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Thursday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Thursday
3:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Classics Vol. 9
A historic collection of matchups.
4:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview all the official news, views, and action for FOX 6: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson.
4:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 8
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
4:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 100
5:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Chris Leben vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama; B.J. Penn vs. Matt Hughes; George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Best of 2012: The Year in Review
Relive the thrilling action of the best bouts, the greatest knockouts and submissions.
9:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida Prelims
Longtime lightweight rivals Spencer Fisher and Sam Stout, and featherweights Ross Pearson and Cub Swanson.
3:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC's Road to the Octagon
UFC's main event fighters train for their upcoming bout inside the Octagon.
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview all the official news, views, and action for FOX 6: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson.
4:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 100
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 79: St-Pierre vs. Hughes Georges St. Pierre vs Matt Hughes; Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva..
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview all the official news, views, and action for FOX 6: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson.
8:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 100
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Chris Leben vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama; B.J. Penn vs. Matt Hughes; George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon.
9:00 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.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Benson Henderson vs. Clay Guida from UFC on FOX; Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard from UFC 136.
10:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
Season 1 Episode 2: EPISODE: 2 Ben Askren defends his Welterweight World Championship title against Karl Amoussou; Muhammed Lawal vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala, light heavyweight quarterfinal match . From Thackerville, Okla.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 17 Episode 1: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen - Enter the OctagonTwenty-eight middleweights arrive in Las Vegas for a shot at a UFC contract; coaches Chael Sonnen and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones evaluate the winners of 14 elimination fights.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
12:00 a.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
Season 1 Episode 2: EPISODE: 2 Ben Askren defends his Welterweight World Championship title against Karl Amoussou; Muhammed Lawal vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala, light heavyweight quarterfinal match . From Thackerville, Okla. Read more -
Thursday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Thursday
3:00 a.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: The Ultimate Fighter
Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson
3:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Classics Vol. 6
A historic collection of match ups.
4:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 5
Some of the best knockouts in the history of King of the Cage.
4:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight'12 Review; '13 Preview
Relive the year's best moments in UFC; look ahead to UFC in 2013, with a preview of what's in store.
4:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Flashback Seattle; Heavyweights Collide Experience UFC on FOX 5 from a new perspective; The comeback of Cain Velasquez; Randy Couture analyzes the Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez championship fight.
5:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
UFC 143 Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit; UFC 142 Rousimar Palhares and and Mike Massenzio; Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon at UFC 144.
5:30 a.m. ET Sportsnet ONE: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Fuel for the Fire Long Island native Chris Weidman tours the town he loves; Alexander Gustafsson sits down with Jon Anik; Nate Diaz's submission game; Chad Mendes' dominating performance.
6:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Alexander Gustafsson's San Diego training; Joe Lauzon's signature moves; Arianny Celeste poses.
7:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Flashback Seattle; Heavyweights Collide Experience UFC on FOX 5 from a new perspective; The comeback of Cain Velasquez; Randy Couture analyzes the Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez championship fight.
7:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 155: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II - Prelims
Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev.
10:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight'12 Review; '13 Preview
Relive the year's best moments in UFC; look ahead to UFC in 2013, with a preview of what's in store.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Part one of The Top 50 Moments of 2012. From one-punch knockouts to amazing submissions to come-from-behind victories, UFC TONIGHT's Kenny Florian takes us through moments 50-26 in this week's special.
11:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Top 50 UFC Moments in 2012 Part 2 Relive the Top 50 UFC Moments in 2012, from 25 down to number one, as we count down the year's greatest events in mixed martial arts.
12:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz
Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz; Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson; Josh Koscheck vs. Johnny Hendricks. From New Jersey.
2:00 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)
5:00 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.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le; Stanislav Nedkov vs. Thiago Silva & more. From Macau, China.
10:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator 360
The Lightweights are highlighted with guest Michael Chandler.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann
Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann; Mackens Semerzier vs. Daniel Pineda. From Sydney, Australia.
11:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator 360
The Middleweights Read more -
Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
1:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Part one of The Top 50 Moments of 2012. From one-punch knockouts to amazing submissions to come-from-behind victories, UFC TONIGHT's Kenny Florian takes us through moments 50-26 in this week's special.
1:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Top 50 UFC Moments in 2012 Part 2 Relive the Top 50 UFC Moments in 2012, from 25 down to number one, as we count down the year's greatest events in mixed martial arts.
2:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Munoz vs. Weidman
Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman; Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna; Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson. From San Jose, Calif.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 155: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II Weigh-in
Weigh-in for UFC 155: in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Countdown 155: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II
Leading up to the Heavyweight title fight UFC 155: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II.
7:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Cain Valasquez vs. Junior dos Santos
From the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
7:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: UFC Countdown
Countdown to UFC 155
7:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: UFC Countdown
Countdown to UFC 155
7:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Countdown
Countdown to UFC 155
7:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Countdown
Countdown to UFC 155
7:30 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
The 2012 Bazzie Awards UFC ring girl Brittney Palmer helps Kenny and Bas and out the Bazzies.
8:00 p.m. ET FX: UFC 155: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II - Prelims
Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: UFC Preliminary Fights
UFC 155 Prelims Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: UFC Preliminary Fights
UFC 155 Prelims Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Preliminary Fights
UFC 155 Prelims Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Preliminary Fights
UFC 155 Prelims Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson, Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland, Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway, Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury, Philip De Fries vs. Todd Duffee, Byron Bloodworth vs. Erik Perez from Las Vegas, Nev. Read more -
Radio Roundtable: UFC 138
By: TJ De Santis
Jack Encarnacao returned to The Sherdog Radio Network Friday for a roundtable discussion of UFC 138. The England based card will feature a main event between Chris Leben and Mark Munoz.
Read more
Joining Jack were Sherdog.com's Jon Luther, Lutfi Sariahmed, and MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani.
Check out the shows and our archives by clicking here. -
Primer: UFC 125
By: Jake Rossen
Gray Maynard (left) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
For decades, boxing was criticized for devoting little time or resources to undercards. Events pushed two headlining fighters; fans -- especially celebrities, who need to devote time to important thoughts -- grew trained to not even show up for preliminary bouts.The UFC has rarely had that problem: a major selling point of MMA has always been substantial cards. Taken as a whole, there’s some irony in the fact that Saturday’s UFC 125 may be a stacked program in search of a main event.
Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is undeniably talented, especially considering his slight build and successive victories over B.J. Penn. But he’s struggling to make an impression in fans who consider his style aggressive reluctance -- he’s a point fighter, which is crowd death in a sport that promises violence. Matching him against Gray Maynard, a more physical but equally unemotional athlete, demands some kind of structural support. (The UFC nearly had it when they placed Jose Aldo in the co-main event slot; unfortunately, Aldo was injured.)
Maynard and Edgar have worked very hard to reach rare air in MMA, and one might be only an “Ultimate Fighter” coaching job away from getting the audience emotionally caught up in their career. Read more -
UFC 116 Postmortem: Lesnar’s Rank Secured, Leben Hits a Double
By: Jake Rossen
Brock Lesnar file photo: Sherdog.com
Calling a bout between two super-heavyweights Fight of the Year material used to be the set-up to a punch line. Being big and athletic meant heading for the NFL; never moving past varsity football and lacking self-preservation meant a stint in Japan or in one of the minor leagues, where promoters expected a solid 30 seconds of action before your lungs shut down. If they got 40, maybe you’d get a bonus.
In terms of an overall MMA game, no one is going to confuse Brock Lesnar or Shane Carwin for B.J. Penn. But part of fighting is tailoring your abilities to what your body does best. For Carwin, it was smashing; for Lesnar, it’s being a Division 1 wrestler with a gas tank, tremendous power and a mean streak.
Was their meeting Saturday a 101 in the game? No. But Lesnar’s unbelievable attrition and the emotional element -- so many people are invested in Lesnar’s results -- made it the most compelling fight of the year.
It was an education. Lesnar, always the hammer, could be the nail without giving up: he doesn’t suffer from demoralization after adversity, which is rare in an athlete who usually enjoys the advantage. He’s developing a submission game that’s tailored to the positional control he forces. And it may take a baseball bat soaked in concrete to knock him out.
Carwin’s scorecard was less flattering. Despite constant claims from his camp that he could go five hard rounds with no problem, he was the walking dead going into round two. (Carwin might be hitting 15 rounds in training, but it’s irrelevant: nothing prepares you for the emotional vacuum of a live fight.) He was unable to conserve either his attack on Lesnar or his energy. He came within seconds of stopping him, but it’s Lesnar who will get the credit for surviving. “Came close” isn’t a notation on a fight record.
Lesnar’s comeback was a fitting end to a night that seemed to be all about will and heart over technique and playing for points. Stephan Bonnar, in danger of dropping four straight, had a palpable desperation he used to finish off Krzysztof Soszynski; Chris Leben, only two weeks removed from a big win, took out a guy above his pay grade in Yoshihiro Akiyama. Everyone bled and everyone was smiling. If that doesn’t sum up the sport of mixed martial arts, I don’t know what would.
The winners were all pleased, obviously -- but it was Lesnar who seemed downright content. Much has been made of his seemingly short attention span, how he jumped from pro wrestling to pro football tryouts to fighting, and whether he won’t soon get bored with his latest interest. But you’ve never seen a man more at peace with getting beaten up.
"If it was legal and I wouldn't get in trouble, I'd pick a fight on every street,” he told ESPN.com in 2004, three years before his debut. “If I wouldn't lose any money or nothing, I would fight. I'd fight every day." It’s legal, he’s not losing any money, and he’s getting into it every day in the gym. No wonder the guy is smiling.
Next for Lesnar: Cain Velasquez, who is going to bring more technical hands than Carwin’s with the cardio to back them up. Read more -
The 5 Best Moments from UFC 116
Chris Leben file photo: Sherdog.com
UFC 116 was like watching “Blade Runner” on mute with Faith No More playing in the background -- unvarnished gonzo awesomeness.
What follows is a collection of the five moments that sum up this doozy of an evening.
Lesnar Stands Up
After losing for the first time in some 10 years, Fedor Emelianenko famously said “The man who doesn’t fall, doesn’t stand up.”
On Saturday night, Brock Lesnar fell and he fell hard. Shane Carwin’s freakish punching power looked like it was too much for the supposedly unstoppable South Dakotan freight train. Both standing and on the mat, Lesnar ate everything Carwin had to offer for nearly five full minutes.
It was near the five minute mark that Lesnar did what no one had done after taking Carwin’s best shot -- he stood up. Now that this most unlikely of UFC heavyweight champions has secured his place atop the division, there is a certain poetic justice to him living up the words of his predecessor.
Leben Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
He was out on his feet, tossed all over the cage and had the face to prove it, but Chris Leben did what he always does -- he kept coming forward. That almost inhuman ability to endure in the face of impossible odds was looking like it may not be enough however, as Yoshihiro Akiyama was inching closer and closer to a decision win.
With just a few scant seconds left on the clock, Leben lived up to his cardiac kid reputation by cinching a fight-ending triangle choke that sent a wildly partisan crowd into nationalistic hysterics. Considering his recent comeback win over Aaron Simpson, it was the perfect closing note to an impossible two-week run of heroics for the alumnus of the very first season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Read more -
Punch-Drunk: ‘Inside Info’ on Leben Moved Betting Line
By: Jake Rossen
Courtesy Cagewriter: Yahoo’s Kevin Iole appeared on ESPN 1100 over the weekend and had some incendiary remarks to offer on the training habits of Chris Leben, who dropped a fight to Jake Rosholt in Portland, Ore.
Read more
"A prominent fighter came over to me tonight and told me he'd made a bet on Rosholt,” Iole said. “I was a little surprised by that. He said he knew that Leben hadn't trained at all."
(The “at all” part might be a bit exaggerated: Leben lives in Hawaii now, and you can’t go three blocks there without getting into some kind of fight. That counts as sparring.)
Cagewriter also pointed out that the betting line on Leben-Rosholt shifted significantly leading up to the fight, leading to speculation that Leben’s camp was known not to be suited for the dangers an NCAA-accredited wrestler could bring. -
UFC 102 Primer
By: Jake Rossen
Following record business for UFC 100 and 101, what can the world’s leading fight promotion do for a late-season encore?
Read more
Visit Portland, Oregon.
Yes.
Having exhausted three of five titleholders in its previous two summer shows (four, if you count Anderson Silva’s pillaging of Forrest Griffin) the only gold up for grabs is what you find during a prospecting trip: UFC 102 will have to make do with bouts that have consequences only for contenders -- and the highly manipulative tactic of using Oregonian Randy Couture as a feature attraction.
