Thursday, May 29, 2008

MMA Live

New episode of MMA Live, every Thursday at 6PM

Great to see MMA on ESPN, even if it is only on the internet.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Preview: WEC 34 Faber vs. Pulver

When WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber steps into the cage on June 1st, ARCO Arena will be shaking from the cheers of his faithful hometown fans. But when the cage door closes, the only person Faber will have on his mind will be former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver.


Before the fight, months worth of training will flash through each competitor's mind. When the bell rings, both warriors will push it all aside and look to end the fight right away. “There's no way this fight is going five rounds,” Pulver said. Nobody knows how long the fight will last, but every fan knows that it will be exciting while it does. “I think everybody has it right, there's no way it goes out of the first round.”


“It's gonna look like a tornado,” said Faber, who will come into the fight with a 20-1 record and a twelve fight win streak. He has watched Pulver's fights since Little Evil's earliest days in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. “I've always dreamt of fighting him, before I even knew I was going to be a fighter,” Pulver said. “I've been training for this fight my whole life. Going into high school and college.”


Coming from Isla Vista, California, and wrestling at UC Davis, the Sacramento crowd will heavily favor “The California Kid.” And Faber fits in perfectly in SoCal with his clean cut looks and flowing blond hair, but after watching him in the cage it is clear where the 145 LB champion is most at home. “Jens needs to be a little fearful of the ground game,” Faber said, “When it goes to the ground that's going to be my world.”


Over the course of 33 years, many things have been said about Jens Pulver, fearful has never been one of them. “I'm not running from anyone,” said Pulver, a nine year veteran of professional MMA. Pulver grew up in an amazingly different world than the sunny surf and holistic healing that nurtured Faber. Pulver grew up in what he called a “daily hell” under his father, and professional jockey, Jens Pulver Sr. in Maple Valley, Washington.


With anger and rage building up within him, Pulver managed to focus much of it into his wrestling. Fighting to become a state champion for Tahoma High School and an All-American at Highline Community College led Pulver to a college scholarship at Boise State University. But when a wrist injury ended his wrestling career, Pulver began to concentrate on MMA.


But as different as their two lives have been, their paths will meet in the cage with the WEC Featherweight Title between them. “It's going to be a great win under my belt,” Faber says. At his Roseville, CA gym, Faber has been training at a feverish pace with world class kickboxing champion Dave Marinoble and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Cassio Werneck.


“I'm prepared to do anything to win this fight,” said Faber who has traveled the world in preparation for this fight. Faber went as far as Hilo, Hawaii to train his ground game with the last man to beat Pulver, UFC Lightweight Champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn.


The ground may be where Faber feels comfortable, but Pulver doesn't plan on letting the fight get that far. “If I land my shots, fight's over,” Pulver said, “At 145 pounds, you know I've got nine fights, eight knock outs.” And even BJ Penn knows about the dynamite that Pulver packs in his left hand. Penn once made the mistake of trying to take the UFC Lightweight Title from Jens Pulver, and Little Evil handed BJ his first defeat, and his only one at 155 pounds to date.


“I can go in there and do one of two things,” Pulver said, “I can make some fans happy or I can rain on everyone's parade...They're going to be pissed off when it's over because I'm going to bring the belt home.” Pulver pulled off a similar feet in the backyard of his last opponent, Cub Swanson, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Pulver even showed a second side of himself, submitting Swanson with an Anaconda choke just 35 seconds into round 1.


But Faber is confident enough in his own skills to take on Pulver. “He's a legend in the sport, already,” Faber said, “I'm the number one fighter in the world at my weight class.” And after his recent submission victory over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Jeff Curran, there aren't many who can deny it. “It's my belt!”


The fireworks are set to explode both in the arena and in the cage. Where most boxing fans wait for the explosive KOs that come from the heavyweight division, MMA fans know that the real excitement comes from the lower weight classes found in the WEC. “We go all day, and that's the way we're supposed to do it,” Pulver said, “Slapping titties and bear hugging, that's for heavyweights...You don't want to miss this.”

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

EliteXC : Primetime Card

EliteXC: Primetime on CBS (undercard on CBSsports.com and Proelite.com)
5/31/2008 from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ


Undercard:
Joe Sampieri vs. Mike Groves
Zach Makovsky vs. Andre "Gigetto" Soares
James "Blinky" Jones vs. Calvin Kattar
Justin Robbins vs. Wilson Reis
Nick "The Mad Monkey" Serra vs. Matt Makowski
Chris Liguori vs. Jim Bova
Carlton Haselrig vs. Carlos Moreno

Main Card:
Brett "The Grim Reaper" Rogers vs. Jon "The Sherpa" Murphy
"The NY Bad Ass" Phil Baroni vs. Joey "Dream Smasher" Villaseñor
Gina "Crush" Carano vs. Kaitlin Young

Middleweight Championship:
"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler(c) vs. Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith

Main Event:
Kimbo Slice vs. James "The Colossus" Thompson


The Report Writer Rumble I

The MMA Report Wrap-Up


Welcome to The MMA Report's first discussion. Our first debate comes on the heels of UFC 84: Ill Will and will take on the UFC LW Championship battle between Sean Sherk and BJ Penn.

For our first debate we are bringing in two people who will be mainstays at The MMA Report, Daniel Holzhauer and Michael Price II. If you would like to take part in one of our discussions, or want to send in an idea for the site, contact us at theMMAreport@gmail.com.



Dan, you're first.


Round 1:

Dan: According to the UFC, this fight was to determine the greatest lightweight in MMA history, but what we really saw was how much better BJ Penn is than the rest of the UFC LW division. BJ is so much better than everyone in the division that he doesn't even want to stay in it, and I don't blame him. I know that anything can happen in MMA, but BJ Penn is not losing to Kenny Florian, who was dominated by Sherk, Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin or any of the young, inexperienced lightweights in the UFC. If the UFC really wants to showcase the 155-pound division, they can't have just one top 5 fighter.


Michael: You're insane! The 155 pound division is stacked with talent. Besides the guys you mentioned, there is Frankie Edgar, Clay Guida, Nate Diaz, Manny Gamburyan, Gray Maynard, Joe Stevenson and several other balanced LW fighters who can challenge BJ over the next two years.


Round 2:


Dan: And we saw the best of that entire bunch, Sean Sherk, get bruised and battered by BJ Penn's stand-up. We watched a supposed “world class” wrestler be too scared to fight BJ Penn on the ground. With Takanori Gomi, Shinya Aoki, Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri fighting outside the UFC, there is nobody at 155 with the skills to even phase BJ Penn.


Michael: So then where does BJ go? The UFC is not going to co-promote with DREAM or Sengoku World Victory Road, and BJ doesn't deserve another fight with George St. Pierre. GSP showed who the better fighter was in their first fight. If BJ wants to move up to welterweight, he has to to earn a title shot like everyone else. The 170 LB division has a lot of talent who have been working for a title shot. Why should BJ Penn just step in for another shot at the WW title? He lost his way into his previous title shot. Let him fight Matt Hughes again if he wants to move up.


Round 3:


Dan: Are you kidding? There are so many things wrong with your post, I don't know where to start. GSP won a split decision victory over out-of-shape BJ Penn. GSP won by the slimmest of margins and he was the fighter in the hospital after the fight. BJ “The Prodigy” Penn is a former Champion at 170. After Jon Fitch, nobody at WW has a chance against GSP. Hughes was dominated, Koscheck was out-wrestled, Karo got blanked 3 rounds to none and Serra was beaten down. Even GSP knows that BJ Penn is his toughest challenge. This is a true “superfight.” Five Rounds to determine the second best P4P fighter in the world, and the winner gets Anderson Silva.


Michael, you get the last word.


Michael: BJ Penn is the most overrated fighter ever. If he wants to be remembered as the greatest ever, he needs to find his place. Is he 155 Lbs, 170 Lbs or 185 Lbs? The 155 pound division is the future of the UFC, in fact it is the future of all MMA. If Penn keeps winning, the challengers will come calling. You know Gomi wants to avenge his defeat at the hands of Penn, and you know the winner of the LW DREAM tournament will want to fight the best in the world. And you know American born Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez will find his way to the UFC. The best BJ is a 155 pound BJ.



UFC 84 Quick Recap

UFC 84: Ill Will

Quick Recap:


Shane Carwin vs. Christian Wellisch

In the first fight of the night, UFC Heavyweight newcomer Shane Carwin (9-0) defeated UFC veteran Christian Wellisch (8-4) via KO 44 seconds into the first round. The impressive Carwin has finished each of his 9 opponents in the first round.


Jason Tan vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Korean Dong Hyun Kim (10-1-1) came into his UFC debut 10-0-1 in his last eleven fights. Kim quickly took the action to England born Jason Tan (5-3). Kim used an array of skills, including several beautiful Judo Throws to control the fight from the start. In the third round, Kim followed a hip throw with brutal elbows from the ground and pound position to finish the fight 25 seconds into the third round.


Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Jon Koppenhaver

Japanese “Zenko” Yoshida (10-2), also making his UFC debut, made quick work of former The Ultimate Fighter contestant Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver (5-2-0). Yoshida quickly used a judo throw from the clinch and caught War Machine in a guillotine on the scramble. Yoshida transitioned to an Anaconda Choke and finished the fight 56 seconds into the first. The choke came so quickly that Koppenhaver didn't have time to tap. Referee Herb Dean did a good job recognizing that Koppenhaver was out and ended the match swiftly.


Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim

In one of only two matches on the card to go to a decision, former star of The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback, Rich Clementi (32-12) won a unanimous decision over Liverpool's Terry Etim (10-2). Clementi spent most of the match inside of Etim's guard, almost succumbing to a Guillotine Choke in the second. But Clementi's ground game was too much for Etim, and he took the decision 29-28 on a three judge's cards.


Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura

In a battle between two contenders, and former Pride FC fighters, on the fringes of the UFC Light Heavyweight division, “The African Assassin” Sokoudjou (5-2) stopped Japan's Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8). Sokoudjou landed a stiff straight right that collapsed Nakamura just before the bell in the first round. In a scene reminiscent of “Cro Cop” vs Gonzaga, Nakamura caught his ankle and knee under him as he fell and was unable to answer the bell for the second round.


Ivan Salaverry vs. Rousimar Palhares

Middleweight Rousimar Palhares (8-1) thrilled the crowd in his UFC debut with a quick submission victory over UFC veteran, and Pankration fighter, Ivan Salaverry (12-7). Palhares took Salaverry down early in the first round and transitioned to the mount and eventually took Salaverry's back. Palhares fought for the rear naked choke and forced Salaverry to try and turn in and escape. Palhares quickly locked up Salaverry's arm for an arm bar to end the fight 2:36 into the first.


Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes

Undefeated Brazilian Thiago Silva (13-0) made quick work of another UFC newcomer and countryman Antonio “Samuray” Mendes (14-2). Mendes stunned Silva with an early left head kick. Later in round 1, Mendes failed an attempted judo throw and ended up on the bottom. Silva quickly took the mount and forced Mendes to Tapout from strikes at 2:24 of the first.


Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida

Rising through the ranks of the UFC LHW division, Lyoto Machida (13-0) marked another notch on his belt against former UFC Champion, and MMA legend, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-6). Machida used his Karate influenced style to pick and choose his strikes while backing out of Ortiz's range. A frustrated Ortiz was unable to push the pace and eventually caught a strong knee to the body from Machida in the third. With the fight finally on the ground, Machida barely escaped both a triangle choke and an arm bar from inside Ortiz's guard. After three rounds, Machida took the unanimous decision 30-27 on all three scorecards.


Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic

Undefeated Croatian BJJ artist Goran Reljic (8-0) made his UFC debut against Brazilian Wilson Gouveia (10-5) in the most back and forth fight of the night. Reljic controlled the first round, landing punches and kicks, until Gouveia nailed Reljic with a strong right to the body. Gouveia took control of the final moments of the round, but Reljic jumped guard and persevered. Reljic was again floored by a combo from Gouveia to start the second, but Reljic eventually gained his feet and floored Gouveia with a left. Reljic pounced and Herb Dean stepped in at 3:15 of the second.


Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine

On a three fight losing streak, nobody was more determined to win at UFC 84 than “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1). And Silva showed the shocked crowd why he earned his nickname with a 36 second KO of “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine” (13-4-1). Silva caught Jardine with a right hook to the top of the head and followed with a barrage of punches that floored Jardine. Silva did not stop his striking. He caught Jardine with one hand around the throat and Knocked-Out Jardine.


UFC LW Championship:

BJ Penn © vs. Sean Sherk

In the highly anticipated Lightweight Championship fight, Champion BJ Penn (13-4-1) out struck former champion Sean Sherk (32-3-1), and won the fight via TKO after three rounds. The two fighters boxed for three rounds inside the Octagon. Penn cut and bruised Sherk's face with a conga line of jabs. Sherk's crisp combos could not connect enough to phase Penn. With time running out in the third, Sherk was backed into the cage by an uppercut. Sherk went low and caught a flying knee/thigh to the face. Penn followed up with strikes and sent Sherk flat to the mat. Penn continued to work through the bell. The fight was stopped before round four, and BJ Penn defended his 155-pound title.

UFC 84: Ill Will Card

UFC 84: Ill Will

May 24th MGM Grand Garden Arena

Las Vegas, NV


Card:

Shane Carwin vs. Christian Wellisch

Jason Tan vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Jon Koppenhaver

Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura

Ivan Salaverry vs. Rousimar Palhares

Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes

Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida

Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic

Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine

UFC LW Championship:

BJ Penn © vs. Sean Sherk