Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - For better or worse, what people see of you on reality television is usually what they'll base their opinions on. In some cases, that's enough, because what comes through on the TV screen is pretty accurate. In the case of Shane Nelson though, what people saw on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter didn't tell the whole story.
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Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn may be fighting on December 12th, but mixed martial arts' latest prodigy takes to the Octagon a week earlier. He's Jon Jones. You've heard the name, you've seen what he can do in the Octagon, and you've heard all about the 22-year old's potential.
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Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - On December 12th, UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn steps back into the Octagon to defend his crown for the third time against Diego Sanchez in the main event of UFC 107. It's the latest big fight for 'The Prodigy' and one which may very well join the seven fights below as a defining moment in his career.
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Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - One of my favorite Jens Pulver quotes came about in 2001, before he defended his UFC lightweight title for the first time against Dennis Hallman. The topic was punching power, and as always, 'Lil' Evil' had plenty to say about the topic.
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Frank Curreri, WEC - Overconfidence has tripped up many promising fighters, but it has never been a stumbling block in Brandon Visher's career. Unlike a lot of his starry-eyed peers, the soft-spoken Hawaiian didn't dream big. He harbored modest expectations when he forayed into MMA, but with his deceased father as his inspiration, Visher has somehow fashioned a 12-0 record.
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - You could call it an early Christmas for the big kids, as the release of Jakks Pacific's first two waves of UFC action figures on toy shelves over the last seven weeks has been greeted with the type of glee from fight fans that is usually reserved for the morning of December 25th.
It was just the type of reception Enrique Ruvalcaba, Jakks Pacific's Director of Marketing, was hoping for.
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Elliot Worsell, UFC - George Sotiropoulos fought George Roop on August 8 and then got married a week later. Given the threat of defeat seven days earlier, Sotiropoulos' big day would either wind up as the greatest moment of his adult life or an inopportune moment for reflection. Thankfully for Mr. And Mrs Sotiropoulos, Roop was submitted via kimura and the church organ was free to play.
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Elliot Worsell, UFC - The queue to challenge UFC welterweight champion Georges 'Rush' St-Pierre isn't so much of an organised line as it is a communal gathering. There is little order, no hierarchy, and only a few dwellers are forthcoming. Aside from a brave few, nobody seems to be in any 'Rush' to fight one of the most dominant champions in mixed martial arts today.
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Elliot Worsell, UFC - Georges 'Rush' St-Pierre remembers the day well. He remembers the sounds, the apprehension, the racing heart and the first devastating blow. He recalls the monumental task ahead of him and the need to conquer his fear.
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Michael DiSanto, UFC - Forrest Griffin was understandably unhappy the night of April 15, 2006, when Bruce Buffer announced that the judges had chosen long-time former 205-lb champion Tito Ortiz as the victor of their hard-fought split decision affair. He had every right to be upset that night because the fight was ultra close, so it was an absolute shame for either man to walk out of the Octagon with a loss. Maybe a draw was a better result for a fight so closely contested, though a rematch was certainly the only palatable next step.
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