Fight for the Troops 2 weigh-in: Mitrione and Hague get to know each other

All the UFC fighters on the Fight for the Troops 2 card are ready to go, but it looked like Matt Mitrione and Tim Hague were ready to thrown down on the stage during the weigh-in Ft. Hood in Killeen, Tx. (video).

After weighing in at a combined 516 pounds, the big boys got nose-to-nose (18:15 mark).

Mitrone, who generally fights around 253, was at a UFC career-high 260 while Hague was slimmer than normal at 256.5.

It was also worth keeping an eye on the condition of the fighters in the other heavyweight bout.

Joey Beltran, a blown up light heavyweight, looked doughy as usual. He's survived fighting at 230 with a little extra meat around his midsection, but his opponent Pat Barry has shown that if he blows up too much it can hurt his cause.

Barry weighed a UFC career-high 248 before his loss at UFC 115 to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. He was between 233-237 during his first three UFC fights. Today, he weighed in at a more manageable 240. 

The main event fighters, Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard both arrived on weight as did the remaining 18 fighters.

Mike Guymon and DaMarques Johnson produced one of the goofiest weigh-in staredowns in the history of fighting, as both fighters smiled for the camera (9:10 mark).

Yves Edwards was also in a relaxed mood. He made weight while eating potato chips on the scale and was even nice enough to offer Cody McKenzie a few chips (10:45 mark). 

Let's not leave out the Octagon girls. Those camouflage numbers were pretty nice. 

MAIN CARD

Evan Dunham (156) vs. Melvin Guillard (155)
Tim Hague (256.5) vs. Matt Mitrione (260)
Mark Hominick (145.5) vs. George Roop (145)
Pat Barry (240) vs. Joey Beltran (230)
Cole Miller (155.5) vs. Matt Wiman (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD
Yves Edwards (155) vs. Cody McKenzie (155)
Mike Guymon (170.5) vs. DaMarques Johnson (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD
Mike Brown (146) vs. Rani Yahya (145)
Willamy Freire (155) vs. Waylon Lowe (156)
Amilcar Alves (171) vs. Charlie Brenneman (171)
Chris Cariaso (135) vs. Will Campuzano (135)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fight-for-the-Troops-2-weigh-in-Mitrione-and-Ha?urn=mma-310908

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Borderline insane Nick Diaz isn't the only reason to watch Strikeforce tomorrow night

The main event at tomorrow night's Strikeforce is guaranteed to deliver a dramatic finish. Nick Diaz brings a classic volume boxing style to the cage against Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos. Santos is your typical brawler, who swings from the hip. Someone is losing via KO or TKO. But as Cage Potato notes, the Diaz fight isn't the only thing that makes Strikeforce's latest offering intriguing. CP lists the other reasons to tune in:

Herschel Walker, Genetic Freak
[...] Did I mention he’s 48? Now, in MMA that may not seem special as we have our own version of a 48-year old wonder in Randy Couture, but Couture looks every year of 48. Walker, on the other hand, could pass for a man in his early 30s and has the physique that men in their athletic primes dream to attain. Herschel Walker, at 48, might be the greatest physical specimen to step foot in an MMA ring or cage…ever.

Roger Gracie, Ground Wizard
The Gracie name is synonymous with the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Their legacy extends back to the inaugural UFC some 17 years ago. [...] Fans of BJJ should take notice of his skills, especially when it gets to the ground…and if Gracie wants it to, it will. Gracie is only 28 years of age and still has a future in MMA and potential matchups at 205 with Dan Henderson, “King Mo” Lawal, and the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Rafael Cavalcante.

Momentum
Strikeforce has been able to pick up some much needed momentum after a subpar 2010. It began with the December 4th show that went up head-to-head with the UFC. Though the UFC show won the ratings war, Strikeforce had overwhelming shown itself as the better show that night. Then an announcement of a Heavyweight Tournament with 8 of the top 25 heavyweights in the world was made. [...] There’s a lot of momentum behind the Strikeforce brand, the question is, can they keep it up?

There's one more we'd like to add, regardless of a win or loss, Nick Diaz's postfight press conference comments are a must listen. He's been unbelievable in the lead up to the fight.

Diaz is tired of hearing about a possible against middleweight Jason Miller. 

"I’d be happy to move up, I’d like to get paid for it you know? I don’t like how people try to say that I didn’t accept the fight with (Mayhem) Miller because I was too small. I never said anything about that," Diaz said. "I said if I’m going to go off track and screw with my whole season, it’s going to screw with my whole year, it’s going to screw with my capabilities of fighting at 170lbs. If I’m going to do that I’d like to get paid in full. I would like to have a reason for doing that. Not just do it at everybody else’s convenience.”

Diaz isn't making a ton of money for these fights and he's had enough.

“I’d like to get paid something extra. Double, triple, something crazy for me to do something extra that would screw up my weight to fight at that weight," Diaz said. "[...] “(Manny) Pacquaio’s making 40 [expletive] million dollars, GSP’s making a couple million dollars. I’m over here [expletive] driving a Honda and my [expletive] breaking down? [expletive] all you mother[expletive]."

Diaz is also tired of hearing about Georges St. Pierre's dominance.

"That’s what I’m saying. They’ve made easy fights for those guys. These guys have got like six or seven fights. Like all easy fights. I’ve never got to fight a guy like (Paul Daley) they brought into fight Josh Koscheck," Diaz said during the Strikeforce teleconference. "So when you bring up fighters like that and tell me they are the best fighters in the world it’s a [expletive] joke. Those guys are all ranked now but I was here first. So let’s fight then. Let’s make it happen, you know?"

According to Diaz, the UFC is propping up phony contenders for GSP.

“People think this guy is better than me and it’s [expletive]. He went five rounds with Josh Koscheck," Diaz said. "I just told you about Josh Koscheck, right? Why shouldn’t I get to fight him? Why are you saying he’s unavailable? Because we fight for different companies?”

We know Diaz is nutty, but this is where he has completely off his rocker. The fighter should be well aware of the fact that the UFC will never co-promote a fight with another organization. He was with the UFC in the past and is fully familiar with the ways of the powerful promotion. If his goal is to push for change, fine, but stop acting like this is boxing with promoters like Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella, Golden Boy, Top Rank and Don King working together on fights.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Borderline-insane-Nick-Diaz-isn-t-the-only-reaso?urn=mma-313876

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Watch Jens Pulver win his first fight since 2007

Jens Pulver once was the UFC lightweight champion, but his last win was in 2007 against Cub Swanson in the WEC. Since then, he has lost six times, including two losses to Urijah Faber. He righted the ship on Saturday night at XFO 38 outside Chicago, winning by rear naked choke over Mike Lindquist. The fight starts at about two minutes in.

Lindquist was on a losing streak of his own, with the Pulver fight his fifth loss in a row.

Thanks to Chicago's MMA for the video.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Watch-Jens-Pulver-win-his-first-fight-since-2007?urn=mma-311753

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Barry emotionally wins unanimous decision at Fight for the Troops 2

Pat Barry leg kicked his way to a unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 over Joey Beltran at Fight for the Troops 2 in Texas on Saturday night.

Beltran controlled Barry throughout the round using the clinch, and even landed a few shots to the groin before the two were separated and Barry was given time to recover. Beltran stayed close enough to keep Barry from throwing many damaging kicks, which clearly frustrated Barry.

In the second round, Beltran started with a series of punches and completed a takedown, but also absorbed several punishing leg kicks from Barry. By the end of the round, Beltran was limping, but still ended the round with a flurry of strikes and knees. 

Beltran continued to use the clinch in the third round, battering Barry's face for the beginning of the round, but Barry didn't let Beltran stick around too long. He continued to use leg kicks, and at one point, pushed off Beltran's face to throw a kick. He inadvertently poked Beltran in the eye, stopping the fight for the doctor to come in.

When the bout was re-started, Barry found a second wind, landing kick after kick on Beltran's already wary leg. Beltran tried for a takedown to avoid the kicks, but Barry used his position on the ground to hammerfist Beltran's tenderized leg. Barry returned to his feet and landed several more kicks as the final horn sounded. Beltran collapsed to the ground, his leg clearly in pain. 

Barry was emotional after the fight, speaking of his father, a solider who died 25 years ago. Several of Barry's family members served in the military, giving his bout at Ft. Hood extra meaning. He said that he was surprised that Beltran contnued to come forward.

"That dude is a zombie. I hit him in the face 300 times, and he kept coming forward," Barry said of Beltran.

This win was Barry's first time back in the Octagon since breaking his hand and foot in a loss to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Beltran has now suffered his second loss in a row, after dropping a unanimous decision to Matt Mitrione at UFC 119.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Barry-emotionally-wins-unanimous-decision-at-Fig?urn=mma-311118

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Dana White on MMA in NY, Sonnen & Barnett, and frogurt - Dana White

The Fight Nerd met UFC President Dana White at their UFC in NY press conference last week, and had a chance to grab a one on one with the man. After a short technical difficulty, White tells us about their plans to get MMA in NY, and also talks about his reaction to Chael Sonnen's current problems, as well as if he thinks Josh Barnett will be licensed to fight in the US due to his trio positive drug tests, which Scott Coker told us he thinks there will be no problems getting things resolved.After fumbling through some questions, I finally pop the big question -- what flavor of frozen yogurt does Dana White like? Why did I ask that, you may ask. Because it was the perfect set-up to my ballsiest move ever -- asking Dana White for a press pass to UFC 128 in Jersey. What does Dana have to say to that? Better check out the video to find out!

Source: http://mmalice.com/dana-white/dana-white-on-mma-in-ny-sonnen-barnett-and-frogurt-video_d0c781c57.html

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HUF, GORF LIFE and Skatetalk Live!

HUF Footwear just put up a new commercial featuring Matt Gottwig. Wiskate put up a new GORF LIFE clip of Danny Stemper. Skatetalk Live! is no longer searching craigslist for places to shoot every tuesday and will now be featured on The Berrics site. Check out the first show tonight at 8p.m. with special guests Eric Koston and Steve Berra.

Source: http://theskateboardmag.com/blogs/tom-carter/2011/02/01/huf-gorf-life-and-skatetalk-live/

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Herschel's involvement in MMA prompts one columnist to call the sport a circus

Herschel Walker's MMA career continues to confuse those outside the sport. The former NFL and college star is attracting the eyes of many media members who haven't bought into MMA as a legitimate sport, but at what cost? John Canzano can't be the only newspaper columnist thinking the sport is a joke because it's promoting a 48-year-old football star in the cage.

I want to like this sport. I want to understand it. I want to cover it, and write about it, and take it seriously. But how can I while the sport itself aims to be a circus?

Canzano wrote that in the Oregonian on Saturday in advance of Walker's fight this coming weekend against someone named Scott Carson.

[...] This matchup is a joke. It feels like Tonya Harding boxing. And dwarf Eddie Gaedel having an at-bat for the St. Louis Browns in 1951. And it's Chad Ocho Cinco racing against a horse.

Canzano then made sure to point out that Walker is fighting for Strikeforce not the UFC.

It's worth noting that Strikeforce is promoting this bout. That operation is a more sensationalized, more desperate younger cousin of the UFC. Hard-core mixed martial arts fans are quick to point this out and dismiss this as no big deal. Trouble is, the peripheral sports fan who is just getting to know the sport can't, and won't, make this distinction. I can't, either.

He's right, but frankly, in spite of James Toney's lengthy boxing resume, Walker may have stood a better shot in the cage at UFC 118 against Randy Couture. The UFC played the circus game a bit last year too.

Is Canzano, who's also a talk show host on Portland's biggest sports talk station, overreacting or does he speak for many casual and non-MMA fans?

Feel free to reach out to Canzano to debate the topic on Twitter @johncanzanobft, but remember to be civil. There's no reason to represent the MMA fanbase poorly. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Herschel-s-involvement-in-MMA-prompts-one-column?urn=mma-311443

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