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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Cha-Ching!
According to ESPN, Fedor is being paid $1.5 million and Dan Henderson $800,000 for their July 30th fight on Showtime. Yes, you read it correctly: 2.3 million dollars for a fight that's not even going to be on pay per view. Just to put this into perspective, the total payroll for UFC 130 was $931,000. Even with the $280,000 in bonuses handed out, that still only comes to $1.2 million bucks.
Still, Quinton Jackson probably got a cut of PPV sales that would have put his purse up around or above what Fedor's getting paid. And it's not like the UFC has a whole lot of control over pay for this fight. Fedor already had a contract so phat it played a part in Strikeforce being sold. Hendo's contract was equally ludicrous - even before any heavyweight superfight extras - which is why the UFC didn't match it when he was a free agent.
But now they own Strikeforce and the dumb deals that Strikeforce made. Regardless of how impossible it might be to make any decent coin with the fight structured as it is, they've got to get through those contracts one way or another. At least we're getting an awesome superfight out of it without having to shell out 40+ bucks. And it's hard to criticize too much when fighters are getting while the getting's good.
(photo via Tracy Lee @ CombatLifestyle)
Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/cha-ching
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Rampage Jackson Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights
LAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson holds court at the UFC 130 post-fight press conference. Jackson talked about his entrance song choice and much more. Also, Roy Nelson and Matt Hamill talk about coming out on the losing end of their fights.Watch the video below.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/29/rampage-jackson-post-fight-press-conference-highlights/
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NFL Links: Stover one of Ravens' greats; Barber's Anne Frank comment 'despicable'
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Baltimore columnist says Matt Stover is one of the greatest Ravens players of all time.
Tiki Barber says the wrong thing almost every time he opens his mouth, according to a New York columnist.
David Garrard says he's not bothered by competition from Blaine Gabbert.
Charles Tillman says players will not be in football shape whenever the lockout ends.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Juan Castillo discussed his vision for the Eagles' defense with a Philadelphia reporter.
A high-profile member of the Panthers will be on hand for the team's player-led workouts next week.
Torry Holt says he's not ready to retire.
Richard Seymour footed the bill for the Raiders' player-organized workout.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/nfl-links-stover-one-of-ravens-greats-barbers-anne
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Jaguars could target Chargers S Weddle in free agency
The caveat of the Jaguars aggressively trading up in the draft to secure their quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert is that the team will have to be active in free agency to address several glaring holes on defense. We hear that GM Gene Smith has targeted 2-4 players, though who specifically, he has kept close to the vest for obvious reasons. Safety, linebacker and defensive end are all areas where upgrades are needed, and a popular name that we are hearing is Chargers FS Eric Weddle. With San Diego signing Bob Sanders before the lockout, the door might have opened for Weddle's departure. He has the range and coverage skills to be a great asset for the Jaguars, who allowed the most yards per pass play in the NFL last season. The club remains high on SS Courtney Greene, who, when healthy, was a tone setter for the run defense last season but remains a liability in pass coverage.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/jaguars-could-target-chargers-s-weddle-in-free-age
sherdog strikeforce mma tapout ufc ultimate fighting Jim Brown
Rams contribute to relief efforts in Joplin, Mo.
The Rams are donating $25,000 to help aid the relief efforts in both Joplin, Mo., and St. Louis., following the devastating storms that recently hit the area.
The donation will be split between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and the team has said it also will match any staff contributions.
"The St. Louis Rams are proud to make this pledge to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to help the Joplin and St. Louis communities. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the families impacted by these disasters," Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said.
Outside of financial contributions, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and his wife, Maria recently took part in a telethon to help raise money for the cause, while many members of the organization have volunteered their time to help remove debris.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/27/rams-contribute-to-relief-efforts-in-joplin-mo
Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins New York Jets
Monday, May 30, 2011
Roy Nelson's belly betrays him
What was expected to be a pretty close fight that Roy Nelson had a good chance of winning turned out to be a one sided ass whupping delivered by Frank Mir. It wasn't on the level of the Junior Dos Santos ass whupping, but it was pretty dominating and I don't think Roy Nelson won a single minute of a single round during that fight. Unless you count the minutes he pressed against Mir on the cage gasping for air, which I don't.
The first round was a big dumb slobberknocker with Nelson trying to land that magic one punch knockout while Mir had a lot of success kneeing Roy in the face over and over and over and over. Things slowed down in the second and went practically to a crawl in the third but always Frank Mir was pushing forward, working Nelson over, taking him down, and beating him up.
In the third Nelson had nothing left and was basically a grappling dummy that Frank Mir dropped elbows on for the duration of the round. It was so bad that one of the judges scored a round 10-8. No word on which round, but I'm thinking it was the one where Roy was barely capable of getting back to his feet. He may have some serious heart and a serious chin, but that won't get you as far as a serious gas tank...
Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/roy-nelsons-belly-betrays-him
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After Second UFC Win, Michael McDonald Would Like to Take Some Time Off
Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, Videos
LAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke to Michael McDonald following his UFC 130 win over Chris Cariaso, his thoughts on one judge scoring all three rounds in favor of Cariaso, the injury he sustained in the fight, why he wants to take some time off and when he would like to return.Check out the exclusive interview below.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/29/after-second-ufc-win-michael-mcdonald-would-like-to-take-some-t/
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Richardson not stressed about QB missing time with coaches
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said Wednesday that he's not "overly stressed" about the instruction the draft's No. 1 overall pick, Cam Newton, is missing out on as the lockout lingers.
"The Panthers are going to be like everybody else and (Newton's) going to be like everybody else, so we all have to adjust and deal with what we have to deal with," Richardson told PFW at the conclusion of the NFL owners meetings in Indianapolis. "I'm not really overly stressed out about it, personally."
Coaches are banned from communicating with players during the lockout.
Newton has been studying Carolina's playbook and working out with former NFL QBs Ken Dorsey and Chris Weinke in Florida, but he will join his Panthers teammates for player-organized workouts next week in Charlotte.
"We all would (like to see Newton playing sooner rather than later)," Richardson said. "We're all playing by the same rules. If we weren't, then it would be a different deal."
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/richardson-not-stressed-about-qb-missing-time-with
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Y U NO FINISH, RAMPAGE?
As expected, Matt Hamill was nowhere near the league of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson tonight, and Rampage walked through him for a unanimous decision. It took Matt all of half a round before he started dropping his hands and standing flatfooted in front of Rampage practically inviting a knockout.
Unfortunately, that wasn't in the cards - even though it was clear after the first round that Hamill's takedowns weren't anywhere near good enough to get Rampage down and his striking was generally harmless, Jackson never turned it up enough to pressure a finish. Instead we got prolonged periods of fight where Rampage just kinda circled around Hamill, doing nothing. Hamill ended up being more the aggressor, even though he was getting chewed up in the process.
At least Quinton had an excuse: he says he came into the fight with a fractured hand, which would understandably make a knockout slightly more difficult. I guess that makes his performance more understandable, but it's hard to forget that 10 minutes of seething frustration and anger watching the lion circle the wounded gazelle, not going in for the kill.
Rampage might get a title shot by default because really, who else is there other than Machida right now? If that's the case, he'll be lucky. He certainly doesn't deserve one based on this fight. He got served a sweet knockout win on a silver platter and couldn't get it done.
Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/y-u-no-finish-rampage
Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Report: Saints' coaches side with ownership
The NFL Coaches Association, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal court this week in support of players in their labor battle with NFL owners, does not represent any of New Orleans' coaches, Saints LB coach Joe Vitt told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune in a story published Friday. Vitt told The Times-Picayune the coaches were siding with owners, not players, in the labor dispute.
"We're supporting the owners," Vitt said, according to The Times-Picayune. "I've said this a million times, our organization has been built on trust. (Owner Tom) Benson has been great to us. Unequivocally, we support our ownership."
On Thursday, the Redskins' 17 assistant coaches also came out in support of the owners.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/27/report-saints-coaches-side-with-ownership
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Dana White Once Again Unhappy With Frank Mir's Performance
LAS VEGAS - For the second straight fight, Dana White has a bone to pick with Frank Mir, and Roy Nelson this time, too. Mir beat Roy Nelson by unanimous decision Saturday night at UFC 130 in a dominant performance that included several knees to Nelson's head and plenty of takedowns. In his last outing, at UFC 119 last September, Mir knocked out Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in the third round with a knee to the head - and that performance also left White wanting more.
Both fights had the fans vocalizing their displeasure with a perceived lack of action, and after the post-fight press conference Saturday, White elaborated on his disappointment in Mir, in particular.
"I think this time, with the co-main event I was disappointed in both guys, not just in Frank," White said. "I was more disappointed in Frank on that last card, even though he ends up getting a knockout. Frank Mir is a two-time world champion, he's been around for a long time, he's a super talented guy, and I expect more of him."
White said at the post-fight press conference that Mir went to the hospital after the fight with a fractured jaw and fractured rib, though Mir's wife said on Twitter that Mir's jaw was not broken.
As far as Nelson goes, White said he has a meeting scheduled with the Season 10 winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" later this week - and wasn't sure what the future might hold for him. Nelson has lost back-to-back fights, both decisions. At UFC 117 in August, he took Junior dos Santos the distance - the first fighter to do that with the top heavyweight contender.
"We saw how durable and tough 'Big Country' is in the dos Santos fight," White said. "But at least in the dos Santos fight, it was action the whole fight."
White said disappointment in fights is nothing new - but when fighters are in one of the two lead positions carrying a pay-per-view, they should be ready to take the heat if their performances aren't up to his - and the fans' - standards.
"It's going to happen sometimes," White said. "If they were earlier in the card - but being in the main and co-main event is when you take the most criticism. When you're the co-main and the main event, you've got to go out there and look good. And when you don't? You're going to hear my opinion about it - and the fans and the media, I'm sure."
White said despite Mir's win, which gives him two straight, he is not currently in the running for heavyweight title consideration.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/29/dana-white-once-again-unhappy-with-frank-mirs-performance/
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Report: Saints' coaches side with ownership
The NFL Coaches Association, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal court this week in support of players in their labor battle with NFL owners, does not represent any of New Orleans' coaches, Saints LB coach Joe Vitt told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune in a story published Friday. Vitt told The Times-Picayune the coaches were siding with owners, not players, in the labor dispute.
"We're supporting the owners," Vitt said, according to The Times-Picayune. "I've said this a million times, our organization has been built on trust. (Owner Tom) Benson has been great to us. Unequivocally, we support our ownership."
On Thursday, the Redskins' 17 assistant coaches also came out in support of the owners.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/27/report-saints-coaches-side-with-ownership
Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills
UFC 130 Post-Fight Bonuses Go to Browne, Stann, Santiago, Tibau
LAS VEGAS - With a massive knockout of Stefan Struve, Travis Browne got the attention of the heavyweight division on Saturday night at UFC 130. He also got a big bonus check. Browne's Superman punch KO of Struve earned Knockout of the Night honors at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He was joined by Gleison Tibau for Submission of the Night and Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago for Fight of the Night. Each earned $70,000 bonuses for their performances on the card. UFC president Dana White announced the winners and bonus amounts at the post-fight press conference.
In a battle of big men, the 6-foot-7 Browne charged the 6-11 Struve late in the first round with a straight Superman punch that connected on the button, dropping the Dutch heavyweight immediately. He followed it with two shots on the ground as referee Steve Mazzagatti dove in. With the win, Browne stays unbeaten at 11-0-1. Struve's two-fight winning streak was snapped, and he drops to 21-5.
Tibau pulled off the night's only submission, stopping Rafaello Oliveira by rear naked choke in the second round. Oliveira, who returned to the UFC after a 4-0 stretch outside the promotion, took the fight on short notice when Bart Palaszewski pulled out with an injury.
And Stann and Santiago were given Fight of the Night in what was perhaps a surprise. Stann won by TKO late in the second in a fight he was dominating. It was the pay-per-view's first fight and the early candidate for Knockout of the Night, but Browne went above and beyond with his knockout of Struve. So White may have wanted to have a way to reward Stann, a military hero who got the night's biggest ovation on Memorial Day weekend.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/29/ufc-130-post-fight-bonuses-go-to-browne-stann-santiago-tibau/
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NFL files brief: Lockout should stick
Just over a week before their court date with representatives with the players, the NFL filed their reply brief on Thursday evening with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, stating that the lockout should remain in effect.
The 41-page brief states that the decision by U.S. District Court judge Susan Richard Nelson to enjoin the lockout was illegal and that the appellate court should uphold its ruling to grant a stay on the league's decision to lock out the players as they negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In the brief, the league's lawyers argue that the players' disagreements with the owners are not a legal issue, but rather a labor one. In a footnote on page 35, they claim that the NFLPA decertification is just a front and that the players are still operating as a certified union.
"Plaintiffs also argue that 'every single player in the NFL sacrificed numerous rights and protections by terminating their union.' These 'sacrifices' are almost entirely illusory. The NFLPA continues to pursue a grievance on behalf of over 250 players asserting improper conduct with respect to contracts in the 2010 season. It has established trusts to provide the players with legal representation for and to cover the costs of other grievances, and to assist players in applying for retirement benefits."
The league concludes by saying: "This Court should vacate the District Court's grant of a preliminary injunction and remand with instructions to dismiss or stay the action."
The two sides are due in the St. Louis courthouse on June 3 for a hearing on whether to keep the lockout in place.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/nfl-files-brief-lockout-should-stick
New England Patriots Denver Broncos Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Redskins coaches issue letter supporting owners
A day after the NFL Coaches Association filed a brief in support of the players in the 'Tom Brady vs. NFL' antitrust suit, a group of Redskins assistant coaches issued a letter stating they support ownership in the labor dispute.
Seventeen Washington coaches, though not head coach Mike Shanahan — he is part of the franchise's management as vice president of football operations — signed the letter. It said that the Washington staff is not in line with their colleagues in the NFLCA. Instead they are on the side of management in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.
"We stand united with our ownership, and the brief does not reflect our thoughts on the matter," the letter reads, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. "We, like everyone else, are hopeful that we can return to playing football. We look forward to a new CBA, and welcoming back our players as soon as possible."
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/redskins-coaches-issue-letter-supporting-owners
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Off Yearlong Vegan Diet Experiment, Frank Mir Feels Stronger for UFC 130
LAS VEGAS - A reasonably healthy diet is part and parcel to the lifestyles of most fighters. It's something that just comes with the territory. Even Roy Nelson, as much as he jokes about cheeseburgers, likely has to concern himself with it from time to time. But very few fighters fall into the vegetarian class, and even fewer heavyweights go that route. But that's what Frank Mir did for a year before deciding it wasn't working for him. Now on a Paleolithic, or "caveman," diet, Mir said he's bigger than he's been in several fights - but more importantly, he's leaner.
"I got on the scale on Monday at 272 - muscle weighs a lot," said Mir, who fights fellow Las Vegan and sometimes training partner Nelson on Saturday at UFC 130. "Going off the vegan diet, I think, helped. There were some good approaches to it that I actually tried to do. ... The dieting thing, I think you have to approach as intelligently as you can. First I started as a vegetarian. And for a whole year, I gave it a shot. And it kept my weight down. But honestly, my body fat wasn't as low - I got a little bit softer. I was getting injured a lot more. I felt a lack of 'umph.' But I was very determined to try and be a healthier person."
After researching the Paleo diet, which focuses on hunter-gatherer foods like lean meats and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and cuts out the processed foods common in the Western diet, Mir decided it might be more in line with his nutritional needs as a fighter.
And then his wife, whom Mir joked at Wednesday's press conference was the real boss, chimed in.
"My wife looked at (the Paleo diet) and said, 'This is the Mediterranean Diet,' Mir said prior to the press conference. "I'm like, 'Yeah, pretty much.' She said, 'This is how we've been eating for like the last 10 years.' Sometimes you've got to come full circle to appreciate where you are now."
After Mir stopped with the vegan principle, he said the weight gain came quickly.
"I was four pounds shy of 300 pounds - I completely shot up," the former UFC heavyweight champ told MMA Fighting. "But my strength felt incredible, and my wind actually didn't feel that bad. The only thing I probably lost a little was footwork - ask a 300-pound guy to dance left and right ... so I worked in the pocket a little for those couple months."
But the weight gain hurt him in training, and it forced him to tighten up his core once again.
"I didn't realize that now that I've thinned out my waistline again, my guard has returned to be pretty manacing again," Mir said. "With the half-guard and guard, if you have a belly it's hard to pull your knees up. I have very flexible legs, so I'm trying to put hooks in and work the omoplata and go off on the side, and all of a sudden I've got this belly that my thigh keeps hitting against. It hurt my style.
"But being a professional you realize if something's in the way of you being a better fighter, it has to go - be it friend, family member, eating habits, sleeping regimen, if it doesn't work to make me a better fighter then it has to go."
Mir has combined the new diet with a new confidence in his wrestling game, as well.
"Six months ago, I couldn't take my wife off her feet unless I threw some jewelry on the bed," Mir joked, his wife Jennifer sitting at his side. "Other than that, my takedowns were horrible. When people are pushing me against the cage, in the past I was more susceptible to allowing it to happen because I had that jiu-jitsu mentality that I'm not going to grind back. Now I'm learning about head position and I like to grind back. If you're going to push into me, you're not pushing me backward. We're going to go down right here."
And the strength he believes he gave up when he went vegan has returned now that lean meats and other proteins are back in the mix - and now that he's developing other skills in the gym at the same time.
"People are saying to me, 'Oh, you're so much stronger,' " Mir said. "But I think it's that I'm finally using my strength. In the past, I would try to use as little strength as possible because strength will get you tired if you explode too many times. Well, get in shape."
And that's just what Mir believes he had to do. And he said if things go as planned against Nelson on Saturday night, people shouldn't be too hard on his opponent.
"If anybody's going to be on his case and feels that he has a bad performance on Saturday, they've just got to realize that he's facing the best version of me that ever existed, that I ever thought could exist," Mir said.
Mir fights Nelson in the co-main event of UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/27/off-yearlong-vegan-diet-experiment-frank-mir-feels-stronger-for/
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Off Yearlong Vegan Diet Experiment, Frank Mir Feels Stronger for UFC 130
LAS VEGAS - A reasonably healthy diet is part and parcel to the lifestyles of most fighters. It's something that just comes with the territory. Even Roy Nelson, as much as he jokes about cheeseburgers, likely has to concern himself with it from time to time. But very few fighters fall into the vegetarian class, and even fewer heavyweights go that route. But that's what Frank Mir did for a year before deciding it wasn't working for him. Now on a Paleolithic, or "caveman," diet, Mir said he's bigger than he's been in several fights - but more importantly, he's leaner.
"I got on the scale on Monday at 272 - muscle weighs a lot," said Mir, who fights fellow Las Vegan and sometimes training partner Nelson on Saturday at UFC 130. "Going off the vegan diet, I think, helped. There were some good approaches to it that I actually tried to do. ... The dieting thing, I think you have to approach as intelligently as you can. First I started as a vegetarian. And for a whole year, I gave it a shot. And it kept my weight down. But honestly, my body fat wasn't as low - I got a little bit softer. I was getting injured a lot more. I felt a lack of 'umph.' But I was very determined to try and be a healthier person."
After researching the Paleo diet, which focuses on hunter-gatherer foods like lean meats and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and cuts out the processed foods common in the Western diet, Mir decided it might be more in line with his nutritional needs as a fighter.
And then his wife, whom Mir joked at Wednesday's press conference was the real boss, chimed in.
"My wife looked at (the Paleo diet) and said, 'This is the Mediterranean Diet,' Mir said prior to the press conference. "I'm like, 'Yeah, pretty much.' She said, 'This is how we've been eating for like the last 10 years.' Sometimes you've got to come full circle to appreciate where you are now."
After Mir stopped with the vegan principle, he said the weight gain came quickly.
"I was four pounds shy of 300 pounds - I completely shot up," the former UFC heavyweight champ told MMA Fighting. "But my strength felt incredible, and my wind actually didn't feel that bad. The only thing I probably lost a little was footwork - ask a 300-pound guy to dance left and right ... so I worked in the pocket a little for those couple months."
But the weight gain hurt him in training, and it forced him to tighten up his core once again.
"I didn't realize that now that I've thinned out my waistline again, my guard has returned to be pretty manacing again," Mir said. "With the half-guard and guard, if you have a belly it's hard to pull your knees up. I have very flexible legs, so I'm trying to put hooks in and work the omoplata and go off on the side, and all of a sudden I've got this belly that my thigh keeps hitting against. It hurt my style.
"But being a professional you realize if something's in the way of you being a better fighter, it has to go - be it friend, family member, eating habits, sleeping regimen, if it doesn't work to make me a better fighter then it has to go."
Mir has combined the new diet with a new confidence in his wrestling game, as well.
"Six months ago, I couldn't take my wife off her feet unless I threw some jewelry on the bed," Mir joked, his wife Jennifer sitting at his side. "Other than that, my takedowns were horrible. When people are pushing me against the cage, in the past I was more susceptible to allowing it to happen because I had that jiu-jitsu mentality that I'm not going to grind back. Now I'm learning about head position and I like to grind back. If you're going to push into me, you're not pushing me backward. We're going to go down right here."
And the strength he believes he gave up when he went vegan has returned now that lean meats and other proteins are back in the mix - and now that he's developing other skills in the gym at the same time.
"People are saying to me, 'Oh, you're so much stronger,' " Mir said. "But I think it's that I'm finally using my strength. In the past, I would try to use as little strength as possible because strength will get you tired if you explode too many times. Well, get in shape."
And that's just what Mir believes he had to do. And he said if things go as planned against Nelson on Saturday night, people shouldn't be too hard on his opponent.
"If anybody's going to be on his case and feels that he has a bad performance on Saturday, they've just got to realize that he's facing the best version of me that ever existed, that I ever thought could exist," Mir said.
Mir fights Nelson in the co-main event of UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/27/off-yearlong-vegan-diet-experiment-frank-mir-feels-stronger-for/
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Mirko Cro Cop Decides Against Retirement, Will Fight One More Time for UFC
LAS VEGAS -- After Mirko Cro Cop's last fight in the octagon, it was thought he was headed for retirement.Now it turns out, that was a bit premature.
UFC president Dana White on Wednesday said that Cro Cop asked for and will receive the final agreed-upon fight from his contract at a future date to be determined.
White stated that he and Cro Cop (27-9-2, 1 no decision) had made a deal, and he would "honor my deal." He offered no further details as to when or who he would face in the bout.
Over his last 11 fights, the once-feared heavyweight star is 5-5 with one no contest, and has been knocked unconscious three times in the last four years. Each of his last two fights -- one against Frank Mir, the other against Brendan Schaub -- have ended with Cro Cop KO'd.
After the more recent loss to Schaub, White said at the time that he figured it would be Cro Cop's swan song in the octagon, saying, "Yeah, I'd have to say tonight is probably the last time we'll see Mirko Cro Cop fight." Cro Cop, too, floated the idea of retirement, as he has in the past.
Still, it seems the rough stretch is not enough to persuade Cro Cop from hanging up his gloves, nor is it enough to dissuade White from giving him one final fight.
"Do I think he should have retired? Yeah," White said. "But I don't think he's in one of these situations like Chuck Liddell, who needed to retire right then. He's a man, a grown man, and if he wants to continue to fight, that's his right. And he still has a fight with me."
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/25/ufc-to-offer-mirko-cro-cop-one-more-fight/
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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Lockout limbo: Vikings report
With NFL teams stuck in a state of limbo thanks to the lingering lockout, we are taking a tour around the league and looking at where teams stand as they await the opening of the 2011 league year. Today, we offer our take on where the Vikings stand.
Top three story lines
1. Who will play quarterback? That's the big question, and we likely know only two of the three names who will be competing once football gets under way: Joe Webb, first-rounder Christian Ponder and, perhaps, a veteran to be named later. Even though the Vikings sent out small signals they at least were intrigued by Rhett Bomar, whom they added to the roster late last season, it's possible, very likely even, that the team explores options in the trade and free-agent markets. Webb remains tartare raw, and Ponder might not be ready by Week One without on offseason to speak of. A veteran, such as Donovan McNabb or Marc Bulger, would make a lot of sense.
2. The defensive line could be a shell of its former self. First off, its most indispensible player, DT Kevin Williams, is likely facing a four-game suspension to start the season. So is Pat Williams, but the Vikings most likely have moved on from the 38-year-old free agent. Also likely to leave is DE Ray Edwards, who could fetch big money somewhere else, possibly Atlanta. That leaves DE Jared Allen as the only starter returning. DEs Brian Robison and Everson Griffen could split time at Edwards' DRE spot, but who will replace Kevin Williams early on? Rookie Christian Ballard has the talent to step in and get his feet wet.
3. The Vikings have been talking about signing RB Adrian Peterson to a long-term deal. The lockout has put those plans on indefinite hold. WR Sidney Rice may or may not be a free agent when the lockout ends, and as of now the team might not be able to afford both. Peterson is the priority as the face of the franchise, but it was painfully obvious how much Rice's absence hurt the offense early last season.
2011 free agency — whenever that happens
Unsigned players: S Husain Abdullah (3), WR Hank Baskett (5), OL Ryan Cook (5), DE Ray Edwards (5), DT Fred Evans (5), S Eric Frampton (4), OLB Chad Greenway (5, franchised), OLB Erin Henderson (3), QB Tarvaris Jackson (5), WR Jaymar Johnson (2), OLB Ben Leber (9), WR Greg Lewis (8), PK Ryan Longwell (14), QB Patrick Ramsey (9), WR Sidney Rice (4), CB Lito Sheppard (9), FB Naufahu Tahi (5), CB Frank Walker (8), S Madieu Williams (7), DT Pat Williams (13), RB Albert Young (2). [Editor's note: The number after a players' name is his years of service in the league. If the NFL decides to go with free agency under the same rules as used in 2010, then a player would become a restricted free agent after three years and an unrestricted free agent after six years.]
Analysis: Chances are good that Rice, a fourth-year free agent, will be under contract as a restricted free agent as the Vikings won't let him go that easily. But keeping him in the long term could be tricky. Edwards has tried to talk his way out of Minnesota as quickly as he can, but there is a chance — if we go by 2010 rules — that he would not be unrestricted. If so, there is a chance he could be traded. The Falcons appear to be the team hottest on his trail. After that, a lot of the players don't appear to be high priorities for the Vikings. They have franchised Greenway and want him back at all costs. But many of the remaining free agents — several of them starters last season — won't return at anything close to big money. The Vikings also are not likely to go out and spend wildly on outside help, but they could bring in a new slew of lower- and middle-tier veterans.
2011 rookie class
First-round QB Christian Ponder (No. 12 overall) — Although fans might not have liked the pick at the time, it would not be shocking if the heady but injury-prone Ponder starts early this season.
Second-round TE Kyle Rudolph (No. 43 overall) — Tight end wasn't the most pressing need imaginable, but the Vikings got a quality receiver and blocker who would have gone higher had he not been hurt as a junior.
Fourth-round DT Christian Ballard (No. 106 overall) — Don't be shocked if this talented but underproducing talent is starting Week One when Kevin Williams is (likely) suspended.
Fifth-round CB Brandon Burton (No. 139 overall) — Has natural cover skills but was beat too often in college and might take a while to develop.
Sixth-round OT DeMarcus Love (No. 168 overall) — Could end up at tackle or guard; has some positional flexibility.
Sixth-round FS Mistral Raymond (No. 170 overall) — Unheralded pick who is limited athletically but will compete at need position and on special teams.
Sixth-round C-OG Brandon Fusco (No. 172 overall) — Small-school scrapper will have to make NFL adjustment, but interior reserve spot is there for the taking.
Sixth-round LB Ross Homan (No. 200 overall) — Will be special-teams warrior but actually has chance to compete at weak-side spot in time.
Seventh-round DE D'Aundre Reed (No. 215 overall) — Athletic rusher who put up decent production in part-time role at Arizona.
Seventh-round WR Stephen Burton (No. 236 overall) — Good-sized possession receiver and returner who must clean up his route running.
Lockout fallout: How impacted will the Vikings be by the work stoppage?
On a scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most significantly impacted), the Vikings rate a 7. It's fair to say that the Vikings' starting quarterback has not taken a snap with the team yet. In all fairness to Joe Webb, who did an admirable job down the stretch, it's not going to be him. So we're either talking about Christian Ponder or a veteran to be named later. After that, the uncertainty of Kevin Williams, Sidney Rice and Adrian Peterson also has made for some tense moments — plus there are some needs to fill on this roster. It's a good thing that Leslie Frazier and a large chunk of his coaching staff got to work with much of the roster last season, or this lockout meter might be pushing 10.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/26/lockout-limbo-vikings-report
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Injury Forces Darren Uyenoyama Out of DREAM Japan GP
Filed under: DREAM, News, Japan
Strikeforce veteran Darren Uyenoyama has been forced out of his May 29 DREAM bantamweight grand prix bout with Atsushi Yamamoto due to a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.DREAM Keiichi Sasahara delivered the news of Uyenoyama's withdrawal on Wednesday, stating that the San Francisco-based grappler first injured his hand in his September 2009 demolition of then-Shooto champion Shuichiro Katsumura. The hand was thought to be healed but Uyenoyama re-fractured the bone during a training session on Monday.
Coming in on four days notice will be Seichi Ikemoto pupil and DREAM newcomer Yusaku Nakamura. The Osaka-based striker racked up an 8-1 record in the amateur ranks before turning pro in 2010 and since then Nakamura has gone undefeated in his professional career. His fists have scored him three consecutive knockouts thus far, his most recent a second-round stoppage of the much more experienced Isao Terada at Deep 50.
DREAM "Fight for Japan" - May 29, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena, Japan
Shinya Aoki vs. Rich Clementi
Joachim Hansen vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
"Lion" Takeshi Inoue vs. Koichiro Matsumoto
Caol Uno vs. Akiyo Nishiura
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Daisuke Nakamura
Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals:
Masakazu Imanari vs. Keisuke Fujiwara
Hideo Tokoro vs. Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa vs. Takafumi Otsuka
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Atsushi Yamamoto
Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinals:
Masakazu Imanari/Keisuke Fujiwara vs Hideo Tokoro/Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa/Takafumi Otsuka vs. Yusaku Nakamura/Atsushi Yamamoto
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/25/injury-forces-darren-uyenoyama-out-of-dream-japan-gp/
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