MMATOPICS.COM

At critical juncture for Japanese MMA, UFC 144′s Gomi taking personal responsibility

John Morgan [kingofabuelos] — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

TOKYO - When it comes to the buildup for this weekend's UFC 144 event, there seems to be as much discussion about what it means to the future of the sport in Japan as to what it means for the 24 fighters on the card.

Former PRIDE lightweight champ Takanori Gomi believes that's the right approach.

In fact, "The Fireball Kid" seems far less concerned about preparing specifically for replacement opponent Eiji Mitsuoka than he is for shouldering the future of MMA in his native land.

Watch today’s Cage Warriors 46 event live on MMAjunkie.com at 2 p.m. ET

MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

You can watch a live video stream of today's Cage Warriors 46 main card on MMAjunkie.com beginning at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) following Facebook prelims at 1 p.m. ET.

Today's event takes place at Stereo Plaza at Kiev, Ukraine. The main card begins at 9 p.m. local time in Kiev.

The heavyweight headliner pits Andreas Kraniotakes against fellow heavyweight Dmitry Poberezhets, and Diego Gonzalez meets lightweight Ivica Truscek in the co-headliner.

UFC 144′s Mark Hunt says he’s no technicality, eyed two fights in one week

John Morgan [kingofabuelos] — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:55:00 +0000

TOKYO - Were it not for such things as medical suspensions and pre-booked fight cards, Mark Hunt would fight at UFC 144 and one week later at UFC on FX 2.

"I'm a fighter, that's what we do," he told MMAjunkie.com. "If I could do both, I could hopefully try and ask for the Aussie card."

For now, Hunt will have to be satisfied with facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 144, which takes place Saturday at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The bout is part of a seven-fight main card that airs live on pay-per-view. Preliminary-card fights air on FX and stream on Facebook.

UFC 144′s Yoshihiro Akiyama planning for a ‘sexy fight in Japan’

MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:40:00 +0000

TOKYO - Japan, meet "Sexyama."

Yoshihiro Akiyama said fans in the Land of the Rising Sun aren't familiar with the tongue-in-cheek nickname that stateside fans have for him, and it's been awhile since they've seen him at all.

Nonetheless, he feels it's his responsibility to show why American fans have taken such a liking to him and to make UFC 144 a success.

Four fighters handed down medical suspensions from UFC on FUEL TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger

Jacoby Harms — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:30:12 +0000

The Nebraska State Athletic Commission had an easy time determining medical suspensions for those fighters who competed on the UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger card recently with only four being issued a mandatory break from competition.

Ronny Markes, who said he suffered a broken right hand during his fight with Aaron Simpson, was handed an indefinite break, needing a doctor’s clearance to return to action. Markes himself has said he will undergo surgery to correct the problem and hopes to be back by summertime.

Meanwhile, Vagner Rocha, Philip De Fries, and Dave Herman were all given 30-day suspensions, the State’s standard following a knockout/TKO loss.

Main event fighters Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez were both free of any suspensions after their grueling three-round war which saw Ellenberger claim a victory in his proverbial backyard of Omaha though clearly both will need a little time off to heal up from cuts/contusions.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

UFC 144′s Ryan Bader: ‘Rampage’ won’t slam me

MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000

TOKYO - Quinton Jackson says the old 'Rampage' is coming out for UFC 144, and that means the kind of high-flying action that first made him a star.

Ryan Bader welcomes that when they meet Saturday in the co-main draw of the pay-per-view event, but he's not going to fall prey to Jackson's specialties.

And that means no getting slammed to the mat by the former PRIDE star.

Jake Shields sees teammate Nick Diaz returning to MMA

Brendhan Conlan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:30:46 +0000

It appears at least one of Nick Diaz’s teammates feels the polarizing welterweight will fight again after prematurely retiring on the heels of his controversial loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Jake Shields, who has trained with Diaz for years as part of the Cesar Gracie team, echoed Gracie’s sentiments regarding Diaz’s future in Mixed Martial Arts when asked for his take on his friend/training partner’s plans.

“He’s calmed down, I think he’s gonna fight again,” said Shields to Swedish outlet Kimura. “He’s been a little burned out. They’ve been fighting him like crazy, keeping him busy. I think he needs a little break.”

In terms of why he is confident Diaz will return to the ring at some point down the road, Shields stated, “I think the time off will make him love the sport again and make him wanna get back in there.”

Diaz himself has not addressed the matter and is currently embroiled in battle to prevent his license to fight from being suspended as the result of a positive hit for using marijuana. He is expected to appeal the NSAC’s findings in a few months when the board meets.

Shields currently has his hands full with Yoshihiro Akiyama who he’ll face Saturday night in Japan at UFC 144.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Sources: Strikeforce event targeted for May 19 in San Jose

MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Strikeforce's next major event could land in the promotion's birthplace.

Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that San Jose, Calif.'s HP Pavilion is targeted for a Strikeforce event on May 19, though the location has yet to be finalized.

No matchups have been confirmed for the event's fight lineup, which would include a main card on Showtime and prelims on Showtime Extreme.

Ryan Bader relishing the role of an underdog

Brendhan Conlan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:45:53 +0000

Outside of a fluky loss to Tito Ortiz and a stumble against the phenomenon that is light heavyweight champion Jon Jones it’s hard to find any flaws in Ryan Bader’s run since winning the Ultimate Fighter Season 8. He’s beaten seasoned veterans like Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira while also showing he’s not completely reliant on his impressive wrestling ability, possessing knockout power and ever-improving stand-up.

However, when Bader enters the Octagon this weekend against Quinton Jackson at UFC 144 he’ll do so as a significant underdog. Even Jackson, whose experience and accomplishments outweigh Bader’s without question, hasn’t seemed particularly jazzed about the pairing so much as the fight taking place in his former stomping ground of Japan.

Of course, none of that fazes Bader. In fact he actually enjoys the lack of pressure created by so many people counting him out.

“He’s fought over there, he’s popular over there…but that doesn’t matter to me. I relish the role of the underdog, going in there and beating someone like ‘Rampage’,” said Bader in an interview with the UFC promoting Saturday night’s scrap. “So, if anything, that’s gonna give me more motivation.”

As far as achieving his goal and beating Jackson, Bader has no illusions about the difficulty in doing so but has a gameplan in mind that could very well be successful given some of Jackson’s past difficulties against accomplished grapplers.

“I’m gonna be smart about it,” explained Bader. “I’m not gonna just go out there and trade punches with ‘Rampage’. I’m not afraid to go out there and strike with him but I’m gonna mix every bit of my MMA training up. I’m gonna use my wrestling, I’m gonna use some kicks, I’m gonna use some boxing.”

“If I go in there just trying to take him down that’s not gonna work. I’ve gotta mix everything up,” he concluded on the topic.

Bader-Jackson serves as the co-headliner at UFC 144 with Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson filling the main event slot. Other featured bouts on PPV include Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, Bart Palaszewski vs. Hatsu Hioki, and Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis.

Check out the full interview with Bader below:

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Champ Frankie Edgar: Size is no issue against Benson Henderson at UFC 144

MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:30:00 +0000

TOKYO - If UFC lightweights were reptiles, Ben Henderson would be Godzilla, and Frankie Edgar would be a GEICO lizard.

But Edgar, who puts his UFC lightweight title on the line at Saturday's big UFC 144 event in Japan, doesn't believe size will be an issue at the event.

After all, he's used to being the 155-pound division's little guy.