Humbled Vera learned you can?t trash talk in the Octagon

Brandon Vera has never lacked for confidence. In fact, when the media and fans would question his lack of aggression is some fights, Vera would fire back defiantly. But it was clear, he wasn't the same fighter who shot up the charts in 2005 and 2006. It took a major wake-up call to finally shake up Vera.

The 33-year-old quickly rose to the top of the heavyweight division with wins at Ultimate Fight Night 2 and UFC 57, 60 and 65. He eventually met his match against the massive Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum at heavyweight. Then two years later he took hotshot Jon Jones too lightly.

"I for sure, did not give Mr. Jones the respect he deserved and that's my fault," Vera during the UFC 125 prefight press conference (24:50 mark).

Vera (11-5) lost his concentration at the worst time. 

"When I was underneath him, I'm remember being off in my own world while he was throwing elbows and missing. I was holding his wrist and thinking 'geez man, all the hype was about you ... this is what you have to offer on the ground, really?' I remember I said 'you f'n suck,' but before I said the word suck, the elbow came down on my face and smashed my face."

The Jones' elbow broke Vera's cheekbone. MMA can be incredibly dangerous if you don't defend yourself properly. The Filipino-American paid the price and was sidelined for seven months. 

"That's when I realized right then and there, 'That's what you get you bastard. That's what you get for thinking you're so ahead of the game.'"

For Vera, who is just 3-3 since dropping to light heavyweight, the success in his late-20's came too fast. 

"Honestly [it was] my arrogance. The fights seemed easy. I was in there training hard, training hard [then] I go in there and knock someone out real quick. Train hard, train hard then knock somebody else out real quick," said Vera [20:58 mark]. "My arrogance caught up to me. My head got real big and somebody needed to pop it. Too bad they had to pop my face for it to pop, but it's popped. I'm back. My head's level and I'm ready to go."

Vera better be right-minded. He's got a tough test at UFC 125 in aggressive striker Thiago Silva and frankly his job may be on thin ice if he loses a third straight fight.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Humbled-Vera-learned-you-can-t-trash-talk-in-the?urn=mma-301908

Carlos Newton Mike Nickels Alexandre Franca Nogueira Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Antônio Rogério Nogueira

Liddell calls it a career, now a UFC executive

What kind of suit goes best with a mohawk? MMA has lost one its icons as Chuck Liddell officially announced he's retiring as an active fighter and moving into an executive role with the UFC. The former light heavyweight champ will serve as one of the company's top six or seven officials in the position of executive vice president of business development.

Does the trademark mohawk stay or go? The UFC is anything but a traditional business, so the guess here is that you may see a gray haired mohawk pitching the sport some 20 years from now.

The 41-year-old announced his retirement at Wednesday's UFC 125 prefight press conference. The usually jovial, relaxed Liddell got a bit emotional. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

"Most of all, I want to thank my fans and my family. I love the sport, and I'm excited to go into a new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world, the sport I love," the UFC Hall of Famer said as he choked back tears.

Lorenzo Fertitta, the UFC owner, was also present at the presser. For the most part, the casino mogul lays low but felt it was important to show his support for promotion's biggest star during its key growth period.

"This is a big deal to us as a company," UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. "Chuck Liddell has contributed so much to the UFC over the years. He's literally seen this sport evolve from a very small niche sport to what it has become today. We continue to grow here in the North America, but we've got so many more things to do around the world, so we welcome Chuck Liddell to the UFC executive team."

UFC president Dana White has a strong friendship with Liddell. It dates back to the days before White was part owner of the promotion. 

"Chuck Liddell has been with us from day one," White told ESPN.com. "And before that I managed him. We've been together for like 13 years."

White gave a few details about the legend's new role with the company.

"He's probably going to be doing a lot of stuff with the legislation, the sanctioning end and other forms of business development. And he will be traveling to other countries with [UFC CEO] Lorenzo [Fertitta]."

Making a transition from the world of kickboxing, Liddell debuted in 1998 at UFC 17, where he beat Noe Hernandez in Mobile, Ala.

He finished his career with a 21-8 record, that included 13 knockouts. The slugger held the UFC light heavyweight title for most of 2005 and 2006. His presence was huge in the UFC's development as a pay-per-view juggernaut. His fight against Tito Ortiz and two more against Randy Couture helped pull in 1.73 million buys. He fought Vernon White at UFC 49. That show sold only 80,000 PPVs. Thirty months later at UFC 66, with the help of Liddell, the promotion eclipsed the one million mark.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Liddell-calls-it-a-career-now-a-UFC-executive?urn=mma-301745

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

UFC NEWS: Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira headlining UFC Fight Night 24 on March 26 in Seattle

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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UFC Fight Night 24 has a headliner, as MMAJunkie.com reports that the Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira bout, originally thought to be taking place at UFC 128, will main event the March 26 card.

In addition to the headliner, the MMAJunkie report states that the event is expected to take place from Seattle, Wash.

The card will be the UFC's first event in the state, and though no venue has been determined, it is likely to take place at the KeyArena. The venue has a capacity of 17,000 spectators.

Ortiz is getting one final shot to pick up a win in the UFC, as he has posted a 0-4-1 mark since 2006. Most recently he lost a decision to Matt Hamill at UFC 121 in October.

Nogueira is looking to bounce back from a loss himself, as he was defeated by Ryan Bader by decision at UFC 119 in September. That loss snapped a seven fight win streak.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: With Ortiz's current contract, having him headline this event brings down their overall payroll for the UFC 128 card in New Jersey, and still puts a bigger name on free television. With his 0-4-1 record over the last four years, it was probably best not to make people pay for this fight. For Nogueira, a win will keep him near the top of the heap in the light heavyweight division, although it will just be treading water. But this fight is huge for Ortiz, as a loss likely puts an end to his UFC tenure for good. Meanwhile, a win will snap a four year winless streak and allow him to continue fighting in the organization and continue to make the money he's commanding with his current contract.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7909.shtml

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

UFC NEWS: Cain Velasquez's destruction of Brock Lesnar makes Sports Illustrated's top 50 games/events of 2010

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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In a testament to the continuing acceptance being gained by the sport of mixed martial arts in the mainstream sports media, Sport's Illustrated's list of the 50 best games/events of 2010 features not one but two MMA fights.

Coming in the highest on the list at #11 was Cain Velasquez's dismantling of Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 to capture the UFC's Heavyweight Championship. The first round stoppage for Velasquez in one of the UFC's biggest events of the year was his breakout performance, and his inclusion on this list is a sign of the UFC's place in the sports world at the end of 2010.

The brawl between Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung made the list as well. The three round battle on the WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber pay-per-view event captured the attention of fans everywhere when it aired on Spike TV in April, and although multiple viewings bring the bout down a few notches, the excitement it wrought live was enough to place it at #35 on the list.

Link to full list of SI's top 50 best games/events of 2010

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7948.shtml

Aaron Stark Kalib Starnes Joe Stevenson Luke Stewart Denis Stojnic

UFC NEWS: "UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch" in Australia ties record for fastest sell out in UFC history

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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The UFC's return to Australia this February with UFC 127 has tied a record for the organization, as the UFC announced today that tickets for the event sold out in 30 minutes, tying a mark set by UFC 115 in Vancouver this June.

"We're ecstatic," UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik stated in today's release. "Tickets sold out literally as quickly as the Ticketek phone lines and website would allow, and that's despite us working with our partners at Acer to add an extra 600 seats to the in-arena configuration we had at UFC 110. We will have just over 18,000 fans in attendance at UFC 127 in nine weeks' time and expect to blow the roof off."

The UFC's first trip to the Acer Arena at UFC 110 this February drew just shy of 18,000 with an official attendance of 17,831. This event will best that mark, and Zelaznik praised the fans in Australia for their support of the organization and the sport.

"The UFC's popularity is exploding in Australia, even faster than we could have expected," Zelaznik said. "Over the last 18 months, Australia has become one of the top three or four markets in the world for us. When you consider UFC programming is enjoyed by tens of millions of fans across 150 countries, that's a big statement about the passion Australian sports fans have for the UFC."

The February 27 event, headlined by a welterweight bout between B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch, will air live on pay-per-view in the U.S. on February 26 with the time delay.

Penick's Analysis: The Australian fans are clearly clamoring for the UFC, and with a very exciting card coming on February 27 it's no surprise the tickets went this fast. Penn vs. Fitch is such a highly intriguing fight that it's got most fans excited for a Jon Fitch fight for the first time since his title fight against GSP in 2008. Add to that Carlos Condit vs. Chris Lytle and George Sotiropoulos on the card, as well as an interesting fight between Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera, and this should be a very good card for the UFC overall.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7899.shtml

Frank Shamrock Tito Ortiz Randy Couture Vitor Belfort Randy Couture

KELLER'S UFC 7.5 REPORT (15 YEARS AGO): Ultimate Ultimate report reposted at www.WadeKeller.com

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This article is posted at Wade Keller's blog exclusively. App users, just visit www.wadekeller.com on your phone's browser.

iPhone users, bookmark www.wadekeller.com and put it on your home screen just by visiting the site on your phone's browser and then pushing the middle icon on the bottom of the your screen (the arrow pointing out of a box) and then choose "Add to Home Screen" and name it "Wade Keller Blog." It is then one click away in the future.

Remember WadeKeller.com blog posts are not part of the MMATorch App, so to read them you must visit WadeKeller.com on your phone's browser (Safari for iPhone users) or on your regular laptop or P.C.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Keller_s_Take_33/article_7887.shtml

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito  Rob Broughton 

UFC NEWS: Mirko Cro Cop looking towards February return, feels 2011 will be his year

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic had a roller coaster year in the UFC in 2010. A February win over late replacement Anthony Perosh helped get him back on track after a crushing loss to Junior Dos Santos in late 2009. Then, a seemingly rejuvenated Cro Cop defeated Pat Barry in Vancouver in June.

Cro Cop then stepped up on short notice to replace an injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Frank Mir at UFC 119. While the bout seemed to be an exciting heavyweight match-up on paper, the resulting fight was one of the most disappointing of the year, made more so for Cro Cop when he was knocked out by a knee to the jaw in the waning minutes of the fight.

Now, Cro Cop is looking ahead to 2011, and expects the year to be one of his best.

"Finally, I should be okay now,? Cro Cop said in a video interview on his official site. "I invested a lot in training and therapy and I think 2011 will be my year, better than 2006."

2006 was undoubtedly Cro Cop's most accomplished year. Fighting four times in Pride's Open Weight Grand Prix, Cro Cop finished Ikuhisa Minowa, Hidehiko Yoshida, Wanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett in succession to capture the Grand Prix title.

Cro Cop says he's ready to return to action in February of 2011, though he gave no hints on an opponent or exactly which event he'd fight on.

"I have two options for February," Cro Cop said. "Which one it will be I don't know, but for sure I will be fighting that month."

With the Super Bowl weekend card essentially set, if Cro Cop is to fight in February it's likely to be on the February 27 card in Sydney, Australia. It would be his second fight in Australia for the UFC, as the Perosh fight took place in Sydney in the UFC's debut event there this year.

Link to video interview

Penick's Analysis: Cro Cop looked awful in the Mir fight, but he was also battling injury and took the fight on short notice knowing that. I don't know what Cro Cop has left in the tank, but he'll get a chance to show everyone early in 2011. If he has another performance like the one he brought at UFC 119, the call to have him hang it up will once again come out strong. But he's proven himself to be resilient, and so there's no telling how much longer he'll continue to fight.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7947.shtml

Rich No Love Clementi  Mark The Hammer Coleman Wes Soldier Combs  Ray Cooper  Kit Cope