Official UFC Thread - Part 5

[I'm Venom]

A fight between two of the biggest names in MMA in Brazil entered the UFC's plans in recent days and is being entertained internally. The desire of the organization is to score Lyoto Machida vs. Vitor Belfort for the end of the year in Brazilian soil. If confirmed, it is likely that the duel is the main attraction of the event that has already been confirmed for November 9th in Goiânia Arena, the capital of Goiás. The weight class - middleweight, light heavyweight, or a catchweight - has yet to be discussed.

Wow, I love this fight! Please let it happen. Although it's not agreed to yet, both guys have a history of extra negotiations around fights, and this seems to have come together quickly. I could see the pace actually being fairly slow as neither guy wants to run in on the other, but the clash of styles is so interesting.

 

[I'm Venom]

Brazili's Combate is reporting that Lyoto Machida vs. Vitor Belfort is in the works. However, while Combate says the bout is intended for a Brazil card on November 9th, Ariel Helwani appeared Tuesday on UFC Tonight and related that UFC President Dana White told him he wanted the fight on the UFC's 20th anniversary show on November 16th in Las Vegas, underneath George St. Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks, and at middleweight.

Machida's camp is willing to fight at 185, 205, or catchweight, but would prefer the fight was in Brazil. Machida had previously avoided middleweight as it was ruled by friend and teammate Anderson Silva. However, with Silva's loss to Chris Weidman, that stance has changed.

Belfort said he only wanted to fight at middleweight if it was for the title, as he has won four in a row at that weight - Yoshihiro Akiyama, Anthony Johnson, Michael Bisping, and Luke Rockhold. However, Dana White ultimately gets what he wants.

A contentious issue is Belfort’s use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Getting licensed in Nevada with a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) could be problematic, given that Belfort was fined $10,000 and suspended for nine months in 2006 by the Nevada Athletic Commission following a failed test. Brazilian endocrinologist Dr. Rodrigo M. Greco stated he had injected Belfort with testosterone following surgery to repair a torn meniscus. However, the NAC noted that a fighter is responsible for what is in his body.

I'm fine with this fight being a catchweight at 195, but I'd like to see it at 185. Belfort isn't a light heavyweight anymore now that he's proven time and time again he can make 185. Make it happen.

 

[B]

I really have to see Shogun take on Sonnen?! I thought Sonnen retired?! Shogun is gonna run through him so bad.

Really? Damn I think it's the other way around, I think Shogun will do his usual stunt & gas near the middle of the first round & from then onwards I think Sonnen will have easy pickings in taking him down & grinding Shogun down.. maybe even finishing Shogun given how horrific his cardio has looked in the past few fights.

Sonnen via decision for me, or at a push TKO finish after Shogun gasses.

 

[TheVileOne]

Shogun's been training at Kings MMA again for this fight, so I hope they are whipping him into shape.

Still, Shogun has trouble with tough strong wrestlers so it could be a bad fight for him. Unless he goes for a sub off his back, but to this day I think he's only got one career submission win and that was Kevin Randleman in 2006.

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

The first round should be exciting.

 

[Dr. Evil]

All Credit given to the Fox Sports Team

The new history-making season of The Ultimate Fighter is only weeks away. But the 32 competitors of the first season to feature women as cast members and coaches have now been revealed in a FoxSports.com exclusive.



Only sixteen of the male and female bantamweight (135lbs) fighters—from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland and Sweden—will make it into the TUF House, where they will face-off in the toughest sports tournament on TV. “This season of The Ultimate Fighter was monumental, as we had women as coaches and competitors – fighting and living together with the men – for the first time ever," said UFC President Dana White.

The premiere episode on September 4 will determine the eight men and eight women who will be divided into teams coached by UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey and her arch-rival Miesha Tate.

Women's Bantamweight Fighters

Shayna Baszler (15-8), 33, Sioux Fall, S.D.
Revelina Berto (3-1), 24, Winter Haven, Fla.
Jessamyn Duke (2-1), 27, Richmond, Ky.
Tonya Evinger (11-6), 32, Lake St. Louis, Mo.
Laura Howarth (4-0), 26, Hove, East Essex, ENG
Tara LaRosa (21-3), 35, Albuquerque, N.M.
Valerie Letourneau (4-3), 30, La Prairie, CAN
Bethany Marshall (4-1), 25, Newport News, Va.
Sarah Moras (3-1), 25, Kelowna, CAN
Margaret “Penny” Morgan (2-0), 33, Nashua, N.H.
Gina Mazany (3-0), 25, Seattle, Wash.
Roxanna Modafferi (15-10), 30, Pittsfield, Mass.
Julianna Pena (4-2), 24, Spokane, Wash.
Raquel Pennington (3-3), 24, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jessica Rakoczy (1-3), 36, Las Vegas, Nev.
Colleen Schneider (4-3), 31, Las Vegas, Nev.

Male Bantamweight Fighters

Christopher Beal (7-0), 28, Somis, Calif.
Cody Bollinger (14-3), 22, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Louis Fisette (6-1), 23, Winnipeg, CAN
Rafael Freitas (6-0-1), 29, Albuquerque, N.M.
David Grant (8-1), 27, Bishop Auckland, ENG
Tim Gorman (9-2), 30, West Des Moines, Iowa
Anthony Gutierrez (4-0), 22, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Emil Hartsner (4-0), 23, Luberod, SWE
Joshua Hill (9-0), 26, Binbrook, CAN
Chris Holdsworth (4-0), 25, Woodland Hills, Calif.
Patrick Holohan (9-0-1), 25, Dublin, IRL
Sirwan Kakai (9-1), 23, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Daniel Martinez (18-4), 28, San Diego, Calif.
Matthew Munsey (4-1), 26, Hollywood, Fla.
Lee Sandmeier (9-0), 30, Knoxville, Iowa
Michael Wootten (6-0), 24, Liverpool, ENG

http://msn.foxsports.com/ufc/story/the-ultimate-fighter-season-18-cast-revealed-081513

 

[B]

Shogun's been training at Kings MMA again for this fight, so I hope they are whipping him into shape.

Still, Shogun has trouble with tough strong wrestlers so it could be a bad fight for him. Unless he goes for a sub off his back, but to this day I think he's only got one career submission win and that was Kevin Randleman in 2006.

This fight in all honesty should be at 185.

Shogun has looked like **** in 4 of his last 5 fights from a conditioning perspective & the only reason he looked good in 1 of those 5 fights was because it lasted only 1:53 vs Forest. He looks like he carries about 15%+ bodyfat, which for a professional athlete & fighter, in my opinion isn't very good & kinda to me, indicates a little laziness. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but he isn't one of them.

If he were whipped into shape, got a good diet & strength/conditioning routine going & cleared some of his excess bodyfat, he would be perfectly sized for the MW division I feel.

Sonnen, I feel he should go back to MW, I think he is just a little on the small side for LHW at the moment, however in preparation for this fight he might have added something to his frame to help him compete a little better with some of the bigger/stronger guys in the division.

Shogun's got good grappling, but with his poor conditioning if Sonnen gets on top of him at the start of the first round I'll doubt he'll have the stamina to last 5 rounds with Sonnen constantly peppering him.

The first round should be exciting.

No doubt. Shogun's best chance to win is if he catches him early, I can't see him being able to finish Sonnen after the first IMO.

 

[TheVileOne]

This fight in all honesty should be at 185.

Shogun has looked like **** in 4 of his last 5 fights from a conditioning perspective & the only reason he looked good in 1 of those 5 fights was because it lasted only 1:53 vs Forest. He looks like he carries about 15%+ bodyfat, which for a professional athlete & fighter, in my opinion isn't very good & kinda to me, indicates a little laziness. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but he isn't one of them.

If he were whipped into shape, got a good diet & strength/conditioning routine going & cleared some of his excess bodyfat, he would be perfectly sized for the MW division I feel.

Sonnen, I feel he should go back to MW, I think he is just a little on the small side for LHW at the moment, however in preparation for this fight he might have added something to his frame to help him compete a little better with some of the bigger/stronger guys in the division.

Shogun's got good grappling, but with his poor conditioning if Sonnen gets on top of him at the start of the first round I'll doubt he'll have the stamina to last 5 rounds with Sonnen constantly peppering him.



No doubt. Shogun's best chance to win is if he catches him early, I can't see him being able to finish Sonnen after the first IMO.

Shogun doesn't want to move down to middleweight. I'm not sure getting rid of the body fat will make him middleweight level. For some guys, getting that extra even 10-15 pounds is murder on your body because you are dehydrating yourself and cutting water weight which like your body needs.

Also, I think Shogun's surgically reconstructed knees has messed him up a lot. But yeah Shogun has constantly looked bad in the cardio/stamina department frequently throughout his UFC run.

 

[I'm Venom]

Matt Brown: "Mike Pyle is better than GSP. I guarentee you." Followed by calling out the champion.

Not a bad way to conduct that interview you've always wanted.

 

[The Game]

Next stop for The Reem, Bellator

 

[I'm Venom]

I didn't see that coming.

 

[I'm Venom]

Apparently Belfort has called Sonnen out, and Sonnen has accepted.

I don’t know where I’d rather this fight take place. In Las Vegas where both men will be drug tested, or in Brazil where they’ll be allowed to use TRT.

 

[Hamill-Joker]

I think Chael wants on the December card with Rousey/Tate and Anderson/Weidman

 

[TheVileOne]

Don't be scared homie.

 

[B]

I had a good feeling about Travis Browne catching Overeem at some point in their fight. With the combination of bad cardio issues & the lack of respect he has shown for some of the UFC's HW's power, he has the recipe for someone to be KO'd if he continues doing so.

Travis Browne's next fight should be against either Werdum or Cormier with the winner getting the winner of Velasquez vs Dos Santos II.

Good fight between Sonnen & Shogun. It went pretty much how I expected albeit I didn't expect Sonnen to finish him in the first round I thought he may have potentially finished him in the 3rd round or so.

Chael is a popular guy right now, both Lyoto & Vitor want to fight him in addition to I'm sure Wanderlei wants him as well. Even though Chael I feel is better suited to the MW division, I'd personally fancy him to beat all 3 of them at LHW.

 

[B]

Shogun doesn't want to move down to middleweight. I'm not sure getting rid of the body fat will make him middleweight level. For some guys, getting that extra even 10-15 pounds is murder on your body because you are dehydrating yourself and cutting water weight which like your body needs.

Also, I think Shogun's surgically reconstructed knees has messed him up a lot. But yeah Shogun has constantly looked bad in the cardio/stamina department frequently throughout his UFC run.

These are the pains of being a professional fighter.

The thing is if he got himself a proper eating program for when he isn't in camp & did more strength/conditioning training all year round, he'd be more than capable of dropping 10lbs-15lbs.

It's not like we are talking about someone like Anthony Johnson here who when he was at WW would essentially be skeleton & muscle. Shogun getting down into the region of 8%-10% should be very achievable for a professional. Not to mention the benefit of him doing so would be much greater than any struggles he had to go through to get there at least for his fighting career. He'd be carrying less weight & would be able to push himself for longer.

 

[CrypticOne]

I couldn't believe what I saw last night. Right when it happened, I turned the TV off cause I can't stand Sonnen's voice. Man. I got most of my picks wrong. The only I got right were Faber and Matt Brown. Lauzon got destroyed. Overeem got destroyed. Hall can't even beat a suped up welterweight.

 

[I'm Venom]

Sonnen looked class. Obviously, Shogun is a faded fighter, but he got outskilled last night.

Browne's finish was spectacular, after this fight, I see him giving anybody a fight, providing he can close the show early!

Faber did what he had to against a dangerous fighter. Shut him down, get the hand raised.

Matt Brown killed another man. Three big knockouts. Pyle is chinny, so we knew if Brown could connect, he'd go down, efficient performance was unexpected though. Expected a few moments for each. Brown vs. the winner of Condit/Kampmann would be deserved.

Hall is a waste of talent. John Howard did nothing and still won.

Shame, but Michael Johnson has always been talented if inconsistant. He looked good. He'll lose to somebody next probably.

 

[E-Man]

That was a great card last night. I had a feeling that Chael would win based on cardio and wrestling, but I didn't expect a sub that early.

Faber is also still the man. It's insane how many top guys he beats. Before the fight they said that he hasn't lost a fight that wasn't a championship fight. I always knew he had a great career, but that's insane. It also shows how good Barao is since three guys he beat had good moments last night in Faber, McDonald, and Pickett for being tough as hell.

 

[B]

Just thought I'd add, whoever refereed the Overeem/Browne fight, that is the way to referee a fight. A lesser referee would have stopped the fight during Overeem's onslaught, however the referee was completely right to let things go.

In such a situation like that in which Browne was in trouble, but still covering up, the fight should be let to run unless Browne himself physically or verbally submits. I see too many fights stopped when a fighter is covering himself up with the fighter on the attack hardly landing any clean attacks.

Also Michael Johnson looked superb against Joe Lauzon.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Shogun is done. Those reconstructed knees have diminished him faster than I expected. That said, those famous wars he had at Pride have played a factor. He's as slow as Minotaur Nogueira nowadays. I held out hope that the Shogun Rua who faced Machida twice was the one we MMA fans have missed for years but it was merely a favorable match up.

 

[TheVileOne]

Wanderlei reacts to Shogun's loss

[YT]-T6cQ0lQB2o[/YT]

 

[I'm Venom]

Henderson vs. Belfort announced. I assume it will be at 195. How about Cung Le vs. Machida?

 

[Dr. Evil]

UFC signs Jessica Eye after she was released by Bellator.

http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/08/jessice-eye-signs-with-ufc-could-face-sarah-kaufman-at-ufc-166

 

[B]

Henderson vs. Belfort announced. I assume it will be at 195. How about Cung Le vs. Machida?

This will be a fun fight.