UFC on FX 4 and UFC 147: We want your picks!

It's a very busy fight weekend, so that means Cagewriter is doing twice the picks. Do you want your picks to show up right here? Then here's what you do. Pick your favorite fights from UFC on FX 4 and UFC 147's main cards and go to Cagewriter's Facebook page and tell us who will win and why. (Don't forget the why!) Selected Cagreader's picks will appear here with picks from Kevin Iole and me.

Here is the main card from UFC on FX 4:

Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard
Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout
Brian Ebersole vs. T.J. Waldburger
Ross Pearson vs. Cub Swanson

And from UFC 147, not counting the finals from "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil":

Rich Frankin vs. Wanderlei Silva
Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum
Yuri Alcantara vs. Hacran Dias

Now pick a few fights that pique your interest, go the Cagewriter Facebook page, and tell us why you're picking who you're picking and why you're picking him.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-fx-4-ufc-147-want-picks-180810370--mma.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Joseph Benavidez Answers Fan Questions - Joseph Benavidez

In this web exclusive UFC flyweight Joseph Benavidez answers our facebook and twitter fan questions. Topics include his upcoming fight against Mighty Mouse and the importance of social media in MMA

Source: http://mmalice.com/joseph-benavidez/joseph-benavidez-answers-fan-questions-video_ab593a09d.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

Breaking Rules with Frank Shamrock, Luke Rockhold, and Tim Kennedy - Strikeforce

What's an MMA promotion without a villain? Veteran fighter Frank Shamrock gives a crash course in evil to two of the sport's nicest guys: Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/breaking-rules-with-frank-shamrock-luke-rockhold-and-tim-kennedy-video_b09d5144c.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

Fabricio Werdum, Cub Swanson and Rich Franklin: Three stars from a full weekend of MMA

After a UFC double-header, who stuck out as the best from UFC on FX 4 and UFC 147? Read on for Cagewriter's picks, and write yours in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Fabricio Werdum: The former Strikeforce heavyweight is 2-0 since rejoining the UFC. Though his jiu-jitsu is feared, he showed against Mike Russow he can strike with the best of the division, finishing a fighter who had never been knocked out before.

No. 2 star -- Cub Swanson: We've heard of the potential of Swanson for years, but injury often got in his way. Swanson showed he was more than just potential as he took out Ross Pearson with a punishing TKO, his second straight TKO win.

No. 3 star -- Rich Franklin: After proving his company man status once again, stepping in for the injured Vitor Belfort, Franklin won an exciting five-rounder against fellow legend Wanderlei Silva. Afterwards, he charmed the Brazilian crowd by speaking Portuguese to them. You can't ask for much more from a fighter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/fabricio-werdum-cub-swanson-rich-franklin-three-stars-145843402--mma.html

Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana 

UFC 150 Press Conference Video - UFC 150

http://www.MMAWeekly.com/ was at the UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar II kickoff press conference on Tuesday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.UFC president Dana White, lightweight champion Benson Henderson, and challenger Frankie Edgar fielded numerous questions from the media and a throng of fans, talking about Henderson and Edgar's upcoming rematch, as well as many other topics.Henderson and Edgar square off in a main event rematch at UFC 150 on August 11 at the Pepsi Center.

Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-150/ufc-150-press-conference-video-video_da714c0f5.html

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Renzo Gracie?s call changes Chael Sonnen?s approach to UFC 148

As a member of the Gracies, the first family of MMA, and a long-time fighter in his own right, Renzo Gracie understands the fight game. His experience puts him in a position to share wisdom with fighters who are not headed in the right direction.

One fighter he shared his knowledge with? UFC 148 main eventer Chael Sonnen. Gracie saw this fight becoming more about trash talk than a match-up of two great fighters, so he reached out to Sonnen and gave some advice.

"I just told him that if he kept that trash talking he would be taking the greatness of the task that he had ahead of him," Gracie said to MMA Fighting. "He is fighting one of the best fighters of our generation, and people would lose the chance to know the real Sonnen, a great athlete who I saw young fighting hard back in the Japan days, building his career as a fierce fighter, a career that ended up turning him into one of the amazing people that populate our great sport.

Sonnen said the call from Gracie is what made him change his trash-talk obsessed ways.

"When you get a call from a Gracie, it's like getting a call from Randy Couture. You don't share your opinion. You listen, you say OK, and you hang up," Sonnen said.

When all is said and done, do you think the trash talking added to, or took away from Saturday night's title match-up between Sonnen and Anderson Silva?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/renzo-gracie-call-changes-chael-sonnen-approach-ufc-185510391--mma.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Vitor Belfort has strong feelings on shaving

Vitor Belfort missed out on the chance to fight in front of a home crowd over the weekend, as he had to pull out from his bout with Wanderlei Silva because of an injury. However, he is not going to miss on the chance to tell fellow Brazilians how to shave.

In other Belfort news, the UFC is still hoping for a fight between Belfort and Silva, and they are aiming for an October show in Brazil. However, Belfort doesn't think that fight makes sense and would rather fight Michael Bisping, and then get another shot at the UFC middleweight belt. He's also open to moving to light heavyweight, and he isn't afraid of Jon Jones.

Consider this your daily Vitor Belfort briefing. You are now briefed.

Thanks, Fightlinker.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/vitor-belfort-strong-feelings-shaving-191143064--mma.html

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague