Bellator signs UFC vet Ben Saunders for non-tourney fights

Bellator Fighting Championships officials today announced the signing of former UFC fighter and "The Ultimate Fighter 6" cast member Ben Saunders.

The 170-pounder won't competed in Bellator's eight-man season-four welterweight tournament but will fight during the upcoming season, which kicks off next month.

His fights surely will make the main cards of the events, which air live on MTV2.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/a3ARR8cFacM/bellator-signs-ufc-vet-ben-saunders-for-non-tourney-fights.mma

Ryuki Ueyama Caol Uno Alexander Ustinov Umer W Chheena

Face-off! The best staredown techniques in MMA

Two randomly, great staredowns took place at the weigh-ins for the UFC's Fight for the Troops 2. Fighters use several different techniques to gain an edge during weigh-ins.

The La-La-La I can't see you technique: Anderson Silva (above left) used this before his bout with Chael Sonnen in response to the many unsavory things that Sonnen said about Silva before the bout. It worked for Silva, as he won in the final minutes of the title match with Sonnen. Cheick Kongo tried it against Frank Mir, but it didn't work as well.

The sharing-is-caring method: At FFTT 2 weigh-ins, Yves Edwards was hungry. After all, he had just cut down to 155 pounds. He snacked on some potato chips, and was kind enough to share a chip with his opponent, Cody McKenzie. That streak of kindness helped Edwards, who won with a rear-naked choke. This technique was also employed at UFC 94 by Akihiro Gono, who shared his extra-large wig with Jon Fitch, but it didn't turn out so well for Gono. He lost in a decision.

The finger-in-the-face gambit: Ah, Nick Diaz. Don't ever stop being you. At a press conference before his bout with Frank Shamrock, Diaz gave the Stockton Heybuddy to his opponent. Though Shamrock laughed it off, Diaz did win in a second-round TKO.

The Two-Thumbs-Up: Damarques Johnson and Mike Guymon's face-off resembled something from this site, but also notched a zero on the intimidation scale. Perhaps that was part of Johnson's plan, as he won with a body triangle at Fight for the Troops 2.

The Glory Days: At UFC 123, old friends Mark Munoz and Aaron Simpson paid tribute to their roots by facing off as they did when wrestling in college. Simpson told Cagewriter that they had planned on wearing their college singlets, but Munoz couldn't find his. Munoz won the decision, but this technique wasn't really about intimidation. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Face-off-The-best-staredown-techniques-in-MMA?urn=mma-311958

He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno Dan Henderson

Additional seats may open for UFC 129, near-soldout UFC Fight Night 24

LAS VEGAS - Saturday's UFC 126 event already is sold out, UFC 127 proved the fastest sellout in promotional history, and seats are going quickly for the UFC's other upcoming shows.

Despite a battered economy, the UFC simply shows no signs of slowing down with its early-year schedule.

That's why March's UFC Fight Night 24 event in Seattle and a heavily anticipated UFC 129 show in Toronto could see expanded seating sections, UFC president Dana White recently told MMAjunkie.com.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/Y06TUS7z17U/additional-seats-may-open-for-ufc-129-near-soldout-ufc-fight-night-24.mma

Leonard Garcia Andrew Gardner Tiki Ghosn Dennis George

Former featherweight champ Brown loses again at Fight for the Troops 2

Mike Brown was on top of the world for much of 2008 and 2009, but things change quickly in mixed martial arts. The rest of the field has caught and begun to pass the former WEC featherweight champ. Rani Yahya dominated Brown in a grappling war to take a unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, in an undercard bout at Fight for the Troops 2 at Fort Hood in Killeen, Tx. 

This was actually Brown's second fight in last three weeks in the UFC. He lost on New Year's Day at UFC 125 via decision against Diego Nunes. Maybe it was too soon to bounce back. He didn't look fresh for most of the fight.

Brown (24-8, 0-3 UFC) was a dominant force when he first dropped down to 145, but his fortunes have changed quickly, losing two straight, 3-of-4 and 4-of-6.

Yahya (16-6, 1-0 UFC) set the tone early with his grappling. The Brazilian is slight compared Brown, but he looked like the much stronger fighter in the clinch, and when the fight hit the floor.

Yahya was close to setting up a rear-naked choke at the end of the first. Brown was already breathing heavily. In the second, Brown opted to lock horns again with Yahya. He got it to the ground but could never settle into a dominant position. After a stalemate on the floor for three minutes, the fight got back to the feet. Brown looked sluggish and was missing badly with right hands from a distance. Brown did enough to take the round on two cards, but was out of gas.

In With about 50 seconds gone by in the final round, Yahya scored a takedown. A minute later, Yahya had his back. He did significant damage with punches and worked for a choke. He was pounding away, but referee Mario Yamasaki thought he saw some illegal shots and put the fight back on the feet. Brown couldn't mount an attack in the final minute. 

Lowe's wrestling early on too much for Freire

Waylon Lowe isn't interested much in style points. He's a grinder, who relies on his wrestling to take the sting away from more well-rounded fighters. Willamy Freire may be a hot shot prospect, but he proved he still needs to work on his takedown defense. Lowe scored takedowns throughout the first two rounds. The American moved out to a 20-18 lead and survived gassing a bit in the final round to post his second UFC victory. Lowe won via unanimous decision, 29-28 on all scorecards.

The thickly muscled Lowe (10-3, 2-1 UFC) had a big advantage in the power department. Freire, 23, was too stationary when standing, allowing Lowe to charge forward for easy takedowns. On the ground, Freire was active from the bottom, but the judges gave the nod to Lowe who controlled things from the top.

Lowe was exhausted in the third and there for the taking, but Freire couldn't turn on the jets. After a scramble, he momentarily scored the mount. Freire eventually settled into Lowe's half guard with three minutes left in the fight. He did some damage with 12-15 lefts to Lowe's face, but the American scrambled and eventually got to his feet.

Non-televised undercard:

Chris Cariaso def. Will Campuzano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Charlie Brenneman def. Amilcar Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Former-featherweight-champ-Brown-loses-again-at-?urn=mma-311095

Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo  Kyle Bradley  Jai Bradney 

Strikeforce Diaz vs. Cyborg Recap,Jacare vs. Lawler, Roger Gracie, Herschel Walker - Strikeforce Diaz vs Cyborg

Both Strikeforce champs, Nick Diaz and Jacare defeated their contenders by submission. Watch recaps of Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg, Jacare Souza vs. Robbie Lawler, Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley, and Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce-diaz-vs-cyborg/strikeforce-diaz-vs-cyborg-recapjacare-vs-lawler-roger-gracie-herschel-walker-video_7d820c498.html

Cody Guinn Jorge Gurgel Andre Gusmao Alexander Gustafsson

Joe Rogan interview: UFC analyst gives Belfort a real shot at pulling the upset

Vitor Belfort is one of the originals. The former UFC light heavyweight champ was around when the promotion was slightly less organized and MMA was a lot less accepted as a sport around the world. Joe Rogan was around back then as well. Today, he's the color voice of the UFC. Back then, he was a comedian and martial arts fan, who befriended the original owners. They decided to give him a shot.

Rogan stopped by ESPNRadio1100 with DC and the Sunshine Man. He talked about the old days of UFC and the amazing growth of the promotion in less than 20 years.

He was brutally honest about Belfort and his chances against Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 126. Rogan talked a about Belfort mentally breaking past fights, but thinks he may be beyond those issues. He also believes Belfort can be more than competitive going toe-to-toe on the feet with the middleweight champ.

Download the entire interview here

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Joe-Rogan-interview-UFC-analyst-gives-Belfort-a?urn=mma-316320

Andrew Gardner Tiki Ghosn Dennis George Kultar Gill