Ring wins inexplicable UFC 127 decision over Fukuda

In an incredibly questionable -- to put it nicely -- judges decision, "The Ultimate Fighter" alumnus Nick Ring continued his unbeaten streak, winning a decision over Japanese fighter Riki Fukuda. All three judges saw it 29-28 for Ring. 

Fukuda started the first round with a takedown. Ring tried to work an armbar from the bottom, but he couldn't finish it and kicked out from the bottom. When the two returned to their feet, Fukuda used kicks to batter Ring's legs and move inside to land strikes. Fukuda finished the round with a takedown.

In the second, Fukuda beat up Ring's face and managed another smooth takedown. He clinched with Ring, using knees and short punches to inflict damage. He wasn't overwhelming, but Fukuda definitely controlled the action.

Fukuda picked it up in the third round, coming out with quick strikes and then taking Ring down. They returned to their feet, and Fukuda landed undercuts and then got another takedown. Though he was clearly behind, Ring never went for broke in the final round. He looked beyond rusty in his first fight since appearing on the 11th season of TUF.

Ring looked slightly surprised as his name was read as the winner, and UFC commentator Je Rogan expressed shot by the judges call. Fight Metric had the fight 30-27 for Fukuda, as did Cagewriter. Even UFC president Dana White tweeted his displeasure, "Judges [expletive] suck again!! Fukuda got robbed!!!"

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Ring-wins-inexplicable-UFC-127-decision-over-Fuk?urn=mma-326830

Paul Buentello  Josh Burkman  Mikey Burnett  Murilo Bustamante  Grant Campbell 

Strikeforce: Jorge Masvidal Beats Billy Evangelista

by Michael David SmithJorge Masvidal punches Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson.Billy Evangelista is undefeated no more, as one of Strikeforce's best prospects lost in disappointing fashion in his first appearance on a major Strikeforce card on Saturday night.

Fighting the much more experienced Jorge Masvidal, Evangelista turned in an unimpressive performance, losing a unanimous decision. All three judges scored it 30-27 for Masvidal, who improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 21-6. Evangelista falls to 11-1.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/05/strikeforce-jorge-masvidal-beats-billy-evangelista/

Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo  Kyle Bradley  Jai Bradney 

UFC Versus on 3 Weigh-In Video

by Michael David SmithDiego SanchezAll 22 fighters stepping into the Octagon at Thursday night's third UFC on Versus event will first step on the scale Wednesday afternoon at the weigh-in, and we'll carry the video live here at MMAFighting.com.

In the main event, welterweights Martin Kampmann and Diego Sanchez will need to make the 170-pound limit, with a one-pound buffer.

The weigh-in starts at 4 PM ET and is preceded by a Fight Club Q&A at 2PM ET. The video is below.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/02/ufc-live-sanchez-vs-kampmann-weigh-in-video/

Mark The Hammer Coleman Wes Soldier Combs  Ray Cooper  Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira 

MMA Marketplace: Hendo's Strikeforce: Columbus walkout shirt

Clinch Gear has long been one of Cagewriter's favorite MMA apparel companies because of their simple, non-eye-searing designs, which is why we don't understand Dan Henderson's walkout shirt for his title bout with Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante at Strikeforce in Columbus this weekend.

Is that an electric blue and hot pink bald eagle? And the American flag and for some reason, feathers? There are no skulls or random metallic accents, so points for that, but we've come to expect more from Clinch Gear. If you completely disagree and like this shirt, get it here for $32.95, or try Hendo's more subtle, G.I. Joe-esque shirt from his December bout for $29.95.

Cagewriter will be in Columbus for the fights this weekend. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest from the event.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/MMA-Marketplace-Hendo-s-Strikeforce-Columbus-w?urn=mma-328563

Todd Duffee  Marvin Eastman  Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers 

Sanchez shows amazing guts in taking controversial decision from Kampmann

That's a fight worthy of a rematch or better yet two more rounds. That's if either Diego Sanchez or Martin Kampmann could've gone another second after beating the hell out of each for 15 minutes.

Sanchez looked like the more busted up fighter, but he still got the nod on all three scorecards, 29-28, for the unanimous decision victory in the main event at UFC on Versus 3. 

"I knew I caught him with some big shots too. We both got caught with some big shot. I got cut," Sanchez told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "I knew I scored points with that takedown. I thought I won the fight by putting the pressure on and controlling the end of the fight."

Kampmann, who said he suffered a broken right hand, sounded devastated by the decision.

"I thought I won the fight. I think I won all three rounds," Kampmann said. "Definitely, Diego caught me with some good shots as well. I think look at his face. I think I won the fight. He was throwing a lot of flurries, but most of it wasn’t landing. I feel I was landing way more and cleaner shots. I'm very disappointed. I can't put words on this."

Sanchez

(23-4, 12-4 UFC)
landed some heavy shots, but not nearly as many overall as Kampmann. Compustrike said Kampmann outlanded Sanchez in every round. The total was 97-45. Sanchez was also 1-of-15 on takedown attempts. Most of the Mexican-American's punches landed were power shots at 39 of the 45. 

FightMetric had Kampmann outlanding Sanchez, but by a closer margin of 79-51. In round-by-round strikes, Kampmann won 2-of-3 rounds. The first was 33-10, second was 27-22 and third was a tie at 19-19. In that final round, Sanchez was 19-of-88 and Kampmann was 19-of-68. 

Update: Sanchez and Kampmann were rewarded for great efforts. Their war was dubbed Fight of the Night and each got a $60,000 bonus.  

Seconds after the fight, UFC president Dana White tweeted that he thought Sanchez definitely won. Meanwhile, Rogan couldn't understand how Sanchez could've possibly won. That's the kind of fight it was. The first round was a blowout, but the second and third were difficult to score. 

Getting the win was heckuva comeback for Sanchez. In the middle of the second round, h

e looked like he was on his way to a certain loss. The right side of his face was swollen and he had a nasty crescent cut under his right eye. From the opening seconds of the fight, he was also bleeding badly from his mouth.

Sanchez didn't give up and his constant pressure suckered Kampmann into a firefight. With two minutes left in the second, the Dutch striking specialist allowed himself to get trapped on the cage. Sanchez fired 8-10 shots at Kampmann and nailed him with two big lefts. He'd also cut Kampmann over his right eye just seconds before. The blood seemed to throw off Kampmann mentally. 

In the third, Sanchez finally scored a takedown. That made him 1-of-15 for the fight. Kampmann (17-5, 8-4 UFC) didn't stay down for the long. The final three minutes were highlighted by Sanchez charging forward and throwing flurries. He landed some good shots, but Kampmann landed even more with excellent counterpunching and movement. By the end of the fight, the other side of Sanchez's face was swollen and covered in blood. As the horn sounded, his corner covered the left side of his face with a towel. The blood flow was so intense it was spurting right through the towel.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Sanchez-shows-amazing-guts-in-taking-controversi?urn=mma-329483

Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida

UFC 127: Hunt, Noke, Lytle and Ebersole pocket $75k in "Fight Night" bonuses

At UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia, a lot of interesting upsets and unpredictable finishes occurred. Chief among them, I thought I would never see Michael Bisping finish someone on the feet, since collectively I’ve heard that he is the “pillow hands” of the middleweight division, that could have also been a whole lot of fighters that [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/28/ufc-127-hunt-noke-lytle-and-ebersole-pocket-75k-in-fight-night-bonuses

Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus  Todd Duffee  Marvin Eastman 

The Walk Out ? ?Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson?

After a great start to the year for Strikeforce, the company is back on Showtime this weekend with a title fight double header. While this card might lack star power, like any Strikeforce card, it?s filled with exciting match ups and match ups that will end up being exciting because of how one-sided the match-making [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/03/04/the-walk-out-strikeforce-feijao-vs-henderson/

Vitor Belfort  Robert Berry David Bielkheden Michael Bisping  Dan Bobish

Strikeforce Loses Momentum With Heavyweight Tournament Delay

by Michael David SmithThe great thing about a tournament is that it gets more exciting as it goes along. Whether it's March Madness or Wimbledon or (as we're about to talk about) an eight-man MMA grand prix, each round gets you more enthused about the next.

At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. In the case of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, which began in February and was supposed to continue in April, all the momentum is coming to a screeching halt with the news that it won't continue in April after all. And it won't continue in May, either.

No, Strikeforce has decided that the next two tournament fights, Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers, will take place on June 18. And there goes all the momentum the first tournament event achieved.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/02/strikeforce-loses-momentum-with-heavyweight-tournament-delay/

Alexander Gustafsson Jaime Gutierrez Dave Gomez Keith Hackney Matt Hamill