Brock Lesnar retires from MMA after loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141

LAS VEGAS - Brock Lesnar never really adjusted to getting hit for real. Tonight, facing a 263-pound monster in Alistair Overeem, Lesnar bowed out early and then walked away from the sport.

The same old bugaboo - his inability to absorb punches - reared its ugly head at UFC 141. Overeem targeted Lesnar's body with knees and kicks, got the big man to drop and cover up. It was all over in less than two and a half minutes in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

So is Lesnar's run in MMA. The former star of pro wrestling announced that he was finished fighting in the Octagon.

"I want to thank everyone, the Fertittas and Dana White," Lesnar told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "I promised my wife and kids that if I won this fight, the fight against Junior [dos Santos] would be my last. If I lost tonight, this would be my last."

Overeem, a veteran of 47 MMA fights coming in, broke Lesnar's spirit early by thwarting a takedown attempt and battering his body repeatedly. The win gets him the next heavyweight title shot against dos Santos sometime in 2012.

"My hats off to Alistair Overeem. I want to take my hat off to all my training partners, my entire family," said Lesnar. "I've really had a difficult time with my disease. I'm officially retired tonight. This was the last time you'll see me in the Octagon."

Lesnar (5-3, 4-3 UFC) missed the last 15 months fighting a battle against diverticulitis. The intestinal ailment and subsequent surgery had him losing 40 pounds at one point.

Lesnar was first diagnosed in Oct. of 2009. He went without surgery and returned a year later. He lost his UFC heavyweight title belt to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121. More alarming than the one-sided loss was the way Lesnar turned and ran away from punches after he was nailed a few times by Velasquez.

Velasquez is a big puncher, but Overeem is in a different class. An experience kickboxer, the 263-pound Overeem hits like a Mack truck. A few knees early tonight really rocked Lesnar and put him on his heels. From there, he was tentative in going for the takedown.

Lesnar, a wrestler by trade, only attempted one single-leg takedown 50 seconds into the fight. After that, he chose to stand and box with Overeem. It was a path to disaster.

With 2:42 left in the first, Overeem (36-11-1, 1-0 UFC) drilled Lesnar on his right side with a nasty body kick. Lesnar had a delayed reaction, grabbed at his ribs and went down to a knee. Overeem charged forward and threw 11 unanswered punches as Lesnar covered up. The final right crushed Lesnar to the body. That's when the ref stepped in.

This was the UFC debut for Overeem, who's fought all over the world. The giant Dutchman spent most of his career fighting in Japan as a 205-pounder. In 2007, he decided to add bulk to his 6-foot-5 frame. The change has been shocking. He's stormed to eight straight wins in the big boy division, with seven of them coming via first round finishes.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/overeem-batters-lesnar-ufc-141-former-wwe-star-053724750.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

UFC on FX Fight Card: Guillard vs. Miller

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UFC on FX fight card is headlined by Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller.The first-ever UFC on FX fight card is being headlined by a lightweight showdown between Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Guillard will look to bounce back from his 47-second loss to Joe Lauzon last October at UFC 136. Meanwhile, Miller will aim to get back on the win column after falling last August to Ben Henderson. Both lightweights were on track for a title shot until those losses.

The UFC on FX fight card is below.

Main Card - FX at 9 p.m. ET
Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller
Duane "Bang" Ludwig vs. Josh Neer
Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft
Mike Easton vs. TBA

Preliminary Card - FUEL at 6 p.m. ET

Jorge Rivera vs. Eric Schafer
Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts
Kamal Shalorus vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Fabricio Camoes vs. Reza Madadi
Karlos Vemola vs. Ryan Jimmo
Joseph Sandoval vs. Nick Denis

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/10/ufc-on-fx-fight-card-guillard-vs-miller/

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe

Houston Alexander ticketed for child abuse after boxing with son

Houston Alexander burst onto the UFC's light heavyweight scene with first-round knockouts of Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine, but now he's in the news for another reason. Alexander was ticketed in Omaha for misdemeanor child abuse because he boxed with his 16-year-old son.

Alexander found his son sending explicit messages to women via Facebook, so he handed his son a pair of boxing gloves. From KMTV in Omaha:

According to police reports, "Alexander then retrieved boxing gloves and told his son, 'If you are going to lie to me, then we are going to box.'" The two reportedly boxed in the basement. Officers describe the teen as having a "slight bloody nose and pain to his right side."

Yeah, it's not good for any man to box his 16-year-old son, but it takes it to a whole new level when the father in question is a professional fighter known for power in his hands.

Alexander is the single father of six children, and he talked about what fatherhood meant for him before fighting in 2007.

I have custody of my kids, so I'm a hardworking individual. There's no quit in me because I can't quit when it comes to my children. I can't show them that I'm going to quit. That's not a good example for them, so what they're going to see is their dad working hard no matter what he does, and especially at this sport here. So I can't get on TV and have my kids see me get my [expletive] kicked, so I'm going to work hard for that not to happen.

He was released from the UFC after a less-than-memorable loss to Kimbo Slice in 2009. Alexander's most recent fight was a loss to Steve Bosse in October 2011.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/houston-alexander-ticketed-child-abuse-boxing-son-221847806.html

Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander

UFC 141?s Three Stars: Overeem, Hendricks and Hettes

The last card of 2011 started slowly, but became must-watch when the pay-per-view fights started. In the last five bouts, three fighters earned first-round knockouts. Here are our three stars from the eve of the Eve. Tell us yours in the comments or on Facebook.

No. 1 star -- Alistair Overeem: Any question about his lack of competitive opponents was answered with a first-round knockout of former champ Brock Lesnar. Overeem overwhelmed Lesnar from the bell, then used knees to attack where Lesnar was most vulnerable. Next, he'll get to match up with Junior dos Santos in a fight that is nearly guaranteed to end in a knockout.

No. 2 star -- Johny Hendricks: You could practically hear the MMA world groan as the Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks match-up was announced. Fitch's last nine fights went the distance, and Hendricks is a top-notch wrestler. Of course this would be another boring grapplefest. Hendricks proved us all wrong with a 12-second knockout of a man with a tough chin.

No. 3 star -- Jim Hettes: Did you expect Hettes to put on a three-round beatdown of Nam Phan? Me neither. "The Kid" is now 10-0, and ready for a step up in competition. After that display, he has earned it.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-141-three-stars-overeem-hendricks-hettes-140312442.html

Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo 

UFC 141 postfight: Hettes sends a message to Internet Tough Guys

Jimy Hettes is enjoying his new found fame. That includes reading nice and nasty comments on the Internet about his game.

Following Hettes' whitewash of Nam Phan at UFC 141, the 24-year-old said he spent the days leading up to the fight reading negative messages from goofs online.

"I like looking at the Internet and seeing everyone count me out. And really say how I'm going to get my butt kicked and stuff like that," Hettes said (4:00 mark). "In my hotel room, me and my buddy Kris [McCray] were looking at the comment laughing. 'This kid's not gonna win because he doesn't have any muscles.' So it really fuels me."

Hettes is also driven by the talent he works with in New Jersey. That group is headed by UFC lightweight champ Frank Edgar along with McCray. Hettes said working with the bigger fighters makes facing the featherweights seem almost unfair.

He's just 2-0 in the UFC, but Hettes (10-0, nine submission wins) appears destined for some big things.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-141-postfight-hettes-sticks-internet-tough-guys-232014719.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara Slated for UFC on Fuel TV 2

After both having three-fight win streaks snapped, middleweights Brian Stann and Alessio Sakara will look to get back on track when they're expected to square off at UFC on Fuel TV 2 on April 14 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27084/brian-stann-vs-alessio-sakara-slated-for-ufc-on-fuel-tv-2/

Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio

Dana White talks after UFC 137 "I Will Never Trust Nick Diaz Again" - Dana White

Nick Diaz was a no-show at the UFC 137 press conference in Las Vegas - just like he was a no-show at the press conference in Toronto the day before. Dana White decided enough is enough and axed him from the card, giving Carlos Condit the title shot in his place. In this interview with MMA:30's Dave Farra; Dana White talks about the trust lost, why he thinks he'll never heard from Diaz again, and touches on Overreem vs. Lesnar and the UFC's return to Japan. See more videos at MMA30.com

Source: http://mmalice.com/dana-white/dana-white-talks-after-ufc-137-i-will-never-trust-nick-diaz-again-video_43e266c70.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Countdown Preview Show - Strikeforce

Fight Network previews Strikforce's heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers taking place on June 18, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-overeem-vs-werdum-countdown-preview-show-video_927471d83.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

Tyron Woodley controls Jordan Mein for Strikeforce split decision

Tyron Woodley remained undefeated with split decision win over Jordan Mein at Strikeforce in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Woodley took the wrestling filled match with a 29-28, 28-29, 30-27 score.

In the first round, Mein opened up showing the jab early, with Woodley responding with kicks and a takedown attempt. Mein had good takedown defense, avoiding Woodley's takedown. They were split apart by the referee, and Woodley was able to get the takedown on the second attempt. He held Mein down, landing elbows and knees to the body.

Woodley started strong in the second round with a jab that wobbled Mein and a takedown. From there, Woodley used his wrestling to control Mein for the rest of the round.

The third round started the same as the second, with Woodley ducking under for a takedown. He held down Mein, who had little answer for Woodley's wrestling. The crowd grew restless, and Woodley and Mein were stood up by the referee. Mein tried to land a knee, but Woodley went in for another takedown.

After the fight, Woodley said that he had a hard time dealing with Mein's length, then asked for the shot at the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt.

Woodley moves to 10-o after this win, while the 22-year-old Mein is 23-8.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/tyron-woodley-controls-jordan-mein-strikeforce-split-decision-041550063.html

Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama