Gilbert Melendez holds onto Strikeforce belt with decision win

Gilbert Melendez holds onto Strikeforce belt with decision win

Gilbert Melendez defended the Strikeforce men's lightweight belt with a methodical decision over Jorge Masvidal in the main event for Strikeforce on Saturday night. On the judges' cards, the champ took it 50-45, 50-45, 49-46.

As the two were feeling each other out in the opening round, Masvidal opened his arms and invited Melendez to hit him, so Melendez obliged and stung Masvidal with straight punches. Masvidal stayed light on his feet, and kicked Melendez's leg out from underneath him. Melendez quickly returned to his feet. Near the end of the round, Melendez caught Masvidal in a front headlock and landed knees to finish the round well.

Masvidal continued to talk smack to Melendez in the second round, and Melendez continued to have an edge in striking. Melendez stayed light on his feet and shook Masvidal with several strikes. Masvidal was unable to find a rhythm or cause any damage.

The third round started with Masvidal thwarting a Melendez takedown attempt. Masvidal threw a knee and knocked out Melendez's mouthpiece and continued to talk smack. Every time Masvidal opened his mouth, Melendez landed a punch. Masvidal appeared to be more comfortable in the third round and was able to create more offense, but still not enough to disrupt Melendez.

Melendez moved forward and landed several unanswered punches in the fourth round. He continued to stay light on his feet and move in to land jabs. In the final minute, Melendez started using a one-two combination effectively.

Masvidal used a knee to try to get inside early in the fifth and final round, but again was unable to create any damage. Melendez stayed calm, kept moving, and used combinations to control the rhythm of the last round. Sensing urgency, Masvidal unloaded in the final minute. He tried for a takedown and to take Melendez's back, but it was too little to make a difference.

After the win, Melendez was asked about his future, and he said he wants a challenge from the UFC.

"I'm proud to be a part of Strikeforce, but they've got to bring over some guys to challenge me. I want to take the UFC champ, whoever it is. Come in my hexagon and let's fight," Melendez said.

He won his last six fights, earning a record of 20-2. Masvidal is now 22-7.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Gilbert-Melendez-holds-onto-Strikeforce-belt-wit?urn=mma-wp10874

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

UFC 141 Extended Preview Video for ?Lesnar vs. Overeem?

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar welcomes Strikeforce title-holder Alistair Overeem to the Octagon in the main event of UFC 141 on December 30 in Las Vegas with the first shot at heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos on the line. An extended video preview of UFC 141, which also features lightweights Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz, is after the break.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/26921/ufc-141-extended-preview-video-for-lesnar-vs-overeem/

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen 

Strikeforce weigh-in: With title fights official, is Masvidal focused?

Strikeforce weigh-in: With title fights official, is Masvidal focused?

The craziest weight class miss in recent memory was the only notable highlight of the Strikeforce weigh-in earlier today.

Jerron Peoples knew he was nowhere close to welterweight limit of  170 pounds, so his camp negotiated with Roger Bowling's to meet at 179. Incredibly enough, Peoples still missed the super high catchweight. He weighed 180.5 and couldn't get down to 179.

There were no such issues with pros like Gilbert Melendez (155) and Jorge Masvidal (155) along with the females fighting for the 145-pound title. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Hiroko Yamanaka both came in on point.

After reading Kevin Iole's excellent piece on Masvidal's weird diet and nightlife habits, it's a surprise the challenger didn't come in weighing 200 pounds.

Masvidal is a self-proclaimed fast food junkie.

He spends a lot of time in the nation's fast food restaurants. He said, "I'm a humungous fan of McDonald's," putting a significant emphasis on the word "humungous." "I can't tell you how much I love that place. Taco Bell. Rally's. Checker's. I don't know if you have one of those where you are, but let me tell you, that place is awesome."

One of life's pleasures, he says, is a grilled burrito at Taco Bell. But he has so many favorites, it's difficult to remember all of them.

"Wow, that is one of the toughest questions ever," he said, asked his favorite fast-food meals. "There are so many great ones."

He also loves night clubs and strip clubs.

[...] Give him four hours and he's a happy man. He's often out prowling after midnight, hanging in night clubs, stopping in strip joints, just looking for a place to spend some time and have some fun.

"I just can't sleep a lot," he says. "I'm not out partying. I don't drink; I don't smoke. I'm just out hanging with my friends. I only need about four or five hours a sleep a night at most. So if I can't sleep, I might as well be out doing something."

Unless this is a recent development, there's no reason to call Masvidal on his unconventional habits. He enters the fight winning two straight and 3-of-4. He destroyed KJ Noons back in June.

MAIN CARD (Showtime - courtesy MMAjunkie)

Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155)
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145)
Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206)
Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5)* - 179-pound catchweight fight
Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265)
Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186)
Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Strikeforce-weigh-in-With-title-fights-official?urn=mma-wp10832

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Jason Miller agrees with Dana White about his performance

Jason Miller agrees with Dana White about his performanceAfter Jason "Mayhem" Miller lost to Michael Bisping at "The Ultimate Fighter" season 14 finale earlier this month, he took a verbal beating from UFC president Dana White. He called it the worst stand-up and the most lopsided fight he has ever seen.

A disappointed Miller is now training in Holland, and responded to White's comments on his own website.

Dana White was right. He made some disparaging comments about my performance, and I agree with him. I displayed the worst of everything that night in the octagon. I was tense in round one and I locked up after that. I didn't perform to my potential, and I take full responsibility for it. That wasn't a UFC caliber performance, and I'm not happy about it.

After reading about Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira blame his loss on referee Herb Dean, it's refreshing to hear Miller take such responsibility for his loss. He also said that he is taking this loss as a challenge, and ended it with a little bit of an inspirational speech.

My challenge to you, and myself, is to continue to press on and make the most of your adventure here on earth. At the end of your life you want to be sure that you've made your best effort to make a collection of epic stories. Some sorrowful ones, some happy ones and some downright amazing, but the challenge for you is to find and make the most of each of these adventures.

That was the exact inspiration I needed to go finish my Christmas shopping.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Jason-Miller-agrees-with-Dana-White-about-his-pe?urn=mma-wp11006

Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade 

Strikeforce weigh-in: With title fights official, is Masvidal focused?

Strikeforce weigh-in: With title fights official, is Masvidal focused?

The craziest weight class miss in recent memory was the only notable highlight of the Strikeforce weigh-in earlier today.

Jerron Peoples knew he was nowhere close to welterweight limit of  170 pounds, so his camp negotiated with Roger Bowling's to meet at 179. Incredibly enough, Peoples still missed the super high catchweight. He weighed 180.5 and couldn't get down to 179.

There were no such issues with pros like Gilbert Melendez (155) and Jorge Masvidal (155) along with the females fighting for the 145-pound title. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Hiroko Yamanaka both came in on point.

After reading Kevin Iole's excellent piece on Masvidal's weird diet and nightlife habits, it's a surprise the challenger didn't come in weighing 200 pounds.

Masvidal is a self-proclaimed fast food junkie.

He spends a lot of time in the nation's fast food restaurants. He said, "I'm a humungous fan of McDonald's," putting a significant emphasis on the word "humungous." "I can't tell you how much I love that place. Taco Bell. Rally's. Checker's. I don't know if you have one of those where you are, but let me tell you, that place is awesome."

One of life's pleasures, he says, is a grilled burrito at Taco Bell. But he has so many favorites, it's difficult to remember all of them.

"Wow, that is one of the toughest questions ever," he said, asked his favorite fast-food meals. "There are so many great ones."

He also loves night clubs and strip clubs.

[...] Give him four hours and he's a happy man. He's often out prowling after midnight, hanging in night clubs, stopping in strip joints, just looking for a place to spend some time and have some fun.

"I just can't sleep a lot," he says. "I'm not out partying. I don't drink; I don't smoke. I'm just out hanging with my friends. I only need about four or five hours a sleep a night at most. So if I can't sleep, I might as well be out doing something."

Unless this is a recent development, there's no reason to call Masvidal on his unconventional habits. He enters the fight winning two straight and 3-of-4. He destroyed KJ Noons back in June.

MAIN CARD (Showtime - courtesy MMAjunkie)

Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155)
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145)
Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206)
Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5)* - 179-pound catchweight fight
Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265)
Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186)
Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Strikeforce-weigh-in-With-title-fights-official?urn=mma-wp10832

Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander

The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

This is the time of year we think about gifting and re-gifting for those closest to us. That includes our favorites characters in the world of mixed martial arts.

We choose to re-gift. Bleacher Report's Brian Hiergesell did a dynamite job of coming up with great gift ideas, but with an absolutely snarky tone.

Our favorites were:

12. Michael McDonald - A Time Machine
At this point in his career, Michael McDonald has enough talent and an awesome gift of raw power to win the UFC bantamweight title. The only problem?  He's 20 years old.

Unbelievable, right?

McDonald is one of the only guys at 135 lbs. that can knock out his opponents at such a small weight.  If he had his chance at using a time machine, he'd be able to bypass the useless fights over the next year and wormhole his way to a title shot against Dominick Cruz.

11. Roy Nelson - A KFC Bucket

Roy Nelson probably eats so much food on Christmas Day, it's ridiculous.

I'm talking roast beef, steak, potatoes, yams, corn, the whole nine.  But can you blame him?

It clearly doesn't affect his Octagon skills.  Nelson would be just as good, and he is, if he weighed 180 lbs. compared to his usual 265. No matter what the critics say, the belly is here to stay.

The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

5. Jon Jones - A Weakness

I don't think so.  A victory over Overeem would launch Lesnar back into title contention in the heavyweight division and dispel any concerns people have about his recovery from diverticulitis. I realize their fight comes on the eve of New Year's Eve, but how great would it be to see Lesnar step into the Octagon, land a couple of rights, and put Overeem to sleep?

I'm thinking somebody needs to get Jon Jones a weakness for Christmas.  The guy is too good.

3. Brock Lesnar - An Alistair Overeem nap

Is there a more perfect gift for Brock Lesnar this Christmas than an Alistair Overeem snooze?

Apparently Brian isn't a big fan of Overeem, but that's the joy of prepping for UFC 141. Lesnar is the most polarizing guy in the sport and there are plenty of Overeem critics. So pick your poison. It's a win-win for the fans and a helluva late Christmas gift from the UFC.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/The-Grinchiest-MMA-Christmas-wish-list-ever?urn=mma-wp11008

Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama 

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

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe