UFC 137 press conference: Diaz dumped from the card and replaced by Condit

Nick Diaz simply won't play the game. He was banished once before by the UFC and it looks like it may happen again to the elite welterweight.

During a UFC 137 press conference this afternoon in Las Vegas, Dana White announced Diaz has been dropped from the Oct. 29 main event. He's been replaced by Carlos Condit, who will face UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.

White announced the replacement using a short promotional video. Clearly, there's no turning back from here. White said he hasn't cut Diaz yet because he still has to speak to the fighter.

The problems started yesterday when Diaz no-showed a press conference in Toronto. White said the company booked two more flights to Las Vegas for Diaz and he's gone missing in action since.

White also announced any ticket buyers displeased with Diaz's exit, can return their tickets. He doesn't expect that to happen.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-137-press-conference-Diaz-dumped-from-the-c?urn=mma-wp6649

Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander

Strikeforce card brings a little more clarity to messy 205 division

With its champion Dan Henderson in limbo, it's anyone's guess at what Strikeforce's light heavyweight division will look like at the end of the year.

The picture should clear up a bit more tomorrow night as several 205-pound contenders square off in Cincinnati on the undercard of the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals. It's imperative that Mo Lawal and Rafael Cavalcante avoid upsets to stay in the mix.

"King Mo" Lawal takes on upstart MMA newcomer in Roger Gracie. Yes, he's from the famed Gracie family, and to no one's surprise he has a brilliant submission game. Gracie also has just four MMA fights under his belt. King Mo (7-1) doesn't have much more experience in terms of fights, but his toolbox is full of more weapons.

In an excellent Strikeforce preview, USA Today built a strong case for Lawal:

CASE FOR LAWAL -- Other than jiu-jitsu, superior to Gracie in every way. Has showcased his strength with knockout punches and high-impact slams. Superb wrestling gives him the ability to take down virtually anyone he faces. Adept at avoiding submissions and staying in good positions.

Lawal has been wise in bouncing around the country from camp to camp. He got high marks from the folks at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Ca.

Cagewriter's Maggie Hendricks did a great profile on Cavalcante's opponent Yoel Romero Palacio. The 34-year-old Cuban is just 4-0 in MMA and yet "Feijao" is a small favorite at minus-135. That tells you a lot about former Olympic silver medal wrestler's potential.

"I know he's a very good wrestler. He's an elite wrestler. I don't know why, I always fight with wrestlers, man," Cavalcante told MMAFighting. "I keep my game plan, I'm training a lot with my conditioning coach, with my training partners. I don't care if it's his first fight in Strikeforce or not. I always train for the worst thing. I train with the best in the world. In MMA it's like *snaps* that, you know? I never underestimate anyone."

That said, Feijao (10-3) can't afford to lose the fight. Feijao dealt with King Mo's wrestler just fine. His heavy hands and massive size should be able to get him by Romero Palacio.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Strikeforce-card-brings-a-little-more-clarity-to?urn=mma-wp6735

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Matt Hughes Unsure of Future Ahead of Final Fight on Contract at UFC 135

Matt Hughes will complete his current contract with the UFC when he faces Josh Koscheck at UFC 135, but the former welterweight champion said Monday that the result of Saturday's co-main event won't determine whether he keeps fighting. "The outcome of this fight doesn't really matter, to be honest," Hughes said.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/24387/matt-hughes-unsure-of-future-ahead-of-final-fight-on-contract-at-ufc-135/

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

Max Hawke's Australian Street Throwaway


More Skateboarding Videos
Max Hawke has some street throwaway from his time in Australia for Ekta Skateboards. Hawke's also got a park throwaway video from Australia. We'll get to see all the skateboarding he saved in the Ekta Promo, coming soon. Found on MPORA among other skateboard videos.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MostlySkateboarding/~3/LcTH9UiOtp8/max-hawkes-australian-street-throwaway.html

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

?The Ultimate Fighter? gives you new reasons to tune in

?The Ultimate Fighter? gives you new reasons to tune inIn its last season on Spike, the people behind "The Ultimate Fighter" are making some big promises to viewers. Next season, when it moves to FX, it will feature live fights, which should help make it more interesting.

In the meantime, neither the UFC nor Spike wants to make it a throwaway season. Ratings have taken a nosedive in the past few seasons, and the show just isn't as compelling as it once was.  They've given us a few good reasons to tune in.

-- "Mayhem" Miller and Michael Bisping: Neither of the coaches will be boring, and both are comfortable with cameras. Bisping previously coached on TUF against Dan Henderson, and Miller hosts "Bully Beatdown" on MTV. Miller said that his first priority is coaching his fighters, but knows that his second priority is to make entertaining TV.

"The second [priority] was to make entertaining television," Miller admitted. "I noticed after the first week that I was a bit bored, so I immediately started cranking it up so that there would be some interaction between me and Mike. At the end of the day, we're doing television, and we need to make something happen so that the audience is engaged. Many things happened."

There two know how to trash talk. There's no telling if it will reach Quinton Jackson/Rashad Evans levels, but it should be fun.

-- Fight-in returns: Last season, the fighters under Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos did not have to fight for a spot in the house, unlike in seasons 7-12. Not only will the fight-in bouts return, but the show's premiere episode will show every full fight.

-- Big bonuses: One of the fun changes, both for fighters and fans, is the creation of bonuses for the fighters that fans can vote on. The UFC will award $25,000 bonuses for the season's best fight, submission and knockout, just like they do for every fight card. Fans will get to vote on the bonuses.

The show will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9 p.m. ET. Do you plan on tuning in? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/-The-Ultimate-Fighter-gives-you-new-reasons-to-?urn=mma-wp6917

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

Court McGee Prefers a Stoppage, but is Just Fine Getting Third UFC Victory

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Regardless of how he got it done, Court McGee was glad to get back in the fight after 11 months on the shelf.

McGee returned after an 11-month layoff with knee and hand injuries. But after submission wins in his first two UFC fights, including the Season 11 Finale of "The Ultimate Fighter" to take that crown, McGee needed three rounds Saturday to get past Dongi Yang in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 25.

Thought another stoppage win would've been fine with him, McGee said there were positives he can take out of going the distance.

There's no substitute for mat time," McGee told MMA Fighting on Saturday after his win. "I'm grateful that I had a hard three-round fight, but it's nice to have that feeling and feel somebody tap or submit - to finish somebody. ... When I get in there and finish somebody - that's an awesome, awesome feeling. I'm still grateful I went three rounds and I got the decision. I'll take it for what it is, and I'm grateful for what it is. Do I think I can do better and improve? Yeah, but it is what it is."

McGee (14-1, 3-0 UFC) won by unanimous decision, getting scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 30-28 from the three cageside judges in New Orleans. But the third round saw McGee get tagged by Yang, and he had to persevere.

"Luckily, I was born with heart," McGee said. "I feel you're either born with it or not. Thank goodness tonight I was. I may not be the prettiest fighter, but I'm tough. That played a role in it tonight."

McGee said the fight with Yang showed him some areas he plans to work on immediately. But as far as the infamous cage rust, McGee said he experienced none.

"I'll go back and improve and stay focused, just like I am," McGee said. "I didn't feel like I had any ring rust or anything. ... The only thing I think I could have done was commit to a shot and take him down a little bit earlier, work some ground. But I don't look at the destination, I look at the journey. This is part of the journey - learning and improving. I don't think practice makes perfect - progress rather than perfection. I feel like I'm progressing. I'm happy. I'm content with my win, but I can always improve."

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/18/court-mcgee-prefers-a-stoppage-but-is-just-fine-getting-third-u/

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

Healy starts off Strikeforce main card with submission

CINCINNATI -- Pat Healy came from behind for a submission win over Maximo Blanco at Strikeforce on Saturday night.

Blanco quickly sent Healy to the canvas with a takedown. Healy was able to get back to his feet, but Blanco took over from there, knocking Healy around until with knees and punches until Healy was forced to shoot in for a takedown. It didn't work, as Blanco took top position. Healy grabbed Blanco's leg, which forced an odd position where he put his hands on the ground, and kicked back at Healy's head. Since Healy was a downed opponent, the move was illegal. A point was deducted, and Healy was given time to recover.

When the fight restarted, Blanco started with a quick flurry before Healy took over with a takedown and short strikes.

In  the second, Blanco's striking was worlds ahead of a much slower Healy's. He landed several strikes unanswered, but Healy was able to control the bout at times with wrestling. At one point, he was close to choking Blanco out, until he was able to maneuver out. Late in the round, Healy rolled into the same rear naked choke. This time, he held on for long enough for Blanco to tap at 4:24 in the second round.

This is Healy's third win in a row. His last two were decision wins, so this sort of come from behind victory was a nice change of pace. After a long career with Sengoku, this was Blanco's Strikeforce debut. His record falls to 8-3-1, while Healy's moves to 26-16.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Healy-starts-off-Strikeforce-main-card-with-subm?urn=mma-wp6783

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague