Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/pJoRMkSmxlU/
Monday, 30 April 2012
MotoGP: Friday at Jerez Round Up: Of Weather, Tires, and Why the Ducati Works in the Wet
There were plenty of big names to watch out for at Jerez, but the real star of the show was the weather. She turned out to be such a prima donna that she almost completely halted on-track action for the first session of MotoGP, though not so much through her ferocity as by her fickleness. A rain shower at the end of the previous Moto3 made the track just greasy enough for it to be ...
Sunday, 29 April 2012
MotoGP Returns to Europe for Round Two at Jerez
After a dazzling start to the 2012 season under the floodlights of Qatar, the MotoGP paddock retu ...Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/htyCfs5-nZC/MotoGP+Returns+Europe+Round+Two+Jerez
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Bout between Hatsu Hioki-Ricardo Lamas booked for UFC on FX 4
The list of possible opponents for UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo’s next fight was reduced by one after the UFC revealed Hatsu Hioki will face Ricardo Lamas on June 22 as part of the UFC on FX 4 lineup. Hioki is seen by many as the #2 145-pounder in the world behind Aldo, though the [...]
Alpinestars Race Replica Suit Sale - $1599 (Originally $2499.95!)
If you’ve been on the fence about picking up a top quality suit, now is the time definitely the time to buy. Riders Discount has the best of the...
Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144729&goto=newpost
Friday, 27 April 2012
2012 Jerez MotoGP Press Release Previews: Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Bridgestone and More
Press release previews from Factory Yamaha, Repsol Honda, Gresini, Bridgestone, Ducati, NGM Forward and PBM ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez:
Year:
2012
Gettin my dance on
@1oaklv on a sprained ankle w/ @UrijahFaber @kruphilnurse @teamalphamale #teamfaber
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TracyLee/~3/Ii2Ms9pLacs/gettin-my-dance-on.html
Sauber's Kaltenborn joins F1 in Schools
F1 in Schools, the Formula One technology challenge, has enlisted Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn as the global educational initiative's latest, high...
Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/formula-1-news/152482-saubers-kaltenborn-joins-f1-schools.html
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Alert for Android MMATorch Users: Please read as you may need to get new version of MMATorch
If you are using an Android Device, and if you are using our "classic" original version of MMATorch, we need you to migrate to our newer version as the "classic" version will be discontinued soon. Please click on the link below to download our latest version.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mmatorch2.android
If you phone tells you you've already downloaded this version, then you already have it and are using it. If it gives you the option to download it, you are likely using the older version that will soon stop being supported and updated.
This newer version of MMATorch is faster, more stable, and features a better layout than the original version.
If you have a "very old" Android phone running an early version of Android, please update your Android OS so the new version of MMATorch works. Our data shows fewer than 2 percent of you are running an old version of Android, so for most of you this upgraded version of MMATorch will work immediately and you'll fine it a better overall experience due to the upgrades and updates compared to the classic version you may be using.
(HINT: If the headline of this article at the top of the page that says "Alert for Android..." is white letters on a black background, you are running the new version of MMATorch and don't need to migrate. If the headline is black letters over white background, you have the older version and you need to update.)
Also, if you are using the latest version of MMATorch, we have updating the app to eliminate the need to choose a category from the menu at launch. Please manually update the app if you don't have this app set to update automatically.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at mmatorch@gmail.com.
Thanks for your support of MMATorch!
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mmatorch2.android
If you phone tells you you've already downloaded this version, then you already have it and are using it. If it gives you the option to download it, you are likely using the older version that will soon stop being supported and updated.
This newer version of MMATorch is faster, more stable, and features a better layout than the original version.
If you have a "very old" Android phone running an early version of Android, please update your Android OS so the new version of MMATorch works. Our data shows fewer than 2 percent of you are running an old version of Android, so for most of you this upgraded version of MMATorch will work immediately and you'll fine it a better overall experience due to the upgrades and updates compared to the classic version you may be using.
(HINT: If the headline of this article at the top of the page that says "Alert for Android..." is white letters on a black background, you are running the new version of MMATorch and don't need to migrate. If the headline is black letters over white background, you have the older version and you need to update.)
Also, if you are using the latest version of MMATorch, we have updating the app to eliminate the need to choose a category from the menu at launch. Please manually update the app if you don't have this app set to update automatically.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at mmatorch@gmail.com.
Thanks for your support of MMATorch!
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/mmatorchappalert/article_12221.shtml
Vyrus 986 M2 Gets Street Legal
One of our favorite bikes to debut last year, the Vyrus 986 M2 continues to be developed by the small Italian firm, and pictures of the 600cc, omega-framed, hub-center steered motorcycle have been uploaded to the Vyrus Facebook profile page, and show the Moto2 hopeful in its street-legal form. Breaking cover back in January 2011, Vyrus had hopes of racing the 986 M2 in the Moto2 Championship, as well as selling a street and kit version ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/Qa1cynBq-5Y/
UFC 147 Press Conference (Video)
Tuesday's press conference from Rio de Janeiro to announce the move of the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen has been posted in its entirety. Also discussed were the move of Jose Aldo to UFC 147, Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson possibly headlining UFC 149, along with insight on the next destinations for "Shogun" Rua and Lyoto Machida.
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28330/ufc-147-press-conference-video/
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Ducati Team readies for Spanish Grand Prix
The Ducati Team travels to Spain this week for one of the most popular events on the world champions...
Dana White still upset with Alistair Overeem, explains decision to remove him from UFC 146 main event
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC's decision to pull Alistair Overeem from a UFC 146 title fight against Junior dos Santos came as a bit of a surprise on Friday, especially considering Overeem's impending hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission this Tuesday.
Overeem tested positive for an elevated T/E ratio at 14:1 in a surprise pre-fight drug test for the event in March, and he will answer for that test at Tuesday's hearing. However, UFC President Dana White announced Friday that Frank Mir will step in for Overeem against JDS, regardless of Tuesday's outcome. On Saturday night, following UFC 145, White explained that they simply didn't have any more time to wait, and they're also not confident Overeem will be licensed by the commission.
"What happened with this whole thing was I've got my marketing people terrorizing me," White said after the event (transcribed by MMAjunkie.com. "It just gets to the point where you've got to run your business. I tried to wait."
"Anybody who knows anything abut the pay-per-view business, we're already past the deadline. We've got to run with it, and I'm not feeling too optimistic (about Overeem's chances to gain licensure)... There's so much more that goes into this that you guys don't know. If we don't get into the loop on pay-per-view, you don't get in a lot of the systems. There's just so many things that we have to do to run the business."
White said Mir made the most sense to step in for Overeem, though Fabricio Werdum was also considered as a replacement. Ultimately, Werdum wanted to remain on the UFC 147 card in Brazil, and Mir was already preparing for a May 26 fight. And for Overeem? White's not sure what the NSAC will ultimately do, but he's still upset with the Dutch heavyweight for being in this position in the first place.
"I honestly don't know what they're going to do to that dude," White said. "I'm not very optimistic about it... I'm still angry. I'm not angry with the commission. The commission is doing their job. That's what they do.
"I sat down in a room with Alistair, and he told me, 'They can test me anytime they want. I'm the most tested athlete in all of sports.'"
Could that mean the end of Overeem's UFC run after just one fight? White's still not sure, but Tuesday's hearing - combined with Overeem's previous statements to White and Lorenzo Fertitta - certainly don't bode well for him continuing on in the organization.
"We'll see what happens," White said of Overeem's future with the organization. "I don't know, man. This isn't really my deal."
"I've had situations with lots of people. It's how you [expletive] handle yourself as a man in life, in business and everything else. You sit down and tell me one thing and it's not true, or you're doing another thing, then [expletive] you."
Penick's Analysis: Pulling Overeem was the right move, especially with the issues of promoting the next pay-per-view event. It's nowhere near a given that he'll say anything on Tuesday that will sway the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If he does somehow manage to get licensed, the UFC could place him in against Cain Velasquez, in a situation similar to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 last October. But when they aren't feeling confident on Overeem's hearing, and aren't happy with him in the first place, it made a lot more sense to pull him from the fight instead of having to promote a potentially tainted Heavyweight Title fight. Don't be surprised if Overeem is out of the UFC by Tuesday night if he fails to get licensed.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
 |
Overeem tested positive for an elevated T/E ratio at 14:1 in a surprise pre-fight drug test for the event in March, and he will answer for that test at Tuesday's hearing. However, UFC President Dana White announced Friday that Frank Mir will step in for Overeem against JDS, regardless of Tuesday's outcome. On Saturday night, following UFC 145, White explained that they simply didn't have any more time to wait, and they're also not confident Overeem will be licensed by the commission.
"What happened with this whole thing was I've got my marketing people terrorizing me," White said after the event (transcribed by MMAjunkie.com. "It just gets to the point where you've got to run your business. I tried to wait."
"Anybody who knows anything abut the pay-per-view business, we're already past the deadline. We've got to run with it, and I'm not feeling too optimistic (about Overeem's chances to gain licensure)... There's so much more that goes into this that you guys don't know. If we don't get into the loop on pay-per-view, you don't get in a lot of the systems. There's just so many things that we have to do to run the business."
White said Mir made the most sense to step in for Overeem, though Fabricio Werdum was also considered as a replacement. Ultimately, Werdum wanted to remain on the UFC 147 card in Brazil, and Mir was already preparing for a May 26 fight. And for Overeem? White's not sure what the NSAC will ultimately do, but he's still upset with the Dutch heavyweight for being in this position in the first place.
"I honestly don't know what they're going to do to that dude," White said. "I'm not very optimistic about it... I'm still angry. I'm not angry with the commission. The commission is doing their job. That's what they do.
"I sat down in a room with Alistair, and he told me, 'They can test me anytime they want. I'm the most tested athlete in all of sports.'"
Could that mean the end of Overeem's UFC run after just one fight? White's still not sure, but Tuesday's hearing - combined with Overeem's previous statements to White and Lorenzo Fertitta - certainly don't bode well for him continuing on in the organization.
"We'll see what happens," White said of Overeem's future with the organization. "I don't know, man. This isn't really my deal."
"I've had situations with lots of people. It's how you [expletive] handle yourself as a man in life, in business and everything else. You sit down and tell me one thing and it's not true, or you're doing another thing, then [expletive] you."
Penick's Analysis: Pulling Overeem was the right move, especially with the issues of promoting the next pay-per-view event. It's nowhere near a given that he'll say anything on Tuesday that will sway the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If he does somehow manage to get licensed, the UFC could place him in against Cain Velasquez, in a situation similar to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 last October. But when they aren't feeling confident on Overeem's hearing, and aren't happy with him in the first place, it made a lot more sense to pull him from the fight instead of having to promote a potentially tainted Heavyweight Title fight. Don't be surprised if Overeem is out of the UFC by Tuesday night if he fails to get licensed.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13097.shtml
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
NIGHT of the JUMPs: Munich 2012
The citizens of Munich are battening down the hatches in preparation for an aerial assault on Saturd...
Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1335273820-night-of-the-jumps-munich-2012/
Ryan Ford (16-4) vs Ricky Goodall (9-4) (Feb 11, 2012) - Ryan Ford
Ford defeats Goodall ref stoppage 3:37 of RD1 due to unanswered blows (TKO - Elbows) @ Aggression MMA9 (MAIN EVENT) in Edmonton, AB CANADA Sat.Feb 11/2012. Ford improves record to 17-4.Filmed and edited by Steve MayerSource: http://mmalice.com/ryan-ford/ryan-ford-16-4-vs-ricky-goodall-9-4-feb-11-2012-video_d157c747f.html
Monday, 23 April 2012
Bellator champ Eduardo Dantas concerned about fighting teammate Marcos Galvao
The concept of a fighter facing one of his/her teammates is nothing new in MMA. Legacies are defined by success in the ring, not personal ties, and as such there is always the risk of running into a training partner if both individuals are talented enough and in the same division. Notable examples include Rashad [...]
Sunday, 22 April 2012
UFC 145 results: Mark Bocek grinds out decision win over John Alessio
ATLANTA - For John Alessio to emerge victorious, he needed to stay off his back.Buy lightweight grappler Mark Bocek didn't give his late-replacement opponent that luxury and dominated the ground action for a unanimous-decision victory.
The fight was part of tonight's UFC 145 event at Atlanta's Phillips Arena. It aired on the pay-per-view main card following prelims on Facebook and FX.
Saturday, 21 April 2012
MUENCH's electrifying motorbike show in Magny Cours
For the third time an international race was carried out in Magny Cours. The technological leader MU...
Friday, 20 April 2012
Rain affects Ducati test at Mugello
The conditions alternated between sunny skies and heavy precipitation for all three days, but both riders nonetheless did their best to take advantage of the nicer moments by trying both dry and wet settings.
"We came here looking to make up time lost due to my missing the Valencia test and having limited time at the Malaysia and Jerez tests, but it was pretty much a wash," Hayden said. "It’s a shame because Ducati gave me the opportunity to come and had a race-spec GP12 here, along with my whole team. Yesterday we made two exits with slicks and also did a bit of riding in the wet, but today the conditions were wet but also cold and windy, completely unmanageable. With two back-to-back races coming up, there wasn’t much to be gained by risking testing in the wet. I’ve learned during my career that you can’t control the weather, so there’s no need to complain. We’ll just look forward to the race at Jerez."
"We had very unstable conditions at Mugello," said Ducati Corse General Manager Filippo Preziosi. "We tried to optimize our work by doing some setup tests with Nicky, including some rain settings, given that he rode so little during the first two winter tests. With Franco, particularly on the relatively nice first day, we started doing some tests that will be useful for preparing updates for Vale and Nicky to try during the post-race test in Estoril. I really hope we get sunny weather in Portugal!"
Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/oN7au4p5ADs/Rain+affects+Ducati+test+Mugello
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Alessio Sakara and Paulo Thiago Receive Medical Suspensions
According to the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Alessio Sakara (Pictured) and Paulo Thiago will be forced to ride the pine for 28 days following their devastating knockout losses this past Saturday at “UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva.” MMAJunkie.com reports no other fighters that participated in the show were issued medical suspensions. Thiago [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/112350/alessio-sakara-and-paulo-thiago-receive-medical-suspensions/
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
An Analysis of Valentino Rossi’s Options for the Future
It is ironic that the high point of the relationship between Valentino Rossi and Ducati came as he rode the first few meters out of pit lane and on to the track at the Valencia MotoGP test in November 2010. All of the excitement that had been building since the first rumors emerged in early June that the nine time world champion would be leaving Yamaha to join the iconic Italian manufacturer culminated as Rossi ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/t509t1J2X2Q/
Campaign underway for Mark Hunt to replace Alistair Overeem at UFC 146
In a rundown of possible replacements, MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta pointed out that Hunt nearly guarantees an exciting fight.
There are a couple things working in Hunt's favor here For one, he's already on the UFC 146 card. Of course, that doesn't distinguish him from Mir or Velasquez. But you know what does? His style. Hunt basically ensures that the fight will be a slugfest between the big boys, and that's never a bad thing when it comes to fan satisfaction. On the other hand, he's not nearly well known enough to headline a major event, and his 8-7 career record isn't exactly going to send people scrambling to plunk down $55 on pay-per-view. At least you can play up the "Rocky" angle with him.
Hunt, who has fought in Pride, K-1 and Dream before heading to the UFC, then became the subject of a fans' campaign on Twitter. Using the hashtag #RallyforMarkHunt, his fans and friends flooded Twitter to ask UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta to put Hunt into the bout with dos Santos.
Though Hunt does have seven losses, he has won his last three in the UFC. While Mir is more deserving based on records alone, the White has been known to listen to the fans. If Mir's fans want to see him get another shot at the heavyweight title, they should speak up.
Who do you want to see fight dos Santos at UFC 146? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
UFC on Fuel 2 Roundtables: Ratings and Reviews from MMATorch Columnists and Contributors
 |
It was a nice afternoon of fights, and the fact that it was an afternoon as opposed to a full Saturday night boosted the score a full point. There really was something for everybody, other than the multitude of people who hate violence, grappling, or Brian Stann. I certainly hope that we get more European cards live on Saturday afternoons. And I really hope they're on Fuel, just so that we can hear more whining from people like Jamie Penick who refuse to get Fuel TV out of principle or some other nonsense.
I think I take less from the Gustafsson performance than others do, because Thiago Silva was a hand-tailored opponent for him. Smaller, slower, one-dimensional, other than a hail-mary, how exactly was Silva going to win that fight? Let's get Gustafsson another fight or two before we even dream of putting him up against Jon Jones. Lyoto Machida would be a nice test for The Mauler. Let's see speed, technique, and movement against the unorthodox Machida.
Also, I think we need to put Mike Goldberg out to pasture. His relentless comparisons of Gustafsson to Jon Jones were making me sick. And this coming from a guy who never notices bad broadcasters. rarely have anything bad to say about any broadcasters, but Goldberg's cliches and incorrect analysissessesses are out of control.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR (8.5)
UFC on Fuel TV Started with Brad Picket vs. Damacio Page and they started quick. They were both a blur of striking exchanges, quick take downs, and reversals. Both fighters are well rounded and I could have seen the fight going either way. Pickett's ground game has improved and his striking was too much for Page. This was a great fight. I love the 135 pound fighters! Great way to start this event.
DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire matched two well rounded welterweights. Mcguire's (BJJ) Gypsy Jiu-Jitsu was too much and he tapped Johnson in the second round with a nice arm bar. Good fight, but nothing fantastic.
I was very excited to see Dennis Siver in the next fight because this was his first fight at 145. I had heard he missed weight on his first try and wondered how the cut would affect him in this fight. Diego Nunes is one of my favorite fighters and I thought he would match up nicely against Siver. The first round was fast paced and was great, both men exchanging with strikes landing early and often. The second round provided more of the same. The third round slowed some and Siver was cut over his left eye. Siver won a razor close and well deserved decision. I loved this fight. Siver is a very real and immediate threat at 145.
The Paulo Thiago vs. Siyar Bahadurzada match up was a bit of a surprise to me. Thiago is such a high level grappler and a well rounded MMA fighter, this match didn’t make sense on paper. However, once I realized Bahadurzada fights out of Amsterdam, the match up started to make sense. I would have bet my pay check Thiago was going to tap out Bahadurzada in the first round. Instead, what we got was a 45 second KO of Thiago. This was a great knockout. Thiago is 1-4 in his last five fights and may be headed to Bellator soon.
Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakaro is another fight I did not understand. Even though Stan was beaten by Chael Sonnen at UFC 136 this past October, I feel he is two or three fights from a title shot. Sakara is not even close to the same level as Stann. See the previous paragraph as to why they do not ask me to match up fighters. I know the first round stoppage will be controversial, but in my mind, Stann had finished Sakaro and referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight at the right time. Sakaro was out, if only for a second. Stann stopped punching as soon as he realized Sakaro was out. Brian Stan is all class. Great finish.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva is a fight I have been looking forward to since it was announced. I think Gustafsson is a bit overrated and Silva has always had too much hype behind him. I thought round one went to Gustafsson. Silva was cut in the center of his forehead and took more damage on standing. He was also dropped by a nice right from Gustafsson. Round two was more of the same. Gustafsson used his longer reach and kept Silva away with his jab and great foot work. Round three was pretty much a repeat of round two. Silva could not find his range and Gustafsson’s kickboxing is world class. This was a lopsided win by Gustafsson and he raised his stock in my book with this decision victory. Great fight and a great overall night of fights.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST: (7.5)
UFC delivered a better card on Fuel than I would expect from most FX or Fox cards in terms of fight quality and excitement. Gustaffson did exactly what most expected him to and beat the daylights out of Thiago Silva. Brian Stann also shined renewing his build towards the top with a great knockout on the ground, and Siyar Bahaduraza showed the world what hes made of with incredible striking to put Paulo Thiago to sleep in just under 45 seconds. The fights provided the high-octane feel the UFC needs to bring more interest to Fuel TV, and if they continue to deliver on this level even on their smaller cards the execs at Fox will remain happy. It was a great afternoon of fights, and definitely worth the watch.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_13031.shtml
After a Week of Rumors, Rossi Tells Italian TV He Will Remain With Ducati
Valentino Rossi's litany of complaints about the Ducati Desmosedici GP12 given live on Italian TV after the Qatar round of MotoGP triggered a wave of speculation. For the first time, Rossi had openly complained that Ducati had not given him the bike that he believes he needs to go fast, and that he had felt like pulling in before the end of the race. That, combined with an interview Rossi also did with the Italian magazine Motosprint in which he implied that Ducati Corse boss Filippo Preziosi was failing to provide the help that he and the other Ducati riders needed caused a massive reaction throughout the media and across the web.
Some reaction was amusing, such as the Downfall parody on Youtube, discussing Rossi's poor qualifying at Qatar. Others were more serious, including an article on the Spanish website Motocuatro.com suggesting that Rossi could try to get out of his contract before the year was over and wait for 2013, when, the article suggested, he could obtain a satellite Yamaha M1 to compete with, with the blessing of Dorna. Rumors quickly started to grow that Rossi's relationship with Ducati could be over, and sooner than anyone expected.
Source:
2012 Qatar MotoGP Final Press Release Round Up
The final round of press releases issued after the MotoGP season opener in Qatar, from Tech 3, Marc VDS Racing, Suter, Brad Binder, Bel-Ray and PBM:
Year:
2012
Nick Diaz fan gets tattoo of his hero submitting Takanori Gomi
Tattoos are permanent, but apparently, so is this fan's love for Nick Diaz. He had the picture of Diaz submitting Takanori Gomi to his chest.
For the rest of his life, he will tell people about Diaz beating Gomi with a gogoplata at Pride 33. Do you think he will mention the part about the fight result being changed to a no-contest due to Diaz's positive drug test?
Still, you have to be in awe of that kind of commitment. Not just to get Diaz's face or name, but an actual moment from a fight. How did the tattoo artist do?
Not too bad. In the tattoo, it appears a sun is shining over Diaz, but some artistry is needed for a moment like this.
Let's say you wanted to permanently mark your body with a famous moment in MMA. Which one would it be? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments section.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
UFC On FUEL TV 2 Predictions & Analysis
<B>By MATT MOLGAARD<BR>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>
The Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to Stockholm, Sweden this weekend, where the Ericsson Globe Arena will play host to FUEL TV’s second official event. Tapped to compete are a number of cagey UFC veterans as well as a handful of young prospects. Swedish import, Alexander Gustafsson will enjoy the warmth of a partisan crowd when he dukes it out with rugged Brazilian, Thiago Silva in the evening’s featured bout, which boasts significant divisional relevance, as the winner will take a sizeable step toward aligning himself for a crack at the 205 pound title.<BR><BR>
<B>Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva:</B> There’s a lot on the line for the winner of this fight, especially if Jon Jones defeats Rashad Evans at UFC 145, and especially if your name is Alexander Gustafsson. The Swede is currently enjoying an impressive four fight win streak that includes definitive finishes over quality opposition such as Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill. A win here would certainly birth a legitimate case for a shot at the crown, assuming Jones still holds the title come April 22nd (should Evans beat Jones, we could very likely see an immediate rematch, as Joe Silva seems to be running thin on ideas).<BR><BR>
Thiago Silva however, is nowhere near a title shot having gone 1-2-0-1 in his last four outings (the lone no contest comes after botching a drug screening for his UFC 125 bout with Brandon Vera, which resulted in a lengthy layoff), and a win in this fight does little more than put him back in the win column. That of course is not a bad thing, and derailing a surging prospect like Gustafsson would make for a damn nice feather in the cap.<BR><BR>
Stylistically, this fight is insanely interesting. We’ve got a rangy striker with great mobility in Gustafsson, colliding with an absolute bull in Silva, who leans on his power and ability to take the fight to the mat when the going gets tough in the striking department. Theoretically, Silva can end this fight with a single punch, but I’m not convinced we’ll see the finish come from Silva. He’s been away from competition for nearly a year and a half, and he’s got an extremely tough test to welcome him back into the fold. Could he ground Alexander and pound out a victory? He most definitely can, but I don’t see it happening. I see Gustafsson riding the wave of momentum he’s established, keeping appropriate distance and chopping his Brazilian foe down over the course of three rounds. The finish comes just shy of the fifteen minute mark when a fading Silva is clipped by a big shot, and followed to the mat by Alexander, who should be able to unleash enough ground and pound to put Thiago to sleep.<BR><BR>
<B>Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara:</B> Both of these men have some climbing to do before they can be considered a threat to the middleweight title holder. Stann had built some serious steam at 185 pounds, reeling off three consecutive stoppage victories prior to running into Chael Sonnen at UFC 136. The former title challenger bested the Silver Star recipient with ease, applying a tight arm triangle choke in the second round of their collision.<BR><BR>
Alessio Sakara himself sits in a virtually identical boat, having recently picked up three straight wins before being seriously outclassed by rising star Chris Weidman at UFC Live 3 just over one year ago. A split decision nod over Thales Leites and a first round technical knockout of fellow power puncher James Irvin stand as recent highlights for the Italian bomber.<BR><BR>
Despite the stoppage loss to Sonnen, Stann still holds the advantage here. He’s been far more active as of late, having fought seven times in the same time span in which Sakara has competed just thrice. Stylistically both men are remarkably similar, preferring to not only keep the fight in the vertical position, but leaning heavily on boxing rather than a more diversified kick boxing based assault. Both are very capable with all limbs, but both clearly prefer to let the fists fly first and foremost. Herein lies the problem for Sakara: Stann can match his technical abilities, and he’s shown a sturdier chin and far greater consistency. It will be violent while it lasts, but Stann’s got an edge in power, and he’ll catch Sakara clean to put him away with strikes in the second frame.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Paulo Thiago vs. Siyar Bahadurzada:</B> This fight poses a lot of questions: is the hype behind Bahadurzada justified? Can Thiago place himself back in the mix at 170 pounds with a big victory? Will the first time jitters play any role in Siyar’s performance? Will Thiago struggle with the size of the Afghanistan native? So many questions, so little with which to formulate an educated guess, primarily due to the fact that Bahadurzada is still a relatively unknown commodity amongst North American fans.<BR><BR>
What we have here is a classic clash of styles. While Thiago is certainly proficient with his strikes, the ground game is his specialty, and he’s got some nasty submission skills to prove it. Bahadurzada in contrast is as aggressive as they come, and tends to avoid the mat in favor of frenetic slugfests. He’s a powerful guy who can turn the lights off with a single punch, but he tends to neglect his defense when attacking relentlessly. The question comes down to whether or not Paulo can gauge Siyar’s aggression and time the takedown properly to take this into his realm.<BR><BR>
Both men have fought some top notch opponents, but the edge must go to Paulo here, as he was welcomed to the UFC with a true baptism by fire, facing Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann in four of his first five octagon appearances. He’s had time to get comfortable inside the octagon and he’s not likely to be overwhelmed by Siyar. I see a few sketchy moments early for Thiago, but ultimately, he’ll overcome a series of wild haymakers to secure multiple takedowns en route to a unanimous decision nod.<BR><BR>
<B>Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes:</B> I think most people expect Siver to make waves in his featherweight debut. He’s a massive man with a well-rounded attack, and the size advantage he should sport coming into this fight makes it a bit easier to conceive of a victory for the rugged German. However, I view Nunes as the technically superior fighter, and more tenacious of the two.<BR><BR>
Nunes’s game is a bit too polished to be outclassed in any one single area, and his speed will pose some serious problems for Siver. We’ll see a handful of pretty spinning back kicks from Siver, but few will find their mark as Nunes is an extremely agile fighter who utilizes movement very well. To keep it short and sweet: Nunes catches Siver with a big punch in the third round, before pouncing for the submission victory.<BR><BR>
<B>DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire:</B> There isn’t much on the line for either fighter here; both are light years from a title shot, and neither is likely to meet the chopping block upon defeat. Johnson is as about as inconsistent as a Northern California winter but he’s damn exciting to watch, and Maguire is still a relatively unproven fighter, despite an impressive 17-3 record.<BR><BR>
Johnson has the home field advantage having fought for the promotion on seven different occasions, but it’s tough to predict which DaMarques shows up, the motivated monster, or the uninspired journeyman? Maguire is clearly the more consistent man, and he’ll likely prove it by picking up one of his finest wins on Saturday. I see this one unraveling in competitive fashion for two rounds, in which Johnson will land the more significant strikes, and Maguire will likely secure the more frequent takedowns. The final round of the fight will determine the winner, as “The One’s” gas tank proves to hold more fuel; John will snatch a submission early in round three to move his UFC mark to 2-0.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page:</B> This bout has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Both of these men are offensive minded monsters who function at a rate few can match. With the bantamweight division wide open beyond the top two dogs, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, the winner makes a case for a major leap in competition, and with the division still relatively thin, either man could be just two or three fights away from a shot at the championship.<BR><BR>
Both Pickett and Page tote some extremely aggressive striking, and both have a tendency to go for broke at all times. Page’s aggression has cost him numerous fights in the past, and in the build-up to this match he’s vowed to bring a bit more patience into the cage with him. I think that game plan lasts about as long as it takes Pickett to land something crisp, at which point the brawler in Damacio will likely emerge.<BR><BR>
On the feet this one is damn near a dead heat, with Page likely being the slightly more powerful of the two, and Pickett being the more accurate. However, the striking is only one element of this fight, and I don’t think the fight ends on the feet. I see some wild exchanges, with both men eating heavy leather early. The second round will likely produce a victor, as Pickett stuns “The Angel of Death” before snatching a tight guillotine choke after Page shoots a desperation takedown.<BR><BR>
Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the <A HREF="http://www.mmanews.com/forums" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Forums</B></A> and/or the <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Facebook</B></A>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <A HREF="http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>@mmanewsdotcom</B></A>.<BR><BR>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>
The Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to Stockholm, Sweden this weekend, where the Ericsson Globe Arena will play host to FUEL TV’s second official event. Tapped to compete are a number of cagey UFC veterans as well as a handful of young prospects. Swedish import, Alexander Gustafsson will enjoy the warmth of a partisan crowd when he dukes it out with rugged Brazilian, Thiago Silva in the evening’s featured bout, which boasts significant divisional relevance, as the winner will take a sizeable step toward aligning himself for a crack at the 205 pound title.<BR><BR>
<B>Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva:</B> There’s a lot on the line for the winner of this fight, especially if Jon Jones defeats Rashad Evans at UFC 145, and especially if your name is Alexander Gustafsson. The Swede is currently enjoying an impressive four fight win streak that includes definitive finishes over quality opposition such as Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill. A win here would certainly birth a legitimate case for a shot at the crown, assuming Jones still holds the title come April 22nd (should Evans beat Jones, we could very likely see an immediate rematch, as Joe Silva seems to be running thin on ideas).<BR><BR>
Thiago Silva however, is nowhere near a title shot having gone 1-2-0-1 in his last four outings (the lone no contest comes after botching a drug screening for his UFC 125 bout with Brandon Vera, which resulted in a lengthy layoff), and a win in this fight does little more than put him back in the win column. That of course is not a bad thing, and derailing a surging prospect like Gustafsson would make for a damn nice feather in the cap.<BR><BR>
Stylistically, this fight is insanely interesting. We’ve got a rangy striker with great mobility in Gustafsson, colliding with an absolute bull in Silva, who leans on his power and ability to take the fight to the mat when the going gets tough in the striking department. Theoretically, Silva can end this fight with a single punch, but I’m not convinced we’ll see the finish come from Silva. He’s been away from competition for nearly a year and a half, and he’s got an extremely tough test to welcome him back into the fold. Could he ground Alexander and pound out a victory? He most definitely can, but I don’t see it happening. I see Gustafsson riding the wave of momentum he’s established, keeping appropriate distance and chopping his Brazilian foe down over the course of three rounds. The finish comes just shy of the fifteen minute mark when a fading Silva is clipped by a big shot, and followed to the mat by Alexander, who should be able to unleash enough ground and pound to put Thiago to sleep.<BR><BR>
<B>Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara:</B> Both of these men have some climbing to do before they can be considered a threat to the middleweight title holder. Stann had built some serious steam at 185 pounds, reeling off three consecutive stoppage victories prior to running into Chael Sonnen at UFC 136. The former title challenger bested the Silver Star recipient with ease, applying a tight arm triangle choke in the second round of their collision.<BR><BR>
Alessio Sakara himself sits in a virtually identical boat, having recently picked up three straight wins before being seriously outclassed by rising star Chris Weidman at UFC Live 3 just over one year ago. A split decision nod over Thales Leites and a first round technical knockout of fellow power puncher James Irvin stand as recent highlights for the Italian bomber.<BR><BR>
Despite the stoppage loss to Sonnen, Stann still holds the advantage here. He’s been far more active as of late, having fought seven times in the same time span in which Sakara has competed just thrice. Stylistically both men are remarkably similar, preferring to not only keep the fight in the vertical position, but leaning heavily on boxing rather than a more diversified kick boxing based assault. Both are very capable with all limbs, but both clearly prefer to let the fists fly first and foremost. Herein lies the problem for Sakara: Stann can match his technical abilities, and he’s shown a sturdier chin and far greater consistency. It will be violent while it lasts, but Stann’s got an edge in power, and he’ll catch Sakara clean to put him away with strikes in the second frame.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Paulo Thiago vs. Siyar Bahadurzada:</B> This fight poses a lot of questions: is the hype behind Bahadurzada justified? Can Thiago place himself back in the mix at 170 pounds with a big victory? Will the first time jitters play any role in Siyar’s performance? Will Thiago struggle with the size of the Afghanistan native? So many questions, so little with which to formulate an educated guess, primarily due to the fact that Bahadurzada is still a relatively unknown commodity amongst North American fans.<BR><BR>
What we have here is a classic clash of styles. While Thiago is certainly proficient with his strikes, the ground game is his specialty, and he’s got some nasty submission skills to prove it. Bahadurzada in contrast is as aggressive as they come, and tends to avoid the mat in favor of frenetic slugfests. He’s a powerful guy who can turn the lights off with a single punch, but he tends to neglect his defense when attacking relentlessly. The question comes down to whether or not Paulo can gauge Siyar’s aggression and time the takedown properly to take this into his realm.<BR><BR>
Both men have fought some top notch opponents, but the edge must go to Paulo here, as he was welcomed to the UFC with a true baptism by fire, facing Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann in four of his first five octagon appearances. He’s had time to get comfortable inside the octagon and he’s not likely to be overwhelmed by Siyar. I see a few sketchy moments early for Thiago, but ultimately, he’ll overcome a series of wild haymakers to secure multiple takedowns en route to a unanimous decision nod.<BR><BR>
<B>Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes:</B> I think most people expect Siver to make waves in his featherweight debut. He’s a massive man with a well-rounded attack, and the size advantage he should sport coming into this fight makes it a bit easier to conceive of a victory for the rugged German. However, I view Nunes as the technically superior fighter, and more tenacious of the two.<BR><BR>
Nunes’s game is a bit too polished to be outclassed in any one single area, and his speed will pose some serious problems for Siver. We’ll see a handful of pretty spinning back kicks from Siver, but few will find their mark as Nunes is an extremely agile fighter who utilizes movement very well. To keep it short and sweet: Nunes catches Siver with a big punch in the third round, before pouncing for the submission victory.<BR><BR>
<B>DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire:</B> There isn’t much on the line for either fighter here; both are light years from a title shot, and neither is likely to meet the chopping block upon defeat. Johnson is as about as inconsistent as a Northern California winter but he’s damn exciting to watch, and Maguire is still a relatively unproven fighter, despite an impressive 17-3 record.<BR><BR>
Johnson has the home field advantage having fought for the promotion on seven different occasions, but it’s tough to predict which DaMarques shows up, the motivated monster, or the uninspired journeyman? Maguire is clearly the more consistent man, and he’ll likely prove it by picking up one of his finest wins on Saturday. I see this one unraveling in competitive fashion for two rounds, in which Johnson will land the more significant strikes, and Maguire will likely secure the more frequent takedowns. The final round of the fight will determine the winner, as “The One’s” gas tank proves to hold more fuel; John will snatch a submission early in round three to move his UFC mark to 2-0.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page:</B> This bout has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Both of these men are offensive minded monsters who function at a rate few can match. With the bantamweight division wide open beyond the top two dogs, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, the winner makes a case for a major leap in competition, and with the division still relatively thin, either man could be just two or three fights away from a shot at the championship.<BR><BR>
Both Pickett and Page tote some extremely aggressive striking, and both have a tendency to go for broke at all times. Page’s aggression has cost him numerous fights in the past, and in the build-up to this match he’s vowed to bring a bit more patience into the cage with him. I think that game plan lasts about as long as it takes Pickett to land something crisp, at which point the brawler in Damacio will likely emerge.<BR><BR>
On the feet this one is damn near a dead heat, with Page likely being the slightly more powerful of the two, and Pickett being the more accurate. However, the striking is only one element of this fight, and I don’t think the fight ends on the feet. I see some wild exchanges, with both men eating heavy leather early. The second round will likely produce a victor, as Pickett stuns “The Angel of Death” before snatching a tight guillotine choke after Page shoots a desperation takedown.<BR><BR>
Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the <A HREF="http://www.mmanews.com/forums" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Forums</B></A> and/or the <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Facebook</B></A>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <A HREF="http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>@mmanewsdotcom</B></A>.<BR><BR>
Source: http://www.mmanews.com/home.php
Thiago Silva takes out Keith Jardine in the Knockout of the Week
After a year-long suspension due to steroid use and submitting a synthetic urine sample, Thiago Silva will return against Alexander Gustaffson at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden. Since it's been a while, here's a reminder of what he can do.
With a left hook, Silva took out Keith Jardine. He lost to Rashad Evans and then had his win over Brandon Vera turned into a no-contest after the positive drug test. Will he start his post-suspension career with a win? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
After a Week of Rumors, Rossi Tells Italian TV He Will Remain With Ducati
Valentino Rossi's litany of complaints about the Ducati Desmosedici GP12 given live on Italian TV after the Qatar round of MotoGP triggered a wave of speculation. For the first time, Rossi had openly complained that Ducati had not given him the bike that he believes he needs to go fast, and that he had felt like pulling in before the end of the race. That, combined with an interview Rossi also did with the Italian magazine Motosprint in which he implied that Ducati Corse boss Filippo Preziosi was failing to provide the help that he and the other Ducati riders needed caused a massive reaction throughout the media and across the web.
Some reaction was amusing, such as the Downfall parody on Youtube, discussing Rossi's poor qualifying at Qatar. Others were more serious, including an article on the Spanish website Motocuatro.com suggesting that Rossi could try to get out of his contract before the year was over and wait for 2013, when, the article suggested, he could obtain a satellite Yamaha M1 to compete with, with the blessing of Dorna. Rumors quickly started to grow that Rossi's relationship with Ducati could be over, and sooner than anyone expected.
Source:
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)