Scheduled Event
Today on MMA Nation on 106.7 WJFK: Matt Serra, Scott Christ
Today on "MMA Nation" we'll be joined by former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt "The Terror" Serra. We'll talk to Serra about his efforts to get MMA legalized in New York State, his upcoming fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 98 and more.
We'll also be joined by Scott Christ, the Editor-in-Chief of the boxing blog Badlefthook.com, to talk tonight's Hatton vs. Pacquiao fight. Is this a fight Hatton can win? What would a win do for either fighter's career? Who is next for the winner? Will Mayweather, Jr. return to face Pacquiao if he prevails tonight?
We'll talk about last weekend's UWC event as well as what's going on in the world of MMA. And, of course, taking all of your calls.
"MMA Nation" airs every Saturday 7:00pm EST to 9:00pm EST on 106.7 WJFK. To listen live over the Internet, go to WJFK's website and click "Listen Live".
"MMA Nation" is also available by podcast on iTunes.
Number to call: 800-636-1067
Email here.
Talk to you then.
Disclosure: I am an employee (color commentator) of the UWC.
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UWC 6: Capital Punishment Wrap-Up
All in all a very fun weekend, so I don't really have much to add. The full results are after the jump. But for those that may have missed it I spoke with Tito Ortiz here (not sure what's up with the cloudy audio), I tried to Twitter a little from the event, you can watch all of the fights here, photos (like the one above) can be viewed here (more of this photographer's work here) and War Machine expresses his disdain for my commentary here.
I will confess that the more I do it, the more I realize just how difficult commentary actually is. It's not just that you have no real opportunity to correct error beyond a moving five second window or that trying to research up-and-coming local fighters often produces very little results, but clearly one's perspective on matters and the attempt to candidly convey those attiudes and beliefs is not going to be greeted with flowers and cheering crowds. Being precise and being honest is precarious enough (as well as being influence free), but doing so while offering clean broadcasting technique that doesn't sway one iota from the documented truth is a very delicate balancing act I am incredibly far from mastering.
I have a very healthy and much renewed respect for Joe Rogan and other MMA commentators. The premium placed on flawless delivery of precise details with honest perspective is paramount and the talent required to deliver on those expectations is one very few have. Humbly, I say it's also one I can only hope to develop.
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Your Saturday Night MMA Options
The MMA fan's cup runneth over tonight with three live regional shows to choose from:
Option 1: UWC 6: Capital Punishment from Fairfax, VA
streaming live on Sherdog.com at 6PM EST
My top pick for the evening (and hey, disclosure: I'm not an employee of the UWC). This is easily the most star-loaded (or at least prospect-loaded) card going tonight, with highly-touted UWC 135-pound champ Mike Easton (6-1) defending his newly-won strap against Josh "Taz" Ferguson in the main event, and the ever-controversial TUF alum War Machine (7-2) going against local standout Reshad Woods (4-1), whose five fights have not left the first round. As always, our own editor-in-chief Luke Thomas will be doing color commentary for the local broadcast and Sherdog stream; he'll also be updating the Bloody Elbow Twitter account live from cageside with results and pictures. Full fight card here.
Option 2: XFC 8: Regional Conflict from Knoxville, TN
live on HDNet at 9PM ET
Florida's homegrown success story, Xtreme Fighting Championships, makes its HDNet debut tonight with a card eminating from the University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boiling Arena. The main event is a featherweight title fight between Jarrod Card (7-3-1) and undefeated Bruce "The Noose" Connors (6-0), but even more entertaining will be the 205-pound bout between former Volunteers defensive end Ovince St-Preux (1-2) and debuting Floridian Ombey Mobley (4-0 amateur). Also watch out for the big boys in the heavyweight tilt between Christopher Barnett (0-0) and Jonathan Ivey (27-37), best known as the man who once dropped a "People's Elbow" in an MMA bout. Full card here.
Option 3: The Patriot Act 2 from Columbia, MO
streaming live on Purefight.org at 8PM ET
This card was supposed to feature Jeff Monson's fourth fight in five weeks, but that bout has apparently fallen through. No worries, though: former NCAA wrestling beast turned MMA prospect Ben "Funky" Askren (1-0) will now fight in the main event against Mitchell Harris (1-3). Since Askren is the only reason I have (or need) for checking this show out, I'll let BE member snet tim expound further:
Also fighting tonight is ATTs Lucas Lopes against CJ Fernandes. Lopes (8-8) has a strong background in Muay Thai and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu, I am excited to see him fight tonight. Fernandes has more experience with a record of 14-8-3, but I'm still going to go for Lopes to pull out the W.
Feel free to use this post as a discussion point for any of the three cards, and have a kick-ass Saturday night.
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UWC Announces NCAA Wrestling Champion Phil Davis vs. Terry Cohens
As UWC 6: Capital Punishment approaches, those of us in the Washington, DC area who are hardcore MMA fans are supremely excited to see what four-time All American and Division I national champion out of Penn State University Phil Davis is going to look like live and in the flesh as he trades in the singlet for 4oz vale tudo gloves (you can watch his MMA debut here). Davis has been training with Team Lloyd Irvin for this fight and UWC Bantamweight champion Mike Easton talked about training with Davis on MMA Nation this past Saturday (here and here to listen). He told me on and off the air Davis's learning curve is steep. According to Easton, Davis hits hard, has a very capable guard, excellent sweeps and obviously phenomenal takedowns. I'll have to judge that for myself, but it sounds promising. He's also been working with Team Lloyd Irvin on improving their takedown defense, something Jose Villarisco is going to need in his bout with Mikey Lovato.
Davis will be taking on Terry Cohens, who you may recall was put to sleep in guard by Antwain Britt's hammerfists. Clearly, an athlete and wrestler the caliber of Davis is the easy favorite, but it's still exciting to see another high-profile wrestler get into MMA particularly in one's backyard.
Again, I'll be Twittering from the event on Bloody Elbow's Twitter page. And if you see me, be friendly and come say hello. I always enjoy meeting readers in person.
Full press release after the jump.
Disclosure: I am an employee (the color commentator) of the UWC.
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Today on MMA Nation on 106.7 WJFK: Jeff Sherwood, Mike Easton, Marcello Foran
Today on "MMA Nation" we'll be joined by Sherdog.com founder Jeff Sherwood to discuss UFC President Dana White's allegations that Sherdog.com threatened to adjust their news coverage over a price hike in UFC DVDs.
We'll also be joined in studio by UWC Bantamweight champion Mike "The Hulk" Easton and UWC promoter Marcello Foran to talk next week's UWC 6: Capital Punishment. For those looking for tickets, lots we'll be given away on air.
Topics of discussion:
UFC 97: Redemption talk. Is this the last time Chuck Liddell will fight? Is Anderson Silva too arrogant for his own good? Does Leites actually have a chance?
"MMA Nation" airs every Saturday 7:00pm EST to 9:00pm EST on 106.7 WJFK. To listen live over the Internet, go to WJFK's website and click "Listen Live".
"MMA Nation" is also available by podcast on iTunes.
Number to call: 800-636-1067
Email here.
Talk to you then.
Disclosure: I am an employee (color commentator) of the UWC.
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UWC Announces Jose Villarisco vs. Mikey Lovato for "Capital Punishment"
I've been so behind with everything in my life that I've been extremely behind in talking about the next UWC show here in the Washington, DC area. The truth is the show is next week and all of the information you could need is here.
One fight the UWC announced today I wanted to talk about a little more is their flyweight bout between local standout and Team Lloyd Irvin product Jose Villarisco and Albuquerque Kickboxing's Mikey Lovato. On a personal note, Villarisco was my very first instructor in Thai boxing and I hold his abilities in high regard. Quite candidly, I've yet to see tape on Lovato, but his his wrestling pedigree gives me hope this fight could be the show stealer over War Machine vs. Reshad Woods or Mike Easton's title defense.
Look, I'll put it this way: Villarisco's knuckle game is absolutely vicious. He routinely drops 200lbs men in training with body shots. He's a two-time national champion kickboxer that possesses not only brutal power, but really excellent, mixed technique that allows him to put together multi-shot combinations both high and low. On top of that, he's a BJJ purple belt under world champion Lloyd Irvin. And if you saw his professional debut against John "The Magician" Dodson, you know he's also ultra aggressive with a fire hydrant for a head.
Lovato, though, could be kryptonite for Villarisco. He was an Olympic qualifier in wrestling out of high school in addition to being a national high school wrestling champion (in addition to being a three-time state champion). Villarisco showed strong pocket presence against Dodson, but ultimately conceded the takedown throughout the fight. If Lovato can replicate that feat, Villarisco could be looking at a very inauspicious start to his career.
Per usual, I'll be there cageside commentating. I'll also be Twittering live from the event at Bloody Elbow's Twitter page, so follow me there if you're so inclined.
Full press release after the jump.
Disclosure: I am an employee (color commentator) of the UWC.
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MMA Nation Rewind: More on Dana White, Nick Lembo Talks Sylvia vs. Mercer
For those that missed the show this weekend, here's a recap:
We take calls and talk about the Dana White video blog situation here. And follow it up with another segment on the same topic here. Lots of strong opinions included.
I do my best to have an honest conversation with War Machine here.
Nick Lembo explains why the proposed boxing match between Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer was not approved by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.
NEW TIME SLOT: "MMA Nation" airs every Saturday 7:00pm EST to 9:00pm EST on 106.7 WJFK. To listen live over the Internet, go to WJFK's website and click "Listen Live".
"MMA Nation" is also available by podcast on iTunes.
We're on Facebook, too: type MMA Nation on the search bar in the upper right hand corner. Please become a fan. We want to be on WJFK on Thursday nights and need your support.
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Today on MMA Nation on 106.7 WJFK: War Machine, Nick Lembo, Dana White Discussion
Today on "MMA Nation" we'll be joined by War Machine (Jon Koppenhaver) as he prepares to take on Team Lloyd Irvin's Reshad Woods at UWC: Capital Punishment.
We'll also catch up with Nick Lembo, Deputy Attorney to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. We'll ask him why the proposed Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer bout was not approved for sanctioning.
Topics of discussion:
The Dana White Situation: how niche of a sport is MMA? Do members of the MMA community really care about being mainstream? Is what happened to Dana White appropriate? How biased was Loretta Hunt's article? Does the UFC have proper PR crisis management? And much, much more.
NEW TIME SLOT: "MMA Nation" airs every Saturday 7:00pm EST to 9:00pm EST on 106.7 WJFK. To listen live over the Internet, go to WJFK's website and click "Listen Live".
"MMA Nation" is also available by podcast on iTunes.
Number to call: 800-636-1067
Email here.
Talk to you then.
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