Mixed Martial Arts

Legal troubles have again cost War Machine (otherwise known as Jon Koppenhaver) a year of his freedom after recently being sentenced to jail-time stemming from an old case. Machine had been scheduled to face Karl Amoussou in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 6 welterweight tournament, a series of bouts slated to start on March 30 with the winner receiving both a $100,000 payday and title-shot. While specifics weren’t offered, Machine announced his status on Twitter, expressing frustration after getting his life on track again six months ago when he was released from prison for a separate yearlong sentence. ...

If asked to list the top five welterweights, maybe even top ten, in the UFC it is likely Mike Pierce’s name wouldn’t make the list. While Pierce has certainly found some success inside the Octagon, he’s lacking any truly significant victories and not anywhere near the self-promoter a handful of his peers are. In fact, his opponent tomorrow night – Josh Koscheck – wasn’t overly familiar with Pierce either when he took the bout against him. “I didn’t really know who this guy was when I agreed to fight him. I remember he fought Jon Fitch but not too well. I think I remember that fight, he didn’t get anything going until the very last minute,” said Koscheck at an open workout for UFC 143. “I know he called me out, so he must think he can win… but they all think that until I punch them in the face.” ...

Light heavyweight legend Dan Henderson last fought in November where he outpointed Mauricio Rua in one of the 2011’s best bouts. The win, coupled with his success in Strikeforce and standing as the organization’s 205-pound champion, would have launched Henderson into a crack at UFC title-holder Jon Jones had a long-standing feud between Jones and equally deserving contender Rashad Evans not existed. However, now that a match-up between “Bones” and Evans has been set for May, Henderson has been left in a state of professional limbo. Despite the amount of time off involved, it appears “Hendo” is opting to sit and wait for Evans-Jones to settle their score instead of take another fight in the interim. UFC President Dana White revealed Henderson’s plan at a pre-event press conference related to UFC 143. White did not elaborate on whether or not the UFC would to comply with the Californian’s request or pressure him to remain active. ...

With the hockey season back in full swing so are the sport's scraps. Today's entry comes from a bout between the Philadelphia Flyers' Tom Sesito and Winnipeg Jets' Chris Thorburn start out strong with each landing a number of clean blows to the other and one ends up with his arm trapped inside his jersey with the entire thing resulting in an evenly matched, entertaining affair! ...

This March, former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo Souza will take the first step of his journey back towards the title he lost to Luke Rockhold when he sees action in Columbus, Ohio against unbeaten finisher Derek Brunson. Though not officially announced by the organization, Brunson took to Twitter on Thursday night to reveal he’d been booked to battle the widely respected submission specialist. Brunson currently holds a 9-0 mark including seven opening round stoppages and a fairly even split between TKOs/tap-outs. The 28-year old, who spends much of his time training with Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico, last fought in November where he outpointed Nate James at Strikeforce Challengers 20. ...

The UFC has done its duty in attempting to make things right after light heavyweight Brandon Vera suffered a one-sided decision loss to Thiago Silva who was later found to have used steroids while preparing for their UFC 125 tilt. According to an official announcement from the UFC, Vera will get a second shot at Silva on May 15 when the organization visits Fairfax, Virginia for UFC on FX 3. The scheduled match-up no doubt left a smile on Vera’s face who publicly lobbied for a rematch with Silva as soon as the Brazilian’s suspension was lifted last month. ...

While fans (and even Floyd Mayweather Jr.) may have had their fingers crossed a long-awaited bout against Manny Pacquiao would materialize in May it appears that will not be the case. However, as fortune would have it, the outspoken 34-year old will still face a decorated champion with a title on the line, as a match-up between Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto has been announced for May 5 in Las Vegas. Adding to the intrigue, the pairing also means Mayweather Jr. will move up to meet Cotto at a heavier weight. ...

The UFC released one of the heavyweight division’s most courageous competitors after suffering the first knockout loss of his career, as Joey Beltran has revealed he is now officially a free agent despite his consistency in bringing an all-out, fan-friendly style into the Octagon. Beltran was stopped with strikes by Lavar Johnson last weekend at UFC on FOX 2, a defeat dropping his record to 1-4 in his last five outings. Beltran announced his status on Twitter where he also hinted at dropping down to 205 pounds. ...

The HP Pavilion, a.k.a. The Shark Tank, has hosted plenty of fights before as the arena is not only known as a home-base for the NHL's San Jose Sharks but also the Strikeforce MMA organization. In honor of the venue, last night's game between the Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets resulted in a number of entertaining brawls including two between Jared Boll and Jim Vandermeer. Check out round one of their double-header! ...

It appears UFC on FOX 3 is guaranteed to feature at least one highlight-reel finish, as the UFC has announced Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson have been booked to face off at the May 5 event. Known as two of the heavyweight division’s hardest hitters, Barry and Johnson are both coming off of opening round knockouts in January. UFC on FOX 3 is scheduled for East Rutherford, New Jersey and will feature match-ups including Tony Ferguson-Dennis Hallman and Nate Diaz-Jim Miller. ...

The importance of selling oneself in MMA has become increasingly important as the sport has grown over the past several years. As a result, there are now numerous competitors who either so mindful of the public’s perception they opt to present a whitewashed version of their actual personality or amp things up in an over-the-top manner (see: Chael Sonnen). UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has been accused of the latter by some, acting out in a controversial manner to foster attention. However, Diaz says the opposite is true, as his behavior reflects his genuine feelings and that more of his peers would probably be viewed in a similar light if they weren’t afraid of being themselves. ...

Rising lightweight Tony Ferguson will look to continue his current run of success against vastly more experienced opponents inside the Octagon, this time as part of the UFC on FOX 3 lineup. After picking up wins over Aaron Riley (44 total fights) and Yves Edwards (60 total fights) in his last two bouts the Ultimate Fighter 13 winner has drawn Dennis Hallman (67 total fights) at the May 5 event. News of the match-up was confirmed by the UFC. ...

If you’re one of the countless MMA fans who lacks Fuel TV the UFC understands your plight and as such has provided another fix to hold you over until the network becomes readily available for all basic cable subscribers. Last night the Countdown special for UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz made its debut and featured headliners Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz discussing their bout, as well as the players in the evening’s other featured fights between Fabricio Werdum-Roy Nelson and Mike Pierce-Josh Koscheck. The UFC has now released the video online, giving those who missed it a commercial-free chance to check things out. ...

The NHL fired back up last night after a brief break for All-Star Weekend. Fortunately it appears none of the league's players forgot how to fight as indicated by this lovely little scrap between the Boston Bruins' Adam McQuaid and Ottawa Senators' Zenon Konopka! ...

The name Gary Goodridge brings a smile to the faces of many Mixed Martial Arts fans and fighters alike. Goodridge was a name synonymous with early MMA. From the time he appeared in a black gi at UFC 8 in 1996 to his last grand stage hurrah against Gegard Mousasi in 2009, Goodridge exhibited poise, fierce determination, and a never-say-die attitude en route to victories over many of MMA's early pioneers. He was the first Canadian MMA fighter to achieve success with PRIDE Fighting Championships, and over the course of a fifteen year career Goodridge never ceased to bring the crowd to his feet. Now two weeks past his 46th birthday, Goodridge has penned his memoirs in a look back at his storied career, and with the help of ECW Press has released his autobiography Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge, a colorful collection of stories from the man fans affectionately knew as "Big Daddy" in the ring, as well as a look at the pressured life of a husband, father, and company man struggling his way through his fighting years. ...

A common criticism of “interim” champions is the belief those who wear the label are not actually in possession of a legitimate belt. However, in the case of this weekend’s UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, injured title-holder Georges St. Pierre has a much different viewpoint on the matter. In his mind, the gold being handed to either Diaz or Condit at the end of their bout is very much real and will mark the end of his reign. “The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight,” said St. Pierre in an interview with the UFC’s website. “You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new #1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.” ...

Forgive me for my next statement, as it could be considered blasphemy to some, but I actually thought last night’s RAW was far superior to Sunday night’s Royal Rumble PPV. The action was great, there were a handful of nice twists/turns, the booking made sense, and a handful of storylines were either progressed or developed. However, and I’m sure he’d even admit it, CM Punk should never be given a microphone again…at least when it comes to singing, that is. The show kicked off with a segment with Punk serenading Interim GM John Laurinaitis with the infamous “nah nah nah nah” chant in expectations that “clownshoes” would be fired later in the show during a performance evaluation with HHH. I thought Laurinaitis showed some personality for the first time during the segment, as he did again when confronted by HHH, and his ass-kissing was entertaining (nearly foreshadowing too as it turned out). ...

Since Roy Nelson showed up in the UFC as an Ultimate Fighter winner the 35-year old veteran has fought of the division’s best including current champ Junior dos Santos who he went the distance with. With another “Top 10” opponent around the corner in the form of Fabricio Werdum at UFC 143, Nelson has another stiff challenge in front of him, yet it appears that’s the way “Big Country” likes it. Nelson provided some insight into his mentality in a recent interview where he revealed his thrives off facing top level adversaries. ...

As the NHL is still on break for All-Star Weekend reasons we continue our tour around the minors, this time stopping for a nice little bout between the Kelowna Rockets' Carter Rigby and Seattle Thunderbirds' Dave Sutter who show that they're both ready for the big time - at least when it comes to mid-game fighting. ...

ONE Fighting Championship has announced a partnership with ESPN Star Sports which will see it broadcast in twenty-four Asian countries for the next ten years. The length of the deal is unprecedented in MMA history and is three years longer than the UFC’s recent agreement with FOX. The news essentially means that ONE FC will be shown alongside major sporting events such as the English Premier League, FIFA World Club, Formula One, NBA and MLS which can only help the development of MMA in Asia. ESPN Star Sports is Asia’s biggest sports content provider and Adam Zecha, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales (SEA), ESPN STAR Sports, said, “ESPN STAR Sports has always been at the forefront in offering innovative and engaging programming to sports fans across the region. We have successfully showcased a diverse range of combat sports events to fans, and with this long-term partnership with ONE Fighting Championship, mixed-martial arts sports fans can now look forward to more exciting action on our networks.” ...

“Iron” Mike Tyson was once the most feared boxer in the sport and holds the distinction of not only being a longtime champion but the youngest heavyweight to ever hold the honor. Now he will be honored for his work in the ring…just not as a boxer. With his status in the International Boxing Hall of Fame already in place after joining the elite group this past summer, Tyson will be honored in late March by World Wrestling Entertainment with enshrinement in the Celebrity Wing of their Hall of Fame. WWE announced the news earlier today with an official reveal expected tonight on RAW. ...

The opinions surrounding Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 2 card are too numerous to count. However, one viewpoint worth hearing is of course that of UFC President Dana White who has never been afraid to offer his honest take on any topic. White spoke about the show in an interview on Fuel TV’s post-event coverage where he said Rashad Evans looked off and credited Phil Davis with going the distance against a fighter of Evans' caliber even if in defeat. “I think the fact Rashad Evans blazed through Tito (Ortiz) and the fact that he went five rounds tonight I would say, yeah, Davis did fine tonight and he was ready for this,” White explained of how the previously unbeaten grappler did. “This was definitely the biggest stage he’s ever been on but…he went five rounds with Rashad Evans tonight.” ...

When Johny Hendricks did the previously unthinkable by knocking Jon Fitch out in December at UFC 141 he immediately thrust himself into title contention given Fitch’s previous success in the Octagon as well as his own 12-1 career mark. However, Hendricks didn’t let the performance or his record do the talking for him and quickly made sure to express the fact he’d done what Diego Sanchez, Thiago Alves, and Georges St. Pierre couldn’t by finishing Fitch off. The All-American wrestler with knockout power is once again putting himself out there to make sure the public hasn’t forgotten his name where contendership is concerned, lobbying for a shot at the winner of this weekend’s headlining bout at UFC 143 between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit rather than a title-eliminator beforehand. ...

Thanks to the NHL All-Star festivities we're back in the minors today with an excellent offering from a game between the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League. While the participants, Tyler Bell and Tyrell Goldbourne, may only be seventeen years old they definitely fight like men as the action is short but sweet, featuring multiple knockdowns and stand-ups before the referees interfere. ...

If you tuned in to UFC on FOX 2 and thought last Saturday’s scrap between Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen was close you weren’t alone. Apparently both of the involved individuals felt the same way, and though Sonnen got the judges’ nod he would have understood if the scorecards had favored Bisping instead. The two outspoken middleweights discussed their bout during the post-fight press conference where respect was shown throughout, at least regarding each other. ...

One of the biggest nights in sports entertainment arrived earlier tonight with the annual Royal Rumble, a card highlighted of course by an over-the-top melee featuring thirty competitors hoping to earn a headlining spot at Wrestlemania. This year’s show also featured two title-fights and a major pay-off pairing with John Cena colliding with the hate-ridden Kane, as well as Big Show vs. Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan in a Steel Cage Triple-Threat tilt for the World Heavyweight Championship and CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship (with the assistance of “Special Guest Referee” John Laurinaitis). ...

It wasn’t long ago Evan Dunham was considered one of the lightweight division’s brightest prospects, picking up wins in his first four UFC fights to improve his overall record to 11-0. However, back-to-back losses including an opening round TKO to Melvin Guillard cost Dunham of his spot towards the top of the contendership ladder. The 30-year old has since reclaimed it to an extent, picking up consecutive victories over Shamar Bailey and Nik Lentz, the latter of which came this weekend at UFC on FOX 2 and was named Fight of the Night. Dunham spoke about his divisional standing after the bonus-winning performance where he mentioned already having an opponent or two in mind for his next bout. ...

Just because the NHLers are taking a minor break during the All-Star Weekend festivities doesn't mean hockey isn't being played somewhere in North America and, as such, at least two players threw down on the ice. Today's example comes from the minors despite some major action, as the San Antonio Rampage's Michal Repik and Houston Aeros' Casey Wellman went toe-to-toe after Repik laid a brutal check into the glass on one of Wellman's teammates. ...

The hype surrounding last night’s UFC on FOX 2 lineup was squarely planted on the tripleheader of tilts scheduled to take place on the popular network. However, by the end of the evening it was a group of preliminary fighters who came away with the card’s most spectacular showings and ultimately a handful of event-specific bonuses too. Submission of the Night went to Charles Oliveira after the dynamic young Brazilian tapped out opponent Eric Wisely with the first Calf Crusher in UFC history. The hold came after a scramble on the ground left Wisely’s leg in an awkward position with Oliveira recognizing the situation and capitalizing by leaning back to torque the limb. Oliveira won an extra $65,000 on top of his regularly contracted rate for the distinction. ...

The UFC was back on network television tonight with a PPV-worthy lineup featuring two fights likely to determine two top divisional contenders. In addition to the co-headlining bouts between Michael Bisping-Chael Sonnen and Phil Davis-Rashad Evans, the main broadcast of UFC on FOX 2 also featured submission specialist Demian Maia taking on unbeaten All-American wrestler Chris Weidman. ...