Amateur fighter dresses up as superhero, is arrested

Amateur fighter dresses up as superhero, is arrestedIt's a tough world out there, and we're in need of a hero. We're in need of someone to stand up for what's right. We're in need of a trained fighter to ... dress up as a superhero and pepper spray people randomly?

Wait, no. That's not what this world needs at all. Unfortunately, Ben Fodor, who has an 11-0 amateur record, is that guy. Using the name Phoenix Jones, Fodor was arrested in Seattle for assaulting a group of people with pepper spray while wearing a black mask with gold stripes and a bulging muscle bodysuit.

"Just because he's dressed up in costume, it doesn't mean he's in special consideration or above the law. You can't go around pepper spraying people because you think they are fighting," said Seattle police spokesman Det. Mark Jamieson.

Fodor said that he was breaking up a fight, but police said there is no indication that there was a fight. He released a shaky video of him "breaking up" a fight, but no fight is obvious from the video. Though some women hit Fodor with their shoes because they are angry about being pepper sprayed, no fight is clear.

Fodor's last MMA bout was in July of 2010. He has two wins by submission, with one listed as a choke and one omo plata. That means he should know jiu-jitsu well enough that he should be able to use a choke hold on drunk people in a fight, and not cover a crowd in pepper spray.

But this is a man who likes to dress up as a superhero and run around Seattle, "fighting crime" while angering police. It's safe to say reason and logic isn't his strong suit.

Thanks to MMA Nation.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Amateur-fighter-dresses-up-as-superhero-is-arre?urn=mma-wp8162

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe

Jon Anik talks about his new role with the UFC and more

Jon Anik talks about his new role with the UFC and moreThe UFC announced on Thursday that they hired Jon Anik to work with them on Fuel TV and FX broadcasts. Anik has been the host of ESPN's "MMA Live" since 2008, and was Bellator's original play-by-play man. He'll handle hosting duties on a revamped "The Ultimate Fighter," plus do play-by-play for UFC fights on FX and Fuel.

Anik spoke with Cagewriter about his legacy at ESPN, the final broadcast and his new job. He said that the opportunity to call fights and focus all of his time on MMA was just too good of an offer to pass on.

"Doing live events for a sports broadcaster is where it's at. It's what I've always wanted to do. There's nothing like the adrenaline and the rush of being a small part of that live event. For a lot of broadcasters, when you get to ESPN, that is the pinnacle. You never think you'll leave there. I wouldn't have left if there wasn't interest from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I'm appreciative that Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White were behind me."

Anik doesn't expect to make his TV debut for the UFC until January, but his first official day as a Zuffa employee is on Monday. All of his concentration can finally be on MMA, which is what he has wanted.

"At ESPN, I was pulled in a lot of different directions. With the singular focus, I have 280 fighters to learn every inch of, and that process begins on Monday. Part of my first month in November will be research, and I'm excited to do so. They deserve to have the person representing them on TV to be as informed as humanly possible. You can be sure that I'll be learning it all."

But before that first day of work, Anik had his final broadcast with the "MMA Live" crew. Kenny Florian and Franklin McNeil, two mainstays on the show, were with Anik during today's broadcast. That show will air tonight, and you might see Anik get emotional.

"It was tough today. Kenny Florian and Franklin McNeil were both there, and they've grown into great friends of mine. We all grew together. We're going through the show today, and obviously the focus is on UFC 137, but at the end, they paid a nice little tribute and I was holding back the tears. I appreciate that ESPN let me do one final show."

He said that though MMA's coverage at ESPN has grown, it was still only about 30 percent of his work week.

Jon Anik talks about his new role with the UFC and more"I've been pushing for increased mixed martial arts content and an increased MMA role at ESPN. Even though they've been receptive to some of that, I have hit some brick walls. I'm satisfied with a lot of the things that I've gotten done at ESPN from an MMA standpoint, there were other things that didn't materialize."

Anik said that "MMA Live" will continue on without him, though he does not know who his replacement will be. It's possible that ESPN will use a rotation of hosts to fill the job.

Though he is leaving, Anik is proud of what "MMA Live" has accomplished in its three years. The show started on the internet only, and was moved to ESPN2 after its viewership steadily increased.

"The staff wanted a news and information show cut from the same cloth as NFL Live, and I think we were able to do that. The fact that we were able to graduate to ESPN2 is really something that I will always look to with a great sense of pride, because it's very rare for ESPN to put a show on TV when they don't have rights to that sport. You don't see an NHL 2Night. A lot of the fighters who came on and served as analysts deserve a whole lot credit for that. I think that's some sort of legacy that I hope we leave, and MMA Live is going to go on long after I'm gone."

The work on ESPN prepared Anik for his new role with the UFC. A big part of his job will be the face of the UFC's programming on Fuel and FX.

"One of the goals that we have collectively with the UFC right now is to make Fuel TV a monster. There's going to be so much programming on Fuel TV and on FX that I think it's important to drive people to that platform."

Watch Anik's final episode of "MMA Live" on ESPN2 at 1 a.m. ET.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Jon-Anik-talks-about-his-new-role-with-the-UFC-a?urn=mma-wp8660

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Condit let down, but still focused on St. Pierre and the belt

Condit let down, but still focused on St. Pierre and the beltCarlos Condit has been through a roller coaster while preparing UFC 137. He started out by preparing for a bout with B.J. Penn. After Nick Diaz's no-show for multiple press obligations, Condit was given the title shot. Today, he found out Georges St. Pierre was injured, and that Condit's title shot would have to wait until December or January.

Still, Condit told Cagewriter that he's not angry about the turn of events.

"It's a letdown, but it's the nature of the sport. I'm going to stay positive, keep training, and be even better when the fight comes."

He said taking another fight in the meantime just doesn't make sense.

"Nothing's been offered, and me and my manager discussed it, and taking another fight doesn't make sense on a lot of levels. As far as my career goes, it doesn't make sense, from a money standpoint, it doesn't make sense."

GSP's injury will not keep him out of training for too long, so Condit will wait for GSP and the title shot.

"In this situation, Georges isn't out six or eight months or anything like that. He's sprained his knee. It's going to be a short recovery, and hopefully we'll be able to get this thing done, and get in the cage by the end of the year, or early next year at the latest."

Both Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck hinted that they would be ready to take the fight, but Condit is focused on the belt.

"I have the opportunity to fight for the title, and I have my heart set on Georges. When and if I beat Georges, I'll take on Ellenberger. I'll give him a rematch. I'll fight anyone, but right now, I have my heart set on Georges."

In the meantime, Condit will not change his training routine.

"My job is to get up every day and go to the gym and train, and improve my skills, and improve myself as a fighter. That's what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'll be able to eat a little bit more, and enjoy not so strict of a diet, but that's about the only difference. "

What will that cheat food be?

"Pizza or enchiladas," Condit said with a laugh.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Condit-let-down-but-still-focused-on-St-Pierre?urn=mma-wp8327

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

Is Sonnen falling back in the contender line? Camp Silva is now a fan of Bisping

Is Sonnen falling back in the contender line? Camp Silva is now a fan of BispingThe jockeying continues between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva's camp. Will Sonnen's WWE-style call-out be rewarded or will Silva's manager Ed Soares successfully lobby UFC management that the brash American shouldn't be next?

Last week, Soares told HDNet's "Inside MMA" that Sonnen needs to go to the back of the line of middleweight contenders before he gets another title shot. Who's in that line?

Soares said he's never thought much of Michael Bisping in the past, but now the Brit should be in the mix for a title shot.

[...] People talk about Chael and Brian Stann, and sometimes people are focused on the TUF show. But I think Bisping could be a good opportunity. GSP could be a good opportunity," Soares told Sherdog.com.

That doesn't mean Soares is against Silva facing Sonnen.

"There's a lot of great opportunities, and I do think the Chael fight could potentially sell. It could be a big seller. I think it could be a huge pay-per-view. So I see all angles of it, but I'm just expressing what Anderson has talked to me about. That's how he feels."

Sonnen says all of this is irrelevant. He believes Silva is ducking him, but pointed out to Jim Rome that it's not the champ or his manager who make the fights.

"Whether he wants to do it or not, we're gonna do it. Dana will make him ... Anderson doesn't pick the fights and his manager, that keeps getting air time, darn sure doesn't have anything to do with it," Sonnen said (9:45 mark). "Dana White will decide, and if Dana says yes, then we're fighting and if Dana says no, then we're not. That's end of it.  I don't argue with Dana. I don't need Anderson's opinion, I'll slap him in the face the next time I see him."

Does Bisping deserve a shot? He's certainly going to get some steam building as Season 14 of "The Ultimate Fighter" unfolds. The problem is timing.

Can the UFC wait until early December to schedule the next Silva fight? Bisping and fellow coach Jason Miller meet at the TUF 14 Finale on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Is-Sonnen-falling-back-in-the-contender-line-Ca?urn=mma-wp8421

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

UFC 137 Weigh-In Results

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BJ Penn, Nick DiazLAS VEGAS -- There may be no championship fight, but that hardly dimmed the spirits of a huge crowd that turned out to watch the UFC 137 weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. It appeared that every available seat was filled to watch top welterweights BJ Penn and Nick Diaz step on the scale and make their main event bout official.

The two didn't disappoint, with UFC officials having to separate them after things nearly got physical during their staredown.

Diaz weighed in first, coming in at 170 pounds, and Penn followed at 169. That's when the show began. Penn walked up to Diaz, the crown of his head just under Diaz's nose. Diaz then appeared to burrow his head forward, making contact with Penn. The two then shoved each other before being quickly separated.



It was the first and only sign of animosity between the two during fight week in what has been mostly been a quiet, respectful back and forth.

After the push-apart, Diaz immediately walked off the stage and to the back.

"He's a good opponent," Penn said. "It's time to fight."

Diaz is making his return to the UFC after vacating the Strikeforce championship. He's riding a 10-fight win streak, and he has cited Penn as one of his early influences. The two have also worked together in the past, but Friday's actions showed the two won't have a problem putting the past behind them and getting down to fight.

In the co-main event, Matt Mitrione will take a 21-pound advantage into his heavyweight bout with Cheick Kongo. For Mitrione, it is his biggest jump in opponent level after taking out Christian Morecraft in his last bout. Mitrione weighed 255 to Kongo's 234.

In what may be his last bout as a fighter, Mirko Cro Cop weighed in at a trim 235 pounds for his bout with Roy Nelson. In the leadup to the fight, there has been talk about Nelson's new conditioning program and the effects it may have on his body, but he didn't tip his hand at weigh-ins, wearing a fat suit on the scale while registering 252 pounds. By comparison, in his last fight at UFC 130, Nelson weighed 260 pounds.

The only fighter to miss weight was Tyson Griffin, who was well off the mark, checking in at 146, three pounds over the featherweight limit. He had one hour to attempt to lose the three pounds but did not make it, dropping only one pound. He'll be fined a percentage of his purse and face Palaszewski at a catch weight of 148 pounds.

Main Card
Nick Diaz (170) vs. B.J. Penn (169)
Cheick Kongo (234) vs. Matt Mitrione (255)
Mirko Cro Cop (235) vs. Roy Nelson (252)
Hatsu Hioki (145) vs. George Roop (145)
Scott Jorgensen (135) vs. Jeff Curran (134)

Preliminary Card

Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Dennis Siver (155)
Tyson Griffin (148)* vs. Bart Palaszewski (146)
Eliot Marshall (204) vs. Brandon Vera (205)
Danny Downes (155) vs. Ramsey Nijem (155)
Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Francis Carmont (185)
Dustin Jacoby (185) vs. Clifford Starks (186)

*Tyson Griffin made 149 on the scale, dropped another pound after weigh-ins were concluded and ultimately could not make weight, resulting in a fine of 25 percent of his purse. His fight with Palaszewski will be fought at a 148-pound catch weight.

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/28/ufc-137-weigh-in-results/

Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

UFC 137?s Roy Nelson Ready to Fight a Legend While Sporting New Look

Roy Nelson is bringing a lot more to the octagon this time around. With how often his physique is critiqued, one would assume that would be the talk of the town concerning his upcoming fight on Saturday. However, Nelson is sporting a very rugged, yet absolutely impressive beard. Nelson knows that no matter what he does inside the cage, though, that critiquing will happen, and he is okay with that.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/26457/roy-nelson-is-ready-to-fight-a-legend-while-sporting-a-legendary-beard/

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Monday morning(ish) KO: Kimbo Slice?s boxing win

Though most of the boxing world was focused on Bernard Hopkins this weekend, former UFC heavyweight Kimbo Slice had his second boxing match this weekend. It didn't take long.

In just 47 seconds, he took out Tay Bledsoe, a tall cruiserweight whose record is now 2-4. With two wins now under his belt in the ring, is Slice a full-fledged boxer, or is he still a former mixed martial artist who is now trying boxing? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Monday-morning-ish-KO-Kimbo-Slice-s-boxing-win?urn=mma-wp8278

Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine AndrèÂ