Hockey Fight of the Day: Stu Bickel vs. Travis Moen

Yesterday we looked at a one-sided affair on the ice while today’s entry is a far more even brawl between the New York Rangers Stu Bickel and Montreal Canadiens Travis Moen. Better yet, not only do the men scrap but do so as soon as the puck is dropped! Tweet

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/16/hockey-fight-of-the-day-stu-bickel-vs-travis-moen

Dan The Sandman Christison  Logan The Pink Pounder Clark  Steve The Snake Claveau  Rich No Love Clementi 

Is Anthony Johnson too small for middleweight?

A 15-pound jump is huge in the fight world, unless you're a guy who walks around 40 pounds heavier than your weight class.

This weekend at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Johnson is moving from 170 pounds to middleweight against veteran Vitor Belfort.

Belfort is no small 185 pounder. He spent most of his career at light heavyweight before the drop down. Watching the UFC 142 prefight conference today and judging by some photos it was hard to tell if Johnson is making a mistake from a size standpoint.

George Garcia from MMAjunkie radio thought Johnson looked undersized.

Looking at the photo above, he might be right, but then in the photo below Johnson looks like the bigger fighter.

In the end, it probably won't matter unless the fight features plenty of clinch work. Johnson says Belfort won't be able to handle his onslaught on the feet.

"Versatility will be a key in this fight," Johnson told HeavyMMA. "I have punches, kicks, takedowns, and he still has a long way to go. But I'm not looking past his abilities or anything like that. I just don't see anything Vitor can do to me that I can't do to him and then some.

Watch UFC 142 right here on Yahoo! Sports

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/anthony-johnson-too-small-middleweight-185326862.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Muhammed Lawal popped for PED use

With Strikeforce still reeling from the steroid-based suspension of ferocious featherweight champion Cristiane Santos it looks like the organization is not out of the woods yet, as the NSAC has confirmed former light heavyweight title-holder Muhammed Lawal tested positive for PED use as well and will probably be sidelined for the rest of 2012 as [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/17/muhammed-lawal-popped-for-ped-use

Ba Te er  Ryan Bader  Siyar Bahadurzada Bao Ligao 

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

Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo

MMA Marketplace: The UFC wants to brand your car

The UFC wants you to let the world's roadways know that you are, in fact, as real as it gets. To help, they put out a new line of merchandise aimed at putting their three letters all over your vehicle.

Seat covers, wheel covers, floor mats, hitch covers; you can cover your car in the UFC. But will it help you get out of a ticket? Someone buy this stuff and let us know. The pictured seat cover is $44.95, and the steering-wheel cover is $19.95.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mma-marketplace-ufc-wants-brand-car-141924665.html

Tony Fryklund Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesić

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

Dan Bobish Vagam Bodjukyan Kotetsu Boku  Tony Bonello

BJJ Champion Rodrigo Ribeiro talks upcoming bout at ONE FC 2

Rodrigo Ribeiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion who holds a third degree black belt in BJJ. He is highly experienced as a mixed martial artist and has fought for shows in South America and Asia but will finally get his chance to compete on a major international promotion at ONE Fighting Championship: Battle of [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/20/bjj-world-champion-rodrigo-ribeiro-talks-upcoming-bout-at-one-fc-2

Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin  Jason Hollywood Chambers

Jim Miller back on track with choke victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1

Fundamentals took out flash Friday night.

Melvin Guillard looked spectacular at times, but after three minutes of wowing the crowd he was caught in another choke and had to tap to the very steady and tough Jim Miller.

Guillard, a dynamic striker, was lighting up Miller when he made a big mistake. He left his feet to attempt his fourth flying knee of the fight. Miller was waiting and dumped him to the ground where he eventually locked on a rear-naked choke to finish things at the 2:02 mark of the first round in the main event of the UFC on FX 1 card in Nashville.

"It always something I've been able to do and then from there it was just about securing the position," Miller told UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik. "I'm pretty confident that I am the most dangerous lightweight in the world. I'm willing to make you guys believe that."

The dominant victory puts Miller (21-3, 10-2 UFC) right back in the middle of the UFC lightweight title hunt. A second straight loss Friday and he would've tumbled down the rankings. Miller lost badly his last time out against Ben Henderson. He revealed this week that he was battling some medical issues entering that fight. That's all in the past now.

Guillard's regarded as one of the most explosive fighters in any weight division. He came out on fire.

Just 35 seconds into the fight, Guillard dropped Miller. As Miller scrambled he got drilled by six more hard punches. Miller clutch and grabbed to avoid more damage. He ate another big knee as the fighters separated. With 2:48 left, Miller absorbed another huge Guillard punch right down the pipe, but he never wilted. When Guillard tried a fourth flying knee, Miller was ready.

The 28-year-old from New Jersey dumped Guillard on his back and scored a momentary mount 10 seconds later. Guillard did himself in when he flipped to his back in an attempt to escape. Miller's jiu-jitsu is too nasty to attempt such an elementary escape. Miller jumped on Guillard's back as he tried to stand up and instantly sunk in his hooks. Guillard's suffered seven previous choke losses during his career. He wasn't getting out of this one.

A relieved Miller gave Guillard (29-10-2, 10-6 UFC) much credit following the fight.

"I don't get knocked down often and he knocked me down. He hits hard man. There are a lot of guys, I think in this weight class and the one above, that don't want to fight that kid," said Miller.

Henderson faces Edgar for the UFC lightweight title next month in Japan. Beyond that fight, it's anyone guess who'll get the next shot against the winner. Miller certainly put himself in the conversation.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/jim-miller-back-track-choke-victory-over-melvin-040255362.html

Andrei Arlovski  Ricardo Arona  Noboru Asahi Marcus Aurelio