by Ray HuiFiled under: Strikeforce, News
If Cung Le has it his way, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion would like the opportunity in his next fight to avenge the only loss of his career.
"I"m hoping to get a rematch with Scott Smith ASAP," Le said in the above video on the Strikeforce website.
Cung Le: 'I'm Hoping to Get a Rematch With Scott Smith ASAP' originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Michael David SmithFiled under: WEC, Bantamweights
We saw a major shift in the bantamweight division of mixed martial arts on Saturday night, when two major upsets took place at WEC 47.The bantamweight title belt, of course, changed hands when Dominick Cruz beat Brian Bowles, who suffered a broken hand and couldn't keep fighting after the second round. But in what might be an even more significant change in our perceptions of the 135-pounders, Joseph Benavidez thoroughly dominated Miguel Torres, the man who for most of the last few years has been regarded as far and away the best bantamweight in the sport.
So now we have to re-assess our thoughts about the bantamweight division as we unveil our latest Top 10 rankings below.
MMA Top 10 Bantamweights: Rise of Cruz, Fall of Torres originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ariel Helwani
Urijah Faber recently took part in a question-and-answer session in Las Vegas, and "The California Kid" was, as always, very honest with his responses. Some of the topics he touched on included: his title fight against Jose Aldo on April 24, why he doesn't like Brock Lesnar and Dominick Cruz, future fights on his mind, why he doesn't want to see the WEC merge with the UFC and much more.Check out the video below.
Urijah Faber Not a Fan of Lesnar, Cruz; Wants Another Shot at Tyson Griffin originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ariel Helwani
Last month at UFC 110, the organization announced Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on May 8. However, once James Toney signed with the organization, rumors began to swirl that Slice would fight Toney instead, possibly as early as April 17.Well, the UFC squashed those rumors Monday evening by sending out a press release that the Slice vs. Mitrione heavyweight bout was official for UFC 113 after all.
Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione Finally Official for UFC 113 originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray Hui
The one reason keeping Jens Pulver from possibly lacing up his four-ounce gloves once more following Saturday's WEC 47 loss could be the very same thing he cherishes: his fans. In a video released to his fans midnight Sunday on his Facebook page, Pulver presented contradictory remarks, sounding interested in extending his 11-year fight career, but at the same time reiterating his wish to avoid risking disappointment once more with another potential loss.
"No, I'm not done," Pulver said. "I'm disappointed. I just think it's not fair to do this to all of you, to go out there and just not get the Ws.
Jens Pulver Torn Between Fighting, Potentially Disappointing Fans originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike ChiappettaFiled under: Fighting, FanHouse Exclusive
The MMA event scheduled for Worcester, Massachusetts that is rumored to be importing Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski to the U.S. to face former UFC champion Tim Sylvia has a new date.Event promoter Corey Fischer told MMA Fighting that the event has been moved back a month, to May 21 from its original April 23 date, in order to solve a television scheduling conflict.
Event Featuring Rumored Pudzianowski-Sylvia Bout Pushed Back to May 21 originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray Hui
Toby Imada, the man who pulled off the general consensus Submission of 2009, will return for Bellator's second lightweight tournament beginning in April, Bellator announced Monday."Toby has meant a great deal to our company and we are very pleased to have him back for our Season 2 lightweight tournament," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said in a news release.
Imada will likely fight American Top Team's Jorge Masvidal, whom Imada finished with an inverted triangle choke during last year's semifinals. Masvidal hasn't been announced for Bellator season two, but both Imada and Masvidal have spoken about the rematch, and in January, Bellator confirmed to MMAFighting.com that a rematch was in the works.
Toby Imada Official for Bellator Lightweight Tournament originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray Hui
Joseph Benavidez not only pulled the upset over Miguel Torres, but he was the top earner, according to salaries reported to the Ohio athletic commission for Saturday's WEC 47 in Columbus.Benavidez received $14,500 for the fight and another $14,500 for the win. In addition to the commission's records, Benavidez was also the recipient of a $10,000 Submission of the Night bonus for his guillotine choke over the former champion. Torres earned $26,000.
Dominick Cruz, who captured the WEC bantamweight belt, earned $18,000, while his opponent Brian Bowles pocketed $12,000.
The salaries are below.
WEC 47 Salaries: Joseph Benavidez Leads With $29,000 originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike ChiappettaIf you think the life of an MMA champion is all about big paydays and glorious living, you might want to take a look at this video of recently crowned WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
In a video shot less than two months ago by Purefights.org, the humble Cruz shows off his not-exactly palatial, one-room studio apartment. Last week, Cruz told MMA Fighting's Ray Hui that his somewhat cramped living situation was by design.
New WEC Champ Cruz Shows Spartan Lifestyle That Got Him to Top originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Michael David Smith
James Toney insists that he's taking mixed martial arts seriously. But he also says boxing is still his top priority.Toney, who signed with the UFC last week, told MMAFighting.com that he won't stop boxing and expects to step into the ring some time in the next couple of months before stepping into the Octagon this summer. But he compared himself to Bo Jackson, a two-sport athlete who described football as "a hobby" but was still one of the best running backs in the NFL.
"I'm still a boxer," Toney said. "Boxing is my No. 1 goal. ... This is something that's going to keep me invigorated. Unlike most boxing people, I'm a fan of MMA. Why not give it a chance?"
James Toney Wants to Be Two-Sport Athlete originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray HuiMicah Miller, the younger brother of UFC lightweight Cole Miller, will face Sengoku veteran Michihiro Omigawa at ASTRA, the farewell card for Hidehiko Yoshida (9-7-1) on April 25 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
Micah Miller vs. Michihiro Omigawa Added to Yoshida Retirement Card originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray Hui
Mizuto Hirota will vacate the Sengoku lightweight belt due to his arm/shoulder injury at the hands of DREAM titleholder Shinya Aoki at Dynamite!! 2009, Hirota announced Sunday during the intermission of Sengoku 12 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Hirota, who refused to tap to a hammerlock during his Sengoku champion vs. DREAM champion match on New Year's Eve, stated that he hopes to return in September.
Hirota Vacates Sengoku Title; Kanehara to Defend Belt at Sengoku 13 originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Michael David Smith
In the best middleweight match-up that Japan can offer, Jorge Santiago earned a unanimous decision win over Mamed Khalidov on Sunday at Sengoku 12.The bout was a rematch of their November Sengoku 11 fight, when Khalidov earned a shocking first-round TKO victory, needing just 1:45 to beat the Sengoku middleweight champ.
Jorge Santiago Beats Mamed Khalidov in Sengoku Rematch originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike Chiappetta
It was last October that he told me he was returning to fight. At the time, everybody already assumed he was done. He'd pretty much said so after losing his last match in only 33 seconds.But Jens Pulver could not go; he was not yet ready. He had to try one more time, make some changes, move his life, his camp, back to his Boise, Idaho roots. Only when he was home, only when he was comfortable could he make that decision.
He told me something that I'll never forget, and that's saying something because Pulver is a fascinating interview, full of candidness and surprises.
Saying Goodbye and Thank You to One of MMA's Early Kings, Jens Pulver originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike Chiappetta
He may not have gotten the highlight-reel finish that every fighter hopes will mark a championship, but Dominick Cruz accomplished his goal of leaving with gold around his waist after Brian Bowles did not answer the bell for round three of their WEC bantamweight championship at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.The win, however, was no fluke. Cruz used his height and reach advantage to control the standup, outlanding the hard-punching Bowles over the 10 minutes the pair fought.
Before the third round, the champion Bowles decided he could not continue, and his verbal submission gave Cruz the belt.
Cruz Captures WEC Bantamweight Title After Bowles Doesn't Answer Bell originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Michael David SmithFiled under: MMA Videos, WEC
The winning fighters from Saturday night's World Extreme Cagefighting event in Columbus, Ohio, will meet the media immediately following the fights, and you can watch the WEC 47 post-fight press conference video right here at MMAFighting.com. WEC 47 will end around midnight, and the press conference will get started about 20 minutes after the conclusion of the main event. The video is below.
WEC 47 Post-Fight Press Conference Video originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray HuiFiled under: WEC
This is the WEC 47 live blog for Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz, the main event for tonight's card in Columbus, Ohio.Bowles makes his first bantamweight title defense since winning the strap away from Miguel Torres last August. Cruz enters the fight with five straight wins -- four in the WEC.
The live blog begins below.
WEC 47 Live Blog: Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz Round-by-Round Updates originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike Chiappetta
Joseph Benavidez scored the biggest win of his young career, upsetting former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres with a second-round guillotine choke submission in the co-main event of WEC 47."I went in and had a gameplan and went to fight my fight," he said. "It was just another fight and I was totally prepared."
Joseph Benavidez Upsets Miguel Torres With Second-Round Submission originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Ray HuiFiled under: WEC
This is the WEC 47 live blog for Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez, a bantamweight bout on tonight's Versus card in Columbus, Ohio.Torres faces one of Urijah Faber's teammates as he looks to bounce back from losing the WEC title to Brian Bowles. Benavidez scored a first-round TKO over Rani Yahya last December at WEC 45.
The live blog begins below.
WEC 47 Live Blog: Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez Updates originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
by Mike ChiappettaDesperate for a victory, Jens Pulver couldn't survive the vaunted ground game of Javier Vazquez, who vanquished the former UFC lightweight champion with a first-round arm bar submission win.It was the fifth consecutive loss for the MMA pioneer Pulver, who fell to 22-13-1. Afterward, Pulver said his career was likely over.
"I love you all way, way, way too much to put you all through this again," Pulver said in addressing the crowd after the fight. He also thanked his son, wife and mother for supporting him throughout his storied career.
Jens Pulver Loses, Says His Career Is Likely Over originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.