Double Duty For Antonio Banuelos, Meets Joshua Sampos at Legacy FC 14 & Ryan Benoit at Legacy FC 16

After the year of ups and downs Antonio Banuelos experienced in 2011, the WEC veteran has opted to try his luck at 125 lbs. Banuelos will make his flyweight debut at Legacy FC 14 against Joshua Sampos this weekend in Houston, and is now also slated to compete at the promotion’s 16th offering at the [...]

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/30291/antonio-banuelos-drops-to-flyweight-meets-joshua-sampos-at-legacy-fc-14/

Mac Danzig  Karen Darabedyan Viacheslav Datsik Marcus Davis 

Michael Bisping ready to be #1 contender and ?take the title off of Anderson Silva?

Middleweight Michael Bisping has called the UFC his professional home for more than six years, racking up wins over a number of apt adversaries and establishing himself as one of the most entertaining 185ers in the sport. However, the brash Brit has yet to challenge for divisional gold after coming up short in past attempts at earning top contendership.

The 33-year old is hoping to change that in less than two weeks when he battles Brian Stann at UFC 152. Though not guaranteed, Bisping believes he?ll be bumped up to the front of the line if he can beat Stann convincingly.

Bisping: “Stann is going to get his arse kicked…”

?I?ve been here for a long, long time and I?m ready to f*cking take the title off of Anderson Silva. I don?t just want a title-shot, I want to win the title. I?m a fighter, I don?t want a payday – I want to be the champ and I believe I can be,? said Bisping in an interview with MMAWeekly.

Bisping also made it clear he feels he deserves consideration for a crack at the championship before any of his 185-pound peers including unbeaten Chris Weidman.

?Chris Weidman, I think he?s overhyped…up until the point when he fought Demian Maia I had never heard of Chris Weidman before in my life because he had been fighting bums on the undercard. Then he fights Demian Maia and I had to turn the TV off in my dressing room because it was the most boring fight I?ve ever seen in my life,? blasted Bisping. ?(After) that he fights Mark Munoz, and yeah he beats him, but if I remember right the crowd booed unbelievably throughout the first round because he just laid on him. Then he knocked him out with an elbow, but that?s due to the fact that Mark Munoz came in out of shape, unfocused, and looking like he was at a rock concert and not a UFC fight.?

Of course, Weidman has his own challenge on the horizon in the form of a December bout with Tim Boetsch, though he too could cement status as #1 contender with a dominant victory.

In the meantime, Bisping will continue focusing on Stann and proving why he is the best choice to threaten Silva?s crown. ?The Count? will enter the September 22 fight with a controversial decision loss to Chael Sonnen in his recent rear-view mirror but wins in four straight prior to the defeat and an overall record of 22-4.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Source: http://www.fighters.com/09/12/michael-bisping-ready-to-be-1-contender-and-%e2%80%9ctake-the-title-off-of-anderson-silva%e2%80%9d

Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno

Tito Ortiz feels disrespected by Jon Jones

One of the most crucial figures in UFC history is unquestionably Tito Ortiz. The light heavyweight icon was not only an extremely popular champion in his prime but also blended showmanship with skill before most fighters understood the importance of marketability. However, Ortiz has also occasionally drawn heat from fans, making him a good candidate to weigh in on the furor surrounding Jon Jones? behavior over the pat few weeks.

Ortiz was one of the few fighters to come out in support of Jones? decision to turn down a short notice fight with Chael Sonnen and defend the 25-year old?s right to handle his career as he wanted. To repay his kind words, rather than praise Ortiz, ?Bones? instead blasted the notion of being in the same ballpark as Ortiz when he was accused of being selfish/money-hungry.

?That was like a stab in my back. I was like, I stood up for you. When no one else did, I stood up for you and you turn around and say something like that,? said Ortiz of Jones? attitude in an interview with MMAWeekly. ?I?m a person who put their life on the line and my career and my image and my name on the line to battle for you to have the type of contract you have and the money you?re making. I took a lot of flak for negotiating and battling for what I believed in. It wasn?t a factor of talking about money. It was a factor of what I thought I was worth. I was trying to raise the bar for all fighters, and I think I?ve done that. For him to say the things he?s saying, don?t disrespect me like that.?

Ortiz Thinks Jones is Weak Mentally

While Ortiz may be angry with Jones, the brewing feud is extremely unlikely to materialize into anything more than a verbal dispute. The former ?Huntington Beach Bad Boy? has been retired since July when he was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Source: http://www.fighters.com/09/10/tito-ortiz-feels-disrespected-by-jon-jones

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

Jose Aldo predicts pairing with Frankie Edgar will result in ?fight of the year?

It looks like MMA fans were not the only individuals left salivating at the recent announcement stating UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo would see action against former lightweight title-holder Frankie Edgar this October at UFC 153. In fact, Aldo found himself with a huge smile on his face as well after the long-anticipated bout became reality.

However, while Aldo expects a tremendous tilt to unfold once the cage door closes, he?s also confident he?ll prove why he?s considered as one of the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

?The UFC made me very happy giving me this fight right now. It is a pleasure to fight with Edgar inside my country. I think this is going to be the fight of the year,? explained an excited Aldo in an interview with Bleacher Report, adding, ?It is a great opportunity to show everyone I’m the best. I will be looking to finish the fight at all times.?

Edgar Sees Himself Eventually Returning to Lightweight Division

Aldo suspects speed will play a role in his success at the event, though not necessarily because either man has much of an advantage over the other but rather because of what the move down to featherweight will mean for Edgar.

?I think Edgar will lose a little bit of his speed at 145 pounds. At 155 pounds his speed made a big difference for sure but at 145 pounds I don’t see any difference between him and the other fighters,? assessed Aldo.

UFC 153 is scheduled for October 13 in Rio de Janeiro. The bout will mark Aldo?s second straight title-defense in his home country of Brazil.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Source: http://www.fighters.com/09/02/jose-aldo-predicts-pairing-with-frankie-edgar-will-result-in-%e2%80%9cfight-of-the-year%e2%80%9d

Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator Côté  Randy The Natural Couture 

Jon Jones excited about challenges Vitor Belfort presents as a Southpaw

There?s no question Vitor Belfort has done it all in MMA, winning tournaments, titles, and tons of respect over his 16-year career. However, it?s what he offers as a fighter rather than a legend that has piqued UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones? interest.

In particular, Jones is anxious to test himself against Belfort?s stance as a Southpaw to prove he?s evolved since eating a number of shots from the last lefty he faced, Lyoto Machida.

?I?m just really excited to fight Vitor Belfort, mainly because he?s a Southpaw. And the last time I fought a Southpaw it was Lyoto and I got punched pretty good. I?m just anxious to do a better job against another dangerous Southpaw,? said Jones of his foe in an interview with the organization, adding, ?He?s a winner. I?m a winner. He?s a dominant guy. I think that I dominate my competition. It?s gonna be a magnificent, magnificent display of martial arts.?

Belfort Training for Jones Alongside Former Teammate Rashad Evans

Though the dynamic 25-year old may have been hit more than he would?ve liked against Machida, chances are ?Bones? will still be shooting for the same outcome pertaining to the UFC 152 results. Jones choked Machida out cold in the second stanza of their December 2011 tilt, defending his divisional strap successfully for the second time as well.

The full interview with Jones can be seen below:

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Source: http://www.fighters.com/09/09/jon-jones-excited-about-challenges-vitor-belfort-presents-as-a-southpaw

Chris Dolman Edson Drago  Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte

Georges St-Pierre not thinking about super-fight with Anderson Silva

UFC President Dana White has been openly discussing the likelihood of a bout between Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva for the past few weeks, even going so far as to say the company would likely look to book it in Cowboys Stadium at some point in early 2013 if GSP defeats Carlos Condit on November 17 at UFC 154. However, as someone who just saw 18 months of his career slip away due to injury, St-Pierre himself isn?t wasting any energy thinking about a clash with his fellow long-time champion because he understands every fight could be his last.

St-Pierre addressed the matter in a recent interview where he said his mind is only on today, not tomorrow.

?I focus only on the present moment. That?s what I?ve learned in my career. Don?t focus on the future because you never know what?s gonna happen. Things change. I?m not speculating. I?m thinking about Condit right now; that?s what I should do,? explained St-Pierre in an interview with MMAWeekly.

The 31-year old St-Pierre also pointed to the remaining challenges he has at 170 pounds regardless of the UFC?s desire to see him face Silva, saying, ?I feel like I have a lot of guys that are there and I don?t understand why people are going crazy now.?

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Source: http://www.fighters.com/09/10/georges-st-pierre-not-thinking-about-super-fight-with-anderson-silva

Gerard Gordeau Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace