Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community.
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This week’s MMAterial Facts:
Courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships (Fight of the Year Candidate)
– Fowlkes: The Indestructible Daniel Cormier (MMA Fighting)
“The first kid begins to cry less than an hour into practice. Everyone can see it coming. That trembling lower lip, that frustrated stomp of the feet. When the tears finally start, twisting his face into a little ball of anguish, no one seems particularly surprised.
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“No crying today,” says his coach, Daniel Cormier. Is there even a hint of sympathy in his voice? There is not. Neither is there anger nor impatience. There is only a sense that this is what we are doing because this is what must be done, and crying never won a single wrestling match.”
– When Fedor met Satoshi Ishii on NYE; card will not air on broadcast TV (Fight Opinion)
“The scuttlebutt coming out of Fedor’s decision win over Jeff Monson in Russia is that he will fight on the Inoki NYE card at Saitama Super Arena against Inoki-managed/owned-in-Japan fighter Satoshi Ishii. On paper, the fight makes sense for both parties. Fedor sees it as a chance to get a win, as ugly as it may be, over a relatively green fighter and an easy payday plus TV rights in Russia. Inoki’s camp views it as a chance to get Fedor back in Japan (where he’s the most valued, still) and that Ishii can somehow make the match ugly enough to get a decision win as long as Fedor doesn’t tag him early and knock his ass out.”
– Redeeming Filipino: Phillipe Nover Bellator 59 exclusive interview (MMA Mania)
“I’m not the next Anderson Silva, I’m not the next Georges St. Pierre. I have my own type of style and I like to take things from different people. I like to take different movements and styles and stuff but I’m not trying to be the next Georges. I’m not trying to be the next Anderson, I’m the next Phillipe Nover and that’s what I’m gonna live up to.”
– Rampage Jackson vs. Ryan Bader Booked For UFC 144 In Japan (MMA Convert)
“So it looks like Rampage Jackson is going to fight in Japan after all.
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But it won’t be against Shogun Rua or even Stephan Bonnar. Instead, Rampage will take on Ryan Bader at UFC 144. Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the news with ESPN.com.”
– Jens Pulver’s 2011 Videogame Holiday Buyer’s Guide (MiddleEasy)
“The holiday season is upon us and with the jingling bells, festive lights and awkward family gatherings a veritable avalanche of amazing games are at our gamepad worn fingertips. With many choices comes great responsibility, so what games will you spend your hard earned holiday windfalls of cash on? We recruited Jens Pulver to help you answer this very question. After hours of contemplation and debate, Jens and MiddleEasy compiled the following items that should be at the top of every gamers list and at the bottom of every tree. This is Jens Pulver’s Holiday Buying Guide-Only at MiddleEasy.com.”
– Dana White: The UFC Is Going On With Or Without Me (FightLine)
“This is McDonald’s man. This thing goes on forever without me,” White asserted. “Is it different without me? Yeah, maybe it’s a little different, but they don’t need me, man. This thing’s goin’ on without me or with me.”
– MMA Black Friday: 7 Things That Money Can’t Buy (Cage Potato)
“From revolutionizing the MMA landscape with a kick the way the Miami Dolphins did with a Wildcat Offense a few years ago to several strangely fascinating videos, Anderson Silva has provided more entertainment than a Chael Sonnen Says F*ck Canada or at Least This Reporter Who Lives There” Chael Sonnen interview. These are memories that will last a lifetime, or three if you’re Cheick Kongo.”
– Grappling with Issues – 11/25/11 (Five Ounces of Pain)
“I’m torn. On one hand, Rua vs. Henderson was unquestionably excellent – a “Fight of the Decade” type affair. On the other, it would be nearly impossible to top from an entertainment standpoint. To expect a repeat performance would akin to telling Leonardo Da Vinci to paint another Mona Lisa rather than enjoying the masterpiece he’d already put on canvas. Like Lambert I suppose I’ll say I’m open to the idea if divisional contendership dictates it but otherwise I’m content with having seen one of the greatest fights in MMA history, letting each man move on to new challenges (especially with Henderson likely only having a few more years in the sport).”
– Dan Henderson Doing His Part for Thanksgiving and Christmas (5thRound)
“Thanks to Dan Henderson and the generous fans that purchased the ‘Hendo UFC 139 Walkout Tee’ he wore this past Saturday in his epic battle against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, almost 8,000 people at the San Diego Rescue Mission and the Denver Rescue Mission will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. “
– Vadim Finkelstein: We will offer the UFC a fight between Velasquez and Fedor (LowKick)
“We are determined to move forward, and would like to offer the UFC a fight between Cain Velasquez and Fedor Emelianenko. M-1 Global would take a full responsibility of organizing the fight sometime during 2012 in Moscow, Russia. I can guarantee Dana White great revenue from this fight, and a record-breaking attendance. M-1 Global is ready for dialogue, and would be happy to consider an option of organizing such tournament with combined efforts. I will make an offer to “my best friend” pretty soon, so we’ll see what he has to say.”
– Michael Chandler discusses epic win over Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 (TheFightNerd)
“Fight Nerd correspondent Rodolfo Roman got to speak with newly crowned Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler after his four round war with Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 last Saturday. Chandler discusses winning his first national belt, preparing for Alvarez, and his future as champion. The fight had obviously taken a heavy toll on Chandler as, during the interview, one of his facial wounds reopened.”
– Where Does Dan Henderson Fall on the List of All-Time MMA Greats? (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“There is no one to be ashamed about on that list. He also holds victories over Misaki and Wanderlei Silva. That means of his eight losses, there are only five fighters he hasn’t redeemed himself against.
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Henderson is currently on a four-fight win streak, including winning Strikeforce’s light heavyweight championship and stopping Fedor Emelianenko. Now Henderson’s future is up in the air. “
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