MMA News and Discussion Thread

[Gabriel]

I really don't like either man as people. Hughes is a Jesus pushing douchebag... but Serra is just an annoying prick. I really wouldn't be able to get along with either man really, but Serra's definately done a better job with his fighters.

I think Serra has a better ability to relate to his fighters, which in turn helps earn their trust and develop their skills. Hughes though, is the better fighter. Serra's spent so much time calling Hughes an egomaniac and every other name in the book, that I think he's kind of forgotten who Matt Hughes the fighter is. I expect Hughes to pretty much dominate their fight. Serra might land some decent strikes, but he'll be hard pressed to catch lightning twice.

[Fitzy]

Evan Tanner says he signed a four fight deal with UFC. That's great. The middleweight is indeed of fighters, so it's great to see him back.

Also, Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times has reported that CBS is talking with UFC about producing one or more prime time network specials. The writers strike is making the talks more serious, because the network would be in need of first-run unscripted prime time programming when the shows on the schedule run out of fresh episodes.

And lastly, WEC announced more matches for December 12.

World Extreme Cagefighting on Thursday officially announced its Dec. 12 event featuring three title fights and the return of veteran fighter Jens Pulver.

The main event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas features featherweight champion Urijah Faber’s fourth title defense since defeating Cole Escovedo for the belt in March of 2006. Considered one of the top featherweights in the world, he will take on fellow top ten fighter Jeff Curran.

Doug Marshall will defend his light heavyweight belt against undefeated Cuban fighter Ariel Gandulla.

WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho will make his second appearance for the promotion against an opponent that has yet to be determined. He won the title in August by dismantling Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Joe Doerksen in little more than four minutes.

Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver will be making his long-awaited debut on Dec. 12, returning to his natural weight of 145 pounds. He is undefeated at featherweight, but will face a difficult test in fellow contender Cub Swanson. Since losing in his first professional bout, Swanson has reeled off ten wins in a row.

The winner between Pulver and Swanson is likely to put themselves towards the head of the line for a shot at the featherweight championship.

WEC: Faber vs. Curran will be televised live nationally on the Versus network.

Edited November 10, 2007 by Fitzy

[JoeMimic]

Can't wait for the return of Evan Tanner. He also posted on his myspace today that his Land Cruiser was broken into yesterday and a brand new UFC gym bag he was given full of UFC beanies and shirts was taken along with trading cards he signs for fans. Hard luck for Evan all around.

I hope they get on CBS; that would be amazing.

[Fitzy]

Thoughts on EliteXC Renegades:

Well that sucks that the fight between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons had to be stopped, but it clearly needed to be stopped after those cuts on both of his eyelids. A rematch should certainly be made as it was a pretty good fight before the stoppage. Kimbo had a good debut with a 19 second knockout. What other welterweights are their for Shields to face? Mike Pyle seemed to be the only one that could make up well with him. Kleinbeck vs. Noke was a good fight. I'd like to see Noke back in EliteXC. And Antonio Silva should drop a few pounds and dominate the heavyweight division.

[JoeMimic]

I thought the stoppage on the Noons/Diaz fight might have been a tad too early. I thought his corner cleaned up the cuts well and I thought they should've at least started the next round. If he's taking shots and not defending himself well then fine. That Kimbo fight was weird because it didn't look like that uppercut even hit him in the face and then he threw the elbow that knocked him to the ground but Cantrell was tapping before Kimbo even got on top of him. It just looked odd if you ask me. As for Shields lets take a look at the MMAPG 170 rankings.

#1 Georges St. Pierre

#2 Matt Hughes

#3 Matt Serra

#4 Jon Fitch

#5 Karo Parisyan

#6 Josh Koscheck

#7 BJ Penn

#8 Diego Sanchez

#9 Jake Shields

#10 Nick Diaz

Honorable mentions: Carlos Condit, Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai

So let's see fighters 1-8 are in the UFC. #10 is in the same camp and won't fight him. Condit is in the Zuffa owned WEC so that leaves Aoki who isn't known over here and Sakurai who also isn't really known over here. So for him to say he wants to fight the best in the world well he's not going to fight it in EliteXC.

[Fitzy]

--Regarding rumors of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou fighting in UFC, there is no contract signed, but his deal with Hero's did fall apart and UFC is interested in him and talks have begun. There are talks of a potential fight with Lyoto Machida on 12/29, but it's nothing more than talk at ths point.

[Fitzy]

And it is official. From UFC.com: UFC Inks Sokoudjou; “The African Assassin” to Debut vs Machida at UFC 79.

Machida's undefeated record is going to be put to the test big time with Sokoudjou as his next opponent. This should put one of these two in line for a title shot for sure with a win.

[crazedfan]

And the Light Heavyweight ranks get even stronger...

[Fitzy]

That UFC 78 undercard didn't really live up to its potential to be a great show. Sucks that Houston Alexander got knocked out. BUt a great showing by Joe Lauzon.

Also, Dan Henderson will take on Anderson Silva in March.

I have also noticed that Biggz has left Team EWB.

Edited November 18, 2007 by Fitzy

[Fitzy]

Matt Hughes will face Georges St. Pierre in a five-round main event for the interim welterweight title. When Matt Serra recovers from his herniated disc, a match will be put together to unify the championship.

- Dave Meltzer

And from Matt Hughes himself...

November 24th, 2007

I’m going to fight Georges St. Pierre on December 29th. I’ve got a couple reasons why I’ve made this decision and I will share those at a later time. I’ve asked for this to be for an interim title and if Matt Serra can’t fight in a year, then this would just be the title fight; but I don’t know if that is going to happen right now. I will keep you all posted.

-Matt

EDIT: This WILL BE for the interim title, so it will be a 5-round fight. -Matt

Edited November 25, 2007 by Fitzy

[Your Mom]

Man! I was looking forward to Serra vs. Hughes

[Your Mom]

Did no one else watch the Ultimate Fighter Finale? Wow! That was a great show. War Machine was killer.

[Gabriel]

Did no one else watch the Ultimate Fighter Finale? Wow! That was a great show. War Machine was killer.

[Enter Blue Guy]

Great show last night. The main event was what MMA, or all sports for that matter, is all about. Just a tremendous outing by both men. I don't think he's ready for a title shot yet, but I hope Huerta finally starts getting more props as a truly gifted, completely rounded, potential future champion. 5-0 in 2007. I can't think of anybody who deserves to be called the breakout fighter of 2007 more than him.

155 is amazing. Well, besides Sherk, who was finally stripped of the title. So no more interim title fight, it's an undisputed LW championship bout now. You can pretty much mix and match anybody at 155 and have a FOTYC. It's been the one exciting constant in the UFC this year.

War Machine's win was awesome. How somebody who is barely running on the fumes can pull off a sweep that late in the fight, after looking like he was burnt toast just moments before, is ridiculous. Actually, what's ridiculous is that Rollins let it happen. Sloppy (and fatigue didn't help) on his behalf. Either way, a miraculous victory.

The TUF Finales never disappoint. You won't miss much if you skip the actual series, but it's always worth watching the finale.

Edited December 9, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[Your Mom]

Those were seriously a couple of the best fights I have ever seen. I swear I have never yelled "He's Done!" and been wrong so many times in one night before.

[Enter Blue Guy]

The last minute or so of the second round with Guida in Huerta's guard was intense. I don't think I've seen anybody throw everything they had trying to finish a fight. The double hammerfists... That was desperation by Guida.

It'll be interesting to see who Huerta fights next. Huerta vs. Frankie Edgar would be awesome, but with Florian not currently set up against anybody right now and since I'd say Huerta is now just a spot below him on the title contention chart, I think Kenflo/Huerta could be a possibility.

[JoeMimic]

I've already seen an article saying that was a #1 contenders match. Winner gets the winner of BJ/Joe Stevenson...Either way Huerta gets smashed.

[Fitzy]

Excellent night of fights last night. War Machine and J-Roc put on an awesome fight. Those elbows to the head were brutal. I loved it.

And the main event was jsut what I was expecting from these two great fighters. Guida is awesome and it sucks that he lost as I was really hoping he'd pull out the victory, but Huerta is also awesome so I didn't mind that he won. Guida is always a guy you can count on to have an exciting fight, win or lose.

Also, I wonder if they'll have Huerta vs. Penn/Stevenson in Mexico as they have been in talks to have one in 2008 and a title fight with the Latino star as the headliner would be the perfect opportunity to break through in Mexico.

[britneyspearsisgod]

RYAN GRACIE FOUND DEAD IN CELL

SAO PAULO, Brazil: Brazilian mixed-martial arts fighter Ryan Gracie was found dead Saturday in a Sao Paulo prison cell, a day after being arrested on suspicion of theft, police said.

Gracie was a five-time world champion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a form of mixed martial arts.

The 33-year-old was arrested Friday afternoon for stealing a car after allegedly threatening its owner with a kitchen knife, and for trying to steal a motorcycle after crashing the car against a concrete wall, police inspector Paulo Bittencourt said.

Bittencourt, head of Sao Paulo's 91st police district where Gracie was locked up in an individual cell, said that during the morning roll call Gracie did not respond.

"When I went to his cell, I saw him lying on his mattress," Bittencourt said. "He had no pulse and a reddish liquid was coming out of his mouth. It seems to me he died of a heart attack."

The Agencia Estado news service quoted Gracie's physician Sabino Ferreira de Farias as saying that, at the time of his arrest, the fighter was taking antidepressants and anti-psychotic medication.

Globo TV said Farias tested Gracie's urine shortly after his arrest and found traces of cocaine, crack and marijuana. Bittencourt would not comment on the unconfirmed reports, and Farias could not be contacted at his drug rehabilitation clinic.

The AP was unable to contact Gracie's family or his attorney, Rodrigo Souto de Assis Silva.

Gracie's body was taken to the city morgue to determine the exact cause of his death, Bittencourt said.

Gracie was a grandson of Carlos Gracie, one of the creators of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

[Enter Blue Guy]

Wow, that sucks. Sad thing is it seemed like it was only a matter of time until this happened. He was known for getting into trouble, violent confrontations with locals, tourists, cops, pretty much just about anybody. Ryan was notorious for going to bars and clubs to pick fights just because he could. And he almost died a few years ago after being accidentally shot in the leg.

Personally, I always thought Ryan wasted talent. He was such a dominant grappler, a nau