Lightweight champ Edgar survives first-round beatdown, scores KO victory

Lightweight champ Edgar survives first-round beatdown, scores KO victoryHOUSTON - Call Frank Edgar small all you want, but the UFC's lightweight champion has more fight in him than pretty much anyone in the sport.

The diminutive Edgar was on shaky legs throughout much of the first round at the Toyota center, but bounced back in the next two rounds and scored a fourth-round TKO finish of Gray Maynard to retain his title in an epic close to the trilogy between the two fighters at UFC 136 in front 16,236 at the Toyota Center.

"That last time we fought, he hurt me in the first round. Maybe I just wanted to make it exciting," Edgar told UFC analyst Joe Rogan.

The first round tonight felt like a replay of their fight back at UFC 125 on Jan. 1.

Edgar got drilled by two huge uppercuts, his legs were wobbly for more than two and a half minutes and he was almost defenseless over the final 60 seconds of the round. Edgar made it to the stool, but his left eye was a mess and nose was bloodied badly.

"After the first round, I needed to listen to my corner and I did. Almost like a robot," said Edgar. During the postfight press conference, the champ said his head movement was awful in the opening round.

Maynard, trying to pace himself, took his foot off the gas pedal over the next two rounds. He allowed Edgar to regain his legs and get into a good rhythm with his striking. Maynard was walking through some solid shots by Edgar, but eventually they'd take their toll.

Lightweight champ Edgar survives first-round beatdown, scores KO victory

After Edgar failed on a takedown attempt in the fourth, Maynard left his head hanging and Edgar drilled him with a short right. Maynard was rocked and backed up. Edgar charged forward with right hook after right hook. Another bomb he landed sent Maynard into the cage and his hands dropped. That's when another hook landed on the button and down went Maynard.

"I took my chances in the final round after my right hand had him stumbling backwards. Right after the transition I was on him and closed the gap. I gave it as much intensity as I could give it," said Edgar.

Edgar jumped on top and Maynard went limp after a third left to the head. Referee Josh Rosenthal stopped it at the 3:54 mark. Maynard sat up seconds later and had no idea where he was or what just happened.

Edgar (14-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC) waited nine months to put the questions to rest. He and Maynard fought to a draw back in January. The first round that night was even worse for Edgar. In this one, he was outlanded 33-11 in the first stanza and looked like he was ready to go at any moment on at least three occasions. The fact that he survived the onslaught from the much bigger Maynard, had UFC president Dana White bringing up "Rocky" comparisons in the postfight.

Edgar is still one of the smallest fighters in the division. His non-fight night weight is barely above 160 pounds. Maynard was close to 175 on fight night.

Maynard admitted that he tired badly in that fight after trying to pour it on. That had to be in the back of his mind Saturday night as he failed to go for the kill in the second and third rounds. This was the first loss of Maynard's career (10-1-1).

There may bea  day when Edgar decides he doesn't want to lock horns with these giants, but for now, who's going to tell him that he belongs at a lower weight? He's got the hardware. That should silence all the chatter.

Lightweight champ Edgar survives first-round beatdown, scores KO victory

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Lightweight-champ-Edgar-survives-first-round-bea?urn=mma-wp8005

Arman Gambaryan Manvel Gamburyan Sean Gannon Edgar Garcia

Junior Dos Santos Interview - UFC

Heavy-handed Junior Dos Santos steps back into the Octagon? against a man considered to be an equally dangerous striker, Shane Carwin. Will Junior's speed advantage be enough to hand Carwin his first KO loss? Watch UFC 131 Live on Pay-Per-View and www.UFC.tv on Saturday, Jun 11th at 6/9PM PT/ET.

Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc/junior-dos-santos-interview-video_8d42cdb57.html

Mikey Burnett  Murilo Bustamante  Grant Campbell  Gesias JZ Calvancante 

What you need to know from this week on ?The Ultimate Fighter?

What you need to know from this week on ?The Ultimate Fighter?

Welcome back for the third week of "The Ultimate Fighter." This episode is apparently called Death Leprechauns, which should make for an interesting episode. What does that mean? Will Team Miller make it 2-o? What happened to Miller's car? Read on for spoilers and a recap.

Technique of the week: Miller started out the practice by explaining the first rule of the Octagon: protect yourself at all times. He illustrated that by passing out pool noodles, and starting a noodle fight.

Prank of the week: Since Miller did a tire-related prank last week, Bisping removed the tires from Miller's car. Miller laughed it off, but it's clear that the prank war is just starting.

Stupidity of the week: At Bisping's practice, Marcus Brimage and Diego Brandao sparred a bit too hard. Brimage took it in stride, but Brandao took exception to it, threatening to kill Brimage. Bisping said that Brandao reminded Bisping of himself when he was on "The Ultimate Fighter," then thought it was necessary to say these fighters are not another way to call a cat a kitten. Bisping, as always, is a class act.

Fight pick of the week -- Johnny Bedford (Team Miller) vs. Josh Ferguson (Team Bisping): Ferguson expected that this fight would happen, and came equipped with a sign that said, "[Expletive] you, Bedford." At no point during their face-off did they stop jawing at one another.

Prank II of the week: Akira Corassani messed with everyone throughout the episode by putting birdseed and notes and pool balls in people's gloves, but then was displeased when Dustin Neace retaliated by putting rice in Corassani's bed. According to Corassani, messing with the bed is worse than messing with gloves, which led into unproductive trash talk. It goes on. And on. And on. And on. Annnnnnd on.

Alliance of the week: John Dodson, of Team Miller, and Diego Brandao, Louis Gaudinot, and Josh Ferguson of Team Bisping, are all buddies and have called themselves Team Leprechaun. That means that Bispng has a mole in Miller's camp. Oh goodie. Another spygate.

Fight of the night -- Johnny Bedford (Miller) vs. Josh Ferguson (Bisping)

Round 1: Ferguson wins the first exchange, but Bedford gets the first takedown. From the top position, Bedford landed elbows until Ferguson got back to his feet. Bedford managed another takedown, then maneuvered into north-south position. He tried for an armbar, but Ferguson got out of the hold. Before the round ended, Ferguson got one last takedown.

Round 2: The two focus on stand-up early in this round, with Ferguson landing flurries and Bedford throwing big kicks. After being clinched against the fence, Ferguson caught Bedford as he tried to throw a flying knee and took him to the ground.

Bedford won the unanimous decision, though he said he was disappointed that he didn't get the finish. That moves Miller to 2-o. Afterwards, Miller said that there was something wrong with Bedford's hand for the fight.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/What-you-need-to-know-from-this-week-on-The-Ult?urn=mma-wp7784

Jason Grace Crosley Gracie Gregor Gracie Ralek Gracie

Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Countdown Preview Show - Strikeforce

Fight Network previews Strikforce's heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers taking place on June 18, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-overeem-vs-werdum-countdown-preview-show-video_927471d83.html

Luiz Buscapé Firmino Spencer Fisher Jon Fitch Kenny Florian

UFC event in Japan will be shown for free as lead-in for Stateside PPV

A little more detail has emerged regarding the UFC?s intent to hold cards on the same day in February when the organization heads overseas to the Land of the Rising Sun. Head-honcho Dana White opened up about Zuffa?s plan after the conclusion of UFC Live 6 this past Saturday night, stating the UFC would capitalize [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/10/02/ufc-event-in-japan-will-be-shown-for-free-as-lead-in-for-stateside-ppv

Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie Ryan Gracie

Hominick on Team Tompkins, Jung and fatherhood

Hominick on Team Tompkins, Jung and fatherhoodMark Hominick has had a roller coaster of a year. He went from a TKO of George Roop to a five-round decision loss to featherweight champ Jose Aldo to the birth of his daughter to the sudden and shocking death of his coach Shawn Tompkins. Next, he has to face Chan Sung Jung, also known as "The Korean Zombie," at UFC 140, and for the first time, will prepare for a fight without Tompkins in his corner.

Hominick, who spoke to Cagewriter as part of a lobbying trip to Ottawa, Can., said that he will use the turmoil of the year in his December fight.

"The passing of Shawn was obviously beyond a shocker. He was the best man in my wedding. He was more than just a mentor in the sport. He became a life mentor for me. That's a huge void, but everyone on our team has stepped up. We became closer because of it, because we know we all have to step up to try to fill that void. It's our duty to carry on his legacy: to keep training, to keep winning, to keep performing in the cage."

Hominick, along with Team Tompkins members Chris Horodecki and Sam Stout (Tompkins' brother-in-law), is focused on continuing the Team Tompkins legacy.

"This is going on 15 years that we've all been together. We're a very tight-knit group, and that's what we're trying to stress right now. To keep that unity. Even Shawn's dad stepped up. Shawn's dad came into the gym and talked to the group, and Shawn's brothers. Just kind of letting everyone know that we're not sitting idly by. We're working for his legacy."

That loss to Aldo came during UFC 129, the UFC's biggest event. It took place in the sold-out Rogers Centre, just an hour from Hominick's hometown of London, Ont. He says that being in that fight taught him what it means to be at the top of the heap, and how much he wants to get back there.

"There's a lot of extra pressure, a lot of extra time and a lot of extra commitment for being the title contender. Being the hometown guy in the biggest show in UFC history in an arena an hour from where I lived definitely overwhelmed me at times, so I have a newfound respect for it. I know I have to make certain changes to make sure that not only can I make it there, but I'm staying at the top."

Hominick's next bout will again take place in Toronto. He won't have the pressure of being a co-main eventer, but he will have to face the always difficult Jung. He plans to draw on the experiences of his WEC win over Leonard Garcia.

"It's going to be pretty similar to the Leonard Garcia fight. Very similar, very wild. The main thing is just getting a wide variety of sparring partners. You've got to get someone who is all over the place."

For the first time, Hominick will come to the Octagon as a father. His daughter was born weeks after the loss to Aldo. He says that his daughter's birth hasn't changed him as a fighter, but does add some perspective to his days.

"She puts a smile on my face. I started learning that it's not your time any more. It's their time. They're the moments of the day that matter."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Hominick-on-Team-Tompkins-Jung-and-fatherhood?urn=mma-wp7552

Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund Jason Ellis Aleksander Emelianenko