, I said, ‘First I’m gonna do this, then I’m gonna do that, and I’m gonna finish it with a liver kick.’ I don’t know if it’s luck or if it’s strategy, but it just turned out that way, and I’m happy that it did.”
- Alistair Overeem said at the UFC 141 post-fight press conference that he predicted how he would finish Lesnar.

“My hat’s off to Alistair Overeem. I want to take my hat off to all my training partners, my wife, my family. I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease and uh…I’m gonna officially say that tonight will be the last time you’ll see me in the octagon.

“It’s going to be really, really good for the fans. Because he’s a striker (and) I’m a striker, it’s going to be a stand-up battle.”
- Junior dos Santos spoke to USAToday about his first defense match against Overeem.

“Actually yes, I was. It was crazy I was told I was the only ring girl who was looking because Brittney and Chandella weren’t looking. It was disgusting. I think I’m kind of used it by now but I’ve never seen anything like that before so I just thought it was so interesting even though it was just crazy. I was a little creeped out but I kept looking. It’s not easy to watch but it just makes you want to watch, like a bad car crash.”
- Arianny Celeste talked about Frank Mir breaking Antonio Nogeuira’s arm at UFC 140 to the Las Vegas Weekly.

“You hear the same thing from everybody about Jon Fitch: If I want to get to sleep and I can’t get to sleep at night, I’ll put in a Jon Fitch fight. Whatever you think… Jon Fitch is one of the best 170-pounders in the world.

“And yes, he’s in the hunt for a title again, but find one person that will tell you they love a Jon Fitch fight, it’s the most exciting thing they’ve ever seen and they just get so excited for it.

“So when you say that you have a fight like Cerrone and Diaz on the card and a guy with a record like (Fitch’s) is on and people aren’t jumping out of their seats for that fight, I think Jon needs to have a little bit of a, you know… he’s got to be a little honest with himself and have a little bit of a reality check.”
- Dana White explained Fitch’s position to mmafighting.com.

“I have to go see my doctor again this week. I have to see if I need any more surgeries, and it’s just been really rough, mentally. I’ve trained 15 weeks for my camps, and I’ve pushed my body to the limit, but there’s no security. It’s myself, too. I started in the sport really late. I don’t have those kind of skills that the top fighters do where I can make it in the top-five, top-10, and start making $50,000, $60,000 and $70,000 per fight. I’m in the lower echelon when it comes to the money the UFC gives out to the fighters, and it’s tough to survive with that kind of money. I have to supplement my income. I have to work other jobs. So moving on from MMA is something that’s been on my mind for the last little bit.”
- Krystof Soszynski spoke about retiring to mmajunkie.com.

MMA DieHards Awards: Fighters of the year

by Jason Kelly on December 31, 2011 2:14:16 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

(The MMA DieHards staff has compiled a list of the best fighter of the year, fight of the year, KO of the year, submission of the year and breakthrough fighter of the year to close out 2011.)

Jon “Bones” Jones
Love him or hate him, Jones had one of the finest calendar years in MMA history.

Jones’ 2011 began with expectations he could be in title contention in early 2012 after he strangled Ryan Bader at UFC 126 on Feb. 5. Things changed drastically when former training partner Rashad Evans was forced to pull out of a title match against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and Jones stepped in to challenge for the belt at UFC 128. “Bones” battered Rua, he was never in danger throughout the bout, and eventually secured a Round 4 TKO victory.

Next on Jones’ list was former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jackson looked better than he ever had, nevertheless, “Bones” punished “Rampage” until he sunk in a rear-naked choke in the main event at UFC 135.

Jones’ capped 2011 off with a second title defense and third consecutive victory against a former UFC champion when he defeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Dec. 10. After a fairly equal opening round, Jones choked Machida unconscious in the second round.

It was an epic run by Jones and one that may never be matched.

Dan Henderson
Henderson turned 41-years-old in 2011, but that didn’t stop him from having one of the best years of his career.

Beginning his year under the Strikeforce banner, Henderson defeated Rafael Cavalcante for the light heavyweight strap. It was the Henderson’s well-known right hand that dropped the Brazilian in Round 3 and a few more punches for good measure that garnered the belt for “Hendo”.

He then accepted a heavyweight bout against Fedor Emelianenko, and destroyed a fighter many believe is the greatest of all time. Henderson knocked out Emelianenko in the final minute of the first round. The two former Pride fighters may not have met in Emelianenko’s prime, but Henderson remains one of only four people to ever conquer the Russian.

Henderson vacated his Strikeforce belt and returned to the UFC in November in a long-awaited bout between himself and “Shogun”. Not only did Henderson pick up the decision victory, he also participated in what is considered to be the best MMA match of all time. Henderson and Rua, both bloodied and exhausted, gutted it out to the bitter end in 25 minutes of war that will be talked about for years to come.

Clearly getting better with age, it will be exciting to see what Henderson brings at 42 years of age.

Nick Diaz
Diaz didn’t make it to the beauty pageant, but he showed up to every fight.

Diaz started his 2011 defending his Strikeforce welterweight title against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos with a submission victory. Diaz, typically, stood with his hands down, verbally abusing his opponent and attacking with his pitter-patter boxing. After Diaz battered Santos’ head and body through nearly two rounds, “Cyborg” attempted to take the Stockton native down. The takedown led to an armbar submission on behalf of Diaz.

Diaz met UFC castaway and feared striker Paul Daley at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley” on April 9 in his second title defense of the year. Daley’s devastating striking didn’t worry Diaz, as he chose to stand and trade blows with the Brit. Diaz was dropped by Daley midway through the first round, but the Californian battled back, eventually earning a TKO victory with three seconds left in the opening round.

Diaz’s exhilarating performances as Strikeforce champion earned him a shot at UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. The contest was cancelled due to Diaz missing a press conference he later referred to as a “beauty pageant”. Rather than remove him from the card entirely, UFC president Dana White set up a bout between Diaz and B.J. Penn at UFC 137.

The bout was heated from a stare down at the weigh-ins, and the intensity poured into the fight. Diaz manhandled Penn, and whatever offense “The Prodigy” came with, the Cesar Gracie fighter walked through. Diaz picked up a decision victory and beat Penn so badly that the Hawaiian announced his retirement following the match.

Diaz’s 2011 set him up for a title match, but is now an interim title bout against Carlos Condit.

Michael Chandler
Chandler came into 2011 with a 5-0 record.

The Bellator Season 4 lightweight tournament began on March 12 at Bellator 36 and Chandler was relatively unknown, but that changed abruptly. He met Marcin Held in the quarterfinals and wasted no time locking in an arm-triangle choke in the first round to advance to the semifinals.

Chandler faced Lloyd Woodard next in the bracket. It was a tough fought decision victory for Chandler, but the final round is where he met a true test.

Chandler and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire made it to the finals in season 4. Freire was compiling a highlight reel of knockouts leading up to the bout, but Chandler’s University of Missouri wrestling background, coupled his improving boxing under Gil Martinez was the key to victory. Chandler avoided most of “Pitbull’s” attacks, and controlled the bout with his strong wrestling abilities. The unanimous decision in Chandler’s favor set him up for a championship bout against Eddie Alvarez.

By this point, Chandler had made a name for himself, but Alvarez was still a slight favorite. Chandler dropped the champ early in the first round, but the bout was far fropm over. Alvarez worked Chandler and it appeared as if the belt would not change hands at Bellator 56 on Nov. 29. However, Chandler toughed out Alvarez’s onslaught and forced a tap out via rear-naked choke midway through the fourth round. It was an outstanding performance on both parts and will go down as one of the greatest battles in MMA history.

Chandler started 2011 with a 5-0 record, but he ended it with a 9-0 career mark and a Bellator lightweight title.

Ben Henderson
No finishes here, but man is this guy exciting.

Henderson started the year off making his UFC debut against Mark Bocek at UFC 129 on April 30. The former WEC lightweight champion made a statement in his inaugural Octagon bout, dominating Bocek in every aspect of the fight for 15 minutes. It was a one-sided beating that made everyone aware that Henderson was ready for stiffer competition.

Henderson then faced Jim Miller at UFC Live: “Hardy vs. Lytle” on Aug. 14. Miller was on a seven-fight win streak inside the Octagon leading up to that bout, nevertheless, Henderson dominated again. Henderson punished Miller on the feet and controlled him on the ground. Brutalizing Miller with all he had, Henderson worked over the AMA teammate for all three rounds and won another decisive unanimous decision.

At UFC on Fox: “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” on Nov. 12 hair was flying everywhere. Clay Guida, one of the few who match Henderson’s energy and hair style, met the former WEC lightweight champ in an electrifying contest. Flying knees, big slams, dropped opponents, this match had it all. Henderson got the better of Guida in the stand-up exchanges and pummeled him on the ground en route to a third consecutive decision victory on the year.

For man of many decisions, Dana White decided Henderson earned a UFC lightweight title shot with his impressive 2011.

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