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No one starts a career in combat sports aspiring to a 5-4 win-loss record. In boxing, that’s a kiss of death, the ticket to a career full of opportunities to get beat up by hot prospects or the promoter’s kid. In mixed martial arts, the world is a little more forgiving. Not easier, but more forgiving. So when Abel Trujillo lost his second straight bout against Alonzo Martinez in April of 2011, he knew something had to give. “Back then I was training myself, so I was pretty much just going in with my wrestling background and my heart,” said Trujillo, a four-time NAIA All-American wrestler for W ... Read the Full Article Here

A young fighter trying to establish themselves in mixed martial arts will take progress in any form it comes. Whether their career moves forward as the result of a grinding, three round decision or a barn burning battle that demands every ounce of grit they have, as long as the needle moves north, the sacrifices were worthwhile. After coming up short in his quest to become the winner of the 14th installment of The Ultimate Fighter, New York native Dennis Bermudez has blazed forward, refusing to take a step back. The 26-year-old has claimed three consecutive victories since his loss to Diego Br ... Read the Full Article Here

“Once a champion, always a champion” is a common saying used in combat sports. And while it sounds nice for fighters who have moved beyond the scope of title contention…they are words that mean nothing to Junior dos Santos.The heavy-handed Brazilian slugger wore the UFC heavyweight championship proudly during his reign atop the division. But after losing the strap in a lopsided loss to the man who he claimed the belt from in Cain Velasquez at UFC 155, “Cigano” is on a mission to reclaim the belt he coveted. Only a select few have what it takes to become a UFC champion and the 29-year-old is de ... Read the Full Article Here

In 2011, heavyweight Mark Hunt told UFC.com if he didn’t win his next fight he’d be looking for a new organization or a new line of work. If he beats Junior dos Santos in their fight this Saturday at UFC 160, he could be in line for a title shot. And while he doesn’t gush about his own achievements, he admits he’s proud of how far he’s come.“I am pretty proud of it, going from where I was to where I am today, so it's great.”Heavy hitter Junior Dos Santos believes he can knock Mark Hunt out.  Hunt, a former K-1 kickboxing World Grand Prix champion, knows it’s a possibility. But he doesn’t ... Read the Full Article Here

That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Memorial Day Weekend edition of the Downes Side! While many of you in the United States will be celebrating one of your federally mandated holidays with barbecues, my progressively-minded friends and I will be celebrating the birth of actor Todd Bridges. Different strokes move the world, and so will the Octagon’s finest this weekend for UFC 160. Live from the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the main event puts the heavyweight title on the line as the champion Cain Velazquez gives everyone’s favorite Bigfoot (well, besides this guy) a re ... Read the Full Article Here

If not for visa issues that plagued his promising mixed martial arts career, Glover Teixeira likely would have been competing in the UFC Octagon years ago. Today, he might even be holding a world title. Instead, he’s 33 and making up for lost time as he prepares for his fourth fight in a year against James Te Huna this Saturday night.Some might feel bitter about the lost time. Not Teixeira, who always felt that he would eventually get his chance to shine on the sport’s brightest stage.“I was confident,” he said. “But I didn’t want to wait too long to get into the UFC. If I was 35 or 37 years o ... Read the Full Article Here

Mike Pyle is a self-described “old, country boy.”He speaks deliberately, with conviction and a slight twang, a remnant of his Tennessee roots. He’s been around the block a time or two, having fought for a handful of regional outfits and a half-dozen name brand organizations over a career that spans more than 13 years and 30 fights.Guys like him have a certain way of doing things, even if it may not be the way business has been getting done recently.“I’m not going to talk my way into an ass whipping, that’s for sure,” says the 37-year-old, referencing the recent trend of fighters who talked the ... Read the Full Article Here

UFC 160 is just around the corner and the big boys will once again take over, with both the main and co-main events featuring heavyweight fighters guaranteed to throw some heavy leather before the night is done.The featured bout on the card pits UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez against top contender Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, while former title holder Junior dos Santos looks to earn another crack at the belt when he faces one of the biggest punchers in UFC history in multi-time kickboxing champion Mark Hunt.In today's preview we'll focus on the main card and some of the major elements tha ... Read the Full Article Here

Greatness inspires.Every once in a while, a person or a group comes along and shows how truly amazing humans can be at something and it compels others to try it. Whether we’re talking about Tiger Woods, The Ramones, The Wu-Tang Clan, or the 1992 US Men’s Olympic basketball team, aka “The Dream Team”, watching others do that voodoo they do so well can spark a fire inside us to pick up a club, a ball, a guitar, a microphone, or even step into the cage. For 23-year-old Nah-Shon Burrell, who recently made a successful UFC debut, it was watching another fighter’s first fight inside the Octagon that ... Read the Full Article Here

When James Te Huna and his entourage donned suits and performed a dance to the theme from Men in Black as an entrance for his last fight, it seemed to signal his growing confidence.But in truth, the performance (which went viral with MMA fans) gave Te Huna a much needed distraction as he battled doubts heading into his bout with Ryan Jimmo.  Te Huna, who will fight Glover Teixeira on Saturday at UFC 160, was expecting to get knocked out. And it nearly happened after Jimmo dropped him with a head kick in the first round.  "In those last two weeks I knew what was going to happen (I wou ... Read the Full Article Here

It would be easy for TJ Grant to start getting off track a bit and start believing his press clippings. Who could blame him? Since moving to the lightweight division in 2011, he’s won four straight fights, picked up a Fight of the Night bonus, and after finally getting the recognition he’s deserved from the MMA world, he’ll be one win away from a world title shot when he faces Gray Maynard this Saturday at UFC 160.But outside of a few brief smiles to himself about where he’s been and where he’s at, Grant’s only concern is where he’s going. “I win, I’m happy about it, I enjoy it for a couple da ... Read the Full Article Here

August 28, 2010. UFC 118.That was the last time “The Bully” bullied someone around the cage en route to a victory.That night, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Gray Maynard dominated hometown boy Kenny Florian to earn his 11th victory, and a shot at the UFC lightweight title. A trio of outings has followed, each one painful for its own specific reasons.There was the championship draw with Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 on the first day of 2011 – a bitter pill to swallow given the one-sided nature of the first five minutes, and made worse after the bout when it seemed like a rematch wasn’t i ... Read the Full Article Here

UFC 160 will not only feature a heavyweight title bout on the main card, but the preliminary fights showcase a slew of talented fighters, including some crafty veterans and flashy up and comers.Mike Pyle looks to add another knockout to his resume when he faces tough as nails wrestler Rick Story, while Dennis Bermudez returns from his Fight of the Year performance against Matt Grice to take on one of the youngest fighters to ever grace the Octagon in Max Holloway.There are some tremendous matchups on the UFC 160 prelims, and we're going to take a look at the fights that could seriously impact ... Read the Full Article Here

Four heavyweights will enter the Octagon this Saturday looking to finish their respective opponents as current champion Cain Velasquez faces Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in a rematch of their UFC 146 meeting and former champion Junior dos Santos looks to stop the hot streak of Mark Hunt.Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, who has evolved into an excellent analyst while recuperating from an injury, gives us his thoughts on the main and co-main fights.Dos Santos vs. HuntDos Santos makes his first Octagon appearance since losing the title to Velasquez at UFC 155 hungry to earn the win and get another ... Read the Full Article Here

Respect means everything to a fighter. Titles and acclaim are certainly elements to be pursued throughout a career, but earning the respect of peers and the fans who make their jobs possible is the foundation upon which everything is built. For some, that aspect comes easily. But for others, the pursuit of recognition is seemingly a never ending battle, and UFC bantamweight George Roop associates himself with the latter.The TUF alum has been competing on the sport’s biggest stages for the better part of the past five years and still believes he’s largely overlooked as a mixed martial artist. D ... Read the Full Article Here

Gray MaynardFormer Michigan State University wrestler and three-time All-American Gray Maynard was a quick study in mixed martial arts. He transitioned rapidly from reality show The Ultimate Fighter season five to the UFC. A two-time title challenger who has defeated Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, Kenny Florian and Clay Guida, Maynard hopes to capture UFC gold in 2013.You’ve been successful throughout your life in athletics. Why was this the right time to try something new with Mike Dolce?Losing weight is never easy, and this is the first time I had a coach in that aspect. One of the most important ... Read the Full Article Here

There is perhaps no fighter in mixed martial arts with a more suitable nickname than the one attached to Donald Cerrone. Much like his predecessors from the wild days of the open range, “Cowboy” is of the rough and tumble, hard-scrabble sort who doesn’t mind mixing it up when the opportunity arises. The name isn’t a description for Cerrone; it’s a lifestyle. And one he’s certified to carry.On a 40-acre ranch outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico he calls he calls “home” from time to time, Cerrone raises livestock and houses a collection of fighters looking to break through in the sport of mixed m ... Read the Full Article Here

It has been a long wait for MMA fans, but Karl James (KJ) Noons is finally joining the UFC roster and it’s happening at just the right moment. After experiencing an already full career in combat sports outside of the Octagon, Noons is excited and ready to make his lightweight debut while the company is at its most prominent point in history on a premier pay-per-view against a top tier opponent. Honestly, it couldn’t have worked out much better nor at a better time than seeing the veteran of MMA, boxing, and kickboxing stepping into the UFC’s trademarked eight-sided cage under the bright Las Ve ... Read the Full Article Here

My favorite UFC fight is definitely UFC 121 Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez. I was calling that fight, and for many, Lesnar was the favorite because of his size, even though it was obvious that Cain was more well-rounded.I was with Mario Delgado and Hugh McCarthy. I remember we were so excited during the action that we all stood up and were jumping up and down in front of our chairs while we were calling the fight. The fact that we got to know Cain personally before the fight added some magic to the moment.Click here to see the fightThe fight that put UFC on the mapThat event was broadcast on T ... Read the Full Article Here

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that it has launched a new website providing information on the Culinary Workers Union Local 226’s (Culinary Union), an affiliate of UNITE HERE, ongoing campaign against the UFC® and its partners. While allegedly claiming concern about the conduct of certain UFC fighters, the Culinary Union has in fact launched an inaccurate and misleading smear campaign. The new website will correct those inaccuracies and set the record straight regarding the motivation for this campaign, while highlighting the UFC’s role as a strong community leader. V ... Read the Full Article Here