Michael DiSanto, UFC - In the first part of the Land of the Giants heavyweight breakdown, we examined the top guns among the big boys. But there's more than just the Fab Four of Lesnar, Carwin, Mir, and Velasquez, as you'll soon find out…
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Frank Curreri, WEC - Despite his opponent's recent stretch of bad luck, 11-year pro Javier Vazquez knows better than to underestimate a former UFC Champion. A Rodrigo Medeiros Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Vazquez sternly dismisses talk of there being an "Old Jens Pulver" and a contemporary Jens Pulver whose skills have slipped over time.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Frank Curreri, WEC - Despite his opponent's recent stretch of bad luck, 11-year pro Javier Vazquez knows better than to underestimate a former UFC Champion. A Rodrigo Medeiros Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Vazquez sternly dismisses talk of there being an "Old Jens Pulver" and a contemporary Jens Pulver whose skills have slipped over time.
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
Michael DiSanto, UFC - For the last several months, the UFC heavyweight division was in very real limbo as its ruler, Brock Lesnar, battled a mysterious illness that momentarily threatened his career. The illness was later revealed to be diverticulitis, and the champ recently received a clean bill of health and is champing at the bit to lay the two cinder blocks he calls fists into someone's dome. Things are therefore back to normal in the Land of the Giants.
Well, almost. The 2010 version of the sport's ruling class is a vast improvement over what it was just a year ago.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Frank Curreri, WEC - A fighter's essence can often be summarized in one word. For Karen Darabedyan, "chill" seems most fitting.
No mental switch needs flipping when this maven of mellow steps into the cage. The Californian's flat-line demeanor stands out because he wears it equally both inside and outside of competition. Unlike many of his peers, the 155-pound WEC fighter can steamroll an opponent with the same nonchalance that he displays while grocery shopping or talking on the phone with a reporter.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Frank Curreri, WEC - A fighter's essence can often be summarized in one word. For Karen Darabedyan, "chill" seems most fitting.
No mental switch needs flipping when this maven of mellow steps into the cage. The Californian's flat-line demeanor stands out because he wears it equally both inside and outside of competition. Unlike many of his peers, the 155-pound WEC fighter can steamroll an opponent with the same nonchalance that he displays while grocery shopping or talking on the phone with a reporter.
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
Mike Russell, UFC - In 2003, after more than six and a half years in mixed martial arts, Vladimir Matyushenko walked away from the sport and figured that his days as a fighter were behind him.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Frank Curreri, WEC - Out of sacrifice, LC Davis lived and trained in Davenport, Iowa for three years while leaving his heart in Kansas City, which explains the featherweight fighter's recent decision to depart the renowned Miletich Fighting Systems gym in Iowa and move back to his hometown.
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - Given the intensity and scope of MMA, every event is sure to have some unbelievable occurrences (like the forehead cuts at UFC 110) and characters (think Bisping and Wandy). So we've decided to take a look back in the organization's history to bring you its 15 wildest moments ever -- presented in typically haphazard order.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Chuck Mindenhall, UFC - Being thrown into the Octagon with Jon Fitch in only your second UFC fight can be career suicide, and as such, somewhat unnerving. That is, unless you're Mike Pierce, one of the welterweight division's toughest son-of-a-guns to come into the UFC over the past year. Dude is built like a stevedore. And talk about even-keeled: When Pierce got the call to fight a month earlier than his scheduled bout with the equally-harrowing AKA product, Josh Koscheck, he never hesitated.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)