MMA Blogs

The ninth episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil" is available tonight at en.tuf.tv beginning at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT. While filmed in Portuguese, the video includes English subtitles.

This serves as tonight's discussion thread for the episode, which features the continuation of this season's middleweight and featherweight tournaments.

Follow along with the first-ever international edition of "TUF," and discuss it in the comments section of this thread. We'll then have an episode recap posted following the show's conclusion.

This weekend I am heading to Australia’s Capital, Canberra – to run a Coaching Clinic for a group of professional instructors (Mil, LEO & others). Although I will be delivering a number of Defensive Tactics classes throughout the day – a large part of the focus will be on my didactic approach to teaching. The didactic teaching method is a scientific/logical approach to instruction that engages the students mind on a number of levels. The focus of the day will be on the methods I use, as a professional instructor, to engage the students and impart the information. But there is another side to the coin …As a student myself (always the student – of martial arts and of life) I understand this deep truth: If I can train myself to be eminently teachable – I have a skill that I can use in every aspect of my life; a skill that I can take with me everywhere; a skill that allows me to learn from all kinds of people and situations without the need for a great teacher. Being eminently teachable is one of the real secrets to success in life. Think about it – really great teachers are hard to find – they certainly aren't lining up at our door. But if we are eminently teachable we are always primed to learn – irrespective of whether we have access to a great teacher or not.Become eminently teachable …JBW

Daniel Cormier's grand-prix championship, GIlbert Melendez's narrow win over Josh Thomson, and Jon Jones' DUI arrest were all popular topics in this week's edition of The Sunday Junkie.

In the latest installment of our weekly reader-feedback feature, MMAjunkie.com readers discuss all aspects of those storylines.

But this week's winner, Ottawa's "GraveConern," instead focused on MMA's often-unsung (but frequently criticized) referees, specifically Bellator 69's Jason Herzog.

In anticipation of this week's big UFC 146 event, the UFC has released another home-run preview video. 

Check out the clip, which has an easily identifiable old-school feel. 

UFC 146 takes place Saturday, and the clip focuses on the 10 heavyweight fighters who compete on the pay-per-view main card, including champion Junior Dos Santos and fellow headliner Frank Mir.

Daniel Cormier has faced his share of battles, and that doesn't even include Saturday's grueling "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" win over fellow tournament finalist Josh Barnett.

After a life fraught with personal tragedies, Cormier admits his recent success feels all the sweeter.

So despite a broken hand, he anxiously awaits his return to the cage, which could come by year's end

Following an ACL injury he recently revealed to MMAjunkie.com Radio, Gegard Mousasi won't be back in the cage anytime soon.

And that's just fine with his likely next opponent, who's expected to fight Mousasi for Strikeforce's vacant light-heavyweight title.

Following a grueling training camp, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante - who made quick work of Mike Kyle at Saturday's Strikeforce event - is looking for a little rest and relaxation before his tentative title fight with Mousasi, a fellow ex-champ.

After 15 months, the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix has finally come to an end. 

At Saturday's Strikeforce event, Daniel Cormier scored a lopsided points victory over fellow finalist Josh Barnett to win the tourney championship. 

Showtime has now released video highlights of the fight, as well as post-fight interviews with other winners from the event's main card.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The "rock star" is returning. 

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is expected to return in late summer at a currently unannounced card, likely in August.

Rousey, who's quickly become on of the sport's biggest stars, is expected to defend her title against former champ Sarah Kaufman at the Showtime-televised event.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Josh Barnett immediately went to the hospital after a grueling five-round fight that saw Daniel Cormier earn a unanimous-decision victory to win the Strikeforce world heavyweight grand prix.

Barnett broke his left hand in the first round of the fight and had it set in a splint by a doctor, who said it was not a "spiral" break, manager Leland LaBarre told MMAjunkie.com early Sunday morning.

An orthopedist now will determine the extent of the damage, after which the fighter and his rep will decide what's next.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Finding motivation to fight Josh Thomson wasn't the grand struggle it was made out to be for Gilbert Melendez.

"It's tough to get motivated sometimes just because if I was on the other end of the stick and I got a good opportunity, it's a lot easier to get motivated," he said after a close decision victory over Thomson at "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final."

Finding momentum during the fight was a different story.

A long-rumored matchup for Strikeforce's vacant welterweight title is now official.

Strikeforce broadcasters announced during Saturday night's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" that Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley will meet on July 14 with the belt on the line.

The card, which also features Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold defending his belt against Tim Kennedy, takes place at Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. The evening's main card airs on Showtime and prelims air on Showtime Extreme.

What a difference a year makes.

In 2009, Jamie Varner was the defending WEC lightweight champion. In 2010, Varner lost the title to Benson Henderson via third round guillotine choke, had battled to an inexplicable draw with Kamal Shalorus, lost a “Fight of the Night” rematch by decision to rival Donald Cerrone, and suffered a first round submission loss in the final WEC event to Shane Roller. Last year, Varner returned to smaller circuit shows, where he scored two lightning quick wins and a hard-fought decision loss. Finally this year, he defeated Drew Fickett in 40 seconds, got the call from the UFC, and is in the best mindset he’s been in for a while to answer this big opportunity.

“When you're on top for so long and when you hit bottom, you forget what it was like to be hungry, you forget what it is like to be down there,” tells Varner. “Since I've been gone, I've been able to get in touch more with reality and become a lot more grateful for the things I had, the things I lost. I think the biggest difference in me is my appreciation for all the people that have supported me, that have been around me, all the opportunities that I have been given, and the ability to fight for Zuffa. During that time off, I found out that I wanted to be a fighter. I wanted to be a competitor. Before, I was so sick of fighting, so sick of training. Realistically, 2010 was the worst year in my professional career and I guess it's because I didn't want to fight anymore. I took it for granted and I just didn't enjoy it and I lost the love for it. I think taking some time off and losing everything really made me appreciate what I had. It helped me find myself, I re-centered myself, I put myself around the right people, and now I'm back. I'm ready and I feel good. I think the biggest change is my overall happiness. I don't need to fight to be happy, but I like to fight and it makes me happy.”

At 27 years old, Varner has faced this career roller coaster and has come out the other side smiling and ready to face his next challenge. He credits most of this transformation to those who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself: family, friends, fans, and, especially, Varner’s management Oren Hodak and Mike Constantino. It was these people who stood strong by Varner and helped change his mind when he felt, “I didn’t want to fight, I didn't deserve to fight, and I thought I forgot how to win.” The last piece of this puzzle came in the unlikely form of a past opponent and a new gym.

“I feel a lot better technically, physically, emotionally - I'm in a good spot,” explains Varner. “My home base is still Arizona Combat Sports with Trevor Lally and I have great workout partners there. I also outsourced my training to The Lab with Ben Henderson, Efrain Escudero, and coach John Crouch. I had to really grow up. Eat a little crow, swallow a little pride. I had to go into a gym that I knew would make me better and to be around guys that I knew would make me better. Their outlook on everything and fighting has really changed me, inspired me, and motivated me to want to be a fighter and want to be a fighter in the biggest and best organization. I was ok fighting in small shows, just doing it because I liked competing. But now these guys helped me believe in myself and I hope to one day figure out what the hell we're going to do as far as coaching when it's me versus Ben for the belt.”

Before Varner can duel “Smooth” for the UFC lightweight belt, he needs to reclaim his spot in the division’s top 10 by beating Edson Barboza at UFC 146. On Memorial Day weekend, Varner will mark his first fight in the Octagon since 2007 and a return to the Zuffa umbrella in a clash with the undefeated Brazilian. Originally, Barboza was scheduled to take on Evan Dunham, who was forced out due to injury and, now, replaced by Varner. The product of The Armory in Jupiter, Florida has been continuously impressing fight fans with each of his four wins in the UFC, which have almost exclusively been contested on the feet.

“Edson Barboza is a freak,” affirms Varner. “He's fast, athletic, strong. What I know about Edson are his four fights in the UFC and he's tough and a scary fighter. Evan Dunham is an absolute stud and I wish him a speedy recovery, but I am really grateful for the opportunity I have been given and to try to fill his shoes. Those are some big shoes to fill. Edson is extremely tough and it's a short notice situation, but I feel like I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I go out there and fight Edson and lose to him, what's it to lose to Edson Barboza? But if I go out and beat him, that catapults me right back to the top. That would put me in as a top five or top 10 lightweight in the UFC. Only good things can come from this fight. My goal is to make it as hard on him as possible. If he puts his hands down for a second, I can hurt him. I have that one punch that can end the fight and we've seen that before. I always have a puncher's chance, but I think my overall preparation and mindset will be what carries me through this fight, whether it is Fight of the Night, a quick knockout or submission. I want to put on a show to show everyone why I was the WEC lightweight champion and to show why people can believe in me again.”

The fight itself should be a guaranteed, no brainer, bet the house on it, entertaining scrap at 155 pounds. Barboza is a bonus machine with his last three bouts winning Fight of the Night and in his most recent outing he also scored a Knockout of the Night over Terry Etim at UFC 142. Meanwhile, Varner has had many memorable tussles including a couple with kickboxer types like “Cowboy” Cerrone and the title winning slugfest with “Razor” Rob McCullough. Varner has had success against top fighters before, and is fully estimating Barboza could be his toughest test to date.

“I don't think I've ever fought anyone as fast as him before,” states Varner. “The speed thing on his end is probably one of his greatest assets. I haven't fought anyone as fast as him. Usually, I'm the faster guy. That is one thing that I'm not used to. As far as kickboxers, I have fought kickboxers before. Not too many that are crazy with the spin kicks, which is something I have to watch out for. He's just another kickboxer with good wrestling defense. A lot like Rob and a lot like Donald. I know I can make it 15 minutes with those guys. If it is just a kickboxing match in there, I know I can hang. Will I win a kickboxing match? Probably not, but I know I won't get beat bad. I'm confident in my kickboxing. He brings a lot more to the table than kickboxing - he hits fast, he has good movement, he is long, and he's got good wrestling defense. The key here will be to punch when he punches and hopefully walk him into something that he doesn't see.”

As mentioned, Varner is training both at his usual Arizona Combat Sports in Tempe as well as the new addition of The Lab in Glendale. It may have been a while for some fans, so as a refresher, Varner’s a heavy-handed boxer with strong wrestling and the majority of his wins have come by submission (11 of 19). The first two traits can be traced back to Varner’s NCAA division I wrestling background from Lock Haven University, where he was a National Collegiate Boxing Association champion too. The problem wasn’t about how sharp the weapons were, what prevented Varner from crossing over like his contemporaries Cerrone and Henderson was his diminishing internal fire for the sport, which has been rekindled.

“The thing that set me apart from them and their success was mentally they wanted to fight and I didn't,” divulges Varner. “They wanted to be fighters and I just lost my love for the sport. It's never been a question about ability. As far as ability is concerned, I have all the tools. I hit hard, I'm strong, I'm athletic, I have good wrestling, I have pretty good jiu-jitsu, and my striking is on point. It was always my mental game that held me back. I belong in the UFC, I belong in the top 10. Edson Barboza and UFC 146 is my chance to prove that I belong in the top 10. Not just to the fans, but I get to prove it to myself. It's going to be a tough fight, it's going to be a grueling fight. It could be over with one kick or one punch, but I don't see that happening. I see this being long, painful, and torturous, but in the end my hand should get raised.”

On May 26th in Las Vegas, the former WEC champion looks to make his triumphant return in a showdown with top contender Barboza. “I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited,” admits Varner, who is ready, win or lose, to give it his all for the fans and for himself. “I have all these emotions, but I'm going to go in there and fight without fear and whatever happens happens. I'm either going to come back with my shield or on it.”

A win over Barboza would be a huge step for Varner in forgetting years past and focusing on a more positive future.

When Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix began 16 months ago, Daniel Cormier was just a promising up and comer and not a member of the tournament’s field of eight. Saturday night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Cormier became the Grand Prix champ after defeating Josh Barnett by way of a near-shutout five round unanimous decision that announced his arrival as one of mixed martial arts’ premier big men.

Scores were 50-45 twice and 49-46 for Cormier, a two-time US Olympic wrestler who replaced Alistair Overeem in the tourney and never looked back, scoring consecutive victories over Antonio Silva and Barnett to take the mixed martial arts world by storm.

“It means everything to beat somebody like Josh Barnett,” said Cormier. “I’ve lost a lot of people in my life, and this is for all of them. My daughter Kaedyn, my dad. This means the world to me.”

Barnett set a fast pace to begin the five rounder, and Cormier eagerly kept up, going on the offensive with hard punches to the head. Barnett looked to be a little flustered by Cormier’s attack, but by the midway point, the fight settled into a more manageable groove for him. Cormier continued to tag Barnett with a varied array of strikes, including punches to the head and body, knees, and push kicks. The former UFC champion finished strong though, opening a bruise under Cormier’s left eye just before the bell.

Cormier started the second round off strong, but this time Barnett was able to answer a lot better with his strikes. Two minutes in, Cormier drilled Barnett with two hard body shots and then took “The Warmaster” to the mat. There, Cormier mauled Barnett, bloodying his face with ground strikes. Barnett tried to work a submission from the bottom, but the Louisiana native wasn’t having it.

The pace dipped in the third, but Cormier still remained in the driver’s seat, slamming Barnett to the mat and later drilling and hurting him with a right head kick as he locked up another round.

Barnett, refusing to back down, landed with two hard knees to open round four, making it clear to Cormier that he was still in the fight. Barnett’s punches were apparently not hurting Cormier, yet they were scoring some much needed points. Cormier, potshotting whenever he saw the openings, even landed with two more head kicks before another getting takedown. Barnett almost locked up Cormier’s leg in the process, but “DC” was able to escape, with his fans breathing a sigh of relief. In the final minute, referee Josh Rosenthal restarted the action, with Barnett making a final charge until round’s end.

The two shook hands before the final round began, and with five minutes left in the fight, Cormier played it smart, but he didn’t stall, still picking off Barnett until getting a takedown with under two minutes left. Barnett didn’t stay on the mat long, but Cormier pinned him to the fence, not allowing the veteran to make a fight saving rally.

With the win, Cormier ups his record to 10-0; Barnett falls to 31-6.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Daniel Cormier is no Steve Jennum.

An alternate to begin Strikeforce's ambitious heavyweight grand prix, Cormier on Saturday completed his unforeseen run to a tournament win with a one-sided shellacking of Josh Barnett.

And unlike the infamous winner of UFC 3, Cormier's wins over Barnett, Antonio Silva, Jeff Monson and Devin Cole left little doubt as to his validity as a tourney champion.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - It may not find itself as one of the most historic trilogies in MMA lore, but Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson certainly provided one of the more entertaining 15-round matchups in recent memory.

But in a best-of-three series, there must always be a winner, and Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on Saturday earned that honor by topping Josh Thomson via split decision.

The lightweight title bout, which took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the co-main event of the "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final."

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Maybe it was a fluke.

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante needed just 33 seconds to earn a submission win over the man that beat him in 2009, Mike Kyle.

The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the second of four "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" main-card matchups.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Prospect Chris Spang on Saturday made a mark on Strikeforce's welterweight division, earning an impressive first-round stoppage of Nah-Shon Burrell.

The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the first of four "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" main-card matchups.

The action followed the evening's preliminary card, which aired on Showtime Extreme.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante looked in vintage form to open his Saturday bout with Isaac Vallie-Flagg, but it was the Greg Jackson product who used a strong final 10 minutes to earn a decision win.

The bout, which took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime Extreme and served as the featured "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" preliminary matchup.

The four-bout preliminary broadcast preceded the evening's main card, which aired on Showtime.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Despite battling through a 20-month layoff, Brazilian Guto Inocente remained undefeated after a three-round matchup with Virgil Zwicker.

The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime Extreme and served as the third of four "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" preliminary matchups to air on the channel.

The action preceded the evening's main card, which aired on Showtime.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Five-time Strikeforce vet Gian Villante earned his third-straight win, scoring a clear-cut decision win over Derrick Mehmen.

The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime Extreme and served as the second of four "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" preliminary matchups to air on the channel.

The action preceded the evening's main card, which aired on Showtime.