Chad Mendes fires back at Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo?s secret weapon

Jose Aldo knows he'll have to grapple come Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro so he brought in what he thinks is the answer to solve the Chad Mendes riddle. Gray Maynard is a former college wrestler just like Mendes. Mendes doesn't see the comparison.

"It think that's completely wrong just because you're a wrestler doesn't mean you're the samer as me," Mendes told ESPNRadio1100/98.9 FM. "I think our styles are completely different. In MMA, he doesn't really use a whole lot of wrestling anymore."

Mendes elaborated and sounded like he was getting more annoyed.

[ Don't miss the action: Watch UFC 142 live on Yahoo! Sports ]

"When he does wrestle, he's more of the bully. He's a slower, not very explosive [wrestler]. He gets you up against the cage and works for takedown from there," Mendes said. "My style of wrestling is more explosive from the open. Blast a double take you off your feet kind of wrestling."

What really set off Mendes was Maynard suggesting that he wasn't ready for a fight against Aldo.

"I don't see it. Him saying that I don't know where he's coming from. He's never trained with me. I don't know how he's saying he doesn't think that I'm ready. Maynard doesn't know anything about me."

Mendes challenges Aldo for his title on Saturday at UFC 142.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mendes-fires-back-maynard-aldo-secret-weapon-211040152.html

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi 

Erick Silva DQ puts need for instant replay front and center

Erick Silva rode a roller coaster of emotions at UFC 142. After taking out Carlo Prater in 29 seconds, Silva celebrated with the loud, Brazilian crowd. He was brought down to reality when he was informed by referee Mario Yamasaki that the blows Silva used to knock out Prater were deemed illegal. Though a replay showed that the blows hit the sides of Prater's head, not the restricted area on the the back of the head, Silva had been disqualified.

The UFC confirmed that Silva did receive his win bonus and it's unlikely that this loss will stunt his career's trajectory, but it didn't need to be a loss. Yamasaki admitted when talking to UFC commentator Joe Rogan that he had to make the decision in the moment.

"I have to decide right there and then. There's nothing I can do," Yamasaki said.

In that moment, there was nothing Yamasaki could do. Instant replay does not have a place in MMA. Though he watched the replay on a giant screen just moments after the fight ended, the bout was decided.

With the technology already in place for referees to use instant replay, there is no good reason for MMA not to use it. Instant replay is used in other major sports. Though it isn't always perfect, it gives referees confidence on making calls.

Like in other sports, strict parameters of when it should be used would need to be put in place. For example, it does not make sense to use instant replay to decide if a fighter was truly knocked out or not because of the difficulties in restarting a stopped bout. But in the case of a disqualification, instant replay can and should be used.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/erick-silva-dq-puts-instant-replay-front-center-163905590.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

The mouths that roared: With Munoz hurt, Bisping vs. Sonnen now set for UFC on Fox 2

If you thought Chael Sonnen was being a little too polite in the lead up to his fight against Mark Munoz, problem solved. Munoz had to back out of the fight due to an injury and now the brash Sonnen will face one of MMA top heels in Michael Bisping on Jan. 28 on the UFC on Fox 2 card in Chicago.

Dana White confirmed the news minutes ago on Twitter.

You'll also notice White said Sonnen-Bisping is a UFC middleweight title contender fight. It's a huge break for Bisping, who was probably two wins away from getting a shot at Anderson Silva.

Silva is currently sidelined with shoulder issues. He may return during the summer, but last week suggested to Brazilian media sources that his absence may be extended into the fall.

Bisping has long been a target of fans and other fighters. Sonnen is a huge trash talker. The lead up to the fight could reach epic proportions.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mouths-roared-munoz-hurt-bisping-vs-sonnen-now-222513314.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

UFC 142?s Three Stars: Aldo, Barboza and Palhares

Brazil provided another picturesque setting for a UFC card dominated by Brazilian favorites. Even our Three Stars is filled with fighters from a country so important to MMA. Who are your Three Stars from UFC 142? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.

No. 1 star -- Jose Aldo: With a swift, well-deployed knee, Aldo showed again that he is the cream of the the featherweight crop. He then brought the celebration to the jubilant crowd in Rio de Janeiro, creating a memorable moment for every fan at UFC 142 and a headache for UFC security. Can you blame him for the euphoria? Starting with the WEC featherweight championship, Aldo has held his belt for 26 months and five title defenses. A man that dominant in his division is allowed to celebrate with his fans.

No. 2 star -- Edson Barboza: From his three previous fights in the UFC, we knew that Barboza was capable of debilitating kicks. No one -- particularly Terry Etim -- expected him to throw a spinning wheel kick, executed so perfectly that Etim was out well before he hit the canvas. He won both Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses for that performance, and something tells me that he's an early favorite for Knockout of the Year awards.

No. 3 star -- Rousimar Palhares: Any fighter preparing for Palhares knows that he is a heel hook master, with the majority of his submission wins coming that one hold. Mike Massenzio knew the heel hook was looming, but couldn't stay out of Palhares' grip. For submitting Massenzio in just over a minute, Palhares won Submission of the Night.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-142-three-stars-aldo-barboza-palhares-150507547.html

Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio

UFC 142 vlog: Dana White tells Vitor Belfort about Anthony Johnson?s situation

Dana White's latest vlog does a nice a job of showing behind-the-scenes coverage of how the Anthony Johnson weigh-in miss went down.

Vitor Belfort arrives at the arena (2:45 mark) and is blown away by the fact that Johnson wasn't going to make weight. He explains that his cut was tough. As he thinks about what to do, Belfort begins to intensely chew on a towel full of ice to get a little water into his system.

White gives him the option of not making weight either, but then he wouldn't get 20 percent of Johnson's purse. His nutrition coach Mike Dolce is brought into help make a decision and says Vitor is going to be professional and do his part.

Later in the video, Johnson is informed on stage that he has to weigh in again on Saturday and be under 205 pounds. The exchange between White and the fighter is cordial.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-142-vlog-dana-white-tells-vitor-belfort-205523480.html

Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana 

UFC on FX 1: Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller Fight Video Preview

Lightweights Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller will be looking to get back in the hunt for a title shot when they clash in the main event of UFC on FX 1 this Friday in Nashville, Tenn. Watch the official UFC video preview of Guillard vs. Miller after the break, check out MMAFrenzy.com's pre-fight interview with Jim Miller, and stay tuned for complete coverage of UFC on FX 1.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27268/ufc-on-fx-1-melvin-guillard-vs-jim-miller-fight-video-preview/

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe

UFC on FX Weigh-In Results: Guillard, Miller Both Make Weight

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UFC lightweights Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller both made weight for their main event fight on Friday night, although it wasn't easy for Guillard.

Guillard initially came in at 156.5 pounds before taking off his shorts and making the limit of 156. Miller looked comfortable at 155 pounds.

One fighter missed weight: Lightweight Fabricio Camoes, who came in at 157.5 pounds for his fight with Tom Hayden. Camoes will have two hours to lose 1.5 pounds, or else he'll have to forfeit a portion of his purse to Hayden.

Full weigh-in results are below.




Main Card (FX):
Melvin Guillard (156) vs. Jim Miller (155)
Duane Ludwig (170.5) vs. Josh Neer (171)
Mike Easton (135) vs. Jared Papazian (135.5)
Pat Barry (242) vs. Christian Morecraft (256)

Preliminary Card (FUEL TV):
Jorge Rivera (185.5) vs. Eric Schafer (185)
Khabib Nurmagomedov (155) vs. Kamal Shalorus (155.5)
Charlie Brenneman (170.5) vs. Daniel Roberts (170.5)
Fabricio Camoes (157.5) vs. Tom Hayden (155.5)
Daniel Pineda (145) vs. Pat Schilling (145)
Nick Denis (135.5) vs. Joseph Sandoval (135)

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/19/ufc-on-fx-weigh-in-results-guillard-miller-both-make-weight/

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe

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

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida