2011 November 23 | What's going on around the world?

Ryan Bader gets much-needed win by KO at UFC 139

Posted by admin on Nov 23, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Ryan Bader needed a big win to get back on track, and that’s exactly what he got at UFC 139. He knocked out Jason Brilz in just … in San Jose on Saturday night.

Bader landed a powerful right 1:17 into the first round, and Brilz fell straight to the ground. The punch landed behind Brilz’s ear, making it a similar knockout as Junior dos Santos used to win the heavyweight championship last week.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Bader said after the fight. “I trained hard and I trained with the best. I had great coaches and we worked hard and I think it showed out there tonight. I felt comfortable. I really felt everything came together for me and I pulled out the win.”

This win gives Bader a good ending to a disastrous 2011. He started the year as a possible title contender at light heavyweight, but was submitted with a guillotine by Jon Jones in a title eliminator in February. In July, Tito Ortiz beat him with a guillotine. Bader had to pull out a win, and that’s exactly what he did. He is now 13-2, while Brilz is 18-5-1.

Melvin Guillard Cody Guinn Jorge Gurgel Andre Gusmao Alexander Gustafsson

Following Chris Weidman’s UFC 139 win, UFC boss critical of weekend referees

Posted by admin on Nov 23, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

While this past weekend was full of impressive MMA action, not all of it was conducted according to UFC president Dana White’s liking.

At Saturday night’s UFC 139 event, White watched first-hand as referee Dan Stell was slow to halt a Chris Weidman choke that rendered Tom Lawlor unconscious.

Following the event, White said he’s tired of referees who appear slow on the trigger and pointed to another near disaster – Ronda Rousey’s mangling of fellow Strikeforce fighter Julia Budd’s arm – as a sign of necessary improvement.

Don Barr Pat BarryÂ Vitor BelfortÂ Robert Berry David Bielkheden

UFC 139?s Alex Soto moonlights as a dolphin trainer

Posted by admin on Nov 23, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

When fighters are working up the ladder to the big time, they’ll take any job to make ends meet. Cain Velasquez cleaned the mats at American Kickboxing Academy. Clay Guida was a fisherman in Alaska and then a union carpenter. Training to fight is a huge time commitment, and fighters need jobs that are flexible to deal with MMA’s demands.

Alex Soto, who will make his UFC debut against Michael McDonald on Saturday, worked as a dolphin trainer. MMA Fighting reports that Soto works for the U.S. Navy, training dolphins. He started out at Sea World, when he volunteered to work with the animals because he wanted a challenge.

He’ll face another stiff challenge at UFC 139, though this is not of the porpoise variety. He will face Michael McDonald on just two weeks notice. McDonald was impressive in his last three fights: a first-round submission of Clint Godfrey at WEC 52 and decision wins over Edwin Figueroa and Chris Cariaso in the UFC. Their bout will air on Spike before the pay-per-view fights begin.

Mike BrownÂ Junie Browning Paul BuentelloÂ Josh BurkmanÂ Mikey BurnettÂ