Mind of Nitesh

Rousey reportedly signs with the UFC

2012-11-08T19:26:00.003-08:00

It seems as if history has been made, several media sources are reporting that STRIKEFORCE Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey has become the first female fighter to sign with ZUFFA's Ultimate Fighting Championship.

For now, it seems as if the best female fighter in the world will be joining the top mixed martial arts promotion in the world and automatically become the promotion's women's bantamweight champion. Once reports broke, first by media rumor mill, TMZ.com it became clear that reports of STRIKEFORCE's closure were imminent. Why else would they allow one of their top fighters to get out of their contract?

Whatever the reasoning or case may be, it has become more than evident that women's MMA is becoming to be taken seriously by some of the more important people in the sport.

As more news and reports break, there'll be more to these reports. Until then...

UPDATE: Since this was posted, Miesha Tate tweeted that she has also signed with the UFC.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Strikeforce set for 'Night of Champions' in 2013

2012-11-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

After injuries plagued the final two STRIKEFORCE events of 2012, the ZUFFA owned promotion will begin the new year with three title fights and one farewell fight for one dominating heavyweight.

Several injuries to top fighters forced SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE to cancel events on September 29 in Sacramento, Calif. and November 3 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The title fights on those cards have been rescheduled for Saturday, January 12, 2013 and will take place at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC. The event will include title defenses by Gilbert Melendez, Nate Marquadt and Luke Rockhold.

STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier will also be on the card, in what will likely be his final appearance in the promotion.

As the company has been fledgling as of late, the roster has thinned out. Meaning, title contenders have stayed the same and opponents have been hard to come across. That has worked well for Pat Healy, Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine, who are all fighting for titles on Jan. 12. Healy will face off against Melendez for El Nino's lightweight title. Rockhold will defend his middleweight title against Larkin and Marquadt will defend the welterweight title against Saffiedine.

The only one not defending his title is Cormier, who will be making a return to his roots. Cormier was a NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma State. He will take on Dion Staring who will be making his STRIKEFORCE debut. It will not be a title defense, but will likely be Cormier's final bout with the promotion. This past May after defeating Josh Barnett, Cormier let it be known that he had one fight left on his contract and would welcome a move to the UFC afterwards.

With so many title fights and big names on the first card of the year, reportss have began swirling that the January event will be the final one for STRIKEFORCE. Nothing has been reported by STRIKEFORCE, SHOWTIME or ZUFFA, but with there being 4-5 events left on the promotion's contract with SHOWTIME it will be interesting to see what the new year holds.

Until then, STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME have put together a card that die-hard and casual mixed martial arts fans will truly enjoy.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Latest for MMA Valor: Sefo and NBC sports...

2012-11-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

No UFC or Strikeforce? Bellator not doing it for you? Well, have no worries MMA fans. Introducing World Series of Fighting, the world’s newest MMA promotion which is set to make its debut this Saturday, November 3rd.

Unlike other MMA promotions,World Series of Fighting is debuting on a major sports network. NBC Sports has taken the leap of faith and is hoping to cash in on the debut promotion. Not only does WSOF have a partnership with NBC in-place, but they have a star-studded roster of former UFC fighters prepared to take the reins.

Starting at the top, President Ray Sefo is a well-known and well-respected name in the fight community. As a former K-1 and MMA fighter, Sefo is well versed in combat sports and knows what it takes to be a champion. This has helped in his quest to find the right fighters for WSOF...to read the rest click the link below.

http://mmavalor.com/2012/11/01/sefo-and-nbc-sports-bring-world-series-of-fighting-to-forefront/

White, UFC announce Jones/Sonnen as next TUF coaches

2012-10-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

By now I'm sure almost everyone has heard and digested the shocking news that Chael Sonnen and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will be coaches for next season's The Ultimate Fighter and will fight next April.

If that was your first time hearing of that news, take some time to let it sink in. But, honestly where the hell have you been?

Now that you've had some time, let's go back and look at that. The UFC announced early Tuesday that Sonnen and Jones would be coaches for their TUF series, which means they'll fight soon after and it'll be for Jones's light heavyweight title.

The question on everyone's mind is, why? Why Sonnen? Why not anyone else?

The truth is Jones hasn't been the biggest PPV draw and isn't bringing in as much money as the UFC would like from its premier champion. Sonnen, on the other hand, has been able to verbally hype every fight he's been a part of. Whether it be his two fights with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva or bouts with Michael Bisping and Brian Stann. Sonnen garners interest just by talking.

Making this match does two things for the UFC. One, it garners interest for a show that has been struggling to keep solid rating numbers since moving to FX. Second, it pits one of the UFC's best fighters versus its most skilled trash-talker. Truth is, this isn't a match based on merit but on monetary need and gain.

On one hand you have Sonnen. He hasn't fought since losing to Silva at UFC 146 on July 7, and is 2-2 in his last four fights. It is also noteworthy that Sonnen hasn't fought at 205 since 2005. He was scheduled to make his return to the LHW division at UFC 155 versus Forrest Griffin, but just leaped over every contender for a shot at Jones.

Jones, on the other hand, recently defeated Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 and is riding a 8-fight win streak that has spanned over 2-plus years. He's defeated the likes of Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans during that time.

This could quite possibly be the smartest idea the UFC has ever had or simply blow up in their face. It could set a horrible precedent for future fighters and give them the notion that by simply stating you could beat a champ it will lead to a title shot. Instead of fighting and earning a title shot, some fighters might begin to take the Chael Sonnen route.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Silva proves his greatness yet again

2012-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Not even three months ago, UFC 153 was on the verge of going the way of UFC 151. Thanks to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and UFC Light-Heavyweight Stephan Bonnar stepping, the card was saved.

Silva and Bonnar agreed to meet in a three-round LHW battle in Rio. Many questioned if Silva should take the fight and what it would mean for his legacy if he were to lose. For Bonnar, the opposite was just as true.

Always considered a mid-card fighter after his epic battle versus Forrest Griffin on the season one finale of The Ultimate Fighter, this could be the victory that launched Bonnar into "legendary" status.

After that loss, Griffin's career skyrocketed while Bonnar's stood still. Bonnar even hinted at retirement before he took this fight versus Silva.

Coming in to UFC 153, all the talk was about Silva and his legacy. Many who had picked Bonnar were hoping for the biggest upset in UFC, if not mixed martial arts, history.

In Rio, in front of his home crowd, with his legacy on the line...Anderson Silva would not let that happen and proved why he is considered the greatest of all-time.

It was the same Silva that fans were used to. He danced around, bobbed and weaved and toyed with Bonnar. Opening the round, Bonnar had Silva up against the cage landing short strikes with authority. Apparently, Silva felt rather comfortable against the cage.

Silva toyed with Bonnar while against the cage, trying to get him to make a bad judgement and chase.When the two engaged in the octagon again, it was quick finish for the "Spider". Anderson chased the backing Bonnar and landed a vicious knee that appeared to hit Bonnar right underneath the chin. That led to a quick and painful TKO victory by the middleweight champ.

Even though this was a non-title fight at a heavier weight class than he's used to, Anderson Silva proved once again why he is the most dominant fighter in the UFC. Not to be forgotten, is the performance of Bonnar and his desire to take a fight that everybody had him losing.

There is no current middleweight contender for Anderson Silva, but superfights versus Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones are on the table. Whether he takes one of those fights or continues to run through the middleweight division is still to be seen, but with more performances like this Silva continues to cement himself as MMA's greatest of all-time.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Fitch returns with dominant performance

2012-10-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Back in December 2011, Jon Fitch returned to the UFC octagon after almost a year away. That return wasn’t a successful one as he was the victim of a Johny Hendricks KO. However, in his second return after a knee injury, Fitch made sure people remembered how dangerous of a fighter he was.

Going up against Erick Silva at UFC 153 in Rio, many thought Fitch would not be able to utilize his wrestling over the much quicker Silva. But, it was Fitch who proved to outlast and out fight the young Brazilian.

After a dominating first round that Fitch easily dominated with wrestling and ground and pound, Silva fought back and had several submission attempts in the second round. Fitch, who is well-known for his submission defense, fought out of both attempts and even controlled the final minute of round 2.

Coming into the third round the fight became a battle of conditioning. Fitch, who wrestled at Purdue University, called upon his background and incredible cardio to outlast Silva. Silva was noticeably gassed heading into the final round. He looked tired and awaiting the final bell to ring. Fitch took control of the third round early on and never let up.

A quick takedown led to more ground and pound from Fitch. And, he rode the momentum to a unanimous decision victory.

For a long time Fitch had been ridiculed by fans and media for his inability to have an exciting fight. Many criticized him for relying too heavily on his wrestling and grappling, but this Saturday belonged to him. He quieted his critics with his most dominant performance in the UFC and made a case for a spot as a top-5 UFC welterweight.

By no means does this fight put him in title contention, but this is the perfect performance to put him back on track towards contention hopes.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Neal opens up about final amateur bout, move to professional

2012-09-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Amateur MMA fighter Joe Neal took some time out of his training schedule to talk to Mind of Nitesh about his final amateur bout as well as his future as a professional fighter, background and move down in weight class.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

8/25: Jake Shields interveiw

2012-09-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

UFC Middleweight Jake Shields talks UFC 151 fiasco, El Nino one-year anniversary and possible bouts in his future.

Follow me on twitter @NiteshDutt.

Gil talks one-year anniversary and bout with Bam Bam

2012-09-06T11:53:00.004-07:00

Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) took some time out of his gym's one-year anniversary to speak with me on Pat Healy, owning his own gym and other topics in MMA. The audio is a little rough due to echo in room and loud music.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Cain, Nate get long-awaited title shots

2012-08-15T18:00:00.003-07:00

In what has become the norm in recent years, the UFC has put together a stellar month of December in hopes of building momentum into the new year. 2012's December is scheduled to be one of the most exciting month of fights this year with two titles up for grabs and the return of a prodigy.

It's been well-documented that the talent pool in Northern California is a whole lot deeper than most regions across America and two of the most promising fighters will be on display later this year. Gracie Fight Team's Nate Diaz and American Kickboxing Academy's Cain Velasquez are slated to headline two title fights this December.

Diaz, whose last fight was a submission win over Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3, will get his long-awaited shot at Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson. It'll be his first-ever UFC title fight and just the second time in his career that he has a shot at gold.

After his victory over Miller on May 5, UFC President Dana White announced that Diaz would be next in line for a shot at the lightweight title. Up until last Saturday at UFC 150 his opponent was unknown. Henderson defeated Frankie Edgar in a rematch of their bout in February. Many feared that if Edgar had won then there'd be a third bout and Diaz would either wait or forced to put his "No. 1 contender" title on the line.

Diaz vs. Henderson is slated to take place on December 8 on UFC on FOX 5. A location for the card has not yet been determined. Also slated for that card is the return of BJ Penn who will face-off against Rory MacDonald. Their bout was originally slated for UFC 152 Toronto, but due to a laceration above Rory's eye their welterweight fight was put on hold.

Later that month, on the UFC's annual end of the year PPV, the heavyweight title will be up for grabs for the second time this year. It will be a rematch that's been brewing for over a year since the UFC's debut on FOX. On that one-fight card in November, AKA's Cain Velasquez lost his heavyweight title to Junior dos Santos via a first-round TKO.

JDS successfully defended the title on May 26 of this year by finishing Frank Mir at UFC 146. That same night, Velasquez destroyed Antonio Silva via a first-round TKO that left Silva bloodied and with a broken nose. Cain's performance that night promised him a shot at JDS and redemption, but there were rumors that Alistair Overeem would get a title shot when he returned from suspension.

White put those rumors to rest when he announced Cain vs. JDS 2 for December 29 at UFC 155, which will take place in Las Vegas. Cain's waited for over a year to redeem the lone loss on his record and take back the title he believes is rightfully his.

Whatever the outcome of these two fights, one thing is for certain. December will be a joyous month for fight fans and because it's Christmastime.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Return to middleweight a success for Shields

2012-08-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

With lifelong friends and training partners in his corner San Francisco’s Jake Shields was more than ready to make his return to the middleweight division a successful one. His opponent, Ed Herman, looked to disrupt Shields’s return to a division Shields once called home.

Coming into the fight there was a lot of talk of how Jake would respond to a return to middleweight, but less about Herman’s current three-fight win streak. Herman looked to make people remember that as he controlled most of the first-round.

Herman kept Shields against the cage and foiled several standing guillotine attempts by the former Strikeforce middleweight champion. Shields, the #10 ranked Northern California MMA fighter, wasn’t quite able to fight his fight in the opening round as Herman kept it standing. But, as the fight continued that all changed.

Opening the second-round Shields was able to force Herman to the ground and show of his Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. The BJJ black belt had a kimura attempt midway thru the second and, even though that failed, he kept Herman on his back throughout the round. Shields was able to utilize his ground and pound plus grappling to keep Herman on his back. (At this point I had it scored 19-19, but most people had it 20-18).

Going into the third and final round, both fighters needed big rounds to convince judges they won the match. However, as the final round began only Shields came out with a little extra fire.

In the thin air of Denver, both fighters looked slightly gassed but Shields was able to find extra motivation. The third round was a mirror image of the second. Shields controlled the ground attack and kept Herman on his back. It wasn’t the impressive middleweight debut that Shields had hoped for, but it left fans wanting more of Shields.

As the round, and fight, ended both fighters raised their hands in victory but would have to wait for the judges’ decision. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 30-27, 30-27, which was a unanimous decision victory for Shields.

It wasn’t the return Shields had hoped and definitely didn’t help with his title aspirations, but it was a step in the right direction for him. Now he’s riding a two-fight win streak, his longest in the UFC, and is now considered a threat in the MW division.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Swick makes quick work of Johnson in UFC return

2012-08-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Roughly two-and-a-half years after his loss to Paulo Thiago at UFC 109, Mike “Quick” Swick made his return to the UFC after a health scare and countless setbacks. It took longer than expected, but Swick re-introduced himself to MMA fans in tremendous fashion.

This wasn’t supposed to be Swick’s return to the UFC. After being misdiagnosed with a stomach illness that made it difficult for Swick to cut weight and add muscle, he was in agreement to make his return at UFC Fight Night 23 against David Mitchell on January 22, 2011. Due to a back injury while training Mitchell was forced out of action and Swick, who was still recovering from his misdiagnoses, felt he wouldn’t be healthy enough to fight.

Then, it was announced that Swick would return versus newcomer Erick Silva on August 27 of last year. However, this time it was a knee injury to Swick that caused his return to be put on hold. Swick still continued to train at AKA in San Jose in hopes of putting all roadblocks behind him and get back inside the octagon.

Earlier this year Swick announced he was fully healed and injury free. The UFC obliged and set him up in a return bout versus former TUF finalist DaMarques Johnson at UFC on FOX 4. As the fight date crept closer there was some speculation on if Swick would stay healthy and make his long-awaited return. It was clear that nothing would keep Swick out of the cage this time around and he made his return worth the wait.

Although out of action for over two years, Swick was still considered a dangerous opponent and a force to be reckoned with once he returned. His comeback would be worth the wait for fans watching and those in Los Angeles the Staple Center.

Swick vs. Johnson opened up the main card and quickly delivered. The two traded blows until Johnson shot in for a quick takedown and kept the Swick on his back for the final two minutes of the opening round. If ever there were ever a case for cage rust, it would be for Swick. However, Swick stood his ground and kept the opening round close albeit looking uncomfortable at times.

Any butterflies or nerves Swick might’ve had, quickly faded away once the second round began. Less than 90 seconds into the round, Johnson threw a straight kick but had his leg caught by Swick who took him to the mat. With Johnson on his back, Swick landed three devastating right hands to knock out Johnson and put an end to his return in “quick” fashion.

For the UFC veteran, it was the culmination of over two years of hard work and anticipation that led to a moment of glory. This might have been Swick’s comeback to the UFC, but by no means was this the end of a chapter. Swick was in great shape and his return to the welterweight division adds much more depth to a strong weight class.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Gracie lays out foundation for return of Diaz

2012-07-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Since his loss, positive test for marijuana and subsequent suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Nick Diaz has been anomaly in the world of mixed martial arts. He missed a Brazilian jiu-jitsu super-match against Braulio Estima in Long Beach and has had his passion for competing called into question on countless occasions.

Today, via graciefighter.com, Diaz released a statement thru Cesar Gracie. In the statement, Gracie spoke about his admiration of Nick and his younger brother Nate. He talked about Nate’s rise in the UFC’s lightweight division and how much time Nick has been spending around the gym. Gracie said that “training and fighting is in his DNA.”

Gracie went on to reveal Nick’s future plans.

“This week we had a great talk and he made it clear to me that he is ready to get back to the cage. Nick Diaz will return.”

For months, Nick’s future was in question. After his February 4 loss at UFC 143 to Carlos Condit, Nick announced he was retiring and leaving MMA for good. For fans to read that “Nick Diaz will return”, was a long-awaited sign of relief.

However, that wasn’t the biggest news in the statement.

“As far as future opponents, Nick has stated that he would like to take fights ‘that matter’.” Gracie would go on to say, “He will respectfully ask for a fight with Anderson Silva.”

Silva’s agents have spoken about a fight with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre at catch weight. However, Diaz and Gracie state that if Silva chose not to drop down in weight then Nick will move up to 185lbs to challenge the middleweight champion.

At the end of the statement Gracie even seems to send a plea out to fans. He says that he will be meeting with UFC President Dana White on August 6^th and that if fans appreciate Nick’s fighting style to let Dana know that they want Nick back ASAP.

Before Nick makes his return he must prove to White, ZUFFA and to fans that he has truly turned a corner and that he deserves the privilege to be in the UFC again.

For the full letter check out GracieFighter.com.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Faber's legacy reaches further than octagon

2012-07-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

As far as the careers of fighters go, Sacramento’s Urijah Faber has had one of the more storied and respected careers in MMA’s short history. He heads into his interim title fight with Renan Barao with a 26-5 record with 14 submissions and 7 knockouts. Adding a UFC title to his repertoire would truly solidify his spot amongst the greatest lighter weight fighters ever.

Some would say that Faber needs this win to be remembered as a great fighter, but the truth is Faber’s legacy goes well beyond wins and losses. His reach is further than the WEC and UFC cages.

A child of self-described hippies, Faber spent his early years in a “radical Christian community” before moving to Lincoln, Calif. where he spent his formidable years. It was during those years that Faber fell in love with wrestling, which led him to a successful NCAA wrestling career at UC Davis. After college Faber’s passion for competition led him into the world of mixed martial arts and after a decade in the sport he’s becoming one of the faces of MMA.

Not only has he become one of the most popular fighters, he’s also helped begin the careers of several well-established fighters in the UFC. With his gym and fight team, Team Alpha Male, Faber’s lineage has grown exponentially. Team Alpha Male has been the training ground for fighters such as Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes, Mark Munoz and TJ Dillashaw.

Benavidez is set to fight Demetrius Johnson for the UFC flyweight title; Mendes has fought for the featherweight title and is considered one of the top featherweights in the world. Munoz is considered a top middleweight contender, even after his TKO loss to Chris Weidman, and Dillashaw is beginning to make his own mark in the bantamweight division.

Faber’s reach goes outside the octagon as well. He’s an author, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Whether or not Faber defeats Barao, his legacy in the sport and in life is already set in stone.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

UFC Primetime: Silva vs. Sonnen 2

2012-07-01T16:10:00.001-07:00

UFC debuted this recent installment of their Primetime series focusing on the highly-anticipated middleweight bout between champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. The fight takes place on July 7 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Arena.

July to be raucous in Northern California

2012-06-30T20:06:00.001-07:00

The month of June was relatively quiet on the mixed martial arts scene in Northern California, but with July right around the corner things are set to pick up.

There are two title fights involving Nor Cal fighters, both of whom are in our Nor Cal P4P top-10, and others with future title implications. Let’s take a look at five of the most-anticipated Nor Cal fights.

Urijah Faber (26-5) vs. Renan Barao (28-1) (UFC 149 on July 21): Sacramento’s Faber was originally scheduled to challenge Dominick Cruz for his title at UFC 148, but when Cruz tore his ACL during training Barao was called in as a replacement and the fight became an interim title bout. Another injury changed the venue of this fight. When UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo suffered a shoulder injury, he pulled out of his match at 149 against Erik Koch. Instead of replacing Aldo and having another interim title fight, which would mean three interim champions, the UFC moved Faber-Barao to 149 in Calgary.

What was slated to be the third chapter in the Faber-Cruz rivalry and co-main event UFC 148 has turned into the first-ever meeting between Faber and Barao, which will headline UFC 149 and be for the interim bantamweight championship.

Luke Rockhold (9-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3) (Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on July 14): AKA and Santa Cruz product Luke Rockhold makes his second defense of the Strikeforce middleweight title. This time his opponent will be much better than the aging Keith Jardine. The man Rockhold was supposed to face back January, Tim Kennedy, will be his opponent this time around. Kennedy was the odds on favorite to face Rockhold back in January, but a thumb injury sidelined him before that bout was announced.

This time around, both fighters are healthy and ready to do battle. There has been more anticipation surrounding this fight then Rockhold’s previous title defense, which he won via TKO in the first-round. Kennedy will pose a much bigger challenge than Jardine who was fighting at middleweight for the first time.

Mark Munoz (12-2) vs. Chris Weidman (8-0) (UFC on FUEL 4 on July 11): Not only will Vallejo’s Munoz be in action, but this card will take place in San Jose at the HP Pavilion. This battle of well-round middleweights could go a long way in determining who’s on the fast track to a title shot and who still has a ladder to climb.

Both are well-known for their wrestling ability and were NCAA All-Americans, Munoz at Oklahoma State and Weidman at Hofstra. The bout was officially announced on May 19 at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier in San Jose, where the bout will take place. During the short presser, each fighter relented that although both are known for their wrestling that the bout could be decided with strikes. Both are top-5 middleweights and could be on their way to a title shot with a decisive victory.

Chad Mendes (11-1) vs. Cody McKenzie (13-2) (UFC 148 on July 7): Mendes, who fights out of Team Alpha Male along with Urijah Faber, is looking to bounce back from his lone career loss to UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. He will do so against a newcomer to the featherweight division, Cody McKenzie. McKenzie is coming off a submission victory over Marcus LeVessur and is looking to become a mainstay at 145 pounds. On the other side, Mendes is trying to show that his flash-TKO loss to Aldo was a fluke and that he should stay in title contention.

Cung Le (7-2) vs. Patrick Cote (17-7) (UFC 148 on July 7): Le was originally slated to face Rich Franklin at 148, but an injury to UFC 147 headliner Vitor Belfort forced the UFC to move Franklin out of this fight to face Wanderlei Silva in Brazil. Le’s new opponent is Cote, who will be making his return to the UFC after almost two years. Le is back in the octagon after a second round TKO loss to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 in November. While Cote is out to prove he deserves to stay in the UFC, many have wondered how focused Le will be. Many wondered if his movie career was a distraction in his UFC debut, but this time around he seems to be more focused on winning his fight and proving he is a fighter first and foremost.

There are many more fights in the month of July that include Nor Cal fighters, which should lead to an exciting month and an interesting top-10 for next month.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Sonnen bringing out trash-talker in Silva

2012-06-27T20:13:00.002-07:00

Unless you've been under a rock, or not a fan of sports in general, then you haven't heard the war of words between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and #1 contender Chael Sonnen.

During a media call, Chael was questioned on when he would drop the WWE-type act and get serious about his bout with Anderson. Chael responed in true Chael form.

"I don't do characters, so I'm not really sure what that meant," Sonnen quipped back at reporters. "I got serious about this fight a long time ago. I've been training for combat since I was nine years old, and I've wanted to be the UFC champion since 1993. I couldn't think of a day in my life where this wasn't serious to me."

And, if you think Sonnen would refrain from throwing barbs in Silva's direction you'd be wrong. When asked if he thought the champ was a phony, he replied simply with an "agreed".

Before this could turn into "The Chael Sonnen Show", reporters remembered the champ was on the line. It was only a matter of time before he was asked a question.

Leading up to Monday's UFC 148 media call, this "war of words" had been one-sided in favor of Sonnen. But through all the interviews, press junkets and public appearances, it seemed there was a small storm brewing inside of the soft-spoken champion. That was until Gareth Davies of the Daily Telegraph London asked Silva a question.

Davies's questioned Silva if Sonnen's comments about his wife had crossed a line that none of Sonnen's previous comments had. The answer media people got was one very few probably expected from Silva.

"Well, first of all Chael is a criminal. Chael is a criminal. He's been convicted of crimes. He doesn't deserve to be inside the octagon," Silva was just getting started with his verbal retaliation. "When the time comes and the time is right, I'm going to break his face and break every one of his teeth in his mouth."

For the first time in the months leading up to their July 7 showdown, the battle of words went back and forth. Silva answered a question about why the first meeting was difficult for him in a way that showed just how fired up the champion is.

"No more talking. I know he's (Chael) on the line listening, and the game's over." The champ continued, "I'm going to beat his ass out of the UFC. He's never going to want to fight again after I'm done with him."

Of course, Sonnen was not going to just sit idly by and allow for Silva to get the verbal upper-hand. When he was asked how he best opposed Anderson, Sonnen...well, Sonnen was true to form.

"He uses a lot of movements and motions to set guys up, but at the end of the day, his fielders are amateur. If you walk into a fist fight with your hands down, that's amateur," Sonnen speaking on how Silva has been known to stand in the octagon. "I treated him like an amateur the first time, and he's going to look like an amateur this time."

As many quotable and memorable moments there were on this media call, typing them all out would not do the verbal exchange any justice. If you're still uncertain on how big of a fight this is and how much emotion there is in this fight, just take a look at the latest YouTube video produced by the UFC wonderfully titled UFC 148: It's Personal.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Raiders' FB Reece takes a liking to MMA

2012-06-15T01:31:00.003-07:00

Oakland Raiders' FB Marcel Reece spoke with MindofNitesh about his love of mixed martial arts and his training at Crispim BJJ in Pleasanton. Follow Marcel on Twitter @CelReece45.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Injury takes out Aldo, Faber vs. Barao moved to 149

2012-06-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

If injuries weren’t already an issue in mixed martial arts, fighters are now pulling out of fights at an alarming rate. This time an injury to one headliner affects two fight cards.

UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo was forced to withdraw from his title defense against Erik Koch, which was slated for July 21 at UFC 149. To replace the main event title fight is another title fight. Sacramento’s Urijah Faber will take on Brazilian Renan Barao for the interim UFC bantamweight title.

Faber was supposed to face UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz in what was slated as the co-main event at UFC 148, but with Cruz sustaining an ACL during training and was replaced by Barao. Now with injuries ravaging the 149 card, Faber-Barao was the smart choice to replace Aldo-Koch.

Before settling on Faber-Barao, a possible Chan Sung Jung vs. Koch fight was discussed but a postponement of Aldo-Koch was decided to be the best choice by UFC brass.

Of the original UFC 149 main card, only Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira remains in-tact. Michael Bisping, Thiago Silva, Thiago Alves and Yoshihiro Akiyama were all once slated to fight in Calgary, but due to injuries the card has undergone a drastic facelift.

The biggest of which is the replacement of Faber-Barao as the main event. Not to mention, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua was once co-main event with Silva, but has since been moved to UFC on FOX 4 to main event against Brandon Vera. Bisping, who was to face Tim Boetsch, was replaced by UFC newcomer and former Bellator and Pride veteran Hector Lombard.

When originally announced UFC 148 was looking like a possible ‘card of the year’ candidate, but due to injuries it has become just another UFC card. Only Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin and the middleweight championship bout between champ Anderson Silva and talkative challenger Chael Sonnen remain. Cung Le, who is facing Pat Cote at 148, was supposed to face Rich Franklin, but Franklin replaced an injured Vitor Belfort and will headline UFC 147 in a rematch against Wanderlei Silva.

The trend of fights and cards changing due to injuries in the UFC continues for the time being. With the amount fighters train and the different martial arts they’re expected to know, the chance of injuring one’s self during training has increased to levels not before seen. And, with ZUFFA’s medical insurance set up the way it is, it’s hard to imagine an end in sight.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

NSAC suspends Diaz for one-year

2012-05-21T15:33:00.001-07:00

The three month saga between Nick Diaz and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has finally come to an end. For Diaz supporters, the decision is quite the bitter pill to swallow.

Diaz, whose last fight was a loss to Carlos Condit on February 4 in an interim title match, had tested positive for traces of marijuana in a pre-fight drug test. He also announced his so-called retirement from the sport following the loss, but that doesn't play into this saga.

For months there was speculation about what would happen to Diaz and his career and if Diaz would even fight the positive test. Fans, media and promoters voiced displeasure and support for Diaz. His possible suspension became a hot topic in MMA and his use of marijuana became a topic that went beyond the MMA spectrum.

After several delays, his hearing was finally set for May 21st. Diaz was represented by Ross C. Goodman, who had the tasking job of convincing the NSAC to not discipline Diaz and that his client's marijuana use was strictly medical. But, if past hearings showed us anything, that would be very difficult.

NSAC Commissioner Pat Lundvall, of King Mo fame, was presiding over the hearing.

After several hours of other cases being heard, one of which involved UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen and his use of TUE, it was finally Diaz's turn. Not only would Diaz's attorney defend him, but Diaz would also be given the chance to take the stand and defend himself.

His representation came fully prepared. They continuously showed how there was no strong evidence that showed Diaz had used marijuana in the state of Nevada. The defense also reiterated that the trace amounts found weren't enough to show that he was using leading up to his fight. Then came the moment many had waited for. Nick, himself, would take the stand.

At one point during his testimony, Diaz tells commission that he was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. He goes on to say how his marijuana use is more for therapeutic use than anything else.

Diaz, who has a licensed cannabis card in the state of California for medical purposes, has never hid that marijuana has helped him battle ADHD.

After a little over three hours and both sides having an opportunity to make their case, the commission reconvened for their decision. It took a little under 15 minutes when Commissioner Lundvall came back with the decision.

Lundvall announced that Diaz will be suspended for 12 months from the date of his fight, Feb. 4, and must forfeit 30% of his total purse and bonus from that fight. The outcome could have been worse, as Diaz is a multiple time defender, but what has become an even bigger issue during this whole thing is whether or not marijuana use should be a banned substance.

That is an issue that not only faces MMA, but all sports and society as a whole. For now, Diaz will be serving his time and his fans will be awaiting on what is next for Diaz's career.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Cormier and Melendez win, but left with major questions

2012-05-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

After their incredible performances this past Saturday night, the question has to be asked. What is next for champions Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez? It’s a question that faces every high-tier fighter on the Strikeforce roster.

For Melendez, it has been a highly debated topic. Many consider him one of the top, if not the top, lightweight fighter in the world. He’s on a seven-fight win streak and has successfully defended the Strikeforce lightweight title five times. Leading into his last two title defenses, he was posed the question if he was looking past his opponent. Both times he shot down any possibility of not being mentally prepared.

His performances in those bouts have been that of a champion with nothing to gain, but everything to lose. Rather then “release the inner beast” as Melendez put it after his victory over Thomson in San Jose, Gilbert played it safe and fought a somewhat conservative fight. He said it himself, “I’ve got nothing to win. I’m in a lose-lose situation.”

Looking at the Strikeforce roster, there isn’t a viable opponent for Melendez that brings intrigue or eyes to the promotion. The best thing Strikeforce and Zuffa can do is make a push to sign Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez, a former Bellator champion, is 23-3 and coming off an impressive TKO victory over Shinya Aoki.

It sounds bad to say this, but it could’ve been best for Melendez to drop the title thus making a move to the UFC much easier. However, that could diminish his worth as a lightweight contender.

When it boils down to it, Zuffa and Strikeforce’s biggest concern is to bring in a worthy opponent for Melendez because until then it’ll be difficult to sell him as a world class lightweight and main event attraction.

Before his Grand Prix victory over Josh Barnett, very little thought was given to Cormier’s path after this Saturday night. He was considered the underdog in his fight, but after a dominant unanimous decision victory it vaulted DC up the heavyweight rankings. He was seen as a top-10 HW, but the way he defeated Barnett there’s a possibility he could be top-3.

However, with almost all of the top heavyweights in the world calling the UFC home there’s not much left for Cormier to prove in Strikeforce. After defeating Barnett, there isn’t a highly touted contender left for DC. The likelihood of Cormier leaving for the UFC isn’t probable as of this moment since he has one fight left on his SF contract, plus he suffered a broken hand and will be out for several months. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Cormier have said that the best-case scenario is for DC to fight once more before the end of 2012.

There are few highly touted heavyweight prospects that aren’t currently under the Zuffa umbrella. Strikeforce could go several ways with DC. They can have a rematch between DC and Barnett, they can give an up-and-coming heavyweight a shot at the title or bypass DC’s final fight and allow him to leave for the UFC.

Strikeforce and Zuffa have a lot on their hands with Cormier and Melendez. It might be a while before either can fight again, but when they do it’ll be interesting to see what approach they take.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier recap

2012-05-20T11:57:00.001-07:00

Strikeforce 40 signified the return of the MMA promotion to where it built its name. The four-fight main card promised fireworks and it did not disappoint. Let’s take a look at each fight, starting with a welterweight bout.

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang: Spang entered the bout with a 3-inch height advantage and used it to his advantage. He kept Burrell at a distance using the clinch and landed consecutive knees. Just a 1:35 into the opening round, Spang sent Burrell to the ground after countless strikes and ended the bout. It was Spang’s second win in Strikeforce and his first KO victory for the promotion.

Mike “MAK” Kyle vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante: In a rematch that was almost two years in the making, Rafael Cavalcante came out like a man with a mission. He dropped San Jose’s Kyle with a quick flurry of punches that dropped the light heavyweight with a thud. The onslaught didn’t stop there as Cavalcante sunk in a standing guillotine. Not even a minute in and Feijao exacted his revenge with a first-round submission victory. After the bout, Feijao stated he’d like the belt. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said in the post-fight presser that his likely opponent would be Gegard Mousasi, but Mousasi is currently recovering from an injury.

Lightweight Title fight – Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson: The battle between two of Northern California’s premier fighters also signified the end to a trilogy that has split the loyalty of fans in the area. Melendez, fighting of San Francisco, was a 6-1 favorite heading into the fight. Thomson, out of AKA in San Jose, has been questioned due to his injuries not his skill. This title fight promised to be a true battle between two great fighters.

These two men went at it for five full rounds and each was more intense than the last. The trilogy lived up to the hype as this became an instant classic. It absolutely rivals the Shogun vs. Hendo bout at UFC 139.

This fight was filled with superb stand-up, great wrestling and grappling. Each fight clearly won two rounds, but the third round was the swing round. And, the final judges scorecard showed that. Two judges had it 49-48 for Melendez and he retained his title via split decision.

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Cormier and Barnett face-off in Grand Prix finals

2012-05-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: With three of four bouts on Saturday’s Strikeforce main card involving Northern California fighters, we’ll be breaking down those fights.

After 15 long months, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is coming to a close. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are the last two standing and neither were favorites to win the GP when it began.

Believe it or not Cormier, who fights out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, wasn’t among the original competitors.

In a tournament that once included Andrei Arlovski, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov, the final between Cormier and Barnett is a surprising one. After each won their semi-final bouts in September, the two will meet inside the Strikeforce hexagon.

Barnett is the clear-cut veteran with 36 fights under his belt, while Cormier is still relative newcomer fighting in just nine bouts. Cormier, however, is undefeated and has used an array of styles to win his matches.

Barnett, a former UFC heavyweight champion, comes in with more experience and a slight size advantage. The 6’3”, 261 Barnett is four inches taller and 14 pounds heavier than his competitor. His career spans several promotions including Pride FC, Dream and the UFC. He has wins over the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Hunt, Kharitonov and Randy Couture.

He’s done so by utilizing grappling that is rarely seen by a man of his size. Barnett has won 19, or 61%, of his matches via submission. That includes his GP semi-final win over Kharitonov that came via an arm-triangle choke. His opponent this Saturday night might not be that easy to wrestle to the ground.

Daniel Cormier was an NCAA All-American while wrestling at Oklahoma State University and was the 2008 USA Olympic team captain. Although he finished fourth at the Olympics, his wrestling pedigree is greater than most mixed martial artists. Cormier has been known to use his wrestling to gain the upper-hand, but he’s also shown to be an impressive grappler and striker. His semi-final win over the much larger Antonio Silva came via KO in the first-round.

Barnett also has a wrestling background, but it’s as a pro wrestler for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Considering they don’t allow steel chairs or anything like that in the hexagon, fans can expect Barnett to not utilize his wrestling ability as much as Cormier. Barnett, however, has stated will look to takedown DC early and often. Whether this fight goes to the mat and stays there is hard to imagine.

This match-up is quite even. Both fighters have won multiple decisions via KO/TKO and submission. Cormier has the advantage in wrestling and has shown to be a strong striker. Barnett has the upper-hand in experience, cage awareness and jiu-jitsu. If crowd advantage was a measurable statistic, it would be in favor of Cormier who trains in San Jose.

Seeing this bout go the distance would not be too far-fetched and it seems that is likely to be the outcome. This is an even match-up and an opportunity for either man to make their case to join the UFC. Giving either man a distinct advantage heading into their main event is ignoring either’s strengths and how comparable they are.

Nitesh Dutt is an Operations Assistant for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the MMA Blogger for @FightSportsCSN. Follow him on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Melendez and Thomson to settle rivalry with trilogy

2012-05-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: With three of four bouts on Saturday’s Strikeforce main card involving Northern California fighters, we’ll be breaking down those fights.

In a depleted lightweight division, Strikeforce brings a close to a rivalry between two of Northern California’s finest fighters in Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez and Josh “The Punk” Thomson.

Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Melendez is making his return to the hexagon after a dominating victory over Jorge Masvidal in December to retain his title. “El Nino”, who fights out of the San Francisco gym of the same moniker, comes into the bout riding a six-fight win streak, which includes wins over Shinya Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ishida and his opponent Thomson. That victory over Thomson began Melendez’s reign as champion. He comes into this bout with a 20-2 record, 11 wins coming via KO/TKO.

Thomson, fighting out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, on the other hand is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over K.J. Noons in March. It was an unimpressive victory and Thomson didn’t seem too pleased with his performance. The victory over Noons was Thomson’s first win since October of 2010. Thomson does have the record of a title contender, 19-4, but his lack of in-cage action is not. However, one of his wins came against Melendez in 2008 and won him the Strikeforce lightweight title.

The fact that fans are being given Melendez vs. Thomson 3 is a sign of how little depth there is in Strikeforce’s lightweight division. That is an issue that has been debated for months, but I digress.

The two previous meetings between Thomson and Melendez both went to decision and, if history has shown us anything, that doesn’t really mean anything. What we do know is that these two men despise each other. They have both said they would enjoy knocking the each other out and want the finish. This is, however, a match of polar opposites.

Melendez has shown his strength to be while throwing punches or elbows. As evidenced by his TKO via elbows victory over Kawajiri in April of 2011. That match lasted a little over three minutes, but it was all Melendez needed to prove his striking ability was dangerous.

“The Punk”, as showcased in his lackluster victory over Noons, is a skilled mat technician and has nine wins via submission in his career. His last submission victory came in June 2010 via a rear-naked choke over Pat Healy.

As much as Gilbert will look to make things a battle of strikes, Josh will try to make it a grappling match. The battle of Northern California lightweights taking place in the South Bay is sure to be one of the highlights of the Strikeforce card on Saturday night, regardless of how the fight plays out.

Nitesh Dutt is the MMA Blogger for @FightSportsCSN. Follow him on Twitter @NiteshDutt.

Kyle and Feijao looking to build path to title

2012-05-15T20:03:00.003-07:00

Editor’s note: With three of four bouts on Saturday’s Strikeforce main card involving Northern California fighters, we’ll be breaking down those fights.

It has been a little over a year since Strikeforce has held an event in San Jose, but that drought comes to an end as Strikeforce 40 is ready to rock HP Pavilion this Saturday night.

Headlined by the finale of the Heavyweight Grand Prix and a lightweight title fight it’s easy to lose focus on the rest of the card, but there is a light heavyweight battle that promises to bring fireworks. With the division title currently vacant, this fight could lead to crowning a future champion.

Fighting out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Mike “MAK” Kyle (19-8-1) is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over Marcos Rogerio de Lima in September of 2011. His opponent, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (11-3-0), is considered one of the top-15 light heavyweights in the world. The Team Nogueira LHW, Feijao is coming back from a similar eight-month hiatus after defeating Yoel Romero Palacio last September.

These two have history. Feijao’s first fight in Strikeforce was a TKO loss to Mike Kyle in June 2009. Since then, both have had their shares of ups and downs. Feijao has bounced back and won four of his last five fights, which includes a TKO win over Kyle’s AKA teammate Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Kyle has been on an even more ferocious streak, albeit it lesser known promotions. He’s won six of his past nine, but only two of those wins were in Strikeforce.

This match has the makings of a true stand-up battle. Twelve of Kyle’s 19 wins have come via KO/TKO, which makes up 63% of his wins. Feijao’s KO/TKO percentage is even higher. 10 of his 11 wins were via the knockout variety. That’s an outstanding 91%. With a combined 22 wins coming via KO/TKO, there will be little if any grappling or wrestling in this match.

Two fighters with similar strengths could lead to one of two things. This could be a classic stand-up, boxing style fight with both men exchanging blows. Or, it can be three rounds of each fighter trying to take the fight to the ground and grind out a win.

Either way, with a vacant light heavyweight title and no viable contenders, a win could mean consideration for a shot at becoming champion. Mak is looking to duplicate his TKO win from 2009, but Feijao is hoping to show that was a fluke. Part two of this light heavyweight story will be told this weekend and it promises to be a good one.

Nitesh Dutt is the MMA Blogger for @FightSportsCSN. Follow him on Twitter @NiteshDutt.