All posts by Chris Huntemann

mchanganyiko karate, UFC, wanawake MMA

UFC 185: It’s Showtime!

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Picha ya Mikopo: Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports

Despite the turmoil experienced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship so far this year, from the failed drug tests of stars like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, to the reshuffling of UFC 184 because of an injury to middleweight champion Chris Weidman, the company has delivered in the Octagon so far this year. Despite Weidman’s injury, UFC 184 was still a smashing success thanks to another dominant performance by women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Now UFC 185 is here, with another stacked card that should entertain once again. This card is anchored by TWO title fights, taking fans back to a time when the UFC would routinely offer stacked fight cards before rapid expansion under their deal with FOX apparently created an oversaturated product.

Here’s who I think emerges victorious on this talent-filled card.

Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso (17-6) vs. Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (7-0) (Flyweight – 125 lbs.)

Cariaso is coming off a submission loss to flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson last summer. But to be fair, everyone is losing to Johnson these days, and he’s close to cleaning out the flyweight division. Cejudo has yet to experience defeat and enjoyed a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut late last year.

Cariaso has been a UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran for the last five years and rode a 3-fight win streak prior to his loss to Johnson. Cejudo is a young pup trying to make a name for himself in the UFC, but Cariaso will use his veteran savvy to catch the overeager fighter for a finish.

Winner: Cariaso by second-round TKO

Roy “Big Country” Nelson (21-10) vs. Alistair “The Reem” Overeem (38-14-1) (Heavyweight – 225 lbs.)

I’ll admit up front that I’m not a big Roy Nelson fan. He’s a talented fighter who delivers exciting fights and is an entertaining personality. But ever since he debuted in the UFC and won season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” he feasted on lower-ranked heavyweights like Stefan Struve, Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione. But when matched up with elite heavyweights like Fabricio Werdum, Junior Dos Santos and Daniel Cormier (before he dropped to light heavyweight), Nelson was routinely outclassed and battered.

Overeem has also failed to live up to the hype that came with his jump to the UFC. After he demolished Brock Lesnar in 2011, a title shot was in the works against then-champion Junior Dos Santos. But the fight never materialized due to injuries and Overeem suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Antonio Silva and Travis Browne.

Overeem has alternated wins and losses since then but is coming off a first-round knockout of Struve. Nelson was knocked out in his last fight against Mark Hunt, which despite Nelson’s usually iron chin, does not come as a shock, given Hunt’s incredible punching power.
Overeem may not have Hunt’s power, but I think he will batter Nelson for a rather lopsided decision victory. At this stage in his career, Nelson is a gatekeeper. But “The Reem” doesn’t need to prove himself against a brawler like Nelson.

Winner: Overeem by unanimous decision

Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks (16-3) vs. Matt “The Immortal” Brown (21-12) (Welterweight – 170 lbs.)

Speaking of brawling and battering, this fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate. Hendricks dropped the welterweight title to Robbie Lawler last year and should he win this fight, a rematch with Lawler is all but assured – assuming Lawler gets past Rory McDonald later this year.

Brown also lost to Lawler in his last fight and was also on the receiving end of a brutal beating. Hendricks and Brown tend to just slug it out and ask questions later, which should result in an entertaining fight for the fans. Hendricks seems to have renewed his commitment to MMA following his loss to Lawler and he seems driven to get his belt back. Brown is as game as they come, but Hendricks will prove to be too much.

Winner: Hendricks by second-round TKO

Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (11-2) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0) (Women’s Strawweight Title – 115 lbs.)

Esparza made her UFC debut with a bang by winning the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” to feature all female fighters, and in the process become the UFC’s first women’s strawweight champion. She effectively derailed the Rose Namajunas hype train to win the belt, when some were dubbing Namajunas the next Ronda Rousey in the strawweight division.

Jedrzejczyk derailed a favorite in her own right, defeating highly regarded Claudia Gadelha last year by a close decision when many thought Gadelha would be Esparza’s first title defense. Jedrzejczyk is a grinder who thrives in an ugly fight in close quarters. Esparza used her wrestling to neutralize Namajunas’ quick-striking offense, so getting into an ugly fight with Jedrzejczyk shouldn’t faze Esparza one bit. Esparza will take Jedrzejczyk down early and often and ride her wrestling to a decision victory.

Winner: Esparza by unanimous decision

Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (18-2) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (23-7) (Lightweight Title – 155 lbs.)

Pettis has been absolutely dominant as of late, not only winning the lightweight title from Benson Henderson in quick and exciting fashion with a first-round armbar but routinely displaying his amazing athleticism and using it to quickly shoot himself up the best pound-for-pound fighter list.

But Dos Anjos is not to be taken lightly. He too finished Henderson in the first round and earned his title shot by absolutely dismantling Nate Diaz late last year. Dos Anjos is tough and will know that Pettis is looking for a quick finish. He won’t get it, but Pettis’ freakish athleticism will make its presence felt eventually and overcome Dos Anjos and solidify Pettis’ case as one of the best lightweight fighters of all time.

Winner: Pettis by second-round submission

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. He also shares his thoughts on the UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

mchanganyiko karate, UFC, wanawake MMA

Ronda Rousey- The Cleaner

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Picha ya Mikopo: Esther Lin / MMA Kupambana

Given that it’s tax season, it’s a good time to remember that are there three guarantees in life: death, taxes and Ronda Rousey once again showing why she is the best female fighter on the planet with a first-round demolition of her opponent.

Rousey’s performance at UFC 184 last month was her finest to date. She submitted Cat Zingano, widely regarded as Rousey’s biggest challenge, katika 14 sekunde. While Rousey was aided by an absolutely horrible strategy by Zingano, her virtuoso performance led to another discussion of who has what it takes to dethrone Rousey. It also led to a ridiculous conversation of whether or not Rousey could compete against and defeat male fighters in the UFC’s bantamweight division. The less time spent on that absurd notion that accomplishes nothing but trying to discredit the great fighter Rousey is, the better.

Bila shaka, the first name that always comes up is Cris “Cyborg” Justino, the Invicta FC featherweight champion. She is expected to drop to 135 pounds for a fight with Invicta this summer before moving on to a fight with Rousey. Hata hivyo, Cyborg attempted a drop to bantamweight last year and abandoned those plans. So I wouldn’t hold my breath on the long-awaited grudge match between Rousey and Cyborg happening anytime soon.

Rousey recently expressed a desire to fight Bethe Correia, ambaye alipiga wachezaji wenzake wawili wa Rousey "Wanne wa farasi" na amekuwa kumwita Rousey tangu wakati huo. Jessica Eye pia amedai madai yake ya kupigwa risasi, lakini hakuna hata mmoja wa wanawake hawa anayeleta tishio kwa Rousey. Wakati wa chanjo ya baada ya vita ya UFC 184, Daniel Cormier aliandika wazo la mwenzake Miesha Tate kupata ufa wa tatu huko Rousey.

Licha ya ukweli nadhani trilogies inapaswa kuhifadhiwa tu wakati kila mpiganaji ana ushindi juu ya mwingine, Sioni sababu kwa nini mara ya tatu itakuwa haiba kwa Tate. Wakati yeye ndiye mwanamke pekee anayepita zaidi ya raundi ya kwanza na Rousey, Tate ametamba kama mpiganaji wakati Rousey amepata nafuu. Ikiwa wawili hao wangepigana mara ya tatu, Sioni sababu ya kuamini matokeo yatakuwa tofauti.

Kwa hivyo hii inaondoka wapi? Kwa maoni yangu, amesafisha mgawanyiko wa watoto wa kike wa UFC. Hakuna mtu ambaye analeta tishio la kuaminika kwake. Ikiwa Zingano alirekebisha mkakati wake na akapokea risasi nyingine huko Rousey, anaweza kuwa na nafasi ya kushinda. Zaidi ya hapo, ikiwa Rousey aliamua kwenda juu na kujenga juu ya kazi yake ya filamu inayoendelea, Sidhani kama mtu yeyote angeshikilia dhidi yake.

Rousey kwa sasa yuko mbio sawa na mbio ya Anderson Silva juu ya mgawanyiko wa uzani wa kati wa UFC. Alitawala kila mtu katika njia yake na isipokuwa pambano lake la kwanza na Chael Sonnen, ilifanya ionekane rahisi. Mapigano magumu zaidi ya Rousey hadi leo yalikuwa dhidi ya Liz Carmouche, wakati alikuwa na Rousey nyuma ya choke ya uchi uchi katika raundi ya kwanza ya pambano lao 2013 before Rousey was able to escape and secure another armbar victory.

Silva’s reign atop the middleweight division came to an end when the previously unknown Chris Weidman came along and showed no fear and took the fight to Silva. Maybe that’s what needs to happen with Rousey. She needs to find an opponent who will get right in her face, give her no quarter and take the fight to her. Zingano attempted that at UFC 184, but her overzealousness ended up costing her dearly.

Until Rousey finds her own Chris Weidman, we can add another superlative to the many that are already attached to the women’s bantamweight champion: cleaner. Rousey is fresh out of worthy challengers to her crown, a task she accomplished by cleaning out her division.

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. He also shares his thoughts on the UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

mchanganyiko karate, UFC

UFC and PEDs: Where do we go from here?

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Picha ya Mikopo: Esther Lin / MMA Kupambana

Usually when I ask that question, it’s in the wake of a pay-per-view and I’m wondering aloud at what’s next for the fighters who competed on it. This time around, I’m talking about something that affects ALL mixed martial artists in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The UFC announced this week that it will implement far stricter, far more comprehensive drug testing in the wake of fighters like Anderson Silva na Hector Lombard failing tests for performance-enhancing drugs (Peds), wakati Jon Jones na Nick Diaz failed tests for cocaine and marijuana, mtiririko.

Increased drug testing and harsher penalties can only help the UFC, and mixed martial arts in general. But what brought on this increase in failed tests? PEDs have been a part of sports long before MMA fighters started taking them, and they have been a problem in MMA prior to the last month-and-a-half.

But more fighters seem to be getting caught. As in most sports, there is a tremendous amount of pressure to perform in MMA and in the UFC. If you don’t perform, you basically don’t get paid. The increased demand for UFC programming by virtue of its deal with FOX could also be a factor. They went from being on Spike TV – where they only broadcast “The Ultimate Fighter” once a year and two or three live fight cards annually – to practically having two live fight cards a month and airing “The Ultimate Fighter” twice a year on the FOX channels.

The increase in programming means a need of more bodies to fill that programming. It also means that more fighters are training for more fights, which can lead to more injuries. Peds, in addition to giving you a competitive advantage over your opponent, allow you to recover from injuries more quickly. With the need for more fighters to fill more fight cards, I think it’s possible the apparent increase in failed drug tests can at least be partly attributed to that.

The UFC’s increased drug-testing measures take effect July 1. What can we expect once it does? Here are some of the guidelines the UFC presented.

Even UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta admitted during this week’s press conference that things “would get worse before they better” with the new testing. Zaidi, it remains to be seen how much of this will actually stick once July 1 rolls around. UFC previously considered expanding its drug-testing efforts before but pulled back, citing cost and a previously botched attempt at doing so.

Hata hivyo, with the rash of high-profile stars like Silva, Jones and Diaz failing tests, cost can’t be considered a hindrance and the UFC must be vigilant. Browsing my Twitter feed following the press conference, it was eerily quiet. Almost no fighters weighed in initially. It is likely that was just a byproduct of the press conference taking place on a Wednesday afternoon, when most people are working or presumably have other things to do besides post on Twitter. But it was still pretty telling. It seems like this has grabbed fighters’ attention, as it should.

What do I think will happen? There will be an increase in failed test once the new measures take effect July 1, I’m fairly confident. But given that the UFC is supporting harsh penalties for those who do fail – including a ban of up to four years – I expect the dirty fighters to eventually cycle themselves out and the ones who compete clean (which is most of them, presumably) to take a more prominent role.

Increased drug testing is long overdue in the UFC. The sport of mixed martial arts itself is still in its infancy, especially compared to other sports like football, basketball and baseball. But just like baseball is still recovering from its own crisis with PEDs, these recent failed drug tests have shaken the foundation of the UFC and have harkened back to the days when it was referred to as “human cockfighting.”

UFC adopted the slogan “The Time Is Now” for 2015, and I couldn’t agree more. The time is now for them to take the lead in cleaning up the sport of mixed martial arts.

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. He also shares his thoughts on the UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

mchanganyiko karate, UFC, wanawake MMA

Dana White na Wanawake

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Picha ya Mikopo: Esther Lin / MMA Kupambana

Jumamosi, Februari. 28, ni kwenda kuwa kihistoria siku kwa Kupambana michuano Ultimate. Wapiganaji wote juu ya kulipa-per-mtazamo kadi kwamba siku itapita kabla ya mapambano yao ya madawa ya kulevya ...... akili .never. Hiyo ni rahisi sana.

Siku hiyo itakuwa mara ya kwanza kadi UFC makala mno wanawake katika wawili yake tukio ushirikiano kuu na tukio kuu. Baada ya middleweight bingwa Chris WEIDMAN alilazimishwa kuondoka kutoka mapambano yake dhidi ya Vitor Belfort kutokana na kuumia, mpya tukio kuu katika UFC 184 ni Ronda Rousey kutetea yake wanawake bantamweight ukanda dhidi ya Cat Zingano. Katika tukio ushirikiano kuu, inayoheshimiwa sana matarajio Holly Holm kumfanya UFC kwanza dhidi Raquel Pennington katika mwingine wanawake bantamweight kupambana.

Kama nimepata zilizotajwa kabla, UFC imefika njia ya muda mrefu kutoka wakati Dana White aliiambia TMZ kuwa wanawake "kamwe" kupambana katika shirika lake. Rousey itakuwa tukio kuu yake ya tatu mfululizo Februari PPV na Holm yanaaminika kuwa ya pili katika line kwa risasi katika cheo, lazima yeye kushindwa Pennington. Holm bado ni mbichi sana katika mchanganyiko karate, lakini treni na dunia makocha mashuhuri Greg Jackson na Mike Winkeljohn.

Rousey amebeba bendera kwa ajili ya wanawake MMA na kwa wanawake katika UFC. Wapiganaji wengine kike wamefuata yake katika Octagon, ikiwa ni pamoja na Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche na Alexis Davis. Je, wale wanafanana? Wote pia akaanguka Rousey - Tate mara mbili katika Strikeforce na UFC, na Carmouche na Davis wote katika raundi ya kwanza katika UFC PPVs katika 2013 na 2014, mtiririko.

Rousey na Tate ya feud ni vizuri chronicled. Ni kuongozwa na wawili kuwa makocha juu ya Ultimate Fighter, ambayo ni pamoja na wapiganaji kike kwa mara ya kwanza ambao outshined sana wenzao wa kiume juu ya show msimu.

Kutokana na mafanikio ambayo msimu, msimu wa hivi karibuni wa Ultimate Fighter featured wapiganaji ALL kike na ya kwanza ya UFC ya newest mgawanyiko, strawweight wanawake. Carla Esparza, zamani Invicta FC strawweight bingwa, alishinda uzinduzi UFC toleo la kwamba ukanda baada ya kuwashinda Rose Namajunas.

Hivyo katika muda wa miaka minne, UFC inakwenda kutoka kutokuwa na wapiganaji wa kike na White msisitizo na kusema kuwa ni kamwe, kwa kuwa nyumbani kwa TWO uzito madarasa kike na bila shaka kukuza kubwa nyota hivi sasa katika Rousey. Hamniamini? Je, unaweza kuona tatu Expendables movie? Au kufanya mpango juu ya kuona filamu toleo la Entourage huu majira ya joto? Unaweza taarifa uso familiar.

Hivyo ambapo gani wanawake MMA kwenda kutoka hapa? Mimi binafsi shabiki mkubwa wa mapambano kike, kama wao huwa na kuwa miongoni mwa mapambano zaidi burudani na action-packed kwenye kadi UFC. Kama mimi awali alisema, wapiganaji wa kike ni zaidi kuliko uwezo wa Nuru rika zao kiume. Kwa nini ni kwamba? Labda wapiganaji kike wanahisi kuwa zaidi ili kuthibitisha ndani ya Octagon na daima kwenda kwa kuvunja. Labda wao kwenda katika Octagon na zaidi ya "kwenda kwa kuvunja" mawazo na kikamilifu kutafuta kumaliza kinyume na "kucheza, ni salama."

mapambano kati ya Rousey na Zingano juu ya Februari. 28 pia kwenda njia ndefu kuelekea kuamua hatma ya wanawake MMA. Je Rousey kushindwa Zingano - zinaonyesha ambayo dalili zote yeye mapenzi - yeye kuwa kimsingi kusafishwa nje mgawanyiko wake, na wapinzani haijulikani tu kama Holm na Bethe Correia kushoto. Kama sindano pulls upset, basi mgawanyiko ina kundi safi ya matchups kusisimua kusubiri.

Lakini ambaye anajua nini kingetokea kama Dana White alitimiza ahadi yake kwa TMZ?

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. Yeye pia huchangia mawazo yake kwenye tovuti yetu juu ya UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

Fox Sports 1, mchanganyiko karate, UFC, wanawake MMA

UFC 183: Who will show up?

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Picha ya Mikopo: UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has hit it out of the park so far in 2015, with its first two major cards of the year living up to the hype of their main events. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones dominated Daniel Cormier to prove he is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world at UFC 182, and at the UFC’s live card in Boston, Misa., Januari, Conor McGregor secured a featherweight title shot against José Aldo and wasted no time getting in his next opponent’s face.

Which brings us to UFC 183 usiku wa leo, and a main event that is considered a dream matchup by many. Anderson Silva returns to the Octagon after suffering a gruesome leg injury in his last fight against UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in 2013. Nick Diaz also makes his return to the UFC after losing his last fight against former welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in 2013.

Tonight’s card isn’t without its other storylines though. A pair of significant undercard fights are taking place under some controversy, as flyweight John Lineker came in overweight for his fight against Ian McCall, which is expected to determine the next no. 1 contender to the flyweight title. Katika tukio ushirikiano kuu, Kelvin Gastelum came in 9 pounds overweight for his fight against Tyron Woodley, which means 30 percent of Gastelum’s fight purse actually goes to Woodley. Talk about insult to injury.

Bila shaka, there is always the wild card with Diaz too. He plays by his own rules, having no-showed the open workouts earlier this week. Will he actually show up to the cage for tonight’s main event? It remains to be seen, though most everyone thinks he will.

Hivyo, having said all that, who do I think wins tonight?

Miesha “Cupcake” Tate (15-5) vs. Sara McMann (8-1) (Women’s bantamweight – 135 lbs.)

This is actually the main event of the preliminary card on Fox Sports 1. Tate requested to compete on this portion of the card instead of the pay-per-view card, taking a page from Urijah Faber’s playbook. Tate is also eager for a third fight with Ronda Rousey for the women’s bantamweight title. Both of these women suffered Rousey’s wrath, particularly McMann, who was demolished by Rousey in about a minute last year.

McMann is a pure wrestler with very little else to her repertoire, whereas Tate built on her established wrestling skills to become an effective striker. I think she will stuff McMann’s attempts to take this fight to the mat and use her vastly superior striking skills to keep McMann befuddled en route to a dominant victory.

Winner: Tate by unanimous decision

Jordan “Young Gun” Mein (29-9) vs. Thiago “Pitbull” Alves (25-9) (Welterweight – 170 lbs.)

Alves has alternated wins and losses in his last six fights, while Mein rides a two-fight win streak. Alves is always dangerous with his Muay Thai and striking, while Mein landed a first-round TKO victory in his last fight. This should be an exciting stand-up battle with neither guy willing to give an inch. I think Alves is the more dangerous fighter here, and will land one good shot to knock Mein silly.

Winner: Alves by second round TKO

Thales Leites (24-4) vs. Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (18-7) (Middleweight – 185 lbs.)

Leites comes into this fight on a roll, having won his last seven fights, with the last two coming by way of TKO. Boetsch has alternated wins and losses in his last four fights, including a TKO victory in his last fight against Brad Tavares.

Boetsch is a slow, plodding bruiser best known for derailing the Hector Lombard hype train when he first made his UFC debut. Leites is a crafty, dangerous fighter who can finish you with his hands or by submission. I think Leites will avoid Boetsch’s power and wait for Boetsch to make a mistake, where Leits will capitalize.

Winner: Leites by third round submission

Joe Lauzon (24-10) vs. Al “Raging” Iaquinta (10-3-1) (Lightweight – 155 lbs.)

You know what you’re getting with a Joe Lauzon fight. You’re going to see an exciting, action packed bout that will most likely end with him locking in a slick submission or, in the case of his fight against Jim Miller, suffering a gnarly cut that will guarantee a blood battle.

Iaquinta has been on a roll since his time on The Ultimate Fighter Live, having only lost once in his last six fights. A win against Lauzon would be a real feather in his cap and might propel him into title contendership discussion. But Lauzon is one of the best submission specialists in the UFC, and I think the crafty veteran has another submission up his sleeve.

Winner: Lauzon by second round submission

Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley (14-3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (11-0) (Welterweight – 170 lbs.)

As mentioned above, Gastelum weighed in 9 pounds over for this fight and will forfeit 30 percent of his purse directly to Woodley. It was reported that Gastelum spent time in the hospital leading up to this fight, which contributed to him coming in overweight.

Woodley will be angry in this fight, and rightly so. It’s not fair that his opponent will have a weight advantage due to his own failure to do what he was supposed to do. Give Woodley credit for wanting to keep fighting when it would have been perfectly understandable to postpone it.

Woodley will channel his rage into a blitzkrieg of offense at Gastelum, and the lethargic and probably still-injured Gastelum will have no response.

Winner: Woodley by second round TKO

Anderson "Spider" Silva (33-6) vs. Nick Diaz (27-9-1) (Middleweight – 185 lbs.)

This is one of the several main events that have fight fans buzzing in 2015. Many didn’t think Silva would ever walk again after his leg injury against Weidman, let alone come back to the UFC to fight. The matchup style of Diaz wanting to push the pace, get in his opponent’s face and sucker him into trading blows against Silva’s unrivaled elusiveness will be interesting to watch.

Diaz said he wouldn’t trash talk Silva during this fight out of respect. But if Silva keeps bobbing and weaving and dodging Diaz’s punches, we’ll see how long Diaz commits to that. I think we’ll see vintage Silva in this fight, making Diaz look silly in some spots while landing well-timed strikes that will confuse and frustrate Diaz, which will allow Silva to land even more.

Diaz is too tough to finish, but this fight will show that Silva still has it and is the vastly superior fighter.

Winner: Silva by unanimous decision

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. Yeye pia huchangia mawazo yake kwenye tovuti yetu juu ya UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

mchanganyiko karate, UFC

UFC Kupambana Night: The Swedish Are Coming!

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Picha ya Mikopo: Esther Lin / MMA Kupambana
Picha ya Mikopo: Esther Lin / MMA Kupambana

In a land once popularized in a Tom Green (remember him?) song – “Lonely Swedish (The Bum Bum Song)” – the Ultimate Fighting Championship brings a Fight Night card that will hopefully bring more attention than a song about a Canadian’s ass.

The first FOX card of the new year, UFC Kupambana Night: Sweden, brings the national stage of FOX overseas and gives America a glimpse into the UFC’s ongoing overseas expansion. But unlike previous UFC overseas cards, this one is not short on star power. Let’s see if a clear-cut no. 1 contender for Jon Jones’ light heavyweight title will emerge.

Akira Corassani (16-4-1) vs. Sam Sicilia (13-5) (Featherweight – 145 lbs.)

This is a matchup of The Ultimate Fighter alumni, with both guys coming off losses and Corassani coming off back-to-back losses to Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. Corassani’s also been finished early in both fights, while Sicilia is coming off a submission loss. In a crowded featherweight division, a knockout or submission victory would go a long way toward boosting either of these gentlemen’s stock. I like Sicilia to finish Corassani and possibly give him his walking papers after three straight losses.

Winner: Sicilia by second-round TKO

Phil "Mr. Ajabu "Davis (13-2) vs. Ryan “Darth” Bader (19-4) (Light Heavyweight – 205 lbs.)

Both of these guys are poised for another run at the top of the light heavyweight division. Both of these guys are coming off victories and actually faced each other in college when Davis wrestled for Penn State and Bader wrestled for Arizona State. Davis uses his wrestling to smother opponents and grind out unanimous decision victories, while Bader uses his wrestling when necessary but also has lethal knockout power.

I expect Davis to try and get this fight to the ground early, and if he succeeds I think he can use his reach advantage and athleticism to keep Bader down. Bader must keep this fight standing to have a chance, and I think he will avoid the temptation to avenge his college loss to Davis by engaging in another wrestling match. I like Bader to land more shots and score an upset victory.

Winner: Bader by unanimous decision

Dan “Hendo” Henderson (30-12) vs. Gegard Mousasi (35-5-2) (Middleweight – 185 lbs.)

Henderson returns to middleweight after a mostly ill-fated run at light heavyweight, including being tossed around like a rag doll and submitted by Daniel Cormier in his last fight. Simply put, if Henderson can’t land his patented “H-Bomb” right hand for a knockout, he’s easily susceptible to defeat.

I think the wars of years past are finally catching up to Henderson. He will go down as one of the greatest fighters ever not to hold a UFC title, but he simply can’t keep up with the sport’s elite any more. He will leave himself open when wanting to drop the H-Bomb, and Mousasi will take advantage.

Winner: Mousasi by third-round submission

Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson (16-2) vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (18-4) (Light Heavyweight – 205 lbs.)

The winner of this fight will receive the next shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and it would represent a rematch for Gustafsson. He took Jones closer to defeat than anyone else has during their epic 2013 matchup. Depending on who ask, some people think the Swede actually won that fight.

Johnson is rapidly ascending the 205-pound ladder after knocking out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and scoring an upset win over Phil Davis to begin his climb. Johnson also has devastating knockout power and if he lands one such shot on Gustafsson, the Swede’s road to redemption is derailed. But I think Gustafsson uses his reach advantage (which is nearly identical to Jones) to keep Johnson at bay and make Johnson go a full five rounds.

Gustafsson’s striking in the 205-pound division is second to none, and I like him to land enough of those to secure a rematch with Jones later this year.

Winner: Gustafsson by unanimous decision

Chris Huntemann anaandika kuhusu mchanganyiko karate katika hali ya Maryland. Yeye pia huchangia mawazo yake kwenye tovuti yetu juu ya UFC, Bellator, na World Series ya Kupambana. Angalia yake blog, au kumfuata katika Twitter: mmamaryland.

mchanganyiko karate, UFC

Kuingia “Choirboy”

Acha maoni

Picha ya Mikopo: Keith Mills / Sherdog.com

By Chris Huntemann, Mwandishi

Mixed martial arts ni jambo funny. Baadhi ya watu ambao kushindana katika inaweza kuwa nyota papo baada ya kupambana moja. Wote wanahitaji ni nafasi moja kuonyesha nini wanaweza kufanya. Kwa Maryland MMA fighter Ron “Choirboy” STALLINGS, nafasi ambayo inaweza kuja Jumapili usiku katika UFC ya Kupambana Night kadi katika Boston.

STALLINGS, ambaye anatoa mafunzo na Timu Lloyd Irvin katika Camp Springs, Md., walikubaliana hatua katika juu ya taarifa ya wiki kwa uso Uriah Hall kwenye kadi ya Jumapili usiku ya. Hall ni mkongwe wa msimu 18 ya “Ultimate Fighter” na inajulikana kwa Reel kuonyesha knockouts, hasa hii moja.

STALLINGS hubeba rekodi ya 12-6 katika mapambano yake na Hall na kikohozi katika mashirika mbalimbali ya kikanda na Challenger mfululizo Strikeforce ya chini ya ukanda wake. Yeye ni, Hata hivyo, kuja mbali usiojulikana uamuzi hasara kwa mapambano yake siku ya Jumapili usiku. Lakini, wakati UFC huja wito kwa nafasi, haijalishi kama umefanya alishinda au kupotea kupambana yako ya mwisho. Unaweza kuchukua faida kamili ya ni.

Vyombo vya habari nyingi maduka zilizotajwa STALLINGS wanazidi katika uso Hall, Ikiwa ni pamoja na MMA Kupambana na FOX Sports. Mimi kufikiwa nje ya STALLINGS binafsi ili kuona kama angeweza kuchangia mawazo chache juu ya UFC yake ya kwanza kuonekana. Kama mimi kupata majibu, Mimi itabidi baada yao na blog hii.

UPDATE: STALLINGS pamoja na baadhi ya mawazo na mimi kupitia Twitter Ijumaa usiku katika moja ya teammates wake, ambao ni utunzaji akaunti yake ya kijamii vyombo vya habari.

“uzoefu imekuwa kubwa hivyo mbali na UFC ina kutibiwa mimi vizuri sana,” STALLINGS alisema. STALLINGS’ kocha, Master Lloyd Irvin, kujifunza kwamba Hall ya mpinzani uliopita wameacha na kuwasiliana Sucker Punch Entertainment, ambao kuwezeshwa STALLINGS wanazidi katika uso Hall.

“Nafasi hii ni kweli ndoto ya kuja kweli kwa ajili yangu, timu yangu na familia yangu. Mimi kwa kweli kuangalia mbele katika kupambana na siku ya Jumapili,” STALLINGS alisema.