MMA Stuff Lee Likes

Sylvester Stallone Talks About Randy Couture on Letterman

2010-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Sylvester Stallone Talks About Randy Couture on Letterman: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

FanHouse's Backstage With Joe Rogan, Part 2

2010-07-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

FanHouse's Backstage With Joe Rogan, Part 1

2010-07-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Dana White Will Cut Chuck Liddell From the UFC Before Letting Him Back Inside the Octagon

2010-07-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

Dana White Will Cut Chuck Liddell From the UFC Before Letting Him Back Inside the Octagon: "

View full size photo »

At risk of this getting sucked into the UFC 116 black hole, Dana White has apparently put his foot down with regards to Chuck Liddell's career. Mike Chiappetta of MMA Fighting has the scoop (emphasis mine):

The 40-year-old Liddell, who recently admitted in an interview that 'I guess I'm not taking shots like I used to,' also seemed to hedge on the retirement issue, saying it was not a decision he was prepared to make.

But if Liddell -- who had his wax likeness unveiled by the world famous Madame Tussauds museum Thursday -- wants to continue his fighting career, he'll have to do so out of the UFC.

'I guess if he asks me to release him, I'd release him,' he said. 'That's not what I want. But he'll never fight in the UFC again.'

Take note, John Hackelman. It takes a little tough love to show someone you're serious.

I think Chuck Liddell can still fight, but he'd have to take a huge step down in competition. It's clear that he's slowed to the point where he can't keep up with the top guys in the division anymore. So if he wants to fight Stephan Bonnar or Eric Schafer, so be it.

That said, Dana should be commended for his actions here. Maybe it's one fight too late. Maybe he should have taken this stand after the 'Shogun' Rua fight. But if Dana White is serious about not being complicit in Liddell's downfall, this is the only move he can really make. He can't hold Chuck's hand, but he sure as hell can keep from leading the lamb to the wolves.

UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Pre-Fight Interviews

2010-07-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Pre-Fight Interviews: "

Dana White - 'This is a great fight between two heavyweights on Saturday night and whoever wins, Cain Velasquez is waiting in the wings,' White said. 'Then whoever wins that, we've got [Junior] Dos Santos and Big Country [Roy Nelson] fighting. The winner of that fight is waiting for the next guy. If you can run through this division right now, you're the man.'

Lots more after the jump.

HT: heavymma.com

HT: mmafighting.com

MMA CONNECTED UFC 116 LESNAR VS CARWIN FIGHTER PREDICTIONS

2010-07-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

White first interview on Fedor; He doesn't want him in the UFC

2010-06-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

White first interview on Fedor; He doesn't want him in the UFC: "

Up until today, all we've heard from Dana White on the subject of Fedor Emelianenko's future was the smiley face he sent out on Twitter following the Russian's upset loss to Fabricio Werdum on Saturday night.

In an exclusive conversation on ESPNRadio1100 in Las Vegas, White was asked if he still wants to bring Fedor on board with the UFC.

"Nope," White told The Gridlock Show. "Now I don't have to hear about him anymore. I like it."

Host Seat Williams said Fedor has star power, he could still be part of a mega-fight against the winner of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.

"He has star power? Nobody cares," said White. Fedor (32-2) lost his first fight in 10 years via armbar and triangle choke against Werdum, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

"Do you realize this is something that's
been created by the mixed martial arts media? Do you know how many people watched his
fight the other night? 400,000 people watched it. The guy has
absolutely no star power. They sold no tickets to that fight either."

It sounds like White isn't convinced that he could even sell a Fedor v. Lesnar fight.

"Here's the problem, the guy loses and gets to fight one of these guys? I've been saying for years this guy isn't all that. He's
not great," said White "Everybody's talking about how great this guy is, no he's
not. Now he should deserve to come into the UFC and fight the best? No way!"

Before he was tracked down by the Las Vegas sportstalk station, White said a comment on Fedor wasn't even necessary.

"I haven't talked to any media about it. The media have turned this guy into ... oh this guy is this and this guy is that. The guys who fight in the UFC are fighting the very best three times a year. This guy hasn't fought anybody since 2005. The media created him and hyped him up. Not me. What do you want me to say? This is what I've been saying?"

Is this a negotiating ploy or is White convinced, now that Fedor has lost, he's now a non-entity? Maybe he's right. Beyond Fedor fanboys and MMA hardcores, would the casual MMA or sports fan flock to pay-per-view to see the guy?

Dana White's UFC 116 Video Blog - Episode 1

2010-06-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Dana White's UFC 116 Video Blog - Episode 1: "

Dana White video blog leading up to UFC 116 on Saturday, July 3rd on Pay-Per-View.

UFC 116 - MMAPlayground.com Fight Companion

2010-06-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

My picks and fake bets for UFC 116

UFC 116 - MMAPlayground.com Fight Companion

Dana White talks Fedor Emelianenko - "boo hoo, you are really taking the loss hard! Even setting...

2010-06-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Dana White talks Fedor Emelianenko - "boo hoo, you are really taking the loss hard! Even setting...: "

Dana White talks Fedor Emelianenko - 'boo hoo, you are really taking the loss hard! Even setting him up with easy fights doesn't work anymore. its over move on, I did.'

http://twitter.com/danawhite/

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum coverage

UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Main Card Preview

2010-06-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Main Card Preview: "

Main bouts: [July 3rd in Las Vegas]

Brock Lesnar (4-1) -170 vs. Shane Carwin (12-0) +130

Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1) -235 vs. Chris Leben (20-6) +185

Chris Lytle (28-17-5) -215 vs. Matt Brown (11-8) +165

Krzysztof Soszynski (19-9-1) -250 vs. Stephan Bonnar (11-7) +190

George Sotiropoulos (12-2) -180 vs. Kurt Pellegrino (16-4) +140

HT: sportsnet.ca

Shane Carwin Talks Brock Lesnar UFC 116 Championship Bout

2010-06-28T09:40:00.001-07:00

Shane Carwin Talks Brock Lesnar UFC 116 Championship Bout: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

UFC 116: Krzysztof Soszynski ready to 'exploit Stephan Bonnar's weaknesses' on July 3 (Video)

2010-06-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

UFC 116: Krzysztof Soszynski ready to 'exploit Stephan Bonnar's weaknesses' on July 3 (Video): "

Fedor video: 'This loss was necessary for me, I never wanted to be a God'

2010-06-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

Fedor video: 'This loss was necessary for me, I never wanted to be a God': "

Dana White's response to Fedor's loss - :Dhttp://twitter.com/danawhite/Strikeforce: Fedor vs....

2010-06-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

Dana White's response to Fedor's loss - :D<br><br>http://twitter.com/danawhite/<br>Strikeforce: Fedor vs....: "

Dana White's response to Fedor's loss - :D

http://twitter.com/danawhite/

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum coverage

The Emperor is Dead

2010-06-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

Fedor Emelianenko vs Fabricio Werdum Video- Strikeforce: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

UFC 116 video predictions from the pros for 'Lesnar vs Carwin' on July 3

2010-06-25T18:29:00.001-07:00

UFC 116 video predictions from the pros for 'Lesnar vs Carwin' on July 3: "
Who you got?"

- FEDOR VS. WERDUM WEIGH-IN RESULTS

2010-06-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

- FEDOR VS. WERDUM WEIGH-IN RESULTS: "The fighters for Saturday's 'Fedor vs. Werdum' event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., weighed in Friday..."

UFC 118 Prelims will air on Spike!

2010-06-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

UFC 118 Prelims will air on Spike!

KJ Noons: 'Nick Diaz is a great fighter -- he's just an idiot'

2010-06-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

it's like saying the sky is blue or water is wet.....

KJ Noons: 'Nick Diaz is a great fighter -- he's just an idiot': "

Props: Sherdog.com

Quoteworthy:

'[A Nick Diaz rematch is] definitely in the mix. That's something I want to do, he wants to do it and Strikeforce wants to do it. It's just a matter of making it happen. The whole Nick Diaz thing, he's a great fighter. You look at everything since he first fought (and) I never took away that he's a good fighter. I just said he's an idiot. I don't like his personality. He's a good fighter. As a person, he's a dumb motherf----- ... I'm taking nothing away from him. As a person I just don't like him. Actually I feel sorry for the guy. Too bad he's not better on the outside. He'd actually be a better star and people would like him better. I'm not talking s---; that's just the plain truth.'

Former Elite XC Lightweight Champion and current Strikeforce attraction KJ Noons talks about his inevitable rematch with Nick Diaz now that both fighters have set up shop in the San Jose-based organization. Diaz lost to Noons back in 2007 via TKO due to cuts and has since had surgery to correct that area of his face that was so easily opened. He's also gone 7-0 with seven finishes following their bout while Noons has competed just three times in MMA, including a close split decision win over Conor Huen on June 16. Noons vs. Diaz II -- Who ya' got?

MMA Weekly's World MMA Rankings for June 23, 2010

2010-06-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

The latest MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday, June 23. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters from all across the world in each of the seven most widely accepted weight classes.

Taken into consideration are a fighter's performance in addition to his win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most comprehensive rankings system in the sport.

Fighters who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after the completion of their suspension.

Fighters must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to be eligible for Top 10 consideration unless they have a bout scheduled within a reasonable time frame.

Below are the current MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date as of June 23.

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

(over 205 pounds)

#1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World:
Fedor Emelianenko

2. Brock Lesnar

3. Shane Carwin

4. Cain Velasquez

5. Junior Dos Santos

6. Alistair Overeem

7. Frank Mir

8. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

9. Fabricio Werdum

10. Brett Rogers

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

(205-pound limit)

#1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World:
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

2. Lyoto Machida

3. Rashad Evans

4. Quinton Jackson

5. Anderson Silva

6. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

7. Forrest Griffin

8. Jon Jones

9. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal

10. Gegard Mousasi

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION

(185-pound limit)

#1 Middleweight Fighter in the World:

Anderson Silva

2. Chael Sonnen

3. Jake Shields

4. Nathan Marquardt

5. Demian Maia

6. Dan Henderson

7. Robbie Lawler

8. Jorge Santiago

9. Yoshihiro Akiyama

10. Yushin Okami

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

(170-pound limit)

#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World:

Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Thiago Alves

4. Josh Koscheck

5. Paul Daley

6. Nick Diaz

7. Martin Kampmann

8. Paulo Thiago

9. Matt Hughes

10. Dan Hardy

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

(160-pound limit)

#1 Lightweight Fighter in the World:

Frankie Edgar

2. B.J. Penn

3. Gilbert Melendez

4. Shinya Aoki

5. Kenny Florian

6. Eddie Alvarez

7. Tatsuya Kawajiri

8. Gray Maynard

9. Ben Henderson

10. Jim Miller

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION

(145 pound-limit)

#1 Featherweight Fighter in the World:
Jose Aldo

2. Manny Gamburyan

3. Mike Brown

4. Urijah Faber

5. Josh Grispi

6. Marlon Sandro

7. Diego Nunes

8. Raphael Assuncao

9. Hatsu Hioki

10. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue

BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION

(135 pounds or less)

#1 Featherweight Fighter in the World:
Dominick Cruz

2. Brian Bowles

3. Joseph Benavidez

4. Miguel Torres

5. Scott Jorgensen

6. Damacio Page

7. Takeya Mizugaki

8. Brad Pickett

9. Masakatsu Ueda

10. Charlie Valencia

UFC 116 In-Depth

2010-06-22T17:42:00.000-07:00

UFC 116 In-Depth: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

Fedor Emelianenko: 'I became a thorn in the UFC's side'

2010-06-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Fedor Emelianenko: 'I became a thorn in the UFC's side': "

Props: MixFight.ru (via Lowkick.com)

Quoteworthy:

'UFC is a money making machine. The most important thing for this organization is a brand and it's marketing. They have a couple of good fighters and there are also some very good champions; but they are trying to keep everyone at the same level. The most important thing for them is the promotion, not the fighters. I think that they lack a respect for their fighters. As for me, I became a thorn in their side... We are constantly negotiating, but only during recent time the Americans began to show some respect. The dialogue between us is completely different right now. They are more interested in our opinion.'

Russian heavyweight uber star Fedor Emelianenko continues his verbal attack on the UFC and their product. Just last week, "The Last Emperor" proclaimed he was no fan of the world's number one MMA promotion. Now, he seems to be relishing in the fact that throughout all the back and forth between himself, M-1 Global's Vadim Finkelstein, and the UFC management, he successfully developed into a prickly thorn stuck in the side of the Zuffa brass. What once seemed like almost an inevitability - Fedor stepping foot inside the Octagon - now seems as unlikely as it ever has. Anyone holding out hope?

Shane Carwin has a little message for the MMA media...

2010-06-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Shane Carwin has a little message for the MMA media...: "

...and he makes a pretty strong case for his UFC 116: 'Lesnar vs. Carwin' preparations.

'A lot of people are still questioning my reasoning behind limiting my media access. If you read this article it would sound as if I am somehow failing at my duties as a fighter. Or according to the Zuffa 'Talking Heads' I am not doing my part to sell this fight. Lets talk about me selling this fight. I earned this fight. I was 'given' my previous opportunity against Brock but this one I earned. I was asked to train for Cain and I began my camp. I was then told Cain is not the opponent I am being bumped up to Lesnar. Then I begin training for Lesnar to only have him pull out of the fight TWICE. His 'miracle recovery' underway I was told I am going to have to face Frank Mir to earn the opportunity to face Brock (something I had already been given and taken away now twice). So for those of you confused by the fact that I somehow am fighting Brock because I talked crap or played some hype man you are wrong. I earned this fight and this opportunity. I have never turned down a fight, I have never told Zuffa no, I have and always do a good job and for them. Those that know me know that is who and what I am all about.'

UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin sounds off via his official blog -- a site he names as the best place to interact with his fans -- regarding the beating he's taken by some members of the mixed martial arts media for his perceived media blackout heading into the UFC's biggest pay-per-view of the year on July 3. In addition to his media access, 'The Engineer' also defends his salary and decision not to participate in smack talk. Give it a look and let's hear what you think. Is he not doing enough to sell the fight? Or is he one of the few fighters still keeping it real? What's your take?

Court McGee 'grateful' after win over Kris McCray to win TUF 11 Finale (Video)

2010-06-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

Court McGee 'grateful' after win over Kris McCray to win TUF 11 Finale (Video): "

Chuck Liddell retirement is still in the evaluation phase

2010-06-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Chuck Liddell retirement is still in the evaluation phase: "

Unfortunately, the 'Iceman' still feels he's got something left in the tank ... maybe:

"I’m still working on evaluating. I thought I did great before I was caught. I have to look at it some more and think about it. I think I looked good and I definitely was in great shape. I could have kept that pace up for another four rounds, without a doubt.... It’s hard to beat that [aggressiveness] out of me, because that’s who I am and that’s who I’ve been for a long, long time. People like watching me because of the way I fight, so it’s hard to get me not to fight that way. There’s a lot still to think about. I felt pretty good and I think showed I can compete. I’m not going to rush and I’ll do what I think is best. I’m just not at a point to make that decision yet."

Three straight knockout losses. Dropped five of his last six fights. 40 years old. Head trainer and best friend (who also happens to be his boss, Dana White) both want him to hang up the gloves. Is there really a lot more to think about for the UFC Hall of Famer?

Warning...I think Anderson Silva has jumped the shark.

2010-06-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Sonnen is screwed, Silva brings in secret weapon Seagal: "

Chael Sonnen is running to his "phony" Twitter account as we speak. Will he talk more trash or concede victory and forfeit @sonnench?

That's right, as if Anderson Silva's arsenal wasn't versatile enough, now the UFC middleweight champ is working with action film star and seventh degree Aikido black belt Steven Seagal. In between chuckling at what a weird dude Seagal is, you'll see his moves actually look kind of cool. Who knows if any of them could actually work on anyone other than a stunt man but at least we know if Silva decides to jerk around again in this fight, he now has a new set of karate chops to elicit thousands of boos.

We can only imagine what Sonnen will have to say when he hears Seagal talking trash about him. Seagal was asked what Sonnen has to offer in the fight at UFC 117.

"Nothing," smiled Seagal. "Certainly this fight is another step in the road. But I believe that this will not be one of his more difficult fights."

Maybe Sonnen needs to steal away Seagal. The old guy really has his way with the middleweight champ (3:44, 3:56, 4:28, 6:40 mark). Warning there is an NSFW mount (5:45 mark).

Let's hope this works for Silva. He may want to call "Judo" Gene LeBell for tips on not only how to counteract Seagal's dangerous game but also make him soil himself (Video below 2:16 mark).

YAYYYYYYYY

2010-06-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

In first official UFC fight, Yager bails again as Attonito pounds out win: "

Turns out it wasn't a fluke or bad break during Season 11 of "The Utimate Fighter" when Jamie Yager bowed out in the quarterfinals. Yager tried to defend his reputation against fans, media and coach Tito Ortiz who said he quit when it counted most on the show against Josh Bryant. He was slightly more game against Rich Attonito in his first official UFC fight but when it came time to push through some stamina issues it looked like Yager wilted again. Attonito was able to score a TKO win at the 4:25 of the second round in the first televised bout at "The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale" at the Palms in Las Vegas

The 26-year-old Californian came out strong and his length was giving the 5-foot-10 Attonito all sorts of troubles over the first four minutes of the fight. But his hands started dropping at the end of the first. In the second, he lacked explosiveness and started getting nailed by Attonito counterpunches. The beginning of the end started when Attonito charged Yager with a four-punch combo. Yager backed up to the cage and dropped for a single-leg takedown. Attinito, a former NCAA Div. 1 wrestler stymied the takedown easily and before you knew it he had Yager's back. He worked a choke for 20 seconds and then flattened out Yager. Yager stopped fighting forcing the ref to finish the fight.

TUF 11 Finale undercard (courtesy of MMAJunkie):

Brad Tavares def. Seth Baczynski via unanimous
decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Kyle Noke def. Josh Bryant via TKO (strikes) - Round 2,
3:12.
Chris Camozzi def. James Hammortree via
unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
Travis Browne def. James McSweeney via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 4:32.

Chuck Liddell's Smaller Side?

2010-06-19T13:24:00.001-07:00

The Way of the Brisk: The Untold Story - watch more funny videos

Couture and Lesnar joining forces to ready for UFC 116

2010-06-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Couture and Lesnar joining forces to ready for UFC 116: "

Brock Lesnar has been dominant during his short time in mixed martial arts. He's overpowered just about everyone he's faced except for a 220-pounder named Randy Couture. Couture has been around the block and knows all the little tricks. With that in mind, Lesnar invited Couture to come train with him at his gym in Minnesota.

What's more impressive (3:10 mark)? The explosion and athleticism exhibited by 6-foot-5, 290-pound Lesnar or that the 46-year-old Couture is doing the same workout?

Lesnar has a nice group heavyweights on hand including "Ultimate Fighter 10" alum Jon Madsen. Those two faced off in high school with Madsen coming away the winner.

Lesnar defends his UFC heavyweight title against Shane Carwin in less than three weeks at UFC 116.

Chuck Liddell's trainer heartbroken; No longer wants to see 'Iceman' fight

2010-06-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Chuck Liddell's trainer heartbroken; No longer wants to see 'Iceman' fight: "

Props: SI.com

Quoteworthy:

'I don't think there's too much to talk about. I think we both know what he's going to do. I won't speak for him like Dana [White] did. I'll just say I'd rather he not do it anymore.... If he's gotta do it I'd rather be there looking after him than someone else. I don't think it will come to that. I think he's good right now. I think he's in a good place and obviously wishes he won. But he's a very successful guy that's accomplished a lot in and out of the cage, and he doesn't really need this anymore in any way. I don't think he has anything to prove.... The thing that made him the most famous, richest, most exciting superstar in the sport also can come back and haunt him ... all the game planning went out the window and the warrior in him took over. He dropped his hands, took his chin up and started swinging for the fences. That's the way he went in and that's the way he went out. That's just him. Looking down at him cut like that, broke my heart.'

John Hackleman -- the long-time trainer and friend of former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell -- concedes that it's finally time for his UFC Hall of Fame fighter to hang up the gloves. Liddell, 40, suffered his fifth loss in six fights, getting knocked out cold courtesy of Rich Franklin at UFC 115 last weekend. It was the fourth time in those five losses that he ended up on his back, staring at the lights and wondering what the hell went wrong. Hackleman suggests that the "warrior" nature of Liddell is likely to blame -- no matter how much game planning, conditioning or drilling he did prior to the fight, he quickly resorted to his aggressive (and careless) self after just a few minutes of action. "Iceman" has yet to make an official announcement on his retirement; however, with Hackleman, as well as UFC President Dana White (again) telling him the party's over, he may listen this time around. Will we hear him say goodbye this weekend at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 11 Finale or will he drag this out as long as possible à la Brett Favre?

Awesome

2010-06-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

- MMAWEEKLY WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED

2010-06-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

- MMAWEEKLY WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED: "The latest MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday, June 16. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters from all across the world in each of the seven most widely accepted weight classes..."

Some in Utah sad, but knew that Sunday UFC event was a challenge

2010-06-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Um...come on Dana...a Sunday in Utah?! That's like an event in Vegas at 7am.

Some in Utah sad, but knew that Sunday UFC event was a challenge: "

Even the most successful business leaders miscalculate from time-to-time but the good ones can spot the error and correct it before it turns into a disaster. The UFC tried to make an aggressive push into Utah with a Sunday night event apparently underestimating just how important the day of observance is in the predominently Mormon state. When ticket sales were mediocre at best, the UFC pulled the plug on UFC on Versus 2 on Aug. 1. Some in Utah may be jumping for joy, not the Utah Athletic Commission.

"We went from excitement to deep sadness," said Bill Colbert, head of the UAC. "It was very much uncharted territory for us. We have never had any sort of
MMA event on a Sunday. We were hoping the UFC name would help
overcome that, but it just doesn't fit with our demographics."

It's so taboo for sporting events in Utah to be held on Sunday that BYU doesn't play any of it games on the holy day. The school often gets special concessions from the NCAA when it comes to tournament play. With the Pac-10 looking for a 12th team, BYU will likely be passed over for Utah because of its refusal to play on Sundays.

"Our population doesn't generally like going to sporting events on a Sunday.
It's worked for the (NBA's Utah) Jazz with a couple of playoff games, but it's
not an ideal situation," Suazo told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a story headlined "UFC admits misstep, moves Sunday event out of
Salt Lake City."

Energy Solutions Arena was configured for 11,800 for the MMA event. Mark Powell, vice president of events at EnergySolutions, told the Salt Lake Tribune only 2,500 had been sold. Michael David Smith of Fanhouse chimes in saying that the cancellation is sign that the promotion's incredible can't be maintained. This is a tough sell considering the UFC just sold 17,000 tickets for UFC 115 in Vancouver and posted a very Vegas-like $4.3 million gate.

UFC on Versus 2 scheduled for Aug. 1 is now going down at the San Diego Sports Arena. The Arena hosted WEC 38 back in Jan. of 2009.

Canada detains Mirko 'War Cop' in hopes of extracting dirt on Yugoslavia

2010-06-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

*mutters* damn canadians...

Canada detains Mirko 'War Cop' in hopes of extracting dirt on Yugoslavia: "

Props: Fighter's Only

Quoteworthy:

"The first day I was kept for four hours and two more the next day. Although they were not satisfied with my answers they let me go to the hotel in the city, to sleep. They asked me to think about the questions raised. I was threatened with deportation, but appealed to the Croatian Embassy. The Consul was urgently flown in from Ottawa, and the UFC hired the best lawyer for immigration issues. They obviously knew what would happen because my lawyer was on the runway at the airport! The inquiry was painful for me, but I must say that the Immigration Bureau officials very correctly performed their job. They used what they have to, but there are obviously very interested in the military and police matters from the former Yugoslavia. Most of them were interested in my military service. I served in 1993-1994 as a conscripts, but I was not involved in combat activities. They asked me if I was involved in the torture of civilians, asking for names of command lines and tactical commanders. They were asking for details of my activities in Lucko ATJ [anti-terrorist unit] which I joined a few years after the war. They gave me a list of names for me to confirm, but I did not do it. I can not confirm one name because it is still a matter of dignity and principles. I said to myself, ‘If it comes to it I am ready to go home‘. They could have done what they wanted with me but [in the end] they let me fight."

UFC heavyweight Mirko Filipovic talks about his run in at the Canadian border on his way to the UFC 115: 'Liddell vs. Franklin' event in Vancouver last Saturday night (June 12). 'Cro Cop' has political and military ties with his home country of Croatia and Canadian officials were apparently very interested in some of the secrets the former PRIDE star may or may not have had locked away in his vault. Fortunately the Croat was allowed to continue on but not before calling for reinforcements. Can the UFC expect more of the same as it continues its global expansion? Or is it possible this was just an isolated incident?

Shane Carwin predicts Brock Lesnar knockout at UFC 116 (Video)

2010-06-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Shane Carwin predicts Brock Lesnar knockout at UFC 116 (Video): "

UFC on Versus 2 moved to San Diego from Salt Lake City on Aug. 1

2010-06-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

This just stinks :(

UFC on Versus 2 moved to San Diego from Salt Lake City on Aug. 1: "

UFC on Versus 2, which was supposed to be the first-ever event for the promotion in Utah from EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Aug. 1, has been moved to the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif., instead.

Poor ticket sales are apparently to blame for the relatively last-minute switch.

Here's a snip from company president Dana White:

'Our television ratings in Salt Lake City have always been strong. When we finally found the opportunity to bring a UFC event there with a great card, I was very surprised and disappointed in ticket sales. As a result, for the first time in UFC history, I decided to pull the plug and move this August 1st event to the San Diego Sports Arena.'

Those who purchased tickets for the event in 'The Beehive State' will receive a full refund. There's currently no announcement for the tickets sale in San Diego; however, expect one to come real soon with just a few weeks until fight night.

UFC on Versus 2 will feature a match up between light heavyweight superstar in the making Jon Jones and Belarusian brawler Vladimir Matyushenko.

Also on tap for the second such event on the cable network are bouts between Mark Munoz and Yushin Okami as well as Takanori Gomi and Joe Stevenson.

For more on UFC on Versus 2 stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out our event archive for the latest fight card and rumors right here.

UFC 115 videos blog with Dana White (Episode 2)

2010-06-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

UFC 115 videos blog with Dana White (Episode 2): "

Dana White: James Toney has signed his contract to fight Randy Couture in Boston

2010-06-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Dana White: James Toney has signed his contract to fight Randy Couture in Boston: "

Looks like it's going to be 'Lights Out' on August 28 in 'Beantown.'

Past-his-prime pugilist James Toney will finally get the chance to prove that boxing (with takedown defense) trumps mixed martial arts on any given Saturday when he takes on former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 118 in Boston.

UFC President Dana White confirmed the bout agreement was signed by Toney in a UFC 115 video interview with Ariel Helwani -- despite a recent report that his signature had yet to be obtained.

Toney has enlisted the help of Juanito Ibarra, perhaps best known as the former trainer of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson to help him transition to MMA. Despite his rookie status, the NABO heavyweight boxing champion was able to submit Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion 'King Mo' in practice.

But don't expect Couture to be as generous in August.

No one will ever mistake 'The Natural' as a world class striker, but he's as good (or better) than anyone in the game today at identifying an opponent's weakness and exploiting it. Also consider his wrestling background and experience inside the cage and it's hard not to give Toney anything more than a puncher's chance.

It's just a question of how long Couture allows Toney to stay upright.

UFC 118 is expected to feature a lightweight bout between current 155-pound contenders Kenny 'KenFlo' Florian and Gray 'The Bully' Maynard as they try to stake their claim to the winner of a possible championship rematch between Frankie 'The Answer' Edgar and BJ 'The Prodigy' Penn, also booked for the Aug. 28 card.

For more on UFC 118 click here.

Kurt Pellegrino Security System

2010-06-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

Kurt Pellegrino Security System: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

Chuck Liddell retirement? MMA pros weigh in on 'The Iceman's' future (Video)

2010-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Chuck Liddell retirement? MMA pros weigh in on 'The Iceman's' future (Video): "

UFC 115's Three Stars: Franklin, Condit and Dunham

2010-06-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

UFC 115's Three Stars: Franklin, Condit and Dunham: "

In a tradition taken from hockey (ahem, HOW 'BOUT 'DEM BLACKHAWKS), Cagewriter takes a look at three of the biggest stars from UFC 115.

No. 1 star -- Rich Franklin: The former middleweight champion hadn't fought since he was brutally knocked out by Vitor Belfort, but he showed that ring rust was not a problem. Franklin stayed calm after his arm was broken by a Liddell kick and waited for the perfect moment to deliver a right that ended the night -- and quite possibly his fighting career -- for Liddell.

No. 2 star -- Carlos Condit: MacDonald dominated the first two rounds, and it was clear that Condit would need to pull out a home run to win the fight. He waited until the final minute of the fight, but was able to stop MacDonald with a crushing elbow. The bout was stopped as the 10-second warning sounded, with Condit, the one-time WEC welterweight champ, coming out as the victor. However, MacDonald got a nice consolation prize. He and Condit won $85,000 bonuses for their Fight of the Night performance.

No. 3 star -- Evan Dunham: The undefeated lightweight executed a perfect gameplan against Tyson Griffin. He controlled Griffin's every move in the Octagon on the way to an inexplicable split decision win. Dunham has never lost a bout, and that includes four wins in the UFC.

Honorable mention: Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic: Cro Cop dealt with Barry's fanboy adulation all week, and then had no problem choking Barry out. However, now that we know Barry broke his hand and foot in the fight, it's hard to tell just how great Cro Cop's performance was.

Dishonorable mention -- Yves Levigne and Tony Weeks: Levigne, normally a top-notch referee, oddly stopped the Wiman-Danzig bout without Danzig tapping or being choked out. In a fight dominated by Evan Dunham, Weeks scored the fight for Tyson Griffin.

Do you agree? Disagree? Who are your three stars from UFC 115? Tell us in the comments.

UFC 116: "Lesnar vs. Carwin" micro site goes live for "The biggest fight in UFC history." Are you...

2010-06-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

UFC 116: "Lesnar vs. Carwin" micro site goes live for "The biggest fight in UFC history." Are you...: "

UFC 116: 'Lesnar vs. Carwin' micro site goes live for 'The biggest fight in UFC history.' Are you ready? See more here.

UFC 115 Quick Results

2010-06-13T11:32:00.001-07:00

UFC 115 Quick Results: "

Main Card Results

Rich Franklin def. Chuck Liddell via KO (punch) at 4:55 of round 1.

Cro Cop Filipovi? def. Pat Barry via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:30 of round 3.

Martin Kampmann def. Paulo Thiago via unanimous decision. (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ben Rothwell def. Gilbert Yvel via unanimous decision. (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Carlos Condit def. Rory MacDonald via TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of round 3.

Undercard Results

Evan Dunham def. Tyson Griffin by split decision. (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:45 of round 1.

Mario Miranda def. David Loiseau by TKO (strikes) at 4:07 of round 2.

James Wilks def. Peter Sobotta by unanimous decision. (30-27, 30-28, 30-27)

Claude Patrick def. Ricardo Funch by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 at round 2.

Mike Pyle def. Jesse Lennox by technical submission (triangle choke) 4:44 of round 3.

Videos: Watch the UFC 115 Fights

2010-06-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Videos: Watch the UFC 115 Fights: "

None of the videos are hosted here, but you can still expect to always find these links on MMA Opiniin after every big event.

Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Pat Barry

Martin Kampmann vs. Paulo Thiago

Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel

Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald

Evan Dunham vs. Tyson Griffin

Ricardo Funch vs. Claude Patrick

More videos to come as they appear online.

Pic: The shot that ended Chuck Liddell’s career

2010-06-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Pic: The shot that ended Chuck Liddell’s career: "

Dana White Guarantees Chuck Liddell is Done

2010-06-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Dana White Guarantees Chuck Liddell is Done: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

My Picks for UFC 115

2010-06-12T13:36:00.001-07:00

Don’t miss UFC 115 tonight. Here are my picks…

Spike Card: Wiman over Danzig and Griffin over Dunham

Main Card: Condit over MacDonald, Yvel over Rothwell, Thiago over Kampmann and Cro Cop over Barry.

Main Event: I’m taking the ‘underdog’ Iceman over Franklin

2010-06-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Chael Sonnen: "I'm Gonna Dump Him on His Head and Put a Hole in His Face": "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

2010-06-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dana White UFC 115 Vlog: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

WWFD: Griffin packs on the pounds and plays Dear Abby in Sin City

2010-06-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

WWFD: Griffin packs on the pounds and plays Dear Abby in Sin City: "

Forrest Griffin is working his way back from surgery. As we saw last night on Season 11 of "The Ultimate Fighter," Forrest has bulked up a bit. It may have made him a little more cranky. He hooked up with Las Vegas Weekly for cool feature called "What Would Forrest Do." After reading it, I think it's best if we all avoid annoying Mr. Griffin.

The piece featured several questions including:

WWFD if a cell-blabbing driver cuts you off?
Bad move. Chatty Cathy had better be on the line with
1-800-HELPMEOHGODHELPME, because he’s about to become a crash-test dumbass.
After a quick appetizer of his skull, you make him eat his words. Wait, he was
talking to his girlfriend? Great: “Hey, girl! When you’re ready to trade up from
wuss to incredibly manly fighter, call me. On this phone.”
WWFD if a dude tries to jack your bottle in a nightclub?.
Hold on! You paid a lot of money for that $30 hooch, and now D. Ouche Bagg
here is making a grab for it. First, of course, you register annoyance at having
to deal with this instead of grooving to the DJ. Then you reclaim your booze
with a quick alpha-male move, and finish with a little bottle service of your
own.

They left out -- WWFD when if has to face the winner of the Chuck Liddell-Rich Franklin fight? That's the cherry on top of the UFC 115 matchup. Griffin against either one of those guys is a super action fight.

UFC 115 Countdown

2010-06-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

UFC 115 Countdown: "

Ultimate MMA videos for your viewing pleasure. Also news and comments from the world of mma.

How Dana White Built a UFC Empire with Social Media

2010-06-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

How Dana White Built a UFC Empire with Social Media

Welcome...

2010-06-08T17:52:00.001-07:00

...to the new home of my MMA related posts and re-posts. Stay Tuned. :)