In a year during which the featherweight division has played a pivotal role, perhaps it is fitting that the division's hottest prospect will close out 2009 as its top-ranked competitor.
At WEC 44, Jose Aldo took his game to yet another level in his fourth fight of the year. The native of Manaus ... Read More
It was a banner night for Great Britain on Nov. 14 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship staged UFC 105 in front of its biggest U.K. crowd to date. ... Read More
A rematch more than three years in the making moved one step closer to being realized, as former UFC light heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin tipped the scales.
Sporting a black right eye, Ortiz checked in at 204 pounds for his showdown with Griffin (205) ... Read More
When the UFC’s hype engine fails to deliver any real, palpable anticipation for a fight -- as in the case of Saturday’s Tito Ortiz/Forrest Griffin rematch, which is fine but far from the Epic Super Rematch of Mega Titans some clever editing and music are presenting it as -- you can make up your own narrative.
In this instance, UFC 106’s four light heavyweights might potentially be participating in a four-man tournament for a chance at the title without knowing it. In addition to Ortiz/Griffin, a debuting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will face Luis Arthur Cane; the respective winners would have time to meet before May 1’s Lyoto Machida/Mauricio Rua rematch. It may be all that you need to sit a little closer to the television. ... Read More
Mauricio Rua will likely have to wait another six months to rematch the man many people believe he defeated last month in a UFC light heavyweight championship match. ... Read More
In trying to come up with a metaphor for Randy Couture’s current physical abilities, you can’t do much better than a boat anchor. If he gets a lock on your body, he will either drag you down or exhaust you with your own resistance, swimming against the current he creates. It’s an ugly way to go.
Against Brandon Vera Saturday in Manchester, England, Couture clung to Vera while landing few effective strikes. The biggest moments in the bout came only when Vera had the distance to land body shots, which Couture’s creaky reflexes allowed through. Despite Vera delivering the damage of the fight, including a knockdown, judges figured Couture’s lone takedown and pressing Vera into the fence trumped it.
If the fight were scored as a whole, Vera would probably win. As it is, they appeared to split two rounds and stalemate a third. A draw would have made the most sense. Increasingly, we should not expect judges to do the sensible thing. ... Read More
A month full of MMA is already stirring movement in Sherdog’s rankings. Check out the latest update as we move into the second half of a very busy November. ... Read More
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