ISYS100 UFC Video

In this video we discuss the latest UFC News. Each member discussed a specific topic in regards to MMA within the UFC.

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Matt Brown Responds to Hostile Crowd

During the weigh-ins for a preliminary fight taking place in the UFC 198 event there was a great deal of hostility towards the welterweight. The Brazilian crowd immediately began to boo when Brown stepped up during the weigh-ins, however he did not seem to be provoked by the hostility of the crowd. Instead Brown responded by showing explicit hand gestures towards to the crowd showing no remorse for his actions.  

Demian Maia and Matt Brown at the wigh-ins

According to Fox Sports, Brown had anticipated this hostility as there is a history of unfriendliness with the crowd shouting the shameful “you’re going to die” chant. Brown came prepared to the weigh-ins and the crowd had little effect on throwing him off and focusing on the fight. 

Fabricio Werdum explains why he's fighting Stipe Miocic instead of Cain Velasquez

Werdum remains the odds-on favorite to win the fight based on the betting odds. When asked about why he is fighting Stipe rather than Cain, he states "I don't choose who I'm going to fight. This is the UFC's decision. I don't have a problem, I'll fight whoever's at the top. The thing is Stipe was coming along very well, he was asking for this fight, so now we're going to fight now," Werdum explained. "Of course everybody is asking for the rematch with Cain and it will happen and it will be a big show, but Stipe deserves this because he's very good and he deserves the title shot."

http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ufc-fabricio-werdum-why-he-s-fighting-stipe-miocic-instead-of-cain-velasquez-ufc-198-051116

Alistair Overeem's opinion on Fabricio Werdum vs Stipe Miocic

"I do think, if you ask who I think is going to win, I give it 60/40 to Werdum because I fought him twice, and he’s just a very clever, slick fighter," Overeem said. "It’s easy to underestimate him because he’ s physically not that strong and athletic, but he’s sneaky. He’s [always got] an ace up his sleeve, you know? So I expect him to come out with some sort of a surprise.

"When you look at Stipe, Stipe’s pretty straightforward with what he does. He’s good at what he does. He’s aggressive, his cardio is good, he’s strong, but I think Werdum is going to out-smart him."

Uriah Hall (Anderson Silva's intended opponent) off the UFC 200 Card

The UFC has attempted to search a replacement fight for Hall, when the news was given that Silva was too ill to compete and required gall bladder surgery. UFC and Uriah Hall could not come to a conclusion, thus Anderson Silva and him are completely removed from the card.

Hall, 31, last competed at UFC 193 in November where he lost to Robert Whittaker by unanimous decision.

There is however new news indicated by the UFC that there will be a replacement fight. The replacement fight will be Warlley Alves vs. Bryan Barberena in the main card as a substitute. 

http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/5/11/11656276/uriah-hall-of-ufc-198-fight-card

Jose Aldo's first step to Conor Mcgregor

The former UFC featherweight champion  Jose Aldo had previously beat Frankie Edgar in a unanimous decision. They will meet again in July 9. This may be a totally new different fight outcome as Jose Aldo claims that he “will get there and run through (Edgar)” and also claims that “it doesn’t matter what happens” as they will win the fight and go on to fight Conor Mcgregor. This fight will be for the UFC Interim Featherweight Title as UFC Featherweight Champion Conor Mcgregor seeks to fight Nate Diaz at the welterweight division  in possibly the UFC 202 main event card.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/5/13/11673794/jose-aldo-vows-to-run-through-frankie-edgar-offers-to-fight-conor

Anderson Silva Aiming for UFC 200 Return?

As we reported, Anderson Silva underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder this week, necessitating the cancellation of his scheduled bout with Uriah Hall at UFC 198 on Saturday in Curitiba, Brazil. Uriah seems to also have been pulled from the 198 card with both fighters expected to meet in the octagon at a later date.

However, Silva’s physical trainer, Rogerio Camoes, said “The Spider” told him that he planned to return at UFC 200. The UFC has given no indication that Silva is in its plans for the landmark July 9 event. This would be a huge addition to the UFC 200 card as a co-main event to Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier.

For what it is worth, the rumours of a GSP return for UFC 200 have not gone away either. GSP vs Anderson Silva is a dream match for all MMA fans. Even now while both fighters are past their prime, there is no denying that that if these 2 athletes were to meet at UFC 200, it would be a night to remember.

Possibly The Biggest UFC Event Yet?

The upcoming UFC event which is taking place in Curitiba, Brazil on the 14^th of May has the potential to be the biggest event in UFC history. The event had its 45 000 tickets sold in just nine hours according to MMA Fighting. Just from the ticket sales alone, UFC 198 is already a big success along with the exciting matchups on the main card that will take place including Werdum vs Miocic and Souza vs Belfort. A preview of the Souza vs Belfort fight can be viewed in the video below.

General Manager Giovani Decker for the UFC in Brazil has compared this event to the upcoming Olympic Games that will also be held in Brazil. To be compared to one of the largest sporting events in the world is a milestone for the UFC with fight withdraws such as Anderson Silva not even changing the hype for the event. 

Successful Surgery!

It has been over a day that the surgery took place for Anderson Silva and it has been a successful one. The former middleweight champion had his gallbladder removed without any complications and has begun the road to recovery as he rests. Silva had been experiencing abdominal pains and reports claim that he was suffering from acute cholecystitis according to MMA Junkie. 

This condition is an inflammation of the gallbladder and in Silva’s case it had to be removed. He will be out of action for about four to six weeks and after this period he is expected to resume physical activities. Due to this injury, Silva was pulled out of the upcoming fight against Uriah Hall and he is not expected to be ready for the fight. 

Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Follow Up

As we previously reported, according to ESPN a rumoured fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather may have been in the works. Mayweather stated that it was he himself who started the rumours. Floyd Mayweather, said that “the rumours that y’all have been hearing [are] the rumours I started”. Dana White denied that any negotiations of the fight were going on.

Dana still continues to state that no conversations have been had, however he did state in a recent interview on the Dan Patrick Show that if Mayweather is interested in facing McGregor that he's willing to take [Mayweather’s] call.

"We haven't talked about it. Conor McGregor's under contract with the UFC," White said. "If Floyd wants to fight Conor -- call me, Floyd." McGregor also added fuel to the fire by posting a mock poster for the fight on Instagram.

                                                                                                     Conor posted this image on Instagram and Facebook

This fight is still likely to never happen, even though the rumours will still circulate. If the fight were to take place Mayweather would be victorious under boxing rules, whilst McGregor would win in an MMA fight.

Injury Update

There has been yet another upset in the UFC involving injuries as Dennis Siver who is a veteran in the featherweight division has been forced to withdraw from UFC 199 according to MMA Fighting. The fight would have been against another veteran by the name of B.J. Penn who came out of retirement to face Siver at UFC 199. Unfortunately the fight will not commence at the event as the nature of the injury is unknown and it is highly doubtful Siver will recover in time for the agreed date for the fight. For B.J. Penn it has not yet been confirmed if he will be facing another opponent at UFC 199 as there have not been any contestants who have stepped up to take Siver's place. 

Fabricio Werdum - Seminar prior to UFC 198

Fabricio Werdum witnessed support from his own, the Brazilians one week before his scheduled defense of the UFC heavyweight title. Werdum and Kings MMA trainer Rafael Cordeiro had demonstrated knowledge and passion with 440 students at the seminar. His popularity is demonstrated in this statement, ” There were so many people that we had to move it to a public facility. Rafael taught MMA and muay Thai, and Werdum taught jiu-jitsu and got the students going with his jokes and charisma.”While there are rivalries among the teams, the popularity of Werdum and Cordeiro attracted students from all the academies and forced them to put their differences aside. 

Anderson Silva OUT of UFC 198

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva was forced Tuesday to pull out of his homecoming fight in Curitiba, Brazil, with Uriah Hall because of abdominal pain that may require gall bladder surgery. UFC president Dana White has confirmed this news to Yahoo Sports.

This news puts a major hole in the ufc198 card, which will leave Dana scrambling to find a new opponent for Uriah Hall. Anticipation had been building for this fight so it is a major letdown that Silva suffered this injury. This follows a recent run of injuries in recent time, which have forced the UFC to change fights last minute. This includes the injury to RDA that led to McGregor's famous loss to Nate Diaz.

We hope Silva can have a quick recovery to return to the octagon to continue his legacy as one of if not THE greatest mixed martial artist ever.

Holly Holm's Next Fight

Holly Holm lost her bantamweight championship to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, in an upset that surprised most MMA fans.  It appeared Holm was on track for a decision victory over Tate during the five round bout, but a mistake late in the final five minutes cost her dearly.

Holly will now return to action in July when she faces Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of the upcoming FOX UFC Fight Night in Chicago. Holly will be looking to re-enter title contention, to score a rematch with Miesha Tate for the title.

Shevchenko on the other hand will look to rise through the ranks in her career, with a victory over the former champion. Shevchenko (12-2) is 1-1 in the UFC and coming off a decision loss to Nunes in March. She is a former Muay Thai champion.

Holly Holm should enter this fight as the favourite and with a win should become the number 1 contender once again. The Chicago event will also feature Anthony “Rumble” Johnson against Glover Teixeira as well as Edson Barboza facing Gilbert Melendez in a lightweight matchup.

Foxsports

Is The UFC Up For Sale?

With the huge growth for the UFC over the years it has come a time where the owners are receiving offers that are too good to refuse. The company has grown in both popularity and financial value as the UFC is rumoured to have a price tag of $3.5 billion - $4 billion in US currency according to Dayton Daily News Dayton Daily News. 

Majority owners such as Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta who own 81% of the company are interested in offers from major investment companies around the world. The two brothers had purchased their shares in the UFC for $2 million in 2001 and are now looking for offers around the $3.5 billion - $4 billion mark. The enormous growth of the UFC is reflected through this price tag showing that it is the biggest and best martial arts company in the world. 

Josh Emmett Suffers Horrific Injury!

It is not surprising when injuries occur in full contact sports, especially in the UFC where inflicting pain on the opponent is the goal. In his most recent fight, Josh Emmett who debuted in the UFC at Fight Night 87 had suffered a horrific finger injury during his first ever fight. Sheer toughness was demonstrated by Emmett who came out on top with the win by split decision even though his finger was broken during some of the fight.

                                                         Josh Emmett's broken finger

His ability to do this shows the physical and mental strength needed to compete in such a sport where even broken bones are not enough to stop fighters from competing. 

Vitor Belfort Unhappy with Reebok Deal

Vitor Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, who is currently ranked at #3 in the middleweight rankings. In a recent interview with sportv he stated that the company’s current Reebok deal feels too close to slavery, compared to how it was before the new contract arrived.

"MMA is a lot closer to entertainment than sport these days. I'm not satisfied with the way the company is handling sponsorship. We are pretty much living in slavery. We can't use our own sponsors, they are banned inside the Octagon. We have no properties."

Belfort joins a long list of fighters and UFC personalities who are disappointed with payments and the overall treatment of athletes.

Deadspin

News.com.au

Our Current P4P Rankings

Pound for Pound Rankings

1)                      Demetrious Johnson

2)                      Jon Jones

3)                      Luke Rockhold

4)                      Fabricio Werdum

5)                      Dominick Cruz

6)                      Rafael Dos Anjos

7)                      Robbie Lawler

8)                      Daniel Cormier

9)                      Conor McGregor

10)                   Jose Aldo

These rankings are based on my opinion. They are similar to the official rankings, although with slight changes. I believe Johnson should be number 1 ahead of Jon Jones, due to his dominance over Cejudo. Cormier is ranked ahead of McGregor due to Conor’s loss to an unranked fighter. The upcoming Jon Jones vs Cormier fight at UFC 200 may have interesting ramifications to future rankings.

Joanna Jedrzejczk rise to stardom

Joanna Jedrzejczk is the pound-for-pound the number one female fighter in the world and is the current UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. Previously joining MMA within the organisation of UFC she fought in Muay Thai and was notably a six-time world champion and a four-time European champion in the sport. She has a wide variety of techniques used mimicking the style of the retired infamous fighter Chuck Liddell.  She gains her confidence from her work ethic, consistently wanting to improve herself as a martial artist. When she had claimed the belt, she claimed it for Europe, stating that the title was for Europe. 

Floyd Mayweather Versus Conor Mcgregor possibility

Floyd Mayweather and Conor Mcgregor are arguably two of the biggest stars in their own sports. Floyd Mayweather is known in boxing while Conor Mcgregor is known in MMA within the organisation UFC. According to ESPN Floyd Mayweather, said that “the rumours that y’all have been hearing [are] the rumours I started”. However this contradicts to what Dana White (The UFC president) had to say, “It’s not true. It’s just a tabloid story”. There is evidence that this matchup may come true as Mayweather has spoken to Showtime and CBS that he may have a possible return in the ring. http://www.espn.com.au/boxing/story/_/id/15489800/floyd-mayweather-calls-fight-vs-ufc-star-conor-mcgregor-possible

Cyborg vs Ronda Rousey

UFC fans have been begging for a fight between Ronda Rousey and Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino for years. It is the dream match that many fans have wanted between the 2 trailblazers in their sport.

Fuel was only added to the fire when Cyborg stated during a recent interview “I seen Ronda Shadow Boxing on a beach and her Shadow won”. The clear shot at Ronda’s boxing ability along with the fact that Cyborg claimed Rousey had been ‘ducking’ her for years, added much anticipation to a fight that is not planned and will likely never occur.

Personally, if the two were to fight today I would back Cyborg to win due to Ronda’s recent loss and the impact it seems to have had on her.

Ronda Rousey vs Paige VanZant

WARNING- Graphic language
UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate was a guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast on May 5^th. During the podcast she revealed a story that Paige VanZant, one of the UFC’s popular rising stars, had told her.

                                                                                            Photo- Paige VanZant

According to Paige VanZant Rona Rousey approached her during a Reebok event and said ‘f*ck you, you fair-weather b*tch! How dare you cross me? Blah, blah, blah.' Paige responded, ‘cross you? What are you talking about?' And [Ronda] stated, ‘you congratulated Holly Holm for beating me, so f*ck you, you f*cking fair-weather 115-pound...'

This is a clear over exaggeration from Ronda Rousey that backs her already deep track record that portrays her as an athlete with little sportsmanship.  

mmafighting.net

Anderson Silva Mocks Uriah Hall

Approaching one of the most anticipated UFC events of the year (UFC 198), some fighters have already begun the mind games with Anderson Silva mocking his upcoming opponent Uriah Hall in the video link below.

Video Link - Silva Mocks Hall

                                                                        Silva vs Hall

The match between the middleweight veteran Anderson Silva and the rising superstar Uriah Hall is becoming more intense with the sudden act of banter after a quiet wait in preparation for the fight. Silva may have done this as an act of intimidation or just some friendly teasing to make things more interesting. Hall will be put to the test as he is undoubtedly motivated to prove himself in the UFC by competing with a former champion who has much more experience in mixed martial arts. Some fans see this as an unwise move from Silva as they believe Hall will use this as motivation to go out and win the fight. 

Change of Plans for UFC 200

The Conor McGregor retirement tweet was a clear power play that backfired. Dana White, the UFC president scrapped the rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor and instead replaced it with the also highly anticipated bout between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. Even though this fight won’t draw as much attention as the original bout, it will continue as the plan for UFC 200. Conor has since announced that he isn’t retired and the fight between himself and Nate Diaz will likely take place at a later time. Dana made the right decision in treating all fighters equally and ensuring that McGregor does his future

 press obligations.
                                       
ESPN

Conor McGregor Announces Shock Retirement

On April 19^th 2016, Conor MacGregor shocked the World by announcing his plan of retiring early. He did so in a tweet that read “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later.”

The tweet became one of the most retweeted tweets for an athlete of all time, turning the MMA world on its head because Conor was scheduled to fight Nate Diaz in a huge rematch at UFC 200. It was revealed that McGregor no longer wants to promote his own fights and Conor would rather just stick to the art of fighting and not have to worry about the hype and promotion that surrounds them





                                                                        News.com.au

Rousey In Top 100 Most Influential

A woman by the name of Ronda Rousey came into the Ultimate Fighting Championship with style and took the sport of competitive mixed martial arts by storm. She has become an influential individual both in and outside the octagon stated by sources such as TIME Magazine and many others. Beginning her professional career in Strikeforce, she won all four of her fights and then proceeded to the grandest stage of them all which is the UFC. She continued her success in the UFC and continued to win fights building up a remarkable record for herself. As a result of her success she has been an inspiration to many females and has become a role model stressing the importance of being able to rise to the top in a male dominated sport.

MMA News

Sports Illustrated 

Introduction

To begin with this blog, the members/editors in our group include Carlo Rodriguez, Pritam Singh and Elbron Lajin. The weekly blog posts will provide content that revolves around the sport of MMA in the organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  Within these blog posts, what will be included features different forms of news surrounding the UFC from a range of sources. News will predominantly feature the organisation’s superstars (activity both inside and outside the organisation) and the UFC’s overall activity. It should be noticed that news surrounding the fighters will mainly focus on the UFC’s superstars, which range from Conor Mcgregor, Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones, Holly Holm, Robbie Lawler, Anderson Silva, The Diaz Brothers and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

The latest news will be supplemented with each of the editor’s insight demonstrated by opinion. However, it is with caution that despite each blog containing factual information, our opinions are purely subjective and do not represent anything but our thoughts on the topic.  Thus, this means each of our editors may show a difference in opinion or be bias. Our insights regardless will be based on if we agree or disagree, what should be done and what shouldn’t be done in accordance to the UFC's activity.