http://www.yardbarker.com/mma Recent articles about MMA en-us The UFC is back on Pay Per View this weekend and once again the Heavyweights are the main attraction. The UFC’s Heavyweight title is on the line in the main event as Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva gets a second crack at reigning UFC champion Cain Velasquez. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:02:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/ufc_160_velasquez_vs_silva_predictions_and_analysis/13686908 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/ufc_160_velasquez_vs_silva_predictions_and_analysis/13686908 UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva predictions and analysis http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/ufc_160_velasquez_vs_silva_predictions_and_analysis/13686908 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png These days, hov-mma rolls deep. For UFC 160 we're rolling seven deep, to be exact. You're either with us, or you're against us. Regardless, you probably want to check out our picks for this Memorial Day weekend extravaganza. Luckily for you, we've provided them below. Enjoy. • Jeremy Stephens vs. Estevan Payan Dan Rose: It’s win or go home for Stephens, and win he will.  He should hold a major advantage over the UFC newcomer here, and get back on the winning track, in a big early KO way.  Stephens, KO Round 1. Dave Reno: I can't believe 'Lil' Heathen' is only 26. I feel like he was born inside of the Octagon. It's not time for him to be cut yet. This is one of those guys who wins the fights that he supposed to win and loses the ones where he comes in as the dog. Stephens via TKO - 1st Round.  Denise Tracey: Stephens to win; Payan doesn't have the experience or the will.  And Stephens cleary has the advantage with nicknames:  "Lil'... Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/ufc_160_hov_staff_pick_em/13684931 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/ufc_160_hov_staff_pick_em/13684931 UFC 160 HOV staff pick em http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/ufc_160_hov_staff_pick_em/13684931 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Fallon "The Queen of Swords" Fox fights this Friday night, May 24th, against Allanna "Hands of Stone" Jones in the co-main event at CFA 11 on AXS TV.  There have been many things said and written about Fox and whether or not she should be fighting inside of the cage.  Most of it has been uninformed opinions.  People reacting emotionally to something that is different that they do not understand and it becomes easier to parrot other people's thoughts and opinions instead of doing research and thinking for oneself.  I have not looked at all of the science that is out there myself.  I have read and heard  a little from both sides of the argument and the one thing that is clear is there is not nearly enough research done to definitively answer one way or the other.  For me, the commission has licensed her and feels that she does not have an advantage because of her previous gender.  They have done the necessary research and have given Fox her license to fight. W... Thu, 23 May 2013 21:18:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/fallon_fox_chases_dream_at_cfa_11/13683104 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/fallon_fox_chases_dream_at_cfa_11/13683104 Fallon Fox chases dream at CFA 11 http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/fallon_fox_chases_dream_at_cfa_11/13683104 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/f/7f6d2db5c175fe5541527a99dc38949ad6265188/mini/6200096.jpg UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones is on a trip to Russia with his manager, Malki Kawa.  While there the champ met up with another MMA great in Fedor Emelianenko.  Would have been pretty cool if these two great fighters could have met in the cage.  Who do you guys think would have taken it? Let us know on our Twitter Page. Jon Jones breaks toe GIF Jon Jones has his own Nike shoe Thu, 23 May 2013 19:14:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/jon_jones_and_manager_hang_with_fedor_in_russia/13682486 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/jon_jones_and_manager_hang_with_fedor_in_russia/13682486 Jon Jones And Manager Hang With Fedor In Russia http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/jon_jones_and_manager_hang_with_fedor_in_russia/13682486 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/9/39da147318f25150c89d783f18fc94f3e2f81437/mini/6609608.jpg Jon Fitch is one of the best welterweights to step foot inside the Octagon. Period. You all can argue or praise these words but they cannot be ignored as truth. In his run with the UFC, he was only defeated three times, with the sole stoppage coming from Jonny Hendricks, not even UFC ubermensch GSP could derail the AKA standout. Fighting to a draw with BJ Penn was the only other blemish on a record that saw him dominate others on the ground and win fights the way he knew how. Compared to lesser known fighters on the roster today who will throw technicality and gameplans to the wind and slug it out like backyard bullies for fifteen minutes; Fitch employed his arsenal and did it well but it was still not enough to be released from Zuffa earlier this year, much to the dismay of fans and the MMA community as a whole. Fight Hub TV was able to speak with Fitch about the release, his upcoming debut for World Series of Fighting (WSOF), gaming and financial advice for fighters, “they need ... Thu, 23 May 2013 15:19:03 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/jon_fitch_trt_is_a_joke_devised_to_let_guys_who_used_steriods_re_boost_their_testosterone_talks_wsof/13680965 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/jon_fitch_trt_is_a_joke_devised_to_let_guys_who_used_steriods_re_boost_their_testosterone_talks_wsof/13680965 Jon Fitch “TRT is a joke; devised to let guys who used steriods re-boost their testosterone,” talks WSOF http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/jon_fitch_trt_is_a_joke_devised_to_let_guys_who_used_steriods_re_boost_their_testosterone_talks_wsof/13680965 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Via YouTube:Heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez mic’d up Octagon-side for UFC 156 as his next opponent is determined. See Velasquez’s live reaction as he watches Bigfoot Silva pull off an epic knockout against Alistair Overeem. Velasquez faces Bigfoot in the rematch at UFC 160 this Saturday, May 25th.What the description doesn’t point out is that Cain Velasquez’s live reaction is almost no reaction, and his cold, obvious explanations of what you’re watching reminded me way too much of Arnold Schwarzenegger doing commentary on Total Recall. Just replace “this is me on the screen here” with “Overeem threw 2 to 3 punches.”I guess I can’t blame him too much. This is his job, after all. But hey, if he wasn’t enthusiastic about Bigfoot Silva’s win here, I’d like to see him run commentary on this clip of Bigfoot trying to fit into a normal sized man’s helmet and do laps around a racetrack in Sao Paulo.LOOK AT HIS HELMET, SERIOUSLY.What is that even gonna do?[h/t to ME]The post Cain Velasqu Thu, 23 May 2013 11:45:13 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/cain_velasquez_is_the_arnold_schwarzenegger_of_ufc_commentary/13679054 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/cain_velasquez_is_the_arnold_schwarzenegger_of_ufc_commentary/13679054 Cain Velasquez Is The Arnold Schwarzenegger Of UFC Commentary http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/cain_velasquez_is_the_arnold_schwarzenegger_of_ufc_commentary/13679054 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/d/fd9ded9a24131521af9f29995cf17837f104b42c/mini/UFC_104_79f9.jpg Last Saturday’s fight between Luke Rockhold (pictured) and Vitor Belfort was obviously fixed – so say a handful of conspiracy theorists. According to these very suspicious MMA observers, Rockhold gave Belfort a subtle head nod a split second before “The Phenom” unleashed a spinning heel kick that essentially end their shootout. The nod was a clear sign Rockhold was ready to eat the pre-planned highlight reel strike - so say a handful of conspiracy theorists. Belfort has yet to address rigging the bout, but Rockhold took to his Twitter Wednesday to kill the ridiculous chatter. “Hearing some talk about my fight with Belfort being a fix,” Rockhold tweeted. “No amount of money would make me even consider taking a fall. I got caught I lost.” I have thoroughly examined the kick several times since this conspiracy theory came to light. While Rockhold does nod his head, it’s a motion fighters do all the time and I believe it was a coincidence that he ate the kick a moment later. What is the benefi Thu, 23 May 2013 10:56:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/luke_rockhold_denies_fixing_fight_with_vitor_belfort/13678655 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/luke_rockhold_denies_fixing_fight_with_vitor_belfort/13678655 Luke Rockhold Denies Fixing Fight with Vitor Belfort http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/luke_rockhold_denies_fixing_fight_with_vitor_belfort/13678655 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Matt Serra had his Octagon debut way back in 2001 and yesterday the former champ officially called it quits.  Serra will always hold one of the biggest upset victories in UFC history when he won The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback season and was granted an immediate title shot against then, and current champ, GSP.  Serra shocked the world and knocked out Georges in the first round at UFC 69.  Matt owns a string of jiu jitsu schools in New York and has been more focused on training fighters like Chris Weidman, as well as running his schools.  Serra last stepped into the Octagon in 2010 when he fought Chris Lytle and until recently still dreamed of making one last walk to the cage under the UFC banner. “I really think I’m walking away. I’m going to be 39, I just had my rib taken out. I’m having my third kid. My schools are doing well. What am I doing, looking for another pay day? It’s not really for that. I mean, it doesn’t stink, but it’s not really for that. Am I still trying to hold... Thu, 23 May 2013 09:18:24 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/matt_serra_officially_retires_largely_due_to_health_complications/13677914 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/matt_serra_officially_retires_largely_due_to_health_complications/13677914 Matt Serra Officially Retires Largely Due To Health Complications http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/matt_serra_officially_retires_largely_due_to_health_complications/13677914 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When Kiwi-born super hero Mark Hunt collides with Junior dos Santos this Saturday in Las Vegas he'll find himself just one finish away from a shot at UFC gold. Considering that Hunt was sporting a professional MMA record of 5-7 just two years ago makes his current state amongst the heavyweight elite all the more impressive. One of the main reasons 'The Super Samoan' finds himself in this position is due to his most recent performance, which was that of the jaw breaking variety. Hunt was no stranger to Saitama, having enjoyed his greatest victories and most disappointing losses there. He gave the fans a show inside of the Super Arena last February when he put away Cheick Kongo and with the crowd behind him in this PRIDEesque freakshow fight against the 7 footer Stefan Struve, well, we already knew we'd be in for another special moment. Relive Hunt's highlight reel finish of Struve below in it's entirety as a little appetizer for this weekends top heavy Memo... Wed, 22 May 2013 20:11:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/tvp_mark_hunt_breaks_struves_jaw_in_saitama/13674923 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/tvp_mark_hunt_breaks_struves_jaw_in_saitama/13674923 TVP: Mark Hunt breaks Struve's jaw in Saitama http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/tvp_mark_hunt_breaks_struves_jaw_in_saitama/13674923 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Former UFC fighter and current WSOP lightweight Waylon Lowe has suffered his fair share of injuries in the octagon, but none of them were worse than the one he says he suffered during sex last September. Needless to say, he probably wont ever be using desensitizing penis gel again. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Lowe filed a lawsuit against a sex shop in Philadelphia called The Mood on May 14. It was at that shop that the 32-year-old says he bought a product called Kama Sutra Pleasure Balm Prolonging Gel. Lowe says the gel, which is designed to decrease sensitivity and improve sexual performance, left his genitals “permanently disfigured” and resulted in “catastrophic and permanent damage.” “This is a very private, but very significant loss for a man who is very vital in so many other aspects,” Lowe’s attorney Thomas R. Kline said. “This is a man who literally makes his living avoiding injury; he knows how to protect himself. Yet he wasn’t provided with the most basic, si... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:09:34 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/mma_fighter_waylon_lowe_sues_sex_shop_claims_penis_gel_permanently_disfigured_his_genitals/13674259 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/mma_fighter_waylon_lowe_sues_sex_shop_claims_penis_gel_permanently_disfigured_his_genitals/13674259 MMA fighter suing sex shop http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/mma_fighter_waylon_lowe_sues_sex_shop_claims_penis_gel_permanently_disfigured_his_genitals/13674259 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/a/fac4ac7eb2d686e0f6ebd97b65fefb4312ae8f08/mini/lowe.jpg “The Reem” is back after a brutal knockout loss that came from the gigantic hands of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC 156. His opponent will also be a humongous heavyweight in 6’7″ Travis Browne, who returns after quickly defeating Gabriel Gonzaga with elbow strikes as “Napao” was trying to get in on a takedown. When these two Heavyweights head into the Octagon on Aug. 17 in Boston, they will likely be looking to add more content to their highlight reels. And get this, it’s not the main event! Dana White apparently has more plans for FOX Sports 1′s debut show. The card already features hometown kid Joe Lauzon, a welterweight war with Matt Brown and Thiago Alves is also on the card, which has got fireworks written all over it. The only thing left to emphasize the top of a card, more than knockout punching heavyweights, is a title fight. Maybe Gustafsson vs. Machida will finally fill a slot to determine who is the top contender to fight Jon Jones for the belt. Who knows? Travis Browne a... Wed, 22 May 2013 16:53:20 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/alistair_overeem_returns_in_august_to_face_travis_browne_in_boston_at_fox_sports_1/13673746 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/alistair_overeem_returns_in_august_to_face_travis_browne_in_boston_at_fox_sports_1/13673746 Alistair Overeem returns in August to face Travis Browne in Boston at FOX Sports 1 http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/alistair_overeem_returns_in_august_to_face_travis_browne_in_boston_at_fox_sports_1/13673746 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/c/ec6d696a2f0da1f78196ab0a56ff8b15c4802f20/mini/6665864.jpg What? I thought Matt Serra (pictured) was already retired? That’s probably what most mixed martial arts fans were asking when they heard the former UFC welterweight champion has decided to “walk away” from MMA. On April 5, the 39-year-old spent four days in the emergency room to have a rib removed. Serra told NewsDay that was the telltale sign that it was over, although it’s still a tough pill to swallow. “It’s hard to say it,” Serra stated. “It’s like you can’t say it, even though it probably is true. I would love to put closure on my career with one last fight at the Garden, but at the same time, if that doesn’t happen, I definitely consider myself done. It’s hard to say the ‘R word.’ I might never say the ‘R word.’ “I really think I’m walking away. I’m going to be 39, I just had my rib taken out. I’m having my third kid. My schools are doing well. What am I doing, looking for another pay day? It’s not really for that. I mean, it doesn’t stink, but it’s not real Wed, 22 May 2013 13:13:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/former_ufc_champ_matt_serra_walking_away_from_mma/13671895 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/former_ufc_champ_matt_serra_walking_away_from_mma/13671895 Former UFC Champ Matt Serra ‘Walking Away’ From MMA http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/former_ufc_champ_matt_serra_walking_away_from_mma/13671895 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Josh Barnett is coming home. The seventh Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion has signed a multi-fight deal to return to the octagon for the first time in over eleven years. Wed, 22 May 2013 08:03:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/josh_barnett_returning_to_the_ufc/13669321 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/josh_barnett_returning_to_the_ufc/13669321 Josh Barnett returning to the UFC http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/josh_barnett_returning_to_the_ufc/13669321 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With the UFC's next visit to Western Canada under a month away, the promotion is taking the necessary steps to avoid another Canadian disaster, a la UFC 149 in Calgary. Following the recent injury to interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao, the powers that be behind the curtains at Zuffa seem to feel that this event needed a little beef. And by beef I mean Roy Nelson. It was teased on the Fuel TV weekly 'UFC Tonight' that Nelson would be fighting on the pay-per-view portion of UFC 161 in Winnipeg against a yet to be named opponent. It was later confirmed by MMA Junkie that the opponent would be none other than Strong Style Fight Team's Stipe Miocic. Miocic was originally scheduled to welcome Aussie heavyweight favorite Soa 'The Hulk' Palelei back into the Octagon after a five-year plus absence, but now Palelei is left without a fight as it stands today. Miocic will be upgraded from the FX card to the PPV portion of the June 15th event when he returns to t... Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/manitoba_makeover_ufc_161_evans_vs_hendo_gets_heavy/13667986 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/manitoba_makeover_ufc_161_evans_vs_hendo_gets_heavy/13667986 Manitoba Makeover: 'UFC 161: Evans vs. Hendo' Gets Heavy http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/manitoba_makeover_ufc_161_evans_vs_hendo_gets_heavy/13667986 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Vitor Belfort is without a doubt a multi-dimensional UFC personality. Only Vitor can thank God for his strength and ask a rabid Brazilian fan base to beat up a reporter that dares ask him about TRT in one press conference. Sun, 19 May 2013 21:39:10 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/vitor_belfort_wants_reporter_beat_up_over_trt_question/13651840 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/vitor_belfort_wants_reporter_beat_up_over_trt_question/13651840 Vitor Belfort wants reporter beat up over TRT question http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/vitor_belfort_wants_reporter_beat_up_over_trt_question/13651840 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/f/bfb69680d9ba90593e2fdb6d85a49591e3f5f245/mini/5d.jpg