Fans are invited to Friday's official fighter weigh-ins and the pre-event press conference for Bellator 36.
José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez
Take heed East Coast UFC fans. You'll soon be getting a little more sleep.
Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans
Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Ao Hailin Shinya Aoki Andrei Arlovski
The Fight Nerd caught up with Alistair Overeem at the Strikeforce New York Press Conference to get his predictions on what would happen in the epic heavyweight grand prix, thoughts on fighting Fabricio Werdum again, his response to all the fighters I interviewed seeing him in the finals, and what's up with Japanese MMA. Then I go too far and ask more about Japan which forces "The Reem" to almost melt my spine with his laser beam eyes. This is why you don't interview fighters who have an empty stomach -- they just might eat you! I also nerd out and give Alistair one of my classic Fight Nerd "Art of Fighting" shirts, which are still available for $25 shipped in the US if you email me (since I am too lazy to add a store function).Wes Soldier Combs Ray Cooper Kit Cope Wesley Cabbage Correira Patrick The Predator Côté
The story titled "UFC mixed martial arts a bit more mainstream now" is built around quotes like this from Mark Munoz and Martin Kampmann:
"Mixed martial arts is misconstrued as a brutal and barbaric sport," Munoz said. "People's first impression was formed when it first came out: It was no holds barred, and people still think of it like that."
"When you say you're fighting UFC, they still think it's like 1993. They think you go in there and fight a sumo wrestler until one of you is dead," said Kampmann.
The writer C. Ray Hall warns Kentuckians:
Some, no doubt, are interested in seeing how it goes. First-timers at tonight's fights may be surprised and mystified.
Barefoot men armed with fingerless 4-ounce gloves will climb into an eight-sided ring ("the Octagon" — a trademarked name). The ring is bordered by a chain-link cage/fence that's 5 feet, 9 inches tall. The combatants use fists, feet, elbows and knees.
When a fighter hits the deck, his opponent will not retreat to a neutral corner. The aggressor may straddle his opponent's chest, raining punches on the face of the prostrate unfortunate.
The face in question assumes a "give-me-a-minute-to-think-of-something-here" look until its owner thinks of something or gives up, consciously or unconsciously. Or the man on top will try to maneuver the poor unfortunate into a choke hold that carries a picturesque name such as "guillotine" or "reverse naked."
The guess is here is that amongst the 9,000 expected to attend the event at the Yum! Center, there won't be many "first-timers" as far as viewing the sport. Just a guess. But thank you C. Ray, we all appreciate the public service you've provided.
UFC on Versus 3 weigh-in (Courtesy MMAjunkie):
MAIN CARD (Versus)
Martin Kampmann (171) vs. Diego Sanchez (171)
C.B. Dollaway (185) vs. Mark Munoz (186)
Alessio Sakara (186) vs. Chris Weidman (186)
Brian Bowles (135) vs. Damacio Page (136)+
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Cyrille Diabate (205) vs. Steve Cantwell (206)
Danny Castillo (155) vs. Joe Stevenson (155)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Shane Roller (156) vs. Thiago Tavares (156)
Reuben Duran (136) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (136)
Rob Kimmons (185) vs. Dongi Yang (186)
Dave Branch (186) vs. Rousimar Palhares (186)
Todd Brown (205) vs. Igor Pokrajac (204)
Marcus Davis Tony DeSouza Edwin Dewees Nick Diaz Tadhg Steamfist Dixon
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Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus Todd Duffee Marvin Eastman
Dos Caras Jr Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin Jason Hollywood Chambers
Kotetsu Boku Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo Kyle Bradley
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Karen Darabedyan Viacheslav Datsik Marcus Davis Tony DeSouza Edwin Dewees
José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez
Karen Darabedyan Viacheslav Datsik Marcus Davis Tony DeSouza Edwin Dewees
Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Tank Abbott
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After the fights were over, the fighters from Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson had plenty to say.
-- "Beating the opponent was the most important thing, and the belt was the cherry on top. But I do like cherries," Dan Henderson said after winning the championship with a knockout of Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. Though the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt has not yet been successfully defended, Henderson insists he's not supersitious.
He also said that Cavalcante's strength advantage was not a problem.
"All throughout my career in wrestling and MMA, I've learned that it's about technique and position. I've never felt weak against big and strong guys because of that. I'm big on the inside," Henderson said.
"Henderson is a tough guy. He does what he does well," Cavalcante said.
-- Liz Carmouche impressed the MMA world even in loss, as she took her fight with champion Marloes Coenen on two-weeks notice and still took two rounds from her. Carmouche says that she can't wait to return to the gym. She also said that she did not tap from the second-round guillotine.
"It was tight, but I wasn't tapping for sure," Carmouche said.
After the fight, Coenen said that she believes that Carmouche will be the champion. Carmouche was touched by the idea.
"I felt like I won for a second. I can't express what that did for me."
-- Marloes Coenen said that she was appreciative of having a referee who let the fight continue, because she felt her bout against Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos was stopped too quickly. When asked if Carmouche's strength was a factor, Coenen answered, "Did you look at her?"
She also had a short answer on if she'd like another shot at Cyborg. "Definitely."
-- Tim Kennedy called out Robbie Lawler for his next possible opponent, but said that he would like another shot at the Strikeforce middleweight belt, currently held by Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.
"Of course I want the title, but I want to fight the best. Strikeforce has the best heavyweights in the world, but we're contenders in the middleweights, with the athlete we have."
-- Strikeforce announced that Beijing gold medalist in judo Satoshi Ishii has signed with Strikeforce and will fight Apr. 1 on a Strikeforce: Challengers Card.
Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber
Kotetsu Boku Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo Kyle Bradley
Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Tank Abbott
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Dai Shuanghai Mac Danzig Karen Darabedyan Viacheslav Datsik Marcus Davis
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Yoji Anjo Ao Hailin Shinya Aoki Andrei Arlovski Ricardo Arona
Urijah Faber Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio
Download our iPhone app here http://www.mmafighting.com/iphone-download For more check out http://www.mmafighting.comAo Hailin Shinya Aoki Andrei Arlovski Ricardo Arona Noboru Asahi
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Viacheslav Datsik Marcus Davis Tony DeSouza Edwin Dewees Nick Diaz
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Fedor Emelianenko Yasubey Enomoto Mark Epstein Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle
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José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez
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Vitor Belfort Robert Berry David Bielkheden Michael Bisping Dan Bobish
Per Eklund Jason Ellis Aleksander Emelianenko Fedor Emelianenko Yasubey Enomoto
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Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo Kyle Bradley Jai Bradney
Ratings for Thursday's action-packed "UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann" event slipped from the marks of the first two editions to a series-low audience of 681,000 average viewers, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed.
Matt Andersen Alex Andrade Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Ao Hailin
COLUMBUS, Ohio - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from "Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson" at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama
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David Bielkheden Michael Bisping Dan Bobish Vagam Bodjukyan Kotetsu Boku
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Junie Browning Paul Buentello Josh Burkman Mikey Burnett Murilo Bustamante
Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo Kyle Bradley Jai Bradney Ebenezer Fontes Braga
Randy The Natural Couture Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz Luke Cummo
Chris Dolman Edson Drago Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus
The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., hosts today's Bellator 35 official fighter weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, and we'll provide a live video stream of the proceedings at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT local time).
Dan The Sandman Christison Logan The Pink Pounder Clark Steve The Snake Claveau Rich No Love Clementi Mark The Hammer Coleman
Dan Henderson TKOs Feijao Cavalcante to win Strikeforce light heavyweight title is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
Mark Epstein Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero
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Marshall Zelaznik Talks UFC 127, International Event Schedule for 2011 Video by UFC 127Shane The Engineer Carwin Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan Dan The Sandman Christison Logan The Pink Pounder Clark
Aldrin de Jesus Todd Duffee Marvin Eastman Stav Crazy Bear Economou Yves Edwards
The biggest name in women's MMA, Gina Carano, surprised fans with a special appearance at the Strikeforce World Grand Prix to announce her return to the sport.Don Barr Pat Barry Vitor Belfort Robert Berry David Bielkheden
Tony DeSouza Edwin Dewees Nick Diaz Tadhg Steamfist Dixon Joe Doerksen
Ao Hailin Shinya Aoki Andrei Arlovski Ricardo Arona Noboru Asahi
George Sotiropoulos Fine With His Place in the UFC Lightweight Division Video by UFC 127Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan
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Luiz Azeredo Luciano Azevedo Ba Te er Ryan Bader Siyar Bahadurzada
Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito Rob Broughton Mike Brown
