2012
UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Michael Johnson vs Shane Roller prediction, preview and breakdown
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 finalist Michael Johnson will take on Shane Roller in a lightweight match up set to hit the under card action of the UFC on Fox 2 event TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
After coming up short in his bid to win TUF against Jonathan Brookins, Johnson has split a pair of fights in the Octagon. Most recently, Johnson was seen tapping to Paul Sass at UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson in the very first round.
Roller, on the other hand, desperately needs a win to keep his place amongst the stacked UFC 155-pound division. Losing his last two outings to Melvin Guillard and T.J. Grant, a third consecutive loss could prove to be the end of his time competing under Zuffa.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 lightweight fight between Michael Johnson vs Shane Roller:
The BreakdownAfter a successful run in TUF, Johnson has not quite lived up to expectations during his short stint with the promotion, going only 1-2 since leaving the Spike TV show.
A member of "The Blackzillians" mixed martial arts (MMA) camp in sunny Florida, Johnson hopes that his new team can help him make the adjustments needed to get back in the win column. His athleticism can be an advantage he has over Roller heading into the bout, and he will have to use every bit of it if he hopes to avoid the takedowns of the All American wrestler.
Former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) standout Shane Roller made a successful UFC debut by knocking out Thiago Tavares at UFC on Versus 5 back in March 2011.
As impressive as his knockout was, Roller's true bread and butter is with his grappling and submission skills. As an NCAA Division All American at Oklahoma State University, Roller has transitioned his wresting nicely into the MMA world.
With six submission victories over the likes of Jamie Varner, Anthony Njokuani and Danny Castillo, Roller prefers to go to the ground to either grind out a victory or pull of a submission and is very capable of doing both.
Roller better have all his skills working on all cylinders if he hopes to keep his place on the UFC roster. A loss on Saturday will inch him closer to getting his walking papers.
The Pick
Michael Johnson best shot at victory is to keep it on the feet and push the pace, taking advantage of his superior cardio and slight striking advantage
Roller's game plan should be simple: Take it to the ground and fast.
He will be successful in his take down attempts, but won't be able to finish Johnson on the ground and eventually, will have to trade punches with Johnson. That won't be good for Roller, as he will take much punishment on the feet and will eventually be saved by the referee in the second round.
Johnson defeats Roller via technical knockout (TKO) in the second round
That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
UFC on FOX 2 results and LIVE play-by-play TONIGHT (Jan. 28) for ‘Evans vs Davis’
Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis."
If you're going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main UFC on FOX 2 results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.
Enjoy the show, Maniacs!
2012
UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz preview and breakdown
I love it when a plan comes together!
Especially when that plan involves a bout between two fighters who share an insatiable blood lust and an intestinal fortitude that will not allow them to quit.
Sometimes, a fight just has insane implications from the outset. You knew Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan were going to swing for the fences until somebody made them quit. Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz was another similar match up between two fighters who like to inflict punishment -- and aren't afraid to take some in the process.
On Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, the UFC on FOX 2 under card from the United Center in Chicago, Ill., will pit lightweights Evan Dunham and Nik Lentz against each other in a showdown that should net somebody (or both fighters) a big, fat bonus check.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 lightweight fight between Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz:
Dunham is 12-2 in his 14 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) contests. In those 14 bouts, nine were finished by a submission or (technical) knockout. Even his fights that went to decisions were (for the most part) crazy crowd-pleasers. Lentz is no stranger to finishing fights, either. Of his 21 victories, 15 have come by a finish of some sort. He comes to battle and he'll certainly be bringing it on Saturday night.
Technically, Dunham should be favored. As a former top lightweight contender, he was once acclaimed for his skill set and his tremendous upside. However, after suffering a slight fall from grace (via a two-fight losing streak at the hands of Sean Sherk and Melvin Guillard), "3-D" was able to get back on track with a very impressive unanimous decision win over Shamar Bailey at UFC Fight Night 25 on Sept. 17, 2011.
Lentz' last fight also went to a judges decision, though the scorecard favored his opponent, Mark Bocek, at UFC 140 in Toronto, Canada, on Sept. 10, 2011.
Either way, this one should definitely create some highlight footage, as well as some water cooler conversation fodder for the next work day.
That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis fight video preview for UFC on FOX 2 main event
After all the hoopla -- press conferences, weigh-ins, trash talking sessions, all that jazz -- Rashad Evans and Phil Davis will finally hook 'em up in the main event of tonight's (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) UFC on Fox 2 event scheduled for the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.
On the line (for Evans, at least) is a light heavyweight title shot against Jon Jones, likely at UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta. That's assuming "Suga" can win and come out with no significant injuries.
It would be somewhat poetic, really. That event is scheduled to take place at the exact same arena where Evans took Chuck Liddell's soul and earned his first 205-pound championship chance. He cashed in on it, too.
It's a big night tonight for Rashad. But "Mr. Wonderful" is standing in his way, eager to take his spot and catapult himself up the ladder of top contenders. He won't earn a title shot with a win like his counterpart but he'll be damn close.
Oh and this is all going down on network TV, folks. It doesn't get much bigger than this.
2012
UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Joey Beltran vs Lavar Johnson prediction, preview and breakdown
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Joey Beltran will have the duty of welcoming recent Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2 TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012), which goes down at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Johnson, who collected a 3-2 record while under the Strikeforce banner, is heading into this evening riding two consecutive losses, and hopes to right his ship with a win over the super tough Joey Beltran.
Beltran, on the other hand, has gone an even 3-3 in the Octagon, losing to strikers Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry and most recently, Stipe Miocic at UFC 136.
"Big" hopes to get a fresh start in the UFC, but "The Mexicutioner" will meet him at the door with a not so friendly reception into the world's pre-eminent mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 heavyweight slobberknocker between Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson.
The Breakdown
Beltran is as tough as they come, proving time and time again that he can take punishment all while dishing out some of his own. Having yet to be finished inside the eight-walled cage, Beltran took Pat Barry's and Matt Mitrione's best shots and kept on ticking.
Though he lost both of those bouts via decision, the heart and tenacity Beltran displayed won him the admiration and respect of MMA fans. What he lacks in technique, he more than makes up with aggression and toughness.
"The Mexicutioner" is a hard-nosed all out brawl-type of fighter. With 11 of his 13 wins coming either by (technical) knockout, it's no secret what he prefers to do once the cage doors are locked behind him. Regardless of the fact that Johnson is coming off of two submission losses, he still has the power to knockout anyone.
- Exhibit A: 13 knockouts to his name, 11 coming in the very first round.
- Exhibit B: See Exhibit A.
Standing at 6'4" and weighing in at 245 pounds, "Big" is an appropriate moniker for Johnson, an American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)-trained fighter. However, once he goes to the ground, all that size is seemingly useless, as four out of his five losses have come via submission (one of those, however, was injury related).
No worries for Johnson though, as the chances of this fight going to the ground are slim to none.
The Pick
Fireworks!
When UFC matchmakers put this fight together, I am pretty sure they had a stand up, back-and forth battle in mind. Two heavyweights who swing hard can only mean one thing:
Fight of the Night.
Though he has garnered respect and fans for his all out brawl style of fighting, it will behoove Beltran to be a bit more selective with his shots against Johnson, as one big shot from Lavar can be disastrous for "The Mexicutioner."
I expect Beltran to come out guns blazing, pushing the pace to rattle the UFC rookie. Johnson will have to hope for a quick finish that he is accustomed to, however, he will have his work cut out for him as Beltran has prove to have an iron chin.
In an exciting back-and-forth affair, the UFC veteran Beltran will finish the Strikeforce import Johnson late in the second round via strikes. It may not be a technical fight, but it sure as hell is going to be an exciting one.
Beltran defeats Lavar Johnson via technical knockout (TKO) in the second round
That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
MFC 32 results recap from ‘Bitter Rivals’ last night (Jan. 27) in Edmonton
Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) 32: "Bitter Rivals" took place last night (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) at the Mayfield Inn Trade and Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
In the main event, a pair of former MFC title challengers squared off as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Wilson Gouveia battled veteran Canadian scrapper Dwayne Lewis in what was planned to be the first five round non-title headlining bout in MFC history.
MFC CEO Mark Pavelich promised this wouldn't need all five rounds, or even three, and his prediction rang true as Gouveia made mince meat of Lewis' lead leg with a series of brutal leg kicks in the opening frame, although the veteran hung tough.
The damage became evident by the second round as Lewis began to visually react to each kick, limping, and when he paused briefly to grab his own shin after a particularly nasty kick, Gouveia pounced, taking down Lewis and finishing the fight after attaining backmount and pounding out a technical knockout victory.
It was Gouveia's first win in more than three years, and was a much needed strong conclusion to a very up-and-down night of fights.
Here's what the rest of the MFC 32 card looked like:
In the co-main event, Antonio McKee, who hours earlier had been stripped of his title for missing weight by seven pounds, got off to a hot start against his originally scheduled title challenger Brian Cobb, working a multifaceted attack that included stand up striking and his patented wrestling.
McKee repeatedly floored Cobb with takedowns and even kicks to the gut early on, but the 41 year old began to fade and Cobb took over in the third round, in which he spent the majority of his time on McKee's back looking for a rear naked choke.
It's kind of humorous, but by taking away the extra two rounds of the title fight, Pavelich may have cost Brian Cobb an opportunity to defeat McKee, a man he dearly wanted to see exit the MFC on a loss. Since they both missed weight, Pavelich promised to cut both men if Cobb were to lose.
No word on if the brash promoter will follow through.
In a highly anticipated welterweight match up, undefeated prospect Dhiego Lima was completely controlled and outclassed by veteran grappler Nathan Coy. Coy repeatedly took Lima down throughout the course of the fight, seven times in all, and never relented, even scoring in the stand up when Lima became too wary of his vaunted All-American level wrestling.
When all was said and done, Coy easily took a unanimous decision victory, handing the Brazilian prospect his first professional defeat and giving him a very important learning experience.
In other welterweight action, former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 13 participant, Ryan McGillivray stepped up against previously undefeated Diego Bautista and tapped him out with a third round armbar. It wasn't a good night to be an undefeated welterweight prospect in Edmonton.
Bautista had his moments, opening up a big gash on the TUF 13 veteran's head, which bloodied up the ring for the rest of the evening, but it simply wasn't enough as McGillivray used his aggression against him, locking up an arm and rolling over over, belly-down to finish the fight.
McGillivray and Coy will now battle for the vacant MFC welterweight title, last held by Dhiego Lima's older brother, Douglas.
Here are the full results from the MFC 32: "Bitter Rivals" main card:
Wilson Gouveia def. Dwayne Lewis via TKO at 3:19 of round two
Antonio McKee def. Brian Cobb via unanimous decision
Ryan McGillivray def. Diego Bautista via submission (armbar) at 2:25 of round three
Nathan Coy def. Dhiego Lima via unanimous decision
Jamie Toney def. Kyle Jackson via unanimous decision Alberta.
To check out our complete MFC 32: "Bitter Rivals" event archive click here.
2012
UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Charles Oliveira vs Eric Wisely preview and breakdown
There is just no playing around in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division these days. Win in style and live to fight another night or lose big and end up standing in the unemployment literally over night.
Just ask Brazilian phenom Charles Oliveira. When he was signed by Zuffa in 2010, he boasted a pristine (12-0) professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record. He was garnering tons of hype and it was well deserved.
But, everything started to fall apart on Dec. 11, 2010, when "Do Bronx" found himself on the receiving end of a Jim Miller kneebar submission at UFC 124 in Montreal, Canada.
In his next two fights, he had a similar lack of fortune, getting slapped with a dreaded "No Contest" result for an illegal knee against Nik Lentz, and then was on the wrong end of a brutal Donald Cerrone technical knockout.
Can he get his mixed martial arts (MMA) career back on track when he welcomes UFC newcomer Eric Wisely to the Octagon at UFC on FOX 2 in "Chi-town?"
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 featherweight fight between Charles Oliveira vs Eric Wisely:
Oliveira's shot at redemption will come against a man who few fight fans will be familiar with when the cage door shuts on later tonight.
His opponent is Eric Wisely, nicknamed: "Little Lee." He holds a professional record of 19-6 with notable wins over Hermes Franca (twice) and Matt Veach. Before losing a unanimous decision to Pat Healy at Strikeforce Challengers 18, Wisely had ripped off a four-fight win streak on regional MMA shows.
He's 27 years old, 5'8" and prefers to stand and strike versus the ground game.
In all likelihood, Oliveira, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, is going to want to take this fight to the canvas and look for dominant positions and an eventual submission.
Wisely will not be the only fighter making a big transition in this fight. The bout will mark Oliveira's debut in the featherweight division, a move he recently told Tatame was necessary for him to be successful as a fighter:
"Everybody saw that when I fought on the lightweight division I didn't quit against anyone and I said I couldn't drop because it's already hard on me. But the truth is that I've always been the tiniest fighters of the division, I was always there trading punches with the guys and when I hit them it seemed that it didn't hurt them, and when they hit me, I got hurt. But, since it was working out, I decided to stay on the division. After my first loss, me, Erick (Cardozo) and Macaco (Jorge Patino) sat down and I asked them what they thought about me dropping. I had two options: I could do a serious work with nutritionists and take more supplements to get bigger or I could drop to the featherweight division and would cut weight. I was scared of gaining much muscles for the lightweight division and get slower, losing my main characteristic. It was then that we decided I should drop to the featherweight and cut weight like all fighters do and since I would gain muscles and start to get slower otherwise, and that's not what I want. So that's how we got to this conclusion. Get bigger to remain on the division or drop and that's why I decided to do. I won't get bigger and I'll drop."
It's an interesting move for Oliveira, as he was fighting as a welterweight (170 pounds) a mere four years ago. In this sport, you do what you have to do to survive.
Will the drop down to 145 pounds be a successful one for Oliveira? Or will Wisely make him wish he'd stayed at lightweight?
Weigh in! Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
How to watch UFC on FOX 2 tonight (Jan. 28) for ‘Evans vs Davis’ live video stream/TV details
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again air an entire fight card TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012), this time with UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis," which will emanate from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The mixed martial arts (MMA) action will begin around 5 p.m. ET with the middleweight fight between Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby that will air LIVE online via Facebook and then the "Prelims" will transition to FUEL TV, tonight's home for the remainder of the UFC on FOX 2 under card.
Following the Facebook/FUEL TV "Prelims," fans can switch over to the FOX network for the main card that is headlined by a light heavyweight number one contender eliminator match between Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis.
UFC on FOX 2 begins promptly at 8 p.m. ET and will feature two additional bouts -- Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping and Demian Maia vs Chris Weidman -- on the two-hour broadcast.
You can call up your local cable and/or satellite provider or visit them online to find out which channel you should be tuning in to for tonight's MMA primetime extravaganza.
More details on the UFC on FOX 2 fight card and line-up, as well as a list of stations for International fight fans, after the jump:
Main Event:
205 lbs.: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Main Card (FOX):
185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
185 lbs.: Chris Weidman vs. Demian MaiaPreliminary Card (FUEL TV):
155 lbs.: Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller
265 lbs.: Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow
145 lbs.: George Roop vs. Cub Swanson
145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely
265 lbs.: Joey Beltran vs. Lavar JohnsonPreliminary Card (Facebook):
155 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby
Televised options for International fight fans include:
- Sportsnet One (Canada)
- FOX Deportes (United States/Latin America in Espanol)
- SKY Sport 2 (New Zealand)
- ONE HD (Australia)
- Balls (Philippines)
- ESPN UK (United Kingdom)
- SKY Italia (Italy)
- OSN (United Arab Emirates)
- CANAL + Sport (Sweden, Denmark and Norway)
- MTV3 (Finland)
For more on UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
2012
UFC 143 ‘Primetime’ video for ‘Diaz vs Condit’ (Episode 2)
In cased you missed any or all of it last night (Jan. 27, 2012), here is the second of three episodes of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 143 main event between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
To watch the first episode of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz as he prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The third and final episode of UFC 143 "Primetime" is set to air on Feb. 3, also on FX. To get up to speed on the reaction to episode two of UFC 143 "Primetime" click here.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" fight card and rumors click here.
2012
UFC on Fox 2 fight card: Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow prediction, preview and breakdown
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will invade the house that Michael Jordan built -- the United Center in Chicago, Illinois -- this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) when it presents UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis."
Before the top guns square off in the Octagon, there will be plenty of "Prelims" under card action that will air live on FUEL TV.
Chicago's own Mike Russow, who also serves as a full-time police officer in the "Windy City," will take on recently re-instated Jon Olav Einemo, who was one of many fighters from the Golden Glory camp who was released of their obligations with Zuffa following a dispute with the Holland-based camp.
Now that all is well between the famed camp and the UFC, Einemo gets a second chance in the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, but it won't be an easy task, as he will take on a streaking Russow who is on a 10-fight win streak (3-0 in the UFC).
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 heavyweight fight between Jon Olav Einemo and Mike Russow:
The Breakdown
After spending his entire career fighting overseas in Shooto and Pride FC, and after a five-year layoff from competing in MMA, Eienemo made his Octagon debut at UFC 131 when he and Dave Herman put on a "Fight of the Night" performance.
The slugfest, however, ended with "The Viking" on the wrong end of a technical knockout loss in the second round.
Standing at 6'6," the Golden Glory-trained fighter will enjoy an eight inch reach advantage heading into the bout, though it seems that the submission game seems to be his niche, as five of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt's six victories have come via tapout.
In a division filled with names such as Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, among others, Mike Russow, safe to say, is a name that has flown under the radar.
Russow is perhaps best known to UFC fans for his come from behind knockout win over one-time hot prospect Todd Duffee at UFC 114 after losing for the majority of the fight up to the point of the knockout.
The American fighter, however, has put in his work, winning 14 of his 16 bouts, with his only loss coming to Sergei Kharitonov at Pride 33 and has one no contest. Russow is a scrapper and isn't afraid to slug it out or take it to the ground with nine submission victories to his credit.
The Pick
After coming out guns blazing against Dave Herman at UFC 131, Einemo will look to be a bit more composed now that the UFC jitters are out of the way. Look for him to be more patient, picking his shots from a distance, taking advantage of his reach.
Russow has shown that he can take some damage and still pull out a victory, but it would not benefit him to stand with the much bigger opponent.
On paper, Einemo definitely has an advantage on the ground, though Russow has proven he can submit and has All-American wrestling credentials, it won't bode well for him if the fight ends up hitting the mat.
Other than wrestling, I truly believe Einemo has an advantage everywhere. After picking his shots in the first round, I expect "The Viking" to pick up the intensity and ruin the hometown crowds mood by finishing its local fighter, Russow, via strikes in the second round.
Einemo via technical knockout (TKO) in the second round
That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
UFC Quick Quote: Nick Diaz understands what Georges St. Pierre is going through with knee injury, says GSP isn’t scared
"For me, I'm injured too, I understand. I'm like, 'Hey, I'm injured.' You know, I was injured all those fights, I wasn't 100-percent or anything, so I understand. People put a lot of pressure on him to come out and do better than he did the last time. It's hard enough to come out there and keep himself going the way he's doing. So I can understand what it must be like being injured for real and everybody's like, 'Oh, hey, you're scared.' It's not what it seems."
-- "Where you at, Georges? I don't think he's hurt, I think he's scared." We're a long ways away from the time Nick Diaz said those words in his post-fight interview after smashing B.J. Penn back at UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now, an uncharacteristically jovial Diaz is telling Kayrn Bryant of MMA Heat that he totally understands what Georges St. Pierre is going through with his knee injury and he doesn't hold it against him. In fact, Diaz actually feels for "Rush's" plight, saying it must be tough to placate a fanbase that is always demanding more and more. It's quite the switch in attitudes for the Stockton slugger. Maybe Bryant just caught him on a good day. Indeed, Diaz was training with women's fighting sensation Ronda Rousey at the time. That would get anyone's spirits up, right? You can watch footage of the two rolling around on the mats after the jump.
2012
UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Chris Camozzi vs Dustin Jacoby preview and breakdown
It's been a long and winding road for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight and former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant Chris Camozzi.
The 25-year old fighter amassed a record of 12-3 over a period of three years before he finally got his big opportunity to be a part of the hit mixed martial arts (MMA) reality television series that aired on Spike TV.
"Kamikaze" won his fight versus Victor O'Donnell for the TUF 11 auditions, earning himself the right to live in the house and vie for the six-figure UFC contract. Unfortunately for Camozzi, during the epic battle, he suffered a badly broken jaw, causing him to be removed from the show.
Despite his setback, Camozzi was offered a second chance when they placed him on the TUF 11 Finale card opposite James Hammortree, a fight from which he emerged victorious via unanimous decision.
After the jump, we'll take a look into the fight between Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby at UFC on FOX 2 later this evening (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois:
Camozzi has been signed by the UFC, cut by the UFC and then signed again. He lost his last fight to Francis Carmont at UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada, by unanimous decision. Even though he's young and has a reputation for always putting on exciting fights, one could certainly say he's on uncertain footing with Zuffa and could really use a win.
He will face a fighter who is in similar shoes.
Dustin Jacoby lost his last fight, a unanimous decision, to Clifford Starks also back at UFC 137. Two consecutive losses would be far from an ideal way to start a career in the UFC. If anything, it may be a good way to end it (temporarily, at least).
Both of these guys are brawlers and have their fair share of knockouts. However, the ground game aspect should go to Camozzi in a big way. Look for him to shoot for a takedown if the stand up starts to go in Jacoby's favor.
That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below.
See you then!
2012
Behind the UFC on FOX 2 numbers: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight complete statistical breakdown
Is it Saturday yet?
This is the question mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been asking all week, due to the fact that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will be engaging in combat at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago, Ill., to determine who gets the next shot at Anderson Silva.
It's the kind of fight that generally doesn't need the hype. That said, the fighters haven't exactly been miming their emotions in the week leading up to it.
Regardless of how you feel about either polarizing fighter, you're going to have a hard time not getting excited for a bout of this magnitude.
Come with me after the jump and we'll inspect the numbers that make up Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping.
The genius mathematicians at CompuStrike worked overtime this week to bring you the numbers behind this fantastic number one contender eliminator match. The numbers obtained have been based on nine fight averages for Chael Sonnen and 15 fight averages for Michael Bisping.
First, let's analyze the overall striking game of both fighters:
Total Strikes:
Sonnen -- 125 of 229
Bisping -- 62 of 139
Percentage:Sonnen -- 55 percent
Bisping -- 45 percentTotal Power Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 84
Bisping -- 41Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 41
Bisping -- 21
Not even close. Are you still sure that Sonnen is incapable of standing in the pocket and trading strikes with Bisping?
Not so fast.
Those are the big picture striking numbers. Here's what the arm strikes look like:
Total Arm Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 22 of 70
Bisping -- 30 of 85Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 31 percent
Bisping -- 35 percentPower Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 19
Bisping -- 19Non-Power Strikes Landed
Sonnen -- 3
Bisping -- 11
Still close, but as you can see, Sonnen would probably not be best served to try to convince Bisping to play Buster Douglas to his Mike Tyson.
The leg strikes category is where the gap starts to widen:
Total Leg Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 10 of 15
Bisping -- 9 of 17
Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:Sonnen -- 67 percent
Bisping -- 53 percent
Power Leg Strikes Landed:Sonnen -- 7
Bisping -- 6
Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:Sonnen -- 3
Bisping -- 3
Sonnen shows to be more accurate. Otherwise, it's not a huge deficit in the kicks and knees department, as a whole.
Wrestling is Sonnen's world. You'd assume he'd dominate in a big way here.
Let's take a peak:
Ground Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 93 of 144
Bisping -- 23 of 37
Percentage:Sonnen -- 61 percent
Bisping -- 62 percent
Power Ground Strikes Landed:Sonnen -- 58
Bisping -- 16Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 35
Bisping -- 7Takedowns:
Sonnen -- 27 of 39 (69 percent)
Bisping -- 21 of 35 (60 percent)
Submission Attempts:Sonnen -- 4
Bisping -- 7
Dominant Positions:Sonnen -- 15
Bisping -- 11
Not a big shocker as Sonnen takes it pretty much across the board. While it's true that Bisping has a higher percentage of strikes landed on the ground, that has more to do with volume than anything else.
Regardless of what he may be saying, the Brit almost certainly wants this fight to stay vertical.
Is this about what you anticipated, or are there any portions that jumped off the screen at you? Do the numbers affect your predictions?
For everything else you need to know about the clash between Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping, be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.
2012
UFC 143 ‘Primetime’ episode two on FX discussion thread for ‘Diaz vs Condit’
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode two premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Jan. 27) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. Episode three of "UFC Primetime" airs Feb. 3 and if you missed the first installment, click here to watch it in its entirety.
"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."
"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.
2012
Video: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping trade shots face to face for the final time before UFC on FOX 2
Shortly after the UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" weigh-ins took place today (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) in Chicago, Illinois, Ariel Helwani caught up with middleweight co-main event match-up participants Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping to give them one final chance to come face-to-face to trade shots before they get down to business inside the Octagon tomorrow night.
Sonnen goes back to his usual schtick:
"I don't walk around looking into cameras and telling people I'm the best fighter in the world to hear myself talk. I say it for the same reason they put warnings on packages of cigarettes. And fighting Chael Sonnen may be hazardous to one's health."
Bisping has grown tired of it and brings the heat just as heavy (if not more so):
"Yeah, that's probably why he walks around with a fake middleweight world title belt. I'm not interested in fake belts; I'm interested in the real belt. I'm in a fight with Chael Sonnen but unfortunately just lately he's starting to look like a court jester as opposed to a fighter and Saturday night I'm going to make him look like the fool that he's become."
Sonnen would go on to say that now that the disclaimer is out of the way, if "The Count" shows up tomorrow night, whatever happens is on his hands. The Brit gave his props for another good line but reiterated that he'll be putting Sonnen in his place at the United Center.
Tired of all this talking, Maniacs? Me too. It won't be long, though, before the cage door closes and none of this matters anymore.
Tick tock.
2012
UFC on FOX 2 weigh-in photos gallery for ‘Evans vs Davis’ in Chicago
UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" is all set to pop off tomorrow night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The second network television offering features a light heavyweight number one contender bout pitting former division champion Rashad Evans taking on rising contender Phil Davis. A win for the former nets a title shot, a win for the latter puts him "in the mix."
Also on tap is a pair of middleweight match-ups that will see Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping in a fight to determine who is next for Anderson Silva as well as Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman.
Check out the photo gallery from today's UFC on FOX 2 weigh in event (via MMAFighting.com) after the jump.
For complete UFC on FOX 2 weigh in results click here, for UFC on FOX 2 staredown pics click here, and for the UFC on FOX 2 weigh in video click here.
2012
Behind the UFC on FOX 2 numbers: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis fight complete statistical breakdown
This Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight standouts Rashad Evans and Phil Davis will duke it out at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois, for the opportunity to face current division champion Jon Jones.
It's been a long time coming for "Suga," who's been engaged in a long running war of words with "Bones." Their beef can be traced all the way back to the moment Jones agreed to fight Evans, his former friend and training partner.
For "Mr. Wonderful," he's been given no guarantee for a title shot if he is to emerge victorious. He's the underdog as far as the odds are concerned, but the 9-0 Davis has every intention of keeping his spotless record just that.
Regardless of who comes out on top, the main event is certain to be full of fireworks and thrilling highlights for mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who tune in.
After the jump, we'll give you a close look behind the numbers of Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis:
The number crunchers at CompuStrike took the time to dig deep into the fight annals and retrieve the stats that build the framework for this fight. The numbers collected have been based on 13 fight averages for Rashad Evans and five fight averages for Phil Davis.
Both of these gentlemen are known for their high wrestling pedigree, but neither is necessarily afraid to stand and trade. Who do the numbers show to be the better all-around striker?
Total Strikes:
Evans -- 45 of 97
Davis -- 55 of 107
Percentage:Evans -- 46 percent
Davis -- 51 percentTotal Power Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 28
Davis -- 41Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 17
Davis -- 14
If you're like me, you're a little floored by those findings. Davis looks to land more often, be more precise and land more power shots.
How about when you isolate the punches and elbows?
Total Arm Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 22 of 61
Davis -- 2 of 19Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 36 percent
Davis -- 11 percentPower Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 12
Davis -- 2Non-Power Strikes Landed
Evans -- 10
Davis -- 0
That sounds a little bit more like it. Davis has said that he's not nervous about trading shots with Evans, but the numbers strongly suggest that a boxing match would not be in his favor.
Here's what the leg strike picture looks like:
Total Leg Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 4 of 5
Davis -- 14 of 21
Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:Evans -- 80 percent
Davis -- 72 percent
Power Leg Strikes Landed:Evans -- 3
Davis -- 8
Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:Evans -- 1
Davis -- 6
Based on this data, Evans appears to be a bit more accurate, but Davis is more active and scores more with power.
Finally, the aspect everyone is most curious: The ground game.
Let's check it out:
Ground Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 19 of 31
Davis -- 39 of 66
Percentage:Evans -- 61 percent
Davis -- 62 percent
Power Ground Strikes Landed:Evans -- 13
Davis -- 31Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:
Evans -- 6
Davis -- 8Takedowns:
Evans --45 of 69 (65 percent)
Davis -- 16 of 26 (62 percent)
Submission Attempts:Evans -- 0
Davis -- 3
Dominant Positions:Evans -- 21
Davis -- 27
The advantage very much appears to be tilting towards Davis. They're both great wrestlers, but if the fight hits the mat, Evans may be in trouble.
What do these statistics do for you? Does any of the data surprise you or is it about what you expected? Share your (now) well-informed opinions with us in the comments section below.
For everything else you need to know about the clash between Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.
2012
Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis staredown pic from UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins
The UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" weigh-in event took place today (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) in Chicago and that means staredowns with all the major players.
That includes the two headliners for tomorrow night's event at the United Center, Rashad Evans and Phil Davis. "Suga" was his usual intense self while "Mr. Wonderful" rocked a Penn State singlet, smiling the whole way.
Middleweight motor-mouths Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will hook 'em up in the co-main event of the evening and they went head on for a contentious staredown that was followed by a handshake and a nod. Cordial until the war. That staredown pic is after the jump.
For complete UFC on FOX 2 weigh-in results click here and to watch the UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins video click here.
via p.twimg.com
2012
UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins full video for ‘Evans vs Davis’ in Chicago
UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" weigh-in event went down today (Jan. 27, 2012) in Chicago, Illinois, where all 20 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow night's (Jan. 28, 2011) event.
In the video above, the first fighter steps on the scale around the 18-minute mark.
Rashad Evans (205) will look to earn his shot at Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones with a win over rising contender and undefeated prospect Phil Davis (205) in the main event of the evening.
The co-featured fight of the night will see Chael Sonnen (185) do battle against British bad boy Michael Bisping (185). Everyone is on point and ready to go, with all matches now officially official.
For complete UFC on FOX 1 weigh in results click here.
Ready to rumble yet or what, Maniacs?
2012
UFC on FOX 2 weigh in video results LIVE from Chicago for ‘Evans vs Davis’
The official weigh in event for UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" went down earlier today (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) LIVE from the Chicago Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
All fighters scheduled to compete on tomorrow night's fight card tipped the scale without incident.
UFC on FOX 2 will feature a light heavyweight match-up between former division champion Rashad Evans and undefeated prospect Phil Davis. The winner could be in line for a shot at Jon Jones 205-pound title.
Also booked for the "Windy City" fight card is a middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. UFC President Dana White has declared the winner the new 185-pound number one contender.
Complete UFC on FOX 2 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Event:
205 lbs.: Rashad Evans (205) vs. Phil Davis (205)
Main Card (FOX):
185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen (185) vs. Michael Bisping (185)
185 lbs.: Chris Weidman (185) vs. Demian Maia (186)Preliminary Card (FUEL TV):
155 lbs.: Evan Dunham (155) vs. Nik Lentz (155)
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson (156) vs. Shane Roller (156)
265 lbs.: Jon Olav Einemo (253) vs. Mike Russow (251)
145 lbs.: George Roop (145) vs. Cub Swanson (145)
145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira (144) vs. Eric Wisely (145)
265 lbs.: Joey Beltran (228) vs. Lavar Johnson (252)Preliminary Card (Facebook):
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC on FOX 2 coverage you can handle.
For all the latest news and notes on "Evans vs. Davis" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.
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- UFC on FOX 2 fight card: Michael Johnson vs Shane Roller prediction, preview and breakdown
- UFC on FOX 2 results and LIVE play-by-play TONIGHT (Jan. 28) for ‘Evans vs Davis’
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