UFC 123 PPV opener: Lauzon fades again, Sotiropoulos wins by sub in the second

Joe Lauzon is great in short stints but he's got to learn how to pace himself. The last time he had a chance to break through into UFC's top five at 155 pounds, he gassed badly against Kenny Florian. The same thing happened tonight versus George Sotiropoulos in the first bout on the pay-per-view portion of UFC 123.

After a strong first round, Lauzon looked exhausted to the start of the second. Ninety seconds into the round, a Lauzon trip failed and the Aussie got into a dominant north-south position on the ground. Sotiropoulos got hold off Lauzon's arm in a kimura and nearly ripped the limb off. With the win at 2:43 of the second, Sotiropoulos moved to 7-0 with the promotion. 

UPDATE: Sotiropoulos and Lauzon were given the fight of the night bonus, good for $80,000 each. 

UPDATE II: UFC president Dana White announced that Sotiropoulos will fight Dennis Siver at UFC 127 in Sotiropoulos' native Australia. 

Sotiropoulos (14-2, 7-0 UFC) admitted that he got off to a slow start. 

"It was the calm before the storm," Sotiropoulos told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "I knew I'd find my range and get in my shots."

Lauzon showed he's a high class fighter in the opening minutes. He was faster in the striking game, tagging Sotiropoulos with several clean rights. His takedown defense was excellent as well, but fatigue set in at around 90 seconds left in the first. Sotiropoulos got top control, providing a preview of what was to come in the second. 

Lauzon (19-6, 6-3 UFC) came off his stool with his mouth open and was throwing sloppy, slow punches. Sotiropoulos reversed a Lauzon takedown attempt and moved immediately to north-south position. Once the kimura was locked on, Lauzon tapped almost instantly. 

Sotiropoulos was a heavy favorite during Season 6 of "The Ultimate Fighter," but was upset in the semifinals by Tommy Speer. He battled injuries for much of 2008 into early 2009. Now healthy, and happy with his training camp, the Aussie has quickly emerged as a title contender with wins over Lauzon, Joe Stevenson and Kurt Pellegrino.  

"I want to face the best," Sotiropoulos said. "I want to earn what I get. I want to make a case for the belt. I'll continue making my case."

Sotiropoulos asked the promotion for a quick turnaround. He'd like to fight in less than 13 weeks when the UFC visits Sydney, Australia on Feb. 27.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-123-PPV-opener-Lauzon-fades-again-Sotiropo?urn=mma-287727

Bobby Lashley Joe Lauzon Mo Lawal Ruthless Robbie Lawler

ROUNDTABLE (pt. 1 of 2): Does Rampage Jackson have a real chance against Lyoto Machida at UFC 123? Hansen, Lee, Hyden, Hobaugh and Perez

UFC_123_poster_180_12.jpg

Does Rampage Jackson have a real chance against Lyoto Machida at UFC 123?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

A week ago I thought he had a 40% chance. But now, every time he opens his mouth, my hopes for a competitive fight diminish. He has a puncher's chance, but no more. He's no longer a fighter, despite his protestations to the contrary. He's a sports entertainer (I say spitefully). Maybe he can job to Mark Henry.

ERIC LEE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Rampage has just as good a chance as anyone else at beating Lyoto. He will need to be much more aggressive than he has been recently, but as we all saw from the second Shogun fight Machida is vulnerable on his fight. Rampage has great power and if he can be a smart boxer in this fight, I could definitely see him winning via KO or TKO.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Absolutely. Someone with the power that Rampage has always has a chance, it's the proverbial puncher's chance. If Rampage catches Machida clean with a right hook or something, the fight is over. Machida will certainly do his best to ensure that such a thing doesn't happen, but the threat looms. Rampage will have to be careful of a Machida counter, but if he can lure him in, Machida will get knocked out. Machida won't stand and trade with Rampage. I think this will be a patented borefest from Machida, but Rampage definitely has a legitimate chance to win in this one.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

Rampage Jackson always has the striker's chance to defeat any person he is in the Octagon with.  That said, his recent statements in the press really tell me that he is done.  When he talked about being defeated before stepping in against Rashad Evans, that told me that he was done fighting at an elite level. I think he should concentrate on the movies and his business affairs.  He was one of the best light-heavyweights in the history of MMA.  His legacy is secure with his dominance in Pride and his run in the UFC.  By winning the UFC title and beating Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva he goes down as one of the best and most loved fighters in the history of the sport.  But he does not have the desire or skills today to make another title run.  He does have something most fighters in his position do not, though, and that is the talent and ability in another area to make huge sums of money and take care of himself and his family.

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Everyone has a real chance against Lyoto Machida.  The problem is that most people can't "figure" the guy out.  Rampage Jackson actually has two things that can help him tame "The Dragon."  First, no one has tried to really wrestle with Machida.  Sure, you'd have a hard time getting to him to take him down, but Rampage can get him down and use his wrestling as a good, solid base against him.  Also, Rampage, when he wants to, can walk an opponent down and bring the fight to them.  Most fighters have been afraid of Machida's skill set, but if you look at the fighter that did take the fight to him, and not be afraid, that guy went on to beat Machida and become the new light-heavyweight champion.  So, yes, Rampage has a real good chance of beating Machida.  

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_7577.shtml

Jushin Thunder Liger Zach Light Scott Lighty Jae Suk Lim

The Warm Up ? ?UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida?

The Octagon returns to Detroit for the first time since 1996 this weekend with UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida. For those that don?t remember that UFC?s last trip to the Motor City, let me try and refresh your memory or teach you some history. It was UFC 9, Senator John McCain?s strongly worded letter led [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2010/11/19/the-warm-up-ufc-123-rampage-vs-machida/

Kevin Randleman Vitor Ribeiro Aaron Riley Joe Riggs

Jose Aldo shows off his shiny new UFC championship belt

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The WEC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo, was officially crowned the champ of the UFC's new featherweight division before UFC 123 got underway on Saturday. Aldo earned this new belt by virtue of the WEC's merger with the UFC. He will defend his new belt at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 against Josh Grispi.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Jose-Aldo-shows-off-his-shiny-new-UFC-championsh?urn=mma-287708

Peni Taufa ao Thiago Tavares Paul Taylor Glover Teixeira

UFC NEWS: Jon Fitch places blame on himself for failing to receive second title shot

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

FitchJon_150_23.jpg

Despite a vocal declaration that his bout with Thiago Alves at UFC 117 was to determine the #1 contender in the welterweight division, Jon Fitch has been passed over for a shot at the Championship in favor of Jake Shields. And while Fitch has every right to be upset about the situation, he's placed the blame on himself.

"I'm not going to cry about it,? Fitch said, in comments made to Loretta Hunt for the LA Times. "If I've failed to convince the UFC, Dana White, and the fans that I'm overwhelmingly the No. 1 contender and that I absolutely should be fighting for the belt, then I take that as my own responsibility. It's my own fault. If people are dissatisfied, then I'm going to correct that."

Fitch's seeming inability to finish fights, along with his smothering top game, haven't won him too many fans. He's been dominant in all his fights outside of the loss to Georges St. Pierre two years ago, but his fights haven't brought out the excitement and adoration of fans, and Fitch said he's now coming to realize that.

"I really don't know what they're thinking [as to why I haven't gotten the shot]," he said. "My only thinking is that if I?m not overwhelmingly, in the fans? opinion, the guy who deserves it, then I have to win them over... It kind of was a little bit of a recent revelation [for me]. There wasn't an overwhelming rush of support after the Alves fight. That was kind of eye-opening. I handily beat the No. 3 [fighter] in the world, and people are still not willing to thrust me into competition with GSP. Something's missing."

Fitch realizes that, at the end of the day, since he's already had a shot before and come up short, it's down to a monetary issue.

"It comes down to making money," he said. "If they don?t think they can make money off you, then they're not going to give you those fights."

"Those fights" include a rematch with St. Pierre, Carlos Condit and Jake Shields in the welterweight division, but a Josh Koscheck win over GSP on December 11 could lead Fitch to move up once he's had a chance to fight those three.

"Jake Shields, GSP, and Carlos Condit," said Fitch. "I'd still want to fight those guys regardless of Koscheck winning the belt or not. If Koscheck holds onto the belt for a while, than I could look at moving up a weight class."

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: Fitch says he's been finishing his training partners in his camp more often than before previous fights, and beginning with Jake Ellenberger in February he'll be looking to be more impressive in his performances in the Octagon. I hope he uses this snub as motivation to begin finding a way to win fights without going to the judges' scorecards, and force people to recognize that he deserves another shot at the Welterweight Championship. I'd certainly put him in that spot at this point, and I think he's done enough to earn another shot, but clearly it wasn't enough for the UFC at this point, and a lot of fans haven't come around. If he can find a way to stop a very tough Jake Ellenberger, he'll do a lot to turn things in a different direction for himself.

[Jon Fitch art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7512.shtml

Sean Gannon Edgar Garcia Leonard Garcia Andrew Gardner