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UFC vet Chael Sonnen suspended two years for failed drug tests
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today handed down a two-year suspension and other punishments to now-retired UFC fighter Chael Sonnen following a pair of failed UFC 175 drug tests.
At a hearing today in Las Vegas, Sonnen (28-14-1 MMA, 7-6 UFC) admitted his guilt and said he agreed with the commission’s punishment, which also includes paying the cost and analysis of the drug tests that ensnared him, agreeing not to fight in any other jurisdiction for his two-year term, and acting as an educator to both the commission and fellow fighters on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs.
The commission voted unanimously after a short deliberation on Sonnen’s case. Although the fighter could’ve been forced to pay $250,000, commissioners opted against a monetary fine.
NSAC commissioner Anthony A. Marnell III, a former minor league baseball player, took a hard line on the issue, suggesting the fighter should receive a lifetime ban in the state. However, commissioners Raymond “Skip” Avansino and Pat Lundvall suggested a shorter term and countered that Sonnen should be used as a resource for stamping out future PED use.
“Today is the day for him to take responsibility for cheating,” NSAC chair Francisco Aguilar said. “It’s not a time to hide behind false excuses. I think a great penalty is warranted here for the sake of a clean sport.”
Sonnen was flagged for a total of five PEDs prior to a scheduled fight with Vitor Belfort at the July 5 pay-per-view event: anastrozole, clomifene, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human growth hormone (HGH) and recombinant human erythropoietin. The first failed test prompted the UFC to pull him from the fight, after which he publicly retired from the sport on June 11. The second positive test, which revealed the presence of noted PEDs HGH and EPO, triggered the termination of his relationship with the UFC and FOX, where he served as a host of FOX Sports 1′s “UFC Tonight.”
Nevada Deputy Attorney General Christopher Eccles represented the NSAC today in its amended complaint against Sonnen. The commission also heard from NSAC medical consultant Dr. Timothy Trainor and anti-doping expert Dr. Daniel Eichner before rendering their decision.
Sonnen’s legal rep and co-manger, Jeff Myer, restated a response to the commission’s complaint by saying the fighter did not dispute any of the findings against him. He again asked the commission to consider Sonnen’s cooperation during the drug tests and subsequent fallout.
While testifying before the commission, a grave Sonnen said, “I don’t want to say anything that comes off as an excuse (for the positive tests), because I’m guilty. I’m ashamed.”
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today handed down a two-year suspension and other punishments to now-retired UFC fighter Chael Sonnen following a pair of failed UFC 175 drug tests.
At a hearing today in Las Vegas, Sonnen (28-14-1 MMA, 7-6 UFC) admitted his guilt and said he agreed with the commission’s punishment, which also includes paying the cost and analysis of the drug tests that ensnared him, agreeing not to fight in any other jurisdiction for his two-year term, and acting as an educator to both the commission and fellow fighters on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs.
The commission voted unanimously after a short deliberation on Sonnen’s case. Although the fighter could’ve been forced to pay $250,000, commissioners opted against a monetary fine.
NSAC commissioner Anthony A. Marnell III, a former minor league baseball player, took a hard line on the issue, suggesting the fighter should receive a lifetime ban in the state. However, commissioners Raymond “Skip” Avansino and Pat Lundvall suggested a shorter term and countered that Sonnen should be used as a resource for stamping out future PED use.
“Today is the day for him to take responsibility for cheating,” NSAC chair Francisco Aguilar said. “It’s not a time to hide behind false excuses. I think a great penalty is warranted here for the sake of a clean sport.”
Sonnen was flagged for a total of five PEDs prior to a scheduled fight with Vitor Belfort at the July 5 pay-per-view event: anastrozole, clomifene, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human growth hormone (HGH) and recombinant human erythropoietin. The first failed test prompted the UFC to pull him from the fight, after which he publicly retired from the sport on June 11. The second positive test, which revealed the presence of noted PEDs HGH and EPO, triggered the termination of his relationship with the UFC and FOX, where he served as a host of FOX Sports 1′s “UFC Tonight.”
Nevada Deputy Attorney General Christopher Eccles represented the NSAC today in its amended complaint against Sonnen. The commission also heard from NSAC medical consultant Dr. Timothy Trainor and anti-doping expert Dr. Daniel Eichner before rendering their decision.
Sonnen’s legal rep and co-manger, Jeff Myer, restated a response to the commission’s complaint by saying the fighter did not dispute any of the findings against him. He again asked the commission to consider Sonnen’s cooperation during the drug tests and subsequent fallout.
While testifying before the commission, a grave Sonnen said, “I don’t want to say anything that comes off as an excuse (for the positive tests), because I’m guilty. I’m ashamed.”
Jon Jones to Daniel Cormier: I hope you're ready to come to daddy
Well, it looks like round 1 of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier is already in the books, and it’s the champion who laid out the first assault.
Of course, Cormier was quick to offer a retort – or at least an attempted retort.
Cormier was today announced as a replacement opponent for an injured Alexander Gustafsson, and “DC” will now meet Jones at September’s UFC 178 event. Just moments after the bout was made official, Jones reportedly sent Cormier a direct message via Twitter. The note contained a very clear message.
“I hope you’re ready to come to daddy,” Jones allegedly wrote.
A Cormier representative insisted the message was indeed genuine. Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Cormier first mentioned the message during an interview on Wednesday’s new edition of “UFC Tonight.” Shortly after, Cormier took to Instagram to post a public reply, as well as a request to help get his response delivered to the champ.
“Guys how do you respond to someone on Twitter that doesn’t follow you?” Cormier asked. “I need this message to get to J @jon nybones I didn’t think I followed him , he knows something we don’t. He just randomly sent me this lol. #newchamp.”
Cormier’s message? A simple one.
“I am,” Cormier wrote. “I’m gonna f–k you up.”
Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) and Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will headline UFC 178 on Sept. 27 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Today’s barbs are likely just the beginning of a very vocal buildup to the contest.
Well, it looks like round 1 of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier is already in the books, and it’s the champion who laid out the first assault.
Of course, Cormier was quick to offer a retort – or at least an attempted retort.
Cormier was today announced as a replacement opponent for an injured Alexander Gustafsson, and “DC” will now meet Jones at September’s UFC 178 event. Just moments after the bout was made official, Jones reportedly sent Cormier a direct message via Twitter. The note contained a very clear message.
“I hope you’re ready to come to daddy,” Jones allegedly wrote.
A Cormier representative insisted the message was indeed genuine. Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Cormier first mentioned the message during an interview on Wednesday’s new edition of “UFC Tonight.” Shortly after, Cormier took to Instagram to post a public reply, as well as a request to help get his response delivered to the champ.
“Guys how do you respond to someone on Twitter that doesn’t follow you?” Cormier asked. “I need this message to get to J @jon nybones I didn’t think I followed him , he knows something we don’t. He just randomly sent me this lol. #newchamp.”
Cormier’s message? A simple one.
“I am,” Cormier wrote. “I’m gonna f–k you up.”
Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) and Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will headline UFC 178 on Sept. 27 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Today’s barbs are likely just the beginning of a very vocal buildup to the contest.
Vitor Belfort receives conditional license to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 181
A sometimes-emotional Vitor Belfort today asked for a license to fight in a championship bout on Dec. 6 at UFC 181, and barring a few requirements, the veteran fighter will get his wish.
Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) and lawyer Michael Alonso today made their request in person at a Nevada State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas, which the UFC streamed live on its UFC Fight Pass digital network.
The commission voted unanimously to give a conditional license to Belfort, who’s been on the sidelines since a failed drug test in February.
Alonso told the commission that Belfort met with UFC officials on Tuesday and was told he’ll fight UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at UFC 181, which airs on pay-per-view from Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center. Following Belfort’s hearing, the UFC confirmed plans for the title fight and officially announced the bout.
As part of the licensing, Belfort can’t fight anywhere before December, and he can be forced to undergo any form of drug test – at his own expense – by any commissioner at any time before the title fight.
“I know like the UFC is my authority, you’re my authority,” Belfort said. ” … I’ll fully collaborate with you.”
Belfort, a former user of testosterone-replacement therapy, underwent an NSAC drug test on Feb. 7 while in Las Vegas for the World MMA Awards. The test results were never released, but Belfort was scratched from a planned UFC 173 title fight with Weidman shortly afterward, citing a need for more time to ween off TRT, which the NSAC banned a few weeks after Belfort’s test.
Belfort later admitted he failed the test due to a spike in his testosterone levels. Despite the failure, he was then tapped to replace Wanderlei Silva at UFC 175, contingent on his ability to get a license for the July 3 event. However, when would-be opponent Chael Sonnen also failed a pair of tests, Belfort, was scratched from the card, and his meeting with the NSAC was put off until today.
The 37-year-old said he received a doctor-administered injection as part of his TRT treatment a day before the failed test on Feb. 7. Belfort said he usually received two injections per week as part of his treatment, but with the trip to Las Vegas, he took one larger dose, his lawyer said.
“I take responsibility for that,” Belfort said.
Although the NSAC’s line of questions was polite, multiple commissioners voiced their concern about Belfort’s past.
“I don’t want to be embarrassed, and I know the commission doesn’t either,” commissioner Anthony Marnell III said.
Perhaps surprisingly, Belfort and the commission didn’t discuss his failed drug test (anabolic steroid) at a 2006 PRIDE event. That event took place in Las Vegas. They also didn’t ask him about how he’s managed his post-TRT transition.
With the Weidman vs. Belfort announcement, it’s not clear if a planned UFC 181 title fight between lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and challenger Gilbert Melendez (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will be shifted to a different card.
A sometimes-emotional Vitor Belfort today asked for a license to fight in a championship bout on Dec. 6 at UFC 181, and barring a few requirements, the veteran fighter will get his wish.
Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) and lawyer Michael Alonso today made their request in person at a Nevada State Athletic Commission in Las Vegas, which the UFC streamed live on its UFC Fight Pass digital network.
The commission voted unanimously to give a conditional license to Belfort, who’s been on the sidelines since a failed drug test in February.
Alonso told the commission that Belfort met with UFC officials on Tuesday and was told he’ll fight UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at UFC 181, which airs on pay-per-view from Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center. Following Belfort’s hearing, the UFC confirmed plans for the title fight and officially announced the bout.
As part of the licensing, Belfort can’t fight anywhere before December, and he can be forced to undergo any form of drug test – at his own expense – by any commissioner at any time before the title fight.
“I know like the UFC is my authority, you’re my authority,” Belfort said. ” … I’ll fully collaborate with you.”
Belfort, a former user of testosterone-replacement therapy, underwent an NSAC drug test on Feb. 7 while in Las Vegas for the World MMA Awards. The test results were never released, but Belfort was scratched from a planned UFC 173 title fight with Weidman shortly afterward, citing a need for more time to ween off TRT, which the NSAC banned a few weeks after Belfort’s test.
Belfort later admitted he failed the test due to a spike in his testosterone levels. Despite the failure, he was then tapped to replace Wanderlei Silva at UFC 175, contingent on his ability to get a license for the July 3 event. However, when would-be opponent Chael Sonnen also failed a pair of tests, Belfort, was scratched from the card, and his meeting with the NSAC was put off until today.
The 37-year-old said he received a doctor-administered injection as part of his TRT treatment a day before the failed test on Feb. 7. Belfort said he usually received two injections per week as part of his treatment, but with the trip to Las Vegas, he took one larger dose, his lawyer said.
“I take responsibility for that,” Belfort said.
Although the NSAC’s line of questions was polite, multiple commissioners voiced their concern about Belfort’s past.
“I don’t want to be embarrassed, and I know the commission doesn’t either,” commissioner Anthony Marnell III said.
Perhaps surprisingly, Belfort and the commission didn’t discuss his failed drug test (anabolic steroid) at a 2006 PRIDE event. That event took place in Las Vegas. They also didn’t ask him about how he’s managed his post-TRT transition.
With the Weidman vs. Belfort announcement, it’s not clear if a planned UFC 181 title fight between lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and challenger Gilbert Melendez (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will be shifted to a different card.
Phil Baroni predicts return to form, early knockout of Karo Parisyan at Bellator 122
LOL, I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THESE GUYS WERE STILL FIGHTING! LET ALONE, EACH OTHER!
Phil Baroni‘s MMA career has been a wild ride, to say the least. This Friday, he’ll turn another chapter in his storied run as a professional fighter when he makes his debut for Bellator MMA.
“The New York Bad Ass” has experienced it all during a career that dates back to 2000. He has fought for essentially every major organization such as UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce, EliteXC, DREAM and ONE FC. One platform he’s yet to showcase his talents on, though, is the Viacom-owned Bellator promotion.
Baroni has not competed since he suffered a nasty broken fibula in a first-round loss to Nobutatsu Suzuki this past May. The injury has kept him out of action for more than a year, his longest break since 2009.
An extended layoff for a veteran of Baroni’s stature may seem like a disservice to his career, but the 38-year-old is actually grateful because he was forced to sit down and reassess his goals.
The most prominent goal on Baroni’s (15-17 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) list is simple: win his next fight. That comes against Karo Parisyan (23-10 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) on the main card of Bellator 122 this Friday from Temecula’s Pechanga Resort and Casino. The event airs on Spike TV following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Parisyan, like Baroni, is a well-traveled veteran who is looking to revive his career under the Bellator banner. He is eager to produce winning results, and that’s exactly why Baroni believes this is the perfect fight at this point in his career.
“I’m a prototypical MMA fighter where Karo is totally unorthodox,” Baroni told MMAjunkie Radio. “I think I can hold my own with him, I don’t plan on getting thrown on my head. … I’m going to bring it, definitely.
“I respect Karo, he’s a tough dude. When he brings his A-game, he’s a tough out and he’s an exciting fighter.”
With just two victories in his past nine fights and a sub-.500 record for the first time in his career, it would be easy to look at Baroni and write him off as a mere journeyman with little left to offer.
He doesn’t look at it that way, though, and believes he is still capable of winning fights and giving the world’s best competitors all they can handle.
Whether that’s realistic or not still remains to be seen, but Baroni claims he has used the past year to train harder than ever and flourish his talents. Because of that, he’s highly confident going into what is his most high-profile bout since he was released from the UFC in early 2011.
“I plan on winning,” Baroni said. “I’m coming to win, I plan on winning. I’m going to try and knock him out, I’m looking to hit him hard and separate him from consciousness. He’s going to look to throw me on my head and maybe armbar or kimura me. We’re as opposite as you can get. The one thing we have in common is we’re both tough guys. We both come to fight.”
Baroni has always carried himself highly outside of the cage, even if he’s struggled hard to get the job done inside of it. His string of defeats is certainly unflattering, but the American has kept a positive attitude through his downfalls and says a standout performance on Friday will quickly change the perception of his place in MMA.
“I’m going to knock him out,” Baroni boldly predicted. “I’m going to go out there, I’m not going to let him take me down, I’m going to be first and hit him hard. I’m bigger, I’m stronger and I’m faster. I hit harder and I’m going to make him pay for getting in there with me. I’m going to knock him out and stop him early.
“The truth comes out in the ring. You can’t hide. I can say whatever I want right now. This is the best I’ve ever felt in my life, greatest shape of my life – we’ll find out on the 25th.”
LOL, I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THESE GUYS WERE STILL FIGHTING! LET ALONE, EACH OTHER!
Phil Baroni‘s MMA career has been a wild ride, to say the least. This Friday, he’ll turn another chapter in his storied run as a professional fighter when he makes his debut for Bellator MMA.
“The New York Bad Ass” has experienced it all during a career that dates back to 2000. He has fought for essentially every major organization such as UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce, EliteXC, DREAM and ONE FC. One platform he’s yet to showcase his talents on, though, is the Viacom-owned Bellator promotion.
Baroni has not competed since he suffered a nasty broken fibula in a first-round loss to Nobutatsu Suzuki this past May. The injury has kept him out of action for more than a year, his longest break since 2009.
An extended layoff for a veteran of Baroni’s stature may seem like a disservice to his career, but the 38-year-old is actually grateful because he was forced to sit down and reassess his goals.
The most prominent goal on Baroni’s (15-17 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) list is simple: win his next fight. That comes against Karo Parisyan (23-10 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) on the main card of Bellator 122 this Friday from Temecula’s Pechanga Resort and Casino. The event airs on Spike TV following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Parisyan, like Baroni, is a well-traveled veteran who is looking to revive his career under the Bellator banner. He is eager to produce winning results, and that’s exactly why Baroni believes this is the perfect fight at this point in his career.
“I’m a prototypical MMA fighter where Karo is totally unorthodox,” Baroni told MMAjunkie Radio. “I think I can hold my own with him, I don’t plan on getting thrown on my head. … I’m going to bring it, definitely.
“I respect Karo, he’s a tough dude. When he brings his A-game, he’s a tough out and he’s an exciting fighter.”
With just two victories in his past nine fights and a sub-.500 record for the first time in his career, it would be easy to look at Baroni and write him off as a mere journeyman with little left to offer.
He doesn’t look at it that way, though, and believes he is still capable of winning fights and giving the world’s best competitors all they can handle.
Whether that’s realistic or not still remains to be seen, but Baroni claims he has used the past year to train harder than ever and flourish his talents. Because of that, he’s highly confident going into what is his most high-profile bout since he was released from the UFC in early 2011.
“I plan on winning,” Baroni said. “I’m coming to win, I plan on winning. I’m going to try and knock him out, I’m looking to hit him hard and separate him from consciousness. He’s going to look to throw me on my head and maybe armbar or kimura me. We’re as opposite as you can get. The one thing we have in common is we’re both tough guys. We both come to fight.”
Baroni has always carried himself highly outside of the cage, even if he’s struggled hard to get the job done inside of it. His string of defeats is certainly unflattering, but the American has kept a positive attitude through his downfalls and says a standout performance on Friday will quickly change the perception of his place in MMA.
“I’m going to knock him out,” Baroni boldly predicted. “I’m going to go out there, I’m not going to let him take me down, I’m going to be first and hit him hard. I’m bigger, I’m stronger and I’m faster. I hit harder and I’m going to make him pay for getting in there with me. I’m going to knock him out and stop him early.
“The truth comes out in the ring. You can’t hide. I can say whatever I want right now. This is the best I’ve ever felt in my life, greatest shape of my life – we’ll find out on the 25th.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov out six months with torn meniscus
A knee injury that scratched UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) from a UFC 178 bout with Donald Cerrone (24-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) was revealed to be a torn right meniscus, his co-manager today told MMAjunkie.
Mike Constantino said the Dagestani fighter will require surgery for the injury and is likely to be out a minimum of six months, meaning Nurmagomedov is looking for a January 2015 return, though his timetable could improve depending on the quality of his rehabilitation.
“I was hoping that he didn’t require surgery and it was just a bump and a bruise, but it turned out to be meniscus, so I’m a little bit disappointed to hear it was that severe,” Constantino said. “But you can’t jerk around with it. You’ve got to get it done.”
UFC President Dana White first revealed the injury during a media scrum for this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin. He said the fight between Nurmagomedov and the surging Cerrone had just been signed for the Sept. 27 pay-per-view card when Nurmagomedov injured his knee. The promotion elected to book another fight rather than wait on his prognosis.
Constantino said Nurmagomedov was training in his native Dagestan when the injury took place; the coach was unaware of exactly what happened in the gym. The fighter traveled to Moscow to see the doctor who officially diagnosed him and is now back at home.
To Constantino’s knowledge, it’s the first serious knee injury Nurmagomedov has suffered in his professional career. The 25-year-old ligthtweight has quietly racked up a six-fight win streak in the UFC, most recently outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in April at UFC on FOX 11. And yet, he has struggled to find willing opponents, according to White.
Cerrone distinguished himself by volunteering to fight Nurmagomedov, but now awaits a new challenge as he builds momentum following a head-kick knockout of Jim Miller at this past Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 45.
A knee injury that scratched UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) from a UFC 178 bout with Donald Cerrone (24-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) was revealed to be a torn right meniscus, his co-manager today told MMAjunkie.
Mike Constantino said the Dagestani fighter will require surgery for the injury and is likely to be out a minimum of six months, meaning Nurmagomedov is looking for a January 2015 return, though his timetable could improve depending on the quality of his rehabilitation.
“I was hoping that he didn’t require surgery and it was just a bump and a bruise, but it turned out to be meniscus, so I’m a little bit disappointed to hear it was that severe,” Constantino said. “But you can’t jerk around with it. You’ve got to get it done.”
UFC President Dana White first revealed the injury during a media scrum for this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin. He said the fight between Nurmagomedov and the surging Cerrone had just been signed for the Sept. 27 pay-per-view card when Nurmagomedov injured his knee. The promotion elected to book another fight rather than wait on his prognosis.
Constantino said Nurmagomedov was training in his native Dagestan when the injury took place; the coach was unaware of exactly what happened in the gym. The fighter traveled to Moscow to see the doctor who officially diagnosed him and is now back at home.
To Constantino’s knowledge, it’s the first serious knee injury Nurmagomedov has suffered in his professional career. The 25-year-old ligthtweight has quietly racked up a six-fight win streak in the UFC, most recently outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in April at UFC on FOX 11. And yet, he has struggled to find willing opponents, according to White.
Cerrone distinguished himself by volunteering to fight Nurmagomedov, but now awaits a new challenge as he builds momentum following a head-kick knockout of Jim Miller at this past Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 45.
After opting against own MMA career, 'The Rock' predicts title for Anthony Johnson
Dwayne Johnson once considered giving MMA a try, and he remains a staunch UFC supporter. He even has a big prediction for the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
“UFC 360,” the promotion’s official magazine, recently caught up with “The Rock,” a frequent cageside presence at UFC events. The celebrity MMA fan said that growing up in Hawaii helped turned him on to the sport, and he even (briefly) considered lacing up the gloves.
“I used to hear that voice a few years back, then I remembered I don’t like getting punched in the face,” he told the magazine. “Kidding aside, I have boundless respect for MMA and the discipline it takes to become a champion. The best way I can honor the warriors is through my support.”
dwayne-johnson-ufc-magazineJohnson, who recently shared the big screen with Strikeforce vet (and potential upcoming UFC signee) Gina Carano on “Fast & Furious 6″ and UFC champ Ronda Rousey on “Fast & Furious 7,” said his MMA fandom really took off in 2006, when he sat cageside with the Gracie family while UFC welterweight champ Matt Hughes met UFC trailblazer Royce Gracie in a non-title bout.
Since then, he’s seen fellow WWE star Brock Lesnar make a short but memorable UFC title run, and the big men still continue to garner his attention. In fact, he expects big things for Anthony Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), who co-headlines Saturday’s UFC on FOX 12 event against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC).
“I always have my eyes on the champions, specifically the heavyweight and light heavyweight champs,” he said. “Cain Velasquez is an animal with the type of heart and conditioning that makes me want to run through a wall at 3 a.m. and do my cardio and training. My buddy Jon Jones is a very special fighter who bridges fighting and artistry like no one ever before has. They’re both incredibly inspiring champions who are needle movers in the world of MMA.
“And I bet 2015 will be the year of Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, a bad dude. When he becomes champion, I’m gonna have to claim him as my cousin!”
Dwayne Johnson once considered giving MMA a try, and he remains a staunch UFC supporter. He even has a big prediction for the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
“UFC 360,” the promotion’s official magazine, recently caught up with “The Rock,” a frequent cageside presence at UFC events. The celebrity MMA fan said that growing up in Hawaii helped turned him on to the sport, and he even (briefly) considered lacing up the gloves.
“I used to hear that voice a few years back, then I remembered I don’t like getting punched in the face,” he told the magazine. “Kidding aside, I have boundless respect for MMA and the discipline it takes to become a champion. The best way I can honor the warriors is through my support.”
dwayne-johnson-ufc-magazineJohnson, who recently shared the big screen with Strikeforce vet (and potential upcoming UFC signee) Gina Carano on “Fast & Furious 6″ and UFC champ Ronda Rousey on “Fast & Furious 7,” said his MMA fandom really took off in 2006, when he sat cageside with the Gracie family while UFC welterweight champ Matt Hughes met UFC trailblazer Royce Gracie in a non-title bout.
Since then, he’s seen fellow WWE star Brock Lesnar make a short but memorable UFC title run, and the big men still continue to garner his attention. In fact, he expects big things for Anthony Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), who co-headlines Saturday’s UFC on FOX 12 event against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC).
“I always have my eyes on the champions, specifically the heavyweight and light heavyweight champs,” he said. “Cain Velasquez is an animal with the type of heart and conditioning that makes me want to run through a wall at 3 a.m. and do my cardio and training. My buddy Jon Jones is a very special fighter who bridges fighting and artistry like no one ever before has. They’re both incredibly inspiring champions who are needle movers in the world of MMA.
“And I bet 2015 will be the year of Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, a bad dude. When he becomes champion, I’m gonna have to claim him as my cousin!”
Joe Riggs replaces Mike Rhodes at UFC Fight Night 51 in Brasilia
HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DIESEL, HELL, I DIDNT EVEN KNOW BELLATOR DIDNT RE-SIGN HIM AFTER HE WON FIGHT MASTER.
MMA vet and recent Bellator MMA “Fight Master” reality-show winner Joe Riggs is reportedly heading back to the UFC.
Riggs (40-14 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has replaced injured Mike Rhodes (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and will meet welterweight Paulo Thiago (15-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 51.
The change was first reported by Combate.com. MMAjunkie could not immediately reach UFC officials for confirmation, and the organization hasn’t made a formal announcement.
UFC Fight Night 51, which features a headlining rematch between heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva, takes place Sept. 13 at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil. The entire event streams on UFC Fight Pass.
Riggs, who’s racked up 55 pro fights in 13 years despite being just 31 years old, returns to the UFC for the first time since 2006. He carries with him a six-fight winning streak, which included a recent Bellator 106 win over Mike Bronzoulis to win the first season of “Fight Master.” A veteran of organizations such as the UFC, Bellator, WEC and Strikeforce, he owns 36 stoppages (20 knockouts and 16 submissions) in 40 career wins.
“Diesel” meets a fighter in desperate need of a victory. Thiago, a 33-year-old Brazilian who fights in his home country for the fourth consecutive time, has lost two straight and four of his past five, all in the UFC. Overall, he’s just 2-6 since some early UFC success against the likes of Josh Koscheck and Mike Swick.
The latest UFC Fight Night 51 card now includes:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva
Lukasz Sajewski vs. Leonardo Santos
Sergio Moraes vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Joe Riggs vs. Paulo Thiago
Igor Araujo vs. George Sullivan
Jessica Andrade vs. Valerie Letourneau
Efrain Escudero vs. Francisco Trinaldo
HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DIESEL, HELL, I DIDNT EVEN KNOW BELLATOR DIDNT RE-SIGN HIM AFTER HE WON FIGHT MASTER.
MMA vet and recent Bellator MMA “Fight Master” reality-show winner Joe Riggs is reportedly heading back to the UFC.
Riggs (40-14 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has replaced injured Mike Rhodes (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and will meet welterweight Paulo Thiago (15-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 51.
The change was first reported by Combate.com. MMAjunkie could not immediately reach UFC officials for confirmation, and the organization hasn’t made a formal announcement.
UFC Fight Night 51, which features a headlining rematch between heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva, takes place Sept. 13 at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil. The entire event streams on UFC Fight Pass.
Riggs, who’s racked up 55 pro fights in 13 years despite being just 31 years old, returns to the UFC for the first time since 2006. He carries with him a six-fight winning streak, which included a recent Bellator 106 win over Mike Bronzoulis to win the first season of “Fight Master.” A veteran of organizations such as the UFC, Bellator, WEC and Strikeforce, he owns 36 stoppages (20 knockouts and 16 submissions) in 40 career wins.
“Diesel” meets a fighter in desperate need of a victory. Thiago, a 33-year-old Brazilian who fights in his home country for the fourth consecutive time, has lost two straight and four of his past five, all in the UFC. Overall, he’s just 2-6 since some early UFC success against the likes of Josh Koscheck and Mike Swick.
The latest UFC Fight Night 51 card now includes:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva
Lukasz Sajewski vs. Leonardo Santos
Sergio Moraes vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Joe Riggs vs. Paulo Thiago
Igor Araujo vs. George Sullivan
Jessica Andrade vs. Valerie Letourneau
Efrain Escudero vs. Francisco Trinaldo
That was a cool video.
I've never been in a fight with a top grappler or even sparred with one, and forgive me for not knowing the names of anything, I would either put them in a full guard until I could control their upper body with my arms or I'd put my feet on their hips. He was saying the video the dudes were just getting up immediately in the UFC and granted they are way more experienced than anyone that's ever taken me down, but in that situation I found it pretty easy to kick their weight back by using my feet on their hips or on their thighs as they tried that and they lost all their footing and we were back to square one and I could put them right back in full guard, often times with even more control than I had before. Do you think that would work in the UFC or are dudes just too experienced for that crap? I would think someone would figure that out pretty quickly but in a real world application, it's worked for me since I haven't been attacked by a top notch grappler.
I've never been in a fight with a top grappler or even sparred with one, and forgive me for not knowing the names of anything, I would either put them in a full guard until I could control their upper body with my arms or I'd put my feet on their hips. He was saying the video the dudes were just getting up immediately in the UFC and granted they are way more experienced than anyone that's ever taken me down, but in that situation I found it pretty easy to kick their weight back by using my feet on their hips or on their thighs as they tried that and they lost all their footing and we were back to square one and I could put them right back in full guard, often times with even more control than I had before. Do you think that would work in the UFC or are dudes just too experienced for that crap? I would think someone would figure that out pretty quickly but in a real world application, it's worked for me since I haven't been attacked by a top notch grappler.
Alexander Gustafsson discusses knee injury, recovery timetable, Jones-Cormier pick
The bad news is the knee injury that forced Alexander Gustafsson out of a UFC 178 title fight. The good news is that he’s looking at a relatively short recovery time.
According to Gustafsson, he tore the meniscus in his right knee while sparring earlier in the week.
“I was sparring and I felt my knee pop twice, but it didn’t hurt. It just felt strange,” he told UFC.com. “I finished training and came home, and then I woke up the next morning and I could barely walk on my right leg. Then I felt the knee right away.”
According to the report, Gustafsson will undergo surgery and expects a recovery time of just five to six weeks.
Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who narrowly lost a September 2013 title fight to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC), was slotted to get his rematch at UFC 178, which takes place Sept. 27 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. However, following Gustafsson’s injury, Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was named the pay-per-view fill-in.
Jones is currently ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. Cormier, who’s ranked No. 3, replaces No. 2 Gustafsson.
Gustafsson told UFC.com he still wants to fight Jones, and he thinks he’ll have the opportunity after UFC 178.
“It’s an interesting matchup,” he said of Jones vs. Cormier. “Both are great athletes, and it’s going to be a tough fight for sure. But Jones has his height and reach advantage over ‘DC,’ so I think that will be the key thing in this fight. I think Jones by decision.”
The bad news is the knee injury that forced Alexander Gustafsson out of a UFC 178 title fight. The good news is that he’s looking at a relatively short recovery time.
According to Gustafsson, he tore the meniscus in his right knee while sparring earlier in the week.
“I was sparring and I felt my knee pop twice, but it didn’t hurt. It just felt strange,” he told UFC.com. “I finished training and came home, and then I woke up the next morning and I could barely walk on my right leg. Then I felt the knee right away.”
According to the report, Gustafsson will undergo surgery and expects a recovery time of just five to six weeks.
Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who narrowly lost a September 2013 title fight to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC), was slotted to get his rematch at UFC 178, which takes place Sept. 27 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. However, following Gustafsson’s injury, Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was named the pay-per-view fill-in.
Jones is currently ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. Cormier, who’s ranked No. 3, replaces No. 2 Gustafsson.
Gustafsson told UFC.com he still wants to fight Jones, and he thinks he’ll have the opportunity after UFC 178.
“It’s an interesting matchup,” he said of Jones vs. Cormier. “Both are great athletes, and it’s going to be a tough fight for sure. But Jones has his height and reach advantage over ‘DC,’ so I think that will be the key thing in this fight. I think Jones by decision.”
10 reasons to watch UFC on FOX 12 (don't be surprised two are the main event)
It’s been more than a year since the UFC touched down in San Jose, and on Saturday, the promotion arguably is bringing its most exciting headliner since big FOX jumped into the octagon in late 2011.
You could say past headliners brought equally intriguing matchups of skill, but none of them promise the violence so ingrained in the fighting styles of welterweights Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, who top the network-televised UFC on FOX 12 event on Saturday.
It’s a fine fight for the UFC’s return to NorCal. The most recent time the UFC touched down in San Jose, it was in April 2013 for UFC on FOX 7, and the arena was still known as HP Pavilion, a symbol among hardcore MMA fans as the home of Strikeforce. By then, the promotion had been shuttered for four months.
Previously, San Jose hosted UFC on FUEL TV 4, which featured a headliner between Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman. Three days later, another pair of top-flight middleweights clashed when Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy headlined a Strikeforce event about 600 miles north in Portland, Ore., in one of the most dismally received MMA events in history.
Now, Weidman is champ, Rockhold and Kennedy battle to get into the title picture, and the sign on the front of San Jose’s big arena reads SAP Center – a nod to the German software company that purchased the naming rights this past year.
One year passes in the blink of an eye in MMA. On the eve of the UFC’s third network-televised show of 2014, here are 10 reasons to watch UFC on FOX 12:
1. Hendricks’ first huckleberry
Welterweight champ Johny Hendricks can rest easy now as he recovers from a torn bicep, but his return promises a meeting with a monster. The winner of Saturday’s headliner between Lawler (23-10 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Brown (21-11 MMA, 12-5 UFC) will be waiting for him as the first contender to his newly won title, per the UFC. It’s pick your poison time – either a rematch with Lawler, who probably took years off Hendricks’ career with the amount of punishment he doled out (and took, to be fair) when they met for the vacant belt at March’s UFC 171 event, or a meeting with savage finisher Brown. Stylistically, the latter seems like a better option for the champ, but it’s going to a tough road any which way.
2. The aforementioned violence
matt-brown-erick-silva-ufc-fight-night-40These days, when everybody starts expecting 15 minutes of fistic glory from a fight, you have to wonder whether the combatants involved can live up to expectations. But if there were any two fighters who are just crazy enough to do it, Lawler and Brown would be the guys. They fight to finish, and to date, they haven’t switched things up for the sake of self-preservation. Of course, they’ve been giving out most of the beatings, judges and body shots notwithstanding, so that could change once they meet each other. The point is, they’re going to go in there and throw down. Can’t hardly wait.
3. Stay salty, San Jose
They might not be as loud as the Irish or the Brazilians, but San Jose is a fight town, and the fans know how to get down. The best way to get them riled up, of course, is to put a Shamrock (of the Frank variety) against a hometown hero such as Cung Le, a Gracie (any will do) or a Diaz brother. Lawler and Brown might not be NorCal soldiers, but the matchup just might be compelling enough to get people rowdy. And by the way, putting the show on a Saturday, rather than Wednesday, when people have to fight through traffic? Good idea.
4. No. 3 spot in light-heavyweight line
antonio-rogerio-nogueira-ufc-156With Alexander Gustafsson’s recent injury scratch from UFC 178, MMA fans are again forced to delay a sequel to his Fight of the Year candidate with champ Jon Jones. Now, Daniel Cormier moves in to fill the void as the No. 1 contender, and Gustafsson ostensibly moves back to the No. 2 spot.
Unchanged is the No. 3 spot, which could very well be taken by the winner of Saturday’s co-headliner between Anthony Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC). Johnson put the kibosh on Phil Davis’ title run in his return to the UFC after a two-year hiatus earlier this year. Nogueira’s beat former champ Rashad Evans in his most recent outing. They sit at No. 6 and No. 11, respectively, in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. On the UFC’s list, Johnson is No. 5. But really, he’s higher, as No. 3 Evans is benched due to a knee injury and No. 4 Glover Teixeira lost to Jones in April.
Nogueira has been sidelined for more than a year with injuries, which seem to be stacking up. This might be his last run at a title if he can survive Johnson, who seems to be on the fast track.
5. Bermudez’s title triangle
OK, so it’s not exactly a three-horse race at 145 pounds. There are plenty of featherweights to give their due when you look at the title picture. First, there’s Chad Mendes, who will get a second chance to win the title later this year. Then there’s Cub Swanson, who’s won six straight, and Frankie Edgar, who just beat B.J. Penn and is a perpetual contender in pretty much any class he chooses. Then there’s Dustin Poirier and Connor McGregor – how can you forget those two?
Stacked up against these contenders, Dennis Bermudez (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) looks like a longshot. But “The Ultimate Fighter 14″ finalist also owns six straight wins; if he beats Clay Guida (31-14 MMA, 11-8 UFC), it will be seven. That’s no small accomplishment, and a win over a perennial standout in Guida is just the kind of cred he needs to put himself in the No. 2 or No. 3 spot on the title ladder.
6. Do you want to be a f–king title contender?
Bobby GreenYou can’t blame lightweight Josh Thomson (20-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) for throwing his hands up at a decision loss to Benson Henderson in January. He fought pretty much with one arm for five rounds, only to see the judges award Henderson a highly dubious split call. It’s not surprising the former Strikeforce champ’s retirement didn’t stick, but coming into a fight with Bobby Green (22-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC), does he still have the fire to get back into title contention?
Thomson, who’s ranked No. 6 on USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, originally was slated to fight No. 15 Michael Johnson. It’s all downside if he can beat Green, who’s unranked on USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie’s list but No. 13 in the UFC’s rankings. At his best, Thomson is a world-beater who’s run into some tough luck. If that fighter shows up, this should be a showcase. If not, count this as the upset of the night.
7. Slick 155ers
Lightweights Jorge Masvidal (26-8 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Daron Cruickshank (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have yet to show they’re more than mid-card guys. But one thing they bring is that loose, creative striking that’s such a joy to watch. Masvidal, the veteran, is undoubtedly stoked to meet an opponent who will stand and trade after stifling Pat Healy in his most recent outing. Cruickshank, who just knocked out Erik Koch, might end up giving him a reason to shoot. Until then, it’s going to be a fun fight.
8. 205 rehab
patrick-cummins-ufc-fight-night-42Light heavyweight Kyle Kingsbury (11-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) was in semi-retirement after a shellacking at the hands of Jimi Manuwa in September 2012, which followed another drubbing at the hands of Glover Teixeira only four months earlier. Now, freshly married to former ring card girl Natasha Wicks, the “TUF 8″ vet is giving it another go against another guy trying to rehabilitate his career. Patrick Cummins (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) got served in his octagon debut against Daniel Cormier, but he managed to rebound in a follow-up against Roger Narvaez. With standout wrestling skills, Cummins is a tough challenge for Kingsbury’s return, and ring rust isn’t helping anything.
9. Another RFA champ transitions
Featherweight Brian Ortega (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is the latest import from RFA, which is now the unofficial pipeline for up-and-coming talent. Ortega is undefeated at 8-0 and has finished half of his fights by submission. He meets UFC second-timer Mike De La Torre (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who lost a short-notice fight to vet Mark Bocek in his octagon debut. De La Torre has rarely gone to the scorecards in his 16-fight pro career, so this one should produce a finish.
10. Super important
steven-siler-ufc-159Featherweight Steven Siler (23-12 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is in trouble after a 5-1 streak, including a stoppage of ex-WEC champ Mike Brown, gave way to back-to-back losses against Dennis Bermudez and Rony Jason.
The “TUF 14″ vet has shown promise, and now he needs to show he can survive in the UFC. A meeting with Noad Lahat (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who was viciously knocked out in his debut against Godofredo Castro, is his chance.
It’s been more than a year since the UFC touched down in San Jose, and on Saturday, the promotion arguably is bringing its most exciting headliner since big FOX jumped into the octagon in late 2011.
You could say past headliners brought equally intriguing matchups of skill, but none of them promise the violence so ingrained in the fighting styles of welterweights Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, who top the network-televised UFC on FOX 12 event on Saturday.
It’s a fine fight for the UFC’s return to NorCal. The most recent time the UFC touched down in San Jose, it was in April 2013 for UFC on FOX 7, and the arena was still known as HP Pavilion, a symbol among hardcore MMA fans as the home of Strikeforce. By then, the promotion had been shuttered for four months.
Previously, San Jose hosted UFC on FUEL TV 4, which featured a headliner between Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman. Three days later, another pair of top-flight middleweights clashed when Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy headlined a Strikeforce event about 600 miles north in Portland, Ore., in one of the most dismally received MMA events in history.
Now, Weidman is champ, Rockhold and Kennedy battle to get into the title picture, and the sign on the front of San Jose’s big arena reads SAP Center – a nod to the German software company that purchased the naming rights this past year.
One year passes in the blink of an eye in MMA. On the eve of the UFC’s third network-televised show of 2014, here are 10 reasons to watch UFC on FOX 12:
1. Hendricks’ first huckleberry
Welterweight champ Johny Hendricks can rest easy now as he recovers from a torn bicep, but his return promises a meeting with a monster. The winner of Saturday’s headliner between Lawler (23-10 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Brown (21-11 MMA, 12-5 UFC) will be waiting for him as the first contender to his newly won title, per the UFC. It’s pick your poison time – either a rematch with Lawler, who probably took years off Hendricks’ career with the amount of punishment he doled out (and took, to be fair) when they met for the vacant belt at March’s UFC 171 event, or a meeting with savage finisher Brown. Stylistically, the latter seems like a better option for the champ, but it’s going to a tough road any which way.
2. The aforementioned violence
matt-brown-erick-silva-ufc-fight-night-40These days, when everybody starts expecting 15 minutes of fistic glory from a fight, you have to wonder whether the combatants involved can live up to expectations. But if there were any two fighters who are just crazy enough to do it, Lawler and Brown would be the guys. They fight to finish, and to date, they haven’t switched things up for the sake of self-preservation. Of course, they’ve been giving out most of the beatings, judges and body shots notwithstanding, so that could change once they meet each other. The point is, they’re going to go in there and throw down. Can’t hardly wait.
3. Stay salty, San Jose
They might not be as loud as the Irish or the Brazilians, but San Jose is a fight town, and the fans know how to get down. The best way to get them riled up, of course, is to put a Shamrock (of the Frank variety) against a hometown hero such as Cung Le, a Gracie (any will do) or a Diaz brother. Lawler and Brown might not be NorCal soldiers, but the matchup just might be compelling enough to get people rowdy. And by the way, putting the show on a Saturday, rather than Wednesday, when people have to fight through traffic? Good idea.
4. No. 3 spot in light-heavyweight line
antonio-rogerio-nogueira-ufc-156With Alexander Gustafsson’s recent injury scratch from UFC 178, MMA fans are again forced to delay a sequel to his Fight of the Year candidate with champ Jon Jones. Now, Daniel Cormier moves in to fill the void as the No. 1 contender, and Gustafsson ostensibly moves back to the No. 2 spot.
Unchanged is the No. 3 spot, which could very well be taken by the winner of Saturday’s co-headliner between Anthony Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC). Johnson put the kibosh on Phil Davis’ title run in his return to the UFC after a two-year hiatus earlier this year. Nogueira’s beat former champ Rashad Evans in his most recent outing. They sit at No. 6 and No. 11, respectively, in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. On the UFC’s list, Johnson is No. 5. But really, he’s higher, as No. 3 Evans is benched due to a knee injury and No. 4 Glover Teixeira lost to Jones in April.
Nogueira has been sidelined for more than a year with injuries, which seem to be stacking up. This might be his last run at a title if he can survive Johnson, who seems to be on the fast track.
5. Bermudez’s title triangle
OK, so it’s not exactly a three-horse race at 145 pounds. There are plenty of featherweights to give their due when you look at the title picture. First, there’s Chad Mendes, who will get a second chance to win the title later this year. Then there’s Cub Swanson, who’s won six straight, and Frankie Edgar, who just beat B.J. Penn and is a perpetual contender in pretty much any class he chooses. Then there’s Dustin Poirier and Connor McGregor – how can you forget those two?
Stacked up against these contenders, Dennis Bermudez (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) looks like a longshot. But “The Ultimate Fighter 14″ finalist also owns six straight wins; if he beats Clay Guida (31-14 MMA, 11-8 UFC), it will be seven. That’s no small accomplishment, and a win over a perennial standout in Guida is just the kind of cred he needs to put himself in the No. 2 or No. 3 spot on the title ladder.
6. Do you want to be a f–king title contender?
Bobby GreenYou can’t blame lightweight Josh Thomson (20-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) for throwing his hands up at a decision loss to Benson Henderson in January. He fought pretty much with one arm for five rounds, only to see the judges award Henderson a highly dubious split call. It’s not surprising the former Strikeforce champ’s retirement didn’t stick, but coming into a fight with Bobby Green (22-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC), does he still have the fire to get back into title contention?
Thomson, who’s ranked No. 6 on USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, originally was slated to fight No. 15 Michael Johnson. It’s all downside if he can beat Green, who’s unranked on USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie’s list but No. 13 in the UFC’s rankings. At his best, Thomson is a world-beater who’s run into some tough luck. If that fighter shows up, this should be a showcase. If not, count this as the upset of the night.
7. Slick 155ers
Lightweights Jorge Masvidal (26-8 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Daron Cruickshank (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have yet to show they’re more than mid-card guys. But one thing they bring is that loose, creative striking that’s such a joy to watch. Masvidal, the veteran, is undoubtedly stoked to meet an opponent who will stand and trade after stifling Pat Healy in his most recent outing. Cruickshank, who just knocked out Erik Koch, might end up giving him a reason to shoot. Until then, it’s going to be a fun fight.
8. 205 rehab
patrick-cummins-ufc-fight-night-42Light heavyweight Kyle Kingsbury (11-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) was in semi-retirement after a shellacking at the hands of Jimi Manuwa in September 2012, which followed another drubbing at the hands of Glover Teixeira only four months earlier. Now, freshly married to former ring card girl Natasha Wicks, the “TUF 8″ vet is giving it another go against another guy trying to rehabilitate his career. Patrick Cummins (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) got served in his octagon debut against Daniel Cormier, but he managed to rebound in a follow-up against Roger Narvaez. With standout wrestling skills, Cummins is a tough challenge for Kingsbury’s return, and ring rust isn’t helping anything.
9. Another RFA champ transitions
Featherweight Brian Ortega (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is the latest import from RFA, which is now the unofficial pipeline for up-and-coming talent. Ortega is undefeated at 8-0 and has finished half of his fights by submission. He meets UFC second-timer Mike De La Torre (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who lost a short-notice fight to vet Mark Bocek in his octagon debut. De La Torre has rarely gone to the scorecards in his 16-fight pro career, so this one should produce a finish.
10. Super important
steven-siler-ufc-159Featherweight Steven Siler (23-12 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is in trouble after a 5-1 streak, including a stoppage of ex-WEC champ Mike Brown, gave way to back-to-back losses against Dennis Bermudez and Rony Jason.
The “TUF 14″ vet has shown promise, and now he needs to show he can survive in the UFC. A meeting with Noad Lahat (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who was viciously knocked out in his debut against Godofredo Castro, is his chance.
