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Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
3:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
EPISODE: 104
3:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 146
4:00 a.m. ET AXS: The Voice Versus
Michael 'The Voice' Schiavello takes on Jason Miller.
4:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 5 Episode 9: It Was a Brawl In the second quarterfinal fight Brandon Melendez (Team Pulver) takes on Gray Maynard (Team Penn).
5:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 5 Episode 10: Traitor The final two quarterfinal matches. Teammates Nick Diaz and Corey Hill will square off along with Matt Wiman vs. Manny Gamburyan.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier
From Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.
9:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 145
9:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 146
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez
Benson Henderson and Gilbert Melendez battle for the light heavyweight title; Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier; Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson. From San Jose, Calif.
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives, featuring Lyoto Machida vs. Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, Nam Phan v.s Leonard Garcia, and Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver.
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 146
4:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
EPISODE: 104
6:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 146
7:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 5 Episode 10: Traitor The final two quarterfinal matches. Teammates Nick Diaz and Corey Hill will square off along with Matt Wiman vs. Manny Gamburyan.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Greatest Submissions Some of the most spectacular submissions ever witnessed in the history of PRIDE.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell, Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens, and Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 137: Nick Diaz returns to the UFC to face former Welterweight Champion B.J. Penn; Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Cro Cop.
11:00 a.m. ET SpikeTV: Fight Master: Bellator MMA
Season 1 Episode 1: Fight to Choose The elimination round begins as ten fighters battle in the cage to determine who will make the Fight Master Tournament. Read more -
Tommy Messano Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by Sherdog.com contributor and ULTMMA.com founder Tommy Messano.
Read more
Following Roy Nelson's upset loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 161, Breen and Messano examine the heavyweight's choice to take the bout on two weeks notice after having just fought six weeks prior, defeating Cheick Kongo. The two look at the potential leverage Nelson would've had if he had won the last fight on his deal, just how much “Big Country” potentially lost on his next promotional contract and just which company it might be with.
Breen and Messano also weigh in on the tempestuous nature of late replacement fights in MMA history, how the maturation of MMA as a professional sport has changed how injuries are dealt with and the curious late replacement histories of fighters like Mark Hunt, Chris Leben, Brian Ebersole, Dustin Pague and more.
Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.” -
Video: ‘Korean Zombie’ UFC 162 Promo
By: Sherdog.com Staff
If you’ve been disappointed with some of the UFC’s promotional efforts for its recent fights, such as the disappointing “We Will Rock You” theme for Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 159, take heart. This clip of Chan Sung Jung, who faces Ricardo Lamas at UFC 162, should get the blood pumping.
Read more -
Thursday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Thursday
3:00 a.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
FOX 7 Fight Flashback Ultimate Fighter upset winner Kelvin Gastelum in studio.
6:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 133
7:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Swanson; Velasquez; Buffer; Octagon Girls Cub Swanson shares his inspiring story of perseverance; Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez full blast; Bruce Buffer reflects on a career; behind the scenes with the Octagon girls.
7:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Best of Urijah Faber As a pioneer for the lighter weight classes, Urijah Faber quickly became an icon and a champion.
8:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 160: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva 2 Prelims
Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story; Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway; Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker; Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo. From Las Vegas.
11:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC From All Angles
Anderson Silva
3:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC From All Angles
Anderson Silva
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Fight Edition - Highlights from UFC 160: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
4:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Best of Urijah Faber As a pioneer for the lighter weight classes, Urijah Faber quickly became an icon and a champion.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 136: Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard 3 and Jose Aldo vs Kenny Florian.
5:30 p.m. ET The Score: UFC Wired
Joe Rogan hosts this UFC highlight show featuring some of the best bouts from years past.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Fight Edition - Highlights from UFC 160: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
8:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Best of Urijah Faber As a pioneer for the lighter weight classes, Urijah Faber quickly became an icon and a champion.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, and Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir; Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping; Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Swick.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
The 'Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier battle in one of the greatest fights on the year; Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs; Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker.
11:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet ONE: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
12:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 5 Episode 7: Be the General Coach B.J. Penn squares off with a team member. Dana White confronts Penn about the direction of his team. The final four of fighters square off in the final 2 preliminary bouts. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives, featuring Mauricio Rua vs Dan Henderson, Alexander Gustafsson vs Vladimir Matyushenko, and Rogerio Nogueira vs Tito Ortiz.
7:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
10:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Gegard Mousasi Weigh-In
From the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockhom, Sweden.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Chael Sonnen all-access account of his UFC on FOX; the greatest trash talker of them all; Sonnen mic'd up for his real time reaction to the legendary fight between Shogun and Henderson.
11:30 a.m. ET fuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview for UFC: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Gegard Mousasi in Stockholm, Sweden.
12:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger.
2:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
UFC Thiago Silva vs. Alexander Gustafsson from Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
UFC: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier From Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman
Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman; Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna; Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson. From San Jose, Calif.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 286 Referees Big John McCarthy and Herb Dean join Kenny and Bas; Ron Kruck reports on the qualifications needed to become an MMA referee.
10:00 p.m. ET AXS: TV Fights The Best Knockouts of 2012
Highlights from the year.
10:30 p.m. ET The Score: The Score Fighting Series
The Score Fighting Series (SFS) features fighters from North America and beyond with a focus on exciting match-ups and developing the next generation of great fighters. Tune in for non-stop action from events across the country.
11:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 1 Pat Curran vs. Shahbulat Shamhalaev; Brett Cooper vs. Doug Marshall; Mike Richman vs. Frodo Khasbulaev; Rick Hawn vs. Karo Parisyan. From Atlantic City, N.J.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic
Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic; Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah; Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin; Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman; John Hathaway vs. John Maguire; Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig. From Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. (Card subject to change)
12:00 a.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 286 Referees Big John McCarthy and Herb Dean join Kenny and Bas; Ron Kruck reports on the qualifications needed to become an MMA referee. Read more -
Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
3:00 a.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
3:00 a.m. ET Sportsnet West: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
5:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann Weigh-in
From the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier
From Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.
9:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman
Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman; Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna; Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson. From San Jose, Calif.
11:00 a.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 7 Christian M'Pumbu vs. Attila Vegh; Will Brooks vs. Saad Awad; David Rickels vs. Jason Fischer. From Rio Rancho, N.M.
12:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic
Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic; Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah; Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin; Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman; John Hathaway vs. John Maguire; Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig. From Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. (Card subject to change)
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le; Stanislav Nedkov vs. Thiago Silva & more. From Macau, China.
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald vs. Renan Barao; Dustin Poirier vs. Cub Swanson; Cyrille Diabate vs. Jimi Manuwa; Jorge Santiago Gunnar Nelson; Ryan Jimmo vs. James Te Huna; Matt Riddle vs. Che Mills. From London.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Prefight Show
UFC: Prefight show for FUEL TV 8: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Live Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
10:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: UFC Live Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
10:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: UFC Live Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
10:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Live Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan.
10:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Live Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann; Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve; Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez; Hector Lombard vs. Yushin Okami; Rani Yahya vs. Mizuto Hirota; Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Dong Hyun Kim. From Saitama, Japan. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC From All Angles
Former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.
4:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson
Demetrious Johnson takes on John Dodson for the flyweight title; Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira; Anthony Pettis vs. Donald Cerrone; Ricardo Lamas vs. Erik Koch. From Chicago.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Submissions 2
8:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier
From Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald Weigh-in
From London.
12:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le; Stanislav Nedkov vs. Thiago Silva & more. From Macau, China.
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic
Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic; Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah; Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin; Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman; John Hathaway vs. John Maguire; Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig. From Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. (Card subject to change)
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman
Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman; Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna; Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson. From San Jose, Calif.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier
From Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 279 UFC Light Heavyweight Dan Henderson joins Kenny and Bas; Ron Kruck talks with UFC Bantamweight Michael McDonald.
10:00 p.m. ET AXS: AXS Maximum Fighting Championships 36
Reality Check Mukai Maromo vs. Graham Spencer; Elvis Mutapcic vs. Sam Alvey.
10:30 p.m. ET The Score: The Score Fighting Series
The Score Fighting Series (SFS) features fighters from North America and beyond with a focus on exciting match-ups and developing the next generation of great fighters. Tune in for non-stop action from events across the country.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Primetime
UFC 157 Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Primetime
UFC 157 Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche
12:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
Thiago Silva vs. Alexander Gustafsson from Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Read more -
Podcast: Beatdown After The Bell ‘UFC on Fuel TV 3’
By: Jared Koll
TJ De Santis and Jared Koll were back Tuesday for a special broadcast of 'Beatdown After The Bell' on The Sherdog Radio Network.
Read more
The two ran down the fightcard for UFC on FUEL TV 3, including the main-event, featherweight tilt between Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier.
The card had exciting finishes, and plenty of questionable decisions for mixed martial arts fans to complain about.
Check out "Beatdown" here. -
Report: Jung Injured, Withdraws from 'Fight for the Troops 2'
By: Mike Whitman
“Korean Zombie” fans will have to wait a little longer to see if Chan Sung Jung will keep his word about fighting smarter, as the Korean Top Team representative has reportedly pulled out of his UFC “Fight for the Troops” matchup with Rani Yahya with an undisclosed injury.
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The hunt for a new opponent for Yahya is reportedly under way, though no names have been rumored as possible replacements. MMAJunkie.com on Friday was first to report Jung’s injury and withdrawal. UFC “Fight for the Troops 2,” booked for Jan. 22 in Killeen, Texas, will help raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
Jung worked his way into the hearts of American fans with his gutsy but losing effort against Leonard Garcia at WEC 48. Both featherweights absorbed heavy blows, but they continued to move forward and wing punches like something out of a “Rocky” movie. An easy nominee for “Fight of the Year,” the bout came to a controversial conclusion when Garcia was awarded the split decision victory. Following his fight with Garcia, the seemingly indestructible Jung was matched up with lanky featherweight George Roop. Never before finished in his professional career, Jung was promptly knocked cold by a Roop high kick at WEC 51. Following the loss, the Korean wrote on his blog that he would opt for a less dangerous approach in the future, vowing never again to fight with the “Zombie style.”
Like Jung, Yahya has suffered back-to-back defeats, losing to Takeya Mizugaki and Joseph Benavidez at WEC 48 and WEC 45, respectively. Prior to those losses, however, the Brazilian had won three straight contests, besting Yoshiro Maeda, John Hosman and former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland. Yahya earned “Submission of the Night” honors for each of those three victories. The 26-year-old contended for the 135-pound title in 2007, dropping a unanimous decision to Chase Beebe at WEC 30. -
The Turning Point: Roop vs. Jung
By: Chris Nelson
George Roop file photo: Sherdog.com
George Roop had a feeling he was onto something as he sat in his corner between rounds of his featherweight contest with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at WEC 51.
“Going in, I wanted to score takedowns, work some ground-and-pound,” said Roop. “But after round one, I felt that everything was going so well with establishing my jab and my striking, keeping him off balance, I figured I'd just stick with what's working.”
Roop’s rangy build and constant motion had served him well in the opening stanza. His snapping left hand had begun to redden the face of the South Korean just moments into the match, while kicks to the body and head staggered Jung. When Jung tried to initiate clinch work, Roop kept his back off the fence and circled out, keeping his foe perpetually lurching forward. Read more