Then and Now: What has changed in MMA since 2005?

A long term dynamic develops in every sport that sticks around for a while. A section of the fan base will inevitably compare the play of today to their heroes from yesteryear.  Whether it is the baseball fan that longs for the day where they didn’t have to worry about someone using performance enhancing drugs after every home run, or the football fan that yearns for the era of hard hitting and less complaining in the NFL. One thing is a common factor; this group wishes things would go back to

The five biggest UFC bouts that never happened in 2012

Obviously 2012 has been a year that held huge potential for MMA. While I wouldn’t say it was a horrible year for fighting, the insane amount of injuries and other controversy that wrecked cards is unprecedented. From main events all the way down to preliminary cards, we saw an unheard never of fights shifted, canceled, and just generally thrown into the muck. UFC 151’s cancellation was just the icing on the cake in what was the weirdest year MMA has ever seen.  And it’s not over yet. Let’s take a look

UFC 150 Post-Fight Interviews: Cain Velasquez will fight JDS next

In a series of UFC 150 post-fight interviews, UFC President Dana White speaks to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com and avoids addressing who he thought won the Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch. He thought Henderson won both decisions, so there was no reason to keep discussing it. White hoped to have Henderson fight Nate Diaz before the year was up, and also stated Donald Cerrone would fight Anthony Pettis next. White also dispelled a ton of Heavyweight hype by stating Cain Velasquez will no doubt be

Dethroning Silva: Could one of these five fighters have what it takes

Anderson Silva (32-4) is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. He has been called “a mutant”, a “freak of nature” and “the greatest martial artist of all time”. With 15 straight wins in the UFC spanning over 6 years, the question I am most often asked by fans, fighters and fellow scribes is “What is it going to take for someone to defeat Anderson Silva?”
There is no quick or easy answer. A shift up and down to the wrong weight class could be his undoing, likewise age could start to catch up with him, but

UFC veterans Jeff Monson and Todd Duffee to headline SFL card in September

Yesterday, Ken Pavia, the CEO of Super Fight League, announced via MMAJunkie.com that UFC veterans Jeff Monson (46-13-1) and Todd Duffee (7-2) will headline the promotion’s September 8 card in Bangalore, India. Monson is riding a 3-fight win streak with one draw since his November loss to Fedor Emelianenko by way of unanimous decision. He has fought 19 bouts in the past two and a half years including the UFC, PRIDE, DREAM and Strikeforce. Monson has signed with SFL for at least 4 fights.Duffee most

UFC Fan Expo in July to host more than 50 stars under one roof

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced today that more than 50 UFC and Strikeforce stars are scheduled to appear at the UFC Fan Expo on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Fans will have the chance to meet their favorite stars during autograph sessions, Q&A sessions, meet and greets, training and development seminars and other special events. The UFC Fan Expo is coinciding with UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II.
Fighters scheduled for the UFC Fan

Nick Diaz suspended for 12 months by Nevada State Athletic Commission

Today Nick Diaz finally appeared before the NSAC to decide his fate stemming from a failed UFC 143 drug test for marijuana metabolites. After much back-and-forth between the Nevada general attorney’s office and the legal team of Diaz led by Ronald Goldman, the commission decided to take serious disciplinary action and suspend the controversial fighter for a full twelve months. On top of that, 30 percent of his fight purse was taken in addition to his fight bonus.
This may come as a shock to some, seeing as

UFC 146 changes again: Roy Nelson set to face Dave Herman; Jamie Varner steps in to fight Edson Barboza

 
Just when you thought the UFC 146 card was finally finished, two more switches have been put into place. Roy Nelson, who thought he was set to fight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in his UFC debut, found himself facing Gabriel Gonzaga after Silva was thrust into the co-main event versus Cain Velasquez. However, Gonzaga was injured and in steps Dave “Pee Wee” Herman to take his place. The UFC 146 mass Heavyweight shift was put into place by the massively publicized failed drug test