Yahoo's Iole on big merger: The pressure is on to win

All fighters feel a sense of urgency but with today's announcement that the WEC's roster is folding into the UFC, the final two WEC cards will be pressure packed. Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole says in the short run with a few less cards on the schedule mid-level fighters up and down the UFC/WEC roster will be under the gun to win.

The increased roster depth now makes it easier for the UFC to pitch new shows to existing or new networks. If you're a fighter, you just have to win to keep yourself in the mix for what could be on the horizon in 2011.

Some of the key pressure fights at WEC 52 include:

Raphael Assuncao v. L.C. Davis
Assuncao has lost two straight which puts the Brazilian at risk. LC Davis needs a win to erase the bad taste of getting choked out by Josh Grispi.  

Anthony Njokuani v. Edwards Faaloloto
At the start of 2010, Njokuani was on the fast track to a title shot at 155 pounds. His weak takedown defense did him in against Shane Roller and even more surprising he was beat on the feet by newcomer Maciej Jewtuszko. A third straight loss, especially against a WEC newcomer could be devastating to his future.

Cub Swanson v. Mackens Sermerzier
Swanson has toiled in obscurity for a while and would love nothing better than the big stage in UFC. He's been rotating between winning and losing. He needs a win here. The same goes for Sermerzier, who's on a two-fight losing streak.  

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Yahoo-s-Iole-on-big-merger-The-pressure-is-on-t?urn=mma-280811

Moto X Adaptive Moto X Super X Women\\\\\\\'s Moto X Super X

Surf Artist - Heather Ritts

Introducing Californian surf artist Heather Ritts… Her portfolio features bright colours and surreal images from her imagination, ocean inspired women, watercolour waves as well as ink & acrylic renditions, painted surfboards and fins. Check out her work…

www.clubofthewaves.com/surf-artist/heather-ritts.php



www.abovethereefs.com

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cotw/~3/nGfXT1F6Yo8/surf-artist-heather-ritts.html

BMX Freestyle Park BMX Freestyle Big Air Moto X Adaptive

Ellenberger uses the power of Twitter to call out 'hated' Shields

UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger wants a piece of Jake Shields, and he's using his mouth to try to make it happen. Never mind that Shields has already cemented his title shot with a win over Martin Kampmann, and that Ellenberger is in line behind Jon Fitch and Carlos Condit, a fighter who has beaten Ellenberger. He wants Shields, and he is using the power of Twitter to try to sway the powers-that-be in the UFC.

Ellenberger -- who has recent TKO wins over John Howard and Mike Pyle -- has called out Shields several times on Twitter in the last few days, questioning Shields' title shot immediately after the fight, then going on to say:

Ellenberger isn't the first fighter to use a strategy of asking for fights to move up for a bout. Dan Hardy, "King Mo" Lawal and Ben Saunders have all gotten a shot at top fights by simply asking for them. Ellenberger would have to clear a lot of hurdles to get a shot at Shields before Shields fights either Georges St. Pierre or Josh Koscheck for the UFC welterweight title, but stranger things have happened in MMA.

UPDATE: Cagewriter spoke with Ellenberger via text, and he said that both Jake Shields and the UFC have not responded to his tweets. "But it's only a matter of time. Fake Shields is a fraud. Excuse me, Miss Piggy is a fraud," Ellenberger said. Why Miss Piggy?

"When he fights, he reminds me of Miss Piggy, with hs softness and feminine charm."

Ellenberger's beef with Shields comes from before both fighters were with the UFC. He says that he had a signed contract to fight Shields, but Shields' father (and manager) pulled him out of the bout because it was a bad match-up. Ellenberger admits that Condit and Fitch also have a claim on a bout with Shields, but, "I hate him more."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Ellenberger-uses-the-power-of-Twitter-to-call-ou?urn=mma-280071

Women\\\\\\\'s Moto X Super X Skateboard Vert Skateboard Vert Am

Schaub jabs his way to win over Gonzaga at UFC 121

You'd think Gabriel Gonzaga had never seen a jab before. Brendan Schaub's isn't lightning quick, but he used it often enough to keep the Brazilian at bay. More importantly, it seemed to throw off his timing and stymie most of his offensive attack. Schaub, the runner-up on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, got a solid victory via unanimous decision, 30-27 on all cards.

"Gabe is one of the top heavyweight in the world," said Schaub. "This was a big step up for me. I'm just glad to get out with a victory. (The jab) was the key to my success. Our gameplan was to mix it up and get him frustrated."

Gonzaga (11-6, 7-5 UFC) is a multi-talented guy with great jiu-jitsu and big punching power but he looked listless from the get-go. Schaub popped him with the jab throughout and had Gonzaga on his heels. Gonzaga's best offense came on leg kicks but he didn't throw them with enough frequence. Schaub's speed was too much. Anytime they stood toe-to-toe, Schaub usuaully got off six shots to Gonzaga's two.

Schaub delivered plus-150 as a good-sized underdog. Gonzaga is just 3-5 in the UFC since late 2007.  

That makes it 3-1 with the promotion for the 27-year-old Schaub. The former University of Colorado fullback has the size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) and power to make some waves. This should earn him a shot at a top 15 UFC heavyweight like Cheick Kongo, Stefan Struve or Ben Rothwell.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Schaub-jabs-his-way-to-win-over-Gonzaga-at-UFC-1?urn=mma-279365

Moto X Adaptive Moto X Super X Women\\\\\\\'s Moto X Super X

UFC 121 picks, Vegas-style: Velasquez looks to ruin 'Brocktober'

After UFC 100, Brock Lesnar was labeled an unstoppable force. Following a rough performance at UFC 116 against Shane Carwin, that kind of talk has died down. Was Lesnar overrated or is Carwin just that good? The next guy to put Lesnar's reputation to the test is Cain Velasquez. He's getting a lot of respect from bettors and fight insiders. Is he big enough to lock horns with Lesnar? Or will he wear out the monster?

Damon Martin from MMAWeekly and Larry Pepe from ProMMARadio joined me on RawVegas.tv to breakdown the big fights in Anaheim this weekend. 

UFC 121 odds (Courtesy Lagasse Stadium Las Vegas): 

Cain Velasquez (+120) vs. Brock Lesnar (-150) -- UFC heavyweight title
Martin Kampmann (+210) vs. Jake Shields (-270)
Tito Ortiz (+130) vs. Matt Hamill (-160)
Paulo Thiago (-110) vs. Diego Sanchez (-120)
Tom Lawlor (Even) vs. Patrick Cote (-130)
Paul Taylor (+200) vs. Sam Stout (-250)
Matt Schaub (+170) vs. Gabe Gonzaga (-200)
Ryan Jensen (+190) vs. Court McGee (-240)
Mike Guymon (+140) vs. Daniel Roberts (-170)
Chris Camozzi (Even) vs. Dongi Yang (-130)
Gilbert Yvel (+150) vs. Jon Madsen (-180)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-121-picks-Vegas-style-Velasquez-looks-to-r?urn=mma-278680

BMX Freestyle Vert BMX Freestyle Park BMX Freestyle Big Air

Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader Official for UFC 126 on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas

The anticipated matchup between rising light heavyweights Jon Jones and Ryan Bader is now official for UFC 126 on February 5 in Las Vegas after the fight between two of the UFC's top prospects was put in doubt earlier this month.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/16405/jon-jones-vs-ryan-bader-official-for-ufc-126-on-feb-5-in-las-vegas/

Moto X Adaptive Moto X Super X Women\\\\\\\'s Moto X Super X

MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Cain Velasquez Belongs

Filed under: UFC, WEC, Strikeforce, Rankings, Overall

When it comes to pound-for-pound rankings, the biggest question is always how to deal with heavyweights. Some people think a pound-for-pound list should never include any heavyweight champions at all. Others say if you're the heavyweight champ, you belong in the Top 10, just as the champions at bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight belong.

When Fedor Emelianenko was the heavyweight king, I always had him on my pound-for-pound list. But when Brock Lesnar took Fedor's place as the sport's top heavyweight, I didn't list Lesnar. My feeling was that Lesnar's greatness was much more about size and strength than skill, and therefore Lesnar wasn't really suited to being in the pound-for-pound Top 10.

Now that Cain Velasquez is the heavyweight champion of the world, I'm back to having a heavyweight in my Top 10. Find out where and why below.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/11/01/mma-top-10-pound-for-pound-cain-velasquez-belongs/

Skateboard Vert Best Trick Skateboard Street BMX Freestyle Vert