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New WEC champ Jose Aldo says fulfilling life's dream just the beginning
LAS VEGAS – The main event of "WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo" was billed as speed vs. power.
Former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was supposed to out-muscle, outwork and out-grit the explosive challenger Jose Aldo (16-1 MMA, 6-0 WEC).
Only someone forgot to tell the 23-year-old Brazilian phenom.
"I did feel [Brown] was strong, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle," Aldo told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) through his interpreter and trainer, Gustavo Dantas, at Saturday's post-event press conference. "I just used my gameplan, and everything worked out the way I wanted."
Aldo is as quick to offer an understatement as he is a lighting-fast kick to the ribs.
The Nova Uniao-trained featherweight actually appeared a bit tentative in the bout's early going, and Aldo attacked more patiently than he has shown in his previous WEC contests. The first five minutes passed with both fighters winging heavy shots on the feet, though neither gained a definitive advantage.
That changed in the second.
Brown offered just a brief opening, but it was Aldo would need. The Brazilian swarmed with an attack so rapid even he wasn't sure exactly what had happened.
"It's kind of hard to say," Aldo said. "I don't even remember exactly what happened. I think at some point I started defending against the fence, and I jumped a knee or something. I think he fell or lost his balance.
"I just ran over. I went to the mount. I turned over and took his back and started hitting him from there."
The blows continued until referee Steve Mazzagatti was forced to halt the bout just 80 seconds into the second frame.
Aldo said he was pleased with the early stoppage but was prepared to fight all night.
"I always train for five rounds, but if there's a chance, I try to finish quicker," Aldo said. "Everything worked out the way I wanted, and I finished in the second round."
Aldo's swift striking has now earned him six stoppages in six trips to the WEC's cage. The finishing skills have earned Aldo comparisons to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but the new featherweight title holder said it's another legendary Brazilian striker from whom he draws inspiration.
"Anderson is an amazing athlete, but I started training my Muay Thai with Pedro Rizzo, and he always inspired me to do the same gameplan – just stand up and bang," Aldo said.
Just 23 years old, Aldo is already a champion. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt credited his Nova Uniao teammates for the win.
"Since the beginning, I believed," Aldo said. "I have a really good team, so I trusted my team and my training partners and my trainers. I knew that I could do it."
And already on top of the world less than 18 months after debuting for the WEC, Aldo promises there's more to come.
"This is just a result of the hard work since I started training," Aldo said. "This was my goal. We won't stop here. We'll just keep working."
LAS VEGAS – The main event of "WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo" was billed as speed vs. power.
Former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was supposed to out-muscle, outwork and out-grit the explosive challenger Jose Aldo (16-1 MMA, 6-0 WEC).
Only someone forgot to tell the 23-year-old Brazilian phenom.
"I did feel [Brown] was strong, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle," Aldo told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) through his interpreter and trainer, Gustavo Dantas, at Saturday's post-event press conference. "I just used my gameplan, and everything worked out the way I wanted."
Aldo is as quick to offer an understatement as he is a lighting-fast kick to the ribs.
The Nova Uniao-trained featherweight actually appeared a bit tentative in the bout's early going, and Aldo attacked more patiently than he has shown in his previous WEC contests. The first five minutes passed with both fighters winging heavy shots on the feet, though neither gained a definitive advantage.
That changed in the second.
Brown offered just a brief opening, but it was Aldo would need. The Brazilian swarmed with an attack so rapid even he wasn't sure exactly what had happened.
"It's kind of hard to say," Aldo said. "I don't even remember exactly what happened. I think at some point I started defending against the fence, and I jumped a knee or something. I think he fell or lost his balance.
"I just ran over. I went to the mount. I turned over and took his back and started hitting him from there."
The blows continued until referee Steve Mazzagatti was forced to halt the bout just 80 seconds into the second frame.
Aldo said he was pleased with the early stoppage but was prepared to fight all night.
"I always train for five rounds, but if there's a chance, I try to finish quicker," Aldo said. "Everything worked out the way I wanted, and I finished in the second round."
Aldo's swift striking has now earned him six stoppages in six trips to the WEC's cage. The finishing skills have earned Aldo comparisons to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but the new featherweight title holder said it's another legendary Brazilian striker from whom he draws inspiration.
"Anderson is an amazing athlete, but I started training my Muay Thai with Pedro Rizzo, and he always inspired me to do the same gameplan – just stand up and bang," Aldo said.
Just 23 years old, Aldo is already a champion. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt credited his Nova Uniao teammates for the win.
"Since the beginning, I believed," Aldo said. "I have a really good team, so I trusted my team and my training partners and my trainers. I knew that I could do it."
And already on top of the world less than 18 months after debuting for the WEC, Aldo promises there's more to come.
"This is just a result of the hard work since I started training," Aldo said. "This was my goal. We won't stop here. We'll just keep working."
Former WEC champ Mike Brown: "I've got to figure out what's next"
LAS VEGAS – Nearly an hour after dropping his WEC featherweight title to new champion Jose Aldo (16-1 MMA, 6-0 WEC), Mike Brown (22-5 MMA, 4-1 WEC) still seemed to be processing what had happened.
Nevertheless, Brown took his turn in front of the media at Saturday night's WEC 44 post-event press conference and tried to figure out what went wrong.
"I should have opened up more," Brown told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I think I was too conservative. Maybe more takedown attempts. I really have to see the tape."
Brown was halted in the second frame of a five-round affair at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The loss was Brown's first in nearly four years, and the former champ had nothing but good things to say about the man that beat him.
"[Aldo] is a fast, good striker," Brown said. "He hit me with some pretty good shots. His takedown defense was good.
"I was a little weary to shoot double-legs on him because I know his knees are really good. Maybe I could have tried to mix it up and try that. I was trying to throw a shot, clinch and push him against the cage and take him down. It wasn't really working. He had good balance."
Aldo stayed out of trouble as Brown tried to deliver powerful shots on the feet and drag the fight to the floor throughout the opening five minutes. When Aldo attacked in the second, Brown admitted he was a bit overwhelmed.
"I think I got hit with a couple of shots, and I think I took a bad takedown attempt," Brown said. "I was in a vulnerable position. I was on my knees. I don't know. I'll have to watch the tape.
"I was like, 'Whoa, I don't want to get hit here,' so I went to my back, which I never, ever, ever do. I'll have to see the tape for why I did that. Then I saw him over me, and I just remember trying to scramble, give up my back, and hopefully stand up."
Brown never got the chance as Aldo finished the fight early in the second frame with a flurry of shots to the head. Brown said he was physically fine, but he understood why the fight was halted.
"I wasn't hurt, but I was caught in a bad position where he had my legs in the air, and I wasn't getting out of there anytime soon," Brown said.
Like Aldo's other five WEC victims, Brown was left to ponder what he would do with a second chance against the phenom.
"I would try to throw punches in combinations and maybe shoot doubles at the end of the combinations as opposed to throwing one punch at a time and pushing him against the cage," Brown said. "He's very good against the cage.
"I'm pretty good at working guys down when I have them against the cage. He's got that balance where he knows how to position his hips just right so it's not easy to yank his legs out from under him."
The loss came just over a year after Brown claimed the belt from Urijah Faber. And while Brown successfully defended the belt twice, he said it's difficult for anyone to put together a lengthy streak.
"It's hard to beat the best guys in the world over and over," Faber said. "When you're fighting the top two or three guys in the world each time, over and over and over and over and over, it's hard not to let one slip through your fingers.
"If you're fighting easy fights, yeah, you could win 20 in a row. But when you're fighting the guys that are second in the world, third in the world, first in the world, third in the world, that type of competition, you don't win every game."
Aldo will certainly try, and Brown has some advice for future title contenders.
"[Aldo] is a tough fighter," Brown said. "He has good hips. He's a really good athlete. He's not an easy guy to beat.
"He's one of those guys where you better have your 'A' game on. I didn't have my 'A' game on tonight."
Despite the loss, Brown will certainly remain a viable contender in the WEC's featherweight division. But in the meantime, the American Top Team product has some figuring out to do.
"Holding the belt's over," Brown said. "I've got to figure out what's next."
LAS VEGAS – Nearly an hour after dropping his WEC featherweight title to new champion Jose Aldo (16-1 MMA, 6-0 WEC), Mike Brown (22-5 MMA, 4-1 WEC) still seemed to be processing what had happened.
Nevertheless, Brown took his turn in front of the media at Saturday night's WEC 44 post-event press conference and tried to figure out what went wrong.
"I should have opened up more," Brown told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I think I was too conservative. Maybe more takedown attempts. I really have to see the tape."
Brown was halted in the second frame of a five-round affair at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The loss was Brown's first in nearly four years, and the former champ had nothing but good things to say about the man that beat him.
"[Aldo] is a fast, good striker," Brown said. "He hit me with some pretty good shots. His takedown defense was good.
"I was a little weary to shoot double-legs on him because I know his knees are really good. Maybe I could have tried to mix it up and try that. I was trying to throw a shot, clinch and push him against the cage and take him down. It wasn't really working. He had good balance."
Aldo stayed out of trouble as Brown tried to deliver powerful shots on the feet and drag the fight to the floor throughout the opening five minutes. When Aldo attacked in the second, Brown admitted he was a bit overwhelmed.
"I think I got hit with a couple of shots, and I think I took a bad takedown attempt," Brown said. "I was in a vulnerable position. I was on my knees. I don't know. I'll have to watch the tape.
"I was like, 'Whoa, I don't want to get hit here,' so I went to my back, which I never, ever, ever do. I'll have to see the tape for why I did that. Then I saw him over me, and I just remember trying to scramble, give up my back, and hopefully stand up."
Brown never got the chance as Aldo finished the fight early in the second frame with a flurry of shots to the head. Brown said he was physically fine, but he understood why the fight was halted.
"I wasn't hurt, but I was caught in a bad position where he had my legs in the air, and I wasn't getting out of there anytime soon," Brown said.
Like Aldo's other five WEC victims, Brown was left to ponder what he would do with a second chance against the phenom.
"I would try to throw punches in combinations and maybe shoot doubles at the end of the combinations as opposed to throwing one punch at a time and pushing him against the cage," Brown said. "He's very good against the cage.
"I'm pretty good at working guys down when I have them against the cage. He's got that balance where he knows how to position his hips just right so it's not easy to yank his legs out from under him."
The loss came just over a year after Brown claimed the belt from Urijah Faber. And while Brown successfully defended the belt twice, he said it's difficult for anyone to put together a lengthy streak.
"It's hard to beat the best guys in the world over and over," Faber said. "When you're fighting the top two or three guys in the world each time, over and over and over and over and over, it's hard not to let one slip through your fingers.
"If you're fighting easy fights, yeah, you could win 20 in a row. But when you're fighting the guys that are second in the world, third in the world, first in the world, third in the world, that type of competition, you don't win every game."
Aldo will certainly try, and Brown has some advice for future title contenders.
"[Aldo] is a tough fighter," Brown said. "He has good hips. He's a really good athlete. He's not an easy guy to beat.
"He's one of those guys where you better have your 'A' game on. I didn't have my 'A' game on tonight."
Despite the loss, Brown will certainly remain a viable contender in the WEC's featherweight division. But in the meantime, the American Top Team product has some figuring out to do.
"Holding the belt's over," Brown said. "I've got to figure out what's next."
Brendan Schaub's blog for "The Ultimate Fighter 10," episode No. 10
What's up Junkies?! Things in Denver are going great training as usual, though it's been tough because of Shane Carwin's situation with Brock Lesnar.
Let me start by saying we are all brothers in this fight game, and I hope Brock gets better and is able to compete at 100 percent. He's a great fighter and is great for the sport. My brother Shane, though, has been pulled from three different fight cards, but he has been a true pro in his dealing with this. I learn a lot from my training partners in and outside of practice.
I want to blog for you guys even when the show is on break. I have a request that you post topics that you would be interested to know about. Being a here in Colorado with a lot of great fighters and a part of Team Jackson MMA I have lots of insight that you may be interested. I will be checking the comments for ideas and suggestions.
OK, onto "The Ultimate fighter."
The stuff with Matt "The Snitch" Mitrione continues to rattle the house, and everyone is getting pretty sick of his drama. He started to tell everyone he had swelling of the brain, which really pissed off Trevor Wittman because he comes from a boxing background and has had to deal with it before. And Matt definitely didn't have swelling of the brain.
When Dana White got everyone together and gave us the "gut check" speech – and despite what Dana said – it was 100 percent directed toward Matt. If Dana has to give you a pep talk to fight on "TUF," you're in the wrong sport and shouldn't compete at a UFC level. As fighter I can understand both sides of the situation. That being said, in that scenario, Matt (or anyone who is unsure if he wants to be there) is essentially taking the spot of fighters who would sacrifice everything to be in their shoes.
Seeing Kimbo Slice and the doctor explaining his condition in his knee was a bit surprising. I didn't realize how bad it was; he did a great job of not showing it in the house. I also thought it was interesting to see Rampage Jackson tell Kimbo if he were to fight James McSweeney, "You're gonna have to shoot and ground and pound him." WTF! Last time I checked that's exactly what Kimbo doesn't do well, and I think it put doubt in Kimbo's head when he heard the coaching telling him to shoot on a guy.
At this point, I'm thinking would be best if Kimbo doesn't come back into the competition because losing twice in the house would hurt his career tremendously. Wait, take the five months to improve with a good training camp, get healthy, then take another fight in the UFC. Kimbo is very marketable, and his past and the legend of Kimbo is even more appealing once you realize what a great guy he is.
Great guy or not, he is a Floridian, and ice baths are not all the rage in Florida. James and I talked him into jumping in the ice bath, though it might have been easier to talk him into shaving his beard. He was skeptical – and a bit crazy for running to the hot tub right after the dip. Ice baths were something we did every night, and we knew it would help him recover. They didn't show it, but when he first got in, he yelled out, "I didn't sign up for this s---!" He was dead serious, and we couldn't stop laughing.
The coaches challenge, a great stress reliever, was a way for all the guys to get their minds off of fighting for an hour or so. Our coaches, Rashad Evans and Mike Van Arsdale, really didn't know too much about volleyball. Good thing we had Trevor Wittman on our side because he turned from great striking coach into Mr. Volleyball Coach. He started to tell them how to beat Team Rampage and even taught them how to serve and where they should place themselves in the sand. They didn't show it, but Trevor was a big reason we won the coaches challenge.
I thought it was funny when Rampage asked his team, "Do you want $1,500, or want me to beat Rashad?" You could tell the guys wanted that money badly. They were all thinking, "Ugh! The money!" I laugh just thinking about it.
Team Rashad and the coaches decided not to coach the guys and not corner the team either. The thinking was that it was the best way not to be biased. Yet last night on the show, they kept showing Rashad helping out my opponent, Jon Madsen, and not me. I will admit I was really frustrated when I saw that, but I did have Trevor helping me from time to time, so I didn't think much of it.
With the editing, it makes it look a lot worse than it really was. Rashad and I are teammates outside the house. Actually, he's in Denver right now training with us. I asked him about his matchups and why he was coaching others but not me. And in essence, he told me it was hard because he wanted someone from his camp to win, so he couldn't show that favoritism. I really do see the balancing act he had to play, but we winners were being punished (by not having coaches) for winning.
When the match-ups initially were announced, I knew I got one of the tougher draws in Jon. Not because Jon was real dangerous, but with him being such a high-caliber wrestler, the chances of him taking anyone down and riding out a decision were very good. I felt that when standing up, I could hang with most of the guys in the house, but wrestling is not my strength, and losing or having a boring fight with the World watching is not what anyone wants to have happen.
Although, I wasn't pleased with the matchup, I knew if I could win against Jon, the remaining fighters would definitely know they didn't want to fight me. Jon was a horrible matchup for anyone. In practice he was the only guy who could hang with me during conditioning, and when we would grapple, he would dominate everyone. Plus, most of the time, standout wrestlers usually end up winning "TUF" because they can win in decisions and turn it into a wrestling match.
They show me talking to Justin Wren when I'm saying I didn't have a problem fighting Jon because in the house, he was horrible to live with. He was a guy who thought his way was always the best and everyone else's opinions didn't count. We called him little Matt Hughes. He would try to control and almost boss around guys like they were little kids. If you want to hear someone's real opinion of Jon, just ask Abe Wagner. He couldn't be in the same room as Jon. I am a pretty easygoing guy, and I usually do not let people get under my skin. Jon, though, was under my skin. In hindsight fighting the one teammate that I had disdain for was likely an advantage for me.
Once fight day came around, I decided to have James and Scott Junk as my corner guys. James was one of the best corner guys I've ever come across. If you listen closely to the fight, the guy is amazing. The game plan against Jon was to wear him out in the first round and then explode on him in the second. Everyone knew Jon was going to shoot in for a takedown. I wasn't worried about submissions or his ground and pound. I knew he was going to use a ton of energy just trying to hold me down, so in the first round, I made some huge mistakes going for a guillotine. Once he did get me down (with a thud), I made sure to circle off the fence so I didn't end up with a gash like Abe did.
I admit I was grabbing the fence, not intentionally. But when you try to push off, it's natural that your fingers go through the fence. I could hear the ref telling me to stop grabbing the fence, but I knew even if he took a point away, I wasn't going to win the fight in a decision or from my back, so the deduction wouldn't have mattered.
I had to knock Jon out if I was going to win. The first round ended, and I clearly lost it. But the game plan was definitely working. When I looked over, Jon obviously was starting to gas. It gave me a huge boost of energy, and it was time to apply pressure.
I started to stuff his take downs, which mentally broke him, and started to throw knees in the clinch to wear him out even more. Once Jon started to back pedal, I knew it was time, and I let my hands finally go. The right hand landed right on his jaw, and it was a great feeling. My favorite part of the show is when they zoom in on Roy Nelson's face when I knocked Jon out. It was priceless. I felt the remaining fighters knew they were in for a hell of a fight after seeing my fight with Jon.
A lot of people and fans ask why I do a bow and throat slash to some of my opponents. Well I grew up a huge fan of Tito Ortiz and Josh Barnett, which would explain some of the reasons why I do it. I don't preconceive celebrations; it's just something I did since I was a kid playing Pop Warner Football after a sack or touchdown. I fight with a lot of emotion and heart, and it comes out in the octagon when I fight.
I want to thank the fans for the great support and everyone on MMAjunkie.com for following me on "TUF" and leaving comments on the blog. You guys are awesome. Stay tuned to "The Ultimate Fighter" to see who I fight in the semifinals for the Chance to fight in the finale on Dec. 5.
Please make sure you join my Web site (www.schaubmma.com), or follow me at twitter.com/brendanschaub and stay tuned for any news pertaining to me. Please leave your suggestions in the comments below for the coming blogs, and thank you again for allowing me to write these for you, MMA junkies.
I want to thank my sponsors Warrior Clothing, NightRider Jewelry, fitfoods4you.com, Max Muscle Highlands Ranch, MTX Audio, PerformanceMMA, Rockwell Watches and Magnetic Marketing Associates.
What's up Junkies?! Things in Denver are going great training as usual, though it's been tough because of Shane Carwin's situation with Brock Lesnar.
Let me start by saying we are all brothers in this fight game, and I hope Brock gets better and is able to compete at 100 percent. He's a great fighter and is great for the sport. My brother Shane, though, has been pulled from three different fight cards, but he has been a true pro in his dealing with this. I learn a lot from my training partners in and outside of practice.
I want to blog for you guys even when the show is on break. I have a request that you post topics that you would be interested to know about. Being a here in Colorado with a lot of great fighters and a part of Team Jackson MMA I have lots of insight that you may be interested. I will be checking the comments for ideas and suggestions.
OK, onto "The Ultimate fighter."
The stuff with Matt "The Snitch" Mitrione continues to rattle the house, and everyone is getting pretty sick of his drama. He started to tell everyone he had swelling of the brain, which really pissed off Trevor Wittman because he comes from a boxing background and has had to deal with it before. And Matt definitely didn't have swelling of the brain.
When Dana White got everyone together and gave us the "gut check" speech – and despite what Dana said – it was 100 percent directed toward Matt. If Dana has to give you a pep talk to fight on "TUF," you're in the wrong sport and shouldn't compete at a UFC level. As fighter I can understand both sides of the situation. That being said, in that scenario, Matt (or anyone who is unsure if he wants to be there) is essentially taking the spot of fighters who would sacrifice everything to be in their shoes.
Seeing Kimbo Slice and the doctor explaining his condition in his knee was a bit surprising. I didn't realize how bad it was; he did a great job of not showing it in the house. I also thought it was interesting to see Rampage Jackson tell Kimbo if he were to fight James McSweeney, "You're gonna have to shoot and ground and pound him." WTF! Last time I checked that's exactly what Kimbo doesn't do well, and I think it put doubt in Kimbo's head when he heard the coaching telling him to shoot on a guy.
At this point, I'm thinking would be best if Kimbo doesn't come back into the competition because losing twice in the house would hurt his career tremendously. Wait, take the five months to improve with a good training camp, get healthy, then take another fight in the UFC. Kimbo is very marketable, and his past and the legend of Kimbo is even more appealing once you realize what a great guy he is.
Great guy or not, he is a Floridian, and ice baths are not all the rage in Florida. James and I talked him into jumping in the ice bath, though it might have been easier to talk him into shaving his beard. He was skeptical – and a bit crazy for running to the hot tub right after the dip. Ice baths were something we did every night, and we knew it would help him recover. They didn't show it, but when he first got in, he yelled out, "I didn't sign up for this s---!" He was dead serious, and we couldn't stop laughing.
The coaches challenge, a great stress reliever, was a way for all the guys to get their minds off of fighting for an hour or so. Our coaches, Rashad Evans and Mike Van Arsdale, really didn't know too much about volleyball. Good thing we had Trevor Wittman on our side because he turned from great striking coach into Mr. Volleyball Coach. He started to tell them how to beat Team Rampage and even taught them how to serve and where they should place themselves in the sand. They didn't show it, but Trevor was a big reason we won the coaches challenge.
I thought it was funny when Rampage asked his team, "Do you want $1,500, or want me to beat Rashad?" You could tell the guys wanted that money badly. They were all thinking, "Ugh! The money!" I laugh just thinking about it.
Team Rashad and the coaches decided not to coach the guys and not corner the team either. The thinking was that it was the best way not to be biased. Yet last night on the show, they kept showing Rashad helping out my opponent, Jon Madsen, and not me. I will admit I was really frustrated when I saw that, but I did have Trevor helping me from time to time, so I didn't think much of it.
With the editing, it makes it look a lot worse than it really was. Rashad and I are teammates outside the house. Actually, he's in Denver right now training with us. I asked him about his matchups and why he was coaching others but not me. And in essence, he told me it was hard because he wanted someone from his camp to win, so he couldn't show that favoritism. I really do see the balancing act he had to play, but we winners were being punished (by not having coaches) for winning.
When the match-ups initially were announced, I knew I got one of the tougher draws in Jon. Not because Jon was real dangerous, but with him being such a high-caliber wrestler, the chances of him taking anyone down and riding out a decision were very good. I felt that when standing up, I could hang with most of the guys in the house, but wrestling is not my strength, and losing or having a boring fight with the World watching is not what anyone wants to have happen.
Although, I wasn't pleased with the matchup, I knew if I could win against Jon, the remaining fighters would definitely know they didn't want to fight me. Jon was a horrible matchup for anyone. In practice he was the only guy who could hang with me during conditioning, and when we would grapple, he would dominate everyone. Plus, most of the time, standout wrestlers usually end up winning "TUF" because they can win in decisions and turn it into a wrestling match.
They show me talking to Justin Wren when I'm saying I didn't have a problem fighting Jon because in the house, he was horrible to live with. He was a guy who thought his way was always the best and everyone else's opinions didn't count. We called him little Matt Hughes. He would try to control and almost boss around guys like they were little kids. If you want to hear someone's real opinion of Jon, just ask Abe Wagner. He couldn't be in the same room as Jon. I am a pretty easygoing guy, and I usually do not let people get under my skin. Jon, though, was under my skin. In hindsight fighting the one teammate that I had disdain for was likely an advantage for me.
Once fight day came around, I decided to have James and Scott Junk as my corner guys. James was one of the best corner guys I've ever come across. If you listen closely to the fight, the guy is amazing. The game plan against Jon was to wear him out in the first round and then explode on him in the second. Everyone knew Jon was going to shoot in for a takedown. I wasn't worried about submissions or his ground and pound. I knew he was going to use a ton of energy just trying to hold me down, so in the first round, I made some huge mistakes going for a guillotine. Once he did get me down (with a thud), I made sure to circle off the fence so I didn't end up with a gash like Abe did.
I admit I was grabbing the fence, not intentionally. But when you try to push off, it's natural that your fingers go through the fence. I could hear the ref telling me to stop grabbing the fence, but I knew even if he took a point away, I wasn't going to win the fight in a decision or from my back, so the deduction wouldn't have mattered.
I had to knock Jon out if I was going to win. The first round ended, and I clearly lost it. But the game plan was definitely working. When I looked over, Jon obviously was starting to gas. It gave me a huge boost of energy, and it was time to apply pressure.
I started to stuff his take downs, which mentally broke him, and started to throw knees in the clinch to wear him out even more. Once Jon started to back pedal, I knew it was time, and I let my hands finally go. The right hand landed right on his jaw, and it was a great feeling. My favorite part of the show is when they zoom in on Roy Nelson's face when I knocked Jon out. It was priceless. I felt the remaining fighters knew they were in for a hell of a fight after seeing my fight with Jon.
A lot of people and fans ask why I do a bow and throat slash to some of my opponents. Well I grew up a huge fan of Tito Ortiz and Josh Barnett, which would explain some of the reasons why I do it. I don't preconceive celebrations; it's just something I did since I was a kid playing Pop Warner Football after a sack or touchdown. I fight with a lot of emotion and heart, and it comes out in the octagon when I fight.
I want to thank the fans for the great support and everyone on MMAjunkie.com for following me on "TUF" and leaving comments on the blog. You guys are awesome. Stay tuned to "The Ultimate Fighter" to see who I fight in the semifinals for the Chance to fight in the finale on Dec. 5.
Please make sure you join my Web site (www.schaubmma.com), or follow me at twitter.com/brendanschaub and stay tuned for any news pertaining to me. Please leave your suggestions in the comments below for the coming blogs, and thank you again for allowing me to write these for you, MMA junkies.
I want to thank my sponsors Warrior Clothing, NightRider Jewelry, fitfoods4you.com, Max Muscle Highlands Ranch, MTX Audio, PerformanceMMA, Rockwell Watches and Magnetic Marketing Associates.
UFC 105 medical suspensions: Mike Swick and Matt Brown suspended up to 180 days
A total of 13 fighters will serve mandatory medical suspensions following the Nov. 14 "UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera" event. And four fighters could be shut down for up to 180 days.
Main-card fighters Mike Swick, Matt Brown and James Wilks and preliminary-card fighter Paul Kelly were all issued 180-day suspensions and must receive doctor's clearance to fight any earlier.
UFC 105 took place at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, and aired via same-day delay in the U.S. on Spike TV.
As with other European cards held by the promotion, the UFC served as the sanctioning body for UFC 105 and was responsible for medical suspensions, drug testing and other fighter procedures on fight week. In the U.S., such regulation traditionally is the responsibility of state athletic commissions, though such entities don't exist in the U.K.
The full list of suspensions includes:
* Randy Couture: Suspended 30 days with no contact during training for 21 days
* Brandon Vera: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
* Mike Swick: Suspended 180 days due to a possible broken left orbital and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Denis Kang: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Matt Brown: Suspended 180 days due to a possible right hand injury and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days
* James Wilks: Suspended 180 days due to a possible nasal fracture and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Aaron Riley: Suspended 90 days with no contact for 60 days
* Paul Taylor: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Shannon Gugerty: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
* Matt Riddle: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Paul Kelly: Suspended 180 days due to a facial fracture and abdominal contusion and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Jared Hamman: Suspended 180 days due to a left eye injury and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Roli Delgado: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
A total of 13 fighters will serve mandatory medical suspensions following the Nov. 14 "UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera" event. And four fighters could be shut down for up to 180 days.
Main-card fighters Mike Swick, Matt Brown and James Wilks and preliminary-card fighter Paul Kelly were all issued 180-day suspensions and must receive doctor's clearance to fight any earlier.
UFC 105 took place at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, and aired via same-day delay in the U.S. on Spike TV.
As with other European cards held by the promotion, the UFC served as the sanctioning body for UFC 105 and was responsible for medical suspensions, drug testing and other fighter procedures on fight week. In the U.S., such regulation traditionally is the responsibility of state athletic commissions, though such entities don't exist in the U.K.
The full list of suspensions includes:
* Randy Couture: Suspended 30 days with no contact during training for 21 days
* Brandon Vera: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
* Mike Swick: Suspended 180 days due to a possible broken left orbital and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Denis Kang: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Matt Brown: Suspended 180 days due to a possible right hand injury and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days
* James Wilks: Suspended 180 days due to a possible nasal fracture and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Aaron Riley: Suspended 90 days with no contact for 60 days
* Paul Taylor: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Shannon Gugerty: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
* Matt Riddle: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Paul Kelly: Suspended 180 days due to a facial fracture and abdominal contusion and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Jared Hamman: Suspended 180 days due to a left eye injury and must receive doctor's clearance; even if cleared, minimum suspension of 60 days with no contact for 45 days
* Roli Delgado: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
UFC 110 in Australia to air on pay-per-view
Since the initial news of the UFC's upcoming Australian debut and a possible headliner between Wanderlei Silva and Yoshihiro Akiyama, many fans have wondered why the event will be held on a Sunday rather than a traditional Saturday.
As expected, the show, UFC 110, takes place live at Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, Feb. 21, to accommodate a live Saturday broadcast in the U.S. on Feb. 20.
A source close to the organization today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) UFC 110 will air on pay-per-view rather than Spike TV.
Some overseas events, such as this past weekend's UFC 105 show in Manchester, England, air via delay on the cable station, which has been a longtime partner with the UFC. And though Spike TV is expected again to air a handful of overseas shows in 2010, UFC 110 apparently won't be one of them.
While a handful of fights, including Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Ben Rothwell and Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen, have been booked for the show, the UFC hasn't officially announced UFC 110. UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik, whose office will oversee the show, told MMAjunkie.com this past weekend that UFC 110 is "still in the works" but close to being official.
Sydney, Australia, is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Time and 13 hours ahead of Pacific Time in the U.S. If UFC 110 airs live in the UFC's traditional 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) PPV time slot, the main card must begin in Sydney on Sunday at 2 p.m. local time.
Since the initial news of the UFC's upcoming Australian debut and a possible headliner between Wanderlei Silva and Yoshihiro Akiyama, many fans have wondered why the event will be held on a Sunday rather than a traditional Saturday.
As expected, the show, UFC 110, takes place live at Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, Feb. 21, to accommodate a live Saturday broadcast in the U.S. on Feb. 20.
A source close to the organization today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) UFC 110 will air on pay-per-view rather than Spike TV.
Some overseas events, such as this past weekend's UFC 105 show in Manchester, England, air via delay on the cable station, which has been a longtime partner with the UFC. And though Spike TV is expected again to air a handful of overseas shows in 2010, UFC 110 apparently won't be one of them.
While a handful of fights, including Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Ben Rothwell and Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen, have been booked for the show, the UFC hasn't officially announced UFC 110. UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik, whose office will oversee the show, told MMAjunkie.com this past weekend that UFC 110 is "still in the works" but close to being official.
Sydney, Australia, is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Time and 13 hours ahead of Pacific Time in the U.S. If UFC 110 airs live in the UFC's traditional 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) PPV time slot, the main card must begin in Sydney on Sunday at 2 p.m. local time.
WEC 46 main card set with Semerzier vs. Taurosevicius, Valencia vs. Tamura
The fight card for the Jan. 10 "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson" event is taking shape, and a four-fight main card is now set.
As the organization previously announced, the event features a headliner and title-unfication bout between lightweight champion Jamie Varner (16-2 MMA, 4-0 WEC) and interim title-holder Benson Henderson (10-1 MMA, 3-0 WEC), as well as a co-headliner of Urijah Faber (22-3 MMA, 7-2 WEC) vs. Raphael Assuncao (14-1 MMA, 1-0 WEC).
Also on the Versus-televised main card are featherweights Mackens Semerzier (6-0 MMA, 1-0 WEC) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (11-3 MMA, 1-0 WEC) and bantamweights Charlie Valencia (11-5 MMA, 4-3 WEC) vs. Akitoshi Tamura (13-7-2 MMA, 1-1 WEC).
The event takes place at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
Varner, who returns from a year layoff due to injuries, and Henderson, who recently topped Donald Cerrone for the interim belt, meet to determine WEC's true lightweight kingpin. Faber and Assuncao, meanwhile, look to claim No. 1 contender's status in the 145-pound division, which is now ruled by recently crowned champ Jose Aldo.
Semerzier and Taurosevicius also look to improve their stock in the featherweight division. Semerzier recently pulled off one of the year's biggest upsets by submitting the highly touted Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 43. Like Semerzier, Taurosevicius also made his WEC debut at the event and topped Javier Vazquez via split decision.
In the night's opening main-card bout, Valencia goes for his third straight WEC victory when he meets Tamura, who hasn't competed since an April victory over Manny Tapia in the WEC.
Also signed for WEC 46 are two preliminary card bouts. UFC veteran Mark Homick (16-8 MMA, 0-2 WEC) hopes to avoid his third consecutive loss in the WEC when he takes on fellow Canadian featherweight Yves Jabouin (14-5 MMA, 0-1 WEC), who snapped a four-fight win streak with a split-decision defeat to Assuncao in his WEC debut.
Additionally, Eddie Wineland (15-6-1 MMA, 1-1 WEC) looks to build off an October decision win over Tapia when he meets fellow bantamweight Rafael Rebello (6-3 MMA, 1-1 WEC), who scored a first-round submission win over Kyle Dietz in June
The fight card for the Jan. 10 "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson" event is taking shape, and a four-fight main card is now set.
As the organization previously announced, the event features a headliner and title-unfication bout between lightweight champion Jamie Varner (16-2 MMA, 4-0 WEC) and interim title-holder Benson Henderson (10-1 MMA, 3-0 WEC), as well as a co-headliner of Urijah Faber (22-3 MMA, 7-2 WEC) vs. Raphael Assuncao (14-1 MMA, 1-0 WEC).
Also on the Versus-televised main card are featherweights Mackens Semerzier (6-0 MMA, 1-0 WEC) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (11-3 MMA, 1-0 WEC) and bantamweights Charlie Valencia (11-5 MMA, 4-3 WEC) vs. Akitoshi Tamura (13-7-2 MMA, 1-1 WEC).
The event takes place at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
Varner, who returns from a year layoff due to injuries, and Henderson, who recently topped Donald Cerrone for the interim belt, meet to determine WEC's true lightweight kingpin. Faber and Assuncao, meanwhile, look to claim No. 1 contender's status in the 145-pound division, which is now ruled by recently crowned champ Jose Aldo.
Semerzier and Taurosevicius also look to improve their stock in the featherweight division. Semerzier recently pulled off one of the year's biggest upsets by submitting the highly touted Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 43. Like Semerzier, Taurosevicius also made his WEC debut at the event and topped Javier Vazquez via split decision.
In the night's opening main-card bout, Valencia goes for his third straight WEC victory when he meets Tamura, who hasn't competed since an April victory over Manny Tapia in the WEC.
Also signed for WEC 46 are two preliminary card bouts. UFC veteran Mark Homick (16-8 MMA, 0-2 WEC) hopes to avoid his third consecutive loss in the WEC when he takes on fellow Canadian featherweight Yves Jabouin (14-5 MMA, 0-1 WEC), who snapped a four-fight win streak with a split-decision defeat to Assuncao in his WEC debut.
Additionally, Eddie Wineland (15-6-1 MMA, 1-1 WEC) looks to build off an October decision win over Tapia when he meets fellow bantamweight Rafael Rebello (6-3 MMA, 1-1 WEC), who scored a first-round submission win over Kyle Dietz in June
UFC targeting Newark, N.J. for March 2010 event, presumably UFC 111
The Ultimate Fighting Championship could return to Newark, N.J., for a March 2010 event, a source close to the organization today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
The event is expected to take place at the Prudential Center, which was home to UFC 78 in November 2007, and presumably would be dubbed UFC 111.
However, the UFC has made no official announcement regarding the show. Additionally, though "there have been discussions about a date and location," Nick Lembo of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board told MMAjunkie.com no event has been finalized.
Although the UFC was once a frequent guest in New Jersey and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City earlier this decade, only one event has been held in the Garden State in the past four years: UFC 78. The event, headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Michael Bisping, drew 14,071 attendees for a solid $2.1 million gate at Newark's Prudential Center.
UFC 111 would take the March slot that had been reserved for Ohio the past three years. Beginning in 2007 and concluding this year, the UFC held a pay-per-view event in Columbus in conjunction with the Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports and fitness exhibition that helped the UFC score massive crowds, including 19,079 attendees in the 2007 debut.
UFC president Dana White recently said the UFC won't return to Columbus in 2010. But as MMAjunkie.com reported, the organization's sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting, has agreed to take the spot instead and will make its Ohio debut during the first week of March.
No fighters or matchups have been determined for the potential UFC 111 event, though the organization has a handful of fighters from New Jersey, including Frankie Edgar, Kurt Pellegrino, Dan Miller and Jim Miller.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship could return to Newark, N.J., for a March 2010 event, a source close to the organization today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
The event is expected to take place at the Prudential Center, which was home to UFC 78 in November 2007, and presumably would be dubbed UFC 111.
However, the UFC has made no official announcement regarding the show. Additionally, though "there have been discussions about a date and location," Nick Lembo of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board told MMAjunkie.com no event has been finalized.
Although the UFC was once a frequent guest in New Jersey and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City earlier this decade, only one event has been held in the Garden State in the past four years: UFC 78. The event, headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Michael Bisping, drew 14,071 attendees for a solid $2.1 million gate at Newark's Prudential Center.
UFC 111 would take the March slot that had been reserved for Ohio the past three years. Beginning in 2007 and concluding this year, the UFC held a pay-per-view event in Columbus in conjunction with the Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports and fitness exhibition that helped the UFC score massive crowds, including 19,079 attendees in the 2007 debut.
UFC president Dana White recently said the UFC won't return to Columbus in 2010. But as MMAjunkie.com reported, the organization's sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting, has agreed to take the spot instead and will make its Ohio debut during the first week of March.
No fighters or matchups have been determined for the potential UFC 111 event, though the organization has a handful of fighters from New Jersey, including Frankie Edgar, Kurt Pellegrino, Dan Miller and Jim Miller.
WEC 44 official fighters salaries: Gamburyan ($36K) and Aldo ($26K) top earners
Newly crowned WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and co-main-event winner Manny Gaburyan, who earned $26,000 and $36,000 respectively, were the top earners at Wednesday's "WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo" event.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today requested and obtained the official disclosed salaries from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The total disclosed payroll for the Nov. 18 event, which took place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, was $236,500.
In the night's headliner, Aldo scored a knockout win over former champ Mike Brown. Brown, in his third title defense, earned $15,000 and would have doubled the pay with a victory.
The night's biggest winner, though, could have been main-card winner and former lightweight champion Rob McCullough, who suffered a split-decision defeat to WEC newcomer Karen Darabedyan. McCullough earned a base pay of $20,000 and would have won an additional $20,000 as a win bonus.
The full payout amounts included:
Jose Aldo: $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus)
def. Mike Brown: $15,000
Manny Gamburyan: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
def. Leonard Garcia: $14,000
Karen Darabedyan: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Rob McCullough: $20,000
Shane Roller: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
def. Danny Castillo: $9,500
Kamal Shalorus: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Will Kerr: $2,000
L.C Davis: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus)
def. Diego Nunes: $5,000
Cub Swanson: $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus)
def. John Franchi: $4,000
Antonio Banuelos: $12,000 ($6000 win bonus)
def. Kenji Osawa: $6,000
Ricardo Lamas: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus)
def. James Krause: $2,000
Frank Gomez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Seth Dikun: $3,000
Now, the usual disclaimer: The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income. They also do not include any other "locker room" or special bonuses that are not disclosed by the organization.
They also do not include the WEC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The WEC issued $10,000 awards to Aldo (KO of the Night), Roller (Submission of the Night), Swanson (Fight of the Night) and Franchi (Fight of the Night).
In other words, the above salary figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
Newly crowned WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and co-main-event winner Manny Gaburyan, who earned $26,000 and $36,000 respectively, were the top earners at Wednesday's "WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo" event.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today requested and obtained the official disclosed salaries from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The total disclosed payroll for the Nov. 18 event, which took place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, was $236,500.
In the night's headliner, Aldo scored a knockout win over former champ Mike Brown. Brown, in his third title defense, earned $15,000 and would have doubled the pay with a victory.
The night's biggest winner, though, could have been main-card winner and former lightweight champion Rob McCullough, who suffered a split-decision defeat to WEC newcomer Karen Darabedyan. McCullough earned a base pay of $20,000 and would have won an additional $20,000 as a win bonus.
The full payout amounts included:
Jose Aldo: $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus)
def. Mike Brown: $15,000
Manny Gamburyan: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
def. Leonard Garcia: $14,000
Karen Darabedyan: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Rob McCullough: $20,000
Shane Roller: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
def. Danny Castillo: $9,500
Kamal Shalorus: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Will Kerr: $2,000
L.C Davis: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus)
def. Diego Nunes: $5,000
Cub Swanson: $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus)
def. John Franchi: $4,000
Antonio Banuelos: $12,000 ($6000 win bonus)
def. Kenji Osawa: $6,000
Ricardo Lamas: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus)
def. James Krause: $2,000
Frank Gomez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
def. Seth Dikun: $3,000
Now, the usual disclaimer: The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income. They also do not include any other "locker room" or special bonuses that are not disclosed by the organization.
They also do not include the WEC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The WEC issued $10,000 awards to Aldo (KO of the Night), Roller (Submission of the Night), Swanson (Fight of the Night) and Franchi (Fight of the Night).
In other words, the above salary figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
Dana White: UFC 106's Karo Parisyan "has [expletive] the UFC," not fighting Saturday
UFC 106 main-card fighter Karo Parisyan, who was scheduled to fight fellow welterweight prospect Dustin Hazelett on Saturday, is no longer part of the card and will never fight again in the organization, according to UFC president Dana White.
White posted a scathing message about the veteran fighter on his Twitter account this afternoon.
Fans can learn more when MMAjunkie.com streams today's UFC 106 pre-event press conference at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
"Karo Parisyan has [expletive] over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!!" White wrote. "He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!!"
In a follow-up message, White stated Parisyan "pulled out of the fight the day before weigh-ins again with a laundry list of excuses."
Parisyan (18-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was set to return from a drug suspension (prescription painkillers) issued following his win over Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 94 in January. (The win was eventually overturned to a no-decision.) Parisyan also ran into trouble when a September 2008 UFC 88 bout with Yoshiyuki Yoshida was scratched last minute because of a back injury. About the same time, the fighter opened up about panic attacks that have plagued his career.
White didn't state if Hazelett (12-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will remain on the card. "McLovin" tore his ACL prior to a booked fight with Ben Saunders in March and hasn't fought since Nov. 15, 2008.
UFC 106 main-card fighter Karo Parisyan, who was scheduled to fight fellow welterweight prospect Dustin Hazelett on Saturday, is no longer part of the card and will never fight again in the organization, according to UFC president Dana White.
White posted a scathing message about the veteran fighter on his Twitter account this afternoon.
Fans can learn more when MMAjunkie.com streams today's UFC 106 pre-event press conference at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
"Karo Parisyan has [expletive] over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!!" White wrote. "He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!!"
In a follow-up message, White stated Parisyan "pulled out of the fight the day before weigh-ins again with a laundry list of excuses."
Parisyan (18-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was set to return from a drug suspension (prescription painkillers) issued following his win over Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 94 in January. (The win was eventually overturned to a no-decision.) Parisyan also ran into trouble when a September 2008 UFC 88 bout with Yoshiyuki Yoshida was scratched last minute because of a back injury. About the same time, the fighter opened up about panic attacks that have plagued his career.
White didn't state if Hazelett (12-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will remain on the card. "McLovin" tore his ACL prior to a booked fight with Ben Saunders in March and hasn't fought since Nov. 15, 2008.
i never said randy won. i just think vera sucks. all his fights are lackluster. after his first lhw fight we were told hes just adjusting. well im still waiting for him to look impressive.
and stop hatin on captain america you commie.
edit: and i have to admit i skipped over most of the fight because i was bored with it and had already read the outcome online.
and stop hatin on captain america you commie.
edit: and i have to admit i skipped over most of the fight because i was bored with it and had already read the outcome online.
Thomson vs. Melendez Re-Re-Re-Scheduled for 'Strikeforce: Evolution'
In the 17 months that Josh Thomson has been Strikeforce's lightweight champion, he has defended his title exactly zero times. His only fight since grabbing the belt from Gilbert Melendez in June 2008 was a non-title squash match against Ashe Bowman last September, and he hasn't been able to compete at all this year due to a series of leg injuries. And even though a planned rematch with now-interim-champ Melendez has been canceled three times already, Strikeforce is rolling the dice again. According to GracieFighter, Thomson vs. Melendez II will go down at "Evolution," Strikeforce's December 19th show at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Despite being constantly jerked around by Thomson's withdrawals, Melendez has been able to fight twice since last June, scoring stoppage victories over Rodrigo Damm and Mitsuhiro Ishida. The Ishida fight at Carano vs. Cyborg avenged Melendez's first career loss; beating Thomson would clean his slate completely. With Thomson coming off a year-and-a-half of injuries and inactivity, you have to like El Niño's chances. The current lineup for Strikeforce: Evolution looks like this...
- Josh Thomson vs Gilbert Melendez (for Unified Lightweight Championship)
- Cung Le vs Scott Smith (MW)
- Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs Mike Whitehead (LHW)
- Matt Lindland vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (MW)
- Robbie Lawler vs TBA (MW)
- Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. TBA (WW)
- Scott Lighty vs. Antwain Britt (LHW)
In the 17 months that Josh Thomson has been Strikeforce's lightweight champion, he has defended his title exactly zero times. His only fight since grabbing the belt from Gilbert Melendez in June 2008 was a non-title squash match against Ashe Bowman last September, and he hasn't been able to compete at all this year due to a series of leg injuries. And even though a planned rematch with now-interim-champ Melendez has been canceled three times already, Strikeforce is rolling the dice again. According to GracieFighter, Thomson vs. Melendez II will go down at "Evolution," Strikeforce's December 19th show at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Despite being constantly jerked around by Thomson's withdrawals, Melendez has been able to fight twice since last June, scoring stoppage victories over Rodrigo Damm and Mitsuhiro Ishida. The Ishida fight at Carano vs. Cyborg avenged Melendez's first career loss; beating Thomson would clean his slate completely. With Thomson coming off a year-and-a-half of injuries and inactivity, you have to like El Niño's chances. The current lineup for Strikeforce: Evolution looks like this...
- Josh Thomson vs Gilbert Melendez (for Unified Lightweight Championship)
- Cung Le vs Scott Smith (MW)
- Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs Mike Whitehead (LHW)
- Matt Lindland vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (MW)
- Robbie Lawler vs TBA (MW)
- Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. TBA (WW)
- Scott Lighty vs. Antwain Britt (LHW)
MMAjunkie.com Fight Biz: Promoter brings minor leagues to MMA
At first glance, it's a concept that sounds all too familiar – a team-based MMA organization built around up-and-coming fighters designed to appeal to fans in specific regions of the country.
However, the entrepreneur behind MMA's newest league says his venture is anything but a sequel to the International Fight League (IFL).
"The only similarity is that they had an 'L' at the end (of their name), and we have an 'L,'" said California-based promoter Roy Englebrecht, who launched the Professional Mixed Martial Arts League (PMMAL) last month. "It is as opposite as it can be. We're a minor-league operation. They wanted to be international. That's the mistake they made. They hired me early on. I advised them, as I did with Affliction. All you can do is tell people. I said, 'Guys, this doesn't make sense. Trust me; I've done this for 20 years.'"
Where the IFL failed is where Englebrecht, one of the most successful local boxing promoters of his generation, believes the PMMAL will flourish. The explicit focus of the league's business model sets it apart from anything that's been attempted in MMA before.
The league is scheduled to launch early next year with eight teams in Southern California and Las Vegas. A league-wide fighter salary cap will keep costs in check, as will a mandate to host shows in small venues, such as hotel ballrooms or high-school gyms. This is far removed from the bright lights of the UFC and $55 pay-per-views, which is exactly the point.
Englebrecht has long been a believer in minor-league sports, having helped develop the Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Quakes into one of the most successful Class A organizations in minor league baseball. He also had ownership in the Arena Football League's Anaheim Piranhas and the West Coast Hockey League's Reno Rage. His promotional company, Roy Englebrecht Promotions, hosts the "Battle in the Ballroom" boxing series at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. This bi-monthly professional boxing show is in its 25th year, making it one of the longest running local boxing events in the country.
Englebrecht believes now is the right time, and Southern California is the right place, for MMA's first minor-league promotion.
"We have 35 million people from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and it's a hotbed of mixed martial arts," Engelbrecht said. "We can launch this with eight franchises where fans don't have to get on a plane. They can drive back and forth to get to away games in an hour-and-a-half and keep expenses down."
Each PMMAL team will fight an eight-event regular season schedule, with four home events and four away events, once a month beginning in February. The concept gives fans the chance to take a rooting interest in not just a favorite fighter or two, but in their local team. Englebrecht sees the opportunity for rivalries to develop between teams and fans and for there to be a level of passion among fans that can be fleeting on the current local MMA scene.
All eight teams will qualify for the quarterfinals of the PMMAL playoffs in October. Four teams will advance to the semifinals in November and two teams will compete in the PMMAL Championship in December. PMMAL fighters will earn a minimum of $10,000 per year, and can earn upward of $25,000 per year based on their success in the ring.
Englebrecht has set the cost of acquiring a PMMAL franchise at $70,000. By comparison, the price of entry into the NBA D-league is $1 million. He says franchises can turn a profit by drawing about 1,000 fans per show and pricing tickets between $30 and $40. The league will hold a fighter draft in December to fill franchise rosters.
So far, there's been ample interest from both potential fighters and owners, some of whom are already in the MMA business in the area. The PMMAL is encroaching on the turf of local promoters, but Englebrecht believes the league is more opportunity than threat to those promoters.
"We're making the club MMA promoter have an opportunity to be a minor league MMA team owner," said Englebrecht. "Because now you'll have exciting MMA action in Southern California, and a lot of the good, young fighters will be fighting on PMMAL teams, so there won't be anybody else left for the club promoter. We've had club promoters in Southern California who have expressed an interest in protecting their turf and what they've built up over the last two or three years to buy a PMMAL franchise because they can make more money than they can doing their individual show."
In keeping with the minor-league approach, Englebrecht doesn't plan to televise regular-season events, but he is interested in exploring the possibility of getting airtime for the playoffs.
At first glance, it's a concept that sounds all too familiar – a team-based MMA organization built around up-and-coming fighters designed to appeal to fans in specific regions of the country.
However, the entrepreneur behind MMA's newest league says his venture is anything but a sequel to the International Fight League (IFL).
"The only similarity is that they had an 'L' at the end (of their name), and we have an 'L,'" said California-based promoter Roy Englebrecht, who launched the Professional Mixed Martial Arts League (PMMAL) last month. "It is as opposite as it can be. We're a minor-league operation. They wanted to be international. That's the mistake they made. They hired me early on. I advised them, as I did with Affliction. All you can do is tell people. I said, 'Guys, this doesn't make sense. Trust me; I've done this for 20 years.'"
Where the IFL failed is where Englebrecht, one of the most successful local boxing promoters of his generation, believes the PMMAL will flourish. The explicit focus of the league's business model sets it apart from anything that's been attempted in MMA before.
The league is scheduled to launch early next year with eight teams in Southern California and Las Vegas. A league-wide fighter salary cap will keep costs in check, as will a mandate to host shows in small venues, such as hotel ballrooms or high-school gyms. This is far removed from the bright lights of the UFC and $55 pay-per-views, which is exactly the point.
Englebrecht has long been a believer in minor-league sports, having helped develop the Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Quakes into one of the most successful Class A organizations in minor league baseball. He also had ownership in the Arena Football League's Anaheim Piranhas and the West Coast Hockey League's Reno Rage. His promotional company, Roy Englebrecht Promotions, hosts the "Battle in the Ballroom" boxing series at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. This bi-monthly professional boxing show is in its 25th year, making it one of the longest running local boxing events in the country.
Englebrecht believes now is the right time, and Southern California is the right place, for MMA's first minor-league promotion.
"We have 35 million people from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and it's a hotbed of mixed martial arts," Engelbrecht said. "We can launch this with eight franchises where fans don't have to get on a plane. They can drive back and forth to get to away games in an hour-and-a-half and keep expenses down."
Each PMMAL team will fight an eight-event regular season schedule, with four home events and four away events, once a month beginning in February. The concept gives fans the chance to take a rooting interest in not just a favorite fighter or two, but in their local team. Englebrecht sees the opportunity for rivalries to develop between teams and fans and for there to be a level of passion among fans that can be fleeting on the current local MMA scene.
All eight teams will qualify for the quarterfinals of the PMMAL playoffs in October. Four teams will advance to the semifinals in November and two teams will compete in the PMMAL Championship in December. PMMAL fighters will earn a minimum of $10,000 per year, and can earn upward of $25,000 per year based on their success in the ring.
Englebrecht has set the cost of acquiring a PMMAL franchise at $70,000. By comparison, the price of entry into the NBA D-league is $1 million. He says franchises can turn a profit by drawing about 1,000 fans per show and pricing tickets between $30 and $40. The league will hold a fighter draft in December to fill franchise rosters.
So far, there's been ample interest from both potential fighters and owners, some of whom are already in the MMA business in the area. The PMMAL is encroaching on the turf of local promoters, but Englebrecht believes the league is more opportunity than threat to those promoters.
"We're making the club MMA promoter have an opportunity to be a minor league MMA team owner," said Englebrecht. "Because now you'll have exciting MMA action in Southern California, and a lot of the good, young fighters will be fighting on PMMAL teams, so there won't be anybody else left for the club promoter. We've had club promoters in Southern California who have expressed an interest in protecting their turf and what they've built up over the last two or three years to buy a PMMAL franchise because they can make more money than they can doing their individual show."
In keeping with the minor-league approach, Englebrecht doesn't plan to televise regular-season events, but he is interested in exploring the possibility of getting airtime for the playoffs.
Coker had to be sold on Walker signing
Over the past eight months, Strikeforce has made a series of moves to elevate its status from respected regional organization to the sport's No. 2 promotion behind the UFC.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has pressed all the right buttons in deals with ProElite, M-1 Global and Fedor Emelianenko, Showtime and CBS. However, his decision to sign former football great Hershel Walker went against the grain. Bringing the 47-year-old Walker into the fold played more like a headline grab than a move designed to bolster the Strikeforce roster. Coker disputes the notion that Walker was signed just to sell tickets, but he understands the skepticism. After all, he had to be sold himself.
"Initially, I told him no, we're not going to do this," Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "What changed my mind was when we put him through a workout with a Division I-A wrestler, a jiu-jitsu guy and a kickboxer. He went 15 minutes, with a one-minute break and wasn't winded at all. No one took him down and kickboxing, he did really well. The ground game is where the holes are, but who doesn't have holes in this sport?"
Coker says despite the contract that's in place with Walker, the Heisman Trophy winner won't fight if he's not ready. With that said, Walker's training at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., appears to be progressing enough for Strikeforce to green light his first bout. Walker is due to fight in January, but Strikeforce has proceeded cautiously by not announcing his opponent just yet.
Over the past eight months, Strikeforce has made a series of moves to elevate its status from respected regional organization to the sport's No. 2 promotion behind the UFC.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has pressed all the right buttons in deals with ProElite, M-1 Global and Fedor Emelianenko, Showtime and CBS. However, his decision to sign former football great Hershel Walker went against the grain. Bringing the 47-year-old Walker into the fold played more like a headline grab than a move designed to bolster the Strikeforce roster. Coker disputes the notion that Walker was signed just to sell tickets, but he understands the skepticism. After all, he had to be sold himself.
"Initially, I told him no, we're not going to do this," Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "What changed my mind was when we put him through a workout with a Division I-A wrestler, a jiu-jitsu guy and a kickboxer. He went 15 minutes, with a one-minute break and wasn't winded at all. No one took him down and kickboxing, he did really well. The ground game is where the holes are, but who doesn't have holes in this sport?"
Coker says despite the contract that's in place with Walker, the Heisman Trophy winner won't fight if he's not ready. With that said, Walker's training at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., appears to be progressing enough for Strikeforce to green light his first bout. Walker is due to fight in January, but Strikeforce has proceeded cautiously by not announcing his opponent just yet.
Broadcasting deal could be UFC's entrée to NBC
A major deal in broadcasting could pave the way for the UFC's long-awaited debut on network television.
Cable giant Comcast is in talks with General Electric to purchase majority control of GE's television and movie company, including NBC. It's unlikely that getting MMA on the nation's No. 4 prime-time network would be a near-term priority if Comcast closes the deal. However, the cable company needs no introduction to MMA.
Through its Versus cable property, Comcast already has a deal in place to televise Zuffa's World Extreme Cagefighting brand. That could help open the door to potential negotiations between Comcast, as the new majority owner of NBC, and the UFC.
MMA has seen NBC airtime in the past, albeit through a paid arrangement with Strikeforce. The California-based promotion previously had a deal with the network in which it purchased a 30-minute, late-night block of programming to air "Strikeforce on NBC." The weekly program, carrying recorded Strikeforce bouts, debuted in April 2008 and peaked with nearly one million viewers for one episode.
The solid performance of the series set the stage for discussions between NBC and Strikeforce to air live fights. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAjunkie.com in October 2008, that "it's been signed off on at many levels (at NBC) already, and I think we're at the final stages." However, Strikeforce subsequently purchased ProElite's assets, and jumped at the opportunity to partner with Showtime and, ultimately, CBS.
Given the interest NBC had in Strikeforce last year and the continued solid ratings the sport generates on CBS and Spike, the network would likely seize the opportunity to bring MMA's biggest show to its under-performing prime-time lineup. A change in ownership might jumpstart that process.
A major deal in broadcasting could pave the way for the UFC's long-awaited debut on network television.
Cable giant Comcast is in talks with General Electric to purchase majority control of GE's television and movie company, including NBC. It's unlikely that getting MMA on the nation's No. 4 prime-time network would be a near-term priority if Comcast closes the deal. However, the cable company needs no introduction to MMA.
Through its Versus cable property, Comcast already has a deal in place to televise Zuffa's World Extreme Cagefighting brand. That could help open the door to potential negotiations between Comcast, as the new majority owner of NBC, and the UFC.
MMA has seen NBC airtime in the past, albeit through a paid arrangement with Strikeforce. The California-based promotion previously had a deal with the network in which it purchased a 30-minute, late-night block of programming to air "Strikeforce on NBC." The weekly program, carrying recorded Strikeforce bouts, debuted in April 2008 and peaked with nearly one million viewers for one episode.
The solid performance of the series set the stage for discussions between NBC and Strikeforce to air live fights. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAjunkie.com in October 2008, that "it's been signed off on at many levels (at NBC) already, and I think we're at the final stages." However, Strikeforce subsequently purchased ProElite's assets, and jumped at the opportunity to partner with Showtime and, ultimately, CBS.
Given the interest NBC had in Strikeforce last year and the continued solid ratings the sport generates on CBS and Spike, the network would likely seize the opportunity to bring MMA's biggest show to its under-performing prime-time lineup. A change in ownership might jumpstart that process.