Mixed Martial Arts

[Guiness]

Five fights announced for UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden

By MMA Fighting Newswire

Sep 21, 2016, 8:53p

 

The UFC's maiden voyage to Madison Square Garden in New York City finally is taking shape.

On Wednesday night, five fights were made official for UFC 205, which takes place Nov. 12 at MSG. Among them was the welterweight clash between Donald Cerrone and Kelvin Gastelum, along with a featherweight bout between Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens. The fights were announced on UFC Tonight.

 

Also made official for the card was middleweight bouts between former 205-pound champion Rashad Evans and Tim Kennedy, as well as a Tim Boetsch and Rafael Natal. The other fight that was announced as a women's strawweight bout between New Jersey-based fighter Katlyn Chookagian and Liz Carmouche, who hasn't fought since April 2015.

 

UFC 205 will be the first event the promotion has ran in the state of New York since UFC 7 back in 1995.

[Guiness]

 

 

UFC 205 Press Conference

 

Edited September 28, 2016 by hahnz

[yahsure28]

any recommended MMA gym in Makati area?

[Hari ng Spakol]

http://cdn.mmanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/penn-lamas-ufn.jpg

[Guiness]

UFC 204 OCT 8

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQgS0JZcB4

[bughaw1]

www.bloodyelbow.com/2016/10/6/13188940/ufc-manila-cancelled-following-injury-to-bj-penn-mma-news

 

cancelled ufc manila

Edited October 7, 2016 by bughaw1

[Guiness]

UFC 204: Official Weigh-in

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxZ3smppiB8

[cyanblue69_03]

Like it

[The Cunning Linguist]

Hendo is already slurring when he talks, and he's way up there in age. I hope he retires after this whether he wins or not.

[Guiness]

Philippine commission issues statement on rumors concerning UFC Manila

Members from the MMA media brought up rumors about possible drug tests and passports being confiscated concerning the UFC Manila cancellation.

by Anton Tabuena

Oct 7, 2016, 6:00a

 

Shortly after UFC Manila was cancelled, a couple of MMA media members started mentioning rumors about a different reason for putting the show off. BJ Penn was injured and they decided not to push through with the October 15 event, but FloCombat’s Jeremy Botter and TalkMMA claim it was because of the Philippine government and the controversial leader’s policies.

Botter doubled up on these statements.

The Games and Amusement Board, which sanctions and oversees MMA and other sporting events in the country, has since issued a statement on the cancellation of the event.

“We at the Games and Amusement board (GAB) are deeply saddened by the cancellation of the UFC event on October 15 at the MOA arena,” GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra said on a statement released on Friday.

 

“We have received official communication from Mr. David Lewis of the UFC informing us that the event will have to be re-scheduled due to an injury sustained by BJ Penn. We respect this decision of the organizers and will only require them to ensure the reimbursement of patrons who may have already purchased their tickets.”

 

They also addressed the claims brought up by a few members of the international MMA media.

“We are equally saddened by the rumors that the cause of the cancellation is the drug testing procedure that GAB requires of all professional athletes. This procedure has been in place through the years for no other purpose than to ensure the safety of unarmed combatants and to preserve the integrity of professional sports in the country.”

 

“The insinuations dragging the country’s anti-drugs campaign into this issue are unfair, irresponsible and counter-productive. Third parties should not take this unfortunate cancellation to take a stab at our President’s efforts to cleanse our country of illegal drugs.”

“We look forward to our continuing relations with the UFC and the MMA world. We are confident that the organizers will clarify this for the benefit of everyone.”

 

For those who are unfamiliar with the process in the Philippines, the Games and Amusement Board requires cornermen, judges, and competitors to have licenses before they are able to work at those sporting events. One of the prerequisites to being licensed, like many jobs in the country, is to submit to basic drug tests that screen for recreational drugs.

It’s also worth noting that GAB doesn’t have the power to just confiscate people’s passports.

 

This process has been set for years, and countless sporting events for both local and international organizations have gone through this without any issues. President Duterte, while he is currently in the middle of this highly controversial ‘war on drugs’, has only been in position for 3 months.

 

What about claims that every single person or employee entering to host events are to be tested and are risking their passports being seized? I don’t doubt that people from the US side of things may think that’s actually happening — and who can blame them with all the craziness filling the media about the country? — but as a person living in this country, I can confidently say that doesn’t have much basis on facts.

 

Countless foreign organizations regularly host events in the Philippines from all kinds of entertainment and sporting events. Whether it’s broadway shows, sports, bands, DJs, or other celebrity appearances, that sort of thing happens in the country every week. Just recently, bands like Panic at the Disco, Third Eye Blind, and other famous acts performed. The WWE also just had a show in Manila as well, and same goes with other MMA organizations, and numerous others.

Did every single person from all those events pass their drug tests?

 

Saying that Duterte has a highly controversial approach is a real understatement, but regardless of what you think of his ‘war on drugs’, it certainly has nothing to do with these people’s passports. There’s a media frenzy right now, and a lot of it is truly warranted, but harassing every single foreigner and preventing them from leaving the country? That’s an act that would completely shut down tourism and cause chaos between nations. That would be a pretty wild allegation, even considering the already crazy atmosphere in the Philippines.

 

Much like how any of Duterte’s controversial statements spread like wildfire, if celebrities or foreigners are being illegally harassed and detained, you can bet that the world would hear about it.

 

[startoffbeat]

I was rooting for Hendo but a judge's mentality is that you cannot award a round to a fighter who waits for his opponent and then throw a counter. Even Hendo's coach told him that he cannot have another round (3) like that. Bisping was more aggressive and brought the fight and got caught twice. The price that you pay for being offensive is that you are open to those counter punches. As much as I hate Bisping, I scored the fight 3-2 for him. I already saw 3 fights in recent history go down the wire and have a decision that looked controversial: Machida-Rua 1, GSP-Hendricks and now Bisping-Hendo 2. Sporting commissions need to find a way to score these fights better. Judges seem to look more at statistics of strikes landed rather that damage caused to the opponent. Octagon rules also does not include the damage inflicted, which I think should be considered in scoring rounds. If they are too lazy to come up with something then just implement the old Pride rules of judging fights in their entirety. Good luck to Bisping defending that belt.

 

PS. F*ck the GAB for cancelling the Manila card. We are a growing international sporting venue and this d!ck move does not help in promoting us.

[Guiness]

I was rooting for Hendo but a judge's mentality is that you cannot award a round to a fighter who waits for his opponent and then throw a counter. Even Hendo's coach told him that he cannot have another round (3) like that. Bisping was more aggressive and brought the fight and got caught twice. The price that you pay for being offensive is that you are open to those counter punches. As much as I hate Bisping, I scored the fight 3-2 for him. I already saw 3 fights in recent history go down the wire and have a decision that looked controversial: Machida-Rua 1, GSP-Hendricks and now Bisping-Hendo 2. Sporting commissions need to find a way to score these fights better. Judges seem to look more at statistics of strikes landed rather that damage caused to the opponent. Octagon rules also does not include the damage inflicted, which I think should be considered in scoring rounds. If they are too lazy to come up with something then just implement the old Pride rules of judging fights in their entirety. Good luck to Bisping defending that belt.

 

PS. F*ck the GAB for cancelling the Manila card. We are a growing international sporting venue and this d!ck move does not help in promoting us.

 

 

I read the news about it. The UFC was the one who cancelled not the Gaming Board of the Philippines. Penn really got injured so he pulled out. Since they already made the schedule for the rest of the year. They will have to do another event next year. I wonder how the people who bought the tickets were taking the news. I heard there were some people who live nearby in asian countries who bought tickets were disappointed in the cancellation.

 

I also watched UFC 204 and Henderson gassed after the 1st round. He threw everything to put Bisping away but Bisping was able to survive the 1st round. From there he took his time being precise with his strikes while Henderson was too gassed to unload a big strike to knockout Bisping. He was pinning his hopes on this strategy hoping to put Bisping away with a knockout punch. Bisping was able to be composed and took his time staying away from Hendo's right hand and chipping away with the points

Edited October 11, 2016 by hahnz

[MrSniper88]

Hendo was beaten by father time. Not a bad performance for that age.

[startoffbeat]

If Penn needs to get well then I believe it is worth scrapping a card, regardless of who cancelled it. Penn is a future HOF and there is no point risking his health. Bet even his fans will be wishing him well. I am frustrated enough(pointing blames on anyone)and I did not buy a ticket. Imagine what what the ticket holders are thinking right now. What about the other fighters who will miss a payday? It sucks but it is what it is.

 

Hands up to Hendo calling it a career. The local crowd cheered for him after the fight. Won championships in multiple organizations and weight divisions. Sent the arrogant Wanderlei Silva to Rainbow Land kissing unicorns and riding magic carpets when they rematched in Pride. He was the last man to threaten Anderson Silva before Silva became Silva. Knocked out Fedor from an unlikely position. Went to war against Rua. Tapped out to Frank Shamrock when he has a youngster in the sport. Fought, beaten and lost to the who's who of the sport. Competed in the Olympics. Coaches and inspires other athletes in his gym. His career is something only other fighters can dream of. I am honored to have watched this guy do his thing.

[Guiness]

She's back: Ronda Rousey to return with title fight against Nunes at UFC 207

• Rousey will fight for first time in more than a year on 30 December
• UFC’s most popular female fighter has been inactive since 2015 loss
• Rousey to get immediate shot at bantamweight title against Nunes

 

Ronda Rousey, the UFC’s most popular female fighter, will fight for the first time in more than a year on 30 December when she faces Amanda Nunes in a bantamweight title fight at UFC 207.

 

Rousey’s return has been anticipated for some time as she recovered from injuries suffered in her upset loss to Holly Holm in UFC 193 and an unrelated knee surgery this past summer. Originally, the UFC had hoped she would return to fight Holm in their signature UFC 200 card in July but that was delayed because of her surgery. Nunes won the belt that had once been hers by beating Miesha Tate at that event, becoming the organization’s first openly gay champion. Nunes had said her first defense of the title had to come against Rousey, who had held it for more than three years.

Getting Rousey back is huge for the UFC. Next to Conor McGregor she is their biggest draw. A former Olympic bronze medalist in judo, she stormed into an MMA career in 2010 with a frenzy, winning her first 12 fights by either knockout or submission – all but one of those victories coming in the first round. Away from the ring she became a compelling, if occasionally profane, voice for women’s rights. Perhaps her strongest statement came in 2015 when she said she did not want to become a woman who was “a do-nothing bitch” , decrying those who “just want to be pretty and be taken care of by somebody else.” Her words became a rallying cry for many women and led to a hashtag campaign #DNB appearing that summer on signs and t-shirts.

 

She is easily the UFC’s most visible woman, showing up on national television commercials and television talk shows even after her loss to Holm. The defeat seemed to slow what had been a meteoric rise. She talked after the fight of having injured her teeth in the bout and was unable to chew an apple for several weeks. As the months dragged on and she did not sign on for another fight, many wondered if she needed more time to get over the loss. After recovering from the knee surgery she is apparently ready to fight again.

Once it was assumed she would fight Holm again in her first fight, but Holm lost that chance after she was beaten by Tate in March.

No other matches have been announced yet for UFC 207, which will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Edited October 13, 2016 by hahnz