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UFC 113: Machida vs Shogun 2

Time to unleash ‘The Dragon’! Coming up Saturday 8th May, at the Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is one of the most highly anticipated rematches, in the world of mixed martial arts competition.

When Shogun Rua challenged fellow Brazilian Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida, losing on a points decision, we knew it wasn’t final. Dana White almost immediately announced a rematch would be booked. The UFC powers that be have kept to their word, once again Karate will battle Muay Thai kick-boxing within the confines of the octagon.

Clearly there was good reason for signing up a second light-heavyweight title clash between this pair of elite cage warriors. The majority saw the fight won by Shogun due to the damage inflicted but the cage-side judges saw the outcome differently. I applaud the UFC for choosing to match them up once more to decide who truly is the mixed martial artist deserving of the light-heavyweight belt.

In previous UFC fights it was rare for Machida to receive a strike, due to an elusive almost Kangeroo-like in and out Karate style. Former top rung Pride FC competitor Shogun broke the chain, inflicting pain, chopping at The Dragon with his Muay Thai leg kicks. Rua is likely to utilise his leg kicks once again, attempting to take the spring out of the light-heavyweight champions legs.

Hopefully second time around the decision won’t be left in the judges hands, on Saturday at the Montreal Bell Centre. We don’t want more indecision, a kin to the current situation following the British General Election. Whatever happens the contest looks to be highly competitive. It’s going to be a war!

Backing up the main event, sees our very own home-grown contender, Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley booked in showdown with former ultimate fighter contestant Josh Koscheck. Both battlers have a chance of rising up against welterweight king Georges ‘Rush’ St Pierre.

Adding to the drama Dana White recently announced the number one contender will coach opposite GSP on the next season of TUF. Got to say I’m loving the possibility of another Brit following in the footsteps of Mike Bisping on TUF 12.

The build-up to their cage-clash has been entertaining to say the least. Both guys are not afraid of coming forward, airing their opinions. Koscheck is the one who stepped up to Dan Hardy laying down the gauntlet previously.

Brit Daley fighting out of Nottingham’s Rough House – the same gym as GSP’s last challenger Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy has been trading insults, referring to Koscheck as a “Fraggle”. Nothing like a bit banter to get inside an opponent’s head, gaining media attention, helping to sell tickets.

Banter includes some online fan from the fans, participating in a Josh Koscheck new hairstyle photoshop competition. Check the 2 other recent blog posts for more some great examples from the competition: Guido Josh & this fan video

Trash talking aside, who’s to win and how? Koscheck undoubtedly boasts the ground advantage, but if Semtex Daley keeps the fight standing Kos could be going to sleep courtesy of Daley big bombs. Paul Daley’s got awesome knock-out power, but Daley is going to need excellent take-down defence against division 1 wrestler Koscheck. Unfortunately this is what stable mate Hardy lacked when he locked horns with GSP. Semtex needs to have the take-down defence in place or the Brit will be out classed on the canvas.

We’ll witness a returning Kimbo Slice on Saturday. Kimbo once a controversial figure for defunct Elite XC on CBS, now a fully-fledged fan favourite, thanks to his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter: The Heavyweights. Slice earned many a fan, working hard on the MMA reality TV series, under the tutelage of ever popular cage-fighting bad-ass Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

The fighter stepping into the 8-sided cage with Slice at UFC 113 will be none other than Matt Mitrione, another TUF 9 competitor. Nick-named Meat Head on the show, Mitrione trained under coach Rashad Evans, the opponent for Rampage later this month at UFC 114.

Kimbo already built up a name before TUF 10, the reality show made him even bigger. Mitrione on the other hand is an interesting character in different ways. He plays some games that can put the opponent off balance. Mitrone doesn’t have much to lose, if he beats Kimbo he makes a name for himself, alternatively Slice as name fighter could lose some pulling power if he isn’t the man with his arm raised afterwards.

Mitrione and Kimbo are both hard hitting sluggers, the difference will show in other areas where the TUF aluminis have progressed. We know from last time we saw Kimbo he’s now got some ground game. I’m calling a Mitrione upset.

The advertised fight card in full.

Main Card:

Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio Rua -Light Heavyweight Championship

Josh Koscheck vs Paul Daley

Sam Stout vs Jeremy Stephens

Kimbo Slice vs Matt Mitrione

Patrick Cote vs Alan Belcher

Prelim Card:

Tim Credeur vs Tom Lawlor

Marcus Davies vs Jonathan Goulet

TJ Grant vs Johny Hendricks

Joey Beltran vs Chad Corvin

Yoshiyuki vs Mike Guymon

Nick Catone vs John Salter

Subscribers can watch UFC 113 live on ESPN, in the early hours of Sunday morning, pay per view in North America.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

One TUF duo: Tito and Chuck

Four episodes in and the series is really hotting up. What’s been going down?

Episode one,  Dana White introduced something new, the wild card. An opportunity for a fighter to get another chance at TUF 11 glory. Dana and co will be picking a guy to comeback for the eighth spot in the quarter finals. Throwing in this new element to the competition adds further excitement for viewers.

This premier episode moved at a fast pace, highlighting the bouts fought for a place in the ultimate fighter house. We witnessed some real barn-stormers. Dana proclaimed he has high hopes for season 11, being so impressed by the quality of fighters.

Moving into the second episode, the 14 selected contestants settled into their new home and got picked by icons of the octagon ‘Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ Tito Ortiz and ‘Iceman’ Chuck Liddell, for their respective squads. Ortiz chose fighters based on their performance he’d witnessed, Dana was surprised with Liddell’s picks. Little did we know Chuck had done his homework and knew exactly what he was doing.

Shenanigans are under-way, Jamie Yager of Team Punishment (Ortiz) alongside fellow cohorts wound up others wishing to sleep, sounding air horns.

Kicking of the cage combat was Auzzie Kyle Noke, of Team Liddell versus green-haired Clayton McKinney. Liddell, a strategist picked MicKinney to oppose his fighter seeing the guy as weak link, carrying a shoulder injury. A wise decision, despite Clayton’s best efforts he lost out to Australian Kyle Noke via triangle-choke submission.

At the opening of the third instalment Dana announces Chris Camozzi is out of the show, due to a broken jaw, prohibiting him to take part. Ortiz picks Seth Baczynski as a replacement.

Next up to compete in the UFC cage saw Chuck’s Hawaiian Brad Tavares facing off against James Hammortree, hailing from Florida.

A tough fought contest, mainly taking place on the deck, as wrestling competed with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Being even at the end of 2 rounds of octagon action, Dana White declared sudden victory, taking the bout into a third stanza. Hilo boy Tavares took the win as the better grappler on the day.

Liddell’s team are on a roll.

Jamie is a cast member getting himself noticed for all his antics. Episode 4 Yager forms a clique consisting of his buddies, named the Minority Report. Yager’s crew includes Auzzie Noke alongside all the brown skinned contestants.

Chuck in control picks the match-up: Rich ‘The Guido’ Attonito versus Kayacey Uscola. Both competitors are hotly tipped prospects this series.

Attonito v Uscola was one hell of an exciting bout. Round 1 saw Rich deck Kayacey, Attonito completely dominates. Uscola weathers the storm, attempting a Kimura submission. Uscola makes a come-back but earns himself a DQ for his efforts for kneeing a downed opponent. Attonito won but didn’t look the winner but hey if you don’t keep to the rules there are consequences, as Uscola discovered to his dismay. Uscola is one to watch, he could be chosen later as the wild card.

A third loss of the Ortiz coached team, but one more contest to come.

Up next tough built Charles Blanchard of the blues came to blows with Afro-haired Jamie Yager. Cocksure Yager, the striker from California was too swift for Florida’s Blanchard. Yager put in a most impressive performance, hitting Blanchard on the button, following up earning first win for coach Ortiz.

Episode 5 of The Ultimate Fighter is aired tonight, FIVE USA, can coach Ortiz pull a second win out of the bag?

Don’t worry if you have missed an episode, catch them all at youtube, just look up the FIVE on demand channel.

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz.

Wait no longer, The Ultimate Fighter season 11 kicks off tonight, see it on FIVE USA, 11pm. The highly anticipated MMA reality TV series is back. Personally I can’t wait to see season 11 coaches Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell back on our screens, they are icons of the octagon.

Not only are the UFC giving us MMA fanatics TUF 11 on free-view but they are also chucking in a brand new programme full of classic moments from the 8-sided cage – UFC Wired, following straight after The Ultimate Fighter premier episode.

So you don’t have ESPN and missed UFC 111? Have no fear your favourite free-view channel FIVE is too the rescue! Catch Dan Hardy in action against Georges St Pierre on  Sunday, April 11th at 11.55pm. The Interim Heavyweight bout between Shane Carwin and Frank Mir gets another airing in the same slot.

More good news for UK UFC viewers, UFC 112 will air at the socialable time of 6pm. Even if you are a non ESPN subscriber you should be able watch the Abu Dabai event live at a bar.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com