UFC 129 RESULTS: Lyoto Machida knocks Randy Couture into retirement with face kick KO in Toronto

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

MachidaLyoto_CG150_33.jpg

Randy Couture's time as a mixed martial arts fighter has come to a close, and it ended on the business end of one of the most vicious knockouts in UFC history.

Lyoto Machida pulled off a leaping front kick to Couture's face that sent him crashing to the canvas in the second round of their fight at UFC 129 on Saturday night. In front of a crowd of 55,000 at the Rogers Centre, Machida followed in his teammate Anderson Silva's footsteps in pulling off only the second front kick knockout in the UFC, and his came after leaving his feet.

One more follow up strike on the ground was enough to bring an end to the contest, and Couture, less a half tooth knocked out by the kick, reiterated to Joe Rogan in the cage that this is the end of his career as a fighter after 14 years and 30 fights.

Machida snaps a two fight losing streak with the knockout win, and will look to re-insert himself into the top of the division after his first win since October of 2009.

Penick's Analysis: This was one of the most brutal knockout blows ever delivered inside the Octagon. Machida picked a perfect time after picking his spots earlier in the fight, and Couture just never saw it coming. It was insane, creative, amazing and will be in the running for knockout of the year for the rest of 2011.

[Lyoto Machida art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9203.shtml

Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida

Ryan Jensen released from UFC following UFC 129 loss to Jason MacDonald

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC_129_poster_180_33.jpg

Middleweight Ryan Jensen has been released from the UFC following a loss to Jason MacDonald at UFC 129 last Saturday in Toronto.

The fighter revealed his release in a post on his Facebook page, and said it wasn't a surprise to him.

"Saw it coming, now [it's] time to turn the page!" he wrote. "I want to say thanks to Jackson's MMA and all the coaches and training partners and to all the friends [and] family I have met along the way! Thanks for all the support it was one hell of a ride!!! Back to coaching and helping out at my gym Premier Combat Center in Omaha!"

Jensen went just 2-6 in eight fights over two stints in the UFC. His first stint in 2007 resulted in two straight submission losses, and he returned nearly a year after the second loss and has appeared in six straight fights. Though he got both of his wins during that stint, first round submission wins over Steve Steinbess and Jesse Forbes, he was submitted in his four other fights, including back to back losses to Court McGee and MacDonald.

Penick's Analysis: This news isn't surprising, as winning two fights in six appearances over the last couple of years isn't going to keep many fighters on the roster. He showed good skills in a number of his fights, and was on his way to a second impressive performance in a row against Court McGee before fading in the third and getting submitted. However, losing two straight by submission, coupled with his other recent losses, meant this was a likely result coming out of the event.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9242.shtml

Rich No Love Clementi  Mark The Hammer Coleman Wes Soldier Combs  Ray Cooper 

UFC 129 Prelims Live brings 1.5 million viewers to Spike TV

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC_129_poster_180_30.jpg

Saturday's UFC 129 Prelims Live broadcast on Spike TV brought another strong rating to the network, bringing in 1.5 million viewers for the hour long broadcast.

The Spike broadcast featured two fights live, with Jake Ellenberger scoring a vicious first-round KO win over Sean Pierson and Rory MacDonald putting on an impressive performance in a dominant decision win over Nate Diaz.

The 1.5 million viewers tied for the fourth most to tune in for a Prelims Live special on Spike, falling just slightly below UFC 114, UFC 109 and UFC 126. UFC 126 set the record for the specials with 2 million viewers in February.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9227.shtml

Grant Campbell  Gesias JZ Calvancante  Luiz Cane  Dos Caras Jr  

Diaz vs. Lacy set: Camp Lacy says ‘Left Hook’ isn’t losing to a 1-0 fighter

If contracts mean anything it appears we're closer to Nick Diaz stepping away from MMA to try his hand at boxing. Press releases were sent out today saying the Strikeforce 170-pound champion has signed a deal to fight former 168-pound boxing champion Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy in October.

Lacy's publicist Bernie Bahrmasel said his fighter has signed the deal. ESPN.com's Josh Gross spoke with Diaz's mentor Cesar Gracie, who said the MMA fighter also put pen to paper.

Diaz didn't actually sign a contract to fight Lacy. He's signed a bout agreement with Don Chargin, the promoter, with the understanding that it's going to be Lacy.

It's a surprising matchup on both sides. Lacy, a pro boxer with 30 fights under his belt, has a lot to lose. Diaz, who hasn't lost an MMA bout since 2007, has only fought professionally on the boxing side one time.

"It's a challenge when somebody calls him out," Bahrmasel told Yahoo! Sports. "It's a personal thing when somebody says 'you're this, you're that. I can come and kick your butt.'  And Jeff's like, 'I'm Jeff Lacy pal. I've been a successful boxer for a very long time. You want to step in with me under boxing rules and prove yourself, it's absolutely personal.'

Two weeks ago, Lacy (25-4-1) spoke about Diaz calling him out.

"Honestly, I was a little stunned. Nick has accomplished a great deal in mixed martial arts and is certainly one of the best in the sport. But getting in the ring with me for a boxing match is a path he needs to be very wary of taking. I'm willing to put it all on the line anytime, anywhere!" said Lacy.

"For the right price, I'm more than interested in heading to his turf and put my fist in his mouth and silencing him."

That kind of trash talk surprised his publicist.

"For Jeff to use that kind of language, it's not typically the way he talks," Bahrmasel said. "He's always been very respectful. But you throw a sword in his direction then you're going to get Jeff Lacy."

The Lacy Camp has no worries about losing to Diaz (1-0).

"He's never lost to a guy who's 1-0 in boxing. How's that for a line? I'll leave it at that," said Bahrmasel.

Is Diaz taking a negotiating position to ensure an MMA fight against Georges St. Pierre before the end of 2011 or will he really go through with this? That's what it sounded like when Gracie spoke with MMAFighting. Seems like a risky proposition for Diaz. If he gets destroyed by Lacy, we're not so sure he can just walk back to MMA and expect anyone to promote a mega-fight against GSP in the near future.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Diaz-vs-Lacy-set-Camp-Lacy-says-Left-Hook-is?urn=mma-wp2059

Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade 

Jake Shields' Head Trainer on the UFC 129 GSP Fight, Nate Diaz The Skrap Pack's Success - UFC 129

*** Watch Complete 1/2hr HD Episodes on http://www.MMAheat.com *** MMA H.E.A.T.'s Karyn Bryant spends a few minutes with Jake Shields' head trainer, Tareq Azim, and hears why GSP will be pushed harder than he ever has been before when he faces the former Strikeforce champ. Tareq talks about Jake's weight cutting and preparation, and also gives insight to the Skrap Pack team's psyche (teammates include Nick and Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Daniel Roberts) Tareq also lets us know how ready Nate Diaz is for his fight against Rory MacDonald, which will be seen on Spike TV before the UFC 129 PPV event. Be sure to visit http://www.MMAheat.com for more interviews and archived episodes of our 1/2 hour TV show. Nós falamos Português! * We're on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MMAheat * Follow MMAheat on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MMAheat * Follow Karyn on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KarynBryant

Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-129/jake-shields-head-trainer-on-the-ufc-129-gsp-fight-nate-diaz-the-skrap-packs-success-video_4dc261c46.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji AnjoÂ