MMA News: Post-UFC 129 News Wrap Up

By (Featured Columnist) on May 2, 2011

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Bleacher Report's MMA weekend news wrap up:

All seven current UFC champions at UFC 129.

UFC 129 Fan Expo a big hit.

Royce Gracie talks possible fight at UFC 134.

Dana White tries to avoid war of words with Tito Ortiz.

UFC 129 live gate, attendance and bonus awards.

Watch Lyoto Machida's front kick at UFC 129.

Dana White talks MMA in New York.

Georges St-Pierre called out by Bellator champion.

Cain Velasquez vs. the winner of Lesnar and Dos Santos in October?

2:01 AM ET

MMA News: Cain Velasquez To Face Winner of Brock Lesnar/JDS in October

Bleacher Report's Sal DeRose:

Rumors have been swirling about when UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez would be making his return to the Octagon after his appearance at the "Seven Champion Q&A" on Friday.

Velasquez is close to a return, and that return could come on October 8, when the UFC heads to Houston for UFC 136. UFC president, Dana White said the idea is plausible, according to MMAFighting.com.

"I don't know yet but probably," White said.

"It sounds like that would make a lot of sense." 

Velasquez was seen last October, when he knocked out Brock Lesnar in the first round and won the UFC heavyweight belt. Since that time, Velasquez has undergone surgery on his shoulder and gone through extensive physical therapy.

For the fight to happen in October, it does take a lot of luck. Velasquez would need to be cleared, and then on top of his clearance, the winner of the fight between Junior dos Santos and Lesnar would need to come relatively unscathed and avoid serious medical suspensions.

Click here to read the entire article.

1:59 AM ET

Georges St-Pierre Gets Called out by Bellator Champ Ben Askren

Bleacher Report's Jason Schielke:

After defending his title for the sixth consecutive time at UFC 129, Georges St-Pierre once again proved that he is the best welterweight in the world.

Looking forward, it is difficult to find anyone currently in the UFC who could pose any sort of threat to St-Pierre.

But since Georges' victory Saturday night, there has been one fighter who has made it clear that he wants a shot at St-Pierre's welterweight supremacy—current Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren.

Yes, arguably the most one-dimensional fighter in the sport not only seems that he wants a shot at St-Pierre, but also thinks he can take him out.

Earlier today, Askren sent this message out to the Twitterverse:

Click here to read the entire article.

1:57 AM ET

UFC 129 Video: Watch Lyoto Machida Front Kick KO of Randy Couture

Bleacher Report's Adam Wells:

UFC 129 is in the books, and it was quite the event. There was a little something for everyone—knockouts, submissions, an epic five-round championship fight and the end of one of the great careers in UFC history.

Randy Couture said going into UFC 129 that this fight with Lyoto Machida would be his last. If it does in fact turn out to be his final fight, and there's no reason to think that it won't be, he went out with a bang.

The problem is he was on the receiving end of this particular bang. Lyoto Machida was apparently studying The Karate Kid in preparation for this fight because he leveled Couture right in the jaw with The Crane Kick that Ralph Macchio made famous 26 years ago.

After the fight, Machida thanked Steven Seagal, who really needs to put a patent on this kick because it's becoming THE go-to move in mixed martial arts. Just two months ago, Anderson Silva knocked Vitor Belfort out with the same move.

For Couture, you don't like to see a legend go out like this. You want them to have that John Elway moment where they conquer the sport and are able to walk away knowing that they were the best in the world.

But maybe this is a good thing for Couture, because now he knows where he stands among the very best fighters in the world and can take comfort knowing that his hand prints will still be all over the sport that he helped make famous for a long time to come.

Click here to see the video.

1:55 AM ET

MMA News: UFC 129 Live Gate, Attendance and Bonus Awards

The UFC presented UFC 129 live from the Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 30.

The organization knew going into fight night that it had already set records for attendance and live gate. At the post-fight press conference, it was announced that the fight card drew 55,724 fans for a live gate of $12.075 million (US).

Both of those numbers crushed the previous records set at UFC 124. That fight card, which was also headlined by a Georges St-Pierre fight, drew 23,152 fans for a gate of $5.397 million.

The UFC also announced Fight Night bonuses at the post-fight press conference. The bonuses were worth $129,000 each.

Pablo Garza took home "Submission of the Night" for the flying triangle choke he used to put away Yves Jabouin at the 4:31 mark of Round One of the very first fight on the card.

Lyoto Machida took home "Knockout of the Night" delivering a front kick that was equal parts Anderson Silva and "The Karate Kid" crane kick, turning out Randy Couture's lights at the 1:05 mark of Round Two.

"Fight of the Night" went to Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick. Hominick showed great heart and a no quit attitude in this bout, sustaining a huge hematoma on his forehead that had Joe Rogan remarking, "It looks like he's got an extra head."

Even with the ugly swelling, Hominick went after the gassed Aldo in the fifth and final round, eventually dropping a unanimous decision to the champion.

1:52 AM ET

UFC: Dana White Trying to Avoid Another War of Words with Tito Ortiz

Bleacher Report's Tony Preston:

Tito Ortiz is back at it again, according to Dana White in a recent report by Damon Martin of MMA Weekly. Ortiz is upset over a recent YouTube  video put out by the UFC featuring Chuck Liddell.

The video is all in good fun in White's mind. He stated, "Here’s the thing about that, what’s ridiculous, it wasn’t meant to disrespect. The video itself, it plays up the rivalry between Chuck and Tito, and Chuck makes fun of himself getting knocked out. It’s a fun video that wasn’t meant to hurt anybody."

Ortiz and girlfriend Jenna Jameson did not think so, however, and took to Twitter to voice their displeasure.

White is saying he does not want another war of words with Ortiz and his only problem with Ortiz is that he does not seem to be training. White explained, "The last thing I want to do is get into a beef with Tito. I’m cool with Tito; I don’t hate Tito. But Tito talks too much. Tito just pulled out of a fight because of stitches. I’ve got guys on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ who fight with stitches. I’m being serious."

Click here to read the entire article.

1:49 AM ET

UFC 129 Video Interview: Royce Gracie Talks Possible Fight at UFC Rio

Bleacher Report's Sean Smith:

Royce Gracie was on site for the UFC Fan Expo prior to UFC 129 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prior to the Expo, Gracie spoke with MMA Fighting and Ariel Helwani.

Gracie has expressed interest in fighting at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, but he has not yet been added to the fight card or been given an opponent. While at UFC 129, Gracie plans on speaking with Dana White to determine whether or not he will be given a fight.

"Well, UFC put me as an active fighter, so we'll see," Gracie said.

The 44-year-old Gracie has not fought in nearly four years, but he hopes to finish his career with one more fight in the organization that he helped build.

"I'm interested. I got one more," Gracie said.

Despite not competing in years, Gracie has continued to coach and train. As a result, Gracie believes his conditioning would not play a factor in his return.

"Last night, I ran five miles breathing through my nose," Gracie said. "Not a problem."

As for his prediction for the UFC 129 main event between Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields, Gracie would not be surprised either way.

"That's why my family invented the show," Gracie said. "There's only one way to find out. It can go either way."


Click here to see the video.

1:48 AM ET

UFC Fan Expo in Toronto a Huge Victory for the UFC

Bleacher Report's Elton Hobson:

If you judged solely by walking around the packed Direct Energy Centre the last two days, you'd think Toronto had been embracing Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC since the days of Royce Gracie.

The truth, of course, is that the sport only became legal here late last year, the end process of a long lobbying and PR campaign for the UFC.

Only it's not the end; not by a long shot. The sport is still banned in key markets like New York, still in its infancy in countries like the Philippines, Germany, Australia and (surprisingly enough) Brazil.

For the UFC then, this Fan Expo isn't a celebration of a job well done; it's just another front in a PR battle that's still ongoing.

"We plan to do an economic impact study [in Toronto] after the event. And yeah, we plan on showing that to New York." said UFC Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner, who as the former head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission has been instrumental in pushing the UFC's vision of a well-regulated MMA landscape around the world.

Click here to read the entire article.

1:46 AM ET

UFC 129 Weekend: Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and the Super Seven

Bleacher Report's Leon Horne:

UFC 129 is upon us and one of the most historical weekends in mixed martial arts history is well underway.

Along with the Fan Expo, the UFC managed to put all seven of its champions together for a question-and-answer session with Joe Rogan as a lead up to the weigh-ins for yet another unique fan experience.

Unfortunately, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and featherweight champion Jose Aldo were gone by the time the group photos were taken, but it didn't stop them from answering a few questions to the media and the general public in the company of the other champs.

Click here to read the entire article.

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