UFC 137 Results – Diaz is for real
Posted by Drew Ellis (10/29/2011 @ 11:03 pm)
Nick Diaz proved that he is no minor league champ on Saturday in the main event of UFC 137.
The last Strikeforce Welterweight champion overcame a slow start to dominant the final two rounds against UFC legend, B.J. Penn, as Diaz picked up a unanimous decision win for perhaps the biggest win in his career.
Diaz survived the opening round as Penn came out with a fast start, using dirty boxing and grappling to control the round. Penn had Diaz’ back at one point, but Diaz was able to get out of the dominant position and get into the later rounds, where he started to work his boxing.
Diaz used relentless jabs and combinations to pick apart the tiring Penn, who ended up with a busted nose and bruised face before the final bell sounded. The decision wasn’t really in doubt, as Diaz had clearly closed out the final two rounds.
Following the win, Diaz called out UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, whom Diaz was originally scheduled to face before being pulled from the title bout by the UFC as a disciplinary action for missing pre-event press conferences.
Still, Diaz is likely in line for a title shot against GSP or Carlos Condit, who will be fighting for the title in early 2012.
Penn announced his retirement from the sport following the loss, his third in his last five fights. Penn will go down as one of the all-time greats as he held titles in two different weight classes and was arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world during his prime.
For full UFC 137 results, check out the jump.
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Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts, News, UFC
Tags: B.J. Penn, Carlos Condit, Cheick Kongo, Diaz vs. Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Matt Mitrione, MMA Recap, MMA Results, MMA Welterweights, Nick Diaz, UFC
UFC 137 Betting Odds & Fight Card
Posted by Drew Ellis (10/26/2011 @ 2:31 pm)
The UFC has two legendary welterweights facing off in the main event of UFC 137 on Saturday night as B.J. Penn takes on Nick Diaz.
Penn is a former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion while Nick Diaz was the Strikeforce welterweight champion prior to leaving the organization for greener pastures.
Penn (16-7-2) comes into this three-round contest as the favorite over Diaz (26-7-1), as Penn has odds of -125 to top Diaz, who has a money line of -105. Both fighters have similar styles as each relies on boxing and jiu-jitsu to win fights. Penn may have the edge in regards to wrestling, but Diaz will have a big size edge in terms of mass and reach. Both fighters will be sure to leave everything in the octagon, which makes this fight very interesting.
The co-main event also has a very competitive contest as heavyweights Cheick Kongo (26-6-2) and Matt Mitrione (5-0) face off with the winner emerging as a top-10 contender in the division.
Mitrione is the slight favorite, with a money line of -140 while Kongo has odds of +110 to win. Both fighters are primarily strikers, but Mitrione packs the harder punch and is more mobile while Kongo has a slightly better ground game. Mitrione will look to keep the fight standing and stick-and-move while Kongo will look to utilize leg kicks and takedowns to finish the fight with ground-and-pound.
For complete UFC 137 betting odds, check out the jump.
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Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts, News, UFC
Tags: B.J. Penn, bart palaszewski, Brandon Vera, Cheick Kongo, chris carmozzi, Clifford starks, danny downes, Dennis Siver, Donald Cerrone, dustin jacoby, Eliot Marshall, francis carmont, George Roop, Hatsu Hioki, Jeff Curran, kongo vs. mitrione, Mandalay bay events center, Matt Mitrione, mirko crocop, Nick Diaz, penn vs. diaz, pepsi center, Roy Nelson, Scott Jorgensen, Tyson Griffin, Ultimate Fighting Championship
B.J. Penn removed from July 2 UFC 132 fight card
Posted by Staff (04/08/2011 @ 8:46 am)
According to HeavyMMA.com, UFC welterweight contender B.J. Penn has been scratched from UFC 132.
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn will not be fighting at UFC 132 this July.
MMAjunkie.com reported the news earlier today after confirming the information with sources close to Penn’s camp.
A rematch between Penn and Jon Fitch was scratched from the card after the American Kickboxing Academy star was forced out of the contest due an injury. While it was believed that the UFC was searching for a replacement, the sources say that Penn will be fighting on a different card later this year.
Penn and Fitch fought a draw at UFC 127 last February and an immediate rematch was set in place for the two. The winner of the rematch would have in all likelihood been the next man to earn a title shot against the winner of Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields.
UFC 132 is set for July 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada and features a bantamweight championship between rivals Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. A replacement co-main event has yet to be announced.
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Injured Jon Fitch out of Penn rematch for UFC 132
Posted by Staff (03/31/2011 @ 9:06 am)
According to HeavyMMA.com, an injury has forced Jon Fitch to withdraw from his July rematch with B.J. Penn at UFC 132.
B.J. Penn is in need of a new dance partner for UFC 132.
As first reported by MMAWeekly.com, original opponent Jon Fitch has been forced to withdraw from the bout due to an undisclosed injury. HeavyMMA.com has determined that Fitch injured his shoulder while training.
The two were scheduled to meet for a second consecutive fight after their headlining bout at UFC 127 ended in an unsatisfying draw. Now it seems it will take a little longer to determine a winner between the two top 5 welterweights.
HeavyMMA.com will continue to track this story and will have more information on the nature of Fitch’s injury and potential replacements for the bout with Penn as they develop.
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Penn vs. Fitch 2 set for UFC 132
Posted by Staff (03/17/2011 @ 9:16 am)
According to the guys at HeavyMMA.com, welterweights B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch will face off one more time at UFC 132 in July.
So much for B.J. Penn riding off into the sunset after his controversial draw with Jon Fitch last month.
The UFC announced tonight that Penn and Fitch have agreed to face off at UFC 132 on July 4th weekend in Las Vegas. Sources tell HeavyMMA.com that the bout is scheduled to be the co-main event.
Penn and Fitch fought to a draw in the main event of UFC 127 in Australia last month.
“Both fighters look to keep it out of the hands of the judges this time,” said UFC President Dana White.
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