This week in callouts: B.J. Penn accepts Rory MacDonald?s challenge while Johny Hendricks eyes Carlos Condit

Choosing opponents is a trait unique to combat sports, particularly MMA. The only control the Boston Celtics had in who they would face in the NBA playoffs is that their their seed was decided by their regular season record. Once the seed was set, the Celtics had no choice but to play the Miami Heat. They couldn't turn down LeBron James and Company and say, "Nah, I want to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, now!"

But in MMA, if fighters play their cards right, they can push, whine, cajole, or just ask for a certain opponent. Ronda Rousey was able to get her fight against Miesha Tate via combination of armbars and callouts. Frank Mir raising his hand after Alistair Overeem was not licensed for his bout with Junior dos Santos earned him an ill-fated title shot.

With that in mind, both Johnny Hendricks and Rory MacDonald have called out the opponent they want to see on the other side of the Octagon.

For MacDonald, it's the seemingly retired B.J. Penn. MacDonald told the MMA Hour he wanted to face Penn while he could.

"It's more of the idea that he may be retiring, so how many opportunities am l going to get to fight a guy like BJ after he's gone?" he said. "I think it'd be a great fight. I know I'm going to fight all these guys in the top 10 eventually. I'm a young guy and these guys are going to be around for a long time and I know I'm going to get my shot against all these guys, and maybe I'll be missing my opportunity if I wait too long with B.J."

Penn, who recently shot down Josh Koscheck's hopes for a fight, accepted the challenge from the 13-1 MacDonald. On Penn's website, he posted this simple message.

"Rory, I accept your challenge!"

Their bout will reportedly happen at UFC 152 in Toronto.

Perhaps Johny Hendricks was inspired by MacDonald. After learning he will have to fight Martin Kampmann to get a shot at the UFC welterweight belt, Hendricks turned his sights on interim belt holder Carlos Condit. On Wednesday, he tweeted:

No more waiting @CarlosCondit. Let's see who the #1 Contender really is.

Condit won the interim belt after his bout with Georges St-Pierre was shelved because of GSP's torn ACL. However, Condit has indicated he wants to wait to fight GSP and the chance to unite the belts. GSP is aiming for a November return. It's the beginning of June, and both Hendricks and Condit are healthy. Hendricks wants to both stay active and get a shot to move up a rung or two on the welterweight ladder. It's a fight that makes sense. Will Hendricks be able to get the fight he wants? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/week-callouts-b-j-penn-accepts-rory-macdonald-185745759.html

Hermes Franca Rich Franklin Ian Freeman Don Frye

Mauricio Rua ducked Glover Teixeira before accepting fight with Brandon Vera

Rumors of MMA icon Mauricio Rua?s aversion to facing fellow Brazilian Glover Teixeira were given substance last night when UFC President Dana White made a shocking admission, stating Rua?s camp was willing to see ?Shogun? handed his walking papers if that?s what it took to avoid taking on the surging light heavyweight. ?It is what [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/09/mauricio-rua-ducked-glover-teixeira-before-accepting-fight-with-brandon-vera

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki 

UFC 152 Update: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 Targeted for Toronto, Penn vs. MacDonald to Co-Headline

UFC President Dana White announced in the post-fight press conference that heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez will likely headline UFC 152. Also on the card, BJ Penn is expected to answer Rory MacDonald's challenge as the co-headlining fight.

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28968/ufc-152-update-dos-santos-vs-velasquez-2-targeted-for-toronto-penn-vs-macdonald-to-co-headline/

Paul Buentello  Josh Burkman  Mikey Burnett  Murilo Bustamante 

Wanderlei Silva calls Vitor Belfort disrespectful for breaking hand, pulling out of UFC 147 bout

If you have a fight scheduled with Wanderlei Silva, you need to give your bones very stern instructions not to break. If they do go against your wishes and snap in two, that's disrespect.

Vitor Belfort is currently coaching against Silva on the Brazilian version of "The Ultimate Fighter" and was slated to fight him at UFC 147. A broken hand forced Belfort out of their bout. UFC president Dana White said Belfort needs surgery. Though training injuries are part of the game in MMA, Silva called it "amateurism" via his Twitter account.

"(Fighting me) with one hand (laughs)? We are professionals. It's a great irresponsibility not to be careful on training, a great disrespect towards the fans. I'm really sad. I'm ready to knock you out, you have nowhere to run. This fight is happening. I guess you got scared of me. Nobody trains so hard that breaks his hand. We use the best equipments, gloves, bandages.

"If you were scared, you shouldn't have accepted it. If you really got it broken, it's amateurism and if you didn't, you're scared. In both scenarios, it was irresponsible of you towards the fans. Pardon the word, but I'm pissed with your amateurism. A main event on the biggest event of the world and the guy shows up like that".

Strong words from Silva, especially considering that he has pulled out of fights with injuries. In 2010, cracked ribs kept him from the co-main event of UFC 116 against Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Ease up, Wand. As you well know, injuries are part of a sport that asks its competitors to hit each other as hard as possible. Hands and ribs break. Ligaments tear. Life goes on. Belfort has been in 30 professional MMA bouts, so it's hard to believe he's scared, or that he broke his hand on purpose to get out of this fight. And if he could have, wouldn't he have done that to get out of getting kicked in the face by Anderson Silva?

Thanks to Tatame for translation help.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/wanderlei-silva-calls-vitor-belfort-disrespectful-breaking-hand-131022594.html

Mark The Hammer Coleman Wes Soldier Combs  Ray Cooper  Kit Cope 

Hockey Fight of the Day: Bob Boughner-Steve Ott vs. Jeremy Stevenson-Dan Hinote

Though neither of the fights in this entry are particularly long in nature on the bright side there are two for the price of one! In this clip from 2006, Dallas Stars’ teammates Bob Boughner-Steve Ott decide to handle some business against the Colorado Avalanche’s Jeremy Stevenson-Dan Hinote. Tweet

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/02/hockey-fight-of-the-day-bob-boughner-steve-ott-vs-jeremy-stevenson-dan-hinote

Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan Manvel Gamburyan Sean Gannon

Dana White: Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua Would Rather Get Cut Than Fight Glover Teixeira

Did you just hear that ruckus? That was the sound of UFC president Dana White throwing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (Pictured) and his team under the bus. After UFC 149 opponent Thiago Silva was forced to pull out of their bout with a back injury, but before Shogun was reassigned to headline “UFC on FOX 4” [...]

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/119086/dana-white-mauricio-shogun-rua-would-rather-get-cut-than-fight-glover-teixeira/

Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo  Luciano Azevedo  Ba Te er 

Ronda Rousey facing Sarah Kaufman on August 18 in San Diego

While an official announcement is still forthcoming it looks like Strikeforce bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey is set to put her gold up for grabs against Sarah Kaufman on August 18 in San Diego. Rousey won the belt this past March by submitting Miesha Tate in the opening round of their rumble. The fight marks the [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/08/ronda-rousey-facing-sarah-kaufman-on-august-18-in-san-diego

Yoji Anjo  Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki  Andrei Arlovski 

UFC 146 picks cover the biggest UFC card ever

UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card is this Saturday. To prime you for the the fights, read the picks from Kevin Iole, a selection of Cagereaders who posted their picks on the Cagewriter Facebook page and me. Don't agree with the picks? Speak your mind in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir for the UFC heavyweight title

Kevin Iole: Junior dos Santos KO1 Frank Mir ? This could just as easily be Mir by first-round submission, but since all fights begin on the feet, I will go with dos Santos by KO.

Maggie Hendricks: JDS KO1 Mir ? Mir's only hope is to get this fight to the ground to avoid Junior's powerful stand-up. But as Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez learned, getting JDS to the ground is not an easy feat, and Mir won't succeed.

Cagereader's take: Frank Mir is an outstanding, decorated mixed martial artist. He can be dangerous on his feet and clearly on the ground as well if you look at his past submissions. His best bet is to figure out how he can get Junior dos Santos to the mat. The unfortunate part for Mir is that dos Santos possesses some of the best standup in the heavyweight division and I think Mir will struggle with those heavy-hitting fists Junior is going to throw. I love them both as fighters but my guess is dos Santos will win this one and retain his belt via TKO. ? Roberto Garza

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

Iole: Cain Velasquez TKO2 Antonio Silva ? I think Velasquez is the best heavyweight in the world and will prove it against Big Foot. Velasquez is a better version of Daniel Cormier and Cormier had his way with Silva.

Hendricks: Velasquez TKO1 Silva ? Velasquez has had to deal with competitors bigger than him since he was was Division I wrestler at Arizona State. He's learned how to use his speed, takedowns and striking to handle the size disadvantage, and he'll do it again on Saturday.

Cagereader's take: Cain Velasquez by TKO. Cain will rebound nicely in this bout. We'll see him return to his stalking/aggressive fight style which will eventually lead to some ground and pound against Silva. Silva is a top heavyweight but he's not very quick. He won't have a quick enough reaction to keep Cain away. ? Eddie Ledezma

Dave Herman vs. Roy Nelson

Iole: Roy Nelson W3 Dave Herman ? Nelson has the power to take Herman out, but most likely, Herman survives but takes a beating.

Hendricks: Nelson W3 Dave Herman ? Not to just copy Kev, but I don't see a way this fight will end early. This fight will be the bout it IS OK to blink while it's happening.

Cagereader's take: Roy Nelson will win against Herman. He is all wrong for Herman. Iron chin, BJJ blackbelt, better striking. Standup or ground game, Nelson is clearly better. ? Daniel Natividad

Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario

Iole: Shane del Rosario W3 Stipe Miocic ? This is more of a hunch because I don't know which del Rosario will show up. He's been off for a year since an auto accident. Del Rosario is a budding star and if he's healthy, I like him to make a statement against Miocic.

Hendricks: Miocic W3 del Rosario ? My heart says del Rosario because after the year he's had, he deserves a win. He was in a car accident with a drunk driver and even contemplated retirement during his trip back to the cage. However, Miocic's wrestling and striking will be too much.

Cagereader's take: I pick Miocic to win by decision. Del Rosario is the better and more experienced striker, but Miocic's wrestling ability will carry him to a decision victory. Miocic is confident in his hands, but he will eventually resort back to his bread and butter once he realizes the gap in striking ability between him and Del Rosario. Del Rosario has lacked in the takedown defense department before, and I expect him to have similar issues against the former NCAA Division I wrestler. Once on the mat, Miocic will land consistently from the top position, controlling the action and landing often enough to earn a decision win. ? Robert MacDonald

Stefan Struve vs. Lavar Johnson

Iole: Struve SUB2 Johnson ? Struve is susceptible to good strikers, but Johnson has a great vulnerability on the ground. I think Johnson has his moments, but look for Struve to take advantage of a mistake and end it with a submission.

Hendricks: Johnson KO2 Struve ? Though Struve does have a dangerous ground game, he opens himself up to getting punched in the face too often. Johnson is really, really good at punching people in the face.

Cagereader's take: Johnson ? I wanted to see Mark Hunt in this fight, but I actually see it going remarkably similar to how I would predict that one. Johnson has the style to wade in, get close, and do damage. That's enough to beat Struve. Struve's best option will be to pull guard and see if he can slap on a sub with his long limbs. I doubt he gets that chance, though. ? John Wilcox

Thank you to everyone who submitted picks.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-146-picks-cover-biggest-ufc-card-ever-135306408.html

Phil Baroni Don Barr Pat Barry  Vitor Belfort