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UFC 143 fight card: Fabricio Werdum vs Roy Nelson fight review and analysis
02/05/2012
Fabricio Werdum made his triumphant return to the UFC last night (February 4, 2012) when he took on the winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10, Roy Nelson, in the co-main event of UFC 143.
Admit it, upon first look at the fight between Vai Cavalo and Big Country, you didn’t jump up and scream Fight of the Night! but that’s exactly what ended up happening.
After laying a big fat egg in his previous fight with Alistair Overeem, Werdum came out a man possessed and put on perhaps a worse beating on Nelson than the current champion Junior dos Santos did.
So how was the world champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace able to handle Nelson so easily? And what’s next for both top heavyweights?
Follow me after the jump for our Fabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson UFC 143 post-fight review and analysis:

Right away, this wasn’t the same Werdum who flopped to his back repeatedly in his last fight. He looked tense, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice and he struck with an instinctual knee the instant Nelson changed levels on him.
Even more impressive was his response as Nelson waded in with a huge right hand, kicking Big Country’s lead leg out from under him and immediately leaping onto his back and scoring a takedown although he couldn’t keep him on the canvas.
As Nelson worked his way back to the feet, Werdum kept a tight grip on him, placing the TUF veteran in the thai plum and just brutalizing him with knees which busted open his face with a huge cut on Nelson’s nose. Werdum kept the pressure on Big Country but upon separation, he ate a nice right hand which dropped/slipped him.
It was a tremendous start for Vai Cavalo and while he wasn’t able to put forth the same amount of damage in rounds two and three, he still fought at a measured pace with occasional bursts of violence. This wasn’t your momma’s Fabricio Werdum, this was Werdum 2.0, a fighter who’s looking much more well-rounded after taking some time off to continue to improve his game.
In the end, Roy Nelson was tough as nails, but he had no answer for Werdum’s length and his diversity of attack. There’s only so much damage one can do with a big right hand compared to the elbows, knees, punches and kicks that Werdum was tossing his way. The judges agreed, awarding Werdum an easy unanimous decision.
For Roy Nelson, this fight cemented the unfortunate fact that he’s not going to be a player at the very top of the division. He can hang with the mid-tier heavyweights, but every time he’s stepped in against a top 10 opponent, he’s been blown out. Being tough is one thing, but he’s got to offer more than a big right hand if he wants to be effective against the best guys.
I’d like to see Nelson square off against someone like Mike Russow next, perhaps the loser of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier or maybe even Gabriel Gonzaga. As long as they can keep putting him in fun fights, that’s all that matters for now.
For Fabricio Werdum, this was a coming-out party of sorts. Sure he shocked the world against Fedor Emelianenko, but a three fight losing streak by The Last Emperer tarnished that tremendous upset a bit. In my opinion, he looked better last night than in any prior fight in his career. He looked confident in the stand-up and also very aggressive, throwing a wide array of strikes. Hopefully he can keep up this style of fighting because he can be a serious player in the UFC heavyweight division if so.
I think a perfect fight for Werdum would be Frank Mir, as both are coming off very impressive victories. Other possibilities include a bout with Cain Velasquez or potentially someone like Cheick Kongo if he were to get past Mark Hunt later this month. Either way, keep an eye out for Werdum to continue making big moves at 265 pounds.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you impressed by this aggressive and powerful Werdum we were witness to last night? Do you think he can make an impact at the top of the division after a performance like that?
Sound off!
For complete UFC 143 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

New UFC intro video a huge step up from the nu metal and gladiators of the past
02/05/2012
Don’t worry, Stemm, you can keep expecting those residual checks.
Tonight (Feb. 4, 2012) at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) unveiled a brand new introduction for its pay-per-view (PPV) events. The video package which cost — according to Dana White — an obscene amount of money to produce was scored by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Coincidentally enough, Zimmer also scored the Russell Crowe tour de force Gladiator. It seems the UFC couldn’t stray too far from its roots.
So the music was top notch, that much is certain. So what about the accompanying video? It was fantastic. Some of the greatest moments in the promotion’s history — Royce Gracie choking out Ken Shamrock, Matt Hughes slamming Frank Trigg and Anderson Silva kicking Vitor Belfort unconscious are just a few — are set against a CGI Octagon background while an arena begins to form around it. The huge screens above the cage also show snippets of UFC history until the very end when images of Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit appear. This will presumably change from event to event.
But, Face the Pain makes the cut, as well as the fighter against a black background pre-fight trash talk montage of main and co-main eventers.
Baby steps, fight fans, baby steps.

UFC 143 results: Ed Herman submits Clifford Starks in the first round
02/05/2012
The UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit pay-per-view main card, going down tonight (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, kicked off with a middleweight mash-up pitting Ed Herman against Clifford Starks.
After suffering a horrific knee injury and taking almost a full two years off, Herman made his way back to the Octagon and ripped off a pair of wins. Starks, meanwhile, came in undefeated in the UFC (1-0) and in his career as a whole (8-0).
Undefeated no more.
That’s because Herman proved to be the better man with a second round rear-naked choke submission victory after a back-and-forth battle. It appeared as though this one would go the distance being well-rounded will take you places in the fight game. Like next to the referee getting your hand raised.

The two started by wasting little time meeting in the center of the cage and letting their fists fly. Both men landed solid shots, enough so that a clinch was initiated to slow things down.
They reset eventually and went back to doing the damn thing, unloading uppercuts and overhands, jabs and hooks. All of these punches were thrown with the deadliest of intentions, I assure you.
Herman hooked a late takedown FTW strategy to close the opening frame but Starks reversed and ended up on top raining down blows.
The second round saw much of the same, until Herman snagged a takedown and immediately took the back and locked in a rear-naked choke. It took some work but it paid off in the end.
That’s three in a row, folks.
Don’t forget to check out our complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the main card action, which currently rolling right along on pay-per-view. Click here for all the coverage you need of the UFC 143 event.

UFC 143 results live stream and play-by-play TONIGHT (Feb. 4) for 'Diaz vs Condit'
02/05/2012
Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.
Round-by-round results of the Prelims fights on Facebook and FX will begin to flow around 7 p.m. ET tonight (Feb. 4, 2012) and run right on through to our main card pay-per-view (PPV) coverage, which is set to start at 10 p.m. ET!
If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main UFC 143 results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.
Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

UFC 143 'Primetime' episode three on FX discussion thread for 'Diaz vs Condit'
02/04/2012
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its Primetime preview for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Episode three premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Feb. 3) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. If you missed the first and second installments, click here and here to watch them in their entirety.
Diaz vs. Condit was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.
His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain’t scared.

Rush pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.
Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they’ve wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.
Time will tell.
For more on UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.

UFC Quick Quote: Georges St. Pierre believes Nick Diaz has mental issues
02/04/2012
What I believe is, he’s a very smart guy. He knows what he’s doing. He would not be able to do what he’s done in his career if he wasn’t smart. I do believe maybe he has some mental issues … I do not believe he is a bad human being. Truth my eyes, because he has been very disrespectful to me and because maybe we’ll fight, he’s disrespectful, but to you guys, I’m sure if you saw him and asked him for an autograph he’d give it to you.

– UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre tells fans at a Q&A today (via Cagewriter) that thinks Nick Diaz is a smart guy. After all, the Stockton bad boy would not have raised his profile in the manner in which he has without some savvy and know how when it comes to the fight game. I mean, there’s no way he just stumbled upon fame, right? His schtick may not necessarily be calculated but he definitely knows how to stir the pot just enough to drum up interest for when he steps inside the Octagon to do what he does best … kick ass. That said, St. Pierre does believe Diaz has some mental issues. He doesn’t elaborate on that point, though, choosing instead to be as complimentary as possible, despite his vocal displeasure with how he’s been treated by the former Strikeforce welterweight champion. All told, GSP is likely right but it doesn’t matter in the end. Diaz has to defeat Carlos Condit at UFC 143 tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, to set up a potential match-up but even then it’s questionable thanks to St. Pierre’s ailing knee. But if Diaz does emerge victorious, and the French-Canadian’s knee holds up, we could be in for one of the most compelling showdowns in the history of the sport. Mental issues or not, that’s something we can all hope for, including St. Pierre. Is there anyone rooting for Carlos Condit tomorrow night?

Video: UFC 143 predictions from NFL stars Eli Manning, Jerry Rice, Von Miller and more
02/04/2012
Because we know you’re wondering what players from the NFL, both past and present, are thinking of tomorrow night’s UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit main event in Las Vegas, we present you with a video featuring predictions ranging from Eli Manning to Jerry Rice to Kurt Warner.
Manning — who will lead his New York Giants in the Super Bowl this Sunday night against the New England Patriots (and I’m covering it right here on MMAmania.com, Maniacs) — is rolling with Diaz:

I gotta go with Diaz. You know, he’s a tough guy. Coach Sullivan — our quarterback coach — is a big fan, so he’s been talking him up all week so, I think he’s swayed my decision, so I’m going Diaz.

Who are the rest of the current and former pros taking? If you can’t watch the video or would rather read their picks, hit the jump for the text.

Michael Strahan:

I’m going to tell you who’s going to win the Diaz-Condit fight. I believe it’s going to be Diaz. I mean, he’s aggressive, he’s young, he’s hungry, he’s long, rangy, powerful and the biggest thing (is) he has an incredible motor. He doesn’t slow down. It should be a great fight and good luck to both fighters.

Dhani Jones:

Condit’s going to win this fight. You know why? Because he’s a ‘Natural Born Killer,’ he’s a scrapper. He’s the only guy on the mat, that’s what’s up. Yeah.

Jerry Rice:

I think Nick Diaz is going to win that fight because you know what? He’s going to bring the hammer.

Von Miller:

I think Diaz, he’s going to pull it off. He’s been competing at a high level these last couple of fights. I want to see Diaz get it.

Warren Sapp:

Nick Diaz: Do what I do to the quarterback — kill ‘em! It’s just that simple. Kill ‘em! Nick Diaz, love you.

Kurt Warner:

Being an underdog myself, I gotta go with the underdog, Carlos Condit. He’s a tenacious, blue collar guy, going to stalk his prey, going to come after him, going to beat him down. I’m going with the underdog.

That’s five votes for Diaz to just two for Condit. Does the majority have it right here? And who amongst these footballers sounded like they knew the most about the sport of MMA?

War Machine heading back to prison for 'some old BS'
02/03/2012
The artist formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver is heading back behind bars.
War Machine, who served a year in prison for assault, recently returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) as a surprising addition to the Bellator roster following his technical knockout finish over former UFC standout Roger Huerta back in November.
The ex-porn star vents on his Twitter (compiled by Middle Easy):

Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullshit. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament. Fuck the motherfucking system! Fuck the bullshit! Vacation time, back to jail in 2 weeks! Cant stop me, all you can do is delay the inevitable. War Machine will always be back! Oh ya the judge looked and me and said she can tell Im on steroids and that thats prolly why I got in so many fights and am angry..lol Bitch

Bellator has not commented on Koppenhaver’s recent statements and outside of his tweets, no details are yet available on his upcoming stint in the pen.
Stay tuned.