http://mmacrypt.com/forum/ Your respectful internet forum. en Fri, 18 May 2012 19:53:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://mmacrypt.com/forum/images/Darkness3/misc/rss.png http://mmacrypt.com/forum/ http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24630-Depressed-Mark-Hunt-issues-statement-on-pulling-out-of-Stefan-Struve-fight&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 18:49:58 GMT Image: http://cdn2.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/4077844/markhuntx-large_large.jpg ... Photo of Mark Hunt via MMA Fighting.


by Adam Guillen Jr. on May 18, 2012 2:00 PM EDT

If you're looking for a feel-good story in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), look no further than the surprising career resurrection of one of the hardest hitting men in the sport, Mark Hunt.

Heading into Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on a five-fight losing streak, the "Super Samoan" failed to make a splash in his debut, losing to Sean McCorkle in the second round of their UFC 119 fight. Surprisingly, Hunt was given an opportunity to redeem himself and narrowly avoided the dreaded pink slip.

Making the most of his opportunity, Hunt has now reeled off three straight victories over Chris Tuchscherer, Ben Rothwell and Cheick Kongo. The hard-hitting heavyweight was on such a roll that his loyal fans, "The Army of Doom," hit the Twitter boards and started a rally to the powers that be at Zuffa to allow Mark to step in for Alistair Overeem against UFC heavyweight kingpin Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Though the support was strong, UFC president Dana White stated, "It ain't going to happen."

Hunt was to remain on the card to take on the towering Stefan Struve in the promotion's first all-heavyweight main card, and in the process, look for his fourth consecutive win and get himself closer to a potential title shot.

One week away from the event, an unfortunate injury to the former K-1 Grand Prix Champion forced him to bow out of his scheduled fight and add yet another crushing blow to the stacked event. With the injury, Lavar Johnson got the call to step in against Struve, leaving Hunt to face the road to recovery.

Speaking on The MMA (After) Hour, the New Zealander talked about the disappointment he feels after making the tough decision to pull out of the fight, which happens to be the first time he's had to do so in his eight year MMA career.

Check it out:

"I am so gutted about this. I never pulled out of any fight, this is the first time ever in my whole career that I actually pulled out of a fight because of an injury. I've never been injured before. I put so much work into this fight, you know? I trained hard, it's just so disappointing for me now. I was going to go and do the fight anyway, I was still trying to tell my mind not to do it. When a fighter goes into the Octagon, the ring, they go in one hundred percent. They go in bazookas, guns and everything. You don't go in there to a fight with a butter knife. If you go in there you're supposed to go a hundred percent. If one fighter goes in there fifty percent, he is giving the other fighter the other fifty percent. So the other fighter is coming in a hundred and fifty percent and you only got fifty percent. So, it doesn't make sense to go in there. I don't think Stefan Struve would have liked to beat me the way I am injured anyway. So, I might as well would have just said, 'Here, take the fight, I don't want it.' It was disappointing to me, I wanted to do the fight, I still want to do the fight but my brain says it's not good. You'll have one kick on the leg and then it will just be a waste of time anyways. So be smart about it and come back a different day and fight. I'm more depressed than anybody. You know, I put so much time, despite of what I was talking about before, I never really trained (like this), I put so much hard work into this and a lot of people put some time into me. I wanted to gout there and prove that I'm a better fighter, but, the Lord has a plan for everyone and I'm just disappointed it happened. It's just the way it is, it's the first time pulling out of a fight with an injury. I could go in there and fight but you won't see much of a fight. Your probably see me get a hurting for three rounds and that's about it. I don't think you want that."

As evidenced by some recent pictures floating around, which you can see here, Hunt did indeed look to be in the best fighting shape of his career.

The heavy-handed brawler revealed that a tear in his meniscus is the root of the problem and though he still wanted to take the fight, people around him convinced him that it would just be better to bow out, recover, and come back one hundred percent.

"The Super Samoan" is now scheduled to undergo surgery to repair his knee and is looking at a couple of months of recovery time.

Upon his return, Hunt says he wouldn't mind facing the winner of the Struve vs. Johnson showdown, both of which could prove to be very intriguing match-ups.

Do you agree?

http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/18/30...-lavar-johnson ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24630-Depressed-Mark-Hunt-issues-statement-on-pulling-out-of-Stefan-Struve-fight http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24629-Guide-to-the-UFC&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:51 GMT Image: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02223/ufc-champions-may2_2223603b.jpg *Guide to the UFC * The Ultimate Fighting...

Guide to the UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championships' first fight night took place 19 years ago in Denver, US, a one-off event pitching different martial artists against each other. Could a karate expert defeat a wrestler or a judo fighter? Would the skills of Brazilian jiu-jitsu overcome a wrestling specialist or a boxer? The one-off event was a hit, and spawned new contests, developing into the sport of Mixed Martial Arts - known as MMA

by Gareth A Davies
Image by John Barry
5:04PM BST 18 May 2010

Today, under the auspices of sanctioning bodies and formulated rules, the Ultimate Fighting Championship - football's equivalent of the Champions' League within the sport of MMA - pitches elite modern-day gladiators against each other using a hybrid of mixed martial arts inside the octagon', a 30ft fighting zone.

It is a rapidly-growing, international sport, with a huge global fan base. The sport is booming in the US and around the world - with the UK, Canada, Brazil, Sweden and several Eastern European countries showing rapidly increasing numbers of fans.

Some professional rugby league and rugby union players are now learning MMA skills, while the athletes involved are increasingly respected by other professional sportspeople. UFC is, without doubt, a modern sporting phenomenon. Like all combat sports, it has its critics.

UFC President Dana White, a former boxer who bought the rights to the UFC brand for two million US dollars, with two partners, in February 2001, says the sport is now totally different to what it was when it started in 1993.

Six years ago, the men in suits behind the sport injected a further 40 million US dollars, and their investment has paid dividends.

Last year alone, UFC grossed over 200 million US dollars, and attracted millions of fans worldwide. "The sport bears no resemblance to what it was when it started in 1993. Anyone who thinks so has been living under a stone for the last 14 and a half years," says CEO White. "UFC is here to stay."

The growth of the UFC in the UK has made Michael Bisping, a 34- year-old former amateur boxer from Lancashire - whose father was an Army sergeant major with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, and whose three brothers followed his father into the forces - a huge star both in the US and increasingly in the UK after he won the televised US series of The Ultimate Fighter' in Las Vegas.

In 2007, an indication of his popularity came when Bisping was voted 12th in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. For the last five years I have been reporting on UFC super fight events bringing you the interviews, the issues, news and debate from this fast evolving sport.

What is Mixed Martial Arts?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport on both sides of the Atlantic. Two combatants compete against each other using a mixture of martial art disciplines such as boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wresting, judo, taekwondo (all Olympic sports) as well as other traditional martial arts such as kickboxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, and Thai boxing.

How long do contests last?

Contests last for three five-minute rounds (five rounds for UFC title fights) unless a combatant wins inside the distance by scoring a stoppage or submission. If the bout lasts the distance, a winner is found via the scorecards of three ringside judges, who use the same '10-point must' system utilized in boxing.

What is the Ultimate Fighting Championship?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation. Established in 1993, the UFC is the equivalent of football's UEFA Champion League of mixed martial arts and boasts the world's elite and most experienced MMA athletes.

UFC’s must-see fighters:

Anderson Silva, GSP, Jon Jones, Ben Henderson, Jose Aldo, Dominick Cruz.

Celebrity and Sports UFC Fans

Pamela Anderson, Lee Majors, Paris Hilton, Keanu Reeves, George Clooney, Girls Aloud, Man Utd players, Ricky Gervais, Jonathan Ross, Yasmin and Simon Le Bon, Mandy Moore, David Haye, Danielle Lloyd,Jay-Z, Beyonce, Steven Seagal, James Haskell, Oscar Pistorius.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oth...o-the-UFC.html ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24629-Guide-to-the-UFC http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24628-UFC-on-FOX-FOX-Needs-to-Show-Patience-and-Audience-Will-Grow&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 18:35:00 GMT Image: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/705/950/140787362_crop_650x440.jpg?1337347200 Michael Nagle/Getty Images By...
Michael Nagle/Getty Images

By Ryan Huff (Contributor)
May 18, 2012

The television ratings from UFC on FOX 3 are bringing the worst out of the MMA community, and it’s all for
nothing.

Almost immediately after the fight, viewing numbers were tossed around. At
the end, the show had managed
to pull in 2.4 million viewers—a huge drop from UFC on FOX 1’s 5.7 million
and UFC on Fox 2’s 4.6 million.

The speculation was prompt. Some critics argued that the card
was lacking, especially on a weekend when two household names, Mayweather
and Cotto, were also making a television appearance. UFC president Dana
White argued that it was, after all, Cinco de Mayo, the film
Avengers had just been released and the NBA playoffs were going on
among other things, and that these meant less people were at home watching
television in the first place.

More infamously, the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer argued that
these ratings could mark
UFC on network television a failed venture (via BloodyElbow.com).
White snapped back with the aforesaid argument exhibiting his standard fervor in
what was essentially an ad hominem attack.

As a result, fans are attacking both Meltzer and White, arguing that they
knew this would happen or that it will get better, that this is what the UFC
deserves and that it deserves much more, that we’re all doomed or no, no—this is
only the beginning.

And so I’ve brought my match to the bonfire, but my argument is simple: if
the UFC, FOX, and fans are patient, the audience—and viewer ratings—will only
get bigger and better.

I’ve never seen Field of Dreams, but I’ve heard it speaks to the
basic idea here. Besides, the history of UFC on FOX is only beginning to tell us
what the greater viewership wants from the organization.


The title fight between heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez
pulled in record numbers on FOX.
Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

For a sport that was once some obscure pay-per-view sideshow sold on VHS like
some suspect pornography (taglines included “UNEDITED! UNCENSORED! UNLEASHED!”
and the warning “Violent Material: Mature Audiences”), the fact that it pulls in
viewers at all on network television is—to be honest—not that surprising.
Neither is the fact that the sport isn’t immediately jumping to the top of
ratings lists or showing some consistency when it does.

But the UFC has been taking huge steps in the past years to make
MMA a more popular sport both in America and abroad, and it’s been working.
This run on network television is simply the next step. But the general
television audience can be fickle, but with some patience and tact, they can be
won over.

Each time the UFC showed up on FOX, they offered something a little different
to the popular audience. Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos promised
a heavyweight brawl for a belt on UFC on FOX 1, pulling in huge numbers. Rashad
Evans and Phil Davis pulled in impressive but lower numbers for a contender’s
spot in the light heavyweight division.

But UFC on FOX 3 gave us Nate Diaz and Jim Miller headlining a card that
really only got established MMA fans excited. Here, I’ll disagree with the fans
that say the card was weak—it wasn’t, you just can’t expect the majority of
people to know that.

Looking back at the other FOX fights, the population has spoken. They want
heavyweight brawls. They want characters like Rashad Evans. They still need
something in the fight they’ll understand like knockouts and charisma.

However, if the UFC is patient and gives them these things, that audience
will grow. The sport and the organization are still developing rapidly; but UFC
on FOX 3 showed just how young it still is. Furthermore, this is a problem many
sports face (e.g. the riveting regular season LSU 9-6 OT win over Alabama where
not a touchdown was scored).

The plan from here is simple: the UFC needs to put more championship bouts
and more heavyweight sluggers on network television. In doing this, it must also
be patient. Look to its roots: early pay-per-view UFC bouts never promised to be
what boxing is today. Now, I have to tip exceedingly to secure a table at a bar
during a UFC event. The sport is huge, and it’s only getting bigger.

For now, though, we can’t jump at the failures of UFC on FOX 3 as damning for
the sport’s growth. Instead, take note, keep calm, and let the sport and its
audience develop.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...ence-will-grow ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24628-UFC-on-FOX-FOX-Needs-to-Show-Patience-and-Audience-Will-Grow http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24627-After-UFC-on-Fuel-3-win-what-must-Cerrone-do-to-get-into-UFC-s-LW-title-Picture&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 18:29:12 GMT

May 18, 2012 - 1:20:58 PM

With Donald Cerrone's impressive win over Jeremy Stephens, what does he need to do in
order to move into the title picture at lightweight?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Well, he needs to keep winning, of course. Lest we forget he's lost twice to Ben Henderson and once to Nate Diaz, so there's definitely a ceiling over him that he has been unable to break through. His win over Stephens was as impressive as his win over Siver, but ten great wins over guys at that level aren't worth one win over a top five guy. So if he wants to get into the title picture he needs to beat a top five guy.

Frankly, he'll need another one after that as well. He wants to fight in August. Gray Maynard or Clay Guida won't likely be ready by then. Anthony Pettis won't be ready until September if you believe his manager (on Twitter) or October/November if you believe his brother Sergio. So Pettis is out. So Henderson, Edgar, Maynard, Pettis, and Guida won't be ready in August.

If Cerrone insists on fighting in his home state of Colorado at UFC 150, the best available options would be T.J. Grant, Jim Miller, Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, or Mac Danzig. Not one of those fights should put anyone in title contention (although Grant is criminally underrated, and Cerrone v. Grant could be great).

However, if Cerrone is willing to give up on the Denver thing and is willing to wait to fight until UFC 152 in late September, he could fight the winner of Maynard/Guida, or maybe Anthony Pettis (which would be so trippy). So the ball is in Cerrone's court. Is he willing to do everything possible to get in position for to a title shot, or is fighting at home more important than a quicker path to a title shot. It's his call.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

That was a good fight, but it wasn't that long ago that Cerrone got the same, and more, from Nate Diaz. Taking that into consideration, I think Cerrone is at least two quality wins from getting a title shot. He's going to have to repeat this performance against top-level lightweights to even be mentioned among the best title contenders. If Cerrone shows that the Diaz fight was a fluke, then he can move into the title picture.


ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Donald Cerrone looked phenomenal against Jeremy Stephens, but honestly, I've never been one to take stock in the skill-set or level of competition that Stephens presents. A good fighter, but nothing top-tier, or even close. I would suggest a fight against someone like Anthony Pettis, another fighter looking to move up into the title picture. Both fighters need a fight to tie them over while the
UFC lightweight division sorts itself out. That would make for one hell of an entertaining fight and move the winner closer to a title fight.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think Cerrone’s still two or three fights away from a legitimate title fight claim. He looked great on Tuesday, but horrible against Nick Diaz this past December. The only way he could make a quicker claim to a title fight is if he was able to convince the UFC and Anthony Pettis it is in everyone’s best interest that they fight and he wins. That is highly unlikely and Cerrone will need to fight and
beat two legit top ten fighters to truly get back in the title picture at lightweight.


GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Donald Cerrone needs to do two things to get back in title contention and it really as simple as that. Cowboy needs to fight two more
top guys and finish these fighters. If he doesnt win impressively I'm afraid that he'll fall by the Jon Fitch wayside. If he can score a couple of impressive finishes against legit top competition, he's right back where he was.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Just keep winning, and actually turn in a top performance for the big fights, when it really matters. He would have been exactly where Nate Diaz is now had he won their fight last December. Being close, and actually getting a title shot, can be decided by the thinnest of margins. Sadly that previous loss to Diaz has set him back considerably, and it will take at least two or three more fights to get back into contention. He's asked for Anthony Pettis next, who is without a future opponent, so lets get that fight booked for UFC 150 or UFC 151 if Pettis has recovered from his injury in time. That doesn't mean I believe he deserves a fight with Pettis, but it makes the most sense right now, especially if Diaz wants to wait for a crack at the Henderson vs. Edgar winner.

http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publ...le_13333.shtml ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24627-After-UFC-on-Fuel-3-win-what-must-Cerrone-do-to-get-into-UFC-s-LW-title-Picture http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24626-Bellator-69-s-Karl-Amoussou-plans-to-attack-David-Rickels-mind&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 18:19:16 GMT

by Steven Marrocco on May 18, 2012 at 2:00 pm ET

It's the stark raving mad psychos who get all the press. The quiet ones always fly under the radar – until they snap.

Former cop and current Bellator welterweight Karl Amoussou (14-4-2 MMA, 2-1 BFC) isn't certifiable, of course, but he uses mind games with his opponents.

His next one, David Rickels (10-0 MMA, 2-0 BFC), better be ready to play.

"I really like to penetrate the mind of my opponent, and to make them feel a lot of doubt," Amoussou told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Amoussou and Rickels meet in the semifinals of Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament, and their bout takes place tonight at Bellator 69. L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., host the bout. Preliminary-card bouts stream on Spike.com and serve as the lead-in to the MTV2-televised main card, including Amoussou vs. Rickels.

Amoussou's strategy was evident in the tournament's opening round. A pre-fight war of words rattled Chris Lozano, and the Frenchman's intimidating presence took him out of his game. In a little more than two minutes, he submitted to a rear-naked choke.

One might think Amoussou's former job gave him the skills to mentally break his opponents, but he said that's not it.

"I think I'm sensitive to the personalities of people, and I like to act on it," said Amoussou, who would meet Bryan Baker (18-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in this summer's tourney finale if victorious. "I have different behavior with every opponent. It's one of my big strengths to be mentally strong, and to be able to talk on the mental weaknesses of my opponent."

What strategy Amoussou has in store for Rickels is unknown. But a part of it might be to make light of the challenges specific to the semifinalist.

Rickels is an impressive 10-0 and earned his current spot in the contest with a 22-second knockout of Jordan Smith in the opening round.

"Honestly, I didn't look too much at him," Amoussou said. "I don't really care. I just focus on myself and what I can do, and what I'm able to do. I know I'm better than him, and I'm going to show it tomorrow."

A statement like that might not mean anything. Or it might. You never know.

If Rickels is wondering what Amoussou is going to say or do next, Amoussou's already playing.


http://mmajunkie.com/news/28772/bell...ckels-mind.mma ]]> Bellator/DREAM/Strikeforce Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24626-Bellator-69-s-Karl-Amoussou-plans-to-attack-David-Rickels-mind http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24625-The-Ultimate-Fighter-Australia-vs-U-K-(debut)&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:59:27 GMT *Image: http://mmapundit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/TheUltimatePosterFighterTheSmashes1-300x200.jpg No specific details on this season of...

No specific details on this season of TUF... but there is a projected date of the debut.

Date: Sep 02, 2012
Debuts: Late 2012 (exact date TBA)
Broadcast: TBA

Cast: TBA

• Format: TBA
• Coaches: TBA
• Cast: TBA

http://mmajunkie.com/event/942/the-u...-u-k-debut.mma ]]> The Ultimate Fighter Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24625-The-Ultimate-Fighter-Australia-vs-U-K-(debut) http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24623-Interview-With-TUF-Quarterfinalists&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:50:57 GMT Image: http://mmajunkie.com/dyn/images/other/the-ultimate-fighter-live-cast-32.jpg Heading into the second half of the quarterfinal fights,...

Heading into the second half of the quarterfinal fights, reporters had a chance to catch up with fighters Andy Ogle, Vince Pichel, Al Iaquinta, and Chris Saunders. After being pent up and cut off from the rest of the world for a very long time, the light at the end of the tunnel is rapidly approaching, and for them the dream of a 6-figure UFC contract is quickly becoming closer and closer, and all fights are now the most important fight of their lives.

One of the hot-topics is Al Iaquinta vs Andy Ogle, the first teammate vs teammate fight. Al commented on the fight, saying ” It’s a unique situation in that you kind of know a little bit about the guy’s game, but it’s always different when you get in the cage. I know he knows about my style and I know about his style, but when we get in there a lot of things are different.”

Andy Ogle, on the other hand, has been one of the more emotional fighters on the show but was called “the most mentally tough fighter on the show”. Andy gave some insight into what it’s like being him “Well, the way I see it is I’m representing my country. I don’t feel as if I have the burden of a nation on my back. I feel as if I’m wearing the flag with pride. The emotion side, well, yes, that’s just me. I have big highs and big lows. It’s just part of who I am and this whole thing means so much to me. I have a big heart. I have a hell of a lot of loving to give”

The second fight on the card is Vince Pichel vs Chris Saunders. Pichel has finished all of his fights, and Chris Saunders was the last pick of the show, but as we saw in his last fight with Sam Sicilia, he’s not an opponent to be taken lightly. Vince gave reporters a chance to catch up on how big of a role being a finisher has played in his fights up until this point. “Well, I’m sure opponents don’t take me lightly after that, but I still look at every guy like he’s going to be the toughest fight I’ve had. I do think it plays a little bit. I mean, they have to obviously be thinking about that. They know I’m dangerous, especially the guys here because they’ve seen me fight and they know the way I am, the way that I fight. So I do think it plays a little bit, but as a fighter I’m sure the guys are thinking what I’m thinking—he’s tough, but I’m tougher, and I’m going to go out there and take him out. It does play a role, but at the same time I’m sure a lot of guys try not to think about that too much. That kind of stuff will really get into your head and start messing with you during the fight, especially.”

http://bjpenn.com/mmanews/2012/05/18...ews-25516.html ]]> The Ultimate Fighter BluenoseGreig http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24623-Interview-With-TUF-Quarterfinalists http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24622-UFC-on-FOX-4-Stann-vs-Lombard&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:48:44 GMT *Image: http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/3958371/stann-lombard_large.jpg Date: Aug 04, 2012 Location: Los Angeles, California Venue:...

Date: Aug 04, 2012
Location: Los Angeles, California
Venue: Staples Center
Broadcast: FOX, FUEL TV and Facebook

• Hector Lombard vs. Brian Stann
• Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida
• Travis Browne vs. Ben Rothwell
• Terry Etim vs. Joe Lauzon
• Rob Broughton vs. Matt Mitrione
• Phil Davis vs. Chad Griggs
• Phil De Fries vs. Oli Thompson

http://mmajunkie.com/event/904/ufc-on-fox-4.mma ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24622-UFC-on-FOX-4-Stann-vs-Lombard http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24621-Chael-Sonnen-Fought-Back-Tears-When-Submitted-By-Anderson-Silva&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:46:52 GMT Image:...


“It was devastating, I had no idea what happened in that fight, none. When the fight was over, I was devastated. I came to, and I said to the ref, you know the typical thing like a doofus, ‘What happened?’ The referee, Josh Rosenthal, is a fantastic referee, simply says, ‘You tapped out.’ And he looks at me for a response like I was going to argue, and I simply say, ‘I believe you.’ Now, I knew that because ESPN zoomed in on it and showed it. But that’s all I said was, ‘I believe you.’ I remember falling asleep, it’s a very weird experience you know, when you’re actually going to sleep but you’re trying to stay within reality, and I remember having a dream thinking, “Well if I tap I can get out of this, nah, let’s not tap. The fight was over. I had already tapped, I hit his foot and I really didn’t fully know what happened. When it was over and I came too, I didn’t fully know what happened, I was trying to figure out what just happened. So, aside from being choked, don’t forget, I got fatigue issues, I got blood and Vaseline in my eyes, I have exhaustion, I have anxiety. I’m a normal human being, I feel every emotion. So many people say to me, ‘Oh you’re never scared.’ Come on, I’m a human, I feel it all. So, I lose the fight, we got to the back and they bring me the Fight of the Night check. They pay you immediately if you get a bonus. Boom, here’s your check. And I remember thinking, ‘You gave me this out of sympathy because that was such a boring fight, nothing happened, you gave it out of sympathy, I’ll take it. I’m fighting back the tears, I’m just devastated, I’m absolutely devastated by this defeat. Later the fight gets Fight of The Year from Fighters Only Magazine. So, it ended up being a really good fight. But the point I’m trying to make is , that is how out of touch I was with what was happening in the ring. At one point, my corner told me it was round five when it was round four or it was round four when it was round three, whatever it was, the corner had the rounds off. I just didn’t fully know what was going on. In this next fight, I’d like to, as I visualize and plan for it, that’s one of the things, I’d like to be a little more aware and in touch with what’s happening. But it’s hard, it’s hard in the Octagon man. A lot of stuff goes out the window, you get hit, you get kicked, it’s tough. It’s tough to stay focused.”

While on this week’s edition of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast the man you love to hate, Chael Sonnen, spent three hours talking about everything from fight’s to his persona and the world as it revolves around him.

In addition to the many topics of interest discussed Sonnen also gave a more personal and inside look on his last loss to Anderson Silva and the emotions that surged through him after letting the title slip from his grasp in the last few minutes of the fight.

Sonnen puts on the front like he has the answer to every question, like he sees and knows everything, but after being choked out by Silva, he admits, he was clueless, surprised, shocked and saddened to the point of tears.

http://bjpenn.com/mmanews/2012/05/17...ews-25364.html ]]> UFC BluenoseGreig http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24621-Chael-Sonnen-Fought-Back-Tears-When-Submitted-By-Anderson-Silva http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24620-UFC-152-in-Toronto&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:45:43 GMT Image: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/089/772/UFC-Canada_display_image.png?1333409380 * Date: Sep 22, 2012...

Date: Sep 22, 2012
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Air Canada Centre
Broadcast: Pay-per-view and FX*

• No rumored fights at this time

* - Not officially announced


http://mmajunkie.com/event/922/ufc-152-in-toronto.mma ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24620-UFC-152-in-Toronto http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24619-Strikeforce-Rockhold-vs-Kennedy&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:40:18 GMT *Image: http://www.fightacademyireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Strikeforce-logo1.jpg Date: Jul 14, 2012 Location: Portland, Oregon...

Date: Jul 14, 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Venue: Rose Garden
Broadcast: Showtime and Showtime Extreme

• Champ Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy (for middleweight title)
• Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler
• Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley - for vacant welterweight title*
• Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine

* - Not officially announced


http://mmajunkie.com/event/941/strik...-july-2012.mma ]]> Bellator/DREAM/Strikeforce Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24619-Strikeforce-Rockhold-vs-Kennedy http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24618-Legacy-Fighting-Championship-12-Will-Campuzano-vs-Steve-Garcia&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:35:10 GMT *Image: http://www.legacyfights.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Legacy-FC-11-small.jpg Date: Jul 13, 2012 Location: Houston, Texas Venue: Arena...

Date: Jul 13, 2012
Location: Houston, Texas
Venue: Arena Theater
Broadcast: HDNet

• Will Campuzano vs. Steve Garcia - for vacant flyweight title
• Mike Bronzoulis vs. Jay Hieron
• Robert Drysdale vs. Isaac "Ike" Villanueva*
• Junior Assuncao vs. TBA*

* - Not officially announced


http://mmajunkie.com/event/926/legac...ionship-12.mma ]]> Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24618-Legacy-Fighting-Championship-12-Will-Campuzano-vs-Steve-Garcia http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24617-UFC-on-FUEL-TV-4-Munoz-vs-Weidman&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:28:58 GMT *Image: http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/2643013/image001__2__large.png Date: Jul 11, 2012 Location: San Jose, California* Venue: HP...

Date: Jul 11, 2012
Location: San Jose, California*
Venue: HP Pavilion*
Broadcast: FUEL TV and Facebook*

• Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman
• Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson
• James Te Huna vs. Brandon Vera*
• T.J. Dillashaw vs. Vaughan Lee
• Rapahel Assuncao vs. Issei Tamura
• Chris Cariaso vs. Josh Ferguson
• Rafael Natal vs. Andrew Craig
• Tom DeBlass vs. Nick Penner*

* - Not officially announced


http://mmajunkie.com/event/932/ufc-on-fuel-tv-4.mma ]]> UFC Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24617-UFC-on-FUEL-TV-4-Munoz-vs-Weidman http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24616-Xtreme-Fighting-Championship-18-Music-City-Mayhem&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:20:54 GMT Image: http://blog.mmavictor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Arvx-ExCMAE7OKu.jpg *Date: Jun 22, 2012 Location: Nashville, Tennessee Venue:...

Date: Jun 22, 2012
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Venue: Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Broadcast: HDNet

• John Salter vs. Josh Samman

http://mmajunkie.com/event/937/xtrem...ity-mayhem.mma ]]> Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24616-Xtreme-Fighting-Championship-18-Music-City-Mayhem http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24615-Bellator-71-Roger-Hollett-vs-Attila-Vegh&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 16:07:09 GMT *Image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jCHjps55fw/TqIZvuC48iI/AAAAAAAAGdc/cp8KzjCFnEU/s1600/bellator-logo.jpg Date: Jun 22, 2012 Location: Chester,...

Date: Jun 22, 2012
Location: Chester, West Virginia
Venue: Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort
Broadcast: MTV2 and Spike.com

• Roger Hollett vs. Attila Vegh - light-heavyweight-tourney opening round
• Richard Hale vs. Beau Tribolet - light-heavyweight-tourney opening round
• Philipe Lins vs. Marcus Vanttinen - light-heavyweight-tourney opening round
• Travis Wiuff vs. TBA - light-heavyweight-tourney opening round

http://mmajunkie.com/event/936/bellator-71.mma ]]> Bellator/DREAM/Strikeforce Rich Davie http://mmacrypt.com/forum/showthread.php?24615-Bellator-71-Roger-Hollett-vs-Attila-Vegh