Junior dos Santos Installed as Early Favorite Against UFC Champ Cain Velasquez
(mmafighting.com)Junior dos Santos had not even gotten back to his locker room by the time fans and media everywhere were deep in thought about his future UFC heavyweight championship bout with Cain Velasquez.
Another party quite interested: gamblers.
According to noted MMA linesmaker Nick Kalikas, dos Santos is a slight edge in the possible fall matchup.
Just moments after UFC 131 ended, Kalikas installed dos Santos as a -125 favorite, giving him a very slight edge over the champion, who was listed at -105.
Man I wish I had some money to throw down on Velasquez. I know he'll be going into the fight with a big layoff, but I have Cain winning.
Dana White Clarifies 5 Round Non-Title Fight Scenarios; Addresses Mayhem vs. Bisping Fight
(mmaweekly.com)Starting soon every main event in the UFC will be a 5 round fight regardless of whether a title is on the line or not.
There are still a few rules around the new policy that could affect fighters.
According to UFC President Dana White if a main event fighter is injured and someone steps up to take their place, they will be expected to fight a 5 round fight even if it is on short notice. That isn’t much different than someone stepping to accept a title bout on short notice, but it also applies to the new non-title fights as well.
Following Trash Talking Kids project, Stephan Bonnar has beef with Josh Koscheck
(mmajunkie.com)VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Simply put, UFC fan favorite Stephan Bonnar does not like fellow "The Ultimate Fighter 1" cast member Josh Koscheck.
Or, as Bonnar put it a little more eloquently, the light heavyweight dreams of kicking the welterweight contender's ass.
"Words cannot describe how bad I want to kick Josh Koscheck's ass right now," Bonnar said at this weekend's UFC Fight Club Q&A session. "Sometimes I can't sleep at night because I'm up just thinking about all the things I want to do to him – and kick his ass."
UFC Quick Quote: Donald Cerrone wants to fight Sam Stout after UFC 131 win
(mmamania.com)Donald Cerrone talks to Ariel Helwani after his impressive showing at the UFC 131: "Dos Santos vs. Carwin" event last night (June 11, 2011) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and calls out Sam Stout, who was also in action on the card.
"Cowboy" cruised past late replacement and Octagon debutant Vagner Rocha, while "Hands of Stone" knocked out journeyman Yves Edwards with a left hand so devastating that Dana White referred to it as "one of the most vicious knockouts in UFC history."
UFC 131's Mark Munoz: "I proved I am in that top echelon" at middleweight
(mmajunkie.com)UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva goes for his 10th consecutive title defense when he meets Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in August.
After that? Well, your guess is as good as anyone else's.
But following an impressive victory over Demian Maia (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) at Saturday's UFC 131 event, Mark Munoz (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) believes he proved he should be in the title discussion.
UFC 131: Cain Velasquez reacts to Junior dos Santos vs Shane Carwin fight result
(mmamania.com)UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez has been in a state of purgatory for some time now.
Not only has he been unable to train, thanks to a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, but it's also been unclear who the next challenger to his title will be.
That came to an end last night (June 11, 2011) in the main event of UFC 131, as Junior dos Santos emphatically put a stamp on his status as the top contender in the division by overwhelming Shane Carwin en route to a clear unanimous decision win.
UFC 131 winner Junior Dos Santos: I will be ready for champ Cain Velasquez
(mmajunkie.com)VANCOUVER, British Columbia – For the second-straight fight, heavyweight slugger Junior Dos Santos (13-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was unable to finish his opponent.
For the second-straight time, it hardly seemed to matter.
Dos Santos battered a game Shane Carwin (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) over a 15-minute span in the main event of Saturday's UFC 131 event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Now it's on to UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), and Dos Santos believes he's more than ready for his most difficult challenge yet.
With title shot likely, UFC 131's Kenny Florian committed to 145 pounds
(mmajunkie.com)Two-time UFC lightweight title-challenger Kenny Florian admits his first cut to 145 pounds was a challenge.
In fact, after being forced to cut down from a beginning weight of more than 180 pounds, Florian (15-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) wondered if fighting in a fourth weight class was perhaps one too many.
But following a victory over Diego Nunes (16-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 131 co-main event on pay-per-view, he appears to have what he wanted all along: another shot at the title.
Dana White slams UFC 131 judging, praises Herb Dean as best in the business
(mmajunkie.com)VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Another major MMA event, another set of confusing scorecards.
Following Saturday's UFC 131 event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, UFC president Dana White took dead aim at a few judges' decisions he deemed unforgivable while suggesting those officials should not be used in MMA competition ever again.
However, White also laid high praise on one referee from Saturday's card, one the UFC boss said proved once again (well, twice actually) why he's the best in the business.
UFC 131 scores 14,685 attendance figure for $2.8 million gate
(mmajunkie.com)Although it failed to match the figures posted by the UFC's debut show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Saturday's UFC 131 event still exceeded expectations.
Following the event, which took place at Rogers Arena, UFC president Dana White confirmed an attendance figure of 14,685 and a live gate of $2.8 million (U.S.).
UFC 115, which took place in June 2010, scored 17,669 attendees for a $4.22 million gate.
UFC 131 bonuses: Stout, Weidman, Herman and Einemo get $70,000 awards
(mmajunkie.com)VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sam Stout, Chris Weidman, Dave Herman and Jon Olav Einemo each earned $70,000 "Fight Night" bonuses for their performances at Saturday's "UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin" event.
Stout earned the night's "Knockout of the Night" award, Weidman picked up the "Submission of the Night" bonus, and Herman and Einemo took home "Fight of the Night" honors.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the bonus winners and award amounts while at UFC 131's post-event press conference.
UFC May Enlist Retired NBA Superstar Shaquille O'Neal as Ambassador
(mmafighting.com)Plenty of celebrities have walked through the doors of an arena to watch a UFC event, from George Clooney to Robert Downey, Jr., to longtime fan Kevin James, who is so fight-crazy that he's currently filming an MMA-themed movie entitled Here Comes the Boom.
Among the longest standing of the celebrity fans though, is recently retired NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal, who has been to numerous major events and has openly talked about a desire to fight professionally.
Whether or not O'Neal follows through on his long-held desire to fight remains unlikely -- he is, after all, 39 years old -- but during a Friday ESPN interview, UFC president Dana White revealed that he recently spoke to O'Neal, who voiced a desire to help the promotion as it continues its worldwide expansion.
Video to ESPN Interview on the playground
Yves Jabouin vs. Ian Loveland slated for UFC 134 in Brazil
(mmajunkie.com)A bantamweight bout between Ian Loveland (14-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Yves Jabouin (15-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is slated for August's UFC 134 event.
Officials today announced that verbal agreements are in place for the fight.
The bout likely will be part of the preliminary card of UFC 134, which takes place Aug. 27 at HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro. The pay-per-view headliner pits middleweight champion Anderson Silva against Yushin Okami.
Jonathan Brookins vs. Erik Koch slated for UFC Fight Night 25 "Bayou" event
(mmajunkie.com)This past week Jonathan Brookins told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he planned to return at "UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou."
"The Ultimate Fighter 12" winner now has an opponent.
Brookins (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has agreed to drop a weight class to fight featherweight Erik Koch (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at the Sept. 17 event, UFC officials today announced.
UFC's Tom Wright: "We're really happy with tickets sales" for UFC 131
(mmajunkie.com)It's only logical that the UFC eventually would have to share Canada with hockey.
With three events up north in 2010 and the same number expected this year, the promotion was bound to run into the country's second most popular combat sport, where occasionally, a game breaks out.
The UFC knew full well it was on the Vancouver Canucks' turf when it booked UFC 131, its second event in the British Columbia city after this past June's UFC 115 event. But they hardly could've anticipated the team going on an impressive run that led to the Stanley Cup Finals, much less that the hockey team would be occupying Rogers Arena the night prior to the UFC's pay-per-view event.
UFC on Versus 5 gets 12th fight with Paul Taylor vs. John Makdessi
(mmajunkie.com)A lightweight bout between Paul Taylor (11-6-1 MMA, 4-5 UFC) and John Makdessi (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is now official for August's UFC on Versus 5 event.
It's the 12th addition to the card, which takes place Aug. 14 at Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
The night's main card, including a Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle welterweight main event, airs live on Versus.
UFC 131 official weigh-in results
(mmajunkie.com)
MAIN CARD (pay-per-view)
•Junior Dos Santos (239) vs. Shane Carwin (254)
•Kenny Florian (146) vs. Diego Nunes (145)
•Demian Maia (186) vs. Mark Munoz (186)
•Jon Olav Einemo (261) vs. Dave Herman (233)
•Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Vagner Rocha (155)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
•Yves Edwards (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)
•Jesse Bongfeldt (185) vs. Chris Weidman (186)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
•Mike Massenzio (201) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (205)
•James Head (186) vs. Nick Ring (185)
•Dustin Poirier (146) vs. Jason Young (145)
•Joey Beltran (247) vs. Aaron Rosa (261)
•Darren Elkins (145) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (145)
Here are the pics for those who missed the weigh-ins
UFC 131's retooled Krzysztof Soszynski: I take pride in finishing fights
(mmajunkie.com)Krzysztof Soszynski isn't letting unexpected opponent changes dampen his spirit as he prepared to fighte in front of his Canadian fans Saturday night at Rogers Arena.
After scheduled opponents Anthony Perosh and Igor Pokrajac were both forced of the card with injuries, Mike Massenzio (12-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) stepped in as the third opponent for Soszynski (25-11-1, 5-2 UFC).
Soszynski is 8-2 over his past 10 fights, and he hasn't let the changes affect his preparation leading into the Facebook-streamed fight, which takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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