Ultimate Insider Episode 13
In this week's UFC Ultimate Insider http://bit.ly/UltimateInsiderEp13:
Behind the scenes at UFC 121 in Fight Flashback
Go Beyond the Octagon to find out how fighters battle their own nerves
Hear opposing corners as top contenders battle for a title shot in Full Blast.
MMA In The Olympics Just A Matter Of Time
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UFC 121 Predictions
By MATT MOLGAARD
The UFC is headed back to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California this Saturday for what promises to be one explosive card. On deck for UFC 121 is a heavyweight title tilt, a clash between two perennially awesome welterweights, the long anticipated debut of Jake shields, and a bout pitting former friends and TUF training partners. If this card ends up a snooze fest, I will not shave my beard for one year; Scout’s Honor.
Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga:
With how stacked the heavyweight division is right now, this could end up being a loser-leaves-town match. Schaub is a talent on the rise, but he’s green and his movement in the cage is indicative of his inexperience. He is however dangerous, with power in his hands and a solid understanding of Jiu Jitsu. Gonzaga on the other hand hasn’t looked all too impressive lately, earning just two victories in his last four fights. However, Gonzaga holds an experience edge, a power edge, and a grappling edge. Barring a Schaub early blowout, Gonzaga should exit the cage with a much needed submission victory. Should Schaub manage to put Gabe away in brutal fashion, it could potentially earn Gonzaga his walking papers…we’ll see. I’m sticking with Gonzaga, second round submission victory. Most likely an armbar.
Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hamill:
I like Matt Hamill a lot, he’s got a great personality, he’s endearing to the crowd, and he’s competing at the highest level of competition available, while handicapped; that’s a man worth major respect. That being said, I believe he’s still a bit too unrefined to handle Ortiz. Ortiz sure hasn’t looked the monster of old over the last few years, but he’s shown in numerous fights that he’s still a threat. He went to war with Forrest Griffin twice, nearly triangle choked Lyoto Machida, and had a decision victory in the bag against dangerous wrestler Rashad Evans until a point deduction for fence grabbing knocked that W down a peg to Draw status. Chuck Liddell may always have Tito’s number, but Matt Hamill isn’t Chuck Liddell (in his prime that is), and experience will be the determining factor in this fight as Tito stops Hamill on cuts late in round two.
Paulo Thiago vs. Diego Sanchez:Diego Sanchez’s biggest problem is that he’s lost the unwavering confidence he once brought into the cage. Stinging losses to Josh Koscheck, and B.J. Penn left a chink in his armor. Decision losses to Jon Fitch and John Hathaway pierced that armor, and it’s very visible now. Diego Sanchez Version 2006 beats Paulo Thiago Version 2010 up convincingly. The current Diego Sanchez however is in for a rough night as he drops a decision to the stoic Thiago.
Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann:
The only time Kampmann will have an advantage in this fight is while these two are standing up. Knowing Shields, that won’t last long. He’ll utilize heavily improved wrestling to ground Kampann, from there he’ll pound away, softening Martin up for the third round submission defeat that awaits him. I’m calling a guillotine from a scramble.
(UFC Heavyweight Title)
Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez:
Ahh, the Grand Finale. The heavyweight title is up for grabs, and Cain Velasquez and Brock Lesnar are going to make sure this fight is remembered for a long time. Neither man knows how to be involved in a boring fight, and both men produce vicious finishes. Lesnar should be a favorite here, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be the victor. Velasquez moves much more fluently than Lesnar, and mixes up his overall attack much better. That said, it’s always hard to count out Lesnar who’s got the heart of a lion, and the power of a T-1000. I’ve gone back and forth on this one quite a few times, and I’ll likely change my mind again by Saturday night, but I’m going to predict Brock Lesnar surprises a lot of critics and forces a late ground-and-pound stoppage to retain his title.
More about UFC 121
Dana White Video Blog UFC 121 Day 1
Dana White video blog following UFC 120 in London, now leading into UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez on Saturday, Oct. 23rd from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Go to www.UFC.com for more details.UFC 121: Lesnar vs Velasquez Preview
This Saturday, Oct. 23rd, UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar will defend his belt against undefeated young gun, Cain Velasqeuz. Also, Jacke Shields makes his UFC debut versus Martin Kampmann. Watch UFC 121 Live on Pay-Per-View at 7pm PT/ 10 pm ET.
UFC 121 - Velasquez Pre-fight Interview
The ultimate goal of becoming heavyweight champion is in Cain Velasquez's sight, and on Saturday night, he will have his chance to claim the championship belt. Watch UFC 121: Lesnar vs Velasquez Live on Pay-Per-View at 7pm PT/ 10pm ET. Visit http://www.ufc.com/event/UFC121#/fight for more info.
Fisher Thankful UFC Hasn’t Cut Him, Says It’s Do or Die
Spencer Fisher file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Spencer Fisher has lost two straight, and if he doesn’t win Saturday at UFC 120, he doesn’t expect the promotion to keep him.
In fact, he’s surprised the UFC hasn’t released him already.
“My back’s against the wall right now,” Fisher said last week during an episode of “Beatdown” on the Sherdog Radio Network. “The UFC has been really nice in keeping me around. A lot of guys, I know they’re cutting them after two losses. I was kind of worried after that last fight I’d been cut already, but they were nice enough to keep me around and I’m thankful for the position I’m at and I’m going to work my butt off for this upcoming fight. … It’s kind of a do-or-die situation with me right now. I gotta go out to win, whether that means me putting him on his back and submitting him, which I can do, or stand up and knock him out, and I can do that as well, I think.”
Fisher fights Curt Warburton in a preliminary lightweight bout. A member of the England-based Wolfslair camp alongside Michael Bisping, Warburton holds a 6-1 record that includes a first-round stoppage of “Ultimate Fighter 9” winner Ross Pearson. He will be making his UFC debut.
Fisher, on the other hand, has been fighting in the UFC for five years. He’s 8-5 in the Octagon, a respectable record in the deep lightweight division, but it’s his back-to-back losses that have him worried. Joe Stevenson finished him with elbows in October 2009, and Dennis Siver outpointed him in June. Fisher believes the UFC has kept him on the roster at least in part due to his entertaining style.
“I think I’m a fighter’s fighter,” he said. “I know what kind of fights I like to watch and I think I bring a lot to the table. I’ve kind of got away from that a little bit in my past couple of fights, but I’m going to go out there and get back to what got me here in the first place. That’s a fast-paced, in-shape Spencer Fisher.”
Although Fisher acknowledged that he’s seen only a small amount of tape on Warburton, he’s confident he can knock him out or take the fight to the ground if necessary.
“The tapes I’ve seen of him, he pretty much does the same things over and over again,” Fisher said. “He likes the standup, it seems like, but he’s not very fast. … Again, I think I can put him on his back if I want to. People don’t usually see me doing my wrestling because I’m the one trying to avoid the wrestling usually, but I’m more than capable of putting him on his back if I need to and submitting him.”
Fisher prepared for the bout at his gym in Moline, Ill., with Josh Neer and Jeff Joslin among his training partners. In the past he might have trained at other camps and worked on filling the holes in his game. He stayed home this time as part of a plan to focus on his strengths.
“This time I just kind of buckled down and stayed here,” Fisher said. “I just got back in shape and kind of got back to the things that got me here ... . I’ve always been worried about what the other guy was going to do and not so much what I was going to do. What I’ve gotten back to, the biggest thing is being in shape and I added a few more new tricks to my game.”
Check out the full interview (beginning at 46:20) with Fisher, who also discussed why he left the Miletich camp.
View the original article here
Herman Cautiously Optimistic After Two Knee Surgeries
Ed Herman file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Following his stint on the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” middleweight Ed Herman became one of the more familiar faces in the UFC. He fought nine times in the Octagon between June 2006 and August 2009, but Herman has been missing in action for the past 14 months. On the rebound from a pair of serious knee injuries, he has opened his own gym in Fort Collins, Colo., after spending much of his career with Team Quest in Oregon.
“My knee is feeling good right now,” said the 30-year-old Herman. “I’m taking my time with coming back since I can’t afford to hurt it again. It’s been super frustrating to be out this long, but it’s allowed me to focus on the mental part of my game, coaching and my family, as well.”
Herman first injured his left knee in the opening round of his last fight against Aaron Simpson at UFC 102 in August 2009. When he went to throw a head kick in the second round, Simpson caught the leg and pushed Herman to the mat. He immediately grabbed his leg, and the bout was called off due to the injury. Herman tore the anterior-cruciate ligament and meniscus in his knee and, after undergoing surgery a month later, was working his way back when he hurt the same knee again in January.
“I was just training, and I came back too soon,” said Herman, who has 19 finishes among his 21 victories. “I was doing some light sparring and came down on the knee wrong and got hurt again.”
The ACL and meniscus in Herman’s left knee were torn again, putting him back on the shelf.
“Having the two injuries back-to-back really makes you take a step back, look at what you have and realize just how quick you can lose it,” said Herman, who was a finalist on Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” “Before the first knee injury, I’d never had anything like this happen to me before. I was prepared to do the rehab again since I’d gone through it once before, but the emotional part of it was tough. I’m glad I have a great supporting cast.”
Along with rehabbing the injuries, Herman made the decision to leave Team Quest and open his own gym -- Trials Martial Arts -- with Team Quest teammate Ryan Schultz in Colorado. Herman admitted the decision to strike out on his own was not an easy one to make.
“It was a very hard decision for me to leave Team Quest and come out to Colorado,” said Herman, who has beaten Chris Price, Scott Smith, Joe Doerksen and David Loiseau while fighting for the UFC. “I’d been looking to open my own gym for a while, and Ryan and I got an investor. [Schultz] lived in Colorado, and I came out and visited, and it seemed like a nice place, so we decided to open the gym here.”
With the new gym opened, Herman has focused on preparing for a return to the Octagon, which he hopes will come in the first few months of 2011.
“I’ve been talking to [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva about how things are going,” said Herman. “I’m looking at February or March 2011 to get back in there. I want to give myself plenty of time to be ready.”
UFC 121 Returns to The Big Screen
The biggest event of the year, UFC 121: Lesnar vs Velasquez can be seen Live on the Big Screen in HD at your local movie theater. Visit http://bit.ly/bjHaTO to see theater info.
UFC Ultimate Insider Episode 10
Checkout the new Ultimate Insider episode -- http://bit.ly/UltimateInsiderEp10. Exclusive UFC 119 behind the scenes action, grand opening of UFC Gym, and Rogan sits down with the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
