Yardbarker: Matt Hamill

UFC's Rush to 2009

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:58:08 -0500

It is time to get ready for the UFC's final month of 2008. By the end of it, we will have seen nearly 30 fights and two of the four belts on the line. There has never been a month like this in UFC history and there may never be one again. Consider this the kickoff to our coverage.

Fight for the ...

UFC 92 Fight Card is Official

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:40:46 -0500

The UFC has released the official fight card for UFC 92 aka Ultimate 2008

Fun facts about Seth Petruzelli aka Kimbo Killer

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:50:56 -0500

How was Seth able to chump Kimbo Slice and become a star overnight? We examine the odd journey of Seth "Kimbo Killer" Petruzelli and what the future might have in store for him.

Matt Hamill Is Not a Fighter

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:01:40 -0500

Rear Naked News examines whether UFC Light Heavyweight Matt Hamill is cut out for Mixed Martial Arts.

Rich Franklin trivia quiz

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:02:03 -0500

How much do you know about popular UFC fighter Rich Franklin? A CNN article about MMA gaining more and more mainstream acceptance led me to offer you guys this Rich Franklin trivia quiz.

UFC 88 Salaries and Medical Suspensions

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:10:55 -0500

Chuck Liddell may have been KO'd at UFC 88 but he led all fighters in paydays as he raked in $500,000. Go to http://cageplay.com to see the entire story.

10 Things Learned From UFC 88

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:30:00 -0500

10. Kurt Pellegrino is never in a boring fight, you gotta love "Batman" he gives it his all every time out. Anytime he fights, no matter the opponent, its worth tuning in.

9. I thought the judges called the Dong Hyun Kim vs Matt Brown the right way. It was close, but I thought Kim won rounds 1 and 3.

8. Rousimar Palhares' jiu-jitsu is surely world class, you could sense the danger for Henderson every time it went to the ground, it reminded me of Nogueira's early Pride fights, except Nogueira always found a way to lock in the submission. Palhares still has to learn the "Mixed" in Mixed Martial Arts. Some are complaining that he actually won the fight, are you kidding me, how can you win a fight if all you're doing is going for takedown after takedown with most being stuffed by Hendo?

7. Dan Henderson had a game plan and stuck to it completely. A classic example of a great wrestler using his skills in reverse.

6. Nate Marquardt suprised me alot. I was really high on Kampmann winning this fight to the point that I put some money on him. I would love to see Marquardt get a rematch with Anderson Silva, but I would still pick against him.

5. Matt Hamill was disappointing. I really thought he would make this a great fight with Franklin, but he had a bad game plan and he gassed.

4. Rich Franklin looked as good as ever and he immediately becomes a top 5 light heavyweight in my opinion. If Anderson stays at Middleweight now, he has a real chance to make some noise in the division. Somewhere Bas Rutten was watching this fight and screaming at the television in joy after that brutal Liver kick by "Ace".

3. Rashad Evans will fight Forrest Griffin in December for the title, its been all but confirmed by Dana White and company and he will win the title against Forrest. Before this fight I re watched Evans' last 2 fights against Bisping and Ortiz and you could tell he had some heavy hands, but it was the speed that was too much for the Iceman.

2. Chuck Liddell needs a new approach to fighting. His hands low, chin too high approach is catching up to him. I just don't understand why he went into this fight thinking it was a boxing match or something. I mean the guy has lethal legs and he didn't even try any kind of kick. A new camp and a new mindset and Chuck will be just fine.

1. Lyoto Machida will be your light heavyweight champion in 2009. If he gets a shot at Rashad or Forrest he will win decisively.

A Fanboy's Impressions of UFC 88

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:09:56 -0500

Everyone has seen the fights but here are some quick hit impressions on UFC 88 from your mma fanboy including: nipple tweaking, Rashad's KO, future Rich Franklin fights and Ricardo Arona. You can read more at Cageplay.com.

UFC and Toronto Maple Leafs

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:44:29 -0500

I'm new to the yard...I heard the milkshake brings all the boys here. Ok, bad joke. What a UFC PPV lastnight! Nathan Marquardt had a great fight but I was disappointed that Hamill couldn't defeat Franklin. I was one of the many people screaming at the big screen TV when Rashad Evans KO'd Chuck Liddell, I was in TOTAL shock. Rashad and those fast hands! I'm glad to see Randy Couture is back, but to be honest I'm not really a fan of Brock Lesnar. How does someone like him deserve the chance to fight such a great one like Randy? Lesnar hasn't done much to win me over as such a great fighter. Just my opinion. If I put my money where my mouth is, the fight is gonna go to Randy no contest. Now all we need is Big John! Toronto Maple Leafs...what are you doing? Trading Tucker and McCabe? Are you crazy!? Oh, but at least now we have Curtis Joseph back.(insert sarcasm here) I have been a longtime Leafs fan and have stuck by them year after year, and always try and make excuses for their actions (They will get the cup this year!!) but this time I'm not so sure. I will always be a Leafs fan since I grew up in Toronto, I BLEED blue and white! Maybe now they will lower ticket prices! Haha, who am I kidding? They need to get players like Roberts, Nolan, Tucker, Nieuwendyk if they want a chance at the cup. Not to mention a new captain. I hate to say this but I hope Sundin decides to go elsewhere. He was good for our team for a while, but I think his time has run out.

UFC 88 Post Fight Video Interviews

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:35:21 -0500

Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans

Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill

Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt

UFC 88 Results & Recap

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:51:47 -0500

I want to start by saying I went 100% on my predictions for UFC 88. I got crap from InfiniteX all week about my pick of Rashad beating Liddell. I'll give him the fact that I definitely didn't think Rashad would knock out Liddell but either way, it was a good pay day for bets placed with Rashad winning as the underdog. I didn't get the way of win right in the main event but in the other 2 big fights, I had it right.

UFC 88: Breakthrough Preview

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:54:40 -0500

We know nothing about UFC so we called on our tapout-crazy friend Anthony to preview UFC 88: Breakthrough. Enjoy and if you lose money, blame him.

Official UFC 88 Trailer

Chuck Liddell Vs. Rashad Evans

In his 1^st fight since his hamstring injury back in May, which postponed his original matchup with Evans, Liddell is the favorite in this fight. Liddell is coming off an impressive win over Wanderlei Silva, which was HUGE since he lost to Keith Jardine at UFC 76 and at UFC 71 when he lost the belt to Quinton Jackson. A win over the unbeaten Rashad Evans Saturday night should put Liddell in a prime position to face forest Griffin for the title hopefully in early '09.

Personally I do not think Evans even belongs in the same ring as Liddell. Everyone can talk about Evans' wrestling background all they want, but you can't forget Liddell's superb takedown defense. Liddell's hands are going to be too heavy for Evans to handle.

The only good thing Rashad Evans has ever done

Evans has only been able to finish 2 of his 7 fights in the UFC, all others coming by way of decision, and 1 draw to Tito Ortiz, which was really his only true challenge and it was only a draw because Ortiz lost a point because he grabbed the cage. If Tito hadn't been such a moron, Evans is 15-1. Evans only other challenge was against Michael Bisping at UFC 78: Validation in NJ. I actually attended this fight and it was BORING, but I did think Bisping won. Bisping has since moved to Middleweight where he is better suited. Oh yeah, and Liddell has the greatest entrance theme EVER.

Chuck Liddell -285, Rashad Evans +225

Liddell via KO

Chuck Liddell Highlights

Rich Franklin Vs. Matt Hamill

This is the fight I am most excited for. I think Rich Franklin moving back up to the 205 lb division is a good move for him. People forget that Franklin fought at 205 3 years ago and everyone counted him out after seeing Anderson Silva OWN him not once, but twice at UFC 64 and UFC 77. Hamill, who used to train with Franklin, is an extremely good wrestler and is coming off an impressive win over Tim Boetsch at the UFC fight night in April. Franklin has a good wrestling game and has seriously heavy hands. Look for Hammill to take the fight to the ground early and keep Franklin off his feet where he is most dangerous. That is the only chance Hamill has. If Franklin can get a win Saturday night, there could be some really interesting fights at 205 lb to come, pitting him against the likes of Griffin, Liddell, Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Machida, or Rua.

Rich Franklin -255, Matt Hamill +205

Franklin via TKO

Karo Parisyan Vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Parisyan is back in the Octagon five months after getting pummeled by Thiago Alves, (who I think deserves a title fight with GSP immediately) at Fight Night 13 and after putting on a terrible fight at UFC 78 against Ryo Chonan where even after a decision victory, did nothing but complain about "personal issues" as his excuse for his poor display. Although Karo Karo's judo is incredible, Yoshida looked very good in his UFC debut in May with a 1^st round submission victory over Jon Koppenhaver. Yoshida is a serious fighter and if he can keep the fight standing I think he has a shot. 8 of Karo's 12 fights in the UFC have gone to decision but I think Yoshida is going to shock everyone with a KO early.

Yoshiyuki Yoshida +190, Karo Parisyan -240

Yoshida via TKO

Yoshida Cage force Sept '07

Dan Henderson Vs. Rousimar Palhares

Dan Henderson is coming off 2 straight losses since coming back to the UFC last September, both of which happened to be title fights. Henderson lost in a 5 round war with Rampage at UFC 75 (205lb) and to Anderson Silva at UFC 82 (185lb). Henderson was a wrestler in the '92 and '96 Olympics and hits as hard as anyone in the UFC. He was also the only mixed martial artist to concurrently hold two titles in two different weight classes in a major MMA promotion when he did so in PRIDE.

Palhares on the other hand is an extremely dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert with a serious submission game. Palhares made his UFC debut on May 24. In that fight, he caught veteran Ivan Salaverry with an armbar in just 2:36, his fifth straight first-round submission victory. Look for Henderson's takedown defense to play a key roll in this matchup. Henderson can be comfortable on the ground but look for him to keep the fight standing and to avoid Palhares' major strength.

Dan Henderson -210, Rousimar Palhares +170

Henderson via TKO

Dan Henderson Highlights

All betting lines provided by http://bookmaker.com/sportsbook.aspx

UFC 88 Preview: Liddell/Evans, Parisyan Out, News and Notes

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:39:27 -0500

A look at UFC 88 with predictions and other MMA-related news and notes from the week.

UFC 88 Weigh In Video

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:37:36 -0500

Video not embedded, just linked in post. Main card Rashad Evans (205) vs. Chuck Liddell (204). Rich Franklin (204 1/2) vs. Matt Hamill (205). Rousimar Palhares (184 1/2) vs. Dan Henderson (185) Nate Marquardt (185) vs. Martin Kampmann (184 1/2). Dong Hyun Kim (170) vs. Matt Brown (170) Click for undercard.

Breakdown of UFC 88: Breakthrough

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:10:43 -0500

UFC 88: Breakthrough has been assembled in a consistent matching of veteran fighter vs newer fighter as the UFC hopes to re-establish old stars like Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin, and Chuck Liddell. Of course, if an up 'n comer like Rousimar Palhares, Matt Hamill, or Rashad Evans knocks off their veteran opponent, then then UFC could have a Breakthrough star on its hands. To read more, click: http://www.cageplay.com/blog/2008/09/04/ufc-88-breakthrough-cageplaycom-breakdown/