Mark Hunt injured, so Lavar Johnson jumps at chance to fight Stefan Struve at UFC 146

After earning a $65,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night on May 5 after stopping Pat Barry in the first round at UFC on Fox 3 in East Rutherford, N.J., you couldn't blame Lavar Johnson had he chosen to go on vacation. It was his second KO win in the UFC in four months and both times, the knockout came on national television.

He chose to take only a few days off, however, before returning to the gym on Monday. It paid off for him big-time on Thursday when he was offered, and quickly accepted, a contract to fight Stefan Struve on May 26 on the main card of UFC 146 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Mark Hunt injured a knee in training and had to withdraw from the fight with Struve on the all-heavyweight card next week. The UFC offered the bout to Johnson, who came out of his first-round win over Barry unscathed.

He said he never hesitated in accepting the offer.

"This is what we do and it's my job to fight," Johnson told Cagewriter. "They called me up and I'm still in good shape. A fight is a fight, no matter who it is, or what. My job is to take the fight. I jumped right on it."

Johnson said he weighs 250, so he won't even have to worry about cutting weight to make the 265-pound limit for his fight against Struve.

At 6-11, Struve will have a seven-inch height advantage over the 6-4 Johnson, but Johnson insisted it won't matter.

"His reach is 83 and mine is 81 or 82," Johnson said. "I'm faster and I hit harder. I'm aggressive and I'll be right there in his face."

He was aggressive against both Barry and Joey Beltran, whom he knocked out on Jan. 28 at UFC on Fox 2. He took a few hellacious leg kicks from Barry in the early moments of the May 5 fight, but said he didn't feel them.

When friends brought it up to them, he acted surprised, saying he checked the kicks. But when he looked at the film, he realized he was hit full bore by Barry, one of the hardest kickers in the sport. But Johnson had prepared for Barry by training with kick boxer Carter Williams, himself a great kicker.

"That's what happens when you train with Carter," Johnson said, chuckling. "Eventually, you don't feel a thing."

He was a virtual unknown to UFC fans as 2012 began, known primarily as the fighter who was shot in the abdomen during a Fourth of July family reunion a few years ago. But if he beats Struve, he'll be 3-for-3 in 2012 with seven months still to go.

He hasn't heard much from UFC president Dana White, but said it didn't matter.

"My bonus check said enough for me," he said.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mark-hunt-injured-lavar-johnson-jumps-chance-fight-211607278.html

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Anderson Silva shows off goofy side (VIDEO)

If Anderson Silva is your favorite fighter, chances are it's not just because he can front kick people into oblivion or pull last-minute triangle armbars out of thin air. He also has a goofy side to him fans can relate to. The top fighter in the world puts that goofiness on full display in the blooper reel from his series of Budweiser ads that will be aired in Brazil.

Did you know that Silva can dance? Perhaps he needs to be the next fighter on "Dancing with the Stars."

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/anderson-silva-shows-off-goofy-side-video-134050942.html

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UFC 146 pictures, including Junior dos Santos? big win and Cain Velasquez?s bloody TKO

Check out UFC 146's pictures from Tracy Lee, including Junior dos Santos' celebration after defending the UFC heavyweight belt, Jamie Varner knocking Edson Barboza silly, and Cain Velasquez's bloody, bloody battle with Antonio Silva.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-146-pictures-including-junior-dos-santos-big-180428973.html

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Police blotter: More on Jon Jones and Arianny Celeste?s arrests

Checking in on the legal issues of a few members of the UFC:

-- Jon Jones pled guilty to DWI in Binghamton, N.Y. on Tuesday. His driving privileges were suspended and he was ordered to undergo an alcohol abuse and dependency evaluation. His next hearing is in June, where he will find out his exact sentence. He can have up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

Also, Sports Illustrated's Loretta Hunt is reporting that Jones was not alone in his Bentley when he hit a pole. He had two passengers. Dana White commented on the arrest on Inside MMA.

"He's a good kid. He made a stupid mistake. The thing about social drinking. Everybody's done it. Everybody was at that age where they jumped in the car, drove home and the next day they said I can't believe that I drove home last night. It's a serious situation that happens here in the United States. I know for a fact Jon has learned from this and hopefully he can educate other people."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 people will die in drunk driving accidents this year. A person will be injured in an alcohol-related crash every minute. Shane del Rosario, who fought in the UFC this past weekend, nearly had his MMA career ended because of a drunk driver.

Perhaps the correct attitude for the UFC's president to take on his biggest star getting arrested for drunk driving is to just say how wrong it was, and not try to couch the behavior with, "Everybody's done it," because that's simply not true.

-- Details have emerged from Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste's arrest for domestic violence over the weekend. She was in a fight with her boyfriend, Praveen Chandra, and allegedly kicked him in the face. Police observed cuts on her arms, and also arrested Chandra.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/police-blotter-more-jones-arianny-celeste-arrests-172844601.html

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Chan Sung Jung delivers submission win (VIDEO)

Would you like to see highlights from the main event of UFC on Fuel 3 along with discussion from Kenny Florian and Jon Anik about "The Korean Zombie's" next move? You're in luck.

For too long, the featherweight division has been so top-heavy that it was a little boring. Now, with Erik Koch and Jung waiting for Jose Aldo, the 145-lbers are giving fans a reason to watch the division.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/chan-sung-jung-delivers-submission-win-video-124938913.html

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Carlos Condit Down For Bout With Martin Kampmann If GSP Isn?t Cleared In Time

Carlos Condit has been sitting on the sidelines awaiting the return of Georges St-Pierre so that the two can unify the UFC welterweight championship. However, after seeing Martin Kampmann knock Jake Ellenberger out, Condit is opening up to the idea of a fight with “The Hitman.” “If it turns out Georges can’t fight in November, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/DIhFK8twA-Y/

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