Highlight | MMA DIEHARDS

Posts Tagged ‘highlight’

Twitter MMA: Best of the Week for Jan. 30 – Feb. 6

kurtpellegrino kurt pellegrino

Man waking up as a world champ feels great thanks @Giants. I wonder what Tom Brady is doing today #woo

kurtpellegrino kurt pellegrino

All @Giants players can train for FREE at @Pellegrino_MMA so come on in and get your life time membership #woo and train with ME #woo

MFG16 Mike Goldberg

I walked 4 steps from office to dressing room…..no running…Skrape called me out…and it sounds like so did Dana LOL

rockholdMMA Luke Rockhold

Woohoo got my hard cast off today but man I washed my hand five times and it still smells like a stanky p$$$

SpaniardMMA Charlie Brenneman

Ah yes, poneytail and all. Good times. lockerz.com/s/18 0702767

LouGaudinotUFC louis gaudinot

Now that I am on the @UFC card in Jersey on May 5th. Make sure you come support me & buy some tickets!! Let’s fill it with GREEN!!

WarMachine170 War Machine

Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullsh*t. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind

WarMachine170 War Machine

Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another

WarMachine170 War Machine

year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMAtournament.

bensaundersMMA Ben Saunders

@WarMachine170 WTF!? No way bro! Are u serious!? I was supposed to come visit u in Cali…. Stay positive homie…. Start writing ur book.

riddletuf7 matthew riddle

Fighting Saturday can’t wait it’s gonna be a blood bath

MarkPavelich Mark Pavelich

O.K, DW just this once you get my $59.99, I couldn’t help myself. Lol #MFC

WonderboyMMA Stephen Thompson

Thanks to everyone that showed support and to everyone that helped me get to the UFC. And im here to stay

DaveCamarillo Dave Camarillo

If there was a “split decision of the night” award, we won it for sure! #UFC

roynelsonmma Roy Nelson

Here is the cut from me head butting werdum’s knee in the 1st. My face is fine, forehead is a little sore. lockerz.com/s/181044602 #fb

joshneer josh neer

Wow. Nick got robbed 4-1 diaz. Carlos was doing the Forrest Gump #runforestrun

RondaRousey Ronda Rousey

If I wanted to see a man run for 25 minutes I’d go to a track meet. Diaz is the real champ, what a bullsh*t fight

JoeLauzon Joe Lauzon

I eagerly await fight metrics for this fight… I thought Diaz won that all night long.

patmiletich Pat Miletich

That decision was an absolute joke. At best, Condit won 2 rounds.

CesarGracieBJJ Cesar Gracie

@ufc Chuck Liddell and Anderson Silva sitting ringside had Diaz winning. Champions know really who won

NamPhanMMA Nam Phan

I really hope Nick Diaz doesn’t RETIRE, i love watching that guy fight!

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

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. (Photo courtesy of UFC.com)

“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz. I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous.”
- Georges St-Pierre told Fcfighter.com that he hoped for Nick Diaz to defeat Carlos Condit at UFC.143.

“I feel the same about both of them; I think they’re great fighters. I think one’s a more respectable athlete, one’s a more respectable martial artist, stand-up fighter, I guess, if you will. Carlos versus Georges. I think Georges is a strength athlete that really stands out here. Especially against all the wrestlers he’s been fighting, he’s stronger than all of them. They’re having a strong guy competition and he’s the strongest one. I don’t fight like that and neither does Carlos and I don’t think these guys enjoy fighting that style of fighter.”
- Diaz explained the difference, in his opinion, between Condit and St-Pierre to mmafighting.com

“I’m interested in the outcome of the Diaz vs. Condit fight on Saturday night. Should be a good fight. Hopefully Georges is out for more than 10 months and they can make that Interim titleholder fight twice. Hopefully he never comes back. ACL surgeries can take a lot out of you. They say you truly don’t recover after those. I’ve had friends who have had those and they say they’re not the same so hopefully it equals out the playing field and we can get another crack at Georges.”
- Josh Koscheck talked to mmafighting.com about Condit vs. Diaz, and the return of St-Pierre.

“I started a campaign on Twitter and Facebook. I always ran after my dreams. I always went after everything I wanted. I always set my goals in my mind, and went to achieve them. I set the goal to fight again in the UFC. Because my motivation is to fight the best fighters. And I succeeded through my efforts, my training. My friends and my team helping me. Werdum Combat Team, Kings MMA. Everybody helped me a lot. Seven thousand people tweeted Dana White asking him to bring me back to the UFC. The fans want to see me back in there.”
- Fabricio Werdum admitted on UFC.com that his played a big role in reinstating The Brazilian’s UFC employment.

“Between Jacare, Luke and myself, I think that we could take on seven out of the top 10 guys in the UFC in our respective weight class, but almost all of the media and the fans disagree with us. I’ve said it my entire career that I just want to fight the best guys. Now I add the caveat that now I want to fight the guys that everyone else thinks are the best fighters.”
- Tim Kennedy expressed to Sports Illustrated the rank of combatants he desires to compete against.

“I train harder when I’m fighting a striker, I really like training Muay Thai, Boxing. I guess I can do a good fight. I’m a good fighter in the end of the fights, I can hold my impulse and do better later, I was born a counter attacker and that’s how I have greater chances to get the knockout. Tito Ortiz came to strike against me, and I got the knockout. Cane tried to stand-up and I got to knock him out. I can do a good fight against striker. It’s not because I don’t know wrestling. Yes, I’m actually a lot better defending the takedowns, after I left Pride I had to adjust because the rules and the cage are different. I guess I can fight anywhere, but I rather stand-up because fans dig the knockouts and I’m a fighter who likes giving the KO to the fans. I’ll go for the knockout until the end, absolutely. I’m moving forward. I’ll try to do a good fight to be in a good spot on this ranking. I’ll go for the knockout and I’ll stay among the top three of the division.”
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira told Tatame his intentions are to finish Alexander Gustafsson and UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden.

. “To err is human and it is no shame to admit that you made a mistake and change your opinion. I think it is great for the referees (the new rule) and give us an opportunity the take a better look in what happened and finally make our decision. The athletes work so hard to fight at the UFC that they deserve it. [Silva] showed class and maturity. He could have made it a circus with the interview after the fight, but understood the situation and behaved like a real gentleman. He is a great kid. [Joe Rogan] was doing his job and it was my mistake of staying there in the middle. I should had left before that.”
- Mario Yamasaki explained the mistake he made at UFC 142 to Radio PVT that cost Erick Silva a victory over Carlo Prater, and the sequence of events following the bout involving Joe Rogan.

“Fedor Emelianenko, my favorite of all time…He’s always been the underdog, he’s always the smallest guy and he always comes out victorious. He just stayed around too long in the age of high performance [-enhancing] drugs, bigger athletes. I’ve just never seen an athlete like him, as far as a fighting athlete, that beat the odds so many times. From a guy that just loves him from a human perspective, I don’t want to see him get hurt anymore, you know? He didn’t get hurt, but those guys could have hurt him, the big guy that was hitting him, “Bigfoot” (Antonio Silva). I don’t like to see that. A guy that’s been in there so long and he’s not the same as he used to be and you see him getting beat up, oh man that’s a bad feeling.”
- Mike Tyson was recently a guest on Inside MMA and the former WBC champ talked about his favorite mixed martial artist of all time.

“This Overeem thing is a weird thing. For me to speak on it, I don’t really know enough about it. I guess he went to XS, a club here in Las Vegas, and he had to use the restroom. This is my knowledge of what happened: He went to go use the restroom, security was going to take him, he said he didn’t need security, and sure enough, he goes over there — and this is his side of the story — some lady started yelling and swinging at him and everything else. I don’t think he’s in that much trouble. This isn’t a situation where he beat someone up or did anything crazy. I don’t think that’s the case. I’m planning on Alistair Overeem fighting [Junior dos Santos].”
- Dana White commented during the UFC pre-fight press conference on Alistair Overeem’s legal troubles stemming from an incident in a Las Vegas nightclub.

“Mike Pierce, I knew he was a tough kid coming into the fight, but to be honest, I really didn’t have the urge to fight him because he is down there on the ladder. It was a lose-lose for me you know, but I am down for challenges and I found a way to win. It’s not the prettiest thing but you can’t have knock out every time. To the crowd out there and everybody who hates me, ***k yourselves. I’m sick of being nice you know, I’m sick of it. You know, I go out of my way to be nice to fans, I go out of my way to let them get to know me, but, you want to keep booing? I’ll keep being a dick. You want to come at me, I’ll come at you. Don’t come up to me and get an autograph from me then. Stay away, don’t come up to me. You know, I know I got fans out there, but all these pricks out there at the Mandalay Bay tonight, I’ll walk down the street and they will all be like, “Oh Koscheck!” F*** you! I’m definitely ready to take on the winner of tonight’s fight. I think it will be a different matchup than tonight with Pierce. I think I’ll be able to let my hands go and use a lot of wrestling and just go at it you know. I think the winner is going to fight again, so why not let Josh Koscheck have that fight?”
- Koscheck talked to UFC.com about defeating Mike Pierce and his future tendencies.

“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. I’ve lost fights before, where, uh, ya know, like, I’m not going to accept that either. That ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I’m the guy who went out on top. Had I thought I wasn’t ahead, I’d have chinned in and finished that arm lock. Hey Carlos is a great guy, I’m happy for him and his family. I think I’m done with this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You guys pay me way too much. But I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this. It’s been a good time. You know Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Good job Carlos; you’re the man, bro.”
- Diaz commended Condit, and announced his retirement from the sport in a UFC 143 post-fight interview after the UFC 143 main event.

“Nick one hundred percent believes he won the fight. I think once he goes home, relaxes and calms down … Nick Diaz is a fighter, I don’t see Nick Diaz retiring. But, who knows? It’s one of those things, too, this isn’t one of those sports where you want to be half in and half out. ‘I don’t know what I wanna do’ — if that’s the way you feel, you probably should retire.”
- White said at the UFC 143 post-fight press conference that he is not sure what to think about Diaz claiming retirement.

“This is just another step toward my ultimate goal of being among the best mixed martial artists in the world. [Nick Diaz] was talking, I was landing punches, you know? I think I was winning. No matter how much he talked, I was hitting him hard, I was hitting him solid. That’s what I came here to do: I didn’t come here to talk. From the very beginning, I broke that leg down. I chopped his leg, chopped his leg, chopped his leg, so even if he had the cardio, he didn’t have the wheels. I’ve got a lot of work to do, and a lot more improvements to be made. Georges St. Pierre is a true champion, he’s the best in the world. It’s huge.”
- Condit talked about winning the UFC interim welterweight belt on UFC.com.

UFC 143 recap: Condit wins interim belt, Diaz retires, Werdum is here to stay, Koscheck wins

by Jason Kelly on February 5, 2012 12:58:41 AM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Carlos Condit celebrates winning the interim UFC welterweight championship. (Photo - Adam Metcalf/MMADieHards.com)

143 took place Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and a welterweight interim champion was crowned.

Carlos Condit beat Nick Diaz in a five round war, and Fabricio Werdum battered Roy Nelson en route to a decision victory.

Josh Koscheck out-worked Mike Pierce, Ed Herman ended Clifford Starks’ chances at back-to-back UFC victories, and Renan Barao advanced his win streak to 18 with a win over Scott Jorgensen.

Diaz, as usual, did not back away from his opponent’s punches. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion threw punches in bunches, although so did Condit. The two mixed martial artists kept the fight standing for the majority of five rounds, blasting each other with shots.

In a razor close match, Diaz dragged Condit to the ground, took his back and tried to catch the “Natural Born Killer” in a rear-naked choke. Condit fought off the submission attempt and went on to defeat Diaz via decision.

Condit is now the welterweight interim champion and will face Georges St-Pierre for the belt.

Condit was humble in victory, but Diaz made a shocking announcement following the UFC 143 main event.

“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss,” Diaz stated. ”I’ve lost fights before, where, uh, ya know, like, I’m not going to accept that either. That ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I’m the guy who went out on top. Had I thought I wasn’t ahead, I’d have chinned in and finished that arm lock. Hey Carlos is a great guy, I’m happy for him and his family. I think I’m done with this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You guys pay me way too much. But I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this. It’s been a good time.”

After a grueling beginning that had Werdum smashing Nelson with knees in the clinch position, “Big Country” dropped the Brazilian with a single punch. Not much came from the downed Werdum, but the action continued. Nelson was bloodied and checked by doctors, but was granted permission to keep fighting. Nelson used boxing and attempted to turn the tide, but Werdum was the combatant completing the more damaging assault.

Surprisingly, the contest lasted 15 minutes and went to the judges’ scorecards. Werdum was awarded a unanimous decision in the tough-fought match.

Herman was fond of the uppercut in the opening frame, but Starks punished “Short Fuse” with powerful straight right punches. Herman had some success with takedowns in the first round, although it was clearly Starks’ round in the judges’ eyes. Round 2 began and Herman resorted to the uppercut again, but ended up in a clinch with Starks. Herman grappled Starks to the canvas and went for the finish. The TUF 3 cast member worked for the rear naked-choke on the mat and eventually sunk it in, defeating Starks in the second round.

In a battle of wrestlers, Koscheck was the better striker.

Pierce used a left jab to keep Koscheck at bay, but The Ultimate Fighter season 1 participant connected with heavier punches throughout the bout. Koscheck accomplished two takedowns to Pierce’s one, but the wrestling was null and void in the contest. Koscheck did just enough to squeak out a split-decision, but the outcome could have gone either way, as Pierce was never out of the fight or overwhelmed.

Barao beat Jorgensen up on the feet and on the ground for the duration of the bout. Jorgensen could not get an offensive attack going in the contest, as Barao had a reach advantage in the striking department, an edge on the ground and a noticeable size difference. Barao stopped Jorgensen’s takedown attempts, which evidently frustrated the WEC veteran, and kept the fight standing where he was having great success.

Barao and Jorgensen swung it out until the judges deemed the Brazilian the winner.

UFC 143 prelim recap: Thompson amazes with KO, Brown is back, Poirier submits with ease

by Jason Kelly on February 4, 2012 9:52:25 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Matt Brown victorious against Chris Cope at UFC 143

The UFC 143 preliminary card took place Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and a UFC newcomer stole the show.

Stephen Thompson would have made Lyoto Machida proud with his victory against Dan Stittgen. Rafael Natal spoiled Michael Kuiper’s Octagon debut, Matt Brown has returned to old form with a knockout win over Chris Cope, and Matt Riddle beat Henry Martinez in an exciting three-round contest.

Edwin Figueroa won a decision over Alex Caceres after a few point deductions, and Dustin Poirier put away Max Holloway in the first round.

Thompson stood awkwardly with his hands down as he engaged in battle with Stittgen, leaving his face open for attack. It was an Octagon debut for both combatants, but Thompson appeared comfortable in the UFC immediately after the fight began. Stittgen could barely attempt an offence due to the onslaught of karate strikes Thompson was initiating. After four minutes of Thompson landing body and head shots at will, the undefeated kickboxer shut Stittgen’s lights off with a head kick in Round 1.

Poirier met Holloway at UFC 143, and the newcomer did not back down. Holloway was throwing punches and flying-knees at Poirier from the opening bell, but the WEC veteran used his veteran Octagon experience and outgrappled the Zuffa recruit. Poirier latched on a mounted triangle-choke, forcing Holloway to tapout.

Poirier spoke to Joe Rogan following the bout and let everybody know what he wants to be.

“That’s four UFC victories, come on guys,” Poirier said. “I’m here to be a champion.”

Riddle and Martinez provided a three-round war fit for any fan. Riddle punished Martinez with body kicks throughout the match, but that didn’t stop the Jackson’s MMA prospect from firing back. No matter what Riddle hit Martinez with, the Mexican stayed in the fight, throwing back strikes of his own. Both athletes sustained shots that would have put away the majority of opponents in the welterweight division, but the bout ran its full course.

In the end, Riddle managed a split-decision victory, but Martinez can hold his head high after coming in on short notice and fighting a tough battle its full duration.

Brown attacked Cope and it was clear that it was just a matter of time before the bout was finished. Brown had the edge in the standup department and it showed with ever punch he landed and evaded. Cope was outclassed on his feet and was unsuccessful in the clinch or with takedowns.

Brown finished Cope in the second round with a brutal punch, followed by ground strikes until the referee stopped the match.

“That’s exactly what I need to do,” Brown said in a post-fight interview. ”I got away from what I need to do, but I’m back.”

Figueroa withstood Caceres’ offence and two painful kicks that landed where the sun don’t shine.

Following a first round that saw Caceres rocked from a high kick to almost submitting Figueroa by the time the round finalized- and a groin shot- Round 2 involved another kick to the cup from “Bruce Leroy”. Figueroa recuperated, once again, and the bout continued after a five minute break. Caceres was deducted two points for the fouls, and he went for the kill from there on out.

Caceres controlled Figueroa for the remainder of the round with intelligent ground grappling and a barrage of strikes to soften up his opponent. Figueroa did all he could in Round 3, but Caceres dominated the Texas native until the bell rand.

Figueroa was awarded a split-decision from the judges, most likely due to the points Caceres lost from the illegal groin strikes.

Natal was expected to manhandle Kuiper on the ground in this contest, but things played out differently than most fans projected. Kuiper did well defending Natal’s takedowns, though the Brazilian garnered five in the opening frame, and the Dutchman showed he could take a punch. Natal won the first round decisively with five takedowns, but he did not dominate Kuiper when the fight hit the mat. Round 2 displayed Natal hitting Kuiper, but the European would not back down and the bout eventuated to a final round.

Kuiper came out of his corner and tagged Natal, dropping the Brazilian. Kuiper pounced on Natal and hit him with a flurry of punches, however the BJJ black-belt wrapped up the Judoka and regained composure. Natal got back to his feet and slammed Kuiper, granting him top-position. Once Natal accomplished the mount he sunk in an arm-triangle and finished the bout in that position.

Natal earned a unanimous decision victory and commented on Kuiper hurting him in the third round.

“It was bad because it was the beginning of the round, everything went dark,” Natal said. “I used my sweep to stand him up again.”

MMA DieHards Counterpunch: UFC 143

by Jason Kelly on February 4, 2012 9:00:26 AM in Features, Fighter Features | 1 Comment »

Roy Nelson (L) faces off with Fabricio Werdum (R) at UFC 143 weigh-ins.

MMA DieHards Counterpunch takes on UFC 143, which takes place Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

UFC 143 features a welterweight interim championship bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit in the main event. Heavyweights Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum do battle in the co-main event, and Josh Koscheck faces Mike Pierce.

MMADieHards.com put together a team of our finest writers to bring you Counterpunch for the event. The group independently makes its selections for each fight. Minority picks will be defended by one of the panelists making that selection.

Joining us this week will be Mark Hensch, Shawn Baran, Robert G. Reynolds, Joe Rizzo and Jason Kelly.

Matt Brown, Matt Riddle, Dustin Poirier and Scott Jorgensen are not covered below, as they were unanimously selected.

Below we list the match, the fighter being defended and the author of the defence.

Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson
Defending Stittgen: Joe Rizzo

Stittgen (7-1) and Thompson (5-0) make their respective UFC debuts on the undercard, and it’s a case of a couple of unfamiliar names looking to gain a win and some notice. Stittgen has the best chance of doing it in one writer’s opinion, despite his status as a solid betting underdog. Stittgen will have a huge advantage on the ground in this fight, but getting down the kickboxing champion without getting knocked out will be the trick. If it remains standing Thomson will have his way, but this prediction says the fight — and Thomson — are going down.

Michael Kuiper vs. Rafael Natal
Defending Kuiper: Robert G. Reynolds

Meeting Kuiper for his inaugural event with the UFC will be Brazilian, Rafael Natal. Making his third appearance with the organization, Natal earned his first win in his last outing at UFC 133 over Paul Bradley.

While Natal got the win, it was not in impressive fashion and in my opinion, has yet to standout within the UFC. With the UFC restocking their shelves with new product to replace the old, Kuiper brings a style of fighting favorable with fans- he finishes them. Expect Kuiper to stop Natal midway into the first round with strikes, extending his undefeated win streak to 12.

Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa
Defending Caceres: Jason Kelly

Picking Caceres may not have been the safest bet, but he showed maturity in his last bout that gives me hope.

Caceres was a spectacle on The Ultimate Fighter 12 that was more of a sideshow than a mixed martial artist. After a UFC start that found “Bruce Leroy” 0-2, he rebounded with a decision victory against Cole Escovedo. Caceres always had the skills competent enough to compete in the Octagon, but they didn’t shine through until his most recent outing. His improvement on the ground and in the striking department since dropping to bantamweight division proved Caceres is capable of using technique to defeat tough opponents. And we can’t forget the triangle-choke the TUF 14 cast member defeated Jeff Lentz with that he is so fond of.

Figueroa is Caceres’ toughest opponent to date, but if “Bruce Leroy” continues that style of fighting that helped him defeat Escovedo, he can most definitely win a unanimous decision at UFC 143.

Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Defending Herman: Shawn Baran

After losing to Aaron Simpson back in 2009, Herman came back with a vengeance in 2011. With a TKO victory and a submission finish, both coming in round one and within a two month span, Herman seems to have found his form. To make things even more intriguing, the victories came against Tim Credeur and Kyle Noke, two of the tougher opponents in the middleweight division. Herman seems a little more focused now and may not be the “short fuse” that we are used to seeing. Herman’s clinch work has drastically improved, as has his ground and pound. If this fight gets to the ground, watch out.

Not taking anything away from Starks. Starks is a tough dude and he is undefeated at 8-0, but he has yet to face an opponent as dynamic as Herman. Starks is a fairly well rounded fighter, but we will have to see what he has when he is really put to the test. Starks has some good striking, but his wrestling could use some improvement. I am confident this fight will end up on the ground and Herman has the edge there. Starks will not have an answer for what Herman brings to the table. Time will tell and we will find out on Saturday night, but if I were a betting man, I would put a little money down on Herman in this one. I think Herman will be a little too much for Starks to handle.

Mike Pierce vs. Josh Koscheck
Defending Pierce: Joe Rizzo

Sleep on Pierce at your own peril. Pierce is trying to become what Koscheck already is, and this is the chance to vault into the top realm at welterweight in the UFC. Like Stittgen, Pierce is a solid underdog. When considering Koscheck’s record and reputation, the odds (Pierce is around plus-200) ought to be significantly more lopsided. Oftentimes that means Las Vegas has an inclination of something others are not seeing. Koscheck has fought higher profile names, but with the exception of his losses to Georges St-Pierre, the level of opponents is about equal. Koscheck rebounded from his injury to take on Matt Hughes on short notice and took care of the aging former champion in September, but you have to go back to the Paul Daley fight in May 2010 to find another win.

Pierce came up agonizingly short against Johny Hendricks and Jon Fitch, back when Fitch was virtually untouchable. He’ll get over the hump this time, as he is one of the few who have enough to hinder Koshcheck’s incredible wrestling.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson
Defending Werdum: Mark Hensch

This one will end closer that I probably expect, but I just don’t see Nelson negating the strengths Werdum brings to the Octagon. I love “Big Country” as much as the next guy, but Werdum is simply much more dangerous on the ground while still packing some serious striking power.

Nelson’s no slouch, but Werdum has convincingly beaten some bigger names too. At day’s end, not many can say they’ve defeated Alistair Overeem and both Emelianenko brothers. Once one remembers this match marks Werdum’s UFC re-debut, it seems likely he’ll win given he has something to prove.

Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
Defending Condit: Joe Rizzo

It’s almost like there are three belts on the line here, as Condit is the WEC welterweight champion emeritus, Diaz forcibly walked away from the Strikeforce 170-pound gold and St-Pierre’s injury has left this a battle for the UFC interim welterweight title. Diaz comes in as the favorite, but has given Condit respect he does not often afford his opponents.

Anyone who thinks they know what is going to happen in this fight is misinformed. While both fighters figure to have some sort of game plan, they both have shown in their many fights that the pace will be very fast, there will be a lot of early action and neither fighter can tell you under oath whether that action will be standing or on the mat.

Perhaps Condit’s biggest strength is that he can get beaten to a pulp but goes harder and harder as fights linger on. He has enjoyed epic third-round rallies, most notably against Rory McDonald, and with this being a five-round main event, that might figure to be an advantage to the ridiculously conditioned Diaz. But it’s not just about how well you’re conditioned, it’s about how you perform in those later rounds. Both fighters have finishes littered all over their records, and this one is destined to end in one of the championship rounds, with Condit earning the belt.

UFC 143 Fresh Faces: Stephen Thompson, Dan Stittgen, Max Holloway, Henry Martinez, Michael Kuiper

by Jason Kelly on February 3, 2012 12:15:06 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

Max Holloway hopes to get his hand raised in the octagon. (photo courtesy of Greg Honda/ /www.greghonda.com)

UFC 143 is headlined by Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit and it takes place Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Along with Diaz and Condit meeting for the UFC interim welterweight championship will be five newcomers to the Octagon. Find out about an undefeated kickboxer, a product of Greg Jackson, a fast-rising featherweight, and a combatant also making their N. America debut in this week’s Fresh Faces.

Name: Stephen Thompson

Weight class: Welterweight

Record: 5-0 (2 (T)KO’s, 1 submission)

Recent body of work: Defeated Patrick Mandio at Fight Party: “Masquerade Fight Party” in October 2011.

Who he is: Thompson owns an impressive kickboxing record of 56-0, with 46 knockouts and 13 titles. He grew up in a family of martial artists and has trained in Kenpo Karate since the age of 3. Thompson trains with the Tristar team and Pitch Black MMA, as well as with his brother-in-law and BJJ legend Carlos Machado. Thompson is undefeated in his young MMA career, compiling a 5-0 record fighting in regional shows in his native state of South Carolina and his most recent bout in Georgia.

Name: Michael Kuiper

Weight class: Middleweight

Record: 11-0 (6 (T)KO’s, 4 submissions)

Recent body of work: Defeated Morris Cilfoni via TKO (punches) at MitC: “Milano in the Cage” in May 2011.

Who he is: Hailing from the Netherlands, Kuiper holds a black-belt in Judo and made the transition to MMA in 2009, producing a 7-0 record in his first year. Training with Gracie Barra NL, the undefeated Dutch fighter has cleared all competition he faced in Europe, finishing all but one of his opponents. Kuiper has won various titles in Belgium and was awarded “Fighter of the Year” in 2009. UFC 143 marks Kuipers’ first trip to N. America for a professional MMA bout.

Name: Henry Martinez

Weight class: Welterweight

Record: 8-1 (2 (T)KO’s, 4 submissions)

Recent body of work: Defeated Ali Hanjani via submission (reverse triangle-choke) at JMMAS: “Jackson’s MMA Series 7” on Jan. 21.

Who he is: A product from Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts, Martinez typically fights within the lightweight division, but made a permanent switch to welterweight at the new opportunity to fight in the UFC. Martinez has also fought at featherweight, where he suffered the first and only loss of his career at Bellator 2 to Wilson Reis. Martinez has been undefeated since the slight setback, riding a four-fight win streak heading into the Octagon. Martinez’s current win streak have all end via submission, two of which in he finished in Round 1.

Name: Max Holloway

Weight class: Featerweight

Record: 4-0 (1 (T)KO, 0 submissions)

Recent body of work: Defeated Eddie Rincon via decision at UIC 4: “War on the Valley Isle”

Who he is: Turning professional in 2010, Holloway has compiled an unblemished 4-0 record and has rapidly advanced within the sport. Holloway was originally brought into Jeremy Stephens’ training camp to assist “Lil Heathen” prepare for Anthony “Showtime” Pettis because of the similar fighting style. In March 2011, Holloway won the X-1 lightweight championship with a split-decision victory over WEC/Strikeforce veteran Harris Sarmiento. It was only his third fight as a professional.

Name: Dan Stittgen

Weight class: Welterweight

Record: 7-1 (1 (T)KO, 5 submissions)

Recent body of work: Defeated Mark Stoddard via decision at KOTC: “Interference” in August 2011.

Who he is: Stittgen is a 31-year-old prospect fighting out of Midwest Training Center in Schaumburg, Ill. He begins his UFC career riding the momentum of a three-fight win streak and he has not been defeated since January 2010. Ironically, Stittgen was called in to replace the fighter to ever beat him, Justin Edwards.

UFC 143: A martial arts family, Carlos Machado and Chuck Norris were part of Stephen Thompson’s journey to UFC

by Jason Kelly on February 2, 2012 4:00:59 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

UFC newcomer and welterweight Stephen Thompson

Having connections to Carlos Machado and Chuck Norris, coupled with growing up in a family of martial artists made it inevitable that Stephen Thompson would one day make his UFC debut.

Thompson (Twitter: @WonderboyMMA) is set to make his UFC debut at UFC 143 on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Thompson’s Octagon debut will have him matched up with fellow UFC newcomer Dan Stittgen.

Thompson’s career as a professional fighter was mapped out before he began kindergarten. Submerged into martial arts from a young age, Thompson has won 13 kickboxing titles and compiled a record that consists of 56 wins and zero losses.

“I’ve been in martial arts since I was 3-years-old,” Thompson told MMA Beatdown Radio on the MMA DieHards Radio Network. “Growing up in a family of martial artists, I got two brothers and two sisters, and we all started at the age of 3. My dad owned a martial arts school in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and it’s just a lifestyle.

“I had my first fight at 15-years-old and it’s been going on since then. It just kind of added up- 56-0 with 46 knockouts.”

Thompson’s MMA career resembles his kickboxing achievements, as he is 5-0.

Even though Thompson was only competing in kickboxing tournaments prior to MMA, he had always trained as a mixed martial artist. Thompson said his base is Kenpo Karate, a form of martial arts that incorporates all disciplines, and that allowed him to learn more than just striking. It just so happened when Thompson was beginning to compete, MMA was not the global phenomenon it is today.

“We do the striking, we do the wrestling, and we do the jiu-jitsu,” Thompson explained. “It’s just that when I started fighting, kickboxing was so much bigger then, so that’s what I competed in. And you know I had my dad and my older sister who competed in kickboxing before, so they were kind of like my inspiration to start kickboxing.”

Thompson’s evolution on the ground had some doing with an extended-family member, as well.

“It helps to have a brother-in-law, Carlos Machado, who is a ninth degree black-belt in jiu-jitsu,” Thompson said. “People think all I have is striking, and that’s good, that’s what I want them to think. Carlos is the actually the oldest brother. I’ve done some work with him and Jacque (Machado).”

Training with a BJJ icon is a momentous occasion, but Thompson has also been in the presence of the man, the myth, the legend: Chuck Norris.

Thompson was victorious in the Chuck Norris World Combat League, which earned him the honor of meeting the Walker, Texas Ranger star. Thompson said he has never had the opportunity to train with Norris, nor does he want to, but the South Carolina native speaks highly of the man who’s name is synonymous with corny jokes.

“I have never sparred or grappled with Chuck Norris,” Thompson said. “I guess you have to be high on his list to actually do anything with Chuck Norris. It’s cool though, because Carlos (Machado) actually trains Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris has his black-belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I got to meet him there and at the World Combat League. He’s a very nice guy. I’ve got to have a chat with him and go out for dinner with him. He’s awesome.”

If not for misfortune, Thompson may have never made the crossover from kickboxing to MMA.

Thompson said he always contemplated competing in MMA, but he was having success in kickboxing and it was more popular. It wasn’t until about six years ago when he injured his left knee and was sidelined for three years that Thompson decided he would embark on a career as a mixed martial artist.

Thompson said his knee feels better than it did before the surgeries. There is evidence that he can perform in MMA bouts at a high level, given his undefeated record in the sport thus far. Now that he is out of the regional shows and on the big stage, Thompson is ecstatic to achieve a lifelong goal that was discussed over many childhood dinners.

“The UFC is it, they’re the best,” Thompson said. “Just to fight for them is an honor and a privilege. This is something I have been working for my entire life. At home, growing up, sitting at the kitchen table, that’s what we talked about. We talked about the fight sport and UFC. Now that I’m here, it’s awesome.”

UFC 143: Carlos Condit “Don’t count me out in Diaz fight.”

by Mark Hensch on February 2, 2012 9:00:27 AM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

UFC welterweight Carlos Condit hitting the mitts, preparing for Nick Diaz at UFC 143. (Photo courtesy of fiveouncesofpain.com)

UFC welterweight Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit (twitter: @CarlosCondit) has a message for every fight fan determined he’ll lose to Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Saturday in Las Vegas – be careful who you bet on.

Interviewed Wednesday by MMA Diehards, Condit said he has more bite than bark as an underdog. Defying the odds is what he does best, he added, and come Saturday he plans on destroying Diaz.

“A big part of my career has been proving people wrong,” Condit told Darce Side Radio on the MMA Diehards Radio Network Wednesday. “I think a lot of people discount my skills or underestimate me. I use that as motivation to go out there and do my thing and show people that I’m legit.”

Condit began scrapping his way to the top in 2002. Soon fighting for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), he battled for the league until its bitter end last year and became its final welterweight champion in the process. Now 27-5, he said there’s never been a bigger chip on his shoulder than UFC 143 and his clash with the 26-7 Diaz.

“I don’t care what the underline says,” Condit said. “I fight bell to bell. I’m a game day player. Win, lose or draw I’m going to do everything I can to leave everything in the cage.”

Despite his confidence, Condit said it’s been a rocky road getting to Diaz. Originally scheduled to face B.J. Penn at UFC 137, Condit said he traded places with Diaz to face welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre after Diaz didn’t commit to his press obligations. When GSP backed out of the bout with a knee injury anyways, Diaz and Penn were given main event status. Months later, it’s a switch that still cuts Condit deep down.

“Honestly, I would have liked to have been a little busier in 2011,” said Condit, who fought once last year against Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132. “It was crazy the way things went but ultimately they worked out. I’ve got a great opportunity and an awesome fight set up against Diaz.”

Condit predicts his match with Diaz will steal the show on Saturday given their similar styles. He said he can go the distance on the ground against Diaz’s jiu-jitsu, and should they stand, he’s ready for Diaz’s boxing with his kickboxing technique. Given how even both men are, Condit added, the winner will be whoever finds their edge first.

“I think both of us are dangerous everywhere,” Condit said of Diaz and their bout. “Honestly, it’s more whose game and whose style are going to reign supreme whether it’s on our feet or on the ground.”

Condit remains confident that he’ll sail past Diaz this weekend en route to a title bout with GSP down the road. Addressing his critics, “The Natural Born Killer” claimed that he’ll overcome the odds at UFC 143 no matter how stacked they are against him.

“I’m one of the best fighters in the world,” Condit said. “A lot of these fights, I look at my opponent and go, ‘I have my hands full, how am I going to win this fight?’ I always seem to find a way and this fight is no different.”

Darce Side Radio: UFC 143′s Carlos Condit and USA Today’s Sergio Non

by Hector Castro on February 1, 2012 7:16:37 PM in Radio | No Comments »

<p>Carlos Condit is zoned in on that title shot. (Photo: Adam Metcalf/MMADieHards.com)</p>

Co-hosts Michael Stets and Hector Castro of MMADieHards.com bring you, The Darce Side, each week.

Joining ‘The Darce Side’ will be UFC 143 headliner Carlos Condit talking about his fight against Nick Diaz; USA Today’s Sergio Non joins us to review the UFC 143 card.

Listen to internet radio with MMA DieHards Radio on Blog Talk Radio

UFC 143: Scott Jorgensen wants Cruz, possibly Faber following Barao

by Jason Kelly on February 1, 2012 4:10:22 PM in Features, Fighter Features | No Comments »

UFC bantamweight Scott Jorgensen. (Photo courtesy of MMA Weekly.)

Scott Jorgensen wants the UFC bantamweight title and Dominick Cruz, regardless if “The Dominator” is champion or not.

Before Jorgensen (Twitter: @Scottjorgensen) is offered another title shot, he must defeat Renan Barao, Saturday at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The bantamweights will clash on the pay-per-view portion of the card that is headlined by Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight belt.

Jorgensen is focused on accomplishing a second title shot, but he is not looking past Barao. The former WEC No. 1 bantamweight contender has prepared adequately in the gym, so he can perform well and let the stat lines build from his hard work. After that, it’s the UFC’s job to figure out the big picture.

“That’s why we’re doing the sport isn’t it?,” Jorgensen said on MMA Beatdown Radio on the MMA DieHards Radio Network. “I’m fighting for that belt and Renan is definitely a road block in the way, but I’m going to take care of business on Saturday night and get a victory and worry about the future from there on. Right now records and streaks, that stuff only matters when you’re looking at the big picture to see who’s next in line, who’s getting the next title shot and who’s hot right now. I’m not too concerned about who’s record is better, who’s streak is better because come Saturday night, I know I’m ready. I put the work in and I’ll take care of business, and then I’ll let the UFC figure out who’s fighting for that belt.”

Jorgensen fought Cruz to a decision loss for the WEC bantamweight championship at WEC 53 in December 2010.

Prior to meeting Cruz, Jorgensen was on a five-fight win streak. “Young Guns” was defeating his opponents with technical skills and by intelligently engaging in battle. Jorgensen was the clear front-runner to match Cruz for the title, even though the champ opened as a favorite on the betting lines, that challenger was still considered to have a chance at winning by many people. Jorgensen credits the loss to an abandoned strategy and vows he learned from the mistake.

“You know I actually didn’t even follow my game plan” Jorgensen admitted. “I followed it through the first round; it was a much better round for me. I took him down twice, briefly. I jumped for his neck, I jumped for his back and tried a rear-naked (choke) and stuff that I wouldn’t do now. The thing that I really fell away from there was I honestly thought that I would catch him and by the end of the first round about a minute into it my coaches were yelling at me, ‘You got to finish it, you got to do something.’ That’s when it kind of sunk in, ‘Oh (expletive), I’m out of time.’ I didn’t fight that fight with the same mentality that I’ve fought with in the past or wrestled with. The work will get you a long way. I expected the win to come by some knockout or submission and I can’t fight like that, nobody can fight like that and be successful. You go out there and out-work, I was out working Ken Stone and was lucky and knocked him out. The plan from here on out for Scott Jorgensen is fight hard at my pace and push and be in there face and mix it up.”

Assisting Jorgensen in preparing for Barao were the combatants at Combat Fitness in Boise, Idaho.

Jorgensen contemplated using various training partners from outside gyms, but he has assembled a formidable team at Combat Fitness. The crew consists of a former Bellator champion; a TUF 14 cast member, and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor from Rio de Janeiro. Although, they all help Jorgensen improve in specific areas, there is one thing he is better at than anybody in the gym or his weight-class.

“I’ve got a good group of guys and I am getting better,” Jorgensen said. “I have a jiu-jitsu coach coming up from Rio, Diego Moraes. I met Johnny Bedford after the TUF show; at The Ultimate Fighter (14) finale I met him. He came up and did some training with Joe Warren and I. I’ve got a group of guys around me that push me, but the nice thing is that I got guys in every area of my gym that are better than me in some aspects at something. The one thing that nobody can keep up with is my conditioning, it is better than anybody that I will ever fight and it doesn’t matter if I do get tired because you will never know. I know that if I’m tired you are two-times tired than me and not able to function. I think that goes a long way in combat sports. I get my training with other fighters of course that are in the UFC, Bellator, things like that. But, I think just having an open mind and working my butt off is going to get me where I need to be.”

Where Jorgensen wants to be is in the title picture.

Cruz and Urijah Faber are set to meet in a title affair following The Ultimate Fighter 15, a show they will be opposing coaches on. Jorgensen’s definitive goal is attaining the UFC bantamweight championship, and it makes no difference to him whether it’s Faber or Cruz he competes against for it. However, challenging the current belt-holder would be like killing two birds with one stone.

“It really doesn’t matter,” Jorgensen said. “Whoever is holding that belt, I want to go through. I do however want to fight Dominick (Cruz) again. It’d be sweet for the belt, but if Faber ends up beating him, whatever. I don’t care who’s got the belt, but I’d like to rematch Dominick down the road.”

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