FIGHTDAY Official UFC 141 Pre-Show ? Dec 30 2011 5PM EST
More FIGHT DAY Video clips! // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ document.write( '' ); // ]]> The UFC?s only official pre-fight show returns when Fight Day comes to you live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the host of Saturday?s UFC 141 event. Hosts Dave Farra and Megan Olivi [...]
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Read MoreBrock Lesnar set to make $400,000 tonight for UFC 141 headliner
In an interesting move the Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the salaries for UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem hours before the event is set to begin in Las Vegas. Typically similar figures are released after a show takes place. As expected, topping the list is Brock Lesnar who will earn $400,000 win or lose [...]
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Read MoreEfrain Escudero vs. Jacob Volkmann Fight Video UFC 141 Prelim
Efrain Escudero vs. Jacob Volkmann Fight Video UFC 141 Preliminary Bout.
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Skywatchers will be hoping for clear skies from today because particles from a recent solar storm will slam into Earth and produce amazing Northern Lights, or auroras.
On the downside, experts…
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Read MoreDana White: Jon Fitch in UFC Welterweight Mix, Not Doghouse
Most don’t believe Jon Fitch (Pictured) owns the most aesthetically appealing game in the business, but UFC president Dana White states the former top contender is right back in the welterweight title mix if he reigns supreme this Friday against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141. “Jon Fitch is back at the top of the 170-pound [...]
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Read MoreStrikeforce Weigh Ins Overeem Werdum Barnett Rogers Griggs Noons Masvidal – Strikeforce
SHOWTIME Sports presents the official weigh-in for the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournment. Check out all ten fiighters on the super-sized June 18th fight card: Chad Griggs, Valentijn Overeem, Daniel Cormier, Jeff Monson, KJ Noons, and Jorge Masvidal. Plus headliners Brett Rogers, Josh Barnett, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum.
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Read MoreHow Will Fans Respond to a Friday Night UFC Event? Even Dana White Wonders
Filed under: UFC
LAS VEGAS — The MMA world is so used to Saturday night pay-per-view events that even UFC president Dana White was bound to slip up when promoting the rare Friday night outing this week. Unfortunately, he made the mistake when talking with the people at the UFC’s new wireless partner, MetroPCS.
“I just met with the MetroPCS people and I said, ‘I’ll see you Saturday,’” White told reporters following Wednesday’s UFC 141 press conference. “I’m promoting this thing and I said, ‘I’ll see you Saturday.’”
It’s so easy to do. The UFC has gotten its fight week routine down to such a consistent rhythm, fans and media alike are conditioned to expect things in a certain order. Press conference on Thursday, weigh-ins on Friday, fights on Saturday. Only the names and locations change — until this time. But in order to avoid the colossal headache of trying to promote a fight on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, the UFC had to move everything up a day this week. Now even White isn’t sure how fans will react.
“To be honest, we’re a little concerned about Friday night,” White said. “Everybody’s programmed for Saturday, Saturday, Saturday.”
And, in theory, the UFC could have slated UFC 141 for Saturday night. After all, big fights on New Year’s Eve are a tradition in Japan, but then so is staying home to watch TV that night. The UFC could have tried to convince fans to order a pay-per-view rather than go out and party, but then, that wouldn’t have been the only gamble, White pointed out.
“The problem is, you can’t put on fights in Las Vegas on [New Year's Eve],” he said. “They shut the strip down. You can’t even get around here. It would be a nightmare.”
At one point, the UFC president was “almost 100 percent confident” that the organization was headed back to Abu Dhabi for a New Year’s Eve show, he said. And yet here we are again, back in the UFC’s hometown, with White hoping that fans won’t wake up on Saturday morning eagerly anticipating some big fights that they already missed.
It’s one variable of many that makes it hard to predict this event’s chances for success. With UFC 141, the organization is returning to the 10 p.m. ET start time that it had previously abandoned in favor of moving the action up an hour. The UFC also turned to its new friends at FUEL TV — a FOX cable channel that is available in about 60 million fewer homes than the UFC’s former TV partners at Spike — to help promote the event with the customary “Countdown” show.
Ratings were dismal for that effort, with a measly 15,000 viewers for its Dec. 21 premiere, according to MMA Junkie. But White, of course, claimed that this was more or less what he expected so early in the game.
“It wasn’t alarming at all,” he told reporters. “Those are the type of ratings that that network pulls. …Those numbers will build. We’re going to build that network.”
Part of the problem is availability. Fight fans know where Spike TV is on the dial, and most of them probably have it in their cable packages. The same can’t be said of FUEL, though White seems to be hoping that fans will pipe up once the UFC takes its act there full-time in 2012.
“I think that once all this programming goes out on FUEL, I think the fans are going to end up [requesting it from cable operators],” he said. “More and more people are going to want FUEL.”
That’s fine for next year, but what about Friday night? The UFC is offering up one of its biggest pay-per-view draws in Brock Lesnar, not to mention a simmering feud between Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz, and it risks waving goodbye to a healthy chunk of pay-per-view revenue if it can’t get the word out and convince fans to find a seat on the couch by Friday night.
It might not be quite as difficult as putting on a fight in Vegas on New Year’s Eve would have been, but it’s no small challenge, either. When even the president of the company occasionally flubs the night of the show while selling it out in public, you know there are potential problems on the horizon. Once you have to deviate from your own dependable schedule, there are bound to be some people who don’t get the message in time.
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Read MoreEd Herman vs. Clifford Starks Added to UFC 143
Ed Herman will look to continue his roll since returning from a severe knee injury, attempting to capture his third straight win since the layoff when he faces Clifford Starks at UFC 143 in February.
The UFC confirmed the fight’s booking on Wednesday.
Herman (19-7) has looked spectacular in his first two bouts back from ACL and meniscus damage, finishing both Kyle Noke and Tim Credeur in less than one round apiece. His win over Credeur came via TKO in just 48 seconds, and he followed that up with a submission win against Noke with a heel hook.
Prior to the injury, Herman had struggled, losing three of his last four bouts.
Starks recently made his octagon debut with a unanimous decision win over Dustin Jacoby at UFC 137 in October. A former collegiate wrestler at Arizona State, Starks is unbeaten in his pro career at 8-0.
UFC 143 takes place on February 4, 2012 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a UFC interim welterweight title match between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
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Read MoreUFC 141: The Perfect Year Ender
<B>By MATT MOLGAARD<BR>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>
It?s been an amazing year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship; a 7 year deal with FOX was not only lined up, but secured, Jon Jones emerged as the sports? biggest story, another new heavyweight champion was crowned (and this one may just have what it takes to hold onto that belt for a while), Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard thrilled viewers twice over, Dan Henderson and Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua engaged in one of the most scintillating wars the sport has ever seen? well, I could go on and on. In short, 2011 has been amazingly fruitful to the promotion and a sizeable chunk of its roster.<BR><BR>
With the year just days away from closure, we fans can anticipate one final card this year (the traditional year-end show) and it looks to be more than simply promising: this could easily be the event of the year. While the card isn?t overtly cluttered with top 5 ranked fighters from every division, it does boast some marquee power, as Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Nam Phan and Ross Pearson will all be competing. There?s a wealth of reasons to care about this card, but I?m only going to illuminate a handful, as I could find myself typing all night otherwise.<BR><BR>
<B>Who is the Real Deal: Brock, or ?The Reem??</B><BR><BR>
Fans already know the capabilities that Brock Lesnar possesses: if he can ground an opponent and keep them there, they?re in for a broken face and a long night. However, we?ve now seen Lesnar?s wrestling stifled (by former champion Cain Velasquez), and there are certainly some holes in his game that can be exploited. Alistair Overeem on the other hand is still a fairly unknown commodity to the casual fan (despite being a multi-sport and promotional champion), and he?s got a lot to prove, and a big hurdle in which he?ll have to topple to do so. Lesnar versus Overeem is your classic wrestler versus striker match up, and these two are arguably the best at what they do. Overeem is a world class kick boxer, and Lesnar?s wrestling background is storied to say the least. Expect an aesthetically pleasing affair, as this fight will be extremely violent, and likely frenetic as all hell. After all, a shot at the champion, Junior dos Santos is at stake.<BR><BR>
<B>Could Diaz vs. Cerrone Steal the Show, and FOTY Honors?</B><BR><BR>
I don?t think you can put two more evenly matched opponents inside the cage at one time. Both of these men were born with remarkably similar physiques; both are long and rangy, and have developed offensive and defensive skills that nearly mirror one another. Cerrone is likely the crisper of the two in regards to striking, while Diaz is probably a safe pick as slightly superior in the submission department. Both work high rate offenses, and both know how to snatch a victory in the face of defeat. As the comparisons continue, it?s tough not to recognize the fact that both men have fantastic cardio, and both are truly ?born fighters?: fear doesn?t drive either man so much as a genuine hunger to succeed. Picking a favorite here is going to be remarkably difficult, though I can say this bout has ?Fight of the Year? written all over it, and considering the mind and skill sets of both men, the fight could realistically outshine the Dan Henderson/Mauricio Rua bout that transpired at UFC 139. That?s a powerful statement that should really drive home the significance of this bout. And just think, should Cerrone exit the cage a victor, we could see him awarded with a title shot, as that will make five consecutive wins for ?The Cowboy? versus not one loss under the UFC banner. There?s intrigue here people!<BR><BR><!–more-break–>
<B>It?s Time for Fitch to Finish</B><BR><BR>
Jon Fitch has been a top five ranked welterweight for years, but he?s yet to win fans over due to his somewhat stale grind ?em out style. It?s as effective an attack as one could ask for, but it rarely leads to a decisive finish, and isn?t all that pretty. It?s time for Fitch to either finish a fight, or be finished. I say that because, if he doesn?t put Johny Hendricks away inside the first frame or so, Henricks has a very real chance at putting Fitch away; he?s the more explosive of the two, he?s faster, and his wrestling will certainly rival that of Fitch. A Johny Hendricks who?s down on the scorecards come the final round is a frightening thought: this man will push to finish and overcome adversity. If Fitch hopes to secure another title bid any time soon, he?d better put Hendricks away, and he better do so in impressive fashion.<BR><BR>
<B>Can Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson Finally Establish Himself as a Threat to the 205 Pound Title?</B><BR><BR>
Alexander Gustafsson has been nearly perfect his entire career. He seemed to have a bit of a brain fart while challenging Phil Davis back at UFC 112, which ultimately cost him the fight, but he hasn?t missed a beat since, and he?s looked like a continuously improving fighter, which is a frightening concept when you consider how dangerous the Swedish phenomenon already is. With some of the divisions most underrated striking, and a knowledge of wrestling and submissions that seems to be growing at an accelerated rate, Gustafsson is the division?s dark horse. If he can outduel the seasoned veteran Vladimir Matyushenko , it?s time for Joe Silva to start lining up top 10 opponents for Alexander. He?s proven worthy of big fights by completely outclassing Cyrille Diabate, James Te Huna and Matt Hamill, three very different but very dangerous opponents, let?s not deprive this kid of the glory and reward he?s already earned.<BR><BR>
As I previously noted, there are a whole slew of other reasons to tune in to UFC 141. These are just a few of the major points of intrigue that surround the event. Just gazing at the undercard ensures there?s plenty more to be discussed; perhaps you should hit the comment section below and weigh in with your assessment of the forthcoming event.<BR><BR>
Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the <A HREF="http://www.mmanews.com/forums" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Forums</B></A> and/or the <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Facebook</B></A>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <A HREF="http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>@mmanewsdotcom</B></A>.<BR><BR>
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Read More?Mega Megu? confirmed for NYE action in Japan
Fans who enjoyed this past weekend?s performance from top female featherweight Cristiane Santos will no doubt be glad to hear another of the elite women in Mixed Martial Arts has action coming up before year?s end as well. According to an official announcement, Megumi Fujii has been booked for a bout against well-rounded Spaniard Karla [...]
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Read MoreUFC 141 Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights
Highlights from the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference via MMA Fighting and Heavy.com.
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Read MoreErik Koch Out of UFC 143 Bout Against Dustin Poirier
Rising featherweight Erik Koch has suffered an undisclosed injury that has forced him to out of his UFC 145 fight against Dustin Poirier that was scheduled for the February 3 event in Las Vegas.
The UFC announced the injury on Tuesday afternoon and is now searching for a replacement to face Poirier.
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Read Morehow to have boiling water all the time
boil water
put boiled water in freezer
whenever you want boiling water you can take it out of your freezer
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I am sure this has been posted, but i just watched it last night and all i can say is WOW. This jumps straight into my top 5 favorite movies. Not…
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Read MoreA little Strikeforce video to get you excited for Saturday?s fights
It’s been months since Strikeforce’s last main card event, but they are coming back with a doozy. Take a minute to watch this video and be reminded of how fun their cards can be.
Gilbert Melendez is on a five-fight win streak, and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is returning to the cage for the first time since June of 2010. Will they retain their belts, or lose them to Jorge Masvidal and Hiroko Yamanaka? Give us your predictions in the comments or on Facebook.
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Read More?Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal? Salaries: Melendez, Mousasi Each Earn $150K
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and former light heavyweight title-holder Gegard Mousasi each earned $150,000 for their respective wins this past Saturday to top the $580,000 payroll for “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.”
The event drew an attendance of just 2,995 for a live gate of $154,075, while 460,000 viewers tuned in on Showtime.
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Read MoreUFC Cuts Bantamweight Cole Escovedo
The UFC has released Cole Escovedo after the bantamweight loss all three of his UFC fights to fall to just 1-5 in his last six bouts.
Escovedo (17-9) suffered losses by unanimous decision to Renan Barao in his Octagon debut in May, second-round TKO to Takeya Mizugaki in September, and another unanimous decision to Alex Caceres last month.
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Read MoreStrikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Countdown Preview Show – Strikeforce
Fight Network previews Strikforce’s heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers taking place on June 18, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.
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Read MoreRoss Pearson – The Real Deal, Version 2.0
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Read MoreTorrie Wilson? & ?Zeus? Sign On New Reality Series
– Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson and Tiny “Zeus” Lister have signed on for the first-ever reality series offering from the Reelz cable network, “The Z Team”. The show will feature Lorenzo Lamas and Rudy Reyes as a, “group, led by Lamas, contracted by law enforcement agencies and concerned citizens all across the country to confront real life and death situations on the streets of America. The Z Team, relying on years of experience fighting bad guys on the big screen, in the ring and in real life take on …
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Read MoreGriffin says his Twitter warning was a warning for everyone
Miguel Torres is gone. Let’s hope it’s a short stay in exile.
If he returns to the UFC, it won’t erase what’s gone down on Twitter with the fighters and it certainly doesn’t mean that a future blow up isn’t right around the corner. Managing verbal gaffes on Twitter will be an ongoing challenge for teams, sports and fight promotions.
Forrest Griffin, who sort began the whole Twitter flap with his rape joke/commentary last month on Twitter, says it really shouldn’t be that difficult for the fighters to police themselves.
“You should know. You kind of should know. You have a feel for it. For me, it was like a three-hour thing. Three hours before anyone said anything to me, I realized ‘I messed up. I shouldn’t have said that,’” laughed Griffin. “Someone once said. Twitter is like internet porn, once it’s out there, it’s out there and there’s no getting rid of it.”
Griffin joined Stephan Bonnar in the FoxSportsRadio920 studios on Sunday to talk about the current state fighting in the Octagon and outside. Bonnar gave his take on what happened to Griffin, Rashad Evans and then Torres.
“It’s one of those things where Forrest said something and everyone got mad. And it’s like a little slap on the wrist for Forrest. Then Rashad said something, everyone got mad. Then it was like ‘dammit you guys I warned you once.’ Then Miguel said something, okay ‘we need to make an example somebody.’”
Griffin suggested Torres should’ve known by then that any sort of sarcastic/joking tweet referencing rape was off limits.
“That was kind of the warning for me, was the warning for everyone. Don’t do it. Just stop. It’s not perceived well,” Griffin told the MMA Fight Corner radio show.
The former light heavyweight champ still likes Twitter because it provides a good forum for discussions.
“I like to say things that are not necessarily inflammatory, but also kind of make you think a lot,” said Griffin. “[...] My whole thing is I never meant to hurt people who’ve been hurt by that. I’m not the kind of person who’d want to hurt people who’ve been victims of a horrible crime.”
Both Griffin and Bonnar appreciate the fact that the UFC has never censored the fighters, but they’ve definitely gotten the fact that Twitter can be a dangerous place with a fine line to walk.
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Read MoreHere’s the cause of WWE’s sucking
Unbelieveable…
The New York Times has an article up today featuring NBC Universal executive Bonnie Hammer. The report features several quotes from WWE CEO Vince McMahon. When Vince was asked…
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Read MoreThe Sunday Junkie deadline reminder, win ‘Fighters Only,’ ‘UFC Encyclopedia’ gifts
As a reminder, submissions for the upcoming edition of “The Sunday Junkie” are due Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
All topics – including the upcoming UFC 141 blockbuster – are open for discussion. The person who sends in the submission we deem the best (based on timeliness of subject, clarity and overall persuasiveness) wins a copy of “UFC Encyclopedia.”
Each winner also receives a free year’s subscription to “Fighters Only,” the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine.
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