Anthony "Showtime" Pettis called out Joe Lauzon and got his wish. He'll be fighting Joe in Japan at UFC 144, and we'll see if it's a case of being careful of what you wish for. Lauzon is a very well rounded fighter, and he's got a great ground game, but Pettis feels that his ground game is good too, and that he has the tools to beat Creepy Joe. Here's his video interview from Japan.
Hate is not too strong of a word to use when talking about the feelings Jon Jones and Rashad Evans have for each other. Although they both deny it, you can feel it permeating the room in this video interview of both guys. They don't even have to talk smack about one another for this to be one of the best grudge matches in MMA history. Check out this two part loathe-fest. Second part after the jump.
The irrepressible Quinton Rampage Jackson is never one to not speak his mind. In this video interview, he takes UFC commentator Joe Rogan to task for Joe's bias towards BJJ practitioners, demonstrating in graphic detail how he feels Rogan, um, pleasures BJJ guys. The fun starts at about 4:35. Jackson also talks about fighting Ryan Bader and returning to Japan.
Sambo is one of the best martial arts for MMA. It has throws, takedowns, submissions, and just about everything you need to be a well rounded fighter. Fedor Emelianenko, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, is a Sambo stylist and the art has served him very well in his career. Check out this video history of the art of Sambo, featuring Fedor himself. This is good stuff!
Not only is Fedor Emelianenko the greatest HW fighter of all time, he's a big time family man as well. In this video he frolics at the water park with his daughter. Nice to see the human side of the man who many believe is half-man, half-machine.
Tom DeBlass was already the Ring of Combat Light Heavyweight champ, and last Friday night he added the ROC HW crown to his resume, with a quick and stunning heel hook victory over tough Randy Smith. It took just 41 seconds for Tom to land his submission and win the crown, and cement the idea that he belongs in the UFC.
Kristen Brown was able to get Tom away from his swarming, adoring fans long enough to sit down for this excellent post fight video interview. Enjoy!
Chris Weidman beat highly ranked Demian Maia on just 10 days notice to vault himself up the UFC rankings. In this exclusive video interview, I asked Chris about the fight, and what he'd do against Anderson Silva, the UFC MW champion. Chris did not hesitate before saying that he'd "finish" the legendary Brazilian fighter. He also talks about his new found Fox fame, and the brutal weight cut for Maia.
Iron Mike Tyson, one of the most exciting boxing heavyweights of all time says that MMA is on the rise while boxing is in the doldrums. He also talks about Fedor, who he admires greatly. Check out this video interview.
There's an axiom in boxing that you never "hook with a hooker" but in Jim Miller's case, that does not apply. Although people see him as primarily a grappler due to his wrestling background and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, he has done quite well on his feet in fights with guys known for their striking. He "tends to shock" strikers with his strikes, before taking them down and going for the submission.
Tomorrow night, in the UFC on FX 1 card, Miller headlines the card in a bout against Melvin Guillard, a fighter who is very well known for his striking prowess. This fight is guaranteed to be explosive. Both Miller and Guillard are coming off losses and both have something to prove. It's a fantastic match up style-wise and it's a perfect fight to headline the inaugural show.
My analysis of the fight is that Miller, who fights out of the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey, will get in Guillard's grill and push the pace as hard as Melvin does. He will eventually take Guillard down, and then work him over on the ground before subbing him out. Still, it's going to be exciting while it lasts, and will put the winner back in the title hunt.
Here's a video interview of Jim by Damon Martin of MMA Weekly, where Jim talks about striking with strikers and his plans for Melvin Guillard.