Humbled Vera learned you can't trash talk in the Octagon

Brandon Vera has never lacked for confidence. In fact, when the media and fans would question his lack of aggression is some fights, Vera would fire back defiantly. But it was clear, he wasn't the same fighter who shot up the charts in 2005 and 2006. It took a major wake-up call to finally shake up Vera.

The 33-year-old quickly rose to the top of the heavyweight division with wins at Ultimate Fight Night 2 and UFC 57, 60 and 65. He eventually met his match against the massive Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum at heavyweight. Then two years later he took hotshot Jon Jones too lightly.

"I for sure, did not give Mr. Jones the respect he deserved and that's my fault," Vera during the UFC 125 prefight press conference (24:50 mark).

Vera (11-5) lost his concentration at the worst time. 

"When I was underneath him, I'm remember being off in my own world while he was throwing elbows and missing. I was holding his wrist and thinking 'geez man, all the hype was about you ... this is what you have to offer on the ground, really?' I remember I said 'you f'n suck,' but before I said the word suck, the elbow came down on my face and smashed my face."

The Jones' elbow broke Vera's cheekbone. MMA can be incredibly dangerous if you don't defend yourself properly. The Filipino-American paid the price and was sidelined for seven months. 

"That's when I realized right then and there, 'That's what you get you bastard. That's what you get for thinking you're so ahead of the game.'"

For Vera, who is just 3-3 since dropping to light heavyweight, the success in his late-20's came too fast. 

"Honestly [it was] my arrogance. The fights seemed easy. I was in there training hard, training hard [then] I go in there and knock someone out real quick. Train hard, train hard then knock somebody else out real quick," said Vera [20:58 mark]. "My arrogance caught up to me. My head got real big and somebody needed to pop it. Too bad they had to pop my face for it to pop, but it's popped. I'm back. My head's level and I'm ready to go."

Vera better be right-minded. He's got a tough test at UFC 125 in aggressive striker Thiago Silva and frankly his job may be on thin ice if he loses a third straight fight.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Humbled-Vera-learned-you-can-t-trash-talk-in-the?urn=mma-301908

Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace Crosley Gracie

UFC 128 official for March 19 in New Jersey with Rua vs. Evans, Faber vs. Wineland

The UFC's return to New Jersey is official.

As expected, the world largest mixed martial arts promotion heads to the Garden State on March 19 for "UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans."

Featuring a long-awated light heavyweight title clash between current champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former title holder Rashad Evans, UFC 128 takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/OGeqG5lTR6E/ufc-128-official-for-march-19-in-new-jersey-with-rua-vs-evans-faber-vs-wineland.mma

Rob Broughton  Mike Brown  Junie Browning Paul Buentello 

UFC NEWS: Frankie Edgar medically suspended up to six months with nasal fracture; eight others handed medical suspensions at UFC 125

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Frankie_Edgar_180_5.jpeg

A fractured nose suffered by UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar in his split draw with Gray Maynard on Saturday night at UFC 125 could hold off their pending rematch for a considerable amount of time.

According to the list of medical suspensions released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (per MMAJunkie.com), Edgar has been medically suspended until July 1 due to the nasal fracture. He can be cleared early by a physician, but he's suspended at a minimum until February 16 with no contact until February 1.

That timetable pushes the rematch with Gray Maynard until likely April at the earliest, and it could be significantly later than that.

The rest of the medical suspensions for the event are below:

* Frankie Edgar: Suspended until July 1 due to nasal fracture, though an ENT doctor can clear him early; regardless, minimum suspension until Feb. 16 with no contact until Feb. 1

* Gray Maynard: Suspended until Feb. 16 with no contact until Jan. 23 due to facial lacerations

* Chris Leben: Suspended until Feb. 6 with no contact until Feb. 1 for precautionary reasons

* Brandon Vera: Suspended until July 1 due to nasal fracture, though an ENT doctor can clear him early; regardless, minimum suspension until Feb. 16 with no contact until Feb. 1

* Marcus Davis: Suspended until July 1 due to nasal fracture, though an ENT doctor can clear him early; regardless, minimum suspension until March 3 with no contact until Feb. 16

* Josh Grispi: Suspended until July 1 due to a jaw injury, though a, oral, maxial and facial doctor can clear him early; regardless, minimum suspension until Feb. 16 with no contact until Feb. 1

* Phil Baroni: Suspended until July 1 due to nasal fracture, though an ENT doctor can clear him early; regardless, minimum suspension until March 3 with no contact until Feb. 16

* Diego Nunes: Suspended until Jan. 23 with no contact until Jan. 16 due to left-eye contusion

* Greg Soto: Suspended until July 1 due to a left-shoulder injury, though an orthopedic doctor can clear him early

Penick's Analysis: This may lead to Anthony Pettis deciding to take a fight in the UFC prior to his title fight, especially if Edgar's return comes later than April, as that would leave him out of action upwards of nine months to a year. But hopefully for all involved Edgar will be able to get cleared to get back to action as soon as possible with that being the only significant damage he suffered in the fight. At least neither were hit with any joint injuries or serious limb breaks, as that could have set this rematch back for an even longer period of time.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8031.shtml

Kevin Randleman Randy Couture Josh Barnett Ricco Rodriguez

Alistair Overeem's Pre-Fight Interview K-1 World GP - Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem's Pre-Fight interview for FieLDS K-1 WORLD GP 2010 FINAL (2010 Dec,11 / Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, JAPAN) . http://www.k-1.co.jp/12?11?FieLDS K-1 WORLD GP 2010 FINAL????????????????????????????????????????

Source: http://mmalice.com/alistair-overeem/alistair-overeems-pre-fight-interview-k-1-world-gp-video_52953e1cb.html

Paul McVeigh Frank Mir Daniel Moraes Scott Morris

Will Campuzano meets Chris Cariaso at UFC Fight Night 23

With David Mitchell and Mike Swick each bowing out to injury, UFC brass had an extra slot to fill at UFC Fight Night 23.

Enter Will Campuzano and Chris Cariaso.

MMAjunkie.com has learned that the two bantamweights have verbally agreed to meet at "UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2," which takes place Jan. 22 at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/I6oqMfsuTr4/will-campuzano-meets-chris-cariaso-at-ufc-fight-night-23.mma

Shungo Oyama Fredson Paixao Soa Palalei Bart Palaszewski

Ishii gets another win; Sakuraba quits because of dreaded ear injury

Satoshi Ishii took another step in his progression as a mixed martial artist by downing legendary kickboxer Jerome LeBanner. The 38-year-old K-1 veteran had a tough time staying off his back. Ishii took him down whenever and wherever.

The Japanese judo champion's best round was the third when he threatened with several kimura attempts. He rolled to a unanimous decision against a guy fighting MMA for the first time since 2006.

Ishii (pictured on the right) was giving away 31 pounds and used a lot of energy in controlling the Frenchman on the floor. There's still questions about his stamina. At only 233 pounds, he's also caught in no man's land between light heavyweight and the massive heavyweights. The 24-year-old is now 4-1 in MMA. 

While Ishii may be the future of Japanese MMA, Kazushi Sakaraba is clearly the past. The 41-year-old lost again and walked away from the ring looking like an accident victim. He didn't suffer much damage in his loss against Marius Zaromskis but one of his cauliflower ears got popped early in the fight, making it impossible to continue.

Just 90 seconds into the fight, Sakuraba (26-14-1) was bleeding like a stuff pig. The doctors checked it once then Zaromskis landed another good shot on that right ear. Sakuraba clearly felt the pain and grabbed the ear. HDNet color voice Frank Trigg said  "his ear fell off the side of his head."

The doctor stopped the fight and Sakuraba left the ring with his head in a towel wrapped by loads of tape. The man who once fought a 90-minute battle against Royce Gracie, has now lost three straight and five-of-seven.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Ishii-gets-another-win-Sakuraba-quits-because-o?urn=mma-302058

Ivan Titenkov Sylvester Terkay Harout Terzyan James Thompson

Charlie Brenneman: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Pre-Fight Interview

Charlie Brenneman will be taking on Amilcar Alves in an undercard bout that takes place Jan 22, 2011. UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: Killeen, Texas Venue: Fort Hood Broadcast: Spike TV MAIN CARD * Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard * Tim Hague vs. Matt Mitrione [...]

Source: http://www.mmatko.com/charlie-brenneman-ufc-fight-for-the-troops-2-pre-fight-interview/

Jeremy Jackson Quinton Rampage Jackson Jaime Jara Keith Jardine

Stann TKOs 'toughest guy in the UFC' at UFC 125

In his second bout at middleweight, Brian Stann used his power to take out Chris Leben, winning in a first round TKO at UFC 125 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Stann beat Leben down in the first round, first wobbling him with a right hand. Leben crumbled to the ground after another right hand, but worked back to his feet. Stann continued the onslaught, throwing knees and punches, trying to put Leben away. After Leben got back to his feet twice, only to fall back down to his knee, the fight was stopped at 3:37 of the first round. 

After the bout, Stann said that he wanted this bout because he knew Leben would be a test.

"I asked for Chris Leben because he is the toughest guy on the UFC roster," Stann said. "I'm ecstatic, but golly can this guy take some shots!"

Stann earned his 10th victory at UFC 125, pushing his record to 10-3. Leben, an alumnus of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter," falls to 25-7.

Stann, a captain in the Marines, emotionally dedicated the fight to one of his Marines who died this week in Afghanistan.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Stann-TKOs-toughest-guy-in-the-UFC-at-UFC-125?urn=mma-302390

Edwin Dewees  Nick Diaz  Tadhg Steamfist Dixon Joe Doerksen