MMA Top 10 Rankings: Lyoto Machida Makes Immediate Impact on Middleweight Division

The updated MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday, Oct. 30. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters from across the world in each of the seven most widely accepted men’s weight classes and the Top 10 pound-for-pound women fighters.

Taken into consideration are a fighter’s performance in addition to win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most comprehensive rankings system in the sport.

Fighters who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after the completion of their suspension.

Fighters must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to be eligible for Top 10 consideration unless they have a bout scheduled within a reasonable time frame.

Note: Dominick Cruz is ineligible for consideration because he hasn’t fought in more than a year. John Lineker is ineligible for consideration at flyweight due to failing to make weight for his last two bouts.

(Fighter’s previous ranking is in parenthesis.)

Below are the current MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings:

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND (all weight classes)
1. Cris Cyborg Justino (1)
2. Ronda Rousey (2)
3. Cat Zingano (3)
4. Jessica Eye (4)
5. Sarah Kaufman (5)
6. Miesha Tate (6)
7. Jessica Aguilar (7)
8. Sara McMann (8)
9. Alexis Davis (9)
10. Liz Carmouche (10)

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)
1. Cain Velasquez (1)
2. Junior dos Santos (2)
3. Daniel Cormier (3)
4. Fabricio Werdum (4)
5. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (5)
6. Josh Barnett (6)
7. Travis Browne (7)
8. Frank Mir (8)
9. Alistair Overeem (9)
10. Mark Hunt (10)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
1. Jon Jones (1)
2. Alexander Gustafsson (2)
3. Glover Teixeira (3)
4. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (4)
5. Phil Davis (5)
6. Rashad Evans (7)
7. Dan Henderson (8)
8. Chael Sonnen (9)
9. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (10)
10. Gegard Mousasi (n/a)

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185-pound limit)
1. Chris Weidman (1)
2. Anderson Silva (2)
3. Vitor Belfort (3)
4. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (4)
5. Michael Bisping (5)
6. Lyoto Machida (n/a)
7. Mark Munoz (6)
8. Luke Rockhold (7)
9. Yushin Okami (8)
10. Tim Kennedy (9)

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)
1. Georges St-Pierre (1)
2. Johny Hendricks (2)
3. Carlos Condit (3)
4. Rory MacDonald (4)
5. Martin Kampmann (5)
6. Jake Ellenberger (6)
7. Jake Shields (7)
8. Demian Maia (8)
9. Robbie Lawler (9)
10. Ben Askren (10)

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (155-pound limit)
1. Anthony Pettis (1)
2. Benson Henderson (2)
3. Gilbert Melendez (3)
4. TJ Grant (4)
5. Michael Chandler (5)
6. Gray Maynard (6)
7. Eddie Alvarez (7)
8. Josh Thomson (8)
9. Khabib Nurmagomedov (9)
10. Nate Diaz (10)

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145 pound-limit)
1. Jose Aldo (1)
2. Chad Mendes (2)
3. Ricardo Lamas (3)
4. Cub Swanson (4)
5. Pat Curran (5)
6. Frankie Edgar (6)
7. Chan Sung Jung (7)
8. Dustin Poirier (8)
9. Nik Lentz (9)
10. Darren Elkins (10)

BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION (135 pounds or less)
1. Renan Barão (1)
2. Urijah Faber (2)
3. Michael McDonald (3)
4. Raphael Assuncao (4)
5. Bibiano Fernandes (5)
6. Eddie Wineland (6)
7. Brad Pickett (7)
8. TJ Dillashaw (8)
9. Takeya Mizugaki (9)
10. Erik Perez (10)

FLYWEIGHT DIVISION (125 pounds or less)
1. Demetrious Johnson (1)
2. Joseph Benavidez (2)
3. John Dodson (3)
4. Ian McCall (4)
5. John Moraga (5)
6. Tim Elliott (6)
7. Ali Bagautinov (8)
8. Jussier da Silva (9)
9. Darrell Montague (10)
10. Will Campuzano (n/a)

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MMA Top 10 Rankings: Lyoto Machida Makes Immediate Impact on Middleweight Division

WWE Hell in a Cell 2013 results

Watch exclusive WWE Hell in a Cell videos | Watch the WWE Hell in a Cell replay

Randy Orton def. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match w/ special guest referee Shawn Michaels)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS) 

AJ Lee (c) def. Brie Bella (Divas Championship Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS | AJ LEE EXCLUSIVE) 

John Cena def. Alberto Del Rio (c) (World Heavyweight Championship Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS) 

Los Matadores def. The Real Americans
(RESULTS | PHOTOS)

CM Punk def. Ryback & Paul Heyman (Handicap Hell in a Cell Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS) 

Big E Langston def. Dean Ambrose (c) by count-out (United States Championship Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS | INJURY UPDATE | GRAPHIC PHOTOS: LANGSTON & AMBROSE GET STITCHED UP) 

Fandango & Summer Rae def. The Great Khali & Natalya (Mixed Tag Team Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS | FANDANGO & SUMMER EXCLUSIVE) 

Kane returned and unleashed his rage on both The Wyatt Family and The Miz
(FULL STORY | PHOTOS)

Cody Rhodes & Goldust (c) def. Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns and The Usos (WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS | CODY & GOLDUST EXCLUSIVE) 

Damien Sandow def. Kofi Kingston (Hell in a Cell Kickoff Match)
(RESULTS | PHOTOS | WATCH KICKOFF) 

Complete WWE Hell in a Cell coverage

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WWE Hell in a Cell 2013 results

Inside The Dungeon of Doom: Kevin Sullivan on wrestling's wackiest group

In summer 1995, one year before the emergence of The nWo, WCW was stuck in a seemingly inescapable limbo. The era of Ric Flair’s thrilling rivalries against Vader, Sting and Ricky Steamboat was in the rearview mirror. Hulk Hogan had arrived one year prior, but he wasn’t being accepted by Atlanta crowds with the same maniacal frenzy that had stirred up WWE fans in the ’80s.

The lead producer of WCW at the time, Kevin Sullivan – a Boston-bred veteran brawler – needed to come up with something. He needed to do it fast. And what he came up with might be the single most absurd narrative that has ever unfolded in one of the major sports-entertainment organizations — The Dungeon of Doom.

View photos of The Dungeon of Doom’s members | Watch the absurd videos inside The Dungeon’s lair

A cadre of cartoonish villains that assembled in a haunted fortress, The Dungeon grew and grew to amass no fewer than 20 individual members, each more ridiculous than the next. Watching the group’s television segments today is a surreal experience and plays like a B-movie out of the mind of Troma’s Lloyd Kauffman. There were bizarre sci-fi elements like teleportation, Hogan’s turn to “the dark side” long before going Hollywood and even the first on-screen appearance of Big Show.

With the rise of YouTube, the group’s run has developed a cult following thanks to its cheap production values and endlessly quotable lines like, “It’s not hot!” Fascinated by the the macabre world of The Dungeon of Doom, and the notion that its existence overlapped with the intense realism of The nWo, WWEClassics.com set out to discover the inside story. We sat down with Kevin Sullivan, the Dungeon’s Taskmaster, to find out what made the group tick and why it even happened at all.

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Inside The Dungeon of Doom: Kevin Sullivan on wrestling's wackiest group

WWE Pay-Per-View Buyrates For The Third Quarter Revealed

WWE reported their third quarter earnings for 2013 earlier this morning, announcing the pay-per-view buy rates for Money in the Bank, SummerSlam and Night of Champions.

* Money in the Bank ? 199,000 buys (compared to 188,000 the previous year)

* SummerSlam ? 296,000 buys (compared to 358,000 the previous year)

* Night of Champions ? 175,000 buys (compared to 189,000 the previous year)

The complete earnings release is available at this link.

Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.

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WWE Pay-Per-View Buyrates For The Third Quarter Revealed

UFC 167 Extended Preview (Video)

Check out a near-nine-minute preview for November’s UFC 167 card.

The extended preview features interviews with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, challenger Johny Hendricks, Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans.

Front-Page Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC 167 Extended Preview (Video)

Bellator 106 ‘Chandler vs. Alvarez 2’ Preview

Michael Chandler has finished his last four opponents. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

No pay-per-view, no problem.

While Tito Ortiz’s neck injury nixed his bout against Quinton Jackson and with it Bellator MMA’s first foray outside the free-fight realm, the show must go on. For those who were never interested in a main event featuring a pair of ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholders that was high on name value and low on upside, the rematch between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez — their first fight was one of 2011’s best — remains the marquee attraction.

Now, Chandler-Alvarez 2 headlines a free show on Spike TV, along with two other title bouts. It is a tried-and-true format for the promotion. As an added bonus, there will be no serious competition, at least MMA-wise, threatening to steal eyes away from the event on Saturday at the Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif. Instead of worrying about buy rates and price points, it is time to sit back and enjoy one of the best cards Bellator has ever put together.

Here is a closer look at Bellator 106 “Chandler vs. Alvarez 2,” with analysis and picks:

Michael Chandler (12-0, 9-0 Bellator) vs. Eddie Alvarez (24-3, 8-1 Bellator) The Matchup: If for some reason you have not watched the first meeting between Chandler and Alvarez, it is well worth your time to set aside 22 minutes to do so before you continue reading. Even if you have seen it, there is no time like the present for an encore viewing.

(Waiting) …

OK, now that you are convinced that this fight alone makes Bellator 106 must-see TV, it is important to recognize that rematches always come with a caveat: in the fight game, rarely do return dates resemble their predecessors. A shocking Junior dos Santos knockout is countered by five rounds of Cain Velasquez dominance — and four-plus rounds after that; a classic 25-minute duel between Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson is followed by a first-round submission; and the list goes on. That does not mean Chandler-Alvarez 2 is not worth watching; it just means it could be different. If the two lightweights come anywhere near producing a reasonable facsimile of their initial encounter, we all win.

Of course, Alvarez was not even supposed to be here. A move to the UFC seemed like a done deal for the Blackzilians product following a head kick knockout of Patricky Freire at Bellator 76 in October 2012. However, a matching rights dispute between the two promotions became ugly and threatened to shelve Alvarez for an extensive period. As it is, this will be the Philadelphia native’s first bout in more than a year. Eventually, Alvarez relented and re-upped with Bellator, but he appeared less than enthused about the deal in the interviews that surfaced shortly thereafter. If anything can re-ignite Alvarez’s passion, it is the chance to avenge the loss to Chandler. The chance to compete, no matter the employer, figures to be more than a welcome change, as well.

Chandler’s first victory over Alvarez marked a coming-out party of sorts for the former University of Missouri wrestler. Sure, he had been impressive in dispatching Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Freire to capture Bellator’s Season 4 lightweight tournament, but that run made him no less of an underdog heading into his bout with Alvarez. It did not take long for Chandler to establish himself as a serious threat, as he dropped the reigning champion almost immediately with a Superman punch and floored Alvarez again later in the first round with a right hand. Chandler survived some heavy fire in the next two frames — including a likely 10-8 authored by Alvarez in round three — and recovered to submit his opponent in the fourth round. What stood out most was that Chandler, unable to use his wrestling to hold down Alvarez consistently, was forced to rely on his striking. Such evolution is par for the course for Chandler, who transitioned from the Missouri wrestling mats to MMA as a relatively raw prospect.

Today, the reigning 155-pound king is far more than a top-game wrestler. His ever-improving standup and submission defense is backed by high-level athleticism, a scary mix for opponents. Whether it was going toe-to-toe with Freire, becoming to first person submit Olympic judoka Rick Hawn or absolutely obliterating the versatile David Rickels, Chandler has shown that he can do it all.

That brings us back to Alvarez, the man best equipped to end Chandler’s title reign before his recently inked eight-bout contract expires.

While something of a slow starter, Alvarez is a proven finisher — only three of his 24 victories of gone the distance — and his standup arsenal is more versatile than that of the hard-punching Chandler. In addition to solid boxing skills and an understanding of angles, Alvarez’s ability to throw both low and high kicks makes him even more dangerous. He is also adept at changing levels with his punches, utilizing fakes and feints to set up head and body work. Alvarez is not much of a takedown threat, but he showed a decent ability to return to his feet when planted by Chandler in their first bout.

The Pick: Alvarez would like nothing more than to engage Chandler in a wild scrap. However, it is hard to overlook the layoff and his overall disenchantment with the promotion in a closely matched bout, especially since Chandler keeps getting better. Chandler wins by TKO or submission in round three.

Next Fight » Pat Curran vs. Daniel Straus

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Bellator 106 ‘Chandler vs. Alvarez 2’ Preview

Matt Grice Continuing To Improve After Car Accident

UFC fighter Matt Grice continues to rehab from a horrible car accident that left him with significant injuries.

Grice, who last fought earlier this year vs. Dennis Bermudez, was hit at a stop light in Oklahoma. He is a police officer, but was off duty at the time.

“Thanks so much everyone,” Grice posted on his Twitter page. “Not 100% yet. Luckily I had some help from my wife on twitter.

“I’m getting your tweets. Thx for the support.”

There is a Facebook page for Grice where he is continually updating his progress.

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Matt Grice Continuing To Improve After Car Accident

Knockout Radio Live: Melvin Guillard, Brian Ebersole, Sarah Moras, and Emanuel Newton

Tune in Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. EST, for a spookily stacked Halloween edition of Knockout Radio featuring UFC fighters Melvin Guillard and Brian Ebersole, TUF 18′s Sarah Moras, and Bellator’s Emanuel Newton.

As always, Knockout Radio has the best prizes, surprises, and celebrity guests!

The phone lines will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. EST at 855-483-6646.

The radio show player goes live below from 6 to 8 p.m. EST. Refresh the page at that time to load the player.

Be sure to Follow @KnockoutRadio on Twitter.

Log-in to the chat room if you want to comment…

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Knockout Radio Live: Melvin Guillard, Brian Ebersole, Sarah Moras, and Emanuel Newton

Uriah Hall Tells His Side of the Story on Recent Scuffle with Mayhem Miller

Thinking that he was just out to show his support for a teammate, UFC fighter Uriah Hall ended up in an unintended scuffle of his own at the Oct. 25 BAMMA USA Beatdown 11 event.

The initial reports were simply that UFC’s Uriah Hall had taken a swing at Jason “Mayhem” Miller, as he taunted Hall while yelling racially laden taunts. Hall, however, told MMAWeekly.com how things occurred from his perspective.

Hall attended the BAMMA USA event to support fellow Reign MMA fighter Rachael Cummins.  He was approached by the promoters to go into the ring and be recognized alongside other celebrities in attendance.  This included Miller.

As he was making his way to the ring, he came up to a group of Reign MMA’s athletes who were huddled around a female.

“It was like they were protecting her,” Hall recalled. Uriah approached to check on the situation, and that is when Mayhem made his presence known.

“Initially, I saw a big bald-headed dude.  Then it hit me that it was Mayhem Miller.  I was a little star struck, at first,” said Hall. “He was yelling at me though, and wanted to talk to the girl. I guess it was his ex. I tried to stay calm and just diffuse things.  I was still kind of shocked that it was all happening.”

The yelling from Miller attracted the attention of several onlookers, including security guards. Hall said that once security got there, Miller’s aggression escalated. As a video put out by MMAInterviews.tv’s Spencer Lazara shows, Mayhem continued to yelling, getting more aggressive in his tone, which led to the eventual swing from Hall.

“I think I just barely clipped him,” he recalled.

Security quickly removed both Hall and Miller from the event floor, but it didn’t end at that point.  Hall admitted to later looking for Miller in the casino, until his anger subsided.  He later apologized to security.  Meanwhile, Miller took to his phone tweeting and texting more racially charged comments to Hall.

“I don’t know how he got my number,” said Hall. “I asked and his response was, ‘I am Mayhem Miller, I know everything.’”

Hall was back in training Saturday morning, and considered the incident to be behind him.  He says genuinely, “I feel sorry for him.  I hope he gets the help that he needs before it gets worse.”

Hall is hopeful that fans and media would shift their focus to his upcoming fight against Chris Leben at UFC 168, and would like to leave this incident in his past.

Thus far, the UFC has taken no action over the incident, and told MMAWeekly.com that they have no comment.

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Uriah Hall Tells His Side of the Story on Recent Scuffle with Mayhem Miller

Stephanie Comments On The WWE Network, Bret Hart Note, WWE Google Hangout Today

– Broadcasting & Cable did an article on the WWE App this week with comments from Stephanie McMahon. She noted WWE’s App has been downloaded 8 million times. Regarding the WWE Network, Stephanie said:

“We are looking at traditional and nontraditional distribution, and we’re targeting first quarter next year.”

- WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart is auctioning off a painting he did called “100 Man Cage Match.” Proceeds from the sale go to benefit The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

- Zack Ryder and Renee Young will be hosting a special Halloween Google Hangout session on Google Plus today at 12pm EST. They are asking fans to dress as your favorite Superstar or Diva to join the Hangout.

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Stephanie Comments On The WWE Network, Bret Hart Note, WWE Google Hangout Today

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Out Of Planned 2014 Fight With Alexander Gustafsson

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been forced to pull out of a fight planned for March with Alexander Gustafsson.

The two were expected to main event a 2014 card from England, but UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMAFighting.com that “Lil Nog” has been knocked out.

Nogueira has been forced to withdraw from several planned fights since his win over Rashad Evans earlier this year. Back issues continue to hamper the Brazilian.

No word yet on who will replace Nogueira and face Gustafsson. “The Mauler” is expected to earn a title shot with a win in his next fight.

Chael Sonnen, who has stated in the past that he goes into camp when Nogueira signs a fight contract because of the amount of times he has pulled out, didn’t let this news get past him.

“Lil Nog: the only man who has ‘no-showed’ more times than Axl Rose,” he wrote on Twitter.

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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Out Of Planned 2014 Fight With Alexander Gustafsson

Monday Morning Reverie: Best Foot Forward

Lyoto Machida poses an immediate threat to the middleweight elite. | Photo: Sherdog.com

For anyone skeptical of Lyoto Machida’s decision to drop from 205 to 185 pounds, it took 3:10 to erase the doubts. After spending a few minutes finding his range, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder unfurled a textbook left head kick to knock out Mark Munoz in the UFC Fight Night 30 main event on Saturday at the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester, England.

Machida required only a split second to detonate his shin on Munoz’s skill. “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” went from trying to solve his opponent to wondering why Jupiter, Saturn and dozens of stars were circling his head while he lay on his back. With that, the middleweight Machida Era had begun.

Afterward, Machida revealed he had maintained a strict diet for a full month in order to meet the 185-pound limit. If he had difficulty with the weight cut, it did not show up in his performance. Machida was near flawless against Munoz, fighting as well as he had at any time since surrendering his light heavyweight crown to Mauricio Rua more than three years ago. He had been inconsistent since his loss to Rua, but if his latest outing was any indication of what to expect from him moving forward, then current middleweight champion Chris Weidman had better start looking over his shoulder.

Machida left the door open to a return to 205 pounds, but after he felled Munoz, there is no reason to think he will ever need to do so. His style gives almost everyone he faces fits. When pitting his speed, technique and power against naturally smaller opponents, there is no telling how much damage he will leave in his wake in the middleweight division. Machida intimated he would be willing to meet anyone if UFC gold was on the line and did not exclude longtime friend Anderson Silva. “The Spider” will try to reclaim his 185-pound championship against Weidman in the UFC 168 headliner in December. Machida will likely need to fight at least one more time as a middleweight before he can jockey for his desired title shot. The most logical scenario pairs him with Ronaldo Souza, with the victor battling the winner of Weidman-Silva 2.

Weidman defends his title on Dec. 28.The other hot topic spawned by UFC Fight Night 30 was the no-contest between lightweight co-headliners Melvin Guillard and Ross Pearson. The fight was just picking up steam when “The Young Assassin” landed an illegal knee that opened a nasty gash on Pearson’s forehead. The laceration was deemed too severe for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 winner to continue, resulting in the universally loathed no-contest.

Referee Marc Goddard made the correct call in halting the bout, but the rule involving the type of knees Guillard executed needs to be addressed. While I would love to see the legalization of soccer kicks and knees to a downed opponent, I understand the issues surrounding them. However, Pearson was not exactly “downed.” When a man stands but leaves his fingertips touching the canvas, he is neither downed nor defenseless. If “The Real Deal” had remained on a knee, it would be a different story. MMA’s regulatory bodies need to amend the rulebook. A man standing on his own two feet with his fingers or hand on the canvas should be fair game when it comes to knees to the head.

Of course, the stoppage resulted from a cut, so the Guillard-Pearson match was going to end anyway. However, it may not be so clear next time. Thankfully, the UFC quickly arranged a rematch between the two lightweights, so we will have the opportunity to seem them tear into one another again in March.

Miscellaneous Debris: Nicholas Musoke could not have asked for a better Octagon debut. The Swede finished American Top Team veteran Alessio Sakara and nabbed the “Submission of the Night” bonus in the process. It will be intriguing to see what he does next … Luke Barnatt and Andrew Craig deserved “Fight of the Night” honors. The only downside to their encounter was that it concluded sooner than we would have liked. Hopefully, they will lock horns again somewhere down the road … Jimi Manuwa has earned all three of his UFC victories by technical knockout, giving him a 14-0 overall record with 14 finishes. There is a reason why many MMA message boards are fawning over the Nigerian-born Englishman and what he has accomplished thus far. The time has come to step up the level of competition.

Follow Mike Sloan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mikesloan19.

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Monday Morning Reverie: Best Foot Forward

Jim Ross Blogs On Weak SummerSlam Buy Rate, WWE Network Launch, His Upcoming Shows

Photo: Ty Lee

Source: JR’s BBQ

Jim Ross posted his latest blog at JRSBBQ.com, which is a great read. Here are some highlights:

The weak SummerSlam PPV buy rate: “Based on the WWE conference call this morning, executives were apparently disappointed with the Summer Slam PPV buys and the term ‘attraction’ was used as the reason. Couldn’t agree more. PPV’s are all attraction driven and they’ve always been…. However, the more that is given away on free TV and the more free TV that is provided in general the harder it is for attractions to be considered worth spending extra, big bucks on and adding to one’s cable or satellite bill.

“Plus, too often major storylines are 1. over thought and 2. over exposed in largely a ‘sameness’ presentation on free TV to make them feel special enough for one to want to invest significant money on PPV to see more… I’m a believer that TV ratings can be achieved without giving away multiple, PPV attractions but only if long term, creative planning is firmly in place. Changing things on the fly and making 11th hour decisions regarding direction, etc will never be a successful formula.

“PPV’s should generally feature one of two things. if not both, in different, main event level bouts, 1. The ‘blow off’ of a well told storyline or 2. The first bout of a well set up issue. It gets very tricky when one is trying to get multiple, PPV’s out of two talents on successive PPV events. It can be done but it’s getting harder and harder or so it seems.”

The launch of the WWE Network: “One would assume that if WWE was going to launch their long awaited, ballyhooed, WWE Network that it would be leading into WM30 in New Orleans as that would create a buzz for two, major events. So, my best guess regarding the Network’s launch would be in the 1st quarter of 2014 but that is merely a guess and arguably not an educated one.”

His upcoming shows: “We have multiple, major promotion companies looking to promote my ‘Evening with Jim Ross’ shows in 2014 and I’m looking forward started. I’d like to do approximately 100 shows next year.”

Much more is contained in Ross’ latest blog, including more on what drives pay-per-view business, needing “hot” talent, NXT talents not getting called up, WWE 2K14, a WWE talent buried during a production meeting and much more. You can check out the full entry by clicking here.

Also, don’t forget to order some of JR’s BBQ Sauce, which is great for the kitchen and the grill, at WWEShop.com by clicking here.

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Jim Ross Blogs On Weak SummerSlam Buy Rate, WWE Network Launch, His Upcoming Shows

Peggy Morgan’s TUF 18 Fighter Blog Week 9: I Screwed Up and Cody Broke

Last week, I dreamed that I fought Sarah Moras again, but I had to do everything exactly as I’d done it the first time. I knew all the mistakes I was about to make, but I couldn’t do anything to stop myself from making them. Basically, I was trapped inside my own body watching myself get beat up for a second time.

It sucked.

I’m fully aware how much of a head case I sound like right now, and I don’t care. Y’all have seen me in some pretty unglamorous situations. I mean, seriously. You’ve seen me in my underwear at 135 pounds. You’ve seen me trapped underneath another woman eating elbow after elbow. At this point, I couldn’t feel much more vulnerable than I already do, so screw it. Might as well start revealing my neurotic dreams to you as well. Especially since this particular neurotic dream pretty accurately sums up what it’s like to lose a fight on The Ultimate Fighter.

No matter what, losing hurts. I’m not talking about the obvious physical pain, which to be honest isn’t that bad. I’m talking about emotional stuff. After that loss, I looked back at all the hours I’d spent training, all the work my coaches and training partners had put into helping me, all the sacrifices my family and I had made, and all the time I’d given up with my son. I felt like I’d thrown it all away. I felt like I’d let myself down. I felt like I’d let my coaches and training partners down. More than anything else, I felt like I’d let my son down.

For a few weeks after, I was pretty freaking depressed. But I got over it. Now, four months later, the fight is finally airing for the first time, and I’m living the whole thing over again.

The worst part is anticipating how other people are going to react. Although this was my first MMA loss, I’ve lost before as an amateur boxer and kickboxer. That was different though, mostly because it wasn’t on TV. No one was tweeting or blogging or even talking about it. No one cared. For the first time in my life, I have to deal with losing on a big stage.

I know I’m going to get feedback from people saying I should have done this or I could have done that. I’ve been to plenty of fights and heard the stuff spectators say. It’s usually pretty obvious advice. Stuff like, “Don’t let him take you down!” or my personal favorite, “Punch him!” As a fighter, I’d just like to say: we know. Trust me. We say the same things inside our own heads. But sometimes it’s just not that easy.

You know how sometimes you have a bad day at the office? Well, the same thing happens to fighters, too. Some days, things just aren’t clicking. You can’t get the rhythm, can’t find the angle, can’t gauge the distance. You miss a shot. You sprawl too late. You grab an underhook when you should have kept the whizzer. You make one mistake and then another mistake and the next thing you know, you’re being elbowed in the head and then armbarred.

I don’t want to make excuses, and I definitely don’t want to take anything away from Sarah. She’s a tough chick and a good fighter. But long story short, I screwed up. I know I screwed up. That is all.

?And while we’re on the subject of screwing up, this is probably a good time to talk about Cody Bollinger missing weight. Anthony, Cody, Sarah, and I had been cutting together in the sauna the previous day, and I’d had no idea anything was wrong. I knew Cody was having a rough weight cut, but so were the rest of us, so it never occurred to me that he wouldn’t make weight.

But then the next day I was lying on one of the sofas in the Team Rousey locker room waiting for it to finally be time to weigh in when I heard that Dana was at the gym. That was the first indication that something wasn’t right. Dana didn’t spend a lot of time hanging around the gym. He was mostly only there for fights or if somebody was doing something they shouldn’t be. A few minutes later, Team Rousey heard the news: Cody had given up. It wasn’t that he missed weight. He wasn’t even trying to make weight anymore.

You all heard the explanation he offered: “I broke.”

It’s hard to understand, I know. Even other fighters who know how mentally and physically challenging a hard weight cut can be will have a hard time understanding what could impel someone to give up such an amazing opportunity. It’s probably even harder for the general public to understand.

Few people will ever endure the sort of deprivation fighters go through during a weight cut. I’m not complaining; it’s what we choose to do. Still, it’s more difficult than anyone who hasn’t been there can understand. You might think that the hunger is the worst, but it’s really the thirst that becomes unbearable. After a while, you get to a primitive state where you really don’t care about anything except getting some moisture back into your body. Your mind starts doing some strange things.

I don’t know what was going on in Cody’s head when he decided to give up and take a drink, but I’m pretty sure it’s a decision he’ll regret for the rest of his life.

Team Rousey’s Peggy Morgan is blogging exclusively for MMAWeekly.com readers throughout the Team Rousey vs. Team Tate season. You can follow her on Twitter @PeggyMorganMMA.

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Peggy Morgan’s TUF 18 Fighter Blog Week 9: I Screwed Up and Cody Broke

Jack Swagger Talks About Zeb Colter Becoming His Manager, Working With Cesaro, His Future

Jack Swagger recently spoke with Music Recall Magazine. Here are some highlights:

How Zeb Colter became his manager: “It’s a cool story. We were a couple weeks out from the Elimination Chamber in 2013. And we were in Nashville for a Raw TV taping, and Zeb lives in Nashville, and we knew we wanted another character to go along with the storyline. Triple H had an idea to bring him in, and he came in. He started discussing some ideas, and he did a couple promos on tape and Vince and Hunter just loved it. It was very meant to be. He already had the mustache and fit the character to a T.”

How Antonio Cesaro became a “Real American” and his tag team partner: “Antonio is a great competitor, a great technical wrestler and a very smart individual to go along with it. He immigrated to the United States the correct way: filling out the right paper work and paying his taxes. And as a Real American that’s all we ask for. He’s an example of what we want all immigrants to do in this country, storyline wise.

“I injured my hand; I severed two tendons in my thumb back in May. So I was off TV for a little bit, and Antonio came along. And him and Zeb had a real good bond. The rest is history. I came back from surgery, and we’re off to the races. We have great rapport with each other, work very well with each other and complement each other very well.”

If his future is in singles or tag team wrestling: “Both. I love tag team wrestling. I love working with Zeb and Antonio, I think we’re a great team. Singles is a lot of fun too. I think deep down I’ll always consider myself a singles wrestler. But tag team wrestling is a whole different animal, and I love the challenge of it, I love being the heel and getting away with stuff behind the ref’s back. Just the extra two people in the ring brings a different dynamic to the match that anything could happen. And it really intensifies things and really forces you to stay focused and keep your head on a swivel. Because you never know what could happen in a tag team match, which is very exciting in my eyes.”

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Jack Swagger Talks About Zeb Colter Becoming His Manager, Working With Cesaro, His Future

Two Title Fights Top UFC 169

The main and co-main events for UFC 169 have been announced… Two long-awaited title fights will finally take place on one night, as Newark, NJ hosts UFC 169 on February 1.

Dominant featherweight champion Jose Aldo will defend his title against second-ranked Ricardo Lamas in the main event.

In the night’s co-main event, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz returns from a two-year injury layoff for a title unification bout against interim champion Renan Barao.

That fight card also features a heavyweight matchup between former champion Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem.

More information, including ticket on-sale and additional bouts, will be announced in coming weeks on UFC.com.

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Two Title Fights Top UFC 169

Rey Mysterio Update, Directors Talk See No Evil 2, Hell In A Cell Attendance, Mickie James

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

- See No Evil 2 directors The Twisted Twins recently spoke with Gamer Hub TV about the movie and more. The video is embedded above.

- Regarding Rey Mysterio’s return, word is that until the quadriceps of his bad leg strengthens, he’s risking an injury doing anything physical in the ring.

- Diva Dirt has a new interview up with Mickie James, talking about Total Divas, WWE, TNA and more.

- WWE’s Hell In a Cell pay-per-view from the American Airlines Arena in Miami drew just 9,000 fans for a little over $500,000.

Subscribe to The Wrestling Observer by clicking here. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus history pieces. New subscribers can also receive free classic issues.

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Rey Mysterio Update, Directors Talk See No Evil 2, Hell In A Cell Attendance, Mickie James

Submit Your UFC Fan Video

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been Fighting for a Generation, and to celebrate 20 years of the UFC, we want to hear how YOU became an ultimate UFC fan.

Were you captivated by the revolutionary skillset of Royce Gracie way back in the early 1990s? Did you get hooked by the Hall of Fame runs of legends like Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell? Were you blown away by the epic 2005 war between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar? Or did you come to the sport much more recently, perhaps drawn in to MMA by the UFC on FOX or the incredible debut of Ronda Rousey and the women’s division?

Whether you’ve been part of the Octagon Nation right from the start or are a brand new fan, we want to hear your own ultimate UFC moment—the moment that made you tap out and become part of the fighting generation.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO
Upload your video to YouTube with the hashtag #UFC20Years in the title and submit the URL at UFC.com/Fans.

Visit our 20th Anniversary site at www.ufc.com/20years after November 1st to watch videos from your fellow UFC fans.

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Submit Your UFC Fan Video

WWE Main Event results: Fight or Fright

Kofi Kingston vs. Ryback: WWE Main Event, Oct. 30, 2013Los Matadores vs. Los Locales: WWE Main Event, Oct. 30, 2013Santino Marella vs. Heath Slater: WWE Main Event, Oct. 30, 2013The Great Khali vs. Fandango: WWE Main Event, Oct. 30, 2013Kofi Kingston uses his words carefully: WWE App Exclusive, Oct. 28, 2013WWE Hell in a Cell 2013 KickoffKofi Kingston vs. Damien Sandow: WWE Hell in a Cell 2013 Kickoff

TAMPA, Fla. – On the night before Halloween, the WWE Universe was in for an action-packed edition of WWE Main Event. Kofi Kingston did his best to survive against the monstrous Ryback, while Heath Slater tried to avoid the venomous bite of Santino Marella’s Cobra. Fandango came face-to-face with the Frankenstein-ish Great Khali and Los Matadores charged into action with the costumed El Torito by their side.

Ryback def. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston didn’t have to worry about Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees chasing him down on the night before Halloween. He did, however, have a massive monster coming for him on WWE Main Event, in the form of Ryback.

WWE Main Event Photos | Watch Ryback and Kofi Kingston do battle

Furious after back-to-back losses to CM Punk, The Big Guy was looking to get back in the win column Wednesday night. Kingston tried to use his rapid-fire kicks and speed to stick and move against his larger foe, but the monstrous Ryback was able to ground The Dreadlocked Dynamo.

After a series of kicks that wounded his lip, Ryback retreated to the floor. However, that might have been the worst place to go, as Kofi dove over the rope, crashing into his muscular foe.

Though The Wildcat staggered the beast with his stick and move offense, he never truly got a chance to get going. Ryback constantly cut him off, using his immense power to bulldoze the former Intercontinental Champion. He smiled as he brutalized Kingston, making it seem like it was easy.

It wasn’t a cakewalk for Ryback, though. Kingston spun over one of Ryback’s Meathook clotheslines, flooring the monster with devastating DDT. Ryback finally caught the speedy Kingston with a clubbing blow and Shell Shocked his foe to claim victory.

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WWE Main Event results: Fight or Fright

Future Uncertain for Former Bellator Champion Eddie Alvarez

With wins over Pride veterans Tatsuya Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen in 2008, Eddie Alvarez was seen as a potential star at lightweight. A loss to Shinya Aoki didn’t change much, and Alvarez was a clear favorite in the inaugural Bellator lightweight tournament. He didn’t disappoint, finishing all of his opponents inside two rounds to capture gold in the fledgling promotion.

Fast forward to 2011, and Eddie Alvarez scored one of the biggest wins of his career, in retrospect, against current Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran. However, the year would not end well, as Alvarez would lose his title in November in a fight of the year performance to Michael Chandler.

Since then, Alvarez has avenged his loss to Aoki, and knocked out Patricky Freire. And, thanks to some behind the scenes rules changes no longer requiring fighters to win tournaments to earn title shots, Eddie Alvarez is rematching Chandler in what is sure to be an incredible fight.

That’s the story from the fan’s perspective, but things aren’t as smooth from Alvarez’ perspective.

With a dominant title run featuring very exciting fights, Alvarez has been on the UFC’s radar for a while. Bellator, recognizing their asset, have provided him with a contract that almost certainly pays him more than your mid tier UFC lightweight. So, what’s the problem?

After losing to Chandler in 2011, Alvarez attempted to sign with the UFC. Despite the loss, he was still fairly highly regarded. However Bellator exercised its matching rights, and rather than go through a protracted legal battle, Alvarez decided the smart move was to stay with Bellator.

Now, Alvarez seemingly finds himself in an absolute must win situation. If he loses, he loses his value to both Bellator and the UFC. Bellator doesn’t need a guy who has already lost to their champion twice, and the UFC generally doesn’t care for fighters coming off losses. Now, that’s not entirely fair either. Even with a loss to Chandler, Alvarez would still be a very good signing for the UFC. However one can not discount the possibility that the UFC does not want a “failed” Bellator fighter to potentially tear up their division — lending credence to Bellator in the process.

It’s not unheard of for the UFC to give former Bellator fighters a chance. Cody Bollinger is currently competing on TUF 18. Luis Santos allegedly fought in a preliminary fight on TUF Brazil 2. And Wilson Reis just made his UFC debut, defeating Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165. Losing in Bellator isn’t necessarily a curse. However none of these fighters were nearly as high profile as Alvarez within the Bellator organization.

Just imagine, if Alvarez came over to the UFC and managed to win the UFC title, something would happen in the lightweight division for the first time since 2005: The UFC wouldn’t have the #1 guy in the world. The UFC can’t want to lend that kind of credence to Bellator, as exciting of a fighter that Alvarez is.

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Future Uncertain for Former Bellator Champion Eddie Alvarez

The Ultimate Fighter 18 Pre-Fight Interview: Peggy Morgan vs. Sarah Moras

MMAWeekly.com TUF 18 blogger Peggy Morgan and her opponent, Sarah Moras, review Michael Wootten vs. Josh Hill and share their thoughts on their upcoming quarterfinals bout.

Peggy Morgan and Sarah Moras fight on Wednesday night’s (Oct. 30) episode of TUF.

Courtesy of The Ultimate Fighter.

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The Ultimate Fighter 18 Pre-Fight Interview: Peggy Morgan vs. Sarah Moras

Military Vets on Fight for The Troops Card

Kennedy, Carmouche, Smith, and Magny all return to action on November 6th… A week from today, on Wednesday, November 6, the UFC will pay tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces with its Fight for the Troops event at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Competing on the card will be four veterans of the armed forces who have made the transition into the UFC, including headliner Tim Kennedy, former world title challenger Liz Carmouche, active duty Army vet and TUF 16 winner Colton Smith, and his TUF 16 castmate Neil Magny.

Below are capsule bios of this fearsome foursome, and for a closer look at the roster of military veterans who have fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, and PRIDE, check out the feature on them which is only available in the digital version of UFC 360 magazine. For more information, click here.

Tim Kennedy
A decorated member of the US Army who is a Ranger qualified Special Forces sniper and a former Green Beret, Tim Kennedy never did things in a conventional fashion, with his ability to be a top level mixed martial artist and an active duty soldier at the same time just the most notable example of his form of normal. “My dad was a police officer, so what was normal for us probably wasn’t normal for most, and that just got worse throughout life,” said Kennedy, currently a UFC middleweight. “What was normal in basic training wasn’t normal for most, it was the same in Special Forces school, and it just kept getting less normal than what other people were experiencing. And then the next thing you know, you’re just a Special Forces sniper Green Beret with a Ranger tab that’s been in every combat zone on the planet at the time, with over 200 gunfights, and that’s normal.”

Liz Carmouche
Along with Ronda Rousey, Liz Carmouche made history in 2013 when she competed in the first ever women’s fight in the UFC. She owes a lot of her success to her time in the US Marine Corps, where she served three tours of duty. “It taught me what I’m capable of achieving,” she said. “And it taught me that I can overcome any boundaries as long as I set my mind to it. And I think up until that point, I put it into question whether that was actually true, and the military proved to me that is indeed something I’m capable of.”

Colton Smith
An Airborne Ranger Qualified Infantryman in the US Army for the past seven years, Staff Sergeant Colton Smith has managed to juggle his military duties with an MMA career which saw him win season 16 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2012. “Being an Active Duty Leader and UFC fighter are two of the more challenging jobs a man can undertake,” he said. “As a soldier, our willingness to close with the enemy and destroy them for little or no recognition is what sets us apart. That gives us the intestinal fortitude to drive on, whether we are on the fields of battle or in the UFC Octagon.”

Neil Magny
A seven year Army veteran, The Ultimate Fighter 16’s Neil Magny, an All-Army Combatives Champion and the All-Guard Combatives Champion, was one of the first notable graduates of the Combatives program to make it big in mixed martial arts.

For more information on the UFC Fight for the Troops, and to bid on once in a lifetime auction items to benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, click here.

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Military Vets on Fight for The Troops Card

Why Eve And Vickie Were At The WWE Performance Center, Jim Ross On Questions With Cotton

- Jim Ross recently appeared on Questions with Cotton, which can be seen above.

- Vickie Guerrero was at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando on Wednesday for promo class. She tweeted:

“I was honored to visit the #NXT superstars and divas during promo class tonight! Very talented and creative! #wwe. #wweperformance”

- After teaching a self defense class to the WWE Divas on Tuesday, Eve Torres was teaching the NXT Divas a class on Wednesday at the Performance Center. She also attended the SmackDown tapings on Tuesday night. Eve tweeted:

“Great day at the amazing WWE performance training center! Worked #SelfDefense with the #NXT divas. @WWE has a bright future ahead!”

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Why Eve And Vickie Were At The WWE Performance Center, Jim Ross On Questions With Cotton

Former TNA Star Responds To Howard Stern, Kane Added To NXT Tapings, Kaitlyn Note

- WWE Diva Kaitlyn recently spoke with PWInsider TV about her new look, AJ Lee and more. The video is embedded above.

- Kane has been announced for the November 21st WWE NXT tapings from Full Sail University. As noted, Kofi Kingston and Natalya will also be appearing.

- Former WWE and TNA star Lance Hoyt tweeted the following in response to Howard Stern calling wrestling fake this week:

“Heard @HowardStern Thinks my Biz is ‘All fake s–t!’ I’d LOVE to show him how FAKE it is!!!! I Challenge The FARTMAN!”

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Former TNA Star Responds To Howard Stern, Kane Added To NXT Tapings, Kaitlyn Note

UFC 20: Revisiting UFC I

Looking back at the UFC’s first event as its 20th birthday approaches… Technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, but you still can’t go back in time. That’s the bad news for writers who would have loved to be on press row for Ali-Frazier I or III, or in the press box for Babe Ruth’s “called shot” in 1932 or Joe Namath’s guarantee in 1969.

Luckily for me, the UFC Encyclopedia project in 2011 allowed me to time travel in a way, as I got to go back and write up the UFC events I had watched as a fan, but didn’t get to document. November 12, 2013, is the 20th anniversary of the first UFC event at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. Here’s a look back at that historic first night from 1993, and though there are some references to future events like Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock’s Hall of Fame inductions, a fight night recap might have looked something like this:

Commentator and kickboxing legend Bill “Superfoot” Wallace may have gotten it wrong in the televised intro, calling it the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, but thankfully the fighters got it right in the Octagon during the first Ultimate Fighting CHAMPIONSHIP event at McNichols Arena in Denver, as they all played a key role in giving the world their first dose of the sport of mixed martial arts.

But the undisputed star of UFC 1 was 26 year old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Royce Gracie, whose introduction of “the gentle art” to the world stunned three bigger, stronger, and faster opponents who had no defense for his submission wizardry.

In the final of the eight man, one night tournament, which was created to see what martial arts style would fare best in a real fight, Gracie forced Savate specialist Gerard Gordeau to submit to a rear naked choke in one minute and 44 seconds.

The victory capped off a night that began with Gordeau’s frightening soccer kick knockout of 400 pound Teila Tuli, who lost a tooth in the 26 second bout thanks to the Dutchman.

The next quarterfinal bout was a back and forth affair, as Kevin Rosier shook off some rough moments in the early going against Zane Frazier to roar back and halt his opponent with two stomps to the head at the 4:20 mark that caused Frazier’s corner to throw in the towel.

Following this bout, the world got its first glimpse of the gi-wearing Gracie, a member of what would eventually be known as fighting’s first family. Standing across the cage from him was pro boxer Art Jimmerson, who bizarrely prepared for battle with one boxing glove on. Shortly after the opening bell, Gracie closed the distance with a kick and then took Jimmerson to the mat. Jimmerson baffled and unable to escape, tapped out 2:18 into the match.

Joining the final four in the semifinals was Ken Shamrock, who was already a veteran of Japan’s Pancrase organization. He needed just 1:49 to submit Pat Smith with a heel hook, and if anyone had a chance at figuring out the mysterious style of Gracie, it was Shamrock, who was not only physically imposing, but he had submission experience as well.

Gracie was not about to be figured out though, and in his semifinal bout with his fellow future Hall of Famer, he took Shamrock down, popped in a choke and his opponent tapped out at the 57 second mark.

The two would meet again, but there was other business to be taken care of first, and after Gordeau won his semifinal bout with a 59 second TKO of Rosier, Gracie squared off against the lanky European in the final bout of the tournament.

Again, fans wondered what Gracie would do with the devastating striker, but the Brazilian had the answer, and it was the one he had all night – takedown, choke, game over. This time, he used a rear naked choke to end his opponent’s evening, and at 1:44 of the bout, Royce Gracie was 3-0, was holding a check for $50,000 and he had just started a revolution.

An alternate bout between Jason DeLucia and Trent Jenkins saw DeLucia take just 52 seconds to finish off his opponent via rear naked choke.

Fight of the Night (unofficial) – Gracie Wsub1 Shamrock watch on UFC.tv
Knockout of the Night (unofficial) – Gordeau TKO1 Tuli
Submission of the Night (unofficial) – Gracie Wsub1 Gordeau watch on UFC.tv
One Hit Wonders – Teila Tuli, Art Jimmerson, Trent Jenkins, Gerard Gordeau
Art Jimmerson fared better in combat sports with two gloves, compiling a 33-18 record as a pro boxer from 1985 to 2002. And though he never won a world title, he did face off against future champions Jeff Harding, Dennis Andries, Orlin Norris, Vassiliy Jirov, and Arthur Williams. Jimmerson was never going to morph into a mixed martial artist, but Gerard Gordeau may have had a future in the game. Yet after one more post-UFC 1 bout, he called it quits.

THE LEGEND ON UFC I

After 17 years of covering combat sports, there are few interviews that can make you nervous. Talking to Royce Gracie was one of them. Luckily, when I spoke to him for the first time before he announced his return to the UFC to face Matt Hughes in 2006, he couldn’t have been more gracious, and in subsequent chats, the man who basically created this sport has always been generous with his time, recollections, and knowledge. But with a family full of jiu-jitsu legends, why was he chosen for UFC I?

“It was just the right time,” Gracie told me in 2006.  “I was the right size.  I wasn’t bulked up and big and I didn’t look very scary, so to speak.  It was just the right timing for me.”

And the wrong timing for everyone else. Yet despite the fact that the sport and its athletes have evolved since 1993, Gracie’s accomplishments in the early UFCs haven’t dimmed in the slightest, mainly because he was fighting in unknown situations every night out against multiple opponents. In UFC I alone, he fought three times in a single night.

“It was very different from the way it is now,” recalled Gracie.  “You draw the fighter right before the fight and your strategy is done right there on the spot.  You train for everybody.  When you’re in training camp you train for a big guy, little guy, fast guy, slow guy, heavy guy, strong guy, everybody.  So when you get an opponent, you say, ‘okay, that’s the guy – here’s the strategy for him.  He’s a boxer, so I’m gonna shoot.’  It was a lot more on the fly.  You have to be prepared for everybody.  Now, you get an opponent, you know who he is, you have the footage, and you train for him.  It’s different.”

It sure is, but while many things have changed, the respect for the legendary Gracie has never wavered. And never will.

The event recap was excerpted from the UFC Encyclopedia, which can still be purchased in the UFC Store or at bookstores and retailers around the globe.

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UFC 20: Revisiting UFC I

Eddie Alvarez Has Zero Regrets From Bellator Contract Negotiation

Eddie Alvarez and Bellator had a nasty contract dispute, but the former lightweight champion has no regrets how the situation was handled. After close to a year of arguing, they reached a deal.

“I believed in everything I was doing,” said Alvarez  on The MMA Hour. “Every action I made, I believed in. I thought I was doing the right thing. I think my best foot forward to do what I had to go to get to number one in the world and if anybody wants to blame me for that, then they can blame me for that, but I’m just trying to do my best to get to the number one spot.”

The exact details about the new contract haven’t been made public. When both sides were asked, they had no comment.

In his return to the promotion, Alvarez takes on lightweight champ Michael Chandler. For Bellator, Chandler is the only person to defeat Alvarez.

They headline Bellator 106 this Saturday, November 2. It’s from the Convention and Entertainment Center in California and the main card airs live on Spike TV.

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Eddie Alvarez Has Zero Regrets From Bellator Contract Negotiation

Shameless MMA Radio: Ed “Short Fuse” Herman and UFC Fight Night 30 Recap

On this edition of Shameless MMA the guys talk with the UFC’s Ed “Short Fuse” Herman, recap UFC Fight Night 30 and get into how other MMA promotions can keep their talent from going to the UFC.

All this and more on Shameless MMA!

Click here to continue reading MMAWeekly.com while listening to Shameless MMA Radio.

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Shameless MMA Radio: Ed “Short Fuse” Herman and UFC Fight Night 30 Recap

'WWE 2K14': on sale now!

NEW YORK – 2K today announced that “WWE 2K14,” the company’s latest release in the flagship WWE video game franchise, is now available throughout North America for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system. Complementing the game’s launch, 2K also announced the WrestleMania 30 contest, in which players may submit creative screenshots of in-ring WWE 2K14 action – inspired by sought-after WrestleMania XXX matches – for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip for two to the pop culture extravaganza of the year, WrestleMania XXX, scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2014, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

“With an unparalleled roster of iconic WWE Superstars, Divas and Legends, and 46 of the greatest matchups spanning three decades of WWE history in “30 Years of WrestleMania” Mode, “WWE 2K14″ is the most authentic and comprehensive WWE simulation experience produced to date,” said Chris Snyder, Senior Director of Marketing at 2K. “We have improved all aspects of the game to emulate the WWE experience more closely than ever before.”

“WWE 2K14″ ushers in a new era of the popular WWE video game franchise and brings forth several signature gameplay improvements, including a revamped player navigation system, a new reversal system and hundreds of new moves, including new catapult finishers and OMG Moments. The game’s renowned Creation Suite and Universe Mode give players new levels of customization, versatility and freedom through development of personalized Superstars, arenas, championships, storylines, finishing moves and more, while offering complete control of the WWE experience from a career-driven point of view. “WWE 2K14″ also delivers the single greatest roster ever assembled, including “WWE 2K14″ cover Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Ultimate Warrior, CM Punk, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Daniel Bryan, Goldberg, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Shield.

“WWE 2K14″ features the unprecedented “30 Years of WrestleMania” Mode single-player campaign, taking players on a historic journey through three decades of high-profile matches and memorable moments in WWE history. Beginning with the inaugural WrestleMania, the journey encompasses 46 signature matches, including Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII and The Rock vs. John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII. “30 Years of WrestleMania” Mode is complete with authentically recreated arenas, entrances and ring attires, era-specific graphics, filters and other presentation elements, as well as WWE-produced video packages, cinematic in-game cut scenes, historical objectives and a host of unlockable rewards. Complementing the mode as a separate offering, players will also encounter the immortal Undertaker to defend or defeat his 21-0 WrestleMania match record in a gauntlet-style feature known as The Streak.

In celebration of the game’s release, 2K is launching a contest to offer players the chance to win a trip to WrestleMania XXX. Fans are encouraged to create a desired WrestleMania XXX matchup using “WWE 2K14″ for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, capture a screenshot of the in-game action and submit to 2K for a chance to win airfare, hotel and two tickets to WrestleMania XXX. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and D.C. (excluding AZ, CT, MD, and ND), Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and the age of majority in their state of residence. The WrestleMania XXX contest begins at 12:00:00 AM Pacific Time (“PT”) on October 29, 2013 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on January 9, 2014. The contest is void in AZ, CT, MD, & ND, and where prohibited, as well as subject to the official rules, located at www.2k.com/wm30moment.

Developed by Yukes for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, “WWE 2K14″ is positioned to deliver the greatest roster in franchise history and be the most electrifying, authentic and comprehensive WWE video game experience to date. “WWE 2K14″ is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. Fans who pre-ordered “WWE 2K14″ will receive Ultimate Warrior at no extra cost on launch day.

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'WWE 2K14': on sale now!

Former WWE Announcer Posts Offensive Joke, Bonus Episode Of Chris Jericho's Web Series, FWF

- You can check out the latest bonus episode of Chris Jericho’s new web series, But I’m Chris Jericho!, in the video above.

- AwfulAnnouncing.com has an article about an incredibly stupid tweet that Matt Striker posted after The Boston Red Sox won the World Series. The tweet, which has since been deleted, read: “Ill get sh*t for this but if there’s a tragedy at this Sunday’s NY Marathon then that means the Knicks will be NBA champs.”

- For two days only you can shop DVDs and Blu-Rays from $4.99-$9.99 at WWEShop.com by clicking here. The offer ends Saturday, November 2nd at 3am ET.

- Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana and TNA Tag Team Champion Robbie E. will be appearing at this Friday’s Funkdafied Wrestling Federation event at St. Jude Parish Hall in Hopatcong, NJ. Doors open at 6:45 pm, bell time is 7:45 pm. The event benefits the Sussex County Police Athletic League. You can get more information or purchase tickets by clicking here.

Follow Raj Giri on Twitter at @RajGiri_303. Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.

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Former WWE Announcer Posts Offensive Joke, Bonus Episode Of Chris Jericho's Web Series, FWF

Cody Bollinger’s TUF 18 Fighter Blog Week 9: TUF Dream Fizzles; On to WSOF

It is not every day that one finds himself living a dream that turns into a nightmare.  I knew heading into the show that this was going to be the hardest weight cut of my career.  As Miesha said it would have been pathetic to not try, and giving it my all is exactly what I did, I went for it, risked it all and that decision ended one dream.

First of all, I would like to publicly apologize to the fighters who dreamed of being in my spot and could have made weight. I realize I was standing in your shoes, occupying your dream and I apologize.  To the coaches, producers, Zuffa and everyone involved with TUF 18, I am sorry.  I realize you all have so much riding on this show and opportunity and I can’t apologize enough for my mistakes.

I missed weight and have zero excuses about it. I didn’t adjust well enough to the situation I was put in and paid for that tremendously.  A small piece of advice to those chasing your Ultimate Fighter dream, prepare your mind and body, the show is not a joke.  You have 8-9 weeks and you will have to make a lot of weight cuts.  If you are doing a show at 135, make sure you come in around 135.

I knew from the beginning it was going to be an extremely hard weight cut both mentally and physically and it would push me to my limits, but I would like everyone to put yourself in my shoes. If you had what was the chance of a lifetime in your MMA career and the opportunity to be a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter, wouldn’t you take a shot for your dream even if you knew there was a chance you’d have weight problems? I took a chance, paid for the mistake, and in the end I would do it over again, but with some major changes.

I have no hard feelings about the things said about me. I would have said stuff too had it not been my dream ending.  I understand where they were coming from.  All I can do is live and learn.  When Dana White told me to walk out those doors with the cameras rolling, that was as real as it gets. My run on The Ultimate Fighter 18 had come to an end and my MMA career seemed to have hit a speed bump.

It was not long before I realized that when one dream ends, you make the shift to chase a new one.  I just signed a multi-fight contract with World Series of Fighting.  I will be making my WSoF debut in January when the WSoF heads to Texas. I have a lot to learn and a lot to make up for, I am only 22, and I hope the WSoF gives my career the springboard it needs.

Cody Bollinger’s The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate fighter blog is courtesy of his sponsor, Revgear. Follow Cody Bollinger and Revgear on Twitter.

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Cody Bollinger’s TUF 18 Fighter Blog Week 9: TUF Dream Fizzles; On to WSOF

‘TUF 18’ Recap: Episode 9

This week’s episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 18” begins with Miesha Tate and Bryan Caraway bringing Josh Hill and Mike Wootten some congratulatory hamburgers following the hard-fought bout that closed out last week’s show.

With Wootten’s win, the score is now tied at 3-3. Tonight, Team Rousey’s Anthony Gutierrez and Peggy Morgan will square off with Team Tate’s Cody Bollinger and Sarah Moras. Bollinger is struggling with his weight cut, currently standing at 144.5 pounds.

Gutierrez says he plans on getting taken down early but believes he will possess more gas than his opponent as the fight wears on. “Shark Bait” hops on the scale and checks in at just over 143 pounds during the Team Rousey training session, prompting him to sleep in a sweat suit covered by a mountain of towels.

On the other side of the fence, Bollinger is wearing the “why hast thou forsaken me” face due to his brutal weight cut. Time on the treadmill and sauna has not yielded impressive results, and the fighter is still five pounds overweight. Bollinger has apparently stopped sweating, and he tells his coaches that he is done cutting. Tate and Caraway plead with him to reconsider, and Bollinger breaks down in tears when the former Strikeforce champion shows him a picture of his daughter.

They head back to the house with three hours remaining, but Bollinger won’t budge. He tells them he will not make weight and apologizes. After downing some coconut water, he allows teammates Raquel Pennington and Roxanne Modafferi to talk him back into a hot bath, but he jumps back out after a bit and once again retires.

“There’s no excuse,” an emotional Bollinger says in a confessional. “I quit. That’s all there is to it.”

UFC President Dana White learns of Bollinger’s inability to make weight, and he calls a meeting at the gym with all the fighters and coaches. The boss makes Bollinger explain the situation in front of everyone and then banishes him from the gym.

“You took somebody’s lottery ticket and tore it up,” says White. “This is the one f—ing thing that drives me crazy. Look at [Gutierrez]. The kid has been busting his ass making weight. You see that door over there? That’s the door you go out right now.”

Bollinger breaks down in tears in a confessional and laments that he will have to tell his family what has transpired.

“This was my shot, and I f–ed up,” Bollinger says.

The coaches talk to White, and Tate apologizes for her fighter missing weight. However, she also does not hide her irritation with Bollinger’s lack of accountability, a move that consequently irks Ronda Rousey, who says that a head coach should take responsibility for her fighter instead of pointing the finger.

White offers Gutierrez two choices: cut all that weight again in a few days to fight a replacement opponent or accept a forfeit into the semifinals. The dehydrated fighter not-so-shockingly takes the free trip to the next round instead of the turd sandwich.

The focus now shifts to Moras, who immediately compares Morgan to a giraffe. Despite Morgan’s well-documented size, Tate believes her fighter will have no issue holder her own in the physicality department. Moras hopes to take the fight to the mat and vows to “smash” her larger foe.

A college professor back home, Morgan wants to keep the fight standing to maximize her physical tools. Rousey drills “The Daywalker’s” takedown defense against the cage, and Edmond Tarverdyan works with her on throwing combinations after stuffing the shot.

With both fighters cleared at the scale and now in the cage, Moras runs into a stiff jab while trying to close the distance. She counters with some low kicks but remains on the outside before failing on a double-leg takedown. Moras grinds Morgan into the fence, but Rousey’s fighter separates and pops her with a left. Morgan stuffs another takedown but allows Moras to continue driving, resulting in Tate’s fighter gaining top position. Moras passes to mount and postures up, dropping nasty punches on Morgan’s exposed face. Rousey’s pupil turns and gives up her arm, and Moras snatches the opportunity, locking up a fight-ending armbar.

With tonight’s results now in the books, the quarterfinal round ends with the score tied 4-4. The coaches and White then meet with the fighters in order to select the semifinals. The next round will see Chris Holdsworth collide with Wootten and Julianna Pena battle Moras, while Davey Grant meets Gutierrez and Jessica Rakoczy faces Pennington.

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‘TUF 18’ Recap: Episode 9

Johny Hendricks Suffered Minor Burn During Filming of UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks Promo

UFC welterweight contender Johny Hendricks encountered a near-miss situation last month while filming a commercial promoting his UFC 167 title fight with champion Georges St-Pierre.

Hendricks suffered a second-degree burn when the lights used during filming were either too hot or placed too close to him, according to manager Ted Ehrhardt, who confirmed the incident to MMAWeekly.com. The news was initially reported by MMAFighting.com.

Ehrhardt told MMAWeekly.com that the burn was roughly equivalent to a severe sunburn, and that his fighter’s trainer told him that Hendricks suffered some discomfort from the injury, but didn’t miss any training.

“I initially thought he missed a day or two, but his trainer told me he actually didn’t miss any training,” said Ehrhardt.

The burn healed in about a week and never jeopardized the fight.

St-Pierre vs. Hendricks headline UFC 167 on Nov. 16 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The card also serves as the promotion’s 20th Anniversary event.

Click here to watch the UFC 167 commercial in question.

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Johny Hendricks Suffered Minor Burn During Filming of UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks Promo

UFC Fight Night Musings

Looking back at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Munoz event… WAS 205 THE MACHIDA ERROR?
I know, I know, Lyoto Machida was a dominant light heavyweight for a while, winning the UFC’s 205-pound title and beating some of the division’s best. But seeing him at 185 for the first time against Mark Munoz made me think how different the career of “The Dragon” might have been had he competed exclusively at middleweight. He looked that sharp and comfortable, and while one fight is a bad determinant of future success, based on that one fight, I can’t wait to see what happens next for the Brazilian.

GUILLARD-PEARSON
The lightweight clash between Melvin Guillard and Ross Pearson was one of the most highly-anticipated on the Manchester card, and for the 1:57 it lasted, it was shaping up to be a battle worthy of the pre-fight hype. Then a controversial finish ensued, with the ‘hand on the canvas denoting a downed opponent rule’ being invoked and resulting in a no contest. Luckily, both fighters received their show and win money, and a rematch would be welcome, but in the future, commissions need to look into this rule and alter it so a legitimate and clear-cut finish to a fight isn’t tarnished.

MANUWA
Poor Jimi Manuwa. Stateside fans have been hearing about the knockout prowess of the “Poster Boy” for a while now, but despite having three fights, three wins, and three TKOs, we haven’t seen one of those decisive finishes, mainly because bad luck has intervened in the way of injuries to Cyrille Diabate and Ryan Jimmo. As Manuwa noted after Saturday’s bout with Jimmo, a win’s a win, but it would be nice to see him get a clean knockout or at least an opponent who makes it long enough for a definitive conclusion to the fight.

STORMIN’ NORMAN
He hasn’t made a lot of noise yet, but if you’re not impressed by the three UFC wins by Northern Ireland’s Norman Parke yet, then you just haven’t been paying attention. Showing off his grappling and striking ability in victories over Colin Fletcher, Kazuki Tokudome, and Jon Tuck, Parke is still a prospect, but if he keeps on the path that he’s on, he may move into the ring of contenders by the middle of next year.

THE BIGSLOW IN THE BIG TIME
Luke Barnatt said it best before his Saturday win over Andrew Craig: “Andrew Craig’s that big stepping stone for me that makes Joe Silva believe I’m a true contender, that I deserve to be here and that I’ll stick around for a little while,” he said. “Everyone knows that I’ve got everything else: I can talk to the media, I turn up and I fight, I’m there to fight and I train every day really, really hard. But can I compete at the top level with the top competition is the question that Joe Silva needs answering, and I think that’s what this fight is about.” Well, “The Bigslow” proved that he can hang with the big boys, and like he said, he’s got all the other traits that can make him a star in the UFC. 2014 should be an interesting one for Barnatt.

BATE ESTACA
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan was right on the mark Saturday when he described Brazil’s Jessica Andrade as a female version of Wanderlei Silva. Andrade is a hunter in the Octagon, and her dominant three round win over Rosi Sexton was a strong statement to her peers in the 135-pound weight class. Andrade vs. Jessica Eye or Sarah Kaufman, anyone? I’d love to see either bout. As for the ultra-game Sexton, there has never been a question that she’s a fighter, through and through, and as such, she will keep going in a fight until she is finished by her opponent, or the referee, doctor, or her corner stops her. Having said that, maybe one of the aforementioned officials or her corner should have intervened and saved her a lot of unnecessary punishment, and not because she’s a woman, as I said the same thing about the punishment Junior Dos Santos took a week earlier against Cain Velasquez. Better to stop a fight a round too soon than a round too late, and I think in both cases, a stoppage before the eventual end would have been welcome.

THIS AND THAT
Good to see Cole Miller back in the win column, though most believe his hard-fought win over Andy Ogle was his second straight, following a controversial decision loss to Manvel Gamburyan. As for a fight with the man he called out following the bout, Irish phenom Conor McGregor, bring it on…Another welcome return to the win column was that of featherweight Jimy Hettes, whose ground game continues to impress…Middleweight appears to be a good fit for TUF Smashes finalist Brad Scott, who notched his first UFC win by submitting Michael Kuiper…Al Iaquinta continues to keep New York MMA in the news with a solid decision victory over Piotr Hallman. Now all we need is the UFC in the Big Apple with Iaquinta, Chris Weidman, Costa Philippou, Ryan LaFlare, Gian Villante, and Dennis Bermudez all waving the flag for Long Island…John Lineker is a terror in the flyweight division, and a bombs away battle with John Dodson would be epic, if “Hands of Stone” can make 125 pounds. Mike Dolce, are you reading this???

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UFC Fight Night Musings

WWE Expected To Sign Huge Licensing Deal, Hell In A Cell DVD Cover, Little Boogeyman

- The ABC affiliate in Pensacola, Florida has an article up on former WWE talent Chris “Little Boogeyman” Hollyfield speaking to students at Choctaw High School, Ruckle Middle School and Edwins Elementary School about anti-bullying.

- Forbes did a feature on WWE’s upcoming TV licensing deal with NBC Universal and noted that WWE is expected to receive 4 to 6 times their current $140 million per year deal. That would top NASCAR’s $4.5 billion, 10 year contract.

- Here’s the cover photo for WWE’s Hell In a Cell pay-per-view with Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels and Triple H:

Rachel Miller contributed to this article. Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.

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WWE Expected To Sign Huge Licensing Deal, Hell In A Cell DVD Cover, Little Boogeyman

TUF 18 Week Nine Preview

The Ultimate Fighter returns on Wednesday night with two pivotal fights to close out the preliminary round matchups, as Cody Bollinger takes on Anthony Gutierrez while Canadian Sarah Moras takes on 6-foot-1 striker Peggy Morgan.
Besides the final two slots in the quarterfinal matchups being on the line, bragging rights are still up for grabs as the two teams headed up by women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and top contender Miesha Tate are tied up at three wins a piece so far.
These final two matchups are also crucial to the next round matchups, because depending on how things play out, it could be teammate vs teammate in either the men or women’s side when the numbers game forces a showdown like that to happen.
Looking ahead at the episode, which features both fights during the one-hour broadcast, the hard times for all four fighters start long before they step into the Octagon.  The arduous process of weight cutting isn’t an easy one for the greatest fighters in the world or the ones starting out their professional careers.
Weight cutting has really become an art form in many ways with the true masters being able to step on the scales happy and with a full belly of food, while others hit the stage looking frail, depleted and depressed.  Another obstacle that gets thrown in the way of the competitors on the Ultimate Fighter is the much talked about ‘food list’.
The way it works on the reality show, fighters are allowed to leave a daily food list and the producers and production folks will then hand deliver whatever items have been requested.  Now that list can be a huge benefit for a fighter that’s trying to stay in prime shape and wants only natural, organic items.  It can also be a hindrance to a fighter that sees the list as a standing order for anything they can engulf during the six weeks they spend in the Ultimate Fighter house.
Looking ahead, this week it appears that weight cutting could play a major factor in both bouts, as many of the competitors on the show are fighting at bantamweight, but walking around well above 135 pounds.
In the final preliminary round fight for the men, Team Tate’s No. 1 pick Cody Bollinger takes on Team Rousey’s resident loudmouth Anthony Gutierrez. 
Throughout the entire season of The Ultimate Fighter, Bollinger has been a consistent pick to make the finals given his veteran experience and impressive record.  Training under former Ultimate Fighter winner Joe “Daddy” Stevenson in California, Bollinger is a well rounded competitor with the ability to pull out a win by submission or knockout.  At 5-foot-10, Bollinger is usually going to be the taller fighter in his bouts, but Gutierrez actually matches him at the exact same height.
Gutierrez, regardless of his brash and outspoken nature in the house, is still a great prospect, with a perfect 4-0 record in his career and a strong finishing game, as he’s put away all four opponents by either submission or TKO.
Bollinger is definitely the favorite in this fight given his experience against some very tough competition in his career, and he’s picked up a number of wins along the way.  As good as Bollinger is, however, being heavily favored to win can also come back to haunt a fighter. Just ask Shayna Baszler, who was expected to cruise to the finals of the show and then proceeded to lose in the opening round.  
When it comes to picking the winner, Bollinger is going to be the overwhelming selection and he’s the smart choice as well, but Gutierrez could repeat what Julianna Pena already did this season, so don’t count him out for the upset.
In the other fight, Team Tate’s Sarah Moras takes on Team Rousey’s Peggy Morgan in the final women’s bout in the opening round.  Both fighters are relatively young in the women’s MMA game, with Moras possessing a 3-1 record overall while Morgan is still undefeated at 2-0.
A grappler by trade, Moras is a tough customer who holds a win over Team Tate teammate Julianna Pena, while also having a defeat thanks to Raquel Pennington.  Moras has the experience edge in this fight as well, although just slightly, but her level of competition has been remarkably better than her opponent’s. 
At 6-foot-1 tall, Peggy Morgan will probably have a reach advantage over any women’s fighter in the UFC, but she has to know how to use that before it really becomes a factor.  She has developed a strong straight punch, which is key to her pulling off a victory in this fight by keeping Moras away with her reach.
Morgan is one of the fighters to also keep an eye on when it comes to cutting weight in the show.  She’s one of the biggest competitors in the house, and making weight numerous times over a six-week period could definitely take its toll.  If she gets dragged into the second round and Moras is smart to push the pace, Morgan could struggle to maintain her energy levels.
Like all of the women’s fights this season, expect the bout between Moras and Morgan to be another war, and this really could go either way. Moras will give up a huge reach advantage to Morgan, but overall she still has the kind of style and adaptability that could give her the victory.  Moras needs to get inside quickly and work this fight to the ground.  If she’s able to get Morgan to the ground, expect Moras to put on a strong performance, methodically picking her opponent apart on the mat. 

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TUF 18 Week Nine Preview