Junior dos Santos Looking to Exploit Shane Carwin’s Lack of Cardio at UFC 131 – UFC 131
Junior dos Santos Looking to Exploit Shane Carwin’s Lack of Cardio at UFC 131 Video by UFC 131
Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana José AldoÂ
Read MoreMMA on TV ~ Jan 23 – Jan 29 {MFC 32 + Evans -vs- Davis on FOX}
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Clay Guida Jason Guida Melvin Guillard Cody Guinn Jorge Gurgel
Read MoreBrenneman halts Story?s rise with upset at UFC on Versus 4
It was an absolute no-win spot for Rick Story. The fast-rising welterweight was told about a new opponent yesterday when Nate Marquardt was dropped from UFC on Versus 4 and fired by the promotion. Charlie Brenneman, a little-known former college wrestler with just three UFC fights under his belt, was Johnny-on-the-spot, as stepped up to take the fight and stole a unanimous decision victory in Pittsburgh, 29-28 across the board.
This is a devastating loss for Story. A win over Marquardt would’ve gotten him in the mix for a title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Now Story (14-5, 6-2 UFC) goes back into the muddled picture at 170 pounds.
Brenneman deserves a ton of credit. He was already slated to fight on the card when T.J. Grant bailed from the event with an injury on Monday. It’s likely Brenneman was told to stay in shape and be ready just in case something happened with Marquardt. Earlier in the day, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commisson revealed that the Marquardt issue arose as far back as six weeks ago.
Facing a wrestler is always a dangerous spot for a huge favorite. Takedowns and top control can steal minutes away from the more dangerous fighter. That’s exactly what happened to Story, who entered the fight as a minus-500 favorite.
The change of style had to be an issue as well. In Marquardt, Story was facing a well-rounded fighter who was likely to bang it out on the feet. Brenneman, who wrestled at Lock Haven (Pa.), is still very much a one-trick pony in MMA. That trick was more than enough to throw Story off his game.
Brenneman got the fight to floor in the first when he landed a thudding right and tripped Story. Also a former college wrestler, Story look really uncomfortable on his back. He did nothing but hold on, to try and force a stand up. It never happened. The fight stayed on the floor for the remaining three minutes.
Seven seconds into the second, Brenneman again scored a takedown. He landed another one with 3:10 left in the round. Story tried some submissions, but never got back to his feet. In the third. it was more of the same but Story threatened with some more dangerous submission. He also turned a scramble into the mount position with 1:18 left, but there wasn’t enough to inflict any damage.
Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen Alex Andrade Jermaine Andrè Yoji AnjoÂ
Read MoreUFC on Fox 2′s Phil Davis says Rashad Evans is “delusional,” not worried about inexperience
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
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Rashad Evans has been pointing this week to Phil Davis’ inexperience as a reason he’s got a major edge on Saturday night at UFC on Fox 2. However, the 27-year-old Davis doesn’t think his minimal experience will be an issue, and feels he’s going to surprise Evans in Chicago.
“He’s delusional,” Davis said flatly this week. “If he thinks he’s going to out-wrestle or intimidate me, he’s in for a shock on Saturday night. I’ve been working hard for this; I can’t wait to get back into the Octagon after a layoff. He’s not as good as he thinks he is, and I am better than he thinks I am. He thinks he’s a better wrestler than me, crazy. I would beat him 100 times out of 100. He was something like .500 in won/losses in wrestling. I was a champion; he just competed.”
Davis is taking another leap up in competition after doing just that in his last fight. After starting 4-0 in his career, he entered the UFC in 2010 and scored four wins that year, defeating Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson, Rodney Wallace, and Tim Boetsch. From the Boetsch fight, he jumped up to defeat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last March, and now he’s jumped in against a former Champion in Evans. Still, it’s not something that concerns him in the least.
“Yes, I have only nine pro MMA fights but the inexperience thing isn’t an issue,” he said. “I am less experienced than every single guy I’ve faced, and I am unbeaten. I am experienced at winning, and that’s what really matters, and I’m going to experience winning again on Fox.”
Penick’s Analysis: Davis is a phenomenal wrestler, and he’s had some very impressive performances in his short UFC career thus far. If he can come into this fight and upset Evans in decisive fashion, it will be a little surprising and a definitely impressive feat. It’s not impossible for him to do so at all, but it is absolutely a step up in competition from anyone he’s faced thus far, and Evans will give him the fight of his career. If he can pull it off it will be a major accomplishment.
[Phil Davis art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Vagam Bodjukyan Kotetsu Boku Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo BorgomeoÂ
Read MoreUFC on FX 3, Lawlor vs. MacDonald Targeted for May 15 in Virginia
The UFC is expected to return to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on May 15 for what would likely be UFC on FX 3 and a middleweight bout between Tom Lawlor and Jason MacDonald is in the works for the card.
Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson
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