Thailand sport climbing: can you help?

Since an old friend told me about his climbing trips to Thailand it’s been one of my boxes-to-tick. Climbing by the beach and then relaxing in the blue seas sounds too good to be true. I’m about to find out - I’ve decided to do it later this year… Photo kindly shared by HalonaCoast on Flickr I’m [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rock-climbing-blog/~3/38U5UCpl448/philsheard

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

J-Lau and White don?t shy away from saying Guillard looked past UFC 136

First, Melvin Guillard took it on the chin in the Octagon then came a few more shots during the UFC 136 postfight press conference.

Guillard was the victim of a major upset (closed as a minus-600 favorite at some off-shore sports books) against Joe Lauzon, then during the postfight, the victor and Dana White said they thought the former title contender was too cocky for his own good.

"He came dancing in there like he'd won, like he'd just won the fight ... instead of being serious," White said (0:45 mark). "It'd be one thing if it went to the ground and Lauzon submitted him, but he rocked him twice and then submitted him."

Guillard came out swinging for the fences from the get-go. He got crushed by a left hook and down he went. It was all over in 47 seconds for Guillard. This after he told the New Orleans Times-Picayune he was expecting to knockout Lauzon.

"I never predict the round, but I know I will get a knockout," Guillard said before the fight. "It's no pressure, but I want to outperform everyone on the card. I can't wait. And I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about what I'm going to do."

He also called Lauzon a featherweight.

Lauzon said he was irked to find out that Guillard had spent part of Saturday afternoon hanging around the UFC Fan Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center. That's not unusual for Guillard though on fight days. He told us in the past that he doesn't like to sit in his hotel room on the Friday and Saturday of fight weekends. Getting out and talking to the fans actually relaxes his nerves.

Later during the postfight proceedings, White mentioned Guillard again. When referencing his own focus on the huge Fox televison debut on Nov. 12, White said he didn't want to pull "a Guillard" and lose track of his goal. That stings.

Guillard made it back from the brink of lot worse. Now the 28-year-old has to regroup and try to tear through the division again.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/J-Lau-and-White-don-t-shy-away-from-saying-Guill?urn=mma-wp8083

Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger 

First time climbing at Froggatt Edge

I’ve only just got chance to post about last week’s trip to Froggatt Edge. Friends tell me that a crisp spring morning is better for climbing grit but if you ask me sunshine is the way forward. I headed to Froggatt Edge (just south of Sheffield) with a few friends for my first ascents on [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rock-climbing-blog/~3/hOSsO_V8trg/philsheard

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

You tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world?

You tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world?

At a press conference in Toronto to officially announce UFC 140's main event of Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, Dana White called Toronto the fight capital of the world. Considering how Toronto sold out the 55,000-seat Rogers Center for UFC 129 in April, it's not a stretch to commend the city for its support of MMA. But is it the capital?

Las Vegas, Nev. -- The homebase for Zuffa also hosts more UFC events than any other city every year. Recently, Sin City has also become the home for Strikeforce: Challengers shows, and it is also the home of some of the best MMA gyms.

Los Angeles -- The UFC turns to L.A. for its big heavyweight bouts, and the city turns out for every bout. If Orange County is included, the Los Angeles-area also is the home to Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz and Mark Munoz's successful gym.

Rio de Janeiro -- With the exuberant way Rio responded to UFC 134, they jumped right onto this list. They also deserve to be here on the back of the Nogueira brothers, fighters born and raised in Rio. No word on if they danced along the sand.

Sydney -- Australia has embraced MMA wholeheartedly, selling out huge events the past two winters. Not only that, but fighters like George Sotiropoulos gleefully sell their country as an MMA haven at every opportunity.

Tokyo -- Though Japanese MMA isn't what it once was, Tokyo will always have a place in MMA's lore because of its role in launching Pride Fighting Championships. Their crowds are not the raucous masses of humanity that are in Sydney or Rio, but Japanese fights are spectacles like no other.

Toronto -- Dana White's choice for the world's MMA capital has plenty of fight fans and fighters. Though it is the city that dumped Sean Pierson from their police department for being a UFC fighter, it is also the city that welcome the UFC with open arms the second it was regulated there.

Now you tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world? Did we miss any on the list? Vote in the poll, and tell us your thoughts in the comments or on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/You-tell-us-Where-is-the-fight-capital-of-the-w?urn=mma-wp8229

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

Now entrenched at 145, Tyson Griffin is gunning for Jose Aldo?s belt

Between injuries and tough decisions not going his way Tyson Griffin has become sort of a forgotten man in the UFC. The featherweight is trying to change that in his new weight class. One that he believes is lot more competitive than many who cover and follow the sport. Jose Aldo is not unbeatable according to Griffin.

"To be honest, he doesn't use his jab much. There's ways to pick him apart on that aspect," Griffin told ESPNRadio1100/98.9 FM.

Griffin said Florian simply wasn't athletic enough to keep up with the UFC's featherweight champ. Florian was able to slow down the fight at times and score takedowns.

"Allowing himself to get caught against the fence, can allow him to get taken down even more against someone who knows how to get someone down on the ground there," said Griffin.

Up next for Griffin is Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137  on Oct. 29. Check out Griffin's website. To benefit Boys Town of Nevada, he's running a UFC 137 ticket giveaway.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Now-entrenched-at-145-Tyson-Griffin-is-gunning-?urn=mma-wp8209

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Frankie Edgar bloodies camera with celebration kiss at UFC 136

Frankie Edgar bloodies camera with celebration kiss at UFC 136

Frankie Edgar was understandably excited when he TKOed Gray Maynard to defend the UFC lightweight belt. To celebrate, the 5-foot-6 fighter jumped onto the six-foot fence of the Octagon, grabbed a camera and gave it a big kiss. As his face had been bloodied early when Maynard had Edgar on his heels in the first round, Edgar left a bloody mess behind him.

MMA has its own charms that makes it different from any other sport. One of them is that its fans can see the beauty behind blood drops on a camera.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Frankie-Edgar-bloodies-camera-with-celebration-k?urn=mma-wp8006

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz