Aoki Wanted a Finish, Looks Ahead to 2012

By mhbomb on Jan 03, 2012

Japanese BJJ fighter Shinya Aoki battered and outgrappled Satoru Kitaoka during their DREAM lightweight showdown on New Year’s Eve.

Despite being unable to finish the fight, Aoki showed improved standup and was able to continually control Kitaoka using superior BJJ once the fight hit the mat.

Here is what Aoki had to say after the fight (to MMAWeekly):

“I am grateful for the win, but I am not satisfied because I did not finish the fight. My coaches thought that I would be able to submit or KO him. My style of fighting is to finish my opponents. I don’t like decision victories. However, Kitaoka is a very tough opponent. He is my good friend and training partner for many, many years. I trained very hard for this fight and I tried to use new things.”

I’m not surprised Aoki was unable to submit Kitaoka, but he thoroughly dominated the entire fight. If he continues to improve, I’d remain interested in seeing Aoki fight stateside again in 2012. US MMA fans likely last remember his unimpressive performance against Gilbert Melendez, though the Japanese BJJ fighter has continually improved.

It’s possible we’ll see Aoki fight in March during a DREAM/One FC show in Singapore, which is where Aoki now trains full-time (at Evolve MMA).

Overeem Moves up in HW Ranking

By mhbomb on Jan 02, 2012

MMA rankings — which the UFC doesn’t publish themselves — are usually compiled by journalists, bloggers, and fans that use a wide scale of determining factors. The use of “mmath” has proven to be volatile in the past, but it’s still fun to take a look at what is being published out there.

Here is the most recent heavyweight rankings, following Overeem’s destruction against Lesnar (according to MMA Fighting):

1. Junior Dos Santos (UFC heavyweight champion)
2. Alistair Overeem
3. Cain Velasquez
4. Frank Mir
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Daniel Cormier
7. Brock Lesnar
8. Shane Carwin
9. Josh Barnett
10. Antonio Silva

The No. 1 vs. No. 2 heavyweight matchup will feature dos Santos defending his UFC heavyweight title against Overeem. Honestly not sure how Michael David Smith has Barnett behind the likes of Carwin and Cormier — and it’s possible Barnett is in the top three — but MMA rankings have always shown to be rather subjective.

Nate Diaz Being… Nate Diaz

By mhbomb on Jan 01, 2012

Prior to round three of their co-main event showdown, Nate Diaz showed Donald Cerrone what he thought about Cowboy’s fight strategy:

Nate Diaz Batters Donald Cerrone en Route to Decision

By mhbomb on Dec 31, 2011

Image courtesy of UFC/Getty

Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone claimed the Fight of the Night bonuses after UFC 141, in an exciting fight that saw the younger Diaz brother batter his opponent over three rounds.

Here is how MMA Junkie summed up the fight:

After the fighters refused to touch gloves just prior to the bout, Cerrone rushed forward at the start of the fight. Diaz, though, got the better of the clinch work before each traded heavy punches. Once back in the center of the cage, Diaz unloaded a steady stream of punches, many of which landed flush. With

Cerrone pinned against the fence, Diaz unloaded more punches that landed. Cerrone finally slowed the attack with head and low kicks, but Diaz quickly returned to effective combinations that ended a dominant first round.

Cerrone worked low kicks in the second round, but it simply delayed the inevitable. Diaz quickly returned fire and picked away with punches that left Cerrone’s mouth oozing blood. Cerrone scored a knockdown with a head kick and again sent Diaz to the mat with a sweeping leg kick. Diaz lost a step, but his punches remained accurate, and Cerrone continued eating far too many of them as the round wore on.

Cerrone’s low kicks knocked Diaz to the mat a few times in the third round, but he didn’t get the stoppage he desperately needed. The WEC vet continued eating punches, and he was bleeding badly from his nose and mouth by the bout’s conclusion.

“I want to thank Donald Cerrone for the fight,” Diaz noted in the cage post-fight. “Sorry about all the s**t that went down.”

Leading up to the fight, both fighters exchanged trash talk — but all personal feelings and grudges were left behind post-fight.

UFC Partners with MetroPCS

By mhbomb on Dec 28, 2011

The UFC has partnered with MetroPCS, becoming the No. 1 MMA organization’s exclusive wireless provider.

Here is what the UFC and MetroPCS had to say in a press release:

“We’re really excited to have MetroPCS as the exclusive wireless partner of the UFC,” UFC President Dana White said. “Over the next few years, we’re going to host some of the biggest and best events in UFC history. This partnership is great not only for our fans, but also our athletes. MetroPCS will provide cool, exclusive content to UFC fans and they’ll be sponsoring several of our athletes. We couldn’t be happier to have MetroPCS on board as we make this the biggest sport in the world.”

“As the exclusive wireless partner of the UFC, we’re planning to give our customers and the huge base of UFC fans an incredible experience that brings the excitement from the Octagon to their wireless handsets,” said Tom Keys, COO and president, MetroPCS. “The UFC continues to increase in popularity among an ever-growing base of consumers across the nation, and now they can turn to MetroPCS for unique content that puts them in the center of the action with these athletes.”

Partnering with the UFC isn’t the cheapest endeavor, but can be very beneficial for companies looking for attention. MetroPCS will also go on the Octagon Nation Tour and head across the US promoting their products and services.

Tim Hague Details Training at Team DeathClutch

By mhbomb on Dec 26, 2011

Former UFC fighter Tim Hague recently spent time with Team DeathClutch, and highlighted his experiences with the camp in a post on the UG.

Here is what Hague had to say in a post on The Underground:

“Was pretty surreal. Best training, and best group of guys I’ve ever trained with. WAR LESNAR. Because I need to get better at everything, and being able to work with Pat Barry and Cole Konrad one-on-one was unreal. Working MMA with Brock and five other legit UFC level HW’s every day is something I don’t get up in Edmonton. I’m not gonna give away any of his strategy, but he is scary strong, and scary conditioned, and if he gets the jump on a takedown, you’re going down, or you’re blowing out a knee or something haha. I just went there for a week to be a [heavyweight] dummy for Brock and the guys, I was slightly outta shape, but know what I have to do to be better next time. I wasn’t paid or nothing, didn’t ask to be and felt like I should have paid them to be there. I don’t know who’s better (Lesnar or Konrad), they both made me their bitch on the mats, and Cole’s boxing is great as well. I got invited back for a full camp, and I’m chomping at the bit to make that happen.”

Lesnar’s freakish strength and agility could lead to problems for Overeem, but we’ll see if Overeem can battle against Lesnar’s takedowns.

Fedor vs. Ishii… Confirmed!

By mhbomb on Dec 12, 2011

Fedor Emelianenko will fight on New Year’s Eve in Japan against Satoshi Ishii, fighting on the DREAM “Genki Desu Ka!” card. The event will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan — and marks Fedor’s first fight in Japan since he submitted Hong-Man Choi (via armbar) in 2007.

Fedor is an excellent judo practitioner, but will likely try to avoid getting into a tight clinch game against Ishii. However, the famed Russian heavyweight will have a striking, wrestling, and submission grappling advantage against the Japanese fighter.

I expect to see Fedor pick up the win (rather easily) either by early TKO or submission against the overmatched Ishii.

Big Nog’s Broken Arm, Courtesy of Frank Mir

By mhbomb on Dec 12, 2011

Frank Mir locked on a kimura submission and cranked until Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s arm painfully broke.

Here is the x-ray:

With the loss, Big Nog’s professional MMA career is now uncertain, as the former PRIDE superstar has sustained a large amount of damage throughout his career.

Jon Jones Proves Dominance Against Lyoto Machida

By mhbomb on Dec 11, 2011

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones bounced back from a somewhat shaky first round to choke Lyoto Machida unconscious via standing guillotine choke.

Machida was able to use his striking and range style to test Jones’ chin — but the champion got through it and remained calm. He turned things around in round two, busting Machida up with elbows before sinking in the devastating choke.

Here is what UFC President Dana White had to say:

“He’s the real deal, man. He’s a young guy. He’s a young guy, and he’s got a lot of things to learn in the sport still – more than just fighting. But the potential? The potential is unbelievable. If he stays on the right track, does the right things, the guy could go down as the best ever. I just don’t see anyone beating this guy soon.”

Jones likely faces the winner of Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, or former PRIDE superstar Dan Henderson sometime in early 2012. I’m doubtful Henderson, even with his dynamite right hand and iron chin, would be able to stand toe-to-toe with Jones for a five-round fight.

If Evans can get by Davis — which is expected due to Evans’ experience and skill set matching up well against Davis — the UFC could have a decent marketing matchup between the two former teammates.

Frank Mir Looking for Title Contention, Respect

By mhbomb on Dec 09, 2011

Former heavyweight champion Frank Mir believes a dominant performance in his rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira could help him climb back into the UFC heavyweight title picture.

As Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, and Alistair Overeem prepare for late 2011-early 2012, Mir could add to an already exciting heavyweight division.

After Mir’s dominant performance against Big Nog the first time at UFC 92 in late 2008, excuses began to circulate about possible illness and injuries for the Brazilian.

Here is what Mir had to say to Sherdog regarding that talk:

“There were a lot of words or circumstances surrounding the last victory. There could possibly be illness that Nogueira’s camp said that he had. I’ve always been keen on that, if you have an injury — an injured hand — and someone asked you why you didn’t box more, you just say that you had an injured hand. As far as the general statement, ‘I lost because of injury,’ I think that’s disrespect towards your opponent. The guy in front of you beat you. You didn’t perform to 100 percent [of your ability] maybe because of injury. Regardless, there are many factors that go into the outcome of a fight.”