Official MMA Thread

[BengalMan]

If Diaz is going for any belt, it will have to be against Lawler for his MW belt. Diaz and Jake Shields are good friends and training partners and have already publicly stated that they won't fight each other. Diaz vs. Lawler could be a war though. Only problem them is Lawler cuts a good amount of weight to fight at 85, and Diaz walks around at 85. Regardless, I think it'd be a great fight.

[NCRadioMan]

MMA News:

Exiled former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia reveals that future plans for getting back into the UFC include getting a couple of fights and wins under his belt, but would scrap that idea for a shot at current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

"I want to fight a couple of times and get some wins, get some momentum again but if the UFC called and said 'We want you to fight Brock in three months', I would do it," Sylvia told Fighters Only. "I think Randy (Couture) was kicking his ass and then Brock caught him with that big overhand right. I thought Randy was manhandling him in the first round and I thought the second round was going the exact same way, then Brock landed that big shot and... he's a big boy. When he hits you it is going to hurt. Plus you know, he had fifty or sixty pounds on Randy."

http://www.fiveknuckles.com/mma-news...ht-Lesnar.html

Sorry, but he is and never was that good, imo.
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Carano - Cyborg Winner to be Named First Female Champ

It’s been three months since StrikeForce acquired ProElite’s assets, however it wasn’t until this past Saturday at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields that the San Jose-based organization announced that have come to terms with female superstar, Gina Carano.
“We look forward to having Gina back, and I think that Showtime and CBS did a fantastic job of teeing up this fight so that it’s a relevant fight in the sport,” Coker stated of their latest signing.

Before ProElite’s demise, EliteXC had tentatively scheduled the highly anticipated Carano vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos bout for this past November, however due to their financial woes, they were forced to scrap the show.

Now that Coker officially has full access to both female sensations, he fully intends to pick up where EliteXC left off, as he will throw Carano immediately into the cage against Cyborg to headline their August 15 promotion.

http://www.fightline.com/news/mma/20...er/index.shtml

WAR Carano!!
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Dana on Cro-Cop's 1 fight deal "I've never done this before"

When Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic returns from a nearly two-year break from the organization and fights at UFC 99, he'll do so under an unprecedented one-fight deal.

UFC President Dana White confirmed the unusual arrangement during a recent media call with the Filipovic (24-6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who takes on Mustapha Al-Turk (6-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a UFC 99 televised main-card bout.

"In this history of the company, I've never done this with anybody ever," White said of the deal. "I've never done that ever in nine years of being in this business."

White, currently in Germany for Saturday's pay-per-view event at Cologne's Lanxess Arena, said Filipovic's return resulted from a simple call the fighter made to him.

"When Mirko and I talked on the phone, the day that he said that he wanted to come back, let me tell you he was all fired up and basically saying, 'Listen, I got my surgery, I've been training, I want this, I want to come back, I want to win that title, and I want to take a run at it,'" said White, who estimated the deal was reached in just three days' time.

Filipovic, a longtime PRIDE fighter perhaps best known for winning the organization's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix, entered the UFC in 2007, when he was still ranked as one of the world's very top heavyweights. However, after a win over Eddie Sanchez in his UFC debut, the Croatian fighter suffered back-to-back losses to Gabriel Gonzaga (via stunning head-kick KO) and Cheick Kongo.

The UFC and the 34-year-old fighter split ways soon after, though both sides said it was a temporary split and that the ultimate goal was for "Cro Cop" to return to the UFC. Filipovic has since competed three times for DREAM, going 2-0 (with a no-contest with Alistair Overeem). Filipovic said he wanted to return to the UFC, where he knows he failed to live up to expectations, especially with the UFC heading to Europe for Germany's first-ever UFC card.

"I owe a lot to the UFC and to the UFC fans," he said. "I owe a lot. ... (The) UFC was the black spot in my career and in my life, and I'm the man who dedicates his life to fighting, and I just want ... to justify the (trust) Dana White gave me two years ago and calling me to UFC after I went from PRIDE."

Filipovic repeatedly tried to dodge questions about his health during his first UFC stint. He began to discuss some injuries but cut himself short and said he didn't want to make any excuses. However, he said he's entering Saturday's bout fully healthy following recent knee surgery, in good spirits and with a sound mind. White said any decisions about his future in the organization after UFC 99 will be made after the show is over.

"I just want to return – to return to the top, and I just want to prove everyone that they were wrong," Filipovic said. "They were wrong. I just hope that God will give me the strength that I can prove my worth. I don't like to talk too much now on the phone about it because I have to prove my worth in the cage.

"And that's exactly what I'm going to do."

Now that Dana has done what he said he would never do, sign a fighter to a one fight deal, I think this paves the way to get Fedor in the door!
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Andrei Arlovski realizes Boxing doesnt translate well to MMA

Great article here: http://www.watchkalibrun.com/2009/6/...ealizes-boxing

"Whatever it was Arlovski has learned the error of his ways. He posted this comment on his official website,

I focused too much on boxing and not enough on the wrestling and jiu-jitsu. It wasn't right. It's another thing I have to think about. MMA is not boxing. I have to change something. I don't understand this question about my chin. When you open your face for four or five punches it doesn't matter your chin, you will get KOed. Rogers was great, he did what he did. I took the fight and I got my ass kicked, it's that simple. It's embarrassing, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I have to move on. I'm definitely going to come back.

For the fledgling boxer the knockout loss to Rogers was even worse now that it has prevented him from making his debut on June 27th."

[ActionAndy]

I was never big on Arlovski until the Fedor fight, and then he really started to grow on me. I mean yeah, he lost that one too, but he was fighting well. Really hard to see him get blasted so quickly by a guy I'd never heard of (Rogers)...Here's hoping he makes a comeback.

[Ken]

UFC 99 - This card should blow the doors off the building. No titles here but it would be shocking if any of these fights lacked excitement and made it to a decision.

Rich Franklin Vs. Wanderlei Silva
Cheick Kongo Vs. Cain Velasquez
Mike Swick Vs. Ben Saunders
Marcus Davis Vs. Dan Hardy
Spencer Fisher Vs. Caol Uno
Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Mostapha Al Turk

[TriStar]

I'm especially looking forward to the Davis vs Hardy fight. I love a good grudge match and with all the hate these two guys have for each other - I hope it's a war.

[ActionAndy]

I want to see Cro Cop pull someone's heart out and show it to them....LOL

[LasciviousXXX]

Originally Posted by ActionAndy

I want to see Cro Cop pull someone's heart out and show it to them....LOL

Flawless Victory!

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by Ken

UFC 99 - This card should blow the doors off the building. No titles here but it would be shocking if any of these fights lacked excitement and made it to a decision.

Agreed. This is a great card. I agree with your picks too, Ken. Except I think Swick will take Saunders.


Rich Franklin Vs. Wanderlei Silva
Cheick Kongo Vs. Cain Velasquez (tough one)
Mike Swick Vs. Ben Saunders
Marcus Davis Vs. Dan Hardy
Spencer Fisher Vs. Caol Uno
Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Mostapha Al Turk