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Lesnar vs Carwin - biggest heavyweight battle in history!

2 Gorillas locked in a cage: Brock Lesnar versus Shane Carwin.

UFC 116, when Heavyweight champ Lesnar made the long awaited return to pay per view TV, following a nasty intestine illness, which the majority of us can’t pronounce, let alone spell correctly. Seeing as Lesnar was unable to defend the belt, Carwin fought Frank Mir to decide the Interim Heavyweight Champion, hence both fighters carrying gold straps over their shoulders on the front of the DVD.

Carwin was clearly the most formidable opponent yet for the former WWE superstar Brock. See the Countdown Show for all the low-down on the then unbeaten Carwin. It’s a great build-up, telling Lesnar’s story battling illness, getting back into champion condition ready to face his rival. The feature also showcases the training and ability of both competitors.

The “clash of the titans” epic main event bout alone is without a doubt worthy reason to purchase this double DVD release. Let’s take a closer look at this epic showdown:

In the pro-wrestling world Lesnar came from, the best wrestlers tell a story in the ring as opposed to just doing flashy moves. The plot here is of the then champ being pummelled by challenger Carwin in round 1, appearing to be down and out. Come round 2 we see Lesnar make the comeback overcoming adversity, thus earning the hearts of many fans in the process, who previously hated on the “heel” from the WWE.

Lesnar’s performance in the second stanza truly impresses, for the heart he shows coupled with pulling out a sidechoke submission win, for the first time, adding a new weapon to the ‘Next Big Things’ arsenal. Epic.

Another further value to UFC 116 is the world class middleweight clash between the always dangerous Ultimate Fighter alumini – Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben and Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama. This global showdown will be remembered as a classic encounter, truly an adrenaline-fuelled fight, packed with thrills ‘n’ spills.

Leben v Sexyama (as he’s affectionately called by many fans) is a great example of what an MMA bout can be for the spectator, at it’s very best. A display of hearts and skills by both combatants that draws you in.

Leben’s triangle-choke in the latter half of round 3 is awesome. Following the win Chris calls out Pride legend Wanderlei Silva, the fighter originally penned in to face Akiyama. Leben has got to feature high in a top ten of exciting fighters, no doubt.

As you’d expect from FightDVD, UFC 116 comes complete with the full card of fights from the live event plus you are spoiled with stacks of extra footage, enjoy!

UFC 116 Lesnar vs Carwin 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 & Blu-ray releases.

UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Here’s a video of particular interest to fans of both UFC and WWE. Ariel Helwani interviewing WWE pro wrestler Undertaker cage-side for UFC 121, just as defeated Brock Lesnar leaves the octagon.

Looks like these guys have some heat.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Stav 'The Crazy Bear' Economou.

Once again thanks to the amazing networking tool  - Facebook, bluraymma.com is treating you to another interview with a top UK MMA fighter.

If you saw BAMMA 4: Alex Reid vs Tom ‘Kong’ Watson (who didn’t?), you would have seen the announcement of promoters BAMMA flying in combat sports legend Bob ‘The Beast’ Sapp, for BAMMA 5 in December. The fighter booked to fight Sapp is non other than Stav ‘The Crazy Bear’ Economou, known as an Ultimate Challenge heavyweight competitor, via the exposure on Sky Sports.

What’s your current favourite song?

Hmm…I’ve got  couple at the moment. I’ve been listening to ‘Warrior’ B Disturbed and ‘Overthrow’ by Man of Kin, the latter will be my entrance music for my next fight.

How do you relax between training?

Nothing spectacular or anything, I might play on my XBox or just surf the net although recently watching Jersey Shore has taken over alot of my free time!

I noticed you are a fan of pro wrestling, who is your favourite wrestler?

C.M Punk

Who’s your favourite TNA Knockout or WWE Diva?

Too be honest womens wrestling really bores me (unless its Japanese womens wrestling) but I never skip the channel if the beautiful people are on!

How did you decide to become a mixed martial artist? How did you get started?

Well being a huge wrestling fan I first heard of the UFC from when guys like Ken Shamrock (and later Dan Severn)were wrestling. So when I heard about him going back to the UFC to fight Tito Ortiz at UFC 40 I waited till it came out on DVD, bought it and I was absolutely hooked.

You are an exciting figter to watch. Who are your favourite mixed martial artists, who inspires you?

I love watching fighters like Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, Wanderlei Silva and Fedor.

This weekend you are fighting a K1 bout for UWC Garons Park, Southend On Sea. Are you primarily a standup fighter? Who is your opponent?

I’m primarily an MMA fighter so where ever the fight goes, on the ground or on my feet, im happy to be honest. I’m fighting a guy called Jason Dutton who recently fought for the ISKA Super-heavyweight title.

You are booked in to fight Bob Sapp at BAMMA 5 in December. Sapp is a huge name in the world of combat sports, how do you feel about stepping into the cage with someone of that status?

Well he could of fought almost anyone, anywhere and he was happy to fight me at BAMMA. I’m not sure if you could call that an honor but it’s certainly exciting!

Who will you be training with leading up to the December fight?

Well I’ve been training for my fight this Saturday so going into the fight with Bob Sapp my training will just continue.

Are there any specific areas you will train in preparation for ‘The Beast’?

Just going to make sure that my cardio and condition is the best that it can be.

Do you have a strategy for the fight?

My strategy is more or less to not lose.

Where do you see yourself ranking currently internationally?

I’ll let you know December 5th.

Bisping or Akiyama?

I like Akiyama and would like him to win but Bisping’s awesome cardio is going to win him the fight for sure.

Valesquez or Lesnar?

Brock Lesnar.

Do you have any websites you can recommend the fans visit?

UKMMA1.co.uk Check out and join the ‘Stav Crazy Bear Economou’ Facebook fanclub and bluraymma.com of course!

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

More from Brock’s best buddy Paul Heyman.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Here’s another interview video by Ariel Helwani. Following Brock Lesnar’s win over Shane Carwin at UFC 116, Ariel interviews Brock former WWE buddies -- ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, Jim Ross and best friend Paul Heyman.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC 116: Lesnar vs Carwin

Huge heavyweight money match – Lesnar Vs Carwin has got everyone talking, making predictions for the highly anticipated title unification bout. Who is going walk out the octagon carrying the gold? Who are you betting to win it all?

There is no doubt it’s a tough one to call. ‘Vanilla Gorilla’ – Brock Lesnar is monstrous individual to tangle with, boasting overwhelming size and strength battling the likes of Randy Couture. Comparing Shane Carwin physically, he’s the nearest match in size to the former WWE superstar, not only that he’s got the wrestling to back it up.

It’s worthy of note Brock was an NCAA Division 1 heavyweight champion, whereas Carwin was a Division 2 Heavyweight champion. This could be difference maker for Brock. A difference maker for unbeaten Carwin is the heavyweight’s knock-out power.

Common opponent Frank Mir knows too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of a Carwin uppercut. It’s fair to say as of yet Brock’s chin hasn’t been tested inside the cage, Carwin will be out to test it. If Lesnar can withstand Carwin’s punching power there is good chance he’ll win and a possibility the huge dude is superhuman!

Something I feel needs to be thrown in the equation is that Brock is still learning MMA. Despite being defending champ he’s had few mixed martial arts fights. Whilst training with the likes of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has Lesnar added anything new to his arsenal yet to be seen?

Hit me back, commenting with your thoughts on Lesnar versus Carwin. If you like get involved on the BluRayMMA.com Facebook group or Twitter @Duane_BluRayMMA.

Complete advertised card:

Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin (Heavyweight title fight)

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs Wanderlei Silva – out replaced by Chris Leben

Matt Brown vs Chris Lytle

Stephan Bonnar vs Krzysztof Soszynski

Kurt Pellegrino vs George Sotiropoulos

Brendan Schaub vs Chris Tuchscherer+

Kendall Grove vs Goran Reljic+

Dave Branch vs. Gerald Harris*

Seth Petruzelli vs Ricardo Romero*

Julio Paulino vs Daniel Roberts*

Jon Madsen vs Karlos Vemola*

+SpikeTV Prelim

See the UFC 116 live this Saturday July 3, ESPN or pay per view in USA.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

UFC: Best of 2009 DVD.

Along with putting all the UFC pay per view events on DVD for you to own, fortunately for us FightDVD also release all the best of collectors discs. One such recent offering is UFC Best of 2009.

Originally aired on ESPN, this unique DVD has the function of choosing extra bouts in their entirety as you view the main feature or you can pick to see the fights separately from the menu.

2009 without a doubt was an exciting year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, seeing new champions crowned, emerging top contenders plus returning cage warriors returning to better form. If you weren’t able to catch all the UFC’s output last year then this DVD for you.

Highlights include the epic battle of champions, Georges ‘Rush’ St Pierre (Welterweight champ), challenged by the then reigning lightweight title holder BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn.

Another pivotal title fight was the crowning of new light-heavyweight king Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida, who devastated ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans.

One of the biggest moments of them all had to be at the monumental pay per view – UFC 100. That huge moment there on July 11 being former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar beating Frank Mir. Yes, ‘the next big thing’ stamped his moniker on Mir and the heavyweight division, thus avenging his only MMA lost.

Along with dominant champions, 2009 saw a huge return for octagon icon Chuck Liddell. The KO loss to Shogun Rua reminded us the best is behind the UFC Hall of Famer. Former PRIDE FC legend Rua of course went on to greater glory, putting in a great performance versus Machida, earning a return title fight in 2010.

Still in the LHW bracket, 2009 was the year a UFC great – Tito Ortiz made his return to active MMA competition and the ranks of the UFC. A new arrival making an impact Brazilian Little Nog.

The newer emerging talent featured on the 2 disc set that get a shout are Brits Dan ‘Outlaw’ Hardy, who had a fantastic year, plus Scouser Terry Etim, another rising star from our fair isles. Can’t forget the success of the UK contingent on season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter. Lightweight winner Ross Pearson in particular is a fighter to watch the progress of.

A fight aired at part of TUF 9 finale making the compilation here is Diego ‘Nightmare’ Sanchez facing Clay ‘The Carpenter’ Guida, in possibly the best slug-fest of ’09.

TUF 10: The Heavyweights receives a mention but here too, but not enough time here given to winner Roy Nelson, a fighter Dana White didn’t seem to appreciate.

The Best of 2009 may not be personally all what you might pick for the DVD but it’s clearly a value for money addition to your MMA DVD collection, boasting 345 minutes worth of ultimate-fighting action in total, including bonus material, peeking behind the scenes of memorable 2009 cage-clashes.

UFC Best Of 2009 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 Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar trains with former adversary Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture, ahead of UFC 116 title-fight showdown against challenger Shane Carwin.

The heavyweight clash is the huge money drawing marquee match, for the pay per view fight card, ESPN here in the UK.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com