Wow, they really pulled out all the stops for the new UFC Gym. I wonder how much memberships run, since this place appears to have anything and everything?
Credit to mmafighting for the find.
Lookoutawhale does it again. Thanks to Fightlinker for the find.
In case you haven’t seen the exclusive interview that he gave ESPN, you can see it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gv_37rblsk
I would have embedded it, but the asshats at ESPN want you to watch the ad before the video at their youtube page.
Here’s our photos from Best of the Best 18 “The Real Deal” on Friday night, make sure you check out the captions so you know who the fighters are and click the slideshow to view the pictures individually.
Thanks again to Dana Pitcher Productions
We are coming to you live from Columbus, Ga. Dana Pitcher presents Best of the Best 18 – “The Real Deal”. Full fight card and live coverage follow:
Middleweight Amateur
Chris Brinkley 1-0 vs Nick Oliver (unknown)
Gloves are touched and we are under way. Nick starts with a short leg kick and Chris responds with a jab. Nick shoots a great double and gets Chris to the ground. Chris is able to get to half guard and they struggle against the ropes. Chris keeps trying to move his hips out but Nick sticks to him. Chris manages to sweep with a kimura attempt and tries to stand when Nick takes him right back down. Nick struggles to mount Nick but Nick is able to attempt and secure the hammer lock.
Chris Brinkley def Nick Oliver by sub (hammer lock) in rd. 1
Lightweight Amateur
Kawika Smith 0-1-0 vs Randy Gay (unknown)
Randy comes out with a push kick to start. Kawika drops him with a straight right counter. Randy struggles on the ground and manages to stand back up. The fighters exchange some flurries that Smith seems to be getting the better of. Randy keeps throwing a push kick that is easily countered with punches and sweeps. Randy is caught with a single leg take down and is allowed to stand back up. Kawika takes a number of shots on the feet but maintains his composure. Randy manages to land several telling blows on Kawika’s chin but starts to gas at the end of the round. THIS IS A BANGER FOLKS. Randy, now weathers some shots but is able to trip Kawika to the ground. Kawika immediately reverses position and take’s Randy’s back. Kawika is working for an RNC when time runs out.
Round 2 begins and Randy is nonstop swing for the fences. Kawika clinches and drags him to the ground. Randy seems to want to keep it on the ground as he’s tiring and looks to be a better ground fighter. Randy is allowed to stand and Kawika comes at him with leg kicks and jabs. Randy returns with a right cross but no follow up. Both fighters are showing signs of fatigue. Randy conserves energy as Kawika attacks with jabs and kicks. Randy throws a couple knees in the clinch and is taken down. Kawika gains side control and eventually North/South position. Kawika works for a hammer lock as the time runs out.
Round 3 begins with both fighters barely touching gloves from fatigue. The fighters clinch and Randy ends up on his back. Kawika is standing over Randy throwing punches and improving position to side control. Kawika attempts to secure every type of dominant position on Randy (side control on both sides, north south, mount, and half guard on either side.) but is unable to finish him.
Kawika Smith def Randy Gay by unan. decision.
Featherweight Amateur
Thorne Faught (1-0) vs. Charles Hall (1-0)
Faught immediately shoots for a double and gets Hall to the ground. Hall works for a guard but Faught is able to pass and attempt an armbar that misses. The fighters stand and Hall comes at Faught with some punches. Hall pulls Faught down and tries for a guillotine. Faught escapes and moves to take Hall’s back. Faught works some punches and moves up on Hall’s back to attempt another armbar. Faught escapes and moves to top position when he tries for a Peruvian necktie. Faught is able to unfurl himself but is still caught in a guillotine when time expires.
Round 2 the fighters look to keep it standing to start. Faught, the taller man, throws some kicks to set up a shot. Faught takes hall to the ground with a double leg takedown and lands in side control. Faught works a strong kimura but Hall defends. Faught is able to maintain a dominant position in side control for most of the round working for kimuras and armbars. The round ends with the fighters in the same position.
The fighters trade some leather at the start of the 3rd round, mostly Faught throwing kicks and jabs before shooting for another double. He takes Hall to the ground but lands in his guard. Hall moves his guard a little too high and Faught is able to slip through to half guard. The fighters stall out and are stood up. Hall is able to sprawl to defend another takedown and deliver some shots to the body before he is pushed against the ropes and slides to the ground. The round comes to a close with Faught working in Hall’s half guard.
Thorne Faught def Charles Hall by unan. decision.
Heavyweight
Mark “Beeker” George (3-0) vs. Jason Guida (22-16)
Jason gets a quick takedown to start and moves to full mount but is unable to do anything with it before Mark sweeps. Jason is able to mitigate damage from the ground and they get to standing. Strikes are exchanged on the feet with Mark getting the better of the exchanges. The fighters clinch in Jason’s corner where he is able to receive instruction. Jason is able to throw some effective knees in the clinch before he gasses pretty badly and Mark is able to throw some shots from the outside at will. The round ends with the fighters in the blue corner.
Round 2 begins with the fighters exchanging a number of punches before they return to the corner. Mark is able to throw more leading right hands and proves too much for Jason as he waves himself out in his corner causing the referee to halt the fight.
Mark “Beeker” George def Jason Guida by TKO in the 2nd round.
Middleweight
Joey Mickle (3-0) vs. Mike Pitz (3-1)
Joey comes out exhibiting some strong boxing. Mike buys his time and is able to pick Joey up for a slam. Joey keeps from being hurt too badly in the slam and Mike stands over him in the corner and delivers some strikes. They are reset to the middle of the ring and Mike is able to improve his position to side control. Joey attempts a an armbar from the ground that Mike escapes only to be caught in an ankle lock attempt. Mike tries for a knee bar of his own when they escape each other’s submissions. Mike is able to stay standing and deliver some shots while Joey defends from his back. Mike gets back into Joey’s guard and tries some Ground and Pound to little effect.
Round 2 begins and Joey comes out with some strikes but is taken down by Mike before too long. Mike is able to quickly take the mount. MIke gets up high and feints a crossface to move to a kimura attempt. Joey defends it but is still in trouble with Mike high on his body. Joey tries to use his feet to push Mike back off of him but Mike continues to reign down blows to the face when the ref calls it.
Mike Pitz def Joey Mickle by TKO in rd 2.
Middleweight
Tim “Tiny Tim” Stone (1-0) vs. Daniel Schmitt (1-1)
The fighters touch gloves and Daniel comes out with a 1-2 combo. Tim gets clinched but is able to get underhooks in and trip Daniel to the ground. Daniel moves to stand and Tim is able to get the back with no hooks. Daniel rolls out and they both stand. Some strikes are exchanged and Tim is able to bring Daniel to the ground once again. Tim postures up for some strikes and Daniel moves to stand. (When Tim takes Daniel down he lets out a scream that indicates some injury but he continued*) Tim is able to take the back and sink hooks in this time. Daniel scrambles but is no match for Tim’s strength. Tim is able to maintain the back until a few seconds before the bell when Daniel explodes and turns over in Tim’s guard. Tim then reaches for his knee screaming out in pain as the referee stops the fight.
*When the round ends Tim is unable to stand and the doctor is brought in to examine him. It seems he sustained a knee injury when Daniel came down on him in the last takedown.
Daniel Schmitt def Tim Stone by TKO (injury) at the end of the first round.
Lightweight
Ryan Williams (10-4) vs. Josh Thorpe (8-1)
Fighters look tentative to start but Josh shows some quick hands with his probing jabs. Ryan uses some leg kicks to soften Josh up but Josh is able to avoid most of them. Ryan clinches and gets underhooks to attempt a takedown. He is able to get one with much difficulty and Josh is able to stand quickly. Josh is showing very quick hands with some jab-straight combos from the southpaw stance. Ryan continues with leg kicks that seem to do little damage. Josh is able to avoid most strikes until Ryan gets a good clinch and fires some knees to the midsection. Josh disengages and lands some strikes that make Ryan move away. Ryan approaches again and moves to clinch now that he’s found success in that position. Josh gets tripped and the round ends with Josh on the ground.
In the 2nd round Ryan closes distance quickly and goes for a single leg takedown after some strikes. Josh is able to defend and they stand square. Ryan continues to throw leg kicks that Josh fails to check. Josh is, however, connecting with his quick hands. Josh’s cup is huge, it must be a 4X. Ryan goes back to clinch but is unable to land anything significant. Josh comes back at him with a flurry and connects with several shots in the corner. Ryan’s chin holds up as Josh chases him around the ring. Ryan drops for a takedown but Josh is able to stuff it.
Josh is the aggressor in this round stalking Ryan with jabs and straight lefts. Ryan looks slightly fatigued but is still landing leg and body kicks. Ryan rushes for a single leg take down and is stuffed. Josh gets Ryan’s back and throws some strikes to the body before Ryan rolls out and gets into half guard. Josh gets out of it and goes back to standing. Josh is countering Ryan’s leg kicks with rushing flurries. Josh was able to dodge one of Ryan’s punches and hip toss him almost on his head. The fighters get back to standing and the time runs out of the final round.
Josh Thorpe def. Ryan Williams by split decision.
Lightweight Best of the Best Title Bout
Keoki “Hawaii’s Bad Boy” Cypriano (6-1) vs. Kalvin “Hot Boy” Hackney (10-1)
Kalvin starts with a legkick that goes right into a shot. Kalvin is able to get the double and pick him way up for a slam as Keoki tries to secure a guillotine befoe he comes crashing down. Kalvin lands in Keoki’s guard after the epic slam and both fighters look very comfortable and maintain their composure. Kalvin improves to half guard but Keoki scrambles to his feet. Kalvin gets Keoki in a clinch and delivers some knees to the head. Kalvin is able to take Keoki down once more and then delivers strikes to the body as Keoki twists to work Kalvin’s arm. Kalvin carefully posts up to deliver some strikes while Keoki attempts to manipulate Kalvin’s hips while moving his own. Kalvin improves to half guard and delivers some strikes to Keoki’s head while they’re pressed into the turnbuckle. The ref resets them to the middle and Kalvin moves to mount quickly. Keoki scrambles and gives up his back standing. Kalvin delivers a big suplex and hops up on Keoki when they get to the ground. Kalvin is able to quickly secure an armbar and Keoki taps defending his championship belt.
Kalvin Hackney def. Keoki Cypriano by sub. (armbar) in rd. 1.
Super Heavyweight
Brandon Sayles vs. Arnold Adams (both making MMA debut)
Big boys come out, Brandon looks to have some solid boxing experience exhibiting good head movement and good jabs. He mixes it up with leg kicks as well. Arnold is reluctant to throw much early in the round and only throws some probing jabs that miss for the most part. Brandon is producing most of the pressure in the first, stalking Arnold all around the ring. Arnold sets up an overhand right with a double jab that lands well. Arnold seems to be finding his confidence as he moves around the ring with Brandon. Brandon has yet to land anything substantial…. as I type that Brandon lands a huge shot that nearly sends both fighters through the ropes into our press table. Arnold hits the ground and does not recover.
Brandon Sayles def Arnold Adams by KO in the 1st round.
And that’s all from us in Columbus, Ga for Best of the Best 18 – “The Real Deal”. Thank you to Dana Pitcher productions for putting on a great show with all these awesome fights.
All photographs from the event can be seen here. The Real Deal “Best of the Best 18″ Event Photos
I came across this video from our friends at fightlinker and its great. Easily one of the best MMA highlight videos I have ever seen, give it a watch.
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So we all loaded up and headed out to Memphis for the weekend to check out UFC 107, because it isnt a bad drive from Atlanta. We knew going into the card that it had some potential, but I will honestly tell you that top to bottom it was one of the best cards of 2009. I think they showed the Da Marques Johnson head kick into triangle on TV which is great, because it was EPIC. But honestly, 3 of the undercard fights could have easily been broadcasted. We were really lucky to take in all the fights live.
BJ looks unstoppable, balancing on every single takedown Diego threw at him. I couldnt believe how many attempts at offense by Diego were met with stiff straight punches. Florian fought a flawless and technical fight weathering the storm from Guida and picking his shots to work towards an RNC. This sets up a Sanchez vs. Florian rematch that I think would be one for the ages.
Frank Mir continues to back up all of his shit talking, but I don’t hold much stock in him handling Kongo. By this time, we all know that Kongo is irrelevant and with another loss probably doesnt belong in the UFC. Jon Fitch continued his winning ways, but was again hesitant to go for the finish. As one of my favorite fighters due to his methodical training and technical nature I was a bit unsatisfied with the win. Jon has to start taking chances to be taken seriously and I hope this fight is the heads up he needs.
I could go on and on but this card was super badass so try and watch it if you haven’t yet. Now that were back in the saddle we will be bringing you news and notes form the weekend as we get it.
MMA Live offers up a preview of UFC 107, headlined by the lightweight title tilt between the champion B.J. Penn and No. 1 contender Diego Sanchez. Dan Henderson discusses his decision to sign with Strikeforce, and 2008 U.S. olympian Ben Askren talks about his new deal with Bellator Fighting Championships.
Quite possibly one of the best pictures ever. It was nice to see Forrest get a much needed win and hear Tito explain about why he lost. Do you think Tito took the first 2 rounds and won the fight? What say you??
MMA Live stacks the deck with recaps of UFC 105 and WEC 44, as well as a preview of UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin II. Also, MMA legend Dan Henderson is in Bristol with an update on his fighting future.
