MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com MMA FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://mma.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Yoshihiro Akiyama 'Grateful' for Upcoming Wanderlei Silva UFC Fighthttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/yoshihiro-akiyama-grateful-for-upcoming-wanderlei-silva-ufc-fi/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/yoshihiro-akiyama-grateful-for-upcoming-wanderlei-silva-ufc-fi/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/yoshihiro-akiyama-grateful-for-upcoming-wanderlei-silva-ufc-fi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Yoshihiro Akiyama has been spending some time training with the stars at Xtreme Couture, and that's where FanHouse caught up with him last week.

Akiyama talked about facing Wanderlei Silva in 2010, whether he would ever consider dropping down to welterweight, the legend that is "Sexyama," and his unique entrance music. The video interview is below.

Yoshihiro Akiyama 'Grateful' for Upcoming Wanderlei Silva UFC Fight originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>wanderlei silvaWanderleiSilvayoshihiro akiyamaYoshihiroAkiyamaAriel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST After Another Loss, Sun Begins to Set on Career of Legend Tito Ortizhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/tito-ortiz-an-mma-trailblazer-but-fight-career-is-running-out-o/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/tito-ortiz-an-mma-trailblazer-but-fight-career-is-running-out-o/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/tito-ortiz-an-mma-trailblazer-but-fight-career-is-running-out-o/#commentsFiled under:

Tito OrtizThe legend deserved the benefit of the doubt. He deserved the chance to go into the cage against another top fighter, to measure himself up, to see where he stands in the modern MMA world.

The legend deserved the opportunity to prove that he was back, to illustrate that he was healthy, to showcase a dynamic and revitalized body.

But after last night's loss to Forrest Griffin, now we know that the legend of Tito Ortiz is almost all that we have left.
UFC 106:
Ariel's Exclusive Interviews | Results | Full Coverage

Please do not take this to discount everything Ortiz has done in the universe of MMA and in the world of the UFC. Ortiz (15-7) is one of the three most important fighters in the sport's early history, carrying it through the dark ages, becoming its first crossover superstar, generating monster buyrates and ratings.

In many ways, people like me, who can now write about MMA for a living, owe a debt of gratitude to Ortiz. But if the truth must be written, it has become clear that Ortiz's road back to any belt of any significance is long and rocky and likely impassable. The obstacles before him are too young, too powerful, too skilled, and just too many.

He told us before this fight that his back was healed up, that he was 100 percent and that we'd see a new, improved fighter. Ortiz did not fight poorly; he just fought like an older version of the old Tito. In this day and age, that's just not good enough, and there's no indication it will change.

And like the old Ortiz, after he lost by split decision, instead of congratulating Forrest, he mentioned the injuries. A bulging disc and a cracked skull, he claimed, hampered his training and performance.

It's not that those injuries are irrelevant; it's just that no one wants to hear any excuses.

First of all, he didn't need them. He fought hard, and that should have been enough. MMA fans are forgiving of warriors who go out on their shield.

Secondly, he spent the last several months telling us he felt like new. The excuses -- or health issues, as he'd likely call them -- will do nothing but anger the fans. Ortiz should know this by now. It's one thing to be a rookie and make that mistake, but any veteran knows that once you take the fight, all of your problems become background noise; the match is the symphony by which we hear you.



We heard about his repaired back, and how fluid he was looking in his striking, and you couldn't help but think that if both things were true, that maybe he could find his way back into the title mix. But except for a brief few second-round moments in Griffin's guard, raining down elbows in a rerun of his earlier days, Ortiz did not have many moments of success. Griffin (17-6) was faster with his punches, crisper with his strikes, and even had more power. Even when his strikes were getting blocked, he was by far the busier fighter. By the third round, it was hardly competitive, with Griffin teeing off on Ortiz, who was clearly exhausted, perhaps the cumulative effect of ring rust, injuries and age.

Think about this: In less than 40 days, it will be 2010. Ortiz has not won a match since 2006. That is a lot of history, over 1,100 days since Ortiz's hand was raised in victory. Since then, he's lost three times, had a draw, been frozen out of the UFC, had back surgery, had twins with his girlfriend Jenna Jameson, flirted with other organizations, rehabbed and returned.

That's a lot of life lived between wins, and a lot of age to overcome. He turns 35 in two months, and now admits he still has a bad back. In a division with sturdy, well-rounded veterans like Lyoto Machida, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rashad Evans, surging youngsters like Jon Jones, Thiago Silva and Ryan Bader, the ageless legend Randy Couture and even an occasional appearance from Anderson Silva, this is not a weight class with any gimmes. And it is not a weight class with an easy roads towards the top.

As much as Ortiz loves to fight, he can't will himself to be a major threat in the division anymore. He's been so wrestling dependent that his future success hinges on getting his back healthy, and it hasn't been healthy in years. That makes it difficult to envision a scenario in which a 35-year-old coming off major surgery can find a way to beat any younger, stronger fighters.

All that said, Ortiz put forth a spirited effort against the always game Griffin. One ringside judge had him winning, though most observers felt Griffin earned the nod. Multi-millionaires don't have to put themselves through the kind of physical torture he went through just to walk into a cage and possibly suffer more harm. But he is, after all, a legend for a reason, and that should always be remembered. Ortiz raining down ground and pound will always be one of the indelible images of the early days.

Once upon a time, he was feared and furious. Now, he is just one of the many. Perhaps the tradeoff is this: Ortiz fans will probably no longer expect a win as much as they expect a show. And in that, the legend has always delivered.

After Another Loss, Sun Begins to Set on Career of Legend Tito Ortiz originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Anderson SilvaAndersonSilvaForrest GriffinForrestGriffinJon JonesJonJonesLyoto MachidaLyotoMachidaMauricio Shogun RuaMauricioShogunRuaRandy CoutureRandyCoutureRashad EvansRashadEvansRyan BaderRyanBaderThiago SilvaThiagoSilvaTito OrtizTitoOrtizMike ChiappettaSun, 22 Nov 2009 09:49:00 EST MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Griffin and Little Nog Look Goodhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/mma-top-10-light-heavyweights-griffin-and-little-nog-look-good/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/mma-top-10-light-heavyweights-griffin-and-little-nog-look-good/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/mma-top-10-light-heavyweights-griffin-and-little-nog-look-good/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira both had big wins at UFC 106 Saturday night, and they're both on my list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in MMA.

My question now is whether they should fight each other next. As strong as the UFC's light heavyweight division is, there's a bit of a logjam in it. The Lyoto Machida-Shogun Rua rematch for the title won't take place until May 1, Rampage Jackson is off making movies and Dan Henderson is in a contract dispute, and that means the only light heavyweight fight including top 10 fighters scheduled for the next five months is Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva.

My Top 10 list is below.

MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights
1. Lyoto Machida
2. Anderson Silva
3. Mauricio Rua
4. Rashad Evans
5. Forrest Griffin
6. Quinton Jackson
7. Dan Henderson
8. Gegard Mousasi
9. Thiago Silva
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Griffin and Little Nog Look Good originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Antonio Rogerio NogueiraAntonioRogerioNogueiraDan HendersonDanHendersonForrest GriffinForrestGriffinLyoto MachidaLyotoMachidaRampage JacksonRampageJacksonRashad EvansRashadEvansShogun RuaShogunRuaThiago SilvaThiagoSilvaUFC 106Ufc106Michael David SmithSun, 22 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST Nogueira Brothers Celebrate 'Little Nog's' UFC Debut Victoryhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nogueira-brothers-celebrate-little-nogs-ufc-debut-victory/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nogueira-brothers-celebrate-little-nogs-ufc-debut-victory/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nogueira-brothers-celebrate-little-nogs-ufc-debut-victory/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has won three UFC fights, including one for the interim heavyweight title, but he was just as excited to see his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, defeat Luiz Cane via first round TKO at UFC 106 on Saturday.

FanHouse spoke to the most famous twins in MMA about "Minotoro's" stellar UFC debut and "Minotauro's" current health status. The video interview.

Nogueira Brothers Celebrate 'Little Nog's' UFC Debut Victory originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>antonio rodrigo nogueiraantonio rogerio nogueiraAntonioRodrigoNogueiraAntonioRogerioNogueiraluiz caneLuizCaneufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 04:40:00 EST Josh Koscheck Reflects on UFC 106 Victory, Clarifies Stance on Dan Hardyhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-reflects-on-ufc-106-victory-clarifies-stance-on-d/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-reflects-on-ufc-106-victory-clarifies-stance-on-d/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-reflects-on-ufc-106-victory-clarifies-stance-on-d/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Josh Koscheck proved that he is definitely a force to be reckoned in the UFC's welterweight division after overcoming an early illegal knee to the head and eye poke to submit Anthony Johnson in the second round at UFC 106.

FanHouse spoke to Koscheck at the post-fight press conference about getting past the early controversy and his issue with Dan Hardy getting a welterweight title shot before him. The video interview is below.

Josh Koscheck Reflects on UFC 106 Victory, Clarifies Stance on Dan Hardy originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>anthony johnsonAnthonyJohnsondan hardyDanHardyjosh koscheckJoshKoscheckufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 04:01:00 EST Dana White Looks Back at UFC 106http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dana-white-looks-back-at-ufc-106/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dana-white-looks-back-at-ufc-106/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dana-white-looks-back-at-ufc-106/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- FanHouse caught up with UFC president Dana White following UFC 106 to talk about Saturday night's event. White said he disagreed with Tito Ortiz's proclamation that he was robbed by the judges and was pleased with the way Forrest Griffin rebounded from his loss to Anderson Silva.

White also talked about Josh Koscheck's dominant performance and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira's stellar UFC debut. The video interview is below.

Warning: The video below contains some explicit language.

Dana White Looks Back at UFC 106 originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 03:20:00 EST Amir Sadollah Realizes He Belongs in UFC After Defeating Phil Baronihttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/amir-sadollah-realizes-he-belongs-in-ufc-after-defeating-phil-ba/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/amir-sadollah-realizes-he-belongs-in-ufc-after-defeating-phil-ba/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/amir-sadollah-realizes-he-belongs-in-ufc-after-defeating-phil-ba/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Amir Sadollah entered his UFC 106 fight against Phil Baroni surrounded by many question marks: how would he recover from the controversial loss to Johny Hendricks? Could he outslug the slugger, Phil Baroni? And does he have what it takes to win a grueling fight in the UFC?

Well, Sadollah answered all those questions and more in his unanimous decision victory over Baroni, and when FanHouse caught up with him after the victory, his boss, UFC president Dana White, said he was very impressed with his performance. The video interview is below.

Amir Sadollah Realizes He Belongs in UFC After Defeating Phil Baroni originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>amir sadollahAmirSadollahdana whiteDanaWhitephil baroniPhilBaroniufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 02:57:00 EST Win at UFC 106 Helps George Sotiropoulos Land on Australian Cardhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-at-ufc-106-helps-george-sotiropoulos-land-spot-on-australian/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-at-ufc-106-helps-george-sotiropoulos-land-spot-on-australian/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-at-ufc-106-helps-george-sotiropoulos-land-spot-on-australian/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- George Sotiropoulous has quietly won his last five fights in a row, which includes his first three in the UFC. On Saturday at UFC 106, he dominated Jason Dent en route to submitting him via armbar in the second round.

FanHouse spoke to Sotiropoulous moments after the victory about his rise up the UFC's lightweight rankings and this victory sets him up for a UFC homecoming next February. The video interview is below.

Win at UFC 106 Helps George Sotiropoulos Land on Australian Card originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>George SotiropoulousGeorgeSotiropoulousjason dentJasonDentufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 02:44:00 EST Emotional Kendall Grove Gets Back on Track, Dedicates Win to Grandmotherhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/emotional-kendall-grove-gets-back-on-track-dedicates-win-to-gra/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/emotional-kendall-grove-gets-back-on-track-dedicates-win-to-gra/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/emotional-kendall-grove-gets-back-on-track-dedicates-win-to-gra/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Prior to UFC 106, Kendall Grove felt like he was being overlooked in the UFC's middleweight division, but after submitting Jake Rosholt in the first round on Saturday, "Da Spyder" proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with at 185 pounds.

FanHouse spoke to Grove after the victory about weathering Rosholt's early attack and dedicating his victory to his recently deceased grandmother. Check out the video interview below.

Emotional Kendall Grove Gets Back on Track, Dedicates Win to Grandmother originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jake rosholtJakeRosholtkendall groveKendallGroveufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 02:38:00 EST Josh Koscheck Earns $140,000 in UFC 106 Post-Fight Bonuseshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-earns-140-000-in-ufc-106-post-fight-bonuses/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-earns-140-000-in-ufc-106-post-fight-bonuses/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/josh-koscheck-earns-140-000-in-ufc-106-post-fight-bonuses/#commentsFiled under:

Josh Koscheck may have been overlooked for a title shot, but he was well-recognized through monetary means by the UFC brass following Saturday's UFC 106 in Las Vegas.

Already, without considering his fight purse, his win bonus and earnings through sponsorships, Koscheck earned $140,000 in post-fight bonuses for his second-round rear-naked choke victory over Anthony Johnson.

Koscheck won Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night, each valued at $70,000.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, in his UFC debut, won the other $70,000 prize, Knockout of the Night, for his first-round TKO win against Luiz Cane.

Josh Koscheck Earns $140,000 in UFC 106 Post-Fight Bonuses originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Anthony JohnsonAnthonyJohnsonJosh KoscheckJoshKoscheckRay HuiSun, 22 Nov 2009 02:13:00 EST Brian Foster Survives the Brock Larson Jungle at UFC 106http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/brian-foster-survives-the-brock-larson-jungle-at-ufc-106/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/brian-foster-survives-the-brock-larson-jungle-at-ufc-106/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/brian-foster-survives-the-brock-larson-jungle-at-ufc-106/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LAS VEGAS -- Brian Foster needed a win after losing his UFC debut in September in what he called the worst performance of his career. And not only did the now 13-4 fighter win on Saturday night at UFC 106, he dominated one of the toughest welterweights in MMA, Brock Larson.

FanHouse spoke to Foster immediately after his victory about Larson's two point deductions and rebounding after his first UFC loss. The video interview is below.

Brian Foster Survives the Brock Larson Jungle at UFC 106 originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brian fosterBrianFosterbrock larsonBrockLarsonufc 106Ufc106Ariel HelwaniSun, 22 Nov 2009 01:35:00 EST UFC 106: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin Post-Fight Press Conference Videohttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-post-fight-press-confere/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-post-fight-press-confere/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-post-fight-press-confere/#commentsFiled under: ,

UFC President Dana White, main event fighters Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin and other winners from Saturday night's big night of fights will meet the press afterward at the UFC 106 post-fight press conference, and we have the live video right here at FanHouse.

The post-fight press conference should begin some time around 1 AM ET. The video is below.

The video can be found if you click all the way to the right in the embeddable player.



UFC 106: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin Post-Fight Press Conference Video originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>dana whiteforrest griffintito ortizufc 106Michael David SmithSun, 22 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST UFC 106: Forrest Griffin Beats Tito Ortiz by Split Decisionhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-forrest-griffin-beats-tito-ortiz-by-split-decision/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-forrest-griffin-beats-tito-ortiz-by-split-decision/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/ufc-106-forrest-griffin-beats-tito-ortiz-by-split-decision/#commentsFiled under:


In a rematch between two of the most popular fighters in the history of mixed martial arts, Forrest Griffin defeated Tito Ortiz by split decision in a hard-fought battle Saturday night at UFC 106.
More: UFC 106 Results | Latest UFC 106 News

Just over a minute into the first round, Ortiz landed a takedown and got on top of Griffin, landing punches from inside his guard just as he did early in their epic battle at UFC 59 in 2006, which Ortiz won in a controversial split decision. But Griffin showed that he's improved as a fighter since then, breaking free and getting back to his feet, and landing more effective strikes than Ortiz on his feet.



In the second round, Ortiz again took Griffin down in the early going and landed punches and elbows from inside Griffin's guard. But Griffin, again, got back to his feet, where he used kicks effectively, including kicking Ortiz's mouthpiece right out of his mouth midway through the round. It was late in the second round when Ortiz took Griffin down and landed several elbows to Griffin's face, bloodying him badly. They had a back-and-forth battle on the ground that continued until the bell.

The third round opened with Griffin coming out charging hard, throwing kicks and punches that backed Ortiz up against the cage, and Griffin's striking was much more effective than Ortiz's. At the three-minute mark of the third round, Ortiz shot for a takedown, but Griffin stuffed it. After that it was clear that Griffin was going to control the round, and that's what he did, landing punches and kicks that Ortiz simply had no answer for.

Warning: Video below contains explicit language.


The judges scored the fight 29-28 for Ortiz, 30-27 for Griffin and 29-28 for Griffin. The split decision was a surprise; it's hard to see how any judge would score the fight for Ortiz.

"It feels great, man," Griffin said afterward. "Tito was a great fight for me to come back. I think we're going to have to do a third. It's one and one now. ... We'll do it again."

It was Ortiz's first fight since May of 2008, when he lost to Lyoto Machida. Since then Ortiz has gone through back surgery and a contract dispute with UFC President Dana White, but now Ortiz is back in the Octagon. Ortiz appeared to be in good shape, but any athlete is going to have trouble after such a long layoff, and Ortiz was slower than the Tito of old. Ortiz, whose record falls to 15-7-1, is still a big draw for the UFC, but he's not an elite MMA fighter.

Ortiz said afterward that he was suffering from a neck injury and from a cracked skull, and the fans booed what sounded like Ortiz making excuses. That led Griffin to admonish the crowd to show respect to Ortiz, and when Ortiz asked the fans, "Were you guys satisfied with the show?" they cheered.

But it was Griffin who got most of the cheers as he rebounded from his back-to-back losses to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva. Griffin is a Top 10 light heavyweight and might get a light heavyweight title shot in 2010. He improved his record to 17-6, and he earned his place near the top of the light heavyweight division on Saturday night. He put on a good show.

UFC 106: Forrest Griffin Beats Tito Ortiz by Split Decision originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Forrest GriffinTito OrtizUFC 106Michael David SmithSun, 22 Nov 2009 00:45:00 EST UFC 106 Live Blog: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin Round-by-Round Updateshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-round-by-round/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-round-by-round/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-tito-ortiz-vs-forrest-griffin-round-by-round/#commentsFiled under:

This is the UFC 106 live blog for Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin, the main event between two former UFC light heavyweight champions on tonight's pay-per-view.

The fight is a rematch from UFC 59 in April 2006 which saw Ortiz take a split decision over Griffin.

The live blog begins below.
More: UFC 106 Results | Griffin Beats Ortiz by Split Decision

Round 1: Griffin tags Ortiz with a left hook in a midst of combo. Ortiz gets through with a straight right. Griffin catches Ortiz with a punch. Griffin works leg kicks. Ortiz shoots at 3:43 and gets it. Ortiz throws punches and elbows inside Griffin's closed guard. Griffin uses a kimura to escape. Griffin stands in clinch with Ortiz. They separate at 1:56. Griffin lands a clean leg kick. They exchange, Griffin backs Ortiz with two hard shots. Ortiz shoots, but misses. Griffin actively striking. They clinch to end the round.

Close round, edge goes to Griffin. 10-9 Griffin.

Round 2: They box. Ortiz anticipates the leg kick and puts Griffin on his back. Ortiz tries to ground and pound. Griffin escapes to his feet at around 3:25. Griffin front kicks Ortiz's mouthpiece out. Griffin continues to work punch combos. Oritz shoots and puts Griffin down at 2:20. Griffin tries to sweep. Oritz punches inside Griffin's closed guard. Griffin is bleeding badly from his left eye. Griffin sweeps Ortiz and takes halfguard.

Another close round. This one should go to Ortiz, 10-9.

Round 3: Griffin kicks. Griffin gets through with a straight right. Griffin lands leg kicks. Griffin is confidently striking against Ortiz. Griffin lands to the body. Griffin lands to the leg. Ortiz is just blocking and not throwing anything. Ortiz shoots, but Griffin defends. Griffin goes back to punching at Ortiz. Griffin lands two leg kicks. Ortiz isn't throwing anything. Griffin is scoring points on him with a mixture of punches and leg kicks. Is something wrong with Ortiz? He's not doing much. Griffin content to comfortably chop away. Ortiz kicks Griffin to the body. Griffin lands punches.

Griffin takes the final round 10-9. FanHouse scores the fight 29-28 for Griffin.

Griffin wins by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)

Ortiz said he had a cracked skull and bulging disc coming into fight.

UFC 106 Live Blog: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin Round-by-Round Updates originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Forrest GriffinTito OrtizRay HuiSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:59:00 EST UFC 106: Ortiz-Griffin Live on Twitterhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-fight-card-twitter-time-live-tweet-tito-ortiz-vs-forre/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-fight-card-twitter-time-live-tweet-tito-ortiz-vs-forre/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-fight-card-twitter-time-live-tweet-tito-ortiz-vs-forre/#commentsFiled under:

It's UFC 106 time, and we'll be live tweeting the full UFC 106 fight card right here.

From the first undercard fight through the main event of Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin, we're live tweeting all the fights, offering news, commentary and analysis, all 140 characters at a time.

So whether you're buying the UFC 106 pay-per-view or don't know what's going on and need to follow along, just follow below and follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Twitter Updates on UFC 106

UFC 106: Ortiz-Griffin Live on Twitter originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST UFC 106: Josh Koscheck Submits Anthony Johnsonhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-josh-koscheck-submits-anthony-johnson/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-josh-koscheck-submits-anthony-johnson/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-josh-koscheck-submits-anthony-johnson/#commentsFiled under:

Josh Koscheck took on a bigger, stronger, more athletic opponent and used his superior wrestling to defeat him on Saturday night in Las Vegas, submitting Anthony Johnson with a second-round rear-naked choke in a strange, foul-filled fight at UFC 106.

Johnson got the better of the stand-up in the early going, and halfway through the first round Koscheck went for a takedown. But while they were on the ground, Johnson landed both an illegal knee to the head and a poke to Koscheck's eye. That led to a lengthy delay during which referee Mario Yamasaki did not appear to know the rules regarding delays for fouls and injuries, but Koscheck did eventually say he could continue, and the fight went on.
More: UFC 106 Results | Latest UFC 106 News
In the second round, Koscheck twice threw open-handed shots at Johnson's face and poked Johnson in the eye, causing two more delays in the fight, though neither delay was as long as the one in the first round. After some big shots in the stand-up game from both fighters, Koscheck took Johnson down with three minutes to go in the round, and Koscheck landed elbows that badly cut Johnson's face. Eventually Koscheck got to Johnson's back, sunk in a rear-naked choke, and forced Johnson to tap just before the conclusion of the second round.

Koscheck said afterward that he believes he deserves a shot at UFC welterweight Georges St. Pierre, saying he's better than the current No. 1 contender, Dan Hardy.

"I'm the No. 1 freaking contender in this weight division, right here."

The truth is, Koscheck is not the No. 1 contender, and he's already had his chance at St. Pierre and lost. But if Koscheck wins another fight as impressively as he won Saturday night, he might get another chance at St. Pierre. Koscheck is clearly one of the best welterweights in the world.

MMA FanHouse has UFC 106 results and live UFC 106 Twitter updates.

UFC 106: Josh Koscheck Submits Anthony Johnson originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Anthony JohnsonAnthonyJohnsonJosh KoscheckJoshKoscheckUFC 106Ufc106Michael David SmithSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST UFC 106 Live Blog: Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson Updateshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-josh-koscheck-vs-anthony-johnson-updates/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-josh-koscheck-vs-anthony-johnson-updates/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-josh-koscheck-vs-anthony-johnson-updates/#commentsFiled under:

This is the UFC 106 live blog for Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson, a welterweight bout on tonight's pay-per-view.

Johnson can win his fourth straight UFC fight and solidify himself as a top 10 welterweight with a win over Koscheck.

The live blog begins below.

More: UFC 106 Results | Koscheck Submits Johnson

Round 1: Johnson is significantly bigger than Koscheck, who opens with a left hook. Johnson tries a head kick that is blocked. Koscheck lands a pair of rights, but Johnson shrugs them off. Johnson comes over the top with a right of his own, but just misses. Johnson with a snapping jab followed by an inside leg kick. Johnson hurt Koscheck with a right. He clinches and tries a takedown, but lost his grip. Johnson ends up with better position. Johnson hit a knee to Koscheck's face while he was down, and timeout is called for the illegal blow. Koscheck looked badly hurt. The replay was inconclusive of whether Johnson actually hit him in the face. After a long break, they restart the fight. Johnson lands heavy kicks to the leg. Koscheck looks for the takedown. Johnson holds it off for a while but Koscheck eventually drags him down with about 45 seconds to go. He tries to put his hooks in for a choke, but can't do it. Wild round.

Round 2: Early in the round, Johnson gets poked in the eye, and we need another timeout. He recovers quickly and we restart. Koscheck lands a left high kick. A few seconds later, Johnson gets poked in the eye a second time, and we need a third timeout. This one was bad. Another restart. Johnson buckles Koscheck with a left hook. Koscheck goes for a takedown, successfully with about 2:45 left. Koscheck lands a series of solid elbows, cutting Johnson open. Johnson struggles to escape, but Koscheck keeps the pressure on. Koscheck looks for the rear naked choke and gets it as the round nearly runs out.

Winner: Koscheck by rear naked choke

UFC 106 Live Blog: Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson Updates originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>anthony johnsonjosh koscheckMike ChiappettaSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST UFC 106: Paulo Thiago Beats Jacob Volkmann by Unanimous Decisionhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-paulo-thiago-beats-jacob-volkmann-by-unanimous-decision/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-paulo-thiago-beats-jacob-volkmann-by-unanimous-decision/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-paulo-thiago-beats-jacob-volkmann-by-unanimous-decision/#commentsFiled under:

In a battle between two talented but little-known welterweights, Paulo Thiago defeated Jacob Volkmann at UFC 106.
More: UFC 106 Results | Latest UFC 106 News


A minute into the first round, Thiago took Volkmann down and had him in side control. Volkmann has very good Brazilian jiu jitsu skills and managed to scramble out. It wasn't long before Thiago got him down again, but Volkmann got back up again. In the final second of the first round, Thiago rocked Volkmann with a hard right hand that sent Volkmann flat on his back.

In the second round the pace slowed down, as Volkmann used his wrestling skills to tie Thiago up in the early going. Thiago eventually managed to do just enough offensively late in the round to win it on my scorecard, but Volkmann did land a number of punches on the ground.

The third round featured plenty of exciting, back-and-forth action, with Volkmann getting Thiago into big trouble, landing elbows to Thiago's head on the ground and almost catching him in a D'Arce choke. But Thiago managed to survive and finish the fight landing a series of punches to Volkmann's head on the ground, and he won the fight by unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Thiago improved his record to 12-1. The previously undefeated Volkmann falls to 9-1.

MMA FanHouse has UFC 106 results and live UFC 106 Twitter updates.

UFC 106: Paulo Thiago Beats Jacob Volkmann by Unanimous Decision originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jacob VolkmannJacobVolkmannPaulo ThiagoPauloThiagoUFC 106Ufc106Michael David SmithSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:25:00 EST UFC 106 Live Blog: Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann Updateshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-paulo-thiago-vs-jacob-volkmann-updates/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-paulo-thiago-vs-jacob-volkmann-updates/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-live-blog-paulo-thiago-vs-jacob-volkmann-updates/#commentsFiled under:

This is the UFC 106 live blog for Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann, a welterweight bout on tonight's pay-per-view.

Volkmann and Thiago have been upgraded to the televised card following the cancellation of Dustin Hazelett vs. Karo Parisyan. The undefeated Volkmann makes his UFC debut.

The live blog begins below.
More: UFC 106 Results

Round 1: Thiago jabs. Volkmann blocks a high kick. Volkmann enters clinch. They trade knees to each other's thigh. Thiago takes Volkmann down into side control. Volkmann pulls half guard. Volkmann escapes to his feet. Thiago puts Volkmann down again, this time with full mount. Thiago drops elbows from Volkmann's halfguard. Volkmann escapes to full guard. Thiago brings the fight to standing. Volkmann waits for the kick and goes for the takedown, but Thiago defends. Thiago lets his hands go and drops Volkmann with a left hook and a straight right at the last second.

FanHouse scores the round 10-9 in favor of Thiago.

Round 2: Thiago catches a kick and throws him down. Thiago is the much better striker. Thiago throws a Superman punch. Volkmann takes Thiago down into side control. Volkmann throws punches while attempting to take Thiago's back. Thiago escapes to his feet. They work for the takedown in clinch. Volkmann drags Thiago to the ground. Volkmann almost took full mount, but Thiago escapes. Thiago lands a punch into Volkmann's butterfly guard. Thiago stands up and comes down hard with a punch, finishing in side control.

FanHouse scores the round 10-9 for Thiago.

Round 3: Not likely that Volkmann won any of the first two rounds, so he needs a finish. Volkmann comes forward with alternating left-right punches, but gets dropped by a right hand. Thiago passes to side mount. Volkmann escapes to sprawl. They stand. Volkmann shoots and pulls guard. Thiago steps over but gets put on his back. Volkmann with punches from back and then side control. Volkmann has the crucifix and lands elbows. Thiago escapes the crucifix. Volkmann takes Thiago's back, but slips off. Thiago swings Volkmann's leg away and lands a punch for side control. Volkmann attempts a D'arce choke from the bottom. Thiago escapes and sits in Volkmann's halfguard. Thiago drops heavy elbows.

FanHouse scores the round 10-9 for Volkmann and the fight 29-28 for Thiago.

Thiago wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC 106 Live Blog: Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann Updates originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jacob VolkmannPaulo ThiagoRay HuiSat, 21 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST UFC 106: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira TKOs Luiz Canehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-tkos-luiz-cane/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-tkos-luiz-cane/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/ufc-106-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-tkos-luiz-cane/#commentsFiled under:

Making his Octagon debut after a long and successful career fighting in other promotions, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira whipped Luiz Cane with a first-round TKO in their fight Saturday night at UFC 106.
More: UFC 106 Results | Latest UFC 106 News


Nogueira, the twin brother of former UFC and Pride heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, rocked Cane with a series of left hands on his feet, and Cane was reeling and unable to recover. Nogueira is known more for his submissions than for his striking, but it was a brutal left hook that first hurt Cane, and it was a couple more left hooks followed by a few punches on the ground that forced referee Steve Mazzagatti to stop the fight just 1:56 into the first round.

"I feel very good to be here," Nogueira said in the Octagon afterward. "This is the biggest step for me in my career, in the best promotion. I love to be here in America."

Nogueira noted that he's been working on his striking. It showed.

"I know he's a very good boxer, I respect him a lot, but I've been training," Nogueira said.

Nogueira, who improved his record to 18-3, could be a light heavyweight title contender soon, although there's a big question of whether he'd be willing to fight his friend, the 205-pound champion Lyoto Machida. Cane will drop down in the light heavyweight rankings, and his record falls to 10-2.

MMA FanHouse has UFC 106 results and live UFC 106 Twitter updates.

UFC 106: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira TKOs Luiz Cane originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Antonio Rogerio NogueiraAntonioRogerioNogueiraLuiz CaneLuizCaneUFC 106Ufc106Michael David SmithSat, 21 Nov 2009 22:48:00 EST