UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva Weigh-Ins (Video)

The UFC's first Swedish event, "UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva", will go down tomorrow from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Today, the promotion held the event's official weigh-ins at the site of the fight, with all fighters on the card eventually making their mark. Check out video of the proceedings inside.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28202/ufc-on-fuel-tv-2-gustafsson-vs-silva-weigh-ins-video/

Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana 

Four ways to improve ?The Ultimate Fighter?

Four episodes into the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" on FX, and it's clear the new network has made its mark. With the show switching to a live format, every episode has a very different feel from the show's previous 14 seasons, which aired on Spike. Though the fights have been exciting -- particularly Friday's three-rounder between Al Iaquinta and Myles Jury -- the show still hasn't quite found a rhythm. Here are some ways they could work on that:

Fit the show in the timeslot: Every episode to date has run over its timeslot, with fight decisions and fight announcements coming after the show was scheduled to end. It's 2012. Nearly 40 percent of American homes have DVRs. The UFC targets men 18-49, and they really think that age group is going to stay home and watch one fight on a Friday night? Fights don't normally start until 45 minutes into the show, and there is way too much filler throughout the show. Edit it more tightly, and the show will fit.

Figure out a place for Jon Anik: When word came Anik was going to be involved with TUF, it seemed like a great step for the show. Coaches yelling directions to fighters was not as interesting as producers wanted it to be, and the show could use someone to talk about the fights as they happened. Anik has proven himself to be a talented play-by-play man for Bellator and the UFC.

Unfortunately, play-by-play is not what he's doing for TUF. He's the show's host, and that title is a nebulous as it seems. Four episodes in, it's still not clear what he's supposed to be bringing to the show.

Play up the heat between Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz: The rivalry that has brewed between the two coaches for years has cooled to the temperature of iced tea. There are no fights, no yelling matches, no pranks. Even when Cruz tried to raise the stakes by letting Faber pick an opponent for Justin Lawrence, the move just turned into an awkward moment. Something needs to happen to reignite the fire that had these two begging to coach against each other this season.

Keep commercial breaks to a minimum: After the season premiere, complaints about too many commercials were all over the comment section on this site, on Facebook and on Twitter. Every fight brought about another commercial break, and that was on top of the in-show sponsorships. On Friday, a three-minute commercial break came during the Iaquinta/Jury fight. In-fight breaks are usually one minute because it's the length of breaks between rounds.

The good news is the length of those breaks will no longer be an issue. White said after Friday's fight that there won't be an in-fight break that's three minutes long. It was just a growing pain in moving to a new network.

What would you do to improve the show? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/four-ways-improve-ultimate-fighter-142709980.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Thiago Silva takes out Keith Jardine in the Knockout of the Week

After a year-long suspension due to steroid use and submitting a synthetic urine sample, Thiago Silva will return against Alexander Gustaffson at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden. Since it's been a while, here's a reminder of what he can do.

With a left hook, Silva took out Keith Jardine. He lost to Rashad Evans and then had his win over Brandon Vera turned into a no-contest after the positive drug test. Will he start his post-suspension career with a win? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/thiago-silva-takes-keith-jardine-knockout-week-131056430.html

Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger 

Eduardo Dantas and Alexander Gustafsson were the best of the weekend?s warriors

Eduardo Dantas leads off this week's edition of Weekend Warriors, your Monday morning look at the weekend's MMA. "Dudu" was the star of Bellator's show on Friday, choking Zach Makovsky unconscious in the second round of their title bout. With that win, Dantas became the new Bellator bantamweight champ and one of the hottest lighter weight prospects in MMA.

Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira both won their bantamweight semifinal tournament matches with unanimous decisions as they vie for the chance to face off with Dantas. In the featherweight tournament, an emotional Daniel Straus pummeled Mike Corey on the way to a unanimous decision win to earn a spot in the tourney final. Straus' training partner was killed in a car accident just a week ago. Staus will face Marlon Sandro for the featherweight tournament championship on May 11.

Gustafsson impresses in Sweden at UFC on Fuel 2

Alexander Gustafsson cemented his role as a top contender in the light heavyweight division with a convincing decision over Thiago Silva on Saturday. Brian Stann got back to his winning ways with a gentlemanly knockout of Alessio Sakara, and Dennis Siver got his first win at featherweight with a decision over Diego Nunes.

In his UFC debut Siyar Bahadurzada took home a $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus for his 42-second KO of Paulo Thiago. John Maguire earned a Submission of the Night bonus for his armbar of Damarques Johnson. Brad Pickett and Damacio Page were given Fight of the Night honors for the back-and-forth battle that ended with Pickett finishing Page with a second-round rear naked choke.

Team Faber gets the edge

On "The Ultimate Fighter," Joe Proctor, a protege of UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon, helped Urijah Faber's team take the lead. Proctor took out Chris Tickle with a first-round rear naked choke. John Cofer from Team Faber will face Team Cruz's Vinc Pichel.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/eduardo-dantas-alexander-gustafsson-were-best-weekend-warriors-153558319.html

Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger 

Dana White on Mark Hunt Fighting Junior dos Santos at UFC 146: ?It Ain?t Going to Happen?

Despite fan support from around the world, which had an ever-growing fanbase create a campaign 'Rally for Mark Hunt' to convince UFC officials to slide Hunt into Alistair Overeem's slot as challenger against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, UFC President Dana White has said that those fans can halt their rally.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28215/dana-white-on-mark-hunt-fighting-junior-dos-santos-at-ufc-146-it-aint-going-to-happen/

Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè 

Picture of the day: How Bellator champ Pat Curran pumps his gas

Pat Curran recently won the Bellator featherweight belt from Joe Warren. Proud to own that belt, Curran decided to wear it when even doing the most mundane tasks.

If you had a championship belt to wear, where would you wear it? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/picture-day-bellator-champ-pat-curran-pumps-gas-115200618.html

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen 

Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Bob Sapp set for May in Poland

Anyone in the mood for a good freak show fight? Good news. Mariusz Pudzianowski has agreed to fight Bob Sapp for KSW on May 12. Their super-heavyweight bout will take place in Lodz, Poland.

Sapp, who has fought, starred in movies and played pro football, lost his last five fight. All five losses were in the first round. In fact, the last time he got to the second round was when he lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the second round in 2002. Sapp's last fight ended after he sustained a leg injury less than two minutes in.

Pudzianowski, who won multiple World's Strongest Man competitions, is 3-2. His last fight ended as a no contest because of a judging error.

Who will win this bout, besides the fans, of course? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mariusz-pudzianowski-vs-bob-sapp-set-may-poland-172250758.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah