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Tag: ufc

  • Josh Nason’s Punch-Out: 2015 MMA Year In Review (October-December)

    In the final installment of our look back at 2015 in the world of MMA, Josh Nason and Paul Fontaine of WrestlingObserver.com and MMADraws.com look at one of the most eventful quarters in MMA history: October – December. Here’s part 1 and part 2 for subscribers.

    Here’s just a bit of what Josh and Paul discussed:

    • Conor McGregor’s 13-second exclamation point on his year long feud with Jose Aldo
    • Daniel Cormier’s eventful first title defense at UFC 192 against Alexander Gustafsson that also included Johny Hendricks missing weight and the debut of Sage Northcutt
    • UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw leaving Team Alpha Male and heading to work with Urijah Faber rival Duane Ludwig
    • Holly Holm’s shocking knockout and dominance of Ronda Rousey in Australia
    • Bellator booking Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie III for early-2016
    • ONE’s answer to weight cutting issues
    • And tons more!

    If you’re a subscriber, right click to save or just click to listen. Subscribers get early access & other UFC audio content by signing up for the RSS feed!

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  • Yoel Romero facing possible suspension for drug test failure

    Yoel Romero, who was a possible next contender for UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, is facing a possible drug test suspension.

    The UFC announced that they were notified today by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of a potential violation stemming from a Romero sample collected out of competition. The UFC noted that USADA will, independent of UFC, handle the results and punishment stemming from the case.

    No specific drug was named in the story, nor has there been punishment announced.  It appears from previous cases that UFC is notified of a failed test, but the fighter is allowed to ask for a B sample to be tested before the offense will be publicly noted and any punishment would be dispensed.

    Romero won a controversial decision over Rolando “Jacare” Souza at UFC 194 in Las Vegas in a fight that was to determine the next challenger for the title. But most felt either Souza deserved the win, or it should have been a draw, so Romero was never announced as getting the next title shot.

  • Nick Diaz suspension and fine reduced

    During a Nevada Athletic Commission hearing Tuesday, the commission reduced Nick Diaz’s penalty for a marijuana drug test failure back at UFC 183 to 18 months down from five years, and a $100,000 fine, down from $165,000. He is eligible to return starting in August of this year.

    At the hearing, the NAC quickly said they had reached a settlement, but didn’t reveal what the actual settlement was. It wasn’t until later that we learned what the terms were.

    The original hearing came as a result of a drug test failure after Diaz’s bout with Anderson Silva. Prior to the fight, Diaz had failed twice for marijuana, and under the new drug penalties, Diaz was given a five year suspension and a fine of $165,000. The NAC believed Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire, and wanted to make an example of him. However, there was a tremendous outcry of public support, as well as UFC support, including fighters refusing to fight in Nevada, and even a petition to President Obama.

    Nevada deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles’ case was that Diaz’s two negative tests were diluted and that he lied on his pre-fight questionnaire. After the grassroots uprising and support from the UFC’s lawfirm, the NAC decided to re-evaluate the suspension. Diaz’ lead counsel argued that Diaz had actually passed two fight night tests and the one he failed came from a lab that was not accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

  • Josh Nason’s Punch-Out: 2015 MMA Year In Review (July-September)

    Photo: Esther Lin of MMAFighting.com

    As we continue to slide into 2016, we’re not finishing talking about the amazing 2015 in MMA just yet. After discussing January-June, Paul Fontaine of WrestlingObserver.com and MMADraws.com is back on the 26th Josh Nason’s Punch-Out to sift through all the big news and happenings from July through September. 

    Here’s just a lovin’ spoonful of what Josh and Paul discussed:

    • Conor McGregor’s ascension to the throne of (ahem, interim) UFC featherweight champion
    • Gilbert Melendez’s surprise failed drug test
    • Fedor Emelianenko coming out of retirement, but for who?
    • Ronda Rousey winning ESPYs and calling out Floyd Mayweather
    • Stitch Duran’s firing from UFC
    • Sean Wheelock getting released from Bellator/Spike TV
    • The build to UFC 190 and Rousey’s 34-second destruction of insta-rival Bethe Correia
    • Anderson Silva banned for a year and the mystery blue vial of liquid​
    • The UFC’s Go Big press conference where McGregor made three or so future fights
    • Bellator’s foray into a dual MMA/Glory kickboxing show to mixed results
    • The controversy of Vitor Belfort’s elevated TRT tests prior to UFC 152 and who know what and when
    • And tons more!

    If you’re a subscriber, right click to save or just click to listen. Subscribers get early access & other UFC audio content by signing up for the RSS feed!

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  • Tom Lawlor reveals the date and opponent for his UFC return

    Forget about Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos, Holly Holm, and Miesha Tate: Tom Lawlor is coming to March’s UFC 197.

    First announced on his weekly Monday podcast with Bryan Alvarez, the UFC light heavyweight revealed that verbal agreements have been made for a fight against past TUF winner and light heavyweight prospect Corey Anderson on Saturday, March 5th in Las Vegas.

    The 32-year-old (10-5-0-1) returned to action last July after a two-year absence due to various injuries, knocking out Gian Villante in the second round for his second straight victory. The 26-year-old Anderson (7-1) will also be looking to extend a two-fight win streak and improve his Octagon mark to 5-1 in the process. Coincidentally, Anderson was a November injury replacement for Lawlor against Fabio Maldonado when Lawlor had to pull out due to a concussion suffered in training.

    While not yet officially announced, UFC 197 has been rumored to feature featherweight champion McGregor gunning for his second title against lightweight champion dos Anjos with women’s bantamweight champion Holm vs. Tate in the co-main event.

  • WOL 1/11: Sting enters the WWE Hall of Fame, Conor McGregor rumors, more!

    Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk all the news in wrestling and MMA including STING going into the WWE Hall of Fame, his future in the ring if it exists, rumors of Conor McGregor and UFC 197 and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • Report: Conor McGregor to challenge for UFC lightweight title in March

    Alluded to by UFC President Dana White on UFC Tonight Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter cited multiple sources in reporting Thursday night that UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor will move up in weight to challenge UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in an effort to become the UFC’s first dual belt holder and their third fighter to win belts in two weight classes.

    If the report is accurate, the fight will happen at UFC 197 on March 5th in Las Vegas with a co-main event of women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate, a fight that became quite clear after White said that the 10-0 Holm’s next title defense would not be against Ronda Rousey as he had originally said. Holm dominated Rousey to win the title in a shocking upset via 2nd round knockout in November while the 29-year-old Tate (17-5) is riding a four-fight winning streak after downing Jessica Eye in a July unanimous decison win.

    White and other UFC officials had previously shot down any other previous champion who said they wanted to move up in weight, win another title, and defend both belts. The 19-2 McGregor, however, has a lot of bargaining power and a fight against the talented but promotionally flat dos Anjos (25-7) is the biggest draw of a fight the champion currently has. 

    Unfortunately, this also puts a McGregor/Frankie Edgar featherweight title on ice, as well as stunts the next steps for top lightweight contender Tony Ferguson and the winner of January 17th’s Anthony Pettis vs. Eddie Alvarez bout on Fox Sports One. 

    Regardless, putting these two huge fights on the same show assures the UFC of another big PPV buyrate for the first quarter of the year.

    Holm instantly became one of UFC’s biggest stars with a knockout win over Ronda Rousey, winning the bantamweight title. While UFC officials had stated many times that Holm’s first title defense would be a rematch, which would be the biggest money fight in UFC history, the decision was made to give Rousey more time and have Holm defend against Tate.  Tate was originally scheduled for the shot at Rousey that Holm got, but it was pulled because UFC officials decided that even though Tate was the top contender and had won a match over Jessica Eye to get the shot, that since Rousey had beaten her twice, they would put Rousey with a new opponent.

    It’s virtually a lock that the winner of this fight would face Rousey later in 2016.

  • January 11, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Cena out with shoulder injury, New Japan stars to WWE

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  • Ronda Rousey hosting Saturday Night Live in January

    NBC announced Tuesday morning that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be hosting the Saturday, January 23rd episode of Saturday Night Live, putting her in a very small category of athletes who have hosted an episode of the iconic series.

    Yahoo’s Kevin Iole reported the story this morning, confirming reports from those close to the show that had started surfacing two days earlier.

    Rousey will be the first MMA fighter to host the show. Rousey was actually in Dwayne Johnson’s backstage entourage when he hosted the show this past March, the night before WrestleMania when the two did the in-ring skit together with HHH and Stephanie McMahon.

    Iole noted that the only previous fighters to host the show have been Marvin Hagler and George Foreman. Past athletes who have hosted include Michael Jordan, Chris Evert, Derek Jeter, Lebron James, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.

    After appearing in the Entourage movie and Furious 7, Rousey is set to be the lead in the Road House reboot that will film this year.

  • UFC 195 feedback, Lawler vs. Condit fight of the night

    UFC 195

    Thumbs way up. Some upsets, burst bubbles, and stylistic surprises, and as expected an off the chart main event. Some questionable decisions but what else is new.

    Best fight: Lawler-Condit

    Worst fight: wasn’t one

    Best performance: Condit even losing

    KO: Stipe

    Sub: Ortega

    Sheldon Westcott eats a couple of Edgar Garcia right hands and very quickly takes it down, ties him in knots, and gets the rather late TKO off about a zillion unanswered punches. Michonori Tanaka aggressive early but Joe Soto threatens off his back throughout and comes on very strong in the 3rd. Entertaining and competitive. 29-28 split Tanaka. Soto would have won by whole fight but by the rounds/points system you can see how it went that way. Dustin Poirer looks outstanding back at LW busting the Joe Duffy bubble, taking a wide but also entertaining and competitive UD with one 30-26.

    Striker Drew Dober surprisingly widely dominates the TD game and takes the 29-28 upset UD over wrestler Scott Holtzman. Similarly, Nina Ansaroff outstrikes Justine Kish, who seems overanxious, and Kish comes on late to dominate the ground game. Could go either way. Kish takes the the UD with two 30-27s, which seems weird, as Ansaroff certainly looked to win the 1st. Alex Morono takes a dubious 29-28 x 2, 27-30 SD over Kyle Noke in a very close one. Michael McDonald looking very rusty after two years off gets used as a mat rag by Masanori Kanehara but somehow reverses a sunk-looking arm tri into RNC for the tap in the 2nd. 

    Tony Sims looks good early at long range and stuffing Abel Trujillo’s TD, but Trujillo counters a power double with a Guillotine for the tap. He’s so strong he didn’t even need proper position, getting pressure using his neck, shoulder and chest. Facially Trujillo and Roman Reigns could be twins.

    Diego Brandao outboxes and outwrestles Brian Ortega for 2 1/2 rounds but misses a punch badly in the 3rd allowing Ortega to get position to chain subs till he locks up a triangle for the tap.

    Very interesting fight that might have been too subtle for the audience. Basically Lorenz Larkin’s low kicks vs. Albert Tumenov’s body punches. Very close. Like the earlier fight whole fight scoring would be Larkin who finished strong but points go 29-28 split Tumenov. Not popular decision. Both looked very good.

    A bigger bubble bursts as Stipe Miocic catches Andrei Arlovski’s always questionable chin with a short right that rocks him and does not let him off the hook and it’s over in 54s. Stipe screams at Dana for a title shot, which seems unarguable. Stipe was just ranting (not in a bad way) and I think on his promo he said at one point ‘I’m CM Punk, bro.’

    Carlos Condit turns in a career-best performance in his WW title challenge to Robbie Lawler. Most fluid and instinctive he’s ever looked. Pattern is set in the 1st with Condit constantly moving and leading and Robbie looking to counter after Carlos scores a flash KD. He then dictates the rest of the round, 10-9. Pattern holds in the 2nd but Robbie finds the range and drops Carlos, a lot harder and has him in brief trouble and evens it up. The 3rd is the swing round as it turns out with Carlos again just much much busier and Robbie throwing very little but landing most of it clean and hard. I thought the sheer volume made it Condit’s round. The 4th was similar until late when Carlos rocked Robbie late and had him in some trouble and I thought was enough for a 10-8. The corner told Robbie he needed a KO and he went out and tried to get it, hitting Carlos with everything but the kitchen sink, but he couldn’t drop him and Carlos fought back every time. Early round of the year candidate and fight of the year also. Robbie took the 5th, borderline but IMO not quite 10-8. Both collapsed against the fence at the bell. I had Condit 49-46 but the judges went 48-47 split for Robbie. No losers here. A rematch could be called for but Carlos said he may retire.

    Crimson Mask

    Good morning Dave, 
    I ordered the show on UFC.tv with a fight pass discount.  I definitely got my money’s worth.  A solid thumbs up show, with very good prelims, and a great main event.  I think a rematch at UFC 200 or that weekend HAS TO happen (sorry Tyrone).  And have a #1 contender fight on standby that weekend.  I scored the main event 47-47, with the champ winning rounds 2, 3, 5 @ 10-9.  I scored Condit winning 1 @ 10-9 and 4 @ 10-8.  Lawler did nothing in 4 and CC’s striking stats showed I was justified having a 10-8 score.  

    Happy WK Eve,
    James Brown

    Thumbs up

    Best fight Robbie Lawler vs Carlos Condit

    Worst fight Drew Dober vs Scott Holtzman

    Best KO Stipe Miocic

    Best Sub Michael MacDonald

    Best Performance Robbie Lawler & Carlos Condit

    Robbie and Carlos was a war, scored it for Condit but 3rd round was so close that i cant be upset about it, way more upset over the Kyle Noke decision. Poirier vs Duffy was also a great fight that is gonna go unnoticed because it aired on Fight Pass and due to the main event euphoria

    Wade Haugen

    Thumbs Up

    Best Fight: Lawler vs. Condit

    What a terrible decision.  I could see a draw if you gave Lawler a 10-8 2nd round and a 10-9 5th but I can’t see how you give him the fight.  Rest of the show was fun if not inconsequential outside of the Miocic KO win.  

    Mike Hiscoe

    Thumbs up show fight of the night lawler vs condit. Worst fight was Justine kish vs Nina Anasaroff. Just an awesome main event. I think the reason I had lawler winning 48-47 was in that third round even though condit threw more, a lot of the punches didn’t land while when they were exchanging lawler got the better of him. Three was the only close round. Every other one was solid by condit in 1 and 4 while lawler in 2 and 5. Again great show.

    Corey Lieb

    Thumbs up. Best fight lawler vs condit. Think fight is great but being overhyped. Maybe best round 5 I’ve seen, but lot of fight was lawler failing to get off. I scored 3 to 2 for condit. Lawler would have won pride rules. Enjoyed lawler macdonald and lawler Hendricks both times better. Wish Hendricks hadn’t missed weight as I still think he and lawler is best fight to make. Love condit but don’t think he’s top 3 in division at moment. Other than lawler , think Hendricks, woodley, and macdonald all beat him. Don’t think this decision was any more controversial than Hendricks lawler 2 which I thought was more clearly for Hendricks than this was for lawler. 

    All that said, loved the fight. 

    Mark Libell

    Thumbs way up.
    Best match was obviously Lawler/Condit. One of the best fights ever, I think. Hope they run it back, I’d pay double to watch it.
    Worst match I’d say Kish/Ansaroff for lacking anything that looked like pro-level technique.
    With that main event, easy thumbs up, but the co-main was a great performance and Brian Ortega and Michael McDonald had 2 outstanding submissions. Fun show on the whole.

    Jeremy Sexton