Dominick Cruz knows UFC flyweight contenders inside and out

The four men in the UFC flyweight tournament have glittering records, but they'd be a bit more glittering had they been able to avoid bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Three of the four men in the field -- Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall -- have already fought, and lost to, Cruz.

Their records are glittering as  is. They're 40-6 with 27 finishes. Subtract the two losses by Benavidez to Cruz and the ones by Johnson and McCall and they'd be 40-2.

Cruz spoke to Cagewriter on Wednesday to give his thoughts on the tournament and the fighters, particularly the three men he's faced.

Benavidez will fight Yasuhiro Urushitani and Johnson will take on McCall Friday (Saturday in Australia) at Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia, on the UFC on FX 2 card.

Urushitani, 35, is a former Shooto champion who is 19-4-6. Cruz said he knows the least about him.

"The UFC has the best fighters in the world, so I would assume since he's not fighting in the UFC that he hasn't been facing top-level guys," Cruz said. "Against that level of competition, that will hurt."

Cruz defeated Benavidez twice. He beat him first via unanimous decision at WEC 42 on Aug. 9, 2009, in a bout declared Fight of the Night. They then rematched for the WEC title and Cruz pulled out a split decision at WEC 50 on Aug. 18, 2010.

Cruz said Benavidez is exceptionally well-rounded.

"What makes Joe a tough opponent is that he's one of the few people who pieces together long combinations, with power and with takedowns," Cruz told Cagewriter in a telephone interview. "He also defends the takedown well and he's one of the few people who's got great submissions, great wrestling and great standup. He's a well-rounded fighter. He's got the full package. He's just a tough guy to fight, and he's hungry."

Cruz beat Johnson in his last outing, retaining the bantamweight title by winning all five rounds in a high-quality match on Oct. 1 at UFC Live in Washington, D.C. Cruz said he expects Johnson-McCall to be Fight of the Night on Friday.

He raved about both men and, though he picked McCall, said he wouldn't be shocked if Johnson came out on top.

"They're both dynamic, well-rounded, very good fighters," the champ said. "Stylistically, how Demetrious comes out and fights Ian is going to be the key to that fight. The big reason why I beat these guys the way that I did is that I game-planned them. I can change my style according to the way a specific person fights. I had to change my style against all of those guys, Benavidez, Demetrious and Ian. I give the edge to Ian in terms of power, but I give the edge in speed and striking to Demetrious. I'll take Ian in that fight because I think he can take Demetrious down and control him on the ground."

Both opening-round fights are three-rounders, but the UFC has announced there will be a "sudden victory" round if either bout is tied after three in order to produce a winner.

Despite that, Cruz said he thought all four men would lay it all on the line during the three rounds in order to get the win and predicted they wouldn't be concerned about saving something for a potential fourth.

"I think they'll just go balls to the wall," Cruz said. "You never hold back. I know when I'm fighting, if it's a five-rounder, I train for seven. If it's a three-rounder, I'll train for five, and I think they'll be the same way so they can be ready to sprint to the finish."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/dominick-cruz-knows-ufc-flyweight-contenders-inside-002401482.html

Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè 

Video gold: Just three years ago UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson was trying to get on TUF 9

There's all sorts of routes to UFC stardom. Benson Henderson is a great fighter, but his path to a fight with Frank Edgar could've been much different.

He graduated from WEC to UFC to the best fighter in the world's best division. How fast did it happen? Well just over three years ago, Henderson was trying to get a slot on Season 9 of the "Ultimate Fighter."

Cage Potato found this Bendo video as he tried to woo the UFC and Spike into choosing for the United States vs. United Kingdom season.

The lightweights that season were Santino DeFranco, Jason Dent, Cameron Dollar, Richie Whitson. They combined for one fight beyond the TUF 9 Finale. The field was smaller because of U.S. vs. U.K. theme, but clearly they whiffed on this one or they had bigger things in mind for Henderson. He debuted just months late in the WEC with a win over Anthony Njokuani.

At the end of the video, Henderson makes a promise.

"I fought my through the smaller shows. Now it's my time to dance underneath the lights," Henderson said. "I will win the UFC Season 9 Ultimate Fighter and I will fight for the title. You're looking at the future lightweight champ of the UFC."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/video-gold-just-three-years-ago-ufc-lightweight-154944862.html

Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

UFC on Fuel TV 1 postfight: Dana White hammers himself and the NSAC

Dana White always says what's on his mind. He's not afraid to call someone out even if it's himself.

Seconds after Jake Ellenberger crawled across the finish line to win his three-round fight against Diego Sanchez, fans began asking "what happened to all UFC main events being five rounds?"

Fuel TV's Ariel Helwani asked White.

"Because we blew it. It should've been a five round fight. [...] I'm looking at the fight going ... 'yeah, this should've been five rounds.' I think that when Diego and Ellenberger went back in there for that fourth the place would've went crazy. People were ready for it at home," said White.

White wouldn't name names. He took the blame. He confirmed it was not Fuel TV's decision. More importantly, he said all main events will be five rounders. Back in June, White announced that would be the case for all main events. Somehow this fight slipped through the cracks.

White also commented on the latest with Nick Diaz's likely suspension coming from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He knows Diaz will probably get pounded and he has little problem with that.

"How about the Nevada State Athletic Commission royally kissed Floyd Mayweather's ass when he walked in there. This guy is going to jail," White said. "The judge is allowing him to not go to jail until he has his fight. Right?"

It still annoys White that Chael Sonnen was denied a license by the state to coach on "The Ultimate Fighter." Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather facing jail time had his jail arrival delayed and got a license from the commission to fight on May 5.

"You know how much money we bring into Las Vegas every year with the fights that we put on? You know how much we contribute to the city of Las Vegas? Do you think for a second if we had a fighter that was going to go to jail that the athletic commission would license him to fight so that the fight could go on? There's no way in hell," White said. "Am I the only guy on this [expletive] planet who thinks that's crazy? Seriously. It just blows my mind."

White was very complimentary of the effort turned in by Sanchez calling him a professional. When asked about the right weight class for Sanchez, White said he can fight anywhere he wants.

He wasn't so complimentary of Dave Herman. A chiseled, athletic heavyweight, Herman fought well in the first round but lacked focus to stick with a gameplan against Stefan Struve. The 6-foot-11 Struve eventually used his length and effective combinations to put Herman away. White didn't rip Herman's performance, but criticized his prefight antics.

"I like Dave Herman. The stuff that he pulled this week? I can't stand that stuff," White told Fuel TV.

That stuff was Herman growing a huge beard and then dying his beard and thick body hair all black. Not the biggest deal, but when you lose the way Herman did, it opens the door for the critics.

"Listen, if you want to get noticed ... get noticed for your fighting skills," White said. "Not for coming in like a gorilla or wearing pink scarfs. And coming in to "Macho Man?" As I was sitting there, I'm thinking 'did I seriously let him come into this song?'"

White said he's not anti-Village People, but he's not into the joking around.

More from Yahoo! Sports: Frankie Edgar fooled by fellow UFC fighter

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-fuel-tv-1-postfight-dana-white-hammers-190155148.html

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Kimbo Slice to Aid Spike TV?s Counter-Programming Efforts

Spike TV has tapped one of MMA's biggest ratings draws, Kimbo Slice, to help along their continued efforts to counter-program the UFC on other channels. The former MMA fighter will host "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays" on Spike TV in a time slot that will run against the new season of "The Ultimate Fighter" on FX.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27736/kimbo-slice-to-aid-spike-tvs-counter-programming-efforts/

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

Ian McCall Ready to Make A Big Impact In the UFC?s Smallest Division

UFC on FX 2 this Saturday from Sydney, Australia will introduce the UFC's newest division, as flyweights will be fighting in the UFC for the first time in the organization's history. Former Tachi Palace Fights flyweight champion Ian McCall will be taking on Demetrious Johnson. See what McCall has to say about the new division, the tournament format, and his opponent in this exclusive interview with MMAFrenzy.com.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27738/ian-mccall-ready-to-make-a-big-impact-in-the-ufcs-smallest-division/

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi 

First time climbing at Froggatt Edge

I’ve only just got chance to post about last week’s trip to Froggatt Edge. Friends tell me that a crisp spring morning is better for climbing grit but if you ask me sunshine is the way forward. I headed to Froggatt Edge (just south of Sheffield) with a few friends for my first ascents on [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rock-climbing-blog/~3/hOSsO_V8trg/philsheard

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

Video gold: Just three years ago UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson was trying to get on TUF 9

There's all sorts of routes to UFC stardom. Benson Henderson is a great fighter, but his path to a fight with Frank Edgar could've been much different.

He graduated from WEC to UFC to the best fighter in the world's best division. How fast did it happen? Well just over three years ago, Henderson was trying to get a slot on Season 9 of the "Ultimate Fighter."

Cage Potato found this Bendo video as he tried to woo the UFC and Spike into choosing for the United States vs. United Kingdom season.

The lightweights that season were Santino DeFranco, Jason Dent, Cameron Dollar, Richie Whitson. They combined for one fight beyond the TUF 9 Finale. The field was smaller because of U.S. vs. U.K. theme, but clearly they whiffed on this one or they had bigger things in mind for Henderson. He debuted just months late in the WEC with a win over Anthony Njokuani.

At the end of the video, Henderson makes a promise.

"I fought my through the smaller shows. Now it's my time to dance underneath the lights," Henderson said. "I will win the UFC Season 9 Ultimate Fighter and I will fight for the title. You're looking at the future lightweight champ of the UFC."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/video-gold-just-three-years-ago-ufc-lightweight-154944862.html

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe