You know you've made it as an athlete when a Major League Baseball team asks you to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at one of their games. Such is the case with Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold. Two weeks ago, Rockhold was handling challenger Tim Kennedy in the cage; on Monday, he gets to drop by the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and put one across home plate (the A's are playing the Tampa Bay Rays, if that means anything to you). Of course, this isn't the first time that an MMA fighter has been granted this honor. Other examples include:
You know what. Now that I think about it, this whole throwing-out-the-ceremonial-first-pitch thing isn't that special after all. As you were.
Jim Genia tweets here and wrote this book. Believe that!
Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril AbidiÂ
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn has responded to the news of Rory MacDonald's injury and he has requested the bout be delayed to UFC 153. MacDonald suffered the cut in training in preparation for their previously scheduled UFC 152 bout. BJ Penn issued the response through his website.
Gilbert Aldana José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo AlmeidaÂ
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Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves Andre AmadeÂ
When he debuted in the Octagon back in October, 2005, he held chambered in each deadly, decapitating head-kick all the potential in the world. And it seemed like that potential was being realized with a pair of wins by KO, a submission via guillotine, and a quick and violent mauling of Frank Mir. But Brandon Vera was a Cleveland Cavalier then, stuck banging his head against a ceiling that would forever prevent him from basking in the warm glow of an NBA championship victory party at Dwyane Wade's sprawling crib. Then came the announcement that Vera would be headlining UFC on FOX 4 opposite Brazilian hitman Mauricio "Shogun" Rua ? and today's shocker from Dana White, that the winner of the bout gets to face UFC champ Jon Jones next ? and it's as if "The Truth" has turned his back on his beloved home state and beaten a path to Miami. It's as if Brandon Vera is the MMA equivalent of LeBron James, eschewing Ohio for the Heat, and going where he could very well find that glory that has thus far eluded him. Well, you know what? Y'all needs to chill.
The truth about the Truth is that his losses in the cage have come at the hands of top guys (more or less), and they came with "circumstances". Against former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia, Vera broke his hand in the first round; against jiu-jitsu master Fabricio Werdum, the stoppage was controversial; against UFC legend Randy Couture, it was a slow death via hugging. Vera has only truly been smashed by one fighter, UFC light-heavyweight king Jones, and at this point, you aren't anyone in the 205-pound weight class until you've been smashed by Jon Jones.
Even Shogun has been destroyed by the reigning champ ? and when it comes down to it, who else is left for Jones to face? Plus, the Brazilian stud, though legendary himself for all he's accomplished in both the UFC and in PRIDE FC, has been injured and rebuilt so many times, there's a high probability he could literally fall to pieces if Jones ? or even Vera ? hits him wrong.
So Vera gets his chance, about as worthy and capable as the rest on the UFC's roster. Just, please, don't begrudge the LeBron James of MMA his shot glory. Wouldn't you rather live in Miami instead of Ohio?
Follow Jim Genia here for more crazy. Or don't.
Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro AkiyamaÂ
Hector Lombard came into UFC 149 riding a long win streak and an unstoppable hype train. He walked out of UFC 149 with a decision loss and a disappointed boss.
"It wasn't the fight I was expecting," UFC president Dana White admitted. "It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Whether it was Boetsch or Lombard winning, I was expecting a real war. I thought this thing was going to be a war."
It was far from an exciting bout, as Lombard, known for his aggression and knockouts, showed little aggressiveness in the bout. White wondered if Octagon jitters got the best of Lombard, and also threw out the idea that middleweight is too big of a weight class.
"Lombard maybe should fight at 170," White said. "He made 185 easily. He's short and wide, but I think he could make 170."
In a Q and A before the UFC 149 weigh-ins, middleweight Michael Bisping made jokes about Lombard's height.
"I bumped into Hector Lombard in the elevator, and I thought someone was playing a practical joke. I was like, 'Who is this dwarf?' I think he's in the wrong weight class. I think he's in the 125 weight class."
At 5-foot-9, Lombard is one of the shortest middleweights in the division. Most 185ers in the UFC are at least six-foot. Champion Anderson Silva is 6-foot-2. Though fighters have overcome height and reach differences in bouts -- think Travis Browne knocking out Stefan Struve -- there is no reason for Lombard to come into the fight at a disadvantage if he is comfortable dropping down.
Should he drop down? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.
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Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril AbidiÂ
The oft outspoken Roy Nelson shares his feelings about Cain Velasquez getting a title shot, and the possible return of Brock Lesnar to the UFCHouston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves Andre AmadeÂ
UFC on Fox 4 takes place tonight live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. MMAFrenzy continues its coverage on tonight's event with our staff picks. Be sure to check out our reader picks as well. Just as a general rule, these are for fun, and Leonard Garcia always wins at least one fight on every card by split decision (even when he loses).
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/29737/ufc-on-fox-4-main-card-staff-picks/
Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril AbidiÂ
A one-year retirement was just about enough for light heavyweight Matt "The Hammer" Hamill, who has opted to resume his fighting career and will compete next at UFC 152 in Toronto on Sept. 22.
Hamill will meet UFC newcomer Roger Hollett. UFC president Dana White confirmed the move and said the fighters have verbally agreed to fight each other.
Hamill, 35, rose to prominence in 2006 during "The Ultimate Fighter 3." He is deaf and his struggle to overcome his disability and compete at the highest level of mixed martial arts earned him a large following. He was featured in a 2010 movie, "The Hammer."
When he retired, he had a 10-4 record, including a 9-4 mark in the UFC. He is the only man to have a victory over UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, though it was a highly controversial win. Jones controlled the entire fight, but was disqualified by referee Steve Mazzagatti for throwing an illegal elbow.
The most spectacular win of his career came at UFC 96 in Columbus, Ohio, when he knocked out Mark Munoz with a kick to the head. That earned him the UFC's "Knockout of the Night" bonus, one of three fight night bonuses he earned in his career.
Hamill also earned Fight of the Night bonuses following wins over Seth Petruzelli and Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine.
He announced his retirement on his website after he was thoroughly beaten on Aug. 8, 2011, by Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. Hamill nearly retired after he lost to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 130 earlier last year, but was convinced to give it one more shot.
But after he was stopped by Gustafsson, he had enough of the physical toll the sport was taking on his body and walked away.
I was ready to make this decision after UFC 130, but my friends, family, coaches and most importantly my daughter encouraged me to give it one last chance. My career has been plagued by injuries starting with 'The Ultimate Fighter' and disrupted my training ever since.
There hasn't been even one training camp where I've been able to train without training around an injury. I have not been kind to my body, and it has nothing left after 28 years of nonstop competition. It's time to finally give it a rest.
Hamill could not be reached for comment Friday and his manager, Duff Holmes, failed to return messages seeking comment.
It is not clear what changed his mind nor how much longer he plans to compete.
UPDATE at 5:32 p.m. ET: Holmes said Hamill had gotten too comfortable with the fame and the lifestyle of a star and that he retired because he didn't have the same drive. Holmes said injuries were a part of it, but a big issue was Hamill's lack of motivation.
He said that Hamill came to the gym in Utica, N.Y., to work out with some of his younger fighters and that those workouts rekindled Hamill's fire.
"I just wanted to make him decided he still wanted to do this," Holmes said. "This is far too difficult a sport to go into fights just half-assing it. When Matt is trained and on, he's a beast. But I was negotiating for him and telling people how great he was looking and then he would come out and look like he did against Rampage. It would make me look like an idiot.
"We talked about what happened. That fame that comes from being a UFC fighter, that's addictive, like a drug. When he retired, the big checks weren't rolling in. He wasn't on a pedestal. It's funny. There's really no difference in him. He was a UFC fighter and now he's a former UFC fighter, but people reacted to him differently. He wasn't being treated like a superstar and I think he missed that and wanted it back."
Holmes said Hamill is back for the long haul and is committed to making a run at the title once again. He said UFC officials had asked him if Hamill would consider middleweight, but Holmes said there is no chance that Hamill could cut to 185 pounds.
Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander