Feb 23, 2012 - With the clock ticking and the year's biggest card right around the corner, a floodgate of news has seemingly busted wide open.
Needless to say, there's plenty to see today, from UFC 144 interviews and predictions, to Nick Diaz's suspension and the return of Fedor Emelianenko. So catch up with all the MMA you may have missed on the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
UFC 144 pre-fight interviews. Ariel Helwani caught up with all of UFC 144's big names, including headliners Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar, and co-headliners Rampage Jackson and Ryan Bader.
Nevada temporarily suspends Nick Diaz's license. At the request of Nevada deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles, Diaz received a temporary suspension for his post-UFC 143 positive drug test.
UFC 144 predictions. Michael David Smith answered Saturday night's pressing questions while running down his picks for UFC Japan.
M-1: June targeted for return of Fedor Emelianenko. According his management, Emelianenko is tentatively scheduled to return to action sometime around mid-June in Monaco.
Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig booked for UFC 146. "The Outlaw" hopes to avoid a five-fight losing streak as he hits the mat for the first time since last August.
MEDIA STEW
UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar is absolutely relentless in his second professional fight. (click the image to watch)
Will Ferrell plays the role of Bruce Buffer in this fanmade UFC 144 trailer.
UFC title challenger Ben Henderson takes on Ricardo Tirloni in one of his last fights before the WEC scooped him up.
With that out of the way, here's the first part of Countdown to UFC 144. Catch parts two through four here.
One more violent knockout, you say? Well, okay.
Gotta admit, the resemblance is uncanny.
Man @clayguida is the man!!! Jus sent me his new album can't wait to get home n jam out to it! Thanks so much bud!! twitter.com/JoeJitsu/statu…
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) February 22, 2012
Congrats to K-Sos for the new gig.
Off to Vancouver to do some stunt work! Another great adventure begins. Hard work pays off!
— Krzysztof Soszynski (@KSOSufc) February 22, 2012
Don't know about you, but seeing little kid Overeem hurts my brain.
Me and the tallest man of Holland, funny to look up to someone now ;) twitter.com/Alistairoveree…
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) February 22, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012):
- UFC 146: Dan Hardy (23-10) vs. Duane Ludwig (21-12)
- UFC 146: Shane del Rosario (11-0) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6)
- UFC 146: Glover Teixeira (17-2) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC)
- UFC 146: Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2)
- Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Bristol Marunde (15-6) in against Ronaldo Souza (14-3)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE reader Jack Slack: Out-Striking Frankie Edgar.
Frankie Edgar is always entertaining to watch, but he is never going to be a big draw such as Anderson Silva or his predecessor, BJ Penn were - he is neither a submission finisher or a knockout artist. What is unique about Edgar, however, is his method of taking apart lightweights - exploiting the same lack of striking confidence and experience in the lightweight division that Bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz does in his own weightclass: a lack of ability to deal with lateral movement. Is it possible for Benson Henderson to out-strike Edgar? Of course. Will he actually out-strike Edgar? That remains to be seen, but the opportunities do exist to pick Edgar apart, it is whether Henderson's coaches have noticed this and whether he can focus when he is face to face with Edgar's perpetual motion style.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
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Comments
Possible???
Fedor vs Couture
by Johny boxing on Feb 23, 2012 11:25 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Couture’s retired bro lol
by Rob2507 on Feb 23, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
That match-up would make me sad.
Follow @shaunalshatti
by Shaun Al-Shatti on Feb 23, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
I always wanted to C Fedor destroy Couture
Let’s face it Fedor destroyed Nog twice. Nog manhandle Couture in the stand up. What will Fedor do couture …… I know MMA math don’t work, but i see it working in this case
What you going to do when you know who? How you going to deal with the man of steel? And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?
by Alfxtream on Feb 23, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Fedor has been getting by
on his physical gifts for a long time now. As we know he’s had some sub par training partners in the past, yet he’s been able to win. The game has changed though, and not to beat a dead horse, but until he changes I couldn’t care less about what he does. At this stage in a fighters career, if they choose to continue, usually they make the necessary changes in order to continue to be at a high level. So until Fedor goes to 205, he’s irrelevant to me. His unwillingness to move down shows me he’s not taking his career as seriously as he should at this stage. Dude cut down to 220 for the Henderson fight. Not a single cut of muscle on his body though that’s the lightest he’s been. This dude is a freaking 85er. You show me a single natural 205er that isn’t ripped at 220. Nobody is saying he should go to 85, but I bet his chances of EVER fighting in the UFC go up a ton if he moves down
by Bigs- on Feb 23, 2012 12:41 PM EST reply actions
HE can fight in the UFC right now if he wnated 2
The problem has never been if Dana or Lorenzo not wanting Fedor in the ufc. R u kidding they would love Fedor in the UFC because they know he would be a huge draw for PPV with the ufc behind him. Not to mention Fedor is always in entertaining fights. I don’t ever recall his fights not been entertaining. The only problem is the co promotion which will never happen. If Fedor said fine no M1 he would have been in the ufc a long time ago, but Fedor would like to build M1 can’t blame him he an owner of M1, and he won’t fight forever.
What you going to do when you know who? How you going to deal with the man of steel? And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?
by Alfxtream on Feb 23, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry buddy
I think you got some outdated info. That was years ago. Fedor has since lost 3 in a row. Since then M1 has attempted to work with the UFC, but Dana said no.They blew their chance, since Fedor lost, they lost all their leverage and now it’s widely considered that Dana has the best heavyweights and that Fedor was never one of them
by Bigs- on Feb 23, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
what physical gifts...
that’s what is so amazing.
He doesn’t have any obvious or great advantages over any guys yet he is simply awesome. His skill is what gets him by.
"..That man has to be eliminated." - Fedor Emelianenko
by tkotom on Feb 24, 2012 9:12 AM EST up reply actions
Drugs in Sport .
You are comparing Fedor who is a perfectly fit + Healthy Natural Athlete to pharmaceuticaly enhanced contracted performers within a Promotions company owned by a TV company .
In other words you are comparing genuine real fighters like Fedor, a world Judo & Sambo Champion to WWE style drugged up athletic actors who are invited to fight exclusively within a closed organization .
The UFC is not a World Governing Body , it is a promotions company selling an event .
Look at any athlete Fedors size & Age & you will see Fedor is in excellent condition , you are complaining because he doesnt look like a bodybuilder & make your Gay weaklin ass sweaty .
Fedor may not be the picture of your dream husband but he is an outstanding fighter & comparing him to contracted drug using performers within a closed promotions company is ridiculous .
Fedor is a picture of natural health , what you are comparing him to is a homosexuals idea of what SHOULD be natural .
Wake up & straighten up .
by Saoiste on Mar 7, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
The most recent thing fedor’s management has said about the ufc is that every time they come to an agreement the contract is different than the terms previously agreed upon. So no dana has never rejected fedor in the ufc. The only thing that Dana has actually said no on is m1 trying to setup fedor with ufc/strikeforce owned fighters. M1 asked for cain vs fedor in russia after under m1 global and promised a % to dana but he said “hell no”. Also they’ve tried to get a rematch with werdum but dana wouldn’t allow that either and m1 called dana a doll in hay (referring to him not sharing fighters). Lastly they’ved talked about trying to get a fight against josh barnett again but also shot down that idea realizing that dana would never allow it. Dana is incredibly buisness smart if Fedor would sign the same contract as ever other ufc fighter he’d be in hes def a bigger draw than any of the 2nd tier fighters but the only thing hes refused is allowing m1 to barrow their fighters.
by michael.palomba on Feb 24, 2012 4:09 AM EST reply actions
"dog in hey"
by michael.palomba on Feb 24, 2012 4:10 AM EST up reply actions
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