Take No Prisoners Sports

Going into The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale fight card, there were some names that generated their share of hype.  Much attention went into highlighting such up and comers as Bubba “The Menace” McDaniel and Uriah “Primetime” Hall, who were also preseason favors to win the competition.  Then there were established figures in the sport, such as”The California Kid” Urijah Faber and Miesha “Cupcake” Tate, who was set to make her UFC debut.  Even a dual interview between TUF 17 coaches and UFC 159 combatants Jon “Bones” Jones (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion) and Chael Sonnen served as bait to lure fight fans into watching this card.

In the midst of it all, two fighters, who garnered the least attention of this card’s fighters, created a buzz for themselves when it counted most.  One is now the 17th Ultimate Fighter winner.  The other is now the number one contender to Ronda Rousey’s Bantamweight title.

Here’s a look back at an awe-inspiring TUF 17 Finale card:

Bubba “The Menace” McDaniel def. Gilbert “Jamal” Smith via Submission  (Triangle Choke, 2:48 of Round Three)

Smith was able to set up the power game early by applying pressure to McDaniel and forcing him to the mat with takedowns  McDaniel was able to keep himself out of serious trouble with distance striking while on his feet.  Even when the fight went to the ground McDaniel was able to counter out of harm’s way and work from the ground with strikes and submission attempts. The story would eventually change in the last round. What worked for Smith in the first two rounds, was to no avail in the final round. Smith was unable to secure any takedowns.  Meanwhile, McDaniel  was able to get Smith to the ground, get control of his back. Smith put up a valiant effort by countering out of back control, but he found himself trapped in a triangle choke, forcing him to succumb to McDaniel’s will.

Travis “Hapa” Browne def. Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga via Knockout (Elbows, 1:11 of Round One)

Browne swung for the fences early with a wheel kick that found nothing but air. Gonzaga almost secured a single leg takedown, but Browne was able to scramble to the cage. Gonzaga continued his attempts at a single leg takedown, but here’s where relentlessness proved to be costly. Browne, while avoiding the takedowns, was able to unleash a hail storm of elbows upon Gonzaga’s ear. The repeated shots proved effective, rendering Gonzaga motionless.

“Alpha” Cat Zigano def. Miesha “Cupcake” Tate via Technical Knockout (Knees and Elbow,2:54 of Round Three)

Immediately, Tate displayed her wrestling prowess, opening the bout with a takedown.  As the two scrambled, Zigano showed she knew how to work in adverse situations. Zigano countered with a standing guillotine choke, that Tate eventually escaped. From there, Tate would establish herself as the better boxer. She landed combinations that truly tested Zigano’s chin. Zigano, who also made her UFC debut, ate everything Tate had to offer. As the striking exchanges continued, Tate continued her striking exhibition. As the fight continued into the second round, Zigano found herself in troubling situations, on the receiving end of takedowns, submission attempts and mounted punches, but somehow, she was able to evade danger and continue fighting. The tide turned in Zigano’s favor in the most important round. After a few punches, Zigano was able to bait Tate into a takedown. Once ZIgano secured a mounted position Zigano took every opportunity Tate gave her, in the form of strikes. As Tate tried to scramble out, she found herself on the receiving end of more strikes. Tate eventually got out of ground positioning and returned to her feet. Immeduately, she was met with a flurry of knees. Zigano would do the unthinkable, ending Tate’s night with a right elbow that sent the former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight champion crumbling to her knees. Hats off to these to on being only the second women’s fight in UFC history and earning “Fight of the Night” bonuses in the process.

Kelvin Gastelum def. Uriah “Primetime” Hall via Split Decision

With Gastelum taking immediate control of center octagon and pushing the pace and Hall being an excellent counter puncher, the chess match between these Ultimate Fighter finalists further extended intrigue. Although Hall is considered the better boxer of the two, it was Gastelum that got the hands going early. The shots that Gastelum landed forced Hall against the cage. Gastelum was a master at applying pressure and changing levels. Hall, closed out the opening round with a takedown of his own, followed by some strikes, but they weren’t enough to help him claim the round. The second round saw Hall go back to the accurate, precise striker that TUF followers have come to know. Gastelum was able to withstand the strikes to execute another takedown. Hall responded with strikes and a takedown of his own.  After a brief scramble, Hall caught Gastelum with an Olympic wrestling-like belly to back suplex that wowed everyone in attendance and television viewers alike.  The first 1:18 of the last round saw a reserved approach from both fighters as they sized one another up for the perfect opening. Gastelum was the first to seize such an opportunity with a  belly to back suplex of his own. AS Gastelum tried to take Hall’s back, he was met with a single leg takedown that was proceeded with hammer fists.  The two were able to stand and with 1:10 left in the final round, Gastelum took the fight back to the ground with a deep, double leg takedown. Although the fight concluded on the ground, the combatants went out in a blaze of glory, leavign it all on the mat with an exchange of strikes. After deliberation by the judges, it was Kevin Gastelum who would go on to shock the world as not only an underdog, but at the tender age of 21, he is the youngest winner in tournament history.

“The California Kid” Urijah Faber def. Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen via Submission (Rear Naked Choke, 3:18 of Round Four)

Jorgensen initiated the first blow with a leg kick.  This left an opening for Faber to catch him with a two-piece punch combo that left Jorgensen staggering to the cage.  The two were in a clinch, however, Jorgensen was able to shift things a bit with a takedown. While pressed against the cage, Faber was able to land a takedown of his own. From there the two exchanges punches, but this time, Faber was able to get the upper hand with a takedown. Jorgensen saw a possibility to secure a Kimura submission, but it was to no avail.  As the two returned to their feet, it was Jorgensen that was able to cement himself as the better striker in the opening round; closing it out with a flurry of punches. As the fight progressed, it became more of a stand-up battle than anything.  The two had exchanged both regular boxing and clinching. Again, Jorgensen proved to be the better striker in the second and third rounds, but Faber wold close out the third round on a high note, with a double leg takedown.   The fourth round maintained the tradition of the previous rounds until the 2:10 mark arrived. It was at this point that Faber executed another takedown. A brief scramble led to Faber taking control of Jorgensen’s back and with 1:42 left in the fourth round, Jorgensen was forced to tap.

With minimal expectations, both Gastelum and Zigano went on to make the greatest statements of this card, in this blogger’s eyes. If their performances are any sign of their UFC careers, their only limit is the sky.  The are two careers that fight fans should pay close attention to for years to come. Two quiet storms have touched down in the UFC…prepare yourselves for the havoc they’ll bring. You’ve heard it here first!

By Antoine Hoffman

When Dan Henderson was forced to pull out of his September 2012 title bout with UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, in addition to his misfortune, it became a blessing to his teammate Chael Sonnen.  The former politician reverted to his political roots, campaigning for an immediate title shot.  Mudslinging was an art that Sonnen were all too familiar with, as he went from dismissing Jones’ legitimacy as champion to declaring himself as the true champion.

Despite Sonnen’s mind games, Jones refused to take Sonnen’s bait. Although he opted to fight Sonnen at a later date, Jones refusal to fight Sonnen immediately called for UFC to cancel an entire fight card for the first time in company history.  It took no time for Jones to be vilified for his decision.  Even though the champion would go on to defend his tittle against Belfort later in the month, it didn’t do much to save face for him.

Sonnen’s continued anti-Jones campaign eventually grabbed the attention of UFC’s front office, prompting a major announcement that was made the following month.

With knowledge of the of the heat that was generated between Jones and Sonnen, UFC President announced that the two combatants would coach against each other in the 17th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

In addition to coaching teams of prospective fighters looking to become the next Ultimate Fighter, Jones and Sonnen will have to interact with one another over a 12 week span.

Given all the tension developed between the two, both coaches turned down their egos tremendously for the sake of promoting the future of the sport.

Make no mistake about it, the coaches allowed their personalities to shine, but the energy involved was used to inspire their middleweight fighters to greatness.

Truth be told, Chael Sonnen proved to be the better coach.  His management of men and words of inspiration have resulted in two of his fighters standing as the finalists to decide the next Ultimate Fighter.  In seasons past, the finale included fighters from each team.

While Sonnen’s success as a coach should not implicate what will happen when he and Jones meet at UFC 159 on April 27th, the road to their date with destiny has so far, been a score for the “Bad Guy”.

Before we look too far ahead, let’s look further into current events, shall we?

On Saturday, April 13th at 9pm, UFC on FX presents The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, live from Las Vegas’ The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. In addition to the TUF finale, you will see four fights on the main card, two of which carry championship implications.

Here are my crap shots at this card:

Bubba “The Menace” McDaniel vs. Gilbert “Jamal” Smith (Middleweight Division)

As two of TUF 17th’s combatants that fell short of the final, both McDaniel and Smith should see this as an opportunity to make a case for themselves as future competitors in the UFC.  Smith packs power, speed and is well-rounded, but trying t be the comedian of this season’s class has many wondering where his focus is. Meanwhile, McDaniel has fallen short of the hype he’s generated, being a training partner of Jon “Bones” Jones. Although McDaniel has under performed, i get the sense his focus is greater. Out of desperation, I’m taking McDaniel to beat Smith in a decision.

Travis “Hapa” Browne vs. Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (Heavyweight Division Bout)

At 6’7″, with the ability to strike and takedown any opponent that has stood before him, Browne started to garner attention from observers of the fight game.  And then he ran into a brick wall known as Antonio “Big Foot” Silva, that led to his first UFC loss.  Browne is looking to get back on a winning track, but he has another daunting task before him in the form of Gonzaga. Gonzaga is a former UFC Heavyweight champion who can force his opponents to submission and the kind of punching power that can render anyone before him motionless. After suffering a knockout loss to Silva, I’m inclined to believe that Browne’s vulnerability has been exposed. I’ll take Gonzaga giving Browne the second knockout loss of his career.

Miesha “Cupcake” Tate vs, Cat “Aplha” Zigano (Women’s Bantamweight Division, Title Contention Bout)   

Because I am a new fan of women’s MMA, there isn’t much knowledge I can give here. What I do know is Ronda Rousey did beat Tate for the Strikeforce title. What I also know is Zigano is making her UFC debut. If you would’ve saw the stare down between these two at the weigh-ins, you would’ve saw it took everything in Zigano not to attack Tate right then and there. Call me crazy, but I’m the sucker for the upset here.  I’ll go with Zigano by way of decision.

Uriah “Prime Time” Hall vs. Kelvin Gastelum (The Ultimate Fighter Finale, Middleweight Division)

Could Chael Sonnen be more proud? Any way you slice it, he comes out of season 17 the winning coach thanks to Hall and Gastelum. On one end, you have Hall who upon sight is imposing. What he does in the octagon is more awe-inspiring than his appearance. His knockout power is jaw dropping. Even when he appears to be in trouble, he somehow finds a way to finish his fights in the form of a knockout. Gastelum, on the other hand is one that has a deceptive appearance. When he does battle, he has this way of overwhelming his opponents. The pressure he applies with his grappling has caused fits for anyone he’s faced. This contrast of styles should make for an interesting fight. However, Hall is the one that can stifle Gastelum’s pressure with the right. Hall becomes season 17′s Ultimate Fighter.

Urijah “The California Kid” Faber vs. Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen (Bantamweight Division, Title Contention Bout)

Faber and Jorgensen are friends and were once collegiate wrestling rivals.  They even competed simultaneously under World Extreme Cagefighting.  Having never competed against one another in WEC, they will finally see each other in an MMA environment. Conventional wisdom says Faber is the choice to make here with his edge in the submission and striking departments. However, we’ve seen Faber in title matches recently where he’s come up short. I’m going with Jorgensen to do the unthinkable just because I would like to see Jorgensen face Interim champion Renan Barao again to see if he can exact revenge from a loss he suffered to Barao back in February 2012.

There’s my call on the TUF Season Finale. Check back with us soon of for a full recap of this event. Enjoy weekend and the fights.

By Antoine Hoffman

Prior to UFC 157, Ronda Rousey has not displayed any striking prowess. At best, she would throw her hands as acceleration to close the distance between her and her opponent to lock in the clinch. She’s even admitted in UFC 157 episode of UFC Countdown that she refuses to get punched in front of her mother. Back to the matter at hand, once you’re in her grasp, she judo throws you to the match, which sets up her bread and butter, the arm bar, which has yet to fail the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

Waiting across the octagon from Rousey was her toughest challenge to date. Liz Carmouche is known as “The Girl-Rilla” for a reason. Much like the animal she models herself after, Carmouche pounces on her prey and does not relent until her target is borderline, rendered motionless.

What would happen when an immovable object encounters an irresistible force?

The bout opened with the champion throwing a flurry of punches that might’ve found home twice. The two got into the clinch and although Carmouche’s back was to the cage, she still worked in some hooks and uppercuts. Rousey secured a lock onto Carmouche’s head, hoping to follow-up with a judo throw to the canvas, but the challenger proved to be too strong for the champion’s setup.The two fell to the canvas simultaneously, which led Rousey to go for what she knew. Carmouche was too elusive for the arm bar attempt. Carmouche was able to take Rousey’s back and when Rousey powered up to stand the two on their feet, Carmouche was able to secure a rear naked choke, placing Rousey in the most adverse situation of her career. Although Rousey’s face was getting cranked to the left like never before, she showed Carmouche and MMA constituents that she can escape trouble. With a judo throw to the mat, Rousey was able to free herself of Carmouche’s clutches.

With no time wasted, Rousey went to rain on Carmouche with standing punches, and although she landed a few, the challenger defended herself well on her back with up kicks to the champion. The two got in a leg tangle, which led Rousey to fall back to the ground and take side control of Carmouche. Rousey secured a headlock with her right arm and used her free hand to pop Carmouche with punches. Carmouche swung her legs upward to lock in either leg scissors or a crucifixion hold, but it was to no avail.  Rousey continued her assault with the side control punches. Carmouche was able to get creative, scoring points with knees to Rousey’s back. To preserve her energy, Rousey took a break from those grounded punches to secure a headlock for a few seconds, but went right back to the punches once she got her second wind.

Carmouche tried to secure a triangle lock with her legs from the bottom, but it provided an opening for Rousey to get into a mounted position to execute a spider web angle, which ultimately set up the angle she needed to go for her patented arm bar. Carmouche fought with every fiber of her being to avoid the inevitable. The “Girl-Rilla” rolled, she kicked, she even locked her right arm with her left arm. There was nothing she didn’t do to avoid the submission. Rousey endured every counter, and was able to outmuscle Carmouche by prying her arm out of its place of security, for a tap with just 0:11 left in the first round.

The immovable object, Rousey, weathered the storm that was the Carmouche, the irresistible force. She showed herself to be formidable in areas that this critic felt she had yet to prove herself in.

Ronda Rousey is everything the hype machine says she is. She truly epitomizes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Together, Rousey and Liz Carmouche simultaneously garnered a new brand of respect for women’s MMA, and stood out as the shining moment of a lackluster UFC 157 main card.

Much appreciation to both of you ladies for showing the world that women’s MMA is nothing to frown upon.

By Antoine Hoffman

It was January 2011 when UFC president Dana White was confronted by TMZ while exiting a Beverly Hills restaurant. The subject, a women’s division in the UFC. When asked there would be a women’s fight in the UFC, White emphatically responded, “NEVER”.

Fast forward to August 2012!  After beating Miesha Tate for the Strikeforce women’s title back in March, the champion had her first title shot against then contender Sarah Kaufman.  It took Rousey only 0:54 to make Kaufman submit. What made this win sweeter than the previous five in her winning streak is she was able to do so in front of the very man who denounced the idea of women’s MMA in UFC. Soon after the bout, White set up a meeting with Rousey at the very restaurant where he rejected women’s integration into the sport.  He brought her there to tell her that women’s MMA will indeed be a part of the UFC.

In addition to the impressive showing that she provided in her only Strikeforce title defense, Rousey has never participated in any action outside of the first round. The closest she came to the second round was her title win over Tate, where she submitted her with a mere 0:33 left in the opening round.

With a six fight career, where all the wins have resulted in first round submissions, it’s an understatement to suggest Rousey believes in not fixing what isn’t broke.  With all the media attention that surrounds her, the hype must be looked beyond so that reality is illuminated.

The game tape that is out on Rousey carrer carries a consistent theme. She strikes, not for the sake of accuracy, but to close the distance just enough to get you in a clinch. From there, she tosses you to the canvas, locks in an armbar and pulls for dear life until her opponent taps.

This method/strategy could very well run its course as of Saturday, February 23rd.

The reason’s name is Liz Carmouche.  Carmouche is anything but reluctant when it comes to letting her hands go.  When she throws them, she’s out to do damage.  In addition, her strength fuels her takedown abilities and she’s relentless in the takedown department.

Fight fans that have followed women’s MMA have never seen Rousey in adverse situations, so her ability to show resolve remains a question.  Rousey has never fought outside of the opening round.  Does she have the cardiovascular endurance to stretch fights beyond her comfort zone?

Carmouche is the exact opposite! Carmouche has been placed in adverse situations and even though they resulted in losses, she was able to gather herself enough to continue into the latter rounds of the fights. Carmouche has experience in the second, third and fourth rounds.

On a night where trails will be blazed and ways will be paved in women’s MMA, there is another first that will shake the foundation of UFC’s women’s division. Just as Antonio “Big Foot” Silva derailed the plans of Alistair Overeem being UFC’s next golden boy, Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche will also alter the company’s plans of UFC’s first lady. In a shocking defeat, Carmouche will outwork Rousey, making Rousey’s title reign the division’s shortest to date.

Yes fight fans, I’m going against the Rousey grain here.  Tune in to TNP Sports for a full recap of this ground breaking, momentous event.

By Antoine Hoffman

For many, the significance attached to the morning of February 2nd revolves around the appearance of a Groundhog’s shadow, which supposedly predicts the arrival of spring.

This time around, the evening of said date will carry a different meaning.  In a Las Vegas burrow known as the Mandalay Bay Events Center, there will be multiple groundhog sightings.  What separates these beasts from the aforementioned groundhog is they have rare abilities.  Some know how to ground and pound…some even wrestle.  And others, they’re experts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

To see these species in action, network television won’t cut it. These animals can only been seen on Pay Per View, courtesy of UFC 156.

The main card is stacked with five bouts, sure to bring forth memories of Groundhog’s Day never before experienced.  Did I mention four of the five bouts feature a Brazilian?  Without further ado, here we go:

Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall (Flyweight Division Bout)

The parallels between these two flyweights are unreal.  Both let their hands go, they’re excellent wrestlers and are advocates of the “ground-and-pound”.  Their final similarity, which haunts them most, is their last loss, which came at the hands of current Flyweight champion Demetrious “Might Mouse” Johnson.  Here’s where they differ!  Benavidez knows what it is to win in the UFC.  McCall, with a draw and loss in his two-fight, UFC tenure, does not.  Desperation, along with his skill set helps “Uncle Creepy” get his first win inside the octagon.

Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia (Welterweight Division Bout)

Big ups to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva for pairing these two together.  With an execution rate of 43%, Demian Maia is UFC’s second most successful submission artist…historically!  On the flip side, Jon Fitch epitomizes submission defense, escaping all 25 serious submissions attempted upon him. Is there a better way to grab the attention of submission enthusiasts than this?  No doubt, these two will push each other to the limits.  While neither of them are known for their striking prowess, Fitch is slightly better in that department and it’s that advantage that should give him the edge here.

Alistair “The Reem” Overeem vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (Heavyweight Division Bout)

Antonio Silva is one of the most imposing figures in the UFC.  His ground-and-pound has been a key to success.  He’s one of those guys you can’t help but root for.  All the cheering in the world, won’t be enough to help him against an even more imposing being in Alistair Overeem, who begins his road to redemption this Saturday night.  The problem is, Silva won’t be able to use what he knows best because he won’t be able to get Overeem to the ground in order to pound him.  Silva’s a solid stand up striker, but he’s not as well versed in the stand up game as Overeem is.  His toying with Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 speaks on how deadly of a striker he is.  Silva will not roll over and just give the fight away, but the embarrassment from the Performance Enhancement Drug (PED) scandal and his desire to become the only heavyweight to win a championship in three separate organizations will help “The Reem” overwhelm “Big Foot”.  He’ll very likely live up to his Pride Fighting moniker as “The Demolition Man”.

“Suga” Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio “Little Nog” Noguiera (Light Heavyweight Division Bout) 

Two former champions look to return to championship glory at the other’s expense.  Rashad Evans is chomping at the bit for a rematch with Jon “Bones” Jones.  Before he can attempt exacting revenge on his former training partner, Antonio Rogerio Noguiera is next on his agenda. There are only few UFC fighters that can successfully make the conversion into boxing and Noguiera is one of them.  The Brazilian medaled as a former amateur boxer.  He issues belts to protégés that study Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under him; which indicates his level of expertise in that art.  Evans is an All-American collegiate wrestler.  His striking is good, but isn’t comparable to Noguiera’s.  With Noguiera’s solidified boxing and ground submissions, this is the kind of fight that leaves Evans between a rock and hard place.  The choice here is Evans, but if “Suga” wants to have a sweet night out, he has to be as elusive as possible.  In doing that, he must use constant head movement while striking with “Little Nog”, change levels with head and body, and finally use his takedowns/wrestling, without making himself vulnerable to any ground submissions.

Jose Aldo Jr. vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (Featherweight Title Bout)

With six consecutive title bouts between 2010 and 2012, Frankie Edgar is no stranger to the main event.  No fighter in the sport envelops the spirit of “The Little Engine That Could” better than “The Answer”.  He’s been hit with devastating blows, he kept on ticking.  He’s been knocked down, he got back up.  He’s been under duress, and somehow, he found a way out and emerged to display a “never say die” attitude.  Unfortunately, Edgar lost his last two bouts against Lightweight king Benson “Smooth” Henderson.  As a result, Edgar has shed a few pounds to join the ranks of the Featherweight division.  His debut won’t be a pretty one.  I understand marketing and developing a following, but with two consecutive losses in title bouts, many will argue that Edgar got a title shot too soon.  No doubt, this will be a fight to remember.  When it’s all said and done, Aldo will show and prove Edgar should’ve taken a few tune-up fights before hurling stones at the throne. Aldo’s rapid and diverse strikes, along with his takedown defense will leave Edgar in a place of bewilderment, which will ultimately lead to a three-fight losing streak for the former Lightweight champion.

My forecast of UFC 156 is not to say this is how the card will actually go down.  It’s possible that the Brazilians will have a clean sweep this Saturday night.  One thing’s for certain, with five main event caliber fights on deck, this  card rivals the upcoming UFC 158 main card where three welterweight championship implicated bouts are scheduled.

As always, have a safe weekend, enjoy the fights and make you way back here to TNP Sports for a full recap of these developments.

By Antoine Hoffman

When fight fans are ignited at the weigh-ins, and only a quarter of the stadium is occupied, one can only imagine how deafening a full house will be.

The UFC will wish its fans a Happy New Year this Saturday, in the form of UFC on FX 7.  The event will emanate out of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Ibirapuera Arena.  The main card, which starts at 6pm Eastern time, is four fights deep; each consisting of a Brazilian returning home.  Although their journeys differ, they all hope to share the same fate…a victorious homecoming.

Who are these men?  What must they encounter in UFC’s opening fight night of 2013?  Here’s a look into what’s at hand and how I think things will play out…

Thiago Tavares vs. Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov (Lightweight Division Bout)

Truth be told, the only thing I know about Nurmagomedov is his wrestling is heavily endorsed by UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier. While recognition from modern-day greats in the sport are nothing to sneeze at, wrestling won’t be enough overcome a veteran of Tavares’ ilk.  Tavares’ strengths are his muay thai and his submissions.  Should Nurmagomedov shoot for a takedown attempt, the perfectly timed muay thai strike will bring that to a screeching halt. If for some reason Nurmagodemov lands a takedown, he then is vulnerable to a ground submission.  Any way you slice it, wrestling alone won’t be enough to help “The Eagle” soar out of Brazil with a win.  I’ll give the opening bout to Tavares by way of submission.

Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga vs. Ben Rothwell (Heavyweight Division Bout)

If you scoff at the importance of having a nutritionist, you might want to look at the wonders one did for Ben Rothwell.  It is because of his nutritionist that Rothwell appears to be in the best shape of his life.  He never looked more chiseled than he did at the January 18^th weigh-in.  Has the loss of weight taken away from Rothwell’s strength?  That remains to be seen.  Meanwhile, Gonzaga looks to extend his winning streak to three.  I’ll take former champion, with a  knockout as the method of victory.

Daniel Sarafian vs. CB “The Doberman” Dolloway (Middleweight Division Bout)

Is there another way for a fighter to make his UFC debut than on home soil…in the Co-Main Event?  You can’t tell Sarafian otherwise.  In all the excitement of fighting in front of his fellow Brazilians, he cannot over look the wrestling prowess of Dolloway.  Like Nurmagomedov before him, even if Dolloway executes a takedown, something will be there, waiting in return.  In this case, it’s Sarafian’s ground and pound.  My call is for Sarafian to take a bite out of “The Doberman” in the form of a ground and pound TKO, which will send the Ibirapuera Arena into a frenzy.

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort vs. Michael “The Count” Bisping (Middleweight Division Bout)

The buzz in the MMA world is a victory over Belfort can put Bisping in line for the next shot at Anderson Silva’s title.  Personally, I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.  He’s won his last four out of five fights.  He is only behind Anderson Silva when it comes to diverse striking.  His cardio gives him the endurance needed to go the distance.  With all those things stacked in his favor, and the long wait he’s endured to get a title shot, here’s something greater that counts against him, that’ll ultimately cost him this fight.  When Bisping is under serious duress/pressure, things don’t go well for him.  The one fight he loss, a little over a year ago, was to Chael Sonnen.  Sonnen was relentless with his pressure, which proved to overwhelm the Brit.  Vitor Belfort’s pace is comparable to Sonnen’s.  In addition, Belfort is the only fighter to truly take Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones into the danger zone; almost submitting him.  With Belfort’s lightning speed punches, pressure, a restored submission game and fighting in his native land, it looks like Bisping’s wait for a title shot will be further extended.  “The Phenom” stops “The Count”, with a knockout, in the main event.

Yes, I have given the Brazilians a clean sweep in their homecoming.  Enjoy fight night and please get through the weekend safely so you can get a full recap of this event.

By Antoine Hoffman

It was November 12, 2011 when an impactful shot was heard around the world. The stage, the debut of UFC on Fox. It came in the form of a right hook from then challenger Junior Dos Santos that saw the abrupt end to then champion Cain Velasquez’s one year reign in heavyweight supremacy. Velasquez went 0-1 in title defenses.  In the post fight interview, Velasquez was both contrite and determined when he apologized to the fans for a disappointing performance.  He also vowed to reclaim what was rightfully his.  Although it was later revealed that Velasquez fought while injured, he didn’t use that as an excuse.  He accepted his loss and knew what had to be done.  The shot heard around the world started as Velasquez’s demise, but ultimately, it became his ignition.

Fast forward to UFC 146, night of the heavyweights.  Both Junior Dos Santos and Velasquez were once again featured on the same card, but this time around, they faced different foes.  In the co-main event, Velasquez faced Antonio “Big Foot” Silva to decide the next number one contender while Dos Santos defended the title against the division’s submission expert, Frank Mir.  Dos Santos was able to finish Mir 3:04 into the second round by way of knockout, but it was not his performance that resonated with fight enthusiasts.  It was Velasquez’s early decimation of Silva (3:36 into round one) that spoke to the masses.  From the time he walked into the octagon, you could see a conviction in his eyes like never before.  His performance fell in alignment with that look of intensity, as he ran roughshod on Silva. The statement Velasquez made was nothing short of resounding, as he convincingly made it clear he was out to regain his title.  After both fighters succeeded in fulfilling their tasks, they knew their date with destiny would come once again.  This time around, this past weekend’s UFC 155 card, which emanated from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

And this time around, it was a different fight from the one that came to an abrupt end 13 months ago.

The NBA has a CP in Chris Paul, who is affectionately known as “CP3″.  The night of December 29th saw the return of the real Cain Velasquez, who I will now refer to as “CP4″, courtesy of UFC analyst Joe Rogan.  For five rounds, Velasquez applied CONSTANT POSITIONING, CONSTANT PRESSURE, CONSTANCE PACE AND CONSTANT PUNCHING.  It was fitting for heavyweight boxing great “Iron” Mike Tyson to be in attendance because Velasquez’s performance was reminiscent of his.  Velasquez applied the kind of pressure that didn’t allow any room for Dos Santos to execute the striking attack that many are accustomed to.  Even when the former champion landed his best shots, Velasquez’s CPs were too overwhelming for Dos Santos to land them with the impact they usually pack.  Here are other ways in which the CPs benefited Velasquez, by the numbers:

33: The number of Velasquez’s takedown attempts; talk about determination.

11: The number of takedowns executed, seven of which happened in the first two rounds alone.

111: Number of significant strikes landed by Velasquez.  Dos Santos’ prior nine opponents combined for 124.  That’s only 13.7 per opponent.

2,128: The number of days since a UFC heavyweight title fight went the distance.  Typically any fight in this division runs no longer than two rounds considering the frequency of knockouts involved.

6.21: The number of strikes that Velasquez landed per 60 seconds…a strike every 10 seconds.  Unreal!

1: As in the only fighter to land triple-digit strikes and double-digit takedowns in one fight.

While many are clamoring for a third installment of this rivalry, Velasquez’s dominance only assures me that it’ll be more of the same.  If the UFC wants another trilogy to etch into its history books, I’m not against it, but it should not come before the match that’ll draw even more interest, Velasquez vs. Alistar Overeem.  Yes, Overeem faces Antonio “Big Foot” Silva to determine the next number one contender, and no Silva should not be overlooked.  However, with the decapitation of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, coupled with the embarrassment Overeem suffered at the hands of his performance enhancement downfall, Silva will be blessed if he makes it to see the second round.  As imposing of a figure as Overeem is, I can’t help but wonder if he has the cardiovascular endurance needed to compete with the motor of “Brown Pride”, or CP4.  On the flipside, how will Velasquez respond to a counter strike from Overeem when he attempts a takedown. Overeem’s kicboxing is uncanny.

For now, Velasquez is basking in a promise fulfilled as a two-time UFC World Heavyweight Champion.  All answers, or at least speculation, will come once this eventual matchup comes to fruition.

Fight fans, we here at TNP Sports appreciate your commitment to us as we give you sports as we interpret it.  We ask that you all please come into the new year safely, so we can aim to give you a better 2013 in sports coverage.  Please be safe, be blessed and be easy.

For those of you who are looking forward to the much-anticipated Super Fight between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Welterweight king Georges “Rush” St. Pierre, you will have to work more on perfecting the art of patience.

Here’s why! On Saturday, December 15th, the UFC front office dropped a bomb that shook the very foundation of Mixed Martial Arts. It was announced by the Las Vegas, Nevada based organization that Saturday March 16th will be the evening in which Montreal’s Bell Centre will host a tripleheader, main event card, featuring the welterweight division, in the form of UFC 158.

The three-piece combo opens with mirror imaged fighters doing battle as Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger meets Johnny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks, to likely decide the next contender for the title. Given the scud missiles these two tend to throw, it’ll be a miracle if the final verdict falls into the judges’ hands.

Wedged between the opened and the finale is an aspired act of revenge as Montreal’s own Rory “Ares” MacDonald looks to exact revenge against former interim Welterweight Champion Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit. With Condit being the culprit behind MacDonald’s only loss, the young “god of war” aims for redemption in his March homecoming.

Finally, bitter rivals will settle their differences as former Strikeforce Welterweight champion Nick Diaz looks to spoils a return home by taking the title from undisputed champion St. Pierre. These two have expressed their contempt towards each other for many years March 16th will finally gives these two the stage needed to put their words into action.

Now going back to the much-anticipated Super Fight, depending on how things play out, one can’t help but wonder when this fight will take place.  Let’s dig a little deeper into this, shall we?

If St. Pierre retains his title, it’s only right that he defense his title. Why?  His situation differs from Silva’s.  How, you ask?  Silva is in a position where he has pretty much cleaned out his division.  Even with the rise of say Chris Weidman, who has campaigned for a title shot, he still hasn’t done enough to make himself a legitimate title contender.  In this blogger’s opinion, Silva is only one fight away from cleaning out the division, and that’s against Michael “The Count” Bisping.

As far as GSP is concerned, there are at least three fighters he must see before achieving total mastery of the division.  First, Diaz’s cardio, sharp striking, Jiu-Jitsu brilliance and ignorance of the word and meaning of “quit” makes him a difficult challenge for the champion.  From there, there’s the winner of the Ellenberger/Hendricks fight.  As mentioned earlier, these two mirror each other.  They are great wrestlers with heavy hands, but that’s where their gifts end.  The combatant to emerge from this one will have to have a miracle take place for him to overcome the diversity of the champion.  But before they get a title shot, they should test their might against MacDonald, should he emerge successful against Condit. If a scenario plays out for MacDonald to face either Ellenberger or Hendricks, MacDonald should shine, given his diversity.  From there, St. Pierre should face MacDonald, who is a protégé of St. Pierre at the Tri Star Gym. Although St. Pierre and MacDonald have mutually agreed they would not fight each other, the UFC is Dana White’s world and the fighters involved just live in it.  Should their respective journeys lead them to one another, given the potential promotion, marketing and revenue that could come from this, you think White isn’t going to make this happen?  The only way a St. Pierre/MacDonald confrontation does not happen, if St. Pierre unexpectedly retires.

Given the possible Ellenberger/Hendricks/MacDonald triangle, and the time needed to be sorted out, this would be the best time to move forward with the Silva/St. Pierre super fight.  The last thing St. Pierre should do is suffer a possible loss before the super fight, which could hinder that bout’s value.

Alas, before I count more eggs before they hatch, I can’t overlook March in Montreal.  The triple header in itself makes this my early candidate for 2013′s Card of the year.  Please stay tuned to Take No Prisoners Sports, as we will stay connected to all things involving this massive event.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we look forward to the month of March where prognostications of this epic event will come forth.

By Antoine Hoffman