Archive for December, 2009

Will MMA fans entertain the weak notion that Rashad Evans has a bone to pick with Thiago Alves? Nope, but many will tune in to Saturday’s UFC 108 event because, well … there’ll be a bunch of fighting on TV.

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“Stupid mistakes. Let’s put it on (mistakes). Everybody makes mistakes in their life…. Like Tiger Woods, he made a mistake but he’s a really famous person and everybody looks at them. So it’s like blown up and everybody sees it. But if my neighbour will cheat on his wife, nobody will know. So I was in the picture (spotlight) and I did something really stupid… I promise that will never happen again. I’m the nicest guy in the world. How can you not like me?”

– “Dirty Dutchman” Gilbert Yvel tells the Canadian Press that he’s not really that dirty, chalking up his in-ring transgressions to mere mistakes. Yvel gained the reputation after three disqualifications, which included punching (and then kicking) a referee back in 2004 when he disagreed with a restart. He also bit Karimula Barkalaey and eye gouged Don Frye in two separate bouts earlier in his career…

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// At the World MMA Awards show for the 2009 year put on by Versus. A very much recovered looking Diego the “Nightmare” Sanchez (from his

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It’s Press Conference Day and the MMA Awards. Get backstage access with Dana White to the events leading up to UFC 108 on Saturday, January 2. Visit http://108.ufc.com for more details.

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Card Subject to Change

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Cagewriter readers, it’s your turn to decide the best of 2009. Today, we select the best melding of power, timing and speed that MMA has to offer: the knockout. Which was the best KO of 2009?

Fedor Emelianenko over Andrei Arlovski at Affliction: Arlovski was keeping up with "The Last Emperor," which gave him a bit too much confidence. He aggressively tried to throw a flying knee, which was the perfect opportunity for Emelianenko to throw a beautiful right and knock Arlovski clean out. 

Jose Aldo’s flying knee stops Cub Swanson: Heading into this fight at WEC 41, Cub Swanson was so hopeful that he smiled as he touched gloves with Aldo before the fight. He wouldn’t be smiling for long, as Aldo immediately threw a flying knee, knocking out Swanson in 14 seconds and opening up an ugly gash on his head…

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For a card that’s seen more dance partners than the captain of your high school cheerleading squad, UFC 108: “Evans vs. Silva” might as well be called “The Return.” That’s because of the number of fighters – many of which are serving as replacements for previously scheduled, now injured, opponents – set to make their long-awaited return to action.

The Jan. 2 fight card will see the return-from-injury of UFC lightweight fighter Joe Lauzon and welterweight Dustin Hazelett, as well as the promotional returns of Dan Lauzon (Joe’s brother) and Duane “Bang” Ludwig, in addition to the promotional debut of heavyweight badboy Gilbert Yvel…

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Props: SportsRadioInterviews.com

Quoteworthy:

“The thing is just not getting caught up in games at all. Just imposing my will and doing the things that I need to do. I think as long as I do that, I will find the opening that I’m looking for. As long as I’m reacting to what he is doing, I’m always going to find myself on the defensive end and therefore not being able to find my rhythm. If I go out there looking to establish my rhythm and do what I need to do, I’ll get him reacting and I can dictate the pace of the fight. Ultimately getting back to Machida is where I want to go. I definitely got at least another fight or two to go before I get to him. I would also definitely like to close things up with Rampage since we got into it like that. It’s something that the fans want to see and I definitely want to give the fans what they want…

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