Frankie Edgar, Rich Franklin, UFC on FOX 4: The Morning News Roundup ? 8.6.12

And just as one fight week ends, another begins.  Last week, we had the buildup to UFC on FOX 4, which on Saturday night gave us the next light-heavyweight challenger to the belt.  This week we have UFC 150 on tap, which will see the rematch between UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson and former champ Frankie Edgar.  So, you ready for another round of UFC-flavored news tidbits leading up to a night of action?  I know I am.

  • The first shot across the bow in terms of UFC 150 interviews is one with Frankie Edgar, fired by the cannon manned by MMAWeekly. 

"It definitely doesn't feel right," Edgar said about not being champion when speaking to MMAWeekly Radio.  "Especially when people say 'former UFC world champion'.  You try not to put everything on world titles and whatnot, but being champ is nice."

Edgar gets to rectify the situation on Saturday.  Think he can do it?

  • Former UFC middleweight champ Rich Franklin is fighting former Strikeforce star Cung Le at UFC on Fuel TV 6, which will take place on November 10 in Macau (which is a Las Vegas-type island right outside of China).  Having Le on the card seemed like a no-brainer, but it appeared as if he'd broken his foot defeating Patrick Cote at UFC 148; I guess his foot will be okay in time for Franklin.

 

  • The ratings are in for UFC on FOX 4, and though the show ended up being a stellar example of how exciting a UFC event can be, the event did go up against the Olympics and the numbers reflect that.  MMAPayout is reporting an average of 2.14 viewers, which makes the event the lowest-rated of the four UFCs that have aired on FOX.

 

That's it for now.  Follow me on Twitter here.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/frankie-edgar-rich-franklin-ufc-fox-4-morning-123147787--mma.html

Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie Ryan Gracie

Should Hector Lombard drop to welterweight after debut loss at UFC 149?

Hector Lombard came into UFC 149 riding a long win streak and an unstoppable hype train. He walked out of UFC 149 with a decision loss and a disappointed boss.

"It wasn't the fight I was expecting," UFC president Dana White admitted. "It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Whether it was Boetsch or Lombard winning, I was expecting a real war. I thought this thing was going to be a war."

It was far from an exciting bout, as Lombard, known for his aggression and knockouts, showed little aggressiveness in the bout. White wondered if Octagon jitters got the best of Lombard, and also threw out the idea that middleweight is too big of a weight class.

"Lombard maybe should fight at 170," White said. "He made 185 easily. He's short and wide, but I think he could make 170."

In a Q and A before the UFC 149 weigh-ins, middleweight Michael Bisping made jokes about Lombard's height.

"I bumped into Hector Lombard in the elevator, and I thought someone was playing a practical joke. I was like, 'Who is this dwarf?' I think he's in the wrong weight class. I think he's in the 125 weight class."

At 5-foot-9, Lombard is one of the shortest middleweights in the division. Most 185ers in the UFC are at least six-foot. Champion Anderson Silva is 6-foot-2. Though fighters have overcome height and reach differences in bouts -- think Travis Browne knocking out Stefan Struve -- there is no reason for Lombard to come into the fight at a disadvantage if he is comfortable dropping down.

Should he drop down? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/hector-lombard-drop-welterweight-debut-loss-ufc-149-135354108--mma.html

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Ronda Rousey admits insecurities in All-Access look at champion?s life

Fans only familiar with Strikeforce bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey through her in-ring antics or tough-talk outside of it might paint her as little more than a ferocious competitor with ice-water running through her veins. However, while Rousey is certainly an elite athlete with a burning desire to be the best, she?s also a thoughtful, emotionally-connected individual who hasn?t always had it easy.

Rousey showed a different side of herself recently in an All-Access special from Showtime focused on the build towards her fight with Sarah Kaufman on August 18.

?People don?t realize how bad my body issues were when I was a kid. I wore baggy clothes every day. There were days where I would like at myself in the mirror and cry, just looking at myself,? admitted Rousey while preparing for her photo-shoot with ESPN the Magazine?s Body Issue. ?It?s just stupid the way that women, especially in this country, are conditioned to hate how they look so they buy sh*t.?

Rousey Unapologetic About Attitude

The complete feature airs tomorrow night on showtime.

A clip from All-Access can be seen below:

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Source: http://www.fighters.com/08/07/ronda-rousey-admits-insecurities-in-all-access-look-at-champion%e2%80%99s-life

Fedor Emelianenko Yasubey Enomoto Mark Epstein Tom Big Cat Erickson

Dan Henderson offers up his thoughts on Lyoto Machida as next contender

Even though UFC light heavyweight Dan Henderson has his hands full at the moment, preparing for a September 1 scrap with 205-pound champion Jon Jones at UFC 151, he still had time to take in the sights at UFC on FOX 4 where Lyoto Machida emerged as next in line to challenge for the divisional belt. Though Henderson attended the fights as a fan rather than a competitor scouting a potential adversary, he also had some thoughts on how things went as well as Machida as a potential opponent.

Henderson spoke about the matter, as well as his approach to Jones, during Fuel TV?s post-event coverage of the show where he admitted he hasn?t always been a fan of Machida?s.

Henderson Not Focused on Landing the “H-Bomb” Against Jones

?He?s a guy that I?ve always watched over the years. He?s gotten to grow on me a little bit. Early on he was pretty boring, never engaged and just waited and waited and waited and waited until it was time to catch a guy with one punch,? said Henderson, adding he?s since changed his tune and likes the idea of trying to solve the puzzle Machida often presents to foes. ?It?s also a guy that would be fun to figure out. It?s a different type of guy with a different style that you don?t usually fight. Those fights change it up for me, makes it a little funner.?

Machida earned his title-shot with a second-round stoppage of Ryan Bader, dropping the former TUF winner with a well-timed shot and sealing the deal with a series of strikes on the ground.

Check out the complete interview with Henderson below:

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Source: http://www.fighters.com/08/06/dan-henderson-offers-up-his-thoughts-on-lyoto-machida-as-next-contender

Keith Hackney Matt Hamill Volk Han Joachim Hansen

Lyoto Machida Discusses UFC on Fox 4 Victory, Future Plans, and More (Video)

Lyoto Machida appeared on FUEL TV following his impressive UFC on Fox 4 performance to discuss his victory and future plans with hosts Jay Glazer, former opponent Rashad Evans, and former verbal foe Chael Sonnen. The former champion will now face the winner of UFC 151's main event between light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson.

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/29778/lyoto-machida-discusses-ufc-on-fox-4-victory-future-plans-and-more-video/

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Hockey Fight of the Day: David Clarkson vs. Ryan O'Byrne

Often times it’s amazing to see how much damage hockey players can shrug off, especially in the middle of a toe-to-toe tilt on the ice. Then again, that’s not always the case, as is evident in this effort from David Clarkson and Ryan O’Byrne. The fight comes from earlier this season and features one man [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/08/02/hockey-fight-of-the-day-david-clarkson-vs-ryan-obyrne

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UFC on FX 5 Update: Davis vs. Prado Rematch Targeted for October Card

After an unfortunate eye poke ended their UFC on Fox 4 matchup prematurely, the UFC is aiming for Phil Davis and Wagner Prado to meet again in Minneapolis, Minnesota. UFC President Dana White announced the move during the UFC on Fox 4 post-fight press conference. UFC on FX 5 will take place October 5.

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/29767/ufc-on-fx-5-update-davis-vs-prado-rematch-targeted-for-october-card/

Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki  Andrei Arlovski  Ricardo AronaÂ