Videos

By John Moody (For all the video's from the MSG / UFC event check the VIDEO page) Lorenzo Fertitta and the UFC brass were in New York on Thursday stumping to bring MMA to the Empire state.  Still not sanctioned, New York is one of the final key elements in the UFC's expansion strategy.  In this video interview, Fertitta discusses why New York is so importatant for the UFC.  Then, we pivot to discuss the two fights he wants to see happen this year.  For those fans pining to see GSP v. Anderson Silva you will be happy with Fertitta's answer. Click through to see the interview. ...

By John Moody Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Frankie Edgar set up shot in the Madison Square Garden today to push the message that MMA needs to be sanctioned in the New York.  I got all the video interviews with the principles and surrounding players. Stay tuned for exclusive video interviews with White, Fetitta, Edgar and others in the days ahead about this issue and other buring topics around the UFC.  Here is the the Q & A portion from today's press conference featuring Dana White answering media questions.  Some great insight into what the UFC is facing in getting MMA legal in New York. ...

By John Moody Long Island's Gian Villante has taken a winding road to reach the highest levels of MMA, but his time has come. Just signed by Strikeforce to face Chad Griggs on February 12th at the Izod Center in New Jersey, Villante is a former star linebacker for Hofstra University and nearly made the cut in the New York Jets training camp.  After the NFL did not pan out, Villante quickly turned to his wrestling pedigree from high school and picked up MMA.  He has been training with another rising star, Chris Weidman, also a Long Island product.  Villante quickly won his fist six fights, mainly in the Ring Of Combat, and now stands at 7-1 with his big break onto the national stage with Strikeforce at hand.  I recently caught up him at a training session at Ray Longo's gym on Long Island.  Click through to watch the video. ...

With two highly talented fighters, yet very soft spoken, at the top of the slate - UFC 125 will find its colorful side down the card mainly in the form of Chris Leben.  The man called "The Crippler" has more than lived up that moniker in his last two fights stopping Aaron Simpson via TKO and Yoshihiro Akiyama via submission.  Now, he has his hands full with a beast of a man in the heavy handed Brian Stann. Leben though, will welcome a fight against a pure striker and which will harken back to his early years in MMA when he was primarily just a striker with a crude skill set. To prepare for UFC 125 here is your Chris Leben homework.  Watch Leben's 2003 battle with Otto Olson in Seattle.  This type of affair has become indicative to how Leben fights.  Trouble early, then lookout! ...

Here is your homework ahead of WEC 53 tonight: Anthony Pettis research. Why can Anthony Pettis win tonight over WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson?  Well, as his trainer Duke Roufus told us in his audio interview on Fighters.com yesterday, Pettis has the heart of a lion and a left head kick for the ages.  In this WEC 53 video prep segment, Pettis was only 5 weeks out of shoulder surgery, back in March 2008, when he fought Mike Lambrecht.  At the end of this video you can see Pettis' hanging shoulder in pain.  But first, watch the amazing end to this bout.  If you want to jump to the finish go to the 4:35 mark in the video.  Stunning! Click through to watch the video. ...

Anthony Pettis has shot to stardom under the tutelage of Duke Roufus as part of Team RoufusSport in Milwaukee. Pettis has the fight of his life on Thursday night, against Ben Henderson, for the WEC lightweight belt and a shot at the UFC lightweight title.  Pettis' trainer, Duke Roufus, recently spoke with Fighters.com and shares how Pettis may approach Henderson and why he is so difficult to fight.  In this jam packed interview, Roufus also sheds light on the other stars in his camp including, how Alan Belcher is recovering from his eye injury, what went down when Pat Barry fought Cro Cop, and what lies ahead for Matt Mitrione. Click through for the audio interview. ...

Duke Roufus took some time on Thursday to talk with John Moody from Fighters.com's.  In this segment he breaks down the welterweight title fight between Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 this weekend.  Roufus, the head of Team RoufusSport based in Milwaukee, is one of the hottest trainers in MMA with Anthony Pettis, Alan Belcher, Pat Barry, Eric Koch and Matt Mitrione in his camp.  Take a listen here as he lays out his scenario for GSP/Koscheck 2 and why he is also excited to watch the Stefan Struve / Sean McCorkle fight.  Also, stay tuned to Fighters.com for the extended interview with Roufus where he comments on Pettis' preparation for Ben Henderson, Barry's general progression and how Belcher is recovering from his eye injury.  Coming next week. Click through for the Fighters.com Radio interview with Duke Roufus. ...

While the UFC is exploding into new markets internationally, there is still one pot of gold the UFC and MMA at large has yet to tap ... New York City.  Due to some defiant anti-MMA politicians in Albany, the sport is still fighting to get legalized in the Empire State.  But there is hope, and Nick Roach from 'Legalize New York MMA Now' is up to date on where all the political efforts stand. Click through to watch the video interview with Nick Roach. ...

205lb UFC phenom Jon Jones is a man on the rise.  Widely regarded as the young fighter with the most potential in the UFC, the upstate New York native took a few minutes to speak with Fighters.com last weekend.  Jones elaborated on his feelings for his next opponent, Ryan Bader, and shared how his brother - Art Jones - is faring as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens. Click through to watch the video. ...

Kru Phil Nurse, the founder of the 'The Wat' gym in Manhattan and thriving Muay Thai coach to the biggest names in the UFC sat down to talk with Fighters.com recently at the MMA World Expo.  Nurse comments on his training with George St. Pierre ahead of the Josh Koscheck fight, his on-going work with Frankie Edgar and how he applies his knowledge of Muay Thai for the ever-evolving world of MMA. Click through to watch the video. ...

UFC welterweight Carlos Condit sat down with Fighters.com over the weekend at the MMA World Expo in New York City to discuss how he knocked out Dan Hardy, his dad's boss - the governor of New Mexico, and his next opponent - Chris Lytle.  Click through to watch the video. ...

Renzo Gracie spoke his mind in part two of our exclusive Fighters.com video interview.  The MMA legend looks back to his fight vs. Matt Hughes in Abu Dhabi, expands on why Frankie Edgar has blown up, who will win Edgar/Maynard 2, why Matt Serra disregarded his Jiu Jitsu against Chris Lytle, and if he ever plans to fight again.  Click through to watch the video. ...

MMA legend Renzo Gracie took some time this week to speak on-camera with Fighters.com in New York City. In this clip, Gracie shares his thoughts and predictions on all the main card fights at UFC 121. Find out why he is picking Jake Shields over Martin Kampmann plus his thoughts on Brock Lesnar v. Cain Velasquez. Stay tuned to Fighters.com for Part 2 of our video interview where we talk about Matt Hughes, Ricardo Almeida, and the upcoming Frankie Edgar v. Gray Maynard lightweight title fight.  Coming soon. Click through to watch the video. ...

Matt Serra has been through the fire and climbed the mountain once already in his career.  If he beats Chris Lytle at UFC 119 this weekend, could he be back in the mix again in the UFC welterweight division title picture? In this video, go behind the scenes with Serra at his new state of the art MMA facility on Long Isalnd and listen to his concerns about fighting the red-hot Lytle in his hometown of Indianapolis.  Click through to watch the video. ...

Jim Miller is admittedly just outside the top 5 or 6 ranked UFC lightweights, but all that could change with a convincing victory over Gleison Tibau on September 15th in Austin Texas at UFC Fight Night 22.  Miller is on a powerful four fight win streak and has only one loss in the UFC ... to title contender Gray Maynard.  Miller took some time to speak with Fighters.com recently about his upcoming fight and Frankie Edgar's recent victory over BJ Penn at UFC 118.  Click through to listen! ...

Matt Serra is a busy guy, he is preparing for Chris Lytle at UFC 119 and managing his new state of the art training facility in Huntington, Long Island.  On Wednesday, he took some time to speak with me about Lytle and his career. That report will come later in August.  However, in this video, he also shared his thoughts on Roy Nelson, Chael Sonnen and the other main card fights coming up in Oakland this Saturday.  Good Stuff.  Click through for the video exclusive to Fighters.com. ...

Former UFC middleweight champ “Ace” Rich Franklin (26-4) sat down with Fighters.com at SACAN Family Martial Arts in Cincinnati to discuss where he fits in now in the UFC and his future and legacy in and out of MMA. Franklin will fight “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) in the main event at UFC 103 in Dallas Saturday, the third consecutive opponent whose name is as big as Franklin's in MMA. ...

Joe Riggs talked to Fighters.com in Los Angeles 19 September, 2008, before his fight versus Kazuo Misaki. ...

Chuck Liddell answered questions from the media after UFC 88 in Atlanta 6 September. ...

Rashad Evans found out he had earned a title fight after knocking out Chuck Liddell at the UFC 88 post-fight press conference. ...

UFC President Dana White spoke to the media after UFC 88 in Atlanta 6 September. ...

Matt Hamill talked about his fight with friend and former training partner Rich Franklin before UFC 88 in Atlanta. ...

Jason MacDonald spoke about his fight versus Jason Lambert 3 September in Atlanta. ...

Yoshiyuki Yoshida talked about his fight versus Karo Parisyan at UFC 88 in Atlanta before Parisyan pulled out due to injury. ...

Rich Franklin talked in Atlanta 4 September about his fight versus Matt Hamill. ...

Nathan Marquardt and Rashad Evans rolled for the media 3 September in Atlanta before UFC 88. ...

Rashad Evans talks about his fight versus Chuck Liddell 3 September in Atlanta. ...

Chuck Liddell talks to Fighters.com in Atlanta 3 September before his UFC 88 fight versus Rashad Evans. ...

Rashad Evans and Nathan Marquardt workout before UFC 88 3 September in Atlanta. ...

Rashad Evans and Nathan Marquardt workout before UFC 88 3 September in Atlanta. ...