Video of the Day - Grove v. Riggs II

Here is Kendall Grove fighting Joe Riggs in Pro Elite on 8/27/11 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Video of the Day - Silva v. Frykland

Here is Anderson Silva fighting Tony Frykland at Cage Rage 16 - Critical Condition which took place on 4/22/06 in London, England.

Anderson will fight Yushin Okami this Saturday at UFC 134 - Rio.

Pat Curran Takes 145 Tourney Title

Pat Curran landed a nasty head kick KO of Marlon Sandro at Bellator 48 to win the featherweight tournament title this past Saturday.

After a round which saw Marlon Sandro winning the stand-up portion of the action, Curran found victory in the second. Curran threw a couple jabs then fired a right head kick that knocked Sandro out cold.

With the win, Curran will likely face the winner of Patricio Freire and Joe Warren. The bout could be postponed with Warren competing in the 135 pound tournament and Freire nursing a hand injury.

Other winners at Bellator 48 included Seth Petruzelli knocking out Ricco Rodriguez, halting his 12 fight win streak. Petruzelli went back to his karate roots, throwing a couple spinning kicks before throwing a big right hand.


Undefeated Cole Konrad (8-0) won with a unanimous decision over Paul Buentello, utilizing his improved stand-up skills. Undefeated Rene Nazare (10-0) continued his win streak with a brutal second round TKO of lightweight Juan Barrantes.

Video of the Day - Dan Gable Double Leg

Here is the double leg takedown being taught by Hall of Fame wrestler and coach Dan Gable.

Gable won the gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich where he did not surrender a single point.

Video of the Day - Lytle v. Spratt

Here is Chris Lytle fighting Pete Spratt in RSF - Shooto Challenge 2 on 1/2/04 in East Belleville, Indiana.

Chris Lytle retired on a high note by submitting Dan Hardy at UFC on Versus 5. Lytle has always been a fan favorite and bonus bounty hunter by utilizing pro level boxing skills, solid wrestling with an underrated submission game.

Chris fought all around the world, defeating Kazuo Misaki in Pancrase, Aaron Riley in Hook and Shoot, Pat Healy in the WEC, and Mike Brown, Kyle Bradley, Paul Taylor, Brian Foster and Matt Serra in the UFC.

Video of the Day - Sandro v. Denis

Here is Marlon Sandro fighting Nick Denis in the Sengoku 8 - in a featherweight Grand Prix bout.

Sandro fights Pat Curran in the finals of the Bellator Featherweight tournament this Saturday at Bellator. Sandro advanced to the finals by defeating Nazareno Malegarie and Genair da Silva via decision.

*Fight starts at 4:45.

Clay Guida Safe Auto Commercial

Here is an odd commercial starring Clay Guida. Not sure how destroying someone's house convinces them to buy auto insurance, but it is kinda funny.

Kimbo Slice Boxing Debut

Here is Kimbo Slice's boxing debut from last night.

Post fight interview:

GSP Training for Nick Diaz

Here is UFC's welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre training for his bout with Nick Diaz at the Wild Card boxing gym. GSP has been working heavily on his boxing in preparation for the bout with Diaz, who likes to throw a volume of punches rather than power strikes.

You will see GSP first working on spinning back kicks, then spinning back fists, before right and left kicks while faking the superman punch. It is truly amazing the concentration and precision of GSP while drilling. The GSP v. Diaz bout will take place at UFC 137 on October 29, 2011, in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Footage courtesy of Marcos Villegas of Fight Hub TV, friend of MMA Blaster.

Video of the Day - Pulver v. Wheeler

Here is Jens Pulver fighting Coty "OX" Wheeler in MMA Fight Pit: Genesis, which took place on 8/13/11 in New Mexico.

UFC Title Picture

Here is the title picture for the UFC.

HW Champ- Cain Velasquez
Contenders- Junior Dos Santos, Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar
*Velasquez fights JDS at UFC 138 for the title
*Velasquez defeats Lesnar at UFC 121 for the title
*Dos Santos defeats Shane Carwin at UFC 131 for #1 spot
*Frank Mir defeats Roy Nelson at UFC 130


LHW Champ- Jon Jones
Contenders- Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, Forrest Griffin, Phil Davis, Lyoto Machida
*Jones fights Rampage at UFC 135 for the title
*Evans defeats Ortiz at UFC 133
*Rampage defeats Matt Hamill at UFC 130
*Griffin defeats Rich Franklin at UFC 126
*Griffin fights Shogun Rua at UFC 134

(Jon Jones pictured)

MW Champ- Anderson Silva
Contenders- Yushin Okami, Brian Stann, Vitor Belfort, Mark Munoz
*Anderson Silva defeats Belfort at UFC 126
*Okami defeats Marquardt for #1 contender at UFC 122
*Silva fights Okami at UFC 134 for the title
*Belfort KO'd Akiyama at UFC 133
*Stann on three fight win streak
*Munoz defeats Maia at UFC 131

(Anderson Silva pictured)

WW Champ- Georges St. Pierre
Contenders- Nick Diaz, Jon Fitch, Carlos Condit, BJ Penn, Diego Sanchez
*GSP defeats Jake Shields at UFC 129
*Fitch and BJ Penn fight to a draw at UFC 127
*Nick Diaz relinquishes Strikeforce belt
*GSP will fight Diaz at UFC 137 for the title
*Condit KO's Kim at UFC 132

(Georges St. Pierre pictured)

LW Champ- Frank Edgar
Contenders- Gray Maynard, Clay Guida, Benson Henderson, Melvin Guillard, Anthony Pettis, Dennis Siver
*Edgar fights to a draw with Maynard at UFC 125
*Edgar and Maynard out with injuries
*Guida defeats Pettis at the TUF 13 Finale
*Guillard wins 5th straight over Roller at UFC 132
*Siver wins 4th straight over Wiman at UFC 132
*Henderson defeats Miller at UFC on Versus 5

(Frank Edgar pictured)

FW Champ- Jose Aldo
Contenders- Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes, Manny Gamburyan
*Aldo defeats Hominick at UFC 129
*Chad Mendes defeats Yahya at UFC 133
*Florian defeats Nunes at UFC 130
*Aldo v. Florian likely for the next title bout

(Jose Aldo pictured)

BW Champ- Dominic Cruz
Contenders- Demetrious Johnson, Scott Jorgenson, Brian Bowles, Joe Benavidez
*Dominic Cruz defeats Faber at UFC 132
*Johnson defeats Torres at UFC 130
*Bowles defeats Mizugaki at UFC 132

(Dominic Cruz pictured)

Bobonis Ready for Fight Time!

On August 19, 2011, mixed martial artist Shah Bobonis will look to make it four wins in a row against rising ATT prospect Caleb "Sideshow Bob" Archer. The 135 pound bout will take place in Howard Davis, Jr.'s "Fight Time 6 – Pride & Glory" at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Bobonis' is a two-time Combate Extremo 155 pound title holder, who defeated Manuel “Manix” Gallareta in the first round to win the 145 pound belt on May 21st. Bobonis has won all three of his fights this year and has not allowed one opponent to make it past the second round.

Hopefully all goes well for Bobonis, who announced that he will face Marcos da Matta on the televised portion of Bellator 50, which takes place on September 17th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

MMA Blaster: How did your fight against Manuel “Manix” Gallareta play out in Combate Extremo? What did you do to stop the fight?

Shah Bobonis: The fight with Manix went great. I knew his stand up was his strength and he was coming off a knockout win over the Combate Extremo champion. Once we got to the floor, it was a one-sided fight. Right after hitting the matt, I sunk in a North-South Choke to finish the fight.

(Shah wins with a North-South Choke)

MMA Blaster: Was that for a championship belt? What weight? Are you looking to stay there or keep moving down?

Shah Bobonis: That was for the Combate Extremo 145 pound belt. I will be moving down in weight, as my next fight on August 19th for Fight Time Promotions will be at 135lbs. I’ll be fighting American Top Team prospect Caleb Archer.


MMA Blaster: How has training been going? Are you still training at FFA?

Shah Bobonis: Training is going great. I feel like I’m getting better every day. I work with Coach Marcos Avellan every morning and he has made it possible for me to train full time. He now has a "Fighter House" that some of his fighters live in rent free.

MMA Blaster: What do you know about your next opponent Caleb "Side Show Bob" Archer? Is that the main event?

Shah Bobonis: Yes, the fight on August 19th is the main event. I know Caleb has been doing Muay Thai for a long time. He trains at ATT so he is going to be at least decent in every aspect of fighting, but his stand-up is his strength.

(Bobonis, Howard Davis, Jr., Caleb Archer)

MMA Blaster: What promotion will that fight be in? Where will the fights take place? How do fight fans get tickets?

Shah Bobonis: I’m fighting in Fight Time 6 – Pride & Glory at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Anyone who would like tickets can email me shah5297@gmail.com, or hit me up on Facebook. I’ll have tickets for sale this weekend.

(Promo poster)

MMA Blaster: Are you looking for sponsors? How does a company become a sponsor?

Shah Bobonis: I’m always looking for sponsors!!! The fight will be rebroadcast on Fight Zone TV so it’s a good fit for anyone looking to sponsor a fighter and get publicity. Anyone interested can email me shah5297@gmail.com.

MMA Blaster: Any shout-outs or sponsor mentions? Thank you's?

Shah Bobonis: Thank you to my parents, everyone at FFA and Brawl N’ Maul. Thanks to you Joe at MMA Blaster for the support and the ink!

Video of the Day - Kawajiri v. Fickett

Here is Tatsuya Kawajiri fighting Drew Fickett at Dream - "Fight for Japan," which occured on 7/16/11 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.

Kawajiri (28-7) will drop to 145 for his next bout, which is against Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen at Dream 17.

UFC Rio Preview

With the UFC looking to make a huge splash in its first event in Brazil since 1998, Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami will square off in the main event at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event is the first since the major news of a UFC and Fox partnership.

Anderson Silva (30-4, 13-0 UFC) has unequivocally had the most unprecedented run in the UFC, winning 13 straight in the promotion, including 9 for the title. Mixing precision striking with elite Muay Thai skills, Anderson has made many top notch MMA stars look like amateurs during his run.

Anderson will look to punish Okami standing, mainly using his fists to avoid an Okami takedown. Anderson could look for the Muay Thai clinch with knees early and often, while looking to scramble if taken down. Anderson KO'd Vitor Belfort in his last bout with a front kick with follow up punches, with other UFC wins over Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, Nate Marquardt and Demian Maia.

(Anderson punching Forrest Griffin)

The only chink in Silva's armor during his UFC run has been a near defeat to Chael Sonnen, who tagged Silva with punches and accomplished takedowns at will during the first four rounds of the title fight. In the fifth, Silva nailed a miraculous triangle/armbar to retain the title. Sonnen has been training with Okami in preparation for the bout.

Yushin Okami (26-5, 10-2 UFC) has experience with Anderson Silva before, fighting him in BJ Penn's Rumble on the Rock tournament. Anderson punished Okami with leg kicks, Okami's failed a couple takedowns before getting a single leg, then Okami was rocked by an illegal upkick while grounded.

(Okami punching Rory Singer)

Okami should know that his takedowns must be set-up from the clinch in order to work. Okami probably also knows that while his stand-up has improved greatly since the first match-up, it is no where near the level of Anderson's. Expect Okami to look for the clinch early and often to neutralize the range of Anderson.

Here is a look at the full card:

PPV CARD

Anderson Silva v. Yushin Okami
Forrest Griffin v. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v. Brendan Schaub
Edson Barboza v. Ross Pearson
Luiz Cane v. Stanislav Nedkov

SPIKE TV CARD

Spencer Fisher v. Thiago Tavares
Dan Miller v. Rousimar Palhares

FACEBOOK CARD

David Mitchell v. Paulo Thiago
Raphael Assuncao v. Johnny Eduard
Erick Silva v. Luis Ramos
Felipe Arantes v. Yuri Alcantara
Yves Jabouin v. Ian Loveland

Video of the Day - Hardy v. Rushton

Here is Dan Hardy fighting Danny Rushton in Cage Warriors which took place on 9/16/06 in Sheffield, England. At the time, Hardy was the Cage Warriors welterweight champion.

Dan Hardy fights Chris Lytle at UFC on Versus 5 tonight.

UFC on Versus 5 airs live tonight from Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Bradley Center, broadcasting on Versus and Facebook.

VERSUS CARD

Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle
Ben Henderson vs. Jim Miller
Donald Cerrone vs. Charles Oliveira
Duane Ludwig vs. Amir Sadollah

FACEBOOK CARD

C.B. Dollaway vs. Jared Hamman
Joseph Benavidez vs. Eddie Wineland
Ed Herman vs. Kyle Noke
Ronny Markes vs. Karlos Vemola
Alex Caceres vs. Jim Hettes
Cole Miller vs. T.J. O'Brien
Danny Castillo vs. Jacob Volkmann
Edwin Figueroa vs. Jason Reinhardt