Check out the latest Podcast from John Franklin and TJ Craig at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5pusECpeeg
and to watch the bit about Mark Coleman specifically:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5pusECpeeg
Co-hosts John Franklin and TJ Craig are joined by Jason Cruz from mmapayout.com, to talk about Fox Sports 1, New York MMA, GSP-Nick Diaz and the co-hosts discuss further TUF 17, Bellator 92, and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman retires.
Fighter Profiles
Soa Palelei (18-3)
Stipe Miocic (9-1)
CageWall Event Page
UFC 161: Barao vs. Wineland
Overview
Soa “The Hulk” Palelei is back fighting for the UFC. His last appearance was at UFC 79 back in 2007 where he lost by TKO (punches) to Eddie Sanchez in the third round. Soa then took a 15-month break and has since gone 10-1 with his only loss coming to Daniel Cormier by submission (punches) at Xtreme MMA 3 in 2010. Those 10 wins have all been finishes with the first two by submission and the last 8 all by knockout. Soa has also toned up and put on quite a bit more muscle since his UFC appearance.
Fighter Profiles
Junior dos Santos (15-2)
Mark Hunt (9-7)
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UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2
Overview
Junior dos Santos looks to rebound from his title loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 155. He was supposed to take on Alistair Overeem but Overeem just withdrew with an injury. It’s unfortunate for dos Santos who really wanted to demolish Overeem. He’ll now have to take on a completely different fighter in Hunt, but I’m sure Junior is up for the task. Both fights are just a means to the same end, getting the belt back from Cain. The Cain loss was his first in the UFC and only the second of his career.
Fighter Profiles
Erick Silva (14-3-0-1)
John Hathaway (17-1)
CageWall Event Page
UFC on FUEL TV 10: Nogueira vs. Werdum 2
Overview
Erick Silva has lost two of his last three and is ranked in the upper teens in most rankings for welterweights, but things can change very quickly with a win over Hathaway. Silva has deadly power and is considered by many to be a future welterweight star. If you look closer at his last two losses you will see that one was a DQ (illegal strikes), which was a very questionable call by the ref. The second was his last time out against Jon Fitch. A fair unanimous decision win for Fitch, and Silva should have done better to keep Fitch off, but a good learning experience for Silva that will only help him against Hathaway.
Fighter Profiles
Tim Kennedy (15-4)
Roger Gracie (6-1)
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UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman
Overview
Two very popular fighters coming over from Strikeforce, Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie, have been matched up and will be making their UFC debuts at UFC 162 in Las Vega. Former U.S. Army staff sergeant and expert wrestler vs. BJJ royaly. Classic!
Tim Kennedy had a nice run with Strikeforce where he posted a 4-2 record and fought in some high profile matches. His two losses were in title bouts against Ronaldo Souza and Luke Rockhold, both by unanimous decision and both pretty close fights. Kennedy won his final bout for the promotion though his last time out against Trevor Smith by submission (The Oswald) in the third round. Kennedy’s relentless grappling and top-notch cardio should serve him well in the increasingly competitive middleweight division of the UFC.
Fighter Profiles
Sean Pierson (13-6)
TJ Waldburger (16-7)
CageWall Event Page
UFC 161: Barao vs. Wineland
Overview
Sean Pierson looks to get back in the Octagon after suffering an injury that forced him to cancel his bout with Rick Story at the upcoming UFC 158 in Montreal. The Canadian managed to keep it in Canada though as he now shifts to Winnipeg, which will mark the fourth time fighting in Canada for the UFC. He’s won his last two fights but had a close call at the end of his last fight against Lance Benoist. He was clearly winning that fight but was rocked late in the third. Pierson managed to survive though and at 36 years of age, needs to keep surviving if he’s going to get the top contender bouts once again.
Fighter Profiles
Sam Stout (19-8-1)
Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1)
CageWall Event Page
UFC 161: Barao vs. Wineland
Overview
Sam Stout is just coming off a win over Caros Fodor a few weeks ago at UFC 157. When Winnipeg comes-a-calling though, and you are a Canadian like Stout, you sign up and get back into training camp I guess. Stout fought three times in 2012 so could be on the same pace for this year. As for his game, we’ve been seeing a shift in style over the past year or two to a more well-rounded and conservative approach. Every once in a while he busts out though and with the aggressive style of Vallie-Flagg, we could definitely see some good action.
UPDATE: This fight has been moved to UFC on FUEL TV 10. For more details: Thiago Silva vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante moves from UFC 162, added to UFC on FUEL TV 10 in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil June 8]
Fighter Profiles
Thiago Silva (14-3-0-2)
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (11-3-0-1)
CageWall Event Page
UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman
Overview
Thiago Silva has not had your typical career up to this point. He busted out of the gate 13-0 and was then matched up with another 13-0 up-and-comer light heavyweight by the name of Lyoto Machida. Machida KO’d Silva in the first round, also winning “Knockout of the Night”. The two have certainly taken completely different paths since then. Following his loss to Machida, Silva KO’d Keith Jardine at UFC 102 in August of 2009. Unbelievable as this may sound, that was the last time Silva has won a fight. Following the Jardine fight, SIlva has gone 0-2-0-2. He lost twice and had two of his wins turned into ‘No Contest’ due to failed drug tests. Silva is still a deadly competitor though as he proved against Stanislav Nedkov his last time out. A brilliant arm-triangle choke submission, followed by a tap out, followed by a throat slit. Classic Thiago Silva.
The second season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” debuts March 17 in Brazil on Globo (US viewing options still TBA). Today, the 28 welterweights competing in the tournament were unveiled. The full list is down below.
The coaches for this season are UFC heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Noueira and Fabricio Werdum. The elimination round will air as the first two episodes with the 14 winners earning a spot in the TUF house. The coaches then pick their teams and the single-elimination tournament continues until one fighter, The Ultimate Fighter, is left. Big Nog had this to add:
Fighter Profiles
Tim Boetsch (15-6)
Mark Munoz (12-3)
CageWall Event Page
UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman
Overview
Tim Boetsch looks to re-establish himself as a top contender in the division following his loss to Constantinos Philippou by knockout at UFC 155. Prior to the Philippou fight, Boetsch had won four in a row including two huge victories over Yushin Okami by knockout and Hector Lombard by unanimous decision. He was even being mentioned as a possible opponent for Anderson Silva. He didn’t get the title shot unfortunately, but instead got paired up with Philippou who did quite a number on him. His post-fight tweet about it was a classic (@TimBoetsch):
“Torn cartilage round one, loss of vision round two, broken nose & tko’d round three. Not how I wanted to end 2012.”
