mano a mano combat

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Videos, UFC on FOXThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another loaded two-hour show.

* Alistair Overeem will break major news about his career and discuss his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar.

*…

When we mentioned earlier that Mark Munoz had perhaps jumped the gun when he called out Anderson Silva in his post-fight interview, we had no idea how much the execs at Spike TV agreed with us. Turns out, most of you probably never even knew this had happened, because despite the amount of time Spike had to compose the event following it’s actual occurrence, Munoz’s call out of “The Spider” was cut off before we even had the time to process how ridiculous it was. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons that Dana White & Co. are no longer putting up with Spike TV’s bullshit.

But where the geniuses behind such programs as Manswers, 1000 Ways to Die, and Blue Mountain State *shudder* failed, ZombieProphet and our buddies over at IronForgesIron succeeded.

In the above video, Munoz states that “I’ve paid my dues in this weight class” and that “I consider [Anderson] a friend, but right now I’d love to get a title shot.” Apparently Munoz believes that if threatening the champ’s wife with sexual harassment and calling him a coward doesn’t work, then maybe a little ass kissing will. And at this point, it’s hard telling what you have to do to get a fight with A. Silva.

So what do you guys think? Is Munoz drinking the wrong Kool-Aid or does he have a point here?

Speaking of Munoz, join us after the jump to see how Leben congratulated “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” on his victory:

Filed under: UFCWell, I tried. I did my best to honor the sanctity of tape delay, to make it an entire day without spoilers so I could sit down to watch UFC 138 on Saturday night as if it was a live event. In my hubris, I thought it would be easy. I th…

Filed under: UFC, NewsRenan Barao, Brad Pickett, Che Mills and Terry Etim are all $70,000 richer after picking up bonuses for their performances at UFC 138.

Barao and Pickett won the Fight of the Night bonus for their fast-paced bantamweight brawl in …

Filed under: UFCMark Munoz turned in a tremendous performance on Saturday at UFC 138, battering Chris Leben for two rounds before the fight was stopped prior to the start of the third. Munoz controlled the fight on the ground and opened up a big cut ov…

Filed under: UFC

This is the UFC 138 live blog for Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz, a five-round middleweight bout on the main card of the UFC 138 fight card in Birmingham, England.

Leben (22-7) has won four of his past UFC fights, including a 27-second knockout win at UFC 132 against Wanderlei Silva. Munoz (11-2) has won his past three UFC fights, including a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia at UFC 131.

The live blog is below.

---

---

Round 1: Munoz opens up with some standup. As Leben fires back, Munoz goes low and gets a takedown. Munoz lands a few punches, but Leben uses the fence to get back to his feet. Munoz tries the high-crotch takedown, but this time Leben defends. Leben turns the tables with a takedown of his own, and scores with a right hand. Munoz gets to his feet but eats a series of right hands for his trouble. They break and reset with 2:20 left. Leben moves forward with a left hand and Munoz steps into a clinch. Leben slams Munoz down. Munoz gets back up but Leben wraps a guillotine as they drop to the mat. Munoz pulls his head free and ends up on top. A hard right for Munoz, then another. He’s hammering Leben, who gets up and looks unhurt. Wild round. Leben answers back with hard shots as the round ends. A very close opener, we’ll score it for Munoz 10-9.

Round 2: It’s hard to imagine they can keep the first-round pace for 20 more minutes. Leben punches his way into a clinch. Munoz wants a trip takedown, and he gets it one minute in. Munoz connects with overhand rights. Leben is bleeding from the left side of his face, but he gets to his feet. Not for long though. Munoz pulls him down again. Leben gets to his knees and Munoz brutalizes him with right hands. Leben eats them without a problem and gets to his feet. Leben gets a guillotine, but Munoz defends it. During a break in the action, the referee brings in the cageside doctor to check his cut. At first, Leben says he can’t see, but they allow it to continue after he changes his mind. On the restart, Leben comes out firing, pushing Munoz against the fence. But during a scramble, Munoz ends up on top in mount and fires off power strikes. It’s becoming an ultra-physical fight, and it’s 10-9 for Munoz.

In between rounds, Leben informs the cageside doctor that he can’t see, and the referee waves off the fight.

Winner: Mark Munoz via TKO (corner stoppage), Rd. 2

In his post-fight interview, Munoz politely asks for a middleweight championship match against Anderson Silva, his friend and occasional training partner. Leben makes no excuses for the loss, saying simply that Munoz was better than him tonight.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: UFC, NewsRenan Barao faced tougher competition than ever before on Saturday at UFC 138, but his winning streak remains.

Barao, the Brazilian who lost his first professional MMA fight and hasn’t lost since, beat Brad Pickett to improve his…

Filed under: UFC

This is the UFC 138 live blog for Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao, a bantamweight bout on the main card of the UFC 138 fight card in Birmingham, England.

Pickett (20-5) is making his UFC debut after winning three of his past four WEC fights. Barao (26-1, 1 NC) is back in the Octagon after defeating Cole Escovedo at UFC 130.

The live blog is below.

---

---

Round 1: Pickett swings a haymaker early and Barao answers back with a bungalow of his own. A wild exchange follows, Barao seemed to land the harder shot. Great beginning. Pickett scores on a lead left hook. Barao shoots in, Pickett sprawls and fires off a wild overhand right that misses its mark. Barao snaps his opponent’s head back with a series of jabs. We’re midway through. Pickett settles into his boxing style. Barao throws a combo and leads at least two punches in the series. Pickett looks unphased. Moments later, Barao rocks Pickett with a knee. Pickett’s wobbled and Barao swarms. Pickett falls backward and Barao stands over him with strikes. Pickett in major trouble, as the ref looks over him. Barao jumps on his back and sinks in the choke. Pickett resists, but it’s no avail. It’s over.

Winner: Renan Barao via rear naked choke submission, Rd. 1 (4:09)

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: UFCThiago Alves is finally back in the win column.

Alves, the former welterweight title contender who had lost three of his last four fights, beat UFC newcomer Papy Abedi with a first-round submission on Saturday at UFC 138.

“I love Engl…

Filed under: UFC

This is the UFC 138 live blog for Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi, a welterweight bout on the main card of the UFC 138 fight card in Birmingham, England.

Alves (18-8) has lost three of his past four UFC fights. Abedi (8-0) is making his UFC debut.

The live blog is below.

---

---

Round 1: This could the show-stealer as both men are standup stylists. Alves lets a nice combo off early, ending with a kick. Abedi punches his way into a clinch, but Alves pushes him off. Hard inside leg kick from Abedi. Alves fires off a headkick that glances off its target. Abedi looks quite confident, constantly coming forward. Alves hurts Abedi with a right cross, then a left hook behind it. Abedi is on wobby legs. Alves pounces. He drops his opponent, and gets full mount. A series of strikes, and he easily snakes his arm under Abedi’s chin for a rear naked choke victory.

That’s the 16th fight for Alves in the UFC, and it’s his first submission win in the octagon.

Winner: Thiago Alves via rear naked choke submission, Rd. 1 (3:32)

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments