Edson Barboza posts ?KO of the Year? finish of Terry Etim at UFC 142

Edson Barboza was cruising towards a solid victory, but that wasn't enough. The Brazilian decided to try a spectacular spinning heel kick (some called it a wheel kick) and Terry Etim's face was the unfortunate recipient.

Etim went down in a heap, his right arm stuck in the air. The Brazilian scored the third-round finish at the 2:02 mark to record his fourth victory in the UFC in the opener of the pay-per-view portion of UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro.

What a way to kick off the PPV show at HSBC in Barboza's homeland. The fight was actually starting to get a little stale. Barboza used his low kicks to settle into a good scoring groove, but he didn't look like he was going to try for the kill.

The kick was perfectly executed and Etim never saw it coming. UFC analyst Joe Rogan said it was the first spinning heel kick knockout in the history of the UFC.

"When you fight in Brazil, it's unlike fighting in any other place in the world. In a fight, you try things and hope they work. Tonight, it (the kick) worked. It's something I've practiced a lot and I finally was able to land it hard," Barboza said.

Barboza (10-0) is a perfect 4-0 in the UFC while Etim (15-4, 6-4 UFC) has lost 2-of-3.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/barboza-sets-pace-ko-finish-etim-ufc-142-035657571.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Chris Weidman: From parents? basement to network TV

CHICAGO -- Ten months ago, Chris Weidman was living in his parents' basement with his wife and daughter. After winning three straight fights in the UFC, he will challenge Demian Maia on the UFC's second show on network television.

At Wednesday's open workouts for UFC on Fox 2, Weidman said he has not had time to sit back and think about all he's accomplished in such a short time.

"I really haven't set back to think about it all in a 10-month period. It started getting tough. Any amount of money at that point was going to get me to come," Weidman said.

When he took the fight with Alessio Sakara last March, he was on the verge of signing with Bellator. He even had dinner reservations to celebrate the signing, but gave himself more time to consider the contract. Waiting opened the door for the UFC to sign him.

By July, he had a decision over Sakara and a submission of Jesse Bongfeldt, and a new home for his wife and now two-year-old daughter Cassidy.

Weidman's spot on the card this weekend was just as surprising. When Mark Munoz was injured last week, the UFC had to scramble to create a card that would make people tune in to Fox. Michael Bisping was given the spot against Chael Sonnen, leaving a hole on the card to fight Maia. Weidman, who beat Tom Lawlor in November, was called.

"At the time, I was surprised, because I thought I was going to fight April 22. But I had a funny feeling that something was going to end up happening.

The bout against Maia was too good to pass up, even on 10 days notice.

"At first it was that I'm not going to fight him this week. I'm going to fight him eventually. March, April. Once I talked to my coach and decided that, they came back and said he doesn't want to leave this card. I got so excited to fight Maia at that point, I didn't care where or when."

His first concern was weight. Weidman said he was around 217 lbs. last week. Though he says that his weight is fine now, he had to turn down the comfort food his wife was cooking.

"First thing was my weight. My wife was making sloppy joes, and I was like, 'No more sloppy joes for me!' I headed to the gym, ate a spoonful of peanut butter, and that's it for me."

Beating Maia, an accomplished grappler, would push Weidman ever closer to a title shot. Though fighters taking bouts on short notice are often in a no-lose situation, Weidman sees this bout as a must-win.

"I don't see it [as no-lose]. I see it as I have to win this fight. If I win this fight, it puts me on a list of contenders, and closer to getting that belt."

His intention is not to just fight for the UFC middleweight belt, but also to fight in his home state of New York. Currently, MMA is illegal in New York.

"My main goal is obviously to not only get the belt, but fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. It would be a dream come true. They have to legalize it, but at the right time so I can be fighting on it for the belt."

Weidman hopes the shows on Fox will help change perceptions on fighters.

"We're 100 percent athletes. Just turn on the TV and watch us. Come meet us. We're not those guys 10 years ago who were perceived as brutal. We're athletes. Good guys. Trying to make a living for our families."

Long Island's Weidman hopes to start New York on its winning ways. As a New York Giants fan, Weidman wants to see his team win the Super Bowl.

"I like Tom Brady, he's a pretty good guy, but we're coming after him."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/chris-weidman-parents-basement-network-tv-000322783.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Sonnen vs. Bisping is for title shot, but Chael says Silva will never fight him

Dana White released his first video blog for the card on FX today. One interesting scene includes the UFC president dealing with the withdrawal of Mark Munoz from the UFC on Fox 2 card. White is getting ready to release news of the new Chael Sonnen-Michael Bising fight and says the winner will get a title shot against the currently sidelined UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva.

White must know something Sonnen doesn't because the outspoken contender sounds pretty sure he'll never face Silva.

"I'm not going to fight Anderson either way. They can say whatever they want. Anderson is never going to do that fight," Sonnen told "The MMA Insiders" show last week on Las Vegas' ESPN1100/98.9 FM. "I hope he's healthy and has a good life, but I'm not buying into this mythical world that Anderson is going to some day sign a contract to fight me."

During today's UFC on Fox 2 conference call, Sonnen reiterated his theory and said Silva turned down the fight to their boss' face.

"He even said no to (UFC executive) Lorenzo Fertitta's face. Face-to-face, not over the phone ? Lorenzo brought him out, sat him down, and said, 'This is the fight we want.' And Anderson said no," said Sonnen.

Sonnen knows management isn't pleased and questions the severity of Silva's back and shoulder injuries.

"They're not happy about it. The message to Anderson was this ' Chael is the opponent for you. You can fight him or you can't fight nobody. He elected to fight nobody,'" said Sonnen. "Dan Henderson said it perfectly, if the right opponent comes up, all of Anderson's injuries will go away."

Silva's next opponent will be known next Saturday night. A date and location is completely up in the air until Silva announces when he can officially return.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/sonnen-vs-bisping-title-shot-chael-says-silva-231128840.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

Dana White Doesn't Buy the 'Tainted Supplement' Excuse

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CHICAGO -- After King Mo Lawal tested positive for a banned steroid this month, he said he believed the substance got into his system because it was in a supplement that he legally purchased over the counter.

UFC President Dana White says that excuse isn't good enough.

White said Thursday that he thinks all professional athletes need to know for sure what they're putting in their systems, and that any fighter who tests positive for a banned substance needs to deal with the consequences, regardless of the reason.

"If you get caught doing something, admit you did it," White said. "The whole 'Somebody put something in my system that I didn't know about?' I mean, who here lets someone put s--t inside them that you don't know what it is? If you go to the doctor and he gives you a pill, 'Doc, what am I taking this for?'"

White said he wishes fighters who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs would simply admit that they were trying to gain an unfair advantage, rather than plead ignorance about the contents of the supplements they were taking.

"I don't buy that s--t," White said. "Own up to what you did. Listen, it's out there, it happens, and sometimes everybody makes mistakes."

White said he hopes the UFC's new policy of testing all new fighters at the time they sign their first UFC contracts will deter young mixed martial artists from taking performance-enhancing drugs.

"The up-and-coming guys, you're already talented, you're already fast, you're already strong, do not ruin your career by taking this junk that will affect you for the rest of your life," White said.

And as for the established fighters who test positive and say they didn't know the ingredients of the supplements they were taking? White doesn't want to hear it.

"I don't buy it," White said. "Anybody that's ever said that they didn't know what's being put in their body is full of s--t."

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/26/dana-white-doesnt-buy-the-tainted-supplement-excuse/

Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger 

Rashad Evans interview: ?Suga? focused on fight in front of him

Though former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is focused on his fight with Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 2, there is another man who still gets on Evans' nerves: the current UFC light heavyweight champion. In fact, the mere mention of Jones' name caused the once friendly relationship between Evans and Davis to grow frosty.

"We've actually always been friendly to each other," Evans told Cagewriter. "I've always been a Phil fan. But when you're talking trash about Jon Jones, it kind of bothers me a little bit. I can't lie."

Though Evans and Jones were once friends and training partners, their relationship fell apart after Jones remarked to media that he would fight Evans. Since then, Evans has been irked by Jones.

"All the stuff that Jon has done, he deserves credit for and I respect that. He's been an amazing athlete in the sport, and he's accomplished so much. I have nothing but respect for him in that, but when he opens his mouth against me, it bothers me."

During the UFC on Fox 2 press conference, Davis mentioned what Jones said about Evans' lack of chin. Evans responded to Davis, a Penn State alumnus, by referring to the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

"Sometimes you say things and you didn't think about it when you say it. I can't tell somebody how they should feel about something. It was a lesson that I learned about being a little bit more conscious and watching what I say because you never know how it's going to affect people in different ways."

Both Evans and Davis were collegiate wrestlers, but Davis made a comment that he is the only one who truly has wrestling skills. According to Evans, there is a big difference between collegiate wrestling and MMA wrestling.

"What it comes down to is that he can be the best college wrestler in the world. He can have all the accolades. That's awesome. But we're not wrestling college wrestling. This is a fight. You can have the best college wrestling in the world, but you can have terrible MMA wrestling. His MMA wrestling is OK. It's not phenomenal. It's not exceptional. But his transitions from his punches to a takedown are trash," Evans said.

Davis was an NCAA Division I wrestling champion, but Evans doesn't see him as a well-rounded fighter.

"It's about timing and his timing is off. He's not comfortable standing up and punching, and it's a two-part thing. That's the other part of it. You can have a great shot. Great wrestling, but if you're afraid to get punched, or if you don't have good set-ups for your takedowns, then it doesn't matter. You can't execute because you're too afraid to get hit. Or you spend too much time thinking about it. The moment you think about the shot, the moment I see it. If I see it, it's too late. You're not going to shoot on me."

Next Saturday, Evans will fight in his adopted city of Chicago, just hours away from Michigan State, where he went to school. Logic would say that he would get a warm reception from the crowd, but Evans is usually booed by crowds. He doesn't expect any change from his fellow Midwesterners.

"Of course I expect to be booed. People always have to find the bad guy, and for some reason, the look on my face or something, people just want to boo me.That's fine. I know who I am as a person, and if they boo me, they boo me. That's OK. It doesn't make me lose sleep at night. I know who I am in real life. The same people that boo you are the same people who will ask you for a picture an an autograph. They don't know why they boo me."

Evans is often cast as a villain in fights, but he doesn't relish the role, like Chael Sonnen or Josh Koscheck does.

"It's so far from my character. People who know me in real life know that's on the extreme of the other end of who I am. So when people boo me, or they say things about me, 'Rashad thinks he's this, Rashad thinks he's that,' it does bother me to a certain extent, but then I've got to remember that it's not me they're saying it about. It's a character of who they think I am, and I've got to divorce myself from that character."

He also has learned to take any promises of title shots with a shaker's worth of salt. Evans has been promised title shots with Mauricio Rua and Jones, but injuries and timing have gotten in the way. Again, Evans has been promised a shot at Jones with a win over Davis, but he knows better than to put stock in it.

"No matter what, it's not about the next fight after this one. The only fight that matters is this fight. What comes after this is for the fans to anticipate and think about. For me? Nothing matters besides the fight that I have. And that's the way it should be. Whether I've been promised something or not. Only thing I care about, the only thing I think about is the fight in front of me."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/rashad-evans-interview-suga-focused-fight-front-him-213006869.html

Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander

UFC on FOX 2 Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights

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CHICAGO -- The UFC on FOX 2 pre-fight press conference took place Thursday afternoon at The W Hotel in downtown Chicago. Not surprisingly considering the characters involved, it turned out to be one of the most entertaining press conferences of the year, highlighted by Chael Sonnen coming out with a fake middleweight title belt. Watch the highlights below.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/26/ufc-on-fox-2-pre-fight-press-conference-highlights/

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Chael Sonnen: Great promoter or greatest promoter?

CHICAGO -- "Chael's nuts."

UFC president Dana White started off the press conference with the statement that everyone in MMA has thought, but not said. Sonnen, who walked out with a UFC championship belt and the words, "Undisputed, undefeated!" flowing from his mouth, showed again he is the best promoter in MMA.

White barely had to say anything to promote Saturday's bouts on Fox, because the Sonnen Show took center stage. His opponent on Saturday, Michael Bisping, tried to keep up with Sonnen, but his attempts were futile.

Sonnen explained where he picked up the belt ... kind of.

"Well, for those of you who can't see, this is the championship belt that I took from Anderson Silva. In this country, possession is nine tenths of the law. Finders keepers, losers weepers. If he wants it back, he knows where he can find it."

"I think you can get it on eBay for $29.99!" Bisping said.

Sonnen even broke into rhyme.

"You're looking at the reflection of perfection. You're looking at the man who gets all your attention. You're looking at the man with the biggest arm. At the man, with the greatest charm, the man in Chicago who will do harm to the guy three doors down."

White, standing between Sonnen and Bisping, couldn't help but smile as Sonnen spit out rhyme after rhyme. He was particularly happy as Sonnen added the time and station of the fights to each exclamation.

"Whatcha gonna do, when you know who? How ya gonna deal, with the man of steel? How ya gonna react to Sonnen's attack? Tune in on the 28th! 8 p.m. Eastern Time! You'll find out who the real champion is."

If Sonnen keeps the act up -- and there's no reason to believe he won't -- White won't have to work to promote a single Sonnen card. Why would he, when the "champ" does the work for him?

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/chael-sonnen-great-promoter-greatest-promoter-233050678.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez