By Gregory Saks on May 29, 2010
The main event of UFC 114 is the long-anticipated showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “Sugar” Rashad Evans, a bout that has been brewing for over a year and is set to deliver a strong night of business for the UFC. The pair of light heavyweights, who coached and trash-talked opposite each other on the [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buy rates, ufc
By Steven Kelliher on May 25, 2010
Perhaps more grueling than any particular fight of his professional career has been a battle for consistency that has evaded UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard since he joined the UFC in 2005. While he notched three wins during his first stint with the promotion from 2005-07, he was submitted in back-to-back fights with Joe Stevenson and [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged lightweights, ufc
By Steven Kelliher on May 24, 2010
After running through his first three opponents upon signing with the UFC in 2008, including NCAA Wrestling Champion Jake Rosholt, New Jersey’s Dan Miller ran into one roadblock in the form of the tough-as-nails Chael Sonnen in May of last year before hitting another in the form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia this past [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged middleweights, ufc
By Steven Kelliher on May 20, 2010
If undefeated Strikeforce welterweight prospect Tyron Woodley is to be believed, the time for waiting in the wings for a shot at Nick Diaz’s championship belt is nearing its end. Even as he is on the verge of his seventh professional fight this Friday night on the main card of another edition of the Strikeforce [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged strikeforce, welterweights
By Gregory Saks on May 20, 2010
Scott Jorgensen rose to become the most buzzed about bantamweight fighter in the month of April, bumping former champion Miguel Torres from the top after three straight months of holding the position. Jorgensen defeated Antonio Banuelos in a WEC 48 rematch and may soon be in line for a title shot against current champion Dominick [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged bantamweights, buzz rankings
By Steven Kelliher on May 19, 2010
After wracking up the two biggest wins of his young career with consecutive knockouts of Akihiro Gono and Nick Thompson under World Victory Road’s Sengoku banner, Dan Hornbuckle entered the Season 2 Bellator Welterweight Tournament under high scrutiny and even higher expectations. Fortunately for him, the Illinois native performs well under pressure, as he is [...]
Posted in Exclusive Interviews | Tagged bellator, welterweights
By Gregory Saks on May 19, 2010
“The California Kid” Urijah Faber remained the most popular featherweight fighter in MMA in April, making it the fifth straight month he has held the position despite the new sheriff in town, Jose Aldo, clearly having a strong hold over the division. Aldo, who defeated Faber in convincing fashion in the main event of the [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, featherweights
By Gregory Saks on May 18, 2010
BJ Penn stayed atop the lightweight divisional buzz rankings in April for the fifth straight month, making him clearly the most popular 155 pound fighter despite his loss to new champion Frank Edgar. Edgar, who defeated Penn via decision at UFC 112, rose four spots to second in the rankings, ahead of Shinya Aoki who [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, lightweights
By Gregory Saks on May 17, 2010
Georges St-Pierre remained the most buzzed about welterweight MMA fighter for the fifth consecutive month in April, a full month following his last title fight against Dan Hardy. Hardy dropped six spots to eighth place, a reasonably strong ability to hold onto his now-past title fight buzz. Coming in second and third were UFC 112 [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, welterweights
By Gregory Saks on May 14, 2010
Anderson Silva remained the most buzzed about middleweight fighter for the fourth straight month in April, boosted by the pre-fight excitement and post-fight controversy surrounding his UFC 112 bout against Demian Maia. Jumping into the next three slots, however, were a trio of Strikeforce middleweights. Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller came in [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, middleweights
