Top MMA lightweights per MMABAY

1. Gilbert Melendez

2. Frankie Edgar

3. Gray Maynard

4. Shinya Aoki

5. Eddie Alvarez

6. Jim Miller

7. Melvin Guillard

8. Clay Guida

9. Dennis Siver

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Strike Force Grand Prix continues, will baby face rise again?

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Venue: U.S. Bank Arena
Broadcast: Showtime and HDNet

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

• Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight grand prix semifinal)
• Daniel Cormier vs. Antonio Silva (heavyweight grand prix semifinal)
• Champ Ronaldo Souza vs. Luke Rockhold (for middleweight title)
• Roger Gracie vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal
• Maximo Blanco vs. Pat Healy

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

• Mike Kyle vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
• Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs. Yoel Romero
• Jordan Mein vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
• Alexis Davis vs. Amanda Nunes
• Chris Mierzwiak vs. Dominique Steele

U.S. Mixed Martial Arts Promotion BAMMA USA is leading by example

 While the promotion prides themselves on their motto: “Keep Moving Forward“ the ultimate passion for BAMMA USA is to create an environment in which fighters are truly valued. It just so happens,  it’s also dictating the premier template for other MMA promotions.

( International Journalism Review, http://www.IJRnews.com August 8th, 2011) Brett Roberts, BAMMA’s promoter, has risen in the MMA promoter world to be a well recognized upper echelon leader based on numbers and fan base alone.  In fact, his fights have set industry records with the percentage increase in fans and fighter talent as well.  This fact is coupled with the witnessing of some of the most organized and exciting events in the sport according to many MMA experts.

When an organization delivers great performances one after the other, many industry leaders take notice.  In fact, the promoter showed us how sponsors are jockeying to get their advertising spots because of the recognized success. The latest deal between Anderson Silva and Nike is only helping the BAMMA vision.

BAMMA is in the midst of several PPV  and TV deals that will be announced soon. Also, BAMMA is in final negotiations to partner with MMA’s ProFightNetwork to be the home of their MMA forum.  Details of these negotiations were not revealed at this time.

Although there are several promotions with success stories in their own capacity, most promotions are lucky to break even when all is said and done. Roberts has broke a profit in rapid form and he has done this in a very short time giving his credit and success to God, hard work,  a solid business plan, and the people around him.

However, what makes BAMMA and Roberts stand above the rest and in a position to be elevated to possibly the next UFC,  is the ethics he brings with him and his organization.  Several IJR interviews, including last nights,  have all revealed his mission to bring class to MMA where everyone that is involved with it,  is proud and valued in a special way.

This means every fighter, fan, sponsor, or venue is actually seen not only as important, but is actually treasured by BAMMA.  Those that are involved with his organization never have to question the promotion’s integrity.

With Strikeforce, now UFC, sitting all alone at the top of the MMA sport in regards to revenue and brand recognition, the MMA community naturally  looks for the new up and coming candidate to replace a consistent UFC filler program.  WEC, Pride, and StrikeForce have all gone to a level where they became popular enough to coexist with the UFC and to warrant concern by the UFC.

All three of these threats were eventually bought out by the MMA powerhouse “The UFC”.  Dana White, the UFC president, shares the same motto as Roberts in that they both keep moving forward.  Bellator would most likely be the seasoned MMA experts choice to be the next UFC acquisition, however, don’t be surprised if BAMMA is on the Dana White and Zuffa LLC radar soon.  The question will be in the air as to not  if,  but rather when, will BAMMA have to choose between money, ethics, and the shared motto for their organization.

MMA Fight Pit results

UFC Vets Houston Alexander and Jens Pulver Take Home Wins at MMA Fight Pit

MMA Fight Pit “Genesis” took place at “The Pit” in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday night. In the main event, Houston “The Assassin” Alexander took home a TKO victory over “Razor” Razak Al-Hassan.

Thanks to http://www.MMAweekly.co

The ringside doctor, after looking over Al-Hassan’s finger, deemed it severely dislocated, and was unable to put it back in place, which forced the stoppage. It was an unfortunate ending to what was shaping up to be an exciting bout. Both fighters had landed some good shots.

Regarding the fight, Alexander said, “We just took our time and got back to boxing. We used a new technique and it worked. My conditioning was great; I was ready. I’m disappointed in the early stoppage but it happens. But the atmosphere, it was amazing. I can’t describe it. I walked in and it was crazy. It was a great time.”

Al-Hassan was understandably disappointed with the way the fight turned out, and talked about the conclusion of the bout.

“At some point during the second round I knew something was wrong because I couldn’t make a fist when I was throwing my jab. At the end of the second, I went back to my corner and looked down at my hand and realized my finger was either dislocated or broken. The doctor came and took a look at it and stopped the fight. But I thought the fight was going fine. I thought we were pretty even. I thought the first round went to him. I felt that I did better in the second round and I felt I landed more in the second so it was probably even (at that point).”

n the co-main event, MMA legend Jens “Lil’ Evil” Pulver got back in the win column against very tough New Mexico favorite Coty “Ox” Wheeler. “Ox” made the most memorable entrance of the night, as he was preceded by several of his Native American supporters in full garb, accompanied by drums.

Once the fight began, Wheeler showed that he was planning to prove that he could stand with Pulver, who is known for his boxing prowess. It proved to be a mistake, as he was clipped and later dropped in the first round. In the second round, Pulver really poured it on. It looked like “Ox” had had enough, but he exhibited incredible toughness. In the end, it was too much, and the ref was forced to step in and stop the barrage. “Lil’ Evil” has now won three of his last four, while “Ox” sees a two-fight win streak stopped.

“I just wanted to stay focused and centered. More than anything I was just so damn scared to be in that cage. The losses come back to haunt you,” explained Pulver. “I was really trying to be dialed in and be happy. I’m just really happy. I was trying to find a home and really trying to throw. I wanted to make a statement at 135 pounds, and I knew this guy was really tough and has a great chin. I’m a big ‘Ox’ Wheeler fan. I love his spirit and I love the way he fights. It was just a matter of watch out for his power and watch out for his games. Just stay tight and focus.”

On fighting in New Mexico for the first time, Pulver had this to say: “It’s been great. It’s exactly like I said at the end [of the fight]. You can be fans of MMA. You can be a fan of the UFC. We all love the UFC…I’m a damn pioneer of the UFC, but you can still be fans of MMA. This was a great card. People need to come down. They come running when they see UFC, but they have to learn and start embracing other promoters that are grabbing the bull by the horns and giving the fighters the opportunity. These guys did a great job at Fight Pit. The promoters took really good care of us. Everything was perfect. I think in the hometown they need to show up and support that.”

“Ox” also enjoyed the fight, despite the loss. “I’m an entertainer first and a fighter second. I do it for the fans and I do it for the people who care and have love for me. Fighting a legend like Jens, it doesn’t matter who I get in there with. I never train to lose and I went in there to win. I got clipped and I’ve never been clipped like that before. But I enjoyed the fight. There is no drug or alcohol that can give you that feeling like when you’re in that cage. There is nothing that will give you that feeling. It’s like your inner adrenaline comes out of you and you want to keep going. I trained a hard three months.”

In addition, Jackson’s MMA heavyweight Tyler East notched another finish on his record, grabbing a TKO victory over a very game Prince Mclean, who took the fight on a week’s notice. East was able to utilize a large size difference to his advantage, putting Mclean down and dropping heavy shots. Some of the strikes appeared to land on the back of his foe’s head. However, the ref stopped the fight, giving East the impressive victory.

“I thought the fight went great,” stated East. “They changed my opponent early in the week, so I didn’t know much about him. I saw a couple videos on him and he fought similar to Jon Jones, which was in my favor because I train with him on a daily basis. It was just good to be out there and fight in my home city in front of my family and my friends here. It was a great opportunity for me.”

Also coming away victorious was “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Jamie Yager, who overcame an early barrage from the previously undefeated “Slick” Willie Parks to earn a guillotine choke submission early in the second round.

“(Willie) came in for another shot and his head was right there,” said Yager. “I went for a guillotine earlier in the fight up against the cage and he picked me up and dumped me. I didn’t have the leverage I needed. In the second round I shot the guillotine and it was in tight. I heard him gurgle and that’s when I knew it was over.”

In other action, Diana Rael controlled crowd favorite Angelica Chavez in a rousing affair that had the fans on their feet. And former TUF competitor Junie Browning was unable to overcome local fighter Jacob Clark, who was able to pull off the biggest win of his career.

MMA Fight Pit “Genesis” Official Results:

Main Card:
Houston Alexander def. Razak Al-Hassan by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00, R2
Jens Pulver def. Coty Wheeler by TKO (punches) at 1:59, R2
Tyler East def. Prince McLean by TKO (strikes) at 1:33, R1
Jamie Yager def. Willie Parks by Submission (guillotine choke) at 0:21, R2
Diana Real def. Angelica Chaves by Split Decision, R3
Jacob Clark def. Junie Browning by Submission (elbows) at 4:18, R1

Preliminary Card:
Ali Hanjani def. Sean Spencer by Submission (triangle choke) at 1:41, R1
Jason Sampson def. Joshua Montoya by Submission (armbar) at 2:38, R1
Conrad Padilla def. Guy Youell by Unanimous Decision, R3
Rocky Ramirez def. Mark Lujan by Submission (punches) at 2:38, R1