Alright MMA-Freak fans, it’s that time again! Time to get you caught up on all or any mma news you might have missed this past weekend. It was a great weekend of fights as we crowned a new UFC heavyweight champion. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and hope everyone has a super New Year.
Fight Results:
~UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2~
~MAIN (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)~
- Cain Velasquez def. Junior Dos Santos via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-43, 50-44) – to win back heavyweight title
- Jim Miller def. Joe Lauzon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Constantinos Philippou def. Tim Boetsch via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:11
- Yushin Okami def. Alan Belcher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Derek Brunson def. Chris Leben via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
~PRELIMINARY (FX, 8 p.m. ET)~
- Eddie Wineland def. Brad Pickett via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Erik Perez def. Byron Bloodworth via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:50
- Jamie Varner def. Melvin Guillard via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
- Myles Jury def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
~PRELIMINARY (Facebook, 6:30 p.m. ET)~
- Todd Duffee def. Philip De Fries via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:04
- Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- John Moraga def. Chris Cariaso via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:11
Watch highlights and post fight analysis from the JDS vs. Velasquez fight in the video below.
Video courtesy of FuelTV
~Headlines~
White says Strikeforce’s Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez could each earn quick UFC title shot.
UFC targets New York’s Madison Square Garden for 20th anniversary event.
Junior Dos Santos took home $400,000 in disclosed payroll in a losing cause on Saturday at UFC 155, and new champion Cain Velasquez earned $200,000.
White says Bisping gets shot at Silva with UFC on FX 7 win over Belfort.
Champ Anderson Silva signs new ten-fight deal with the UFC, according to Dana White.
Alistair Overeem likely next challenger for Cain Velasquez if he beats Bigfoot Silva; Fabricio Werdum next.
UFC 155 draws a reported 12,423 attendance for $3.286 million live gate.
UFC 155 bonuses: Miller, Lauzon, Duffee, Moraga earn $65,000 awards.
White regrets having Leben-Brunson open UFC 155’s main card.
Win or lose in final Strikeforce headliner, Nate Marquardt to be welcomed back to the UFC.
Despite fourth straight loss, White says Leonard Garcia’s job secure.
UFC’s “Ultimate 100 Knockouts” premieres Monday on pay-per-view
As UFC heavyweight title changes hands again, the search for stability continues.
UFC presents ‘Octagon of Excellence’ award to Boys Town Nevada.
~Fight News~
~The full Invicta FC 4 card now includes: MAIN CARD (invictafc.com)~
- Carla Esparza vs. Bec Hyatt – for inaugural strawweight title
- Shayna Baszler vs. Alexis Davis
- Raquel Pennington vs. Leslie Smith
- Sarah D’Alelio vs. Amanda Nunes
- Ediane Gomes vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
- Joanne Calderwood vs. Livia von Plettenberg
~PRELIMINARY CARD (Untelevised)~
- Katalina Malungahu vs. Veronica Rothenhausler
- Stephanie Frausto vs. Cassie Rodish
- Amanda Bell vs. Tamikka Brents
- Jodie Esquibel vs. Liz McCarthy
- Emily Kagan vs. Rose Namajunas
- Tecia Torres vs. Paige VanZant
~DREAM.18 and GLORY 4 Tokyo – New Year’s Eve Special~
Date: December 31, 2012
Location: Saitama, Japan
Venue: Saitama Super Arena
Broadcast: TBA
- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Michihiro Omigawa
- Shinya Aoki vs. Antonio McKee
- Bibiano Fernandes vs. Yoshiro Maeda
- Denis Kang vs. Melvin Manhoef
- Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Hiroyuki Takaya
- Phil Baroni vs. Hayato Sakurai
- Will Brooks vs. Satoru Kitaoka
~Cage Warriors 51~
Date: December 31, 2012
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Venue: The Helix
Broadcast: MMAjunkie.com, Facebook
~MAIN (MMAjunkie.com, 4 p.m. ET)~
- Ivan Buchinger vs. Conor McGregor – for vacant lightweight title
- Chris Fields vs. Jesse Taylor – for middleweight title
- Aisling Daly vs. Katja Kankaanpaa
- Florent Betorangal vs. Jack Mason
- Paul Redmond vs. Ryan Roddy
~PRELIMINARY (Facebook, 2:45 p.m. ET)~
- Moktar Benkaci vs. James Brum
- Philip Mulpeter vs. Tommy Quinn
- Henry Fadipe vs. Charlie Watts
- Watch today’s Cage Warriors 51 event live on MMAjunkie.com
Mirko Cro Cop makes successful MMA return with first round submission defeating Shinichi Suzukawa at the New Year’s Eve Inoki Boom Ba Ye.
Quotable’s:
Velasquez: I Won’t Fight Cormier.
Dana on Varner-Guillard Scoring: ‘It Kills My Business’.
Misc.
With champ Cruz out, Dana White glad other UFC bantamweights stepping up.
Goldberg Absent from 155, no date set for his return.
Eddie Yagin hopes meeting with UFC doctors will clear him to fight.
Who Should JDS Fight Next:
Mark Hunt-Stefan Struve Winner
Daniel Cormier
Cheick Kongo
Fabricio Werdum-Rematch
Alistair Overeem-Antonio Silva Loser
And…………..
What was your favorite fight of 2012?
What Fight do you want to see in 2013?