Ask & You Shall Receive is a post from: CAGERADIO

Miss Cageradio RETURNS… is a post from: CAGERADIO

The open was created by Digital Domain Productions, a company founded by legendary film director James Cameron, whose resume includes “The Terminator,” “Aliens” and “The Titanic.” The music for the open was composed by award-winning film composer and music producer Hans Zimmer, who has written scores for motion pictures “The Lion King,” “Crimson Tide,” “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.”

According to White, it took six months to create the 60-second open. The UFC hired two production companies to work on the new open and ended up choosing Digital Domain’s piece.

Video: Goodbye Gladiator…. Hello Evolution – New UFC PPV Intro is a post from: CAGERADIO

“It’s on.”

With those two words, UFC President Dana White made Chael Sonnen the happiest man in all of MMA.

On Saturday night following UFC 143, White said that the rematch between Sonnen and middleweight champion Anderson Silva is happening this year, and while contracts haven’t been signed, the fight is official.

“It’s not signed but it’s verbally agreed to,” White said.

Earlier in the week, White stated that he was meeting with Silva on Friday to discuss his return to action and the bout with Sonnen.

Obviously that conversation happened once Silva, who was in attendance at UFC 143, landed in Las Vegas and had a chance to chat with the UFC President.

Silva has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for the last several months after his win over Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in Brazil last year.

Sonnen officially earned the rematch with his win over Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2, and despite his repeated claims that Silva wouldn’t fight him, it appears Dana White was happy to prove him wrong.

As far as the timing of the fight, Silva vs. Sonnen 2 will take place this summer at a mega show in Brazil, most likely at an outdoor soccer stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“June in Brazil,” White answered when asked about a date and location for the fight.

The bout between Silva and Sonnen will likely be one of the most highly anticipated rematches in UFC history. The build up to the first fight was epic, and Sonnen had possibly the best performance of any fighter against Silva during his UFC career.

Unfortunately, with the title just minutes away from being his, Sonnen fell into a triangle choke courtesy of Silva, and was finished in the fifth and final round.

Now the often outspoken Sonnen will get a second crack at Silva and his UFC middleweight title.

Silva vs. Sonnen 2 Is On for June in Brazil is a post from: CAGERADIO

A long hard fought battle greeted Josh Koscheck when he stepped foot in the Octagon on Saturday night, but when it was over he still walked away with a victory.

After being called out by Mike Pierce to make the fight happen, Koscheck had to use everything in his power to pull out a very close decision win, but no matter what else happened, he still got the ‘W’.

All in all, Koscheck was happy with his performance and it also gave him the chance to shake a few cobwebs loose, after only spending a few minutes in the cage thus far over the last year.

“I think it was good for me to go in there and get a good 15 minutes back in, get my groove going, and get my pace. So I’m looking for the next opportunity to fight again,” Koscheck said.

What may have been the more shocking revelation following Koscheck’s win was his declaration that he is no longer affiliated with American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).

Koscheck has been a part of the San Jose based team since he was on the first season of the ‘Ultimate Fighter’, and it’s been his stable home for the last seven years.

Now it appears he’s made a split with the team, although he’s still working with several of his teammates including fellow welterweight Jon Fitch and jiu-jitsu coach Dave Camarillo, who was in his corner for the fight at UFC 143.

“I’ll be training out of Fresno from now on. I’m no longer affiliated with some of the people at the gym I’ve been training at. It was a tough camp knowing that this was my last camp there,” Koscheck said about leaving AKA.

“I’m going to do my own thing.”

Koscheck opened his own gym in Fresno, Calif. some time ago, and has split time working between there and San Jose previously. Now it looks like he’ll make his full time camp there, but still working with some past teammates and coaches.

One of Koscheck’s main training partners will remain fellow UFC welterweight Jon Fitch, so there’s still zero chance of the two teammates facing off in the near future as well.

As far as what’s next for Koscheck, UFC President Dana White seemed open to the idea of pitting the former ‘Ultimate Fighter’ competitor against Nick Diaz next. For his part like any fight that’s offered to him, Koscheck is up for it.

“Yeah definitely why not. He’s a tough guy. It would be a good fight,” Koscheck said about Diaz.

He also mentioned a potential showdown with the new UFC interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit.

Koscheck and Condit were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 143, but once welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was injured, Condit stepped in to replace him and faced Diaz on Saturday night.

“Definitely, there’s a little bit of history with us and we were supposed to fight tonight. I’m down,” Koscheck said about facing Condit.

It remains to be seen whom Koscheck will face next, but his attitude seems to lend to whoever the UFC offers, he’ll sign on the dotted line.

Josh Koscheck Parts Ways with AKA, Open to Fights with Diaz or Condit is a post from: CAGERADIO

KO of the Night went to newcomer Thompson, who laid out fellow debutante Dan Stittgen with a highlight-reel head kick in the first round.

Dustin Poirier earned Submission of the Night for his mounted first-round triangle/armbar over Max Holloway. With the win, Poirier moves to 4-0 inside the Octagon.

Each bonused fighter received $65,000.

UFC 143 FIGHT BONUS is a post from: CAGERADIO

“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. I’ve lost fights before, where, you know, like, I’m not going to accept that either.

“This ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I’m the guy who went on top. Had I thought I wasn’t ahead, right I’d bet you anything i’d have finished that arm lock.

“Hey Carlos is a great guy, I’m happy for him and his family.

“I think I’m done with this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You guys pay me way too much, but I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this. It’s been a good time. You know Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Good job Carlos, you’re the man, bro.

“”I don’t need this s—. I pushed this guy backward the whole time, and he ran from me the whole fight. He ran this whole fight.

“He didn’t throw. I landed the harder shots. He ran the whole time. He kicked me in the leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. That’s the way they understand hpw to win in here, so I don’t want to play this game no more.”

“… I’m out of this shit.”

Nick Diaz retirement video: ‘I dont need this shit’ is a post from: CAGERADIO

LAS VEGAS, February 4 – Georges St-Pierre longs to punish the only fighter he hates. But instead of facing bitter rival Nick Diaz for the UFC welterweight title, GSP must now mentally prepare to battle a teammate of sorts in Carlos Condit.

With GSP watching cageside, Condit uncharacteristically and methodically danced and kicked his way to a unanimous decision victory over Diaz Saturday night in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The triumph earned Condit the UFC interim welterweight title, and he will meet St-Pierre for the belt sometime later this year depending on St. Pierre’s pending recovery from a torn ACL.

“It was pretty sweet. My coaches and teammates prepared me for this fight,” said Condit, the former World Extreme Cagefighting champ who pushed his record to 28-6. “I did what they told me to do and it carried me to victory. Hats off to Nick Diaz. He’s a warrior. I’ve got nothing but respect for how he fights.”

Regarding his future date with GSP, who trains at Tri-Star in Montreal under Firas Zahabi but who has also trained extensively with Condit trainer Greg Jackson, Condit had this to say:

“It is an honor. Georges is a guy I’ve looked up to since I was young and before I was in the UFC. I’m completely honored.”

Diaz, who stalked Condit nearly all of the fight and had his moments with combinations – including an impressive 8 or 9-punch combo to Condit’s body in round two – surprised everyone in the post-fight interview, effectively announcing his retirement at the relatively tender age of 28.

“I’m not going to accept the fact this was a loss,” said Diaz (27-8), who hadn’t lost in over four years. “I’ve lost fights before…but that (decision) ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him back …Carlos is a great guy. I think I’m done with this MMA … I had some fun. I don’t need this s—. I pushed this guy backward the whole fight. He kicked me with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. I don’t want to fight this way anymore. I’m out of this s—.”

Diaz had made things very interesting late in the final round when he took Condit down, took his back and tried for a rear naked choke.

To chants of “Diaz! Diaz!” the usually ultra-aggressive Condit came out in the first round way more mobile than usual, firing away with leg kicks.

In the second half of the round, however, Diaz, ever-stalking and now verbally taunting, scored with his boxing, included a beautiful shot to the body followed up with a crisp punch to the face. By round’s end, Diaz was still sticking out that chin and taunting and Condit was bleeding under his left eye.

In round two, Condit was more reticent and dancing. Greg Jackson’s were fingerprints all over it and Diaz was the one constantly pushing the action. In Diaz’s best sequence of the fight, he caught Condit against the fence and unleashed a volley of eight or nine punches to the body. Condit wasn’t nearly as busy as he had been in the first stanza.

In rounds three and four, Condit started attacking Diaz with more vigor, primarily behind an assortment of kicks to Diaz’s lead leg, midsection and head. Never did it seem as if the charging Diaz was wounded, but perhaps the noted boxer became frustrated by Condit’s constant mobility and refusal to stand in the pocket to exchange. Nevertheless, it was an intelligent and effective strategy, one that allowed Condit to cinch rounds three and four in the eyes of many in media row. Simply, Diaz’s fists had trouble finding any part of Condit’s body.

Judges scored it 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 for Condit

UFC 143 Main Event Results – Condit Wins Interim Belt, Sets up GSP Fight is a post from: CAGERADIO

LAS VEGAS, February 4 – In a battle of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts, Fabricio Werdum brutalized and bloodied Roy Nelson in the Muay Thai clinch for most of their UFC 143 co-main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision. And yet a slimmed down “Big Country” never stopped coming forward, even briefly dropping Werdum with his signature overhand right in what was otherwise a grossly lopsided first round.

The whuppin’ Werdum delivered also featured high kicks, front kicks to the face and crisp punching combinations. The world champion grappler’s unpredictability served notice to future heavyweights that Werdum, after nearly 3 and ½ years away from the Octagon, can beat opponents in so many different ways.

“This was the strategy. I know Roy Nelson is a tough guy, but I do Muay Thai every day,” said Werdum, whose closest call came when Roy Nelson trapped him in a tight standing guillotine choke.

Scores for Werdum were 30-27 across the board.

MIKE PIERCE VS. JOSH KOSCHECK

Up and coming welterweight Mike Pierce called out longtime contender Josh Koscheck and did his best to back it up, but it was “Kos” who grinded out a split decision in UFC 143 main card action Saturday.

In what was predominantly a standup affair between two high-level wrestlers, a couple of Koscheck takedowns, some timely right hands and being busier down the stretch likely proved to be the difference. Koscheck bled from the mouth and Pierce from the nose by the end of the fight.

As they often do, when “Voice of the Octagon” Bruce Buffer announced the winner, fans indulged the opportunity to massively boo Koscheck, which didn’t faze the welterweight contender too much.

“You guys boo me all the time. I’m the most hated man in MMA,” he said nonchalantly. “Guess what? I win. Deal with it, man. I win.”

Two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Koscheck (19-5); the third saw it 29-28 for Pierce (13-5).

RENAN BARAO VS. SCOTT JORGENSEN

Fast and accurate puncher? Check.

Hard leg kicks. Check.

Distinguished BJJ black belt? Check.

Superb takedown defense? Check.

Future UFC champ? Well, the verdict is still out on whether Renan Barao will reach MMA’s Promised Land, but after stretching his unbeaten streak to 30 fights (tops in the UFC) with a commanding win over Scott Jorgensen, it does not seem far-fetched to think the 24-year-old Brazilian just might follow in the footsteps of teammate and featherweight superstar Jose Aldo.

Through the first two rounds, Barao virtually put on a clinic, loading up on his jabs, low kicks, and cracking Jorgensen hard with combinations that occasionally snapped the Idahoan’s head back. A lesser opponent would have folded, for sure, but Jorgensen is nothing short of a battering ram, and he just kept brushing off the carnage and charging forward (and occasionally landing some hard shots himself).

Jorgensen, a decorated Division I wrestler in his day, tried in vain for takedowns but was always rebuffed. Entering the third round, this much was clear: Jorgensen would need a finish to pull it out. One of his cornermen tried to inspire that sense of urgency in Jorgensen as he stepped off his stool to begin the final round.

“Win this fight right now! Come on let’s go!” he yelled.

Jorgensen (13-5) remained super-aggressive and had his best round, drawing blood on Barao’s face with his punches. Yet Barao, despite losing a little bit of steam on his punches, always retaliated and usually got the better of the exchanges.

Judges handed him a unanimous decision via scores of 30-27 across the board.

“I came here to fight three rounds. He was a very tough opponent and I expected that,” Barao said. “We trained a lot the distance and the kicks. That was exactly the gameplan.”

Before leaving his interview with commentator Joe Rogan, Barao had a message for everyone else at 135 pounds.

“I want the belt!” he yelled.

ED HERMAN VS. CLIFFORD STARKS

Ed Herman couldn’t stop the heavy right hand of Clifford Starks. And Clifford Starks couldn’t stop the Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills of Ed Herman.

In the end, it was Herman’s BJJ that triumphed, knocking Starks from the ranks of the unbeaten with a rear naked choke at 1:43 of the second stanza.

“He was landing some good right hands on me; luckily I got a good chin because he was hitting me hard,” said Herman, his left eye swollen and beginning to close. “I was surprised I was getting hit with them. I shouldn’t have been standing right in front of him, but I pulled it off.”

Herman improved to 20-7. Starks, a former Arizona State University wrestler, fell to 8-1.

UFC 143 Main Card Results – “New” Werdum Impresses in Win over Nelson – 2/4/12 is a post from: CAGERADIO

LAS VEGAS, February 4 – Dustin Poirier ran his win streak to four in a row in UFC 143 prelim action Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, tapping out Hawaii’s Max Holloway with an armbar from a mounted triangle at 3:23 of round one.

Holloway, the youngest fighter on the UFC roster at 20, was the aggressor early on the feet, but he was unable to stop a Poirier double leg slam that forced the action to the canvas.

“I’m happy. You know, I’m 4-0 in the UFC now. I’m for real now,” said Poirier, who keeps inching his way into title contention against UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. “(Max Holloway) is tough. He’s a great kickboxer. A lot of people don’t know him but I trained for him like I would train for Anderson Silva.”

EDWIN FIGUEROA VS. ALEX CACERES

Edwin Figueroa walked away from the Octagon holding his crotch. Alex Caceres walked away wondering … well, who really knows? Surely the 23-year-old bantamweight could learn a valuable lesson after controlling Figueroa for much of their scrap – but he was unable to overcome a two-point deduction for the second of two killer low blows that made Figueroa collapse to the canvas, writhing in pain and requiring minutes to recover.

Only Figueroa can say how much those devastating illegal kicks to the groin weakened him. But Texas’ Figueroa was performing early in round one – finding “Bruce Leroy’s” chin on a few occasions, even though Caceres did momentarily drop him with a shot.

Then came a brutal low kick from Caceres. Upon the first infraction, referee Herb Dean warned Caceres but did not deduct a point.

After taking minutes to regroup, and visibly miffed, Figueroa fought on and landed a hard kick to the face that dropped Caceres, who absorbed some ground and pound shots but later turned the tide, forcing a ground war and hanging on Figueroa like a backpack but unable to finish him with a rear naked choke.

Caceres was finding his groove early in the second, scoring with a front kick and a hard right hand. Then came a second, hard blow to the crotch. Again Figueroa lay on the canvas in agony.

When they resumed, referee Dean signaled for the two-point deduction, and urgency set in for Caceres to make up the deficit on the judges’ scorecards. The Miamian was impressive for the remainder of the bout against a weakened Figueroa, whom he dominated in the grappling realm. But at every turn Figueroa fought off Caceres’ choke attacks, triangles and armbars.

In the end judges scored it 28-27, 28-27 and 27-28 for Figueroa, now 9-1. Caceres fell to 6-5.

CHRIS COPE VS. MATT BROWN

A right-hand missile from Matt Brown put Chris Cope on the deck in their welterweight bout, and four blistering ground and pound shots sealed the deal at 1:19 of the second round.

The right hand that rocked Cope (5-4) caught him behind the ear.

“That’s exactly what I need to be doing,” Brown said of his knockout. “I got away from who I am. I’m back. I had always been trying out new things and this ain’t really the place to be trying them out. So enough of that. I got a right hand that will knock out anybody so I believe you’ll see more of that.”

MATT RIDDLE VS. HENRY MARTINEZ

Sometimes you have to think that Matt Riddle just doesn’t give a damn about strategy and doing whatever it takes to win. Foremost for the free-spirited welterweight, is to put on a show for fans, snatch a Fight of The Night bonus and be involved in the bloodiest battle possible. The more damage, the better – even if Riddle is the punching bag. And that he was for most of the first round, when the much speedier Henry Martinez repeatedly cracked him with hard punching combinations, bloodying Riddle’s eyes, ears and nose.

Interesting to note is that Riddle is the much larger fighter, 6’1” to Martinez’s 5’7”. While Riddle is eating punches – and apparently enjoying it – you can’t help but wonder, “Why not throw more kicks?” “Why not mix it up with a little Muay Thai clinch or even some wrestling?” Why not put that much bigger body on the smaller fighter and make him carry your weight and maybe get tired down the stretch?”

Well, Riddle did adapt in round two, unloading with a much greater volume of hard kicks to Martinez’s body and head. Finally the Las Vegas transplant had broken the groove of Martinez, a very crisp boxer, who countered punches very well but could not stop the array of kicks coming his way. As a now-bleeding Martinez began to tire, Riddle amped up his assault and the two southpaws treated fans to toe-to-toe exchanges as the second round ended. Riddle did his best Ray Lewis impersonation on the way to his stool between rounds, screaming at the top of his lungs and imploring fans to get fired up.

In the third round, Riddle suddenly employed strategy, whacking Martinez with hard kicks to the leg and liver. Then he finally decided to put that big body on Martinez, taking him down and taking his back. Riddle would score another takedown and rain down with ground and pound as time expired, earning a split decision from judges by scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 28-29.

MICHAEL KUIPER VS. RAFAEL NATAL

There were moments when Rafael Natal, a BJJ black belt, repeatedly outstruck newcomer Michael Kuiper, popping The Netherlands’ standup specialist with some solid right hands, scoring with leg kicks and even a spinning backfist. But it was Natal’s bread and butter – grappling – that cemented his unanimous decision victory and dealt Kuiper (11-1) his first professional loss.

The first round wasn’t a barnburner, but Natal scored five takedowns. He was reversed late in the round and ate a few shots on the bottom, but seemed to have done enough to win the round. In round two, fatigue seemed to afflict both fighters in what was mostly a standup battle that saw Natal possibly get the better of the exchanges (Kuiper just kept coming forward, with little head or lateral movement, and ate quite a few right hands as a consequence).

Seconds into the third, a Kuiper uppercut dropped the New York transplant to his knees. Kuiper swarmed on top but could not find the shots that would put away his woozy adversary. The second half of the round belonged to Natal, who somehow mustered the strength for an explosive slam, dominated with top position and threatened with an arm triangle as time expired.

After the fight, Natal spoke of the wicked right uppercut that rocked him.

“It was bad because it was the beginning of the round. I felt everything was dark,” said Natal, a Brazilian native who is now 14-3-1 and has won two straight in the UFC. “But my jiu-jitsu saved me again (when) I got him in the half-guard.”

STEPHEN THOMPSON VS. DAN STITTGEN

For one fight at least, Stephen Thompson was as good as advertised. The highly-touted kempo karate and kickboxing ace showed remarkable poise and grace in his UFC debut, essentially toying with Dan Stittgen before putting him out cold with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. Unorthodox throughout, the lanky South Carolinian (6-0) patiently picked Stittgen (7-2) apart with a wide variety of kicks. Most interestingly, Thompson held his hands very low, almost daring Stittgen to be aggressive so he could counterattack. Yet Stittgen maintained a low punch volume. When the Illinois fighter did attack, he threw a left hook and stepped to his left – unwittingly walking right into a perfectly placed roundhouse to the jaw.

At 4:13 of round one, it was a wrap.

“No words can really describe it,” said the 28-year-old Thompson, unbeaten in 50-plus kickboxing fights as well. “Those round kicks, we use them a lot in Karate. They can pack a lot of power and people don’t see ‘em.”

UFC 143 Prelim Results – Poirier Subs Holloway is a post from: CAGERADIO