"UFC On Versus 4" Picks And Predictions

We?re now only a few days away from ?UFC on Versus 4?. In the main event, fast-rising prospect Rick Story tackles his toughest challenge to date, former title challenger Nate Marquardt. Nate ?The Great? is dropping down in weight and looking to make a statement at 170. The co-main event will also be an interesting [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/23/ufc-on-versus-4-picks-and-predictions

Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin  Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan 

Headliners among UFC 132 fighters possibly sidelined until late December

?UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber II? delivered a solid dose of entertainment over Fourth of July Weekend but, as is often the case, a number of courageous athletes walked away from the event with a proverbial limp after sustaining damage in the Octagon. Among the card?s casualties were six fighters who will be out until [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/07/05/headliners-among-ufc-132-fighters-possibly-sidelined-until-late-december/

Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz Luke Cummo 

Laker Center Andrew Bynum Training with Freddie Roach (Pic)

While the National Basketball Association and NBPA continue to battle over finances, Los Angeles Laker center Andrew Bynum is making good use of his free time courtesy of the NBA lockout. Knowing that Freddie Roach’s famed gym is just down the I-101, Bynum took his talents to Wild Card Boxing Club in hopes of working [...]

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/80897/laker-center-andrew-bynum-training-with-freddie-roach-pic/

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger 

Top 5 Moments Of UFC 132 "Cruz vs. Faber"

Wow? what an event UFC 132 was. We saw big submissions, close wars, brutal KO?s, shocking finishes, fighters falling from grace, and fighters re-asserting their dominance. It was a mixed bag of highs and lows depending on which fighters you were a fan of, but it all combined for one phenomenal event. But which stars [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/07/03/top-5-moments-of-ufc-132-cruz-vs-faber

Gesias JZ Calvancante  Luiz Cane  Dos Caras Jr   Phil Cardella

Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann UFC 136 In Houston ? Sonnen 2-1 Favorite

Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann UFC 136 In Houston – Sonnen Opens As A 2-1 Favorite Over Stann. Chael Sonnen will return to the cage after more than a year away from the sport will face Top 10 fighter and Marine veteran Brian Stann at UFC 136 in Houston. UFC 136 in Houston Date: Oct 08, 2011 Location: Houston, [...]

Source: http://www.mmatko.com/chael-sonnen-vs-brian-stann-ufc-136-in-houston-sonnen-2-1-favorite/

Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson Paulo Filho

Octagon Girl Palmer: ?I want to be known as more than the hot chick?

You've undoubtedly seen Octagon Girl Brittney Palmer at UFC events, carrying signs telling you what round it is and waving to the camera. Palmer is a beautiful woman, but behind that is much more than a pretty face.

In addition to traveling the world with the UFC, modeling and dancing, Palmer has started art school in Southern California. She spoke about her new endeavor with Cagewriter.

"I've always been very right-brained, and my mom always knew I'd do something creative. Right out of high school, I started dancing professionally in a burlesque show, and a magic show, and putting all my focus on a dancing career. I was focusing on making money and working for the WEC, and I just started painting. I did some in high school, but I never took it seriously."

She started to share her work on Twitter and via her website, and got a big reaction from fans. From there, Palmer realized she could start a business in sharing art with MMA fans.

"People stereotype MMA fans as a certain kind. I don't think that they are. These people see my art, and they give input on it, and the fans are so smart. They just haven't been introduced to art. The art that I'm going to sell is going to be in the budget of the regular person who enjoys art but can't spend $10K-$15K on a painting. My paintings go for $50-$450, or I can do custom for $1,000."

Much of her work has focused on her favorite musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Bob Marley, but she does draw some inspiration from the fight world. In fact, one of her first paintings was of the G.O.A.T.

"My biggest painting was Muhammad Ali, and that's because Dana White loves Muhammad Ali. That's one of the first paintings I did, and I gave it to Dana for being such a rad boss."

Until now, her only training in painting came from YouTube videos, but she realizes that's not enough.

"I can look at a sky and paint it, but I want to know how to paint it and know which brushes and strokes to use. Learning art is just like learning fighting. There's so many steps and levels. You can't just pick it up overnight. "

Though painting, art school and her duties as an Octagon Girl for the UFC keep her busy, Palmer also finds time to surf and play guitar, and she is working on a calendar. She hopes to reach a larger fanbase than just the men who follow MMA.

"I'm doing an entire calendar based on the '60s and '70s, very natural, hippie hair, a really cool guitar, some of my artwork. I want it to be for girls, too. Some of the fans -- I hate calling them fans. I feel like such a dork. I call them band-aids or something -- but the girls like that I'm curvy. If you can get the girls on your side, that's great. The guys are easy. I want girls to hang it up, and I think it's cool that I get as much of a response from girls."

In sharing painting and her other interests with fans, Palmer wants to show that she is multi-faceted.

"I don't want to be known as just the hot chick that walks around the ring. I want to be the cool chick who likes to paint rock stars and learns to play guitar."

See more of Palmer's artwork at her website and follow her on Twitter here.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Octagon-Girl-Palmer-I-want-to-be-known-as-more?urn=mma-wp4459

Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan Manvel Gamburyan Sean Gannon

Bellator 46 Picks And Predictions

We?re now only a few days away from Bellator 46. Bellator?s return to MTV2 after a bit of a hiatus will mark the beginning of a new ?Summer Series?, featuring an eight-man Featherweight tournament. All four opening-round bouts of that tournament take place at Bellator 46, with notable names like Pat Curran, Marlon Sandro, and [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/22/bellator-46-picks-and-predictions

Ryan Bader  Siyar Bahadurzada Bao Ligao  Josh Barnett 

Another KO of the Year candidate! Barry won?t blame the referee

Going for the kill can be a double-edged sword. Pat Barry found that out last night against Cheick Kongo. The Frenchman in absolute survival mode landed a right hook and a right uppercut to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Kongo left Barry on the ground with the dreaded stink eye.

Referee Dan Miragliotta was all over both fighters and came close to stopping the fight on at least one occasion, but Kongo kept moving and scrambling.

During the postfight press conference, Barry wouldn't blame Miragliotta..

"I can almost recall Dan Miragliotta's leg almost touching my arm, he was so close," Barry said during the UFC on versus 4 postfight press conference. "So for a split second, a split second I thought 'this is it.' The way he was falling around. I've seen fights get stopped before. This looks like a fight that would get stopped. [...] That didn't cause me to stop."

Give Miragliotta credit, he let the fighters decide the ultimate outcome.

How badly was Barry knocked out? When he "woke up," Barry thought he'd won.

"I've never been knocked out before, so this is a weird feeling man to lose two minutes of your life. Honestly, when I was laying on my back and (coach) Marty Morgan was standing over me, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, 'Yo man, I killed him!' So I thought I had won the fight," Barry told Sherdog. "I don't remember nothing. I remember the entire fight up until I got punched."

It was also a no-brainer for Knockout of the Night. Kongo banked an extra $50,000 for his efforts. This has been an amazing year for sick knockouts.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Another-KO-of-the-Year-candidate-Barry-won-t-bl?urn=mma-wp4076

Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero

Grappling with Issues ? 7/6/11

How far away is Urijah Faber from another title-shot? Was Tito Ortiz‘s win at UFC 132 a product of luck or talent? Is Wanderlei Silva done in the ring? Does Carlos Condit have a better chance of becoming champion than Melvin Guillard? Keyboard warrrrriors?.come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site?s regular [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/07/06/grappling-with-issues-7611/

Ryan Bader  Siyar Bahadurzada Bao Ligao  Josh Barnett