Remember when Tito Ortiz was a 22-year-old phenom? He celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday in Vegas

Another sign some of us are getting really old. How many of you folks remember watching a precocious 22-year-old Tito Ortiz debut at UFC 13 in 1997 and eventually slam his way to a UFC title in 2000?

One of the originals of this young sport just turned 37 yesterday.

Tito did it in style with his girlfiend Jenna Jameson at XS nightclub inside Encore Las Vegas.

[...] arrived at the hotspot after midnight and were seated at a private table overlooking the dance floor. Ortiz was dressed to the nines in a black pinstripe vest, black slacks, a black dress shirt and a white tie, while the blonde bombshell and former porn star wore skin-tight black pants, a shear top and fingerless leather gloves.

Before the late night party, Tito and friends celebrated just south on Las Vegas Boulevard at Caesars.

[...] Jameson and 18 of their friends dined at the new Old Homestead Steakhouse in Caesars Palace, feasting on Osetra caviar, shellfish platters, Dover sole, porterhouse steaks and side dishes.

The happy couple hung out the night before at Encore's Surrender. St Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford was also there.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/remember-tito-ortiz-22-old-phenom-celebrated-37th-171857379.html

Chris Dolman Edson Drago  Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte

Floyd Mayweather Jr. donates six-figure sum to cancer research

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be all about ?the green? when it comes to his career but, at least for a short while, his mind was on the color pink after donating $100,000 to the Susan G. Komen organization, a non-profit specializing in breast cancer research. The contribution was made by Mayweather Jr. as part of [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/21/floyd-mayweather-jr-donates-six-figure-sum-to-cancer-research

Edson Drago  Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus 

UFC on FX 1 Bonuses: Miller, Barry, Morecraft, Denis Earn $45K Awards

Jim Miller, Pat Barry, Christian Morecraft, and Nick Denis each earned $45,000 bonuses for their performances at UFC on FX 1 on Friday night in Nashville, Tennessee, UFC President Dana White announced at the event's post-fight press conference.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27299/ufc-on-fx-1-bonuses-miller-barry-morecraft-denis-earn-45k-awards/

Luke Cummo  Jeff Big Frog Curran Dai Shuanghai  Mac Danzig 

Jon Jones: ?Rashad?s chin sucks.?

With UFC on FOX 2 just days away UFC President Dana White has stayed true to form, releasing the first installment of his video blog for the event. This episode of the vlog boasts extensive behind-the-scenes footage from last Friday night?s UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller card. In the clip viewers are shown several [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/01/24/jon-jones-rashads-chin-sucks/

Marcelo Brito  Rob Broughton  Mike Brown  Junie Browning

Mike Easton edges Jared Papazian in rock?em, sock?em battle at UFC on FX 1

It may not be widely recognized as the deepest division in the world, but the bantamweights are starting to carve out quite a reputation in the UFC.

Mike Easton and Jared Papazian added to the cause by putting in some awesome work tonight on the UFC on FX 1 card in Nashville.

At the end of the fight, both fighters were still standing after throwing over 400 strikes at each other. Easton got the nod via majority decision, 30-27, 29-29 and 29-28, in a crowd-pleasing brawl that got better as the fight went along.

"He's a tough dude. He was the champ back in the division where he was at," Easton told UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik. "All we wanted to do was please the fans and we rapped. We the 35ers baby! Nothing but non-stop action. We love to fight."

Papazian (14-7, 0-1 UFC) making his UFC debut, was a huge underdog at plus-275, but he didn't look intimidated whatsoever. Easton (12-1) is now 2-0 with the UFC.

Easton generally takes a while to get going, but when he did tonight it made for an awesome final round. With the fight on the line, Easton fired up the pace and Papazian, 23, stood in front him willing to bang. The fighters combined to wing 213 shots at each other over the final five minutes.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mike-easton-edges-jared-papazian-rock-em-sock-030112645.html

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito 

Saving Strikeforce's Female Featherweights

While Strikeforce’s train rolls through the year 2012, they’ve left a car at the railyard and it isn’t known whether it will be connected again. Any progress in the Strikeforce women’s featherweight division came to a screeching halt with the announcement of Cristiane Santos‘ failed drug test. Not only is the news disappointing, but the [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/17/saving-strikeforces-female-featherweights

Clay Guida Jason Guida Melvin Guillard Cody Guinn

Jose Aldo finishes Chad Mendes in final second of first round

The UFC was back in Brazil tonight with another title-fight and a main card full of interesting match-ups in the form of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes! Unfolding live from Rio de Janeiro, the show was headlined by featherweight champion Jose Aldo successfully defending his title against undefeated takedown-machine Chad Mendes and also featured a [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/14/ufc-142-aldo-vs-mendes-real-time-results

Ryan Bader  Siyar Bahadurzada Bao Ligao  Josh Barnett 

Gonzaga easily over Oliveira, Stout falls short versus Tavares at UFC 142

Back in 2010, Gabriel Gonzaga lost his confidence and his passion. He got both back tonight in Rio de Janeiro.

The former heavyweight title contender schooled hotshot prospect Edinaldo Oliveira in less than four minutes. Gonzaga made it look easy as he took the 6-foot-7 Oliveira to the ground and eventually locked on a nasty rear-naked choke to force the tap at 3:22 of the first round.

"It felt great to be back in the Octagon. My time away from the UFC was good for me. I dealt with some personal business in my life and came back refocused. Before, I was training well, but my mind just wasn't in it. Now, I'm back, I feel great. I'm focused and I showed that," said Gonzaga.

[Don't miss the action: Watch UFC 142 live on Y! Sports]

Gonzaga (13-6, 8-5 UFC) last fought with the promotion in Oct. of 2010, then abruptly retired. He had a comeback fight with a smaller promotion in October of 2011.

After starting off 4-0 with the promotion, he rose near the top of the division, but then lost badly to UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture at UFC 74. After that fight, Gonzaga looked tentative and wilted in big moments going just 3-4.

Oliveira (13-2, 0-1 UFC) was way in over his head tonight. He looked to small for the weight class and his takedown defense was shaky. Once Gonzaga got him to the ground, Oliveira was easy prey.

Stout tentative in first fight since trainer's passing

This was going to be a tough night for Sam Stout. He was facing Brazilian Thiago Tavares on his home turf and doing so without his trainer Shawn Tompkins, who passed away last August.

Having to defend takedowns early, Stout got taken out of his game and lost via unanimous decision.

Stout (17-7-1, 6-6 UFC) was taken down twice in the first round. Tavares did little damage and really never settled Stout on his back, but the mental toll it took on the Canadian changed the fight.

Stout, a very dangerous striker, never committed the rest of the way to letting his hands go. At times, he was actually outstruck by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

"Sam Stout was the toughest opponent I've ever faced and this is the biggest win of my career. I thought about this fight for a long time. I have to be honest: of all the ways I saw this fight going, I never expected to beat him striking," Tavares said. "I tried to take the fight to the ground, but he has great takedown defense. The fight stayed on the feet and I was able to win there. I want another big name next."

This was Stout's first fight without Tompkins in his camp and cageside. Tompkins was more than just a trainer, he was Stout's brother-in-law. Stout's sister Emilie was married to the trainer.

"This was my first fight without Shawn (Tompkins). It was definitely an adjustment not having him in my corner. I hope Shawn would be proud," Stout said. "I thought I took rounds two and three, but I just struggled to find my rhythm. My head wasn't in it in the first round. I had a slow start and I have no one to blame but myself for that."

The lackluster performance wasn't surprising, but it was uncharacteristic. Stout is only .500 fighter with the promotion, but he's earned four postfight award bonuses.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/gonzaga-returns-run-oliveira-using-choke-ufc-142-021012565.html

Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good Gary Goodridge Gerard Gordeau

Dana White Talks Next Fights for UFC Champs St-Pierre, Silva, and Jones

UFC President Dana White discussed the next fights for UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, middleweight champ Anderson Silva and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones with Fuel TV following Friday's UFC on FX 1 event.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27302/dana-white-talks-next-fights-for-ufc-champs-st-pierre-silva-and-jones/

Luiz Azeredo  Luciano Azevedo  Ba Te er  Ryan Bader