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Photo: 19 August 2011
Robert Waterman promoted fightnight at the Tower Blackpool.
Keywords: blackpool tower -
vaguely MMA related
the one on the left then compared to now… aka jailbait to play ball.
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Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz added to UFC 139 in San Jose
Two light heavyweights looking to snap out of two-fight losing skids have been booked for a November meeting.
That’s when Ryan Bader and Jason Brilz will meet at UFC 139, officials today announced.
UFC 139 takes place Nov. 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The night’s main card, including an expected heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior Dos Santos, airs on pay-per-view. -
Henderson jumps back into title mix with win over Miller
Jim Miller needed a resounding victory to finally get his shot at the UFC lightweight title. Ben Henderson wasn’t interested in being a stepping stone.
The former WEC 155-pound champ wanted back into the mix too, so he battered and bloodied Miller on his way to a unanimous decision victory, 30-27, 29-28 and 30-26 on the scorecards, at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Miller, who entered the fight riding a seven-fight win streak, was a minus-160 favorite. Henderson (14-2, 2-0 UFC) was fighting for respect. He’ll get a lot more than just respect with this performance. He dominated a guy who’s only previous losses came against Gray Maynard and Frank Edgar, the No. 1 and 2 lightweights in world.
The lightweight division is easily the deepest in mixed martial arts and new contenders keep emerging because no one can hold on to the No. 1 contender spot.
While UFC champ Edgar and Maynard have been sidelined with injuries since their January fight at UFC 125, there’s been numerous chances for folks to step up and grab the next title shot. Almost everyone has failed in their big spot. George Sotiropoulos and Anthony Pettis both fell short earlier this year and Miller (20-3, 9-2 UFC) was the latest.
Miller’s gameplan backfired against Henderson. The
WEC 155-pound champ has a reputation for allowing himself to get into bad submission predicaments, but “Smooth” has always been able to escape from those dangerous situations. Miller seemed to assume that Henderson wouldn’t do so against him, so he tried submission after submission in the opening eight minutes of the fight. But in doing so, he left himself open to get beat on. With both hands working for subs, there’s nothing to protect you from knees, elbows and punches. Henderson took advantage and blasted away.
By the end of the second round, Miller was bleeding like a stuck pig. In the final minute of the fight, with blood stinging his eyes and wincing in pain, Miller could barely open his eyes.
According to FightMetric, over the final two rounds Henderson outlanded Miller 91-16 . Henderson was also 7-for-7 on his takedown attempts. The numbers said Miller officially attempted six submissions, it looked more like 10.
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UFC 134 Preview: Anderson Silva “The Brazilian Wandering Spider”
Heading into UFC 134 this weekend, an interesting promo has aired featuring Anderson Silva in anticipation of his title bout against Yushin Okami.
The unique presentation shows some Silva’s most memorable fights, while a voice over provides a definition for the fighter, labelling him as a “Brazilian Wandering Spider.”
The creative approach certainly is a great way to market Silva’s upcoming fight, and at the same time, building a mystique surrounding him as a fighter.
UFC 134 is live this weekend, from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
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Amir Khan has traits of a can’t-miss star
We’ve been wrong before. Those of us who follow boxing — impassioned fans and detached media members alike — have been guilty of too quickly anointing boxing’s next savior or, conversely, labeling a former great a has-been after one bad performance.
It happens.
But in the case of Amir Khan, fresh off Saturday’s flawless destruction of Zab Judah by fifth-round knockout in Las Vegas, there’s no mistaking it: The sport’s next big thing is not only here, he’s ready to make his mark.
Whether Judah… -
Siver vs. Wiman Official UFC Statistics
UFC 132 - Dennis Siver vs. Matt Wiman -
UFC on Versus 5: Miller ready to prove he?s among the best lightweights
MILWAUKEE — You can count on Jim Miller to always bring some good facial hair. At today’s open workouts for UFC on Versus 5, a red mustache and pointy goatee sprouted from his face. He explained that it’s all for the children.
“I’m having a little boy in September, and his name is going to be Wyatt, so I wanted to greet him with the nice Wyatt Earp curled mustache. With my daughter, I grew a nice thick protest beard, once she was born, I shaved it into a celebration mustache,” Earp Miller said. (He assured Cagewriter that the protest was just because he was jealous that his wife got to hold the baby throughout the pregnancy, and the celebration was for when his daughter was born.)
You can also count on Miller to win. He has strung together seven straight victories, but still finds himself just short of a title shot in the stacked lightweight division. That doesn’t seem to bother him as he prepares for his bout with Ben Henderson.
“It’s pretty easy, because I’m here to fight the best, and I know I can beat anybody in the world. The way the title picture has worked out, you can’t expect anything. You gotta wait it out and let these guys settle it. And I’ve been training my butt off so I can beat them.”
Miller has been patient about waiting for the title shot, not complaining publicly about how he is often forgotten among the best lightweights. He happily takes the fights assigned to him, but lately has become more confident in speaking out on his own behalf.
He claims it’s not an attitude change, but an increase in comfort around media.
“I’ve pretty much had the same attitude. I knew I could hang with these guys. I feel great, I feel sharp, I’m learning new things every day. It’s more just getting comfortable with the mike in my face. It comes out a lot easier than it did three years ago.:
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UFC 134 prelims to air in Times Square’s “Little Brazil”
Two fights from this weekend’s UFC 134 event in Brazil will air in Times Square in New York City, officials today announced.
The two fights, which are part of Spike TV’s “UFC Prelims” broadcast, will air on the digital sign above The Doubletree Hotel in the “Little Brazil” area of the iconic intersection.
UFC 134 takes place Saturday at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. -
UFC notables visit Brazil’s Academia Nobre Arte as part of community initiative
RIO DE JANEIRO - UFC notables Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Junior Dos Santos and Vitor Belfort returned to their roots Tuesday to inspire the next generation of Brazilian athletes.
Boxing coach Claudio Coelho, a lifelong resident of the Cantagalo favela (shanty town), hosted an event at his Academia Nobre Arte (“Academy of the Noble Art”) in Rio de Janeiro to raise awareness of ongoing efforts to divert slum youths from a life of crime.
The community gathering was part of a week of events leading up to UFC 134.
