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UFC 111: St. Pierre vs Hardy

UFC 111 is all about the great British hope – Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy challenging welterweight king Georges ‘Rush’ St. Pierre.

Co-main event status comes in the form of Heavyweight Interim Champion decider – Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin. Coming into the cage with Carwin, Mir was not just there to decide the interim belt wearer, but equally as important in the mind of Mir was the possibility of being booked against Brock Lesnar for a third, the opportunity to avenge a loss.

Carwin headed into the bout undefeated, with high hopes and tremendous power. Shane looks awesome here in this epic contest, KO’ing Mir inside round 1, earning his spot to challenge returning title holder Lesnar at            UFC 116.

GSP vs. Hardy: Cocky Hardy earnt respect in this welterweight championship contest. Hardy sells a fight, he brings the heat, plus The Outlaw backs up the talk to the best of his ability. Number one contender Dan entered the 5 round fight boasting an undefeated UFC streak.

Despite not besting the French-Canadian, Hardy is admirable for his staying power, never tapping out to GSP’s numerous submission attempts. Our lad from Nottingham indures the full 25 minutes, Pierre is so damned relentless, overwhelming, taking Hardy down and dominating on the canvas, utilising Olympic-worthy-wrestling.

Unfortunately despite training with BJJ supremo Matt Serra, the man who beat GSP, Hardy is unable to keep the fight standing. To up his game ‘The Outlaw’ needs to improve his take-down defence. The problem is St. Pierre any elite fighter appear pale in comparison, including former lightweight champ BJ Penn.

A personal fave – Nate Diaz makes an appearance in the prelims of UFC 111, facing Rory Markham. Always exciting Diaz putting in a dominating performance.

Rounding out the package giving you value for money are the bonus features on disc 2. UFC 111 Countdown is a must-see, focussing on the co main event (GSP vs Hardy was treated to the Prime Time TV specials, omitted from this release).

Behind The Scenes follows the UFC crew and fighters media-work, promoting the event in New York, a stones throw away from Newark, New Jersey, host to UFC 111. The featurette gets close up and personal with Nottingham’s latter day outlaw – Dan Hardy.

We’re also introduced to less familiar UFC family member  - Kurt Watson, the guy responsible for weighing in the competitors, with that includes taking good care of the scales.

UFC 111 – St. Pierre vs. Hardy is out now on DVD, available direct from www.fightdvd.co.uk and all good retailers.

Keep visiting BluRayMMA.com for more reviews of brand new UFC, related combat sport and martial arts DVD releases.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Check out this video, Dana White talking Toney vs Couture with legendary boxer ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2 & Couture vs Toney

The bank holiday weekend is here! While many are travelling to the seaside or music festivals, Saturday August 28, 2010 is a huge date for fight fans, who will be glued to their sets when the action kicks off in the earlier hours of Sunday morning.

Not only will BJ Penn get a chance of redemption against Frankie Edgar in a return contest for the lightweight belt, but Zuffa are also treating us to a boxer versus mixed martial artist co-main event match-up -- Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture against boxing champ James Toney.

I’m agreeing with Tom Watson, who picks BJ Penn as the winner, in his bout with defending lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. If Penn is in tip top condition and chooses the right game plan he’s the man getting his hand raised by the referee. BJ needs to go in for the finish earlier on, Edgar is a durable fighter, with great cardio, whereas Penn has to drop quite a bit of weight to make the cut to 155 lbs.

The co-main event old school style boxer vs wrestler bout, pitting UFC Hall of Famer Couture against heavyweight boxing champ Toney has got UFC 118 a lot of mainstream attention. Toney is the highest profile heavyweight pro-boxer to challenge a veteran mixed martial artist.

According to the boxing and MMA competitors quoted in Gareth A Davies article most agree Couture is the likely winner, due to Toney’s lack of MMA experience. Randy’s tactics have got to include getting the boxer to the ground and tapping him out. If he plays his usual game of holding his opponent against the fence and dirty-boxing, it may be his undoing against a boxer of Toney’s pedigree, who’ll trade punches in the clinch and may knock out the former UFC Light-heavyweight and Heavyweight title-holder.

Another bout I’m looking forward to is Marcus Davis facing off against Nate Diaz. Diaz one my favourites from The Ultimate Fighter, has got fantastic Jiu Jitsu and some underrated boxing. Davis is known for his stand-up, but don’t underestimate him on the canvas either. Diaz versus Davis looks to be a damn good scrap. My pick is Diaz by tap-out.

Watch the weigh ins video with interviews.

The advertised card:

TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts is the location, see UFC 118 LIVE exclusively on ESPN in the UK.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

BAMMA champ: Tom 'Kong' Watson

Thanks to that marvellous idea – Facebook, I was fortunate enough to ask Tom ‘Kong’ Watson a few questions, gaining an incite into the world of the BAMMA Middleweight Champion.

What’s your current favourite song?

Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre.

How do you relax between training?

I relax eating flavoured cheese.. French is the best.. Roquefort,  and sitting in the hot tub smoking a Cuaba figurado. Magnifique.

Tabloid rumours circulating at the moment are of your BAMMA 4 opponent and challenger to your middleweight crown, Alex Reid having done a deal  to appear on Ultimate Big Brother for large sum of money. How do you feel about him doing it, considering the timing?

The Reidenator should and will go into the house for around 2 weeks. Most of his sparring will already be complete. With the media attention on him presently I actually believe he can get in great shape (cardio wise) being in the house. What else is there to do when your locked in a house. Unless it is the Foursome House on Playboy.

What impact do you feel being booked to fight Celebrity Big Brother 7 winner and husband of Katie Price has on your career?

It has given me the chance to defend my belt at BAMMA.

In the previous Bravo programme following Alex in training, he tried martial arts not specific to an MMA contest. Do you think he’ll be more focussed training-wise this time around? He’s been pictured with Chuck Liddell…

Who have you been training with? Where?

What does a picture mean? I’ve been pictured with Tamara Witmer, does that mean I’m sleeping with her… I’m training in Montreal with my coaches here Eric O’Keefe, Firass Zahabi, Bruno Fernandes, Howard Grant, Mr Chaimberg and the squad at Bikram yoga. The previous Bravo filming was done much earlier than people realise. Alex wasnt rolling around trying new styles the month before he was due to fight, the show was filmed at the beginning of the year. He’ll be at London Shoot as usual training hard.

You have a fight booked for MFC in Canada, September 10, against TUF veteran Jesse Taylor. Is it wise to fight so close to your BAMMA middleweight title defence? Or do you feel keeping active in MMA competition gives you an edge over Alex?

No my wish is to eradicate poverty and suffering worldwide, fighting Jesse taylor is a chance for me to test my skills up against one of the top guys in the world. BAMMA isnt even relevant until after that fight.

Are there any specific areas you have trained in preparation for the September 25 showdown at the NIA, Birmingham? Which areas do you feel Reid’s a threat?

I train the same for every fight, I just simply try to improve in every area and make sure I am ready for whatever happens in the fight.

What is your prediction for the fight?

I will leave the cage BAMMA champion.

Where do you see yourself ranking internationally?

Maybe top 50. There are still many guys in the middleweight division who are rightly above me.

A-Team or The Expendables?

Expendable as the A-Team would have been better with Rashad as BA.

Couture or Toney?

James Toney… Come on this isnt UFC 1?? Really…

Penn or Edgar?

Baby Jay, but I think the fights the same as last time just this time Penn gets the nod from the judges.

Do you have any websites you recommend the fans visit?

Check out www.tomkongwatson.com and from there you can follow me on twitter and Facebook. Check out Vas.tv for innovative footwear, Headrush for the latest styles in MMA, Tapout because its Tapout baby and go gamble at Full Tilt Poker for the chance to become a legend.

Watch Alex Reid: Fights Back, coming soon on Bravo, for all the build up to Tom’s highly anticipated cage clash with Alex on September 25.

Interview by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

In the words of Joe Rogan: Batista joins a bunch of savages

Now this picture is something that grabs my attention as a pro wrestling to MMA convert.

Pictured above is former WWE pro wrestling superstar Dave Batista, alongside the Caesar Gracie camp. Rumour has it muscle-bound freak Batista, who trained in BJJ and Muay Thai before leaving the sports entertainment world, is in talks with Scott Coker’s California based Strikeforce outfit.

A future possibility would be the match-up of Batista versus another former WWE heavyweight and current Strikeforce contracted fighter – Bobby Lashley. First impressions are of sceptisism, featuring 2 former WWE guys in a freak show fight. However after watching this video and seeing who he’s training with, it’s clear he’s focussed and taking the MMA switch seriously.

From Sherdog.com:

Scott Coker had stated that he would be interested to see the 41 year old matched up against former WWE star, and Army wrestler Bobby Lashley claiming that it would be a fun fight for the fans. Only time will tell how interested Batista is in competing in MMA at age 41 it is a little late to pick up the sport.  It is yet to be seen if Batista will be able to handle all the hard work involved in becoming an MMA fighter.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Calling MMA gamers and would be writers out there! Fancy being a guest reviewer by submitting a review of UFC Undisputed 2010?

BluRayMMA.com is seeking guest reviewers and MMA bloggers, email:

duane@bluraymma.com

12: one prize... 12 fighters... only one will survive...!

9 times out of 10 when asked to review a DVD, I’m not blessed with a shop retail release version. On this occasion I’ve been spoilt, having in my hands Twelve in all it’s glossy covered goodness.

Past the glossy cover, Twelve is all about grittiness. A British martial arts action flick, pitting 12 fighters of different fighting skills and backgrounds, in bouts organised by high-rollers. £500,000 is up for the taking, it’s a submission or knock-out to win each bout, other than that it’s no-holds-barred.

Having recently reviewed American made MMA-movies, the raw, rough, grittiness of this British made fight-flick is very refreshing. 12 doesn’t boast a huge line-up of UFC names, accompanied by a big budget, however the smaller budget works as an advantage, picturing a realistic rawness, leaving the required impact on the viewer.

Fight venues the 12 tournament contestants battle it out in include warehouses, nightclubs, scrap yard and even the back of a lorry, whilst being filmed on CCTV, viewed by the room of high-rollers, betting on the outcome, each backing a chosen fighter.

Brutal, blood-thirsty fantastically choreographed kick-ass scenes aplenty here, throughout the 88 minutes.

The story is told via a narrator, although we are introduced to the competitors individually, being made aware of their backgrounds and martial skills there isn’t one lead hero focussed on, unlike a traditional Kung-Fu flick with Bruce Lee or Jet Li. Twelve presents a unique style,  it’s very much a 21st century post-modern British picture.  What we get here is a grittier, grimey film, which feels very realistic.

Brit-MMA fans will recognise the Cage Warriors logo, when the final showdown happens in a cage. This final scene is Brit UFC competitor Ross Pearson’s  favourite fight of the entire film by the way. Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping comments his favourite fight scene is The Triad vs The Soldier.

Left to right - Martial Arts Legend Joe Lewis, Chee Keong Cheung, Mark Strange. Photo copyright www.fightshop.com

Look out for some recognisable faces in Twelve, including Danny John Jules AKA The Cat in Red Dwarf, amazing record breaking female martial arts expert Zara Pythian, Gary Webster from Minder plus see Eastenders Dr Legg actor playing one of the fighter money-backers.

Director Chee Keong Cheung has done a brilliant job conjuring up a very realistic scene-scape of an underground no-holds-barred illegal fight world.

Seni 2010: Chee & Mark signing at the 12 stand. Photo copyright www.fightshop.com

The DVD comes with many special features, including biogs of the actors, a look behind the scenes plus an exclusive fight between Leon Walters vs Guy  Golden from Pain & Glory kick-boxing event.

My home-town  Bournemouth & local ultimate fighting gym – Bulldog is featured in a mini documentary, following Twelve actor and fighter Mark Strange prepare for a special cross-promotion bout on a Pain & Glory card. The special features round off the package brilliantly.

Twelve is out now on DVD, available from all good retailers.

Visit www.intenseproductions.co.uk and the official Twelve DVD website www.12dvd.co.uk for further information.

Keep visiting BluRayMMA.com for more reviews of brand new UFC, related combat sport and martial arts DVD releases.

DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UCMMA 14: Invincible

UCMMA.com

Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com interviews Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson, ahead of his cage-clash with Junior Dos Santos, Saturday August 7, at UFC 117.

Roy is not looking for the fight of the night bonus, being a sensible fella is more concerned about winning whilst receiving least damage physically. Ironically Nelson versus Dos Santos could well be the surprise fight of the night.

Chubby Roy Nelson is not the bookies favourite, do not be deceived by the TUF 10 winners physique, he’s got the tools to get the job done. Betting on Roy could make you a winner.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com