Three fights added to UFC 153; Jon Fitch set to take on rising star Erick Silva

Now that the headlining bout of Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch for the UFC Featherweight title is set in stone, UFC 153 from Rio’s undercard is starting to take shape with a recent announcement. First off, perennial Welterweight contender and long-time second fiddle to GSP Jon Fitch will take on surging young contender Erick Silva. Fitch has much to prove after suffering a devastating knockout loss to Johny Hendricks late last December, in a fight were he to win, it would have hard to deny him another shot at the

10 Most Underrated Fighters in Mixed Martial Arts

As serious mixed martial arts fans, many of us have been around the sport long enough to know potential when we see it.  It usually comes in the form of a fresh face, but can also exist in a journeyman who has seemed to find a new found focus and determination. However on some occasions, it can take a fighter years to find the discipline or focus needed to channel that potential. Some of the fighters on this list have seemed to suffer from that lack of focus, some have suffered bad luck/timing or have

Sonnen at UFC 148 Presser: I have stones just like John Holmes

Sparks flew at Lagasse’s Stadium inside the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada, which played host to the press conference for UFC 148 Silva vs. Sonnen II. Silva and Sonnen have been going back and forth with the normally reserved “Spider” getting into the verbal fray after hearing Sonnen’s trademark trash-talk lately.When asked why Silva did not initially want to fight a rematch against Sonnen, the champion responded: “I am here to fight whoever they put in front of me and sometimes my opinion doesn’t make much o

The Huntington Beach Bad Boy: A look back at Tito Ortiz’s five greatest fights

With Tito Ortiz being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame prior to UFC 148, now is a great time to look back at the impressive body of work put forth by Ortiz. While many newer fans of MMA have seen Ortiz weather many storms that have impeded his momentum, there was a time when he was a nigh-unbeatable champion in the Light Heavyweight division. Before injuries, age, and a bitter feud with UFC President Dana White got to the former champion, Ortiz used a brutal mix of wrestling, conditioning, and

Three legends retire: Fedor Emelianenko, Tito Ortiz and Peter Aerts

The Last Emperor, the Huntington Beach Bad Boy and the Dutch Lumberjack are hanging up their gloves. The worlds of MMA and Kickboxing will be a smaller place without them; these three champions have thrilled fans for decades and 2012 is the last time we will see any of them fight. Although this writer does not like to loosely toss around the word, “legends”, in these three cases, the word is wholly appropriate.
Fedor Emelianenko fought his last bout on June 21 with a knockout victory over Pedro Rizzo in

Dana White: I want more fighters to get involved in judging and reffing

UFC President Dana White discusses Wanderlai Silva, TUF: Brazil, problems with judging and UFC 148 with Fuel TV’s Karen Bryant.
It seems for the past four or five events, inconsitent judging and refereeing has been a real thorn in the side of White and last night was no exception: “I think the ref did a great job at not stopping the fight. Obviously, he was able to keep going. I have to go back to the judging again. They had a draw in an earlier fight and they didn’t have a draw for