MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Cain Velasquez Belongs

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When it comes to pound-for-pound rankings, the biggest question is always how to deal with heavyweights. Some people think a pound-for-pound list should never include any heavyweight champions at all. Others say if you're the heavyweight champ, you belong in the Top 10, just as the champions at bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight belong.

When Fedor Emelianenko was the heavyweight king, I always had him on my pound-for-pound list. But when Brock Lesnar took Fedor's place as the sport's top heavyweight, I didn't list Lesnar. My feeling was that Lesnar's greatness was much more about size and strength than skill, and therefore Lesnar wasn't really suited to being in the pound-for-pound Top 10.

Now that Cain Velasquez is the heavyweight champion of the world, I'm back to having a heavyweight in my Top 10. Find out where and why below.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/11/01/mma-top-10-pound-for-pound-cain-velasquez-belongs/

Gary Myers Chris The Pitbull Myra Jason MacDonald Cory MacDonald

Ellenberger uses the power of Twitter to call out 'hated' Shields

UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger wants a piece of Jake Shields, and he's using his mouth to try to make it happen. Never mind that Shields has already cemented his title shot with a win over Martin Kampmann, and that Ellenberger is in line behind Jon Fitch and Carlos Condit, a fighter who has beaten Ellenberger. He wants Shields, and he is using the power of Twitter to try to sway the powers-that-be in the UFC.

Ellenberger -- who has recent TKO wins over John Howard and Mike Pyle -- has called out Shields several times on Twitter in the last few days, questioning Shields' title shot immediately after the fight, then going on to say:

Ellenberger isn't the first fighter to use a strategy of asking for fights to move up for a bout. Dan Hardy, "King Mo" Lawal and Ben Saunders have all gotten a shot at top fights by simply asking for them. Ellenberger would have to clear a lot of hurdles to get a shot at Shields before Shields fights either Georges St. Pierre or Josh Koscheck for the UFC welterweight title, but stranger things have happened in MMA.

UPDATE: Cagewriter spoke with Ellenberger via text, and he said that both Jake Shields and the UFC have not responded to his tweets. "But it's only a matter of time. Fake Shields is a fraud. Excuse me, Miss Piggy is a fraud," Ellenberger said. Why Miss Piggy?

"When he fights, he reminds me of Miss Piggy, with hs softness and feminine charm."

Ellenberger's beef with Shields comes from before both fighters were with the UFC. He says that he had a signed contract to fight Shields, but Shields' father (and manager) pulled him out of the bout because it was a bad match-up. Ellenberger admits that Condit and Fitch also have a claim on a bout with Shields, but, "I hate him more."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Ellenberger-uses-the-power-of-Twitter-to-call-ou?urn=mma-280071

Bobby Lashley Joe Lauzon Mo Lawal Ruthless Robbie Lawler

Weekend Results: Joachim Hansen Submits Former Olympian

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Former Dream lightweight champion Joachim Hansen recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since 2008 on Friday in Sweden.

Fighting outside of K-1/Dream for the first time in 10 fights, Hansen submitted two-time Greco-Roman wrestling Olympian Sami Aziz at Superior Challenge 6 with an armbar at three minutes and 47 seconds of the second round. Taken down by a double-leg with less than two minutes left in the round, Hansen threw his legs up for a fast triangle to set up the armlock finish. Hansen's win Friday improved his record to 21-10-1.

The last time Hansen won two straight matches was when he was crowned the Dream GP champ with single-night victories over Shinya Aoki and Kultar Gill.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/11/01/weekend-results-joachim-hansen-submits-former-olympian/

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo 

Happy Halloween From MMAFighting.com

Though usually we're all MMA all the time, today we take a break to wish you and yours a happy Halloween with this special video. Don't worry, what it lacks in the spookyness category it makes up for by being instructional, if only in the cautionary tale sort of way. Happy Halloween, MMA Fighting readers. Thanks for all your support.


Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/10/31/happy-halloween-from-mmafighting-com/

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

TUF Talks: The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 Episode 7

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another edition of ?TUF Talks?, my weekly recap of the popular UFC reality TV show ?The Ultimate Fighter?. Last week?s episode saw not just one but two fights, with Team GSP coming out in dominating fashion both times and sending the hopes of the cocky and [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/10/28/tuf-talks-the-ultimate-fighter-season-12-episode-7

Gleison Tibau Anthony Torres Miguel Torres Roberto Traven

Hominick Out, Grispi In for Title Bout vs. Jose Aldo

It appears Jose Aldowill not be defending his UFC featherweight championship against Mark Hominick, as had been previously reported, who has opted out due to injury. Rather, it turns out the talented youngster will instead be facing Josh “The Fluke” Grispi at UFC 125 on January 1st, 2011. News of the switch was reported by [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2010/10/29/hominick-out-grispi-in-for-title-bout-vs-jose-aldo/

Harout Terzyan James Thompson Nick Thompson Josh Thomson

Mitrione vs. Hague, Johnson vs. Guymon Added to UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Jan. 22

The Ultimate Fighter 10's Matt Mitrione will look to remain unbeaten when he's expected to take on returning heavyweight Tim Hague at UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Jan. 22 at Fort Hood, Texas. The Spike-televised event also includes a matchup between TUF 9 runner-up DaMaques Johnson and fellow welterweight Mike Guymon.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/16410/mitrione-vs-hague-johnson-vs-guymon-added-to-ufc-fight-for-the-troops-2-on-jan-22/

Matt Hughes B J Penn Georges St Pierre Matt Serra

Carlos Condit Calls Out Jon Fitch

Fresh off a dominating performance against former number one welterweight contender Dan Hardy, Carlos Condit is looking to climb further up the ladder as he has called out another former title challenger, Jon Fitch:<br><br> "I think Jon Fitch, that would be a great fight. I think his game plan would be similar to (Georges St. Pierre ) game plan. Wrestler probably try to take me down, and if I could deal with that then that is maybe a marker for how I might do in a title match."<br><br> "I?d have to work my butt off, but I like a challenge."<br><br> Props: MMAWeekly.com

Source: http://www.mmanews.com/home.php

Sean Sherk Katsuyori Shibata Jake Shields Akira Shoji

Belfort, Carwin, Diaz & Silva Announced For Round 5 ?Ultimate Collector? Series 5

Round 5 has announced that Vitor Belfort, Shane Carwin, Nate Diaz and Thiago Silva will be featured in the fifth installment of their UFC “Ultimate Collector” series. This series will also include surprise “chase” items as found in previous series. Collectors should also be on the lookout for surprise ?chase? items, which will include special [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/sKtrqVfGa-M/

Chris The Pitbull Myra Jason MacDonald Cory MacDonald Matt MacGrath