Bellator 59: Patricky ?Pitbull? takes out Kurt Pellegrino, Eduardo Dantas ends Alexis Vila?s run

Kurt Pellegrino has retired again. This time it wasn't as voluntary.

The UFC lightweight veteran took a fight with one of the young guns of MMA in Bellator and got waxed.

Patricky "Pitbull" Freire caught Pellegrino with a straight right that dropped him (2:28 mark). When they have someone in trouble, the Pitbull Brothers go for the kill. Patricky jumped on Pellegrino's back and trapped one his arms as he wailed away at the defenseless fighter. Referee Kevin McDonald stopped it, saving Pellegrino from unnecessary damage at the 0:36 mark of the first round.

Pellegrino, 32, retired from active fighting back in May, but couldn't resist the opportunity to fight in his home state when offered the shot with Bellator in Atlantic City, N.J. A native of Point Pleasant, N.J., Pellegrino was 7-5 in the UFC.

In one of the bigger bouts at Bellator 59, Alexis Vila fell short of completing his crazy journey to a tourney title at the age of 40. Vila lost a decision against Eduardo Dantas. Dantas won the Bellator bantamweight tourney and got himself a title shot against Zach Makovsky. Dantas, 22, also took out Ed West and Wilson Reis on his way to the tournament victory.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Bellator-59-Patricky-Pitbull-takes-out-Kurt-P?urn=mma-wp9960

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

Civic pride: Writer says Nick Diaz should nab ?Stocktonian of the Year? award

Civic pride: Writer says Nick Diaz should nab ?Stocktonian of the Year? award

Stockton's reputation has taken a beating over the years. Between foreclosures, a struggling school system and climbing crime rates, the northern California city needs to something to hang its hat on. According to the local newspaper, that something may be mixed martial artist Nick Diaz.

Yes, the same Diaz who goes on foul-mouthed rants, misses drug tests, no-shows press conferences, produces hilarious YouTube driving rants and sucker punched Jason Miller on national TV, is the guy who can help remake poor Stockton's image.

MMAWeekly found a gem. Diaz was placed on this list by Stockton Record writer Mike Klocke:

» Kenya Hernandez: The then eighth-grade student at Roosevelt School in Stockton testified on Capitol Hill about issues faced in inner city schools. Hernandez was strong, forthright and powerful in her messages to policy makers.

» Sheldon Arce, Alex Pascua and Jonah Phillips: The three students at Marshall Elementary School in Stockton sat down with Record reporter Lori Gilbert and school officials to relate their personal experiences about being bullied at school. Their comments were the most compelling and powerful words in a Record interview the past year. I applaud them for their courage.

» Nick Diaz: This isn't about maturity or proper behavior and decision making. The Stockton mixed martial arts fighter has none of those. What he has is talent and presence and - if he can keep (or get) that head of his on his shoulders - the potential to be a Stockton athletic rallying cry, ala Dallas Braden. Perhaps this is a year early. If he can win a huge upcoming fight and learn to act like an adult, maybe we'll have another Yaqui Lopez on our hands.

» LaCresia Hawkins: She grew up in southeast Stockton and has become a leader in promoting healthy eating and combating childhood obesity through her work with the Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin. She helps organize the group's grass-roots health efforts.

» Gregory Basso: The retired Stockton businessman made a video which quickly went viral and became the rallying point for a community-wide assault on Forbes magazine's misery rankings of Stockton.

All kidding aside, athletes can serve a major role in boosting civic pride. Diaz may be a little off his rocker, but his success in the cage can at least give Stockton something positive to trumpet.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Civic-pride-Writer-says-Nick-Diaz-should-nab-S?urn=mma-wp10088

David Heath Delson Heleno Dan Henderson Josh Hendricks

Dave Herman receives commission's clearance to fight Stefan Struve in February

Dave Herman has been cleared of any wrongdoing in regards to a recent positive drug test and ruled eligible to fight after a second test came back negative. Herman, who defeated Jon Olav Einemo at the UFC 131 in his debut, was pulled from his UFC 136 fight against Mike Russow after failing a pre-event [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/11/30/dave-herman-receives-commissions-clearance-to-fight-stefan-struve-in-february

Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson Paulo Filho

Diego Sanchez draws Jake Ellenberger at February event on Fuel TV

First FOX, then FX, and now Fuel TV. The UFC has announced the organization?s first live event on Fuel TV, a February 15 show headlined by welterweight action in the form of Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger. The two had been rumored to rumble for some time with the specific date left to speculation while [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/11/30/diego-sanchez-draws-jake-ellenberger-at-february-event-on-fuel-tv

Tyson Griffin Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove

Fights, bonus finalists announced for ?The Ultimate Fighter? finale

Fights, bonus finalists announced for ?The Ultimate Fighter? finaleLast night, we learned that the two finals from season 14 of "The Ultimate Fighter" will be T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Dodson and Diego Brandao vs. Denis Bermudez. The card will be headlined by a grudge match between the coaches Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Michael Bisping.

The rest of the card will feature several cast members. A bantamweight bout between Johnny Bedford against Louis Gaudinot will be aired on Spike, while the preliminary fights will feature:

Stephen Bass vs Marcus Brimage
John Albert vs Dustin Pague
Josh Ferguson vs Roland Delorme
Josh Clopton vs Steven Siler
Dustin Neace vs Bryan Caraway

For the first time, the UFC is letting fans vote on bonuses from the best fights, knockouts and submissions of the season. Each winner will receive $25,000. The finalists are:

Best fight

Louis Gaudinot vs. Dustin Pague
Dustin Neace vs. Akira Corassani
John Dodson vs. John Albert
Dennis Bermudez vs. Akira Corassani
John Dodson vs. Johnny Bedford

Best knockout

Diego Brandao def. Steve Silver
Diego Brandao def. Bryan Caraway
John Dodson def. Johnny Bedford
Akira Corassani def. Brian Pearman
Diego Brandao def. Jesse Newell

Best submission

Bryan Caraway def. Marcus Brimage
Dustin Pague def. Louis Gaudinot
T.J. Dillashaw def. Roland Delorme
Dennis Bermudez def. Akira Corassani
Roland Delorme def. B.J. Ferguson

It says something about Brandao's power that he's been nominated for three different knockouts. My vote for best submission will go to Denis Bermudez, and best fight to Gaudinot vs. Pague. You can cast your vote here.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fights-bonus-finalists-announced-for-The-Ultim?urn=mma-wp10068

Forrest Griffin Tyson Griffin Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan

TUF 14 Finale Weigh-In Results: Bisping, Miller Set for Main Event

Michael Bisping failed to make weight in his first trip to the scale, but later weighed in successfully to make his headliner with rival coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller official for tomorrow's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale in Las Vegas.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/26814/the-ultimate-fighter-14-finale-weigh-in-results-and-video/

Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz Luke Cummo 

TUF 14 Finale Live Blog: John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw Updates

Filed under:

John Dodson celebrates his Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale win.LAS VEGAS -- This is the TUF 14 live blog for John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw, a bantamweight bout on tonight's UFC on Spike TV event at the Pearl at the Palms.

Dodson faces Dillashaw to determine the season 14 bantamweight tournament winner. Dodson (11-5) is a flashy fighter out of Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. Dillashaw (4-0) is the less experienced fighter, but holds a strong wrestling background.

The live blog is below.

Round 1: Dodson starts of with a straight left counter that clips Dillashaw and sends him staggering back, but he recovers quickly. They trade leg kicks, and already Dodson looks like the quicker fighter. Dodson flicks out a left and then a head kick that stings Dillashaw. Dillashaw walks right into a left hook that catches him behind the ear, and he's down. Dodson jumps on him with hammer fists, and referee Herb Dean jumps in just as Dodson is rolling to his stomach and looking for a single-leg. Might have been a quick stoppage, but Dillashaw staggers up to his feet and wobbles to one side, still on shaky legs. Dodson, meanwhile, runs up the side of the cage and does a backflip with a half gainer, then sprints across the cage and does the same thing on the other side. That was the most impressive physical feat he's performed all night.



John Dodson def. T.J. Dillashaw via TKO (punches) at 1:54 of round one

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/03/tuf-14-finale-live-blog-john-dodson-vs-t-j-dillashaw-updates/

Noboru Asahi Marcus Aurelio  Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo 

TUF 14 picks, Vegas-style: Questions abound for lesser known fighters

TUF 14 picks, Vegas-style: Questions abound for lesser known fighters

LAS VEGAS - This is a huge night for so many fighters in Sin City.

Michael Bisping is fighting to stay in the mix for a title shot against Anderson Silva. While Diego Brandao, Dennis Bermudez, John Dodson and TJ Dillashaw are all out to prove they're legitimate UFC prospects.

The other cast members from Season 14 of "The Ultimate Fighter?" They all look to prove their losses during the show were a fluke.

Betting on TUF Finales always ranks as one of the biggest challenges for MMA bettors. It's difficult to judge how talented some of the competition was on the show.

Is Brandao, who won three fights via first-round TKO, overrated? Is Dodson simply too small for Dillashaw? Maybe the uber-confident Dillashaw is overlooking Dodson.

Adam Hill from the Las Vegas Review-Journal joined myself on ESPN1100/98.9 FM's "MMA Insiders" to break down TUF 14 using the Las Vegas numbers.

TUF 14 betting odds:

Best bets in bold

[ Related: Iole: Bad boy Bisping ready for all comers ]

Michael Bisping (-190) vs. Jason Miller (+165) - Middleweight

Yves Edwards (+260) vs. Tony Ferguson (-320) - Lightweight

John Dodson (+175) vs. TJ Dillashaw (-210)- Bantamweight

Dennis Bermudez (+275) vs. Diego Brandao (-335) - Featherweight

Johnny Bedford (-235) vs. Louis Gaudinot (+195) - Bantamweight

Marcus Brimage (+130) vs. Stephen Bass (-150) - Featherweight

Dustin Pague (-270) vs. John Albert (+230) - Bantamweight

Josh Ferguson (-120) vs. Roland Delorme (Even) - Bantamweight

Steven Siler (-165) vs. Josh Clopton (+145) - Featherweight

Bryan Caraway (-425) vs. Dustin Neace (+340) - Featherweight

For live undercard, main card and postfight coverage follow Cofield and Maggie Hendricks on Twitter this evening.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/TUF-14-picks-Vegas-style-Questions-abound-for-?urn=mma-wp10152

Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace Crosley Gracie