MMA News Thread
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Overeem Turns Down Fedor's Challenge (And Actually Sounds Reasonable)
Earlier this week, Fedor Emelianenko issued a statement that he would finally like to take on Alistair Overeem sometime this winter. Fireworks exploded, birds flew in 'fist-pump' formations, the world reunited and then in an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting, Alistair stated he wasn't even interested in a fight with Fedor. Before you accuse Ubereem of ducking The Last Emperor, his reasoning makes a lot more sense than you think.
"No, not at all. When I fought Brett Rogers there was much criticism over how the champion could fight a fighter that lost his last fight. If you co-promote with people that have their own demands it's hard to make good and logical fights. If you look at another big MMA organization in the States, you can see that they have a clear road map of who's fighting who and which fighters are entitled to get a shot at the championship belt. Having a clear virtual ranking is one of the reasons they are successful because they can hype fights. You can debate if I'm the number one in Strikeforce using results of the past, but the fact remains that Fedor signed with Strikeforce and chose Werdum instead of me. We all know that in every organization Fedor is more than welcome to fight straight for the belt due to his stature and experience, but if his management decided that they would like a tune-up fight and then Werdum before fighting me they are taking a risk. Fighting in a organization is just the same as climbing a ladder. If you lose, you will fall a couple of steps down and if you win you go up. It's not fair to other fighters that are climbing the same ladder. So to make a long story short, I'm the champion, which means I'm number one, not based on ranking but because I'm wearing the belt."
"Number two is clearly Werdum because of his win over Fedor and Antonio Silva. Fedor losing means he's number 3 and Antonio Silva, who came back from a loss against Werdum by defeating Arlovski is clearly the number 4. So in that case, Fedor should fight Antonio Silva and the winner of that fight should fight against the winner of a bout between myself and Werdum. It's just that simple -- it's not rocket science."
Later in the interview, Ubereem says Fedor has no idea what M-1 Global is demanding behind his back and claims that his management is 'manipulating' and playing 'tricks' on him. If the allegations are true, it's sort of futile to exploit a guy that could take out the entirety of M-1 Global with one swift overhand right.
Yesterday, Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated said M-1 Global was asking for Olympic-style drug testing for the potential bout to which Overeem's camp declined and insisted regular drug testing from the athletic commission would do just fine. Yes, the Pacquiao/Mayweather allusions are blatantly there and if Ubereem/Fedor plays out like whatever is going on between Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions, this fight will be caught in an endless loops of technicalities and accusations.
According to Dave Walsh of Head Kick Legends, Golden Glory's Bas Boon claims that all of this resides in the realm of 'bull [expletive]'. Bas Boon states that M-1 Global chose the timeline of November/December for Fedor to face Overeem because they knew Alistair would be competing in the K-1 GP and thus be forced to decline the fight. Boon also claims that M-1 calling out Overeem was a negotiation tactic to get FEG to pin together a possible Josh Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko bout for Dynamite!! 2010.
Wait, it gets even nuttier. This morning I get a phone call from someone inside this whole debacle who stated that negotiations for Fedor to fight in Japan on New Years Eve have already fell through and that M-1 Global is currently trying to assemble a fight between Fedor and Blagoi Ivanov, the guy who defeated Emelianenko in Sambo in in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships. The fight is being pinned to take place in Russia sometime this winter. I was also told the Fedor is severely disappointed of this outcome.
Earlier this week, Fedor Emelianenko issued a statement that he would finally like to take on Alistair Overeem sometime this winter. Fireworks exploded, birds flew in 'fist-pump' formations, the world reunited and then in an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting, Alistair stated he wasn't even interested in a fight with Fedor. Before you accuse Ubereem of ducking The Last Emperor, his reasoning makes a lot more sense than you think.
"No, not at all. When I fought Brett Rogers there was much criticism over how the champion could fight a fighter that lost his last fight. If you co-promote with people that have their own demands it's hard to make good and logical fights. If you look at another big MMA organization in the States, you can see that they have a clear road map of who's fighting who and which fighters are entitled to get a shot at the championship belt. Having a clear virtual ranking is one of the reasons they are successful because they can hype fights. You can debate if I'm the number one in Strikeforce using results of the past, but the fact remains that Fedor signed with Strikeforce and chose Werdum instead of me. We all know that in every organization Fedor is more than welcome to fight straight for the belt due to his stature and experience, but if his management decided that they would like a tune-up fight and then Werdum before fighting me they are taking a risk. Fighting in a organization is just the same as climbing a ladder. If you lose, you will fall a couple of steps down and if you win you go up. It's not fair to other fighters that are climbing the same ladder. So to make a long story short, I'm the champion, which means I'm number one, not based on ranking but because I'm wearing the belt."
"Number two is clearly Werdum because of his win over Fedor and Antonio Silva. Fedor losing means he's number 3 and Antonio Silva, who came back from a loss against Werdum by defeating Arlovski is clearly the number 4. So in that case, Fedor should fight Antonio Silva and the winner of that fight should fight against the winner of a bout between myself and Werdum. It's just that simple -- it's not rocket science."
Later in the interview, Ubereem says Fedor has no idea what M-1 Global is demanding behind his back and claims that his management is 'manipulating' and playing 'tricks' on him. If the allegations are true, it's sort of futile to exploit a guy that could take out the entirety of M-1 Global with one swift overhand right.
Yesterday, Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated said M-1 Global was asking for Olympic-style drug testing for the potential bout to which Overeem's camp declined and insisted regular drug testing from the athletic commission would do just fine. Yes, the Pacquiao/Mayweather allusions are blatantly there and if Ubereem/Fedor plays out like whatever is going on between Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions, this fight will be caught in an endless loops of technicalities and accusations.
According to Dave Walsh of Head Kick Legends, Golden Glory's Bas Boon claims that all of this resides in the realm of 'bull [expletive]'. Bas Boon states that M-1 Global chose the timeline of November/December for Fedor to face Overeem because they knew Alistair would be competing in the K-1 GP and thus be forced to decline the fight. Boon also claims that M-1 calling out Overeem was a negotiation tactic to get FEG to pin together a possible Josh Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko bout for Dynamite!! 2010.
Wait, it gets even nuttier. This morning I get a phone call from someone inside this whole debacle who stated that negotiations for Fedor to fight in Japan on New Years Eve have already fell through and that M-1 Global is currently trying to assemble a fight between Fedor and Blagoi Ivanov, the guy who defeated Emelianenko in Sambo in in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships. The fight is being pinned to take place in Russia sometime this winter. I was also told the Fedor is severely disappointed of this outcome.
Silva Blasts Fedor And Overeem For Picking And Choosing Fights
Antonio "Big Foot" Silva's next bout is up in the air in Strikeforce and the reasoning behind that is basically that Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem can't make up their minds about when they want to fight and who they want to fight. Silva though, isn't too happy about that because he's a fighter and comes to fight:
"I come from Paraiba, in Brazil, where we don't back down from things! I'll fight whoever they put in front of me; you will never see me picking and choosing opponents.
"It's sad when the heavyweight champion starts whining that he will only fight this guy or that. What kind of a professional is this guy? He is the champ, isn't he? Why be afraid to fight me?
"And Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport. Is this how he got to be a legend, by declining fights?
"I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the public thinks about him. To me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing off, but these guys are disappointing me. They are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.
"We are fighters, supposed to be some of the best in the world, and our job is to get up there, perform, and put on a good fight for the fans. I am ready to do this, just tell me who is next and I will be there. I am not a woman who wants to be involved in soap operas, looking forward to the next episode. I think that Strikeforce needs to put an end to this. Give me whoever and I will fight him, and, win or lose, people will know I came to fight that day and put my heart into it. To me, this is the only way."
Antonio "Big Foot" Silva's next bout is up in the air in Strikeforce and the reasoning behind that is basically that Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem can't make up their minds about when they want to fight and who they want to fight. Silva though, isn't too happy about that because he's a fighter and comes to fight:
"I come from Paraiba, in Brazil, where we don't back down from things! I'll fight whoever they put in front of me; you will never see me picking and choosing opponents.
"It's sad when the heavyweight champion starts whining that he will only fight this guy or that. What kind of a professional is this guy? He is the champ, isn't he? Why be afraid to fight me?
"And Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport. Is this how he got to be a legend, by declining fights?
"I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the public thinks about him. To me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing off, but these guys are disappointing me. They are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.
"We are fighters, supposed to be some of the best in the world, and our job is to get up there, perform, and put on a good fight for the fans. I am ready to do this, just tell me who is next and I will be there. I am not a woman who wants to be involved in soap operas, looking forward to the next episode. I think that Strikeforce needs to put an end to this. Give me whoever and I will fight him, and, win or lose, people will know I came to fight that day and put my heart into it. To me, this is the only way."
Mayhem Miller vs. Sakuraba, Warren vs. Omigawa, LHW Title Fight Set for Dream.16
HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon has revealed that Jason "Mayhem" Miller will get his dream match against Kazushi Sakuraba at DREAM.16 on September 25th in Nagoya. Miller has been lobbying for a match with the charismatic Japanese legend ever since his debut in DREAM back in 2008.
Joe Warren is set to face Joe Soto at Bellator 27 on September 2nd but that hasn't deterred DREAM from matching him up with Yoshida Dojo's Michihiro Omigawa. Omigawa earlier this week asked for a fight with DREAM Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes but due to Fernandes' issues with payment, he will not be fighting on the card.
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Sengoku representative Marlon Sandro is also in the works and is now in the final stages of negotiation.
DREAM.16, September 25th at Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya Japan
Light Heavyweight Championship Bout
Gegard Mousasi vs. Tatsuya Mizuno
Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Joe Warren vs. Michihiro Omigawa
Possible:
Marlon Sandro vs. Kazuyuki Miyata
Minowaman vs. James Thompson
Kid Yamamoto vs. Hideo Tokoro
----
not really big on Mayhem vs. Saku, who hasn't looked too good lately. Not sure if I want to see Miyata get killed by Sandro either.
HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon has revealed that Jason "Mayhem" Miller will get his dream match against Kazushi Sakuraba at DREAM.16 on September 25th in Nagoya. Miller has been lobbying for a match with the charismatic Japanese legend ever since his debut in DREAM back in 2008.
Joe Warren is set to face Joe Soto at Bellator 27 on September 2nd but that hasn't deterred DREAM from matching him up with Yoshida Dojo's Michihiro Omigawa. Omigawa earlier this week asked for a fight with DREAM Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes but due to Fernandes' issues with payment, he will not be fighting on the card.
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Sengoku representative Marlon Sandro is also in the works and is now in the final stages of negotiation.
DREAM.16, September 25th at Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya Japan
Light Heavyweight Championship Bout
Gegard Mousasi vs. Tatsuya Mizuno
Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Joe Warren vs. Michihiro Omigawa
Possible:
Marlon Sandro vs. Kazuyuki Miyata
Minowaman vs. James Thompson
Kid Yamamoto vs. Hideo Tokoro
----
not really big on Mayhem vs. Saku, who hasn't looked too good lately. Not sure if I want to see Miyata get killed by Sandro either.
Belfort vs. Okami To Headline UFC 122 Free On SpikeTV
A middleweight bout between top contenders Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Yushin Okami (25-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is expected to headline November's UFC 122 event, which airs on Spike TV.
Multiple sources today tentative confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Wrestling Observer" first reported the likelihood of the fight.
UFC 122 takes Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
The event – though not officially announced – airs via same-day delay on the UFC's longtime cable partner.
As MMAjunkie.com reported back in May, Belfort's camp was under the impression that the Brazilian fighter was next in line for a title shot. In fact, Chael Sonnen only got his recent shot at the belt because Belfort was forced to the sidelines due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
However, Sonnen nearly defeated the champ – he was up four rounds to none before Silva rallied for a late-fight submission victory – and after that UFC 117 headliner, UFC president Dana White said Sonnen deserves an immediate rematch. With that fight now expected to take place later this year or early 2011, Belfort vs. Okami likely will determine a No. 1 contender.
Belfort, of course, hasn't even fought at 185 pounds under the UFC banner. Although riding a five-fight win streak, the only UFC appearance came a year ago and resulted in a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Still, with his recent streak and early UFC success, he remains a marketable contender.
Okami, meanwhile, moved to 5-1 in his past six fights with a recent split-decision win over Mark Munoz. The only loss during the stretch came to Sonnen. Despite his bounty of UFC wins, Okami never has been promised a title shot, and he's even struggled to get featured on some televised main cards.
But afer the Munoz win, even White relented.
"Yushin Okami is one of the best 185-pounders in the world and has been for a while," he said. "This guy's due for a title shot."
A middleweight bout between top contenders Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Yushin Okami (25-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is expected to headline November's UFC 122 event, which airs on Spike TV.
Multiple sources today tentative confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Wrestling Observer" first reported the likelihood of the fight.
UFC 122 takes Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
The event – though not officially announced – airs via same-day delay on the UFC's longtime cable partner.
As MMAjunkie.com reported back in May, Belfort's camp was under the impression that the Brazilian fighter was next in line for a title shot. In fact, Chael Sonnen only got his recent shot at the belt because Belfort was forced to the sidelines due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
However, Sonnen nearly defeated the champ – he was up four rounds to none before Silva rallied for a late-fight submission victory – and after that UFC 117 headliner, UFC president Dana White said Sonnen deserves an immediate rematch. With that fight now expected to take place later this year or early 2011, Belfort vs. Okami likely will determine a No. 1 contender.
Belfort, of course, hasn't even fought at 185 pounds under the UFC banner. Although riding a five-fight win streak, the only UFC appearance came a year ago and resulted in a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Still, with his recent streak and early UFC success, he remains a marketable contender.
Okami, meanwhile, moved to 5-1 in his past six fights with a recent split-decision win over Mark Munoz. The only loss during the stretch came to Sonnen. Despite his bounty of UFC wins, Okami never has been promised a title shot, and he's even struggled to get featured on some televised main cards.
But afer the Munoz win, even White relented.
"Yushin Okami is one of the best 185-pounders in the world and has been for a while," he said. "This guy's due for a title shot."
MiddleEasy's Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
A fight between BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi is what a lot of you have been clamoring over, however according to a few Japanese sources it looks like Takanori Gomi will face Nate Diaz for a contender spot perhaps by the end of the year.
Wagnney Fabiano vs Brian Bowles will most likely happen at WEC 52.
Depending on the veracity of some of the rumored bouts on the card, HDNet is toying with the idea of picking up Deep 50 which will be aired live. No word on the commentating team if this happens.
Last night, James Toney refused to attend the post-fight press conference stating that he was angry at Dana White for something he said after his failed MMA debut.
Jason Guida was slated to take part in TUF 12 until ZUFFA decided to can the light heavyweight division from the show. (lol this one's true)
Satoshi Ishii is scheduled to take part in Sengoku 15.
Earlier this week it was reported that James Toney would make anywhere from $750,000 - $1,000,000 at UFC 118. It looks like he was guaranteed $750,000.
Despite White saying 'there will be no more boxing in the UFC', James Toney hasn't officially been cut by the UFC as of this morning.
Dream 17 hasn't been canceled, just temporarily postponed much like what happened at Dream 13.
Not really a rumor, but if you go back to the 2:08 mark of James Toney vs. Randy Couture, Mario Yamasaki says 'You know what why don't you tap out, huh?'
Toe 2 Toe still owes Spencer Fisher money that was promised to him months ago.
Some beef between Dana White and BJ Penn was revived at some point before UFC 118. It looks like BJ Penn took offense to something Dana White said.
A very loose rumor, however Edgar vs. Maynard will be slated to co-main event Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II.
Jeremy Horn is in talks with the UFC to return to the organization by the end of the year.
Chad Griggs vs. Brett Rogers will most likely happen in Strikeforce within the next few months.
FEG has been working with Bellator to get some of their roster to partake in Dream 16.
I mentioned it earlier in the week, M-1 Global is currently trying to assemble a fight between Fedor and Blagoi Ivanov, the guy who defeated Emelianenko in Sambo in in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships. The fight is being pinned to take place in Russia sometime this winter. I was also told the Fedor is severely disappointed of this outcome.
A fight between BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi is what a lot of you have been clamoring over, however according to a few Japanese sources it looks like Takanori Gomi will face Nate Diaz for a contender spot perhaps by the end of the year.
Wagnney Fabiano vs Brian Bowles will most likely happen at WEC 52.
Depending on the veracity of some of the rumored bouts on the card, HDNet is toying with the idea of picking up Deep 50 which will be aired live. No word on the commentating team if this happens.
Last night, James Toney refused to attend the post-fight press conference stating that he was angry at Dana White for something he said after his failed MMA debut.
Jason Guida was slated to take part in TUF 12 until ZUFFA decided to can the light heavyweight division from the show. (lol this one's true)
Satoshi Ishii is scheduled to take part in Sengoku 15.
Earlier this week it was reported that James Toney would make anywhere from $750,000 - $1,000,000 at UFC 118. It looks like he was guaranteed $750,000.
Despite White saying 'there will be no more boxing in the UFC', James Toney hasn't officially been cut by the UFC as of this morning.
Dream 17 hasn't been canceled, just temporarily postponed much like what happened at Dream 13.
Not really a rumor, but if you go back to the 2:08 mark of James Toney vs. Randy Couture, Mario Yamasaki says 'You know what why don't you tap out, huh?'
Toe 2 Toe still owes Spencer Fisher money that was promised to him months ago.
Some beef between Dana White and BJ Penn was revived at some point before UFC 118. It looks like BJ Penn took offense to something Dana White said.
A very loose rumor, however Edgar vs. Maynard will be slated to co-main event Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II.
Jeremy Horn is in talks with the UFC to return to the organization by the end of the year.
Chad Griggs vs. Brett Rogers will most likely happen in Strikeforce within the next few months.
FEG has been working with Bellator to get some of their roster to partake in Dream 16.
I mentioned it earlier in the week, M-1 Global is currently trying to assemble a fight between Fedor and Blagoi Ivanov, the guy who defeated Emelianenko in Sambo in in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships. The fight is being pinned to take place in Russia sometime this winter. I was also told the Fedor is severely disappointed of this outcome.
Wanderlei Silva Recovering, Hoping for February Return vs. Leben or Belfort
Wanderlei Silva's surgically repaired right knee is still healing, but it didn't stop the MMA legend from attending this past weekend's UFC 118, nor has it stopped him from dreaming big about the future.
Silva, who still has significant rehabilitation ahead of him, said that if all goes well, he hopes to be back competing in the octagon in February or March.
"I feel good," Silva said during UFC 118 weekend. "I had surgery and in the last year I've repaired my face and my knee. I want to fight six more years, until my 40s."
The "Axe Murderer," who turned 34 in July, rattled off a list of names he'd like to face in his comeback match, but seemed most interested in a rematch against fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort, or a matchup with Chris Leben.
The Leben fight interests Silva because after he pulled out of UFC 116, the native Oregonian replaced him and went on to defeat Yoshihiro Akiyama for his third straight victory, then said he would love to face Silva in the future.
It's a matchup Silva likes.
"He won't pass the first two rounds with me," Silva said. "I saw his fight with Akiyama. It was a great match, and he beat him in the final round. He's a tough guy. He had only fought two weeks earlier. I think it will be perfect for my next fight."
"If he wants me, I'm going to fight him for sure," he said moments later.
But it's also clear he still has a burning desire to avenge one of the first setbacks in his career: a TKO at the hands of Belfort. That match, which took place at UFC: Ultimate Brazil (also referred to as UFC 17.5) in Oct. 1998, remains the most lopsided defeat of his career; it took just 44 seconds.
"I didn't study his tapes [then]," Silva said. "He's fast, and I couldn't react. Now, I have the technique to beat him.
"We'll have a really good match," he continued. "He's tough. He has very good cardio. Sometimes, we're so nervous in the fights, but he is very calm. He has incredible cardio and is a good fighter. I would like to fight him again."
The crowd-pleaser spent much of the weekend in Boston, meeting with fans and signing autographs at the Fan Expo despite the fact that he was forced to get around with crutches or sometimes with the aid of a wheelchair. Still, his ever-present smile was flashing as he spoke about his desire to get back to doing what he loves most.
He said that he'll spend much of his upcoming training to working on his wrestling, noting that he realizes how valuable it is to be able to put the fight where you want it, but fresh off his win over Michael Bisping and surgery, Silva believes that he can still make another run to a championship.
"I think my best days will be back soon," he said.
Wanderlei Silva's surgically repaired right knee is still healing, but it didn't stop the MMA legend from attending this past weekend's UFC 118, nor has it stopped him from dreaming big about the future.
Silva, who still has significant rehabilitation ahead of him, said that if all goes well, he hopes to be back competing in the octagon in February or March.
"I feel good," Silva said during UFC 118 weekend. "I had surgery and in the last year I've repaired my face and my knee. I want to fight six more years, until my 40s."
The "Axe Murderer," who turned 34 in July, rattled off a list of names he'd like to face in his comeback match, but seemed most interested in a rematch against fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort, or a matchup with Chris Leben.
The Leben fight interests Silva because after he pulled out of UFC 116, the native Oregonian replaced him and went on to defeat Yoshihiro Akiyama for his third straight victory, then said he would love to face Silva in the future.
It's a matchup Silva likes.
"He won't pass the first two rounds with me," Silva said. "I saw his fight with Akiyama. It was a great match, and he beat him in the final round. He's a tough guy. He had only fought two weeks earlier. I think it will be perfect for my next fight."
"If he wants me, I'm going to fight him for sure," he said moments later.
But it's also clear he still has a burning desire to avenge one of the first setbacks in his career: a TKO at the hands of Belfort. That match, which took place at UFC: Ultimate Brazil (also referred to as UFC 17.5) in Oct. 1998, remains the most lopsided defeat of his career; it took just 44 seconds.
"I didn't study his tapes [then]," Silva said. "He's fast, and I couldn't react. Now, I have the technique to beat him.
"We'll have a really good match," he continued. "He's tough. He has very good cardio. Sometimes, we're so nervous in the fights, but he is very calm. He has incredible cardio and is a good fighter. I would like to fight him again."
The crowd-pleaser spent much of the weekend in Boston, meeting with fans and signing autographs at the Fan Expo despite the fact that he was forced to get around with crutches or sometimes with the aid of a wheelchair. Still, his ever-present smile was flashing as he spoke about his desire to get back to doing what he loves most.
He said that he'll spend much of his upcoming training to working on his wrestling, noting that he realizes how valuable it is to be able to put the fight where you want it, but fresh off his win over Michael Bisping and surgery, Silva believes that he can still make another run to a championship.
"I think my best days will be back soon," he said.
UFC's Nate Diaz has unfinished business at 155, but trainer sees future at 170
Nate Diaz (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) established a strong foothold in the UFC welterweight division this past Saturday when he submitted Marcus Davis (17-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at UFC 118.
It was Diaz's second victory at 170 pounds after serving most of his six-year career in the lightweight class.
And though Diaz wants to avenge his losses there, trainer and manager Cesar Gracie thinks he should stay at welterweight – at least for the time being.
"I think his future is at 170, whether it be now or a couple of years from now," Gracie today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).
Diaz, the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 5," blazed a trail in the lightweight division with four consecutive octagon wins. But he hit a roadblock against the short and scrappy wrestlers who dominate the division's upper tier. In his next four fights, he went 1-3 with decision losses to Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida and Gray Maynard.
The latest one stung in particular because the fight had been rumored to be a No. 1 contender's bout. Instead, UFC president Dana White gave Frankie Edgar the title shot, and "The Answer" went on to take the belt at UFC 112 from B.J. Penn. (Maynard won his shot at the belt higher up on the UFC 118 fight card with a decisive decision win over Kenny Florian.)
Gracie said the 25-year-old Diaz went "kicking and punching" up to 170 pounds – despite his admission that the cut to lightweight was making him miserable.
"If I want to make (155 pounds) all year long and be starving and miserable for that long, I'd probably want to get paid more," Diaz earlier told MMAjunkie.com. "Until I start getting paid more, maybe I should ease up a weight class."
Diaz came into the octagon this past Saturday at around 175 pounds – a weight from which most UFC lightweights begin their cut, and drastically small compared to UFC welterweights who cut upward of 20 pounds to make the division's weight cap.
Following his most recent lightweight fight, a decision loss to now-lightweight contender Maynard, Diaz said it would take him a week to blow up to 190 pounds.
But that's undoubtedly a product of a hungry fighter. Gracie said the 6-foot-tall Diaz may take on a weight regimen to pack on more quality muscle.
"Nate probably will go back down to 155," Gracie said. "I think it's just with him, he feels like he has unfinished business there. But I thought it would be a good break for his body to go to 170 and fight some of these tough guys there."
In fact, Diaz might have come in smaller than expected for the Boston-based Davis because of a incident the night prior to the fight.
"He went out to Boston (and) found some restaurant, [and] they were closing," Gracie said. "He went in there and had some fish, and he got really sick that night.
"We're like, 'Oh my god, man, you're sick before your fight?' He got some kind of food poisoning; I think the fish wasn't cooked correctly, or we had an overzealous Boston fan. We made him throw that stuff up, and fortunately, the next day he felt better."
After bloodying his opponent's face for much of the three-round fight, Diaz took Davis down and choked him unconscious with a guillotine choke. The two won "Fight of the Night" honors for their performance.
Gracie relishes the day when Diaz has the opportunity to fight in five-round fights, just as his brother, Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, has the opportunity to do.
"The thing with my guys is, you can outpoint them for a couple of rounds, but to truly beat them, good luck," Gracie said. "The longer the fight goes, the more advantageous it is to my guys."
The question now is which welterweight steps up next for three rounds with the younger Diaz.
Nate Diaz (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) established a strong foothold in the UFC welterweight division this past Saturday when he submitted Marcus Davis (17-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at UFC 118.
It was Diaz's second victory at 170 pounds after serving most of his six-year career in the lightweight class.
And though Diaz wants to avenge his losses there, trainer and manager Cesar Gracie thinks he should stay at welterweight – at least for the time being.
"I think his future is at 170, whether it be now or a couple of years from now," Gracie today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).
Diaz, the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 5," blazed a trail in the lightweight division with four consecutive octagon wins. But he hit a roadblock against the short and scrappy wrestlers who dominate the division's upper tier. In his next four fights, he went 1-3 with decision losses to Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida and Gray Maynard.
The latest one stung in particular because the fight had been rumored to be a No. 1 contender's bout. Instead, UFC president Dana White gave Frankie Edgar the title shot, and "The Answer" went on to take the belt at UFC 112 from B.J. Penn. (Maynard won his shot at the belt higher up on the UFC 118 fight card with a decisive decision win over Kenny Florian.)
Gracie said the 25-year-old Diaz went "kicking and punching" up to 170 pounds – despite his admission that the cut to lightweight was making him miserable.
"If I want to make (155 pounds) all year long and be starving and miserable for that long, I'd probably want to get paid more," Diaz earlier told MMAjunkie.com. "Until I start getting paid more, maybe I should ease up a weight class."
Diaz came into the octagon this past Saturday at around 175 pounds – a weight from which most UFC lightweights begin their cut, and drastically small compared to UFC welterweights who cut upward of 20 pounds to make the division's weight cap.
Following his most recent lightweight fight, a decision loss to now-lightweight contender Maynard, Diaz said it would take him a week to blow up to 190 pounds.
But that's undoubtedly a product of a hungry fighter. Gracie said the 6-foot-tall Diaz may take on a weight regimen to pack on more quality muscle.
"Nate probably will go back down to 155," Gracie said. "I think it's just with him, he feels like he has unfinished business there. But I thought it would be a good break for his body to go to 170 and fight some of these tough guys there."
In fact, Diaz might have come in smaller than expected for the Boston-based Davis because of a incident the night prior to the fight.
"He went out to Boston (and) found some restaurant, [and] they were closing," Gracie said. "He went in there and had some fish, and he got really sick that night.
"We're like, 'Oh my god, man, you're sick before your fight?' He got some kind of food poisoning; I think the fish wasn't cooked correctly, or we had an overzealous Boston fan. We made him throw that stuff up, and fortunately, the next day he felt better."
After bloodying his opponent's face for much of the three-round fight, Diaz took Davis down and choked him unconscious with a guillotine choke. The two won "Fight of the Night" honors for their performance.
Gracie relishes the day when Diaz has the opportunity to fight in five-round fights, just as his brother, Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, has the opportunity to do.
"The thing with my guys is, you can outpoint them for a couple of rounds, but to truly beat them, good luck," Gracie said. "The longer the fight goes, the more advantageous it is to my guys."
The question now is which welterweight steps up next for three rounds with the younger Diaz.
Alvarez vs. Huerta and Good vs. Askren Slated for Bellator 33: 10/21
October's Bellator 33 fight card has another big addition.
A week after the organization announced a headlining non-title fight between lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta, a five-round title fight has been added to the mix.
Welterweight champ and season-one tourney winner Lyman Good (10-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) meets former NCAA Division I national wrestling champ and season-two tourney winner Ben Askren (6-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC).
Askren took to Twitter and today announced the fight, which takes place Oct. 21 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. MMAjunkie.com since has confirmed with a source close to the event that bout agreements have been signed.
Both fights air as part of the night's FOX Spots Net-televised main card.
The title fight marks Good's first bout since his successful title run in 2009. Good, a one-time IFL fighter, submitted Hector Urbina and then knocked out Jorge Ortiz and Omar De La Cruz to win the organization's first 170-pound title and championship. However, the Bellator 33 title defense represents his first fight in 16 months.
Good now meets fellow unbeaten Askren, the famed University of Missouri wrestler who's quickly found success in MMA. After signing with Bellator earlier this year after a trio of wins in smaller organizations, Askren entered the season-two welterweight tournament and cruised with a submission win over Ryan Thomas and subsequent decision wins over Thomas (a replacement fighter) in the semis and Dan Hornbuckle in the tournament finale.
With the victory, Askren was guaranteed the title shot.
October's Bellator 33 fight card has another big addition.
A week after the organization announced a headlining non-title fight between lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta, a five-round title fight has been added to the mix.
Welterweight champ and season-one tourney winner Lyman Good (10-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) meets former NCAA Division I national wrestling champ and season-two tourney winner Ben Askren (6-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC).
Askren took to Twitter and today announced the fight, which takes place Oct. 21 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. MMAjunkie.com since has confirmed with a source close to the event that bout agreements have been signed.
Both fights air as part of the night's FOX Spots Net-televised main card.
The title fight marks Good's first bout since his successful title run in 2009. Good, a one-time IFL fighter, submitted Hector Urbina and then knocked out Jorge Ortiz and Omar De La Cruz to win the organization's first 170-pound title and championship. However, the Bellator 33 title defense represents his first fight in 16 months.
Good now meets fellow unbeaten Askren, the famed University of Missouri wrestler who's quickly found success in MMA. After signing with Bellator earlier this year after a trio of wins in smaller organizations, Askren entered the season-two welterweight tournament and cruised with a submission win over Ryan Thomas and subsequent decision wins over Thomas (a replacement fighter) in the semis and Dan Hornbuckle in the tournament finale.
With the victory, Askren was guaranteed the title shot.
Rousimar Palhares: Once fighting for survival, now fighting for better life
When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt (29-9-2 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most high-profile contest of his career.
But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.
No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before he ever set foot in the octagon – when a 10-year-old Palhares and his brothers and sisters siblings worked 13 hour days on Brazilian plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.
"My childhood was a lot of work," Palhares recently told MMAjunkie.com, through an interpreter. "From sunup until sundown, with my elder brothers and parents, we woke up at 4 a.m. and worked until 5 p.m. We took care of cattle, and we cleaned the rocas (plantations)."
The third born of 10 siblings, Palhares didn't get the benefit of a normal childhood. Work didn't allow for much playtime – or even a chance to attend school – in his native Dores Do Indaia, Brazil.
"I never had the chance to study because I had to help my parents feed my younger brothers and sisters," Palhares said. "I started working when I was 10 years old. My family was big and poor, and we went through a lot of difficulties."
"Difficulties" might be a minor understatement. While the 30-year-old prefers not to focus too much on the past, he recalls a time when the only option for dinner was the feed mix intended for the plantation's pigs.
"We would get up at 4 a.m., have some breakfast, and take lunch to the fields, where we would work until 5 p.m. every day of the week," Palhares said. "There were times that money was so tight that we had to eat animal feed. We would eat the feed that we gave the pigs.
"It was a very bad time, and I don't like to talk about it."
So destitute were the conditions that even in time of emergency there was little Palhares or his family could do to respond. In a twisted moment of irony, Palhares – known as "Toquinho," or "Tree Stump," due to his stocky 5-foot-8 frame – nearly earned his moniker in a more tragic way.
"I was driving a cattle cart, and it got stuck, and I fell on a cut coffee tree," Palhares said. "The fall opened a deep gash in my chest."
The remnants of that wound are still visible on Palhares' left pectoral muscle. When you see it on fight night, consider how the wound was closed.
"We were far away from town, and there was no way I could get stitches," Palhares said. "The only thing we could do was use Scotch tape to close the gash and help it heal."
Finally, free time
As Palhares grew older, the contributions of his younger siblings allowed him the luxury of some minimal free time. Not one for sitting around, Palhares elected to turn his focus to martial arts.
"At the the time I started training martial arts, things had eased up a little, and I had some free time in which I could train," Palhares said. "I first started in Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts and music) and than karate. At the school where I worked out, they started a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, and I was invited to take a free inaugural lesson. The teacher liked me and invited me to train for free. He saw that I could become good at it."
His teacher was right. Palhares and his powerful, compact frame proved a perfect fit to the sport. Of course, Palhares' primary responsibilities remained in the fields, and his progress was hampered by his commitments to his family.
"I had never thought of becoming a professional fighter," Palhares said. "My only thoughts were to work and help my family have a decent life."
But in 2005, Palhares' family realized Rousimar's passion and ability, and they rallied behind the then-25-year-old to chase his dream. After 15 years of working in the plantation, this was his chance to dream.
"My family and my girlfriend thought I should try a larger step, and we decided that Brazilian Top Team was the best place to try," he said. "My brother lent me the money to go to and visit Rio de Janeiro."
Four-hundred miles from home, Palhares walked into the famed Brazilian Top Team camp. Founded by MMA luminaries Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Liborio, Mario Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte, BTT also housed the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Vitor Belfort and Paulo Filho.
The humble Palhares admits he was overwhelmed by his new surroundings.
"The place where I was staying was far away from the academy, so once I got to Rio, before I even ate, I went to train," Palhares said. "I went the first day and watched. I was ashamed to even talk to anyone.
"There were a lot of big names there, and I was afraid that they might laugh at me."
And certainly, with a camp full of MMA champions and superstars, there was no reason for the team to care about a poor plantation worker chasing his dream. But former UFC champion Bustamante, who was nursing a minor injury just weeks before his entry into PRIDE's 2005 welterweight grand prix, reached out to the new recruit.
"Murilo, who was not training that day due to an injury, asked me if there was anything he could do for me," Palhares said. "I explained to him my situation and why I was there, and he told me to get my shorts on and warm up. He let me train with his students and then with the BTT pro team.
"He was impressed with my performance, and that's how I became part of the team. I was very happy. I went home and got my things and came back and moved to Rio."
Palhares was still well below the poverty line, and he relied on his teammates at BTT for support. But while the journey was far from over, Palhares had been given the chance he needed to begin his journey.
"My life changed completely," Palhares said. "The team helped me in the beginning, for I had nothing. They helped me with board and food. After that, I started making a little money fighting, and I was able to help my family."
From plantations to the pros
Palhares took his first professional fight just seven months later, in April 2006, and earned a split-decision win. He would go on to win seven of his first eight fights, and six of those victories came via submission. It was enough to earn Palhares a UFC contract, and the middleweight has since gone 4-1 in the octagon.
Palhares' dangerous heel hook, which has earned him six submission wins (as well as some controversy, as witnessed by a recently completed 90-day suspension for failing to release the hold in a timely fashion at UFC 111), has become his signature finishing move. And while he doesn't have the officially recognized grappling credentials of a Demian Maia, Palhares' submission game is still just as dangerous.
A win over Marquardt in the UFC Fight Night 22 main event would move Palhares dangerously close to the forefront of the UFC's middleweight title picture. For the Brazilian who has already accomplished so much, it only makes sense to ride this dream all the way to its conclusion.
"Fighting is my life; it's what I do best," Palhares said. "My life is completely dedicated to fighting. Today, my objective is to become UFC champion."
While that's certainly no easy task, it hardly seems fair to count out Palhares considering what he's already accomplished.
"I thank God because my life has changed completely," Palhares said. "I was able to buy a house for my mother, and I live well in Rio. My life gets better every day, and I am blessed to be able to do what I love.
"Outside fighting, I look forward to having children and raising a family, and it's comforting to know they will never have to go through what I went through as a child."
When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt (29-9-2 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most high-profile contest of his career.
But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.
No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before he ever set foot in the octagon – when a 10-year-old Palhares and his brothers and sisters siblings worked 13 hour days on Brazilian plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.
"My childhood was a lot of work," Palhares recently told MMAjunkie.com, through an interpreter. "From sunup until sundown, with my elder brothers and parents, we woke up at 4 a.m. and worked until 5 p.m. We took care of cattle, and we cleaned the rocas (plantations)."
The third born of 10 siblings, Palhares didn't get the benefit of a normal childhood. Work didn't allow for much playtime – or even a chance to attend school – in his native Dores Do Indaia, Brazil.
"I never had the chance to study because I had to help my parents feed my younger brothers and sisters," Palhares said. "I started working when I was 10 years old. My family was big and poor, and we went through a lot of difficulties."
"Difficulties" might be a minor understatement. While the 30-year-old prefers not to focus too much on the past, he recalls a time when the only option for dinner was the feed mix intended for the plantation's pigs.
"We would get up at 4 a.m., have some breakfast, and take lunch to the fields, where we would work until 5 p.m. every day of the week," Palhares said. "There were times that money was so tight that we had to eat animal feed. We would eat the feed that we gave the pigs.
"It was a very bad time, and I don't like to talk about it."
So destitute were the conditions that even in time of emergency there was little Palhares or his family could do to respond. In a twisted moment of irony, Palhares – known as "Toquinho," or "Tree Stump," due to his stocky 5-foot-8 frame – nearly earned his moniker in a more tragic way.
"I was driving a cattle cart, and it got stuck, and I fell on a cut coffee tree," Palhares said. "The fall opened a deep gash in my chest."
The remnants of that wound are still visible on Palhares' left pectoral muscle. When you see it on fight night, consider how the wound was closed.
"We were far away from town, and there was no way I could get stitches," Palhares said. "The only thing we could do was use Scotch tape to close the gash and help it heal."
Finally, free time
As Palhares grew older, the contributions of his younger siblings allowed him the luxury of some minimal free time. Not one for sitting around, Palhares elected to turn his focus to martial arts.
"At the the time I started training martial arts, things had eased up a little, and I had some free time in which I could train," Palhares said. "I first started in Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts and music) and than karate. At the school where I worked out, they started a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, and I was invited to take a free inaugural lesson. The teacher liked me and invited me to train for free. He saw that I could become good at it."
His teacher was right. Palhares and his powerful, compact frame proved a perfect fit to the sport. Of course, Palhares' primary responsibilities remained in the fields, and his progress was hampered by his commitments to his family.
"I had never thought of becoming a professional fighter," Palhares said. "My only thoughts were to work and help my family have a decent life."
But in 2005, Palhares' family realized Rousimar's passion and ability, and they rallied behind the then-25-year-old to chase his dream. After 15 years of working in the plantation, this was his chance to dream.
"My family and my girlfriend thought I should try a larger step, and we decided that Brazilian Top Team was the best place to try," he said. "My brother lent me the money to go to and visit Rio de Janeiro."
Four-hundred miles from home, Palhares walked into the famed Brazilian Top Team camp. Founded by MMA luminaries Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Liborio, Mario Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte, BTT also housed the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Vitor Belfort and Paulo Filho.
The humble Palhares admits he was overwhelmed by his new surroundings.
"The place where I was staying was far away from the academy, so once I got to Rio, before I even ate, I went to train," Palhares said. "I went the first day and watched. I was ashamed to even talk to anyone.
"There were a lot of big names there, and I was afraid that they might laugh at me."
And certainly, with a camp full of MMA champions and superstars, there was no reason for the team to care about a poor plantation worker chasing his dream. But former UFC champion Bustamante, who was nursing a minor injury just weeks before his entry into PRIDE's 2005 welterweight grand prix, reached out to the new recruit.
"Murilo, who was not training that day due to an injury, asked me if there was anything he could do for me," Palhares said. "I explained to him my situation and why I was there, and he told me to get my shorts on and warm up. He let me train with his students and then with the BTT pro team.
"He was impressed with my performance, and that's how I became part of the team. I was very happy. I went home and got my things and came back and moved to Rio."
Palhares was still well below the poverty line, and he relied on his teammates at BTT for support. But while the journey was far from over, Palhares had been given the chance he needed to begin his journey.
"My life changed completely," Palhares said. "The team helped me in the beginning, for I had nothing. They helped me with board and food. After that, I started making a little money fighting, and I was able to help my family."
From plantations to the pros
Palhares took his first professional fight just seven months later, in April 2006, and earned a split-decision win. He would go on to win seven of his first eight fights, and six of those victories came via submission. It was enough to earn Palhares a UFC contract, and the middleweight has since gone 4-1 in the octagon.
Palhares' dangerous heel hook, which has earned him six submission wins (as well as some controversy, as witnessed by a recently completed 90-day suspension for failing to release the hold in a timely fashion at UFC 111), has become his signature finishing move. And while he doesn't have the officially recognized grappling credentials of a Demian Maia, Palhares' submission game is still just as dangerous.
A win over Marquardt in the UFC Fight Night 22 main event would move Palhares dangerously close to the forefront of the UFC's middleweight title picture. For the Brazilian who has already accomplished so much, it only makes sense to ride this dream all the way to its conclusion.
"Fighting is my life; it's what I do best," Palhares said. "My life is completely dedicated to fighting. Today, my objective is to become UFC champion."
While that's certainly no easy task, it hardly seems fair to count out Palhares considering what he's already accomplished.
"I thank God because my life has changed completely," Palhares said. "I was able to buy a house for my mother, and I live well in Rio. My life gets better every day, and I am blessed to be able to do what I love.
"Outside fighting, I look forward to having children and raising a family, and it's comforting to know they will never have to go through what I went through as a child."
