Diaz tests positive for pot.
UFC 143 predictions
Our man Jordan Cieciwa breaks down the top three fights.
Another weekend, another UFC event… And I couldn’t be more excited. I have the extreme pleasure of being a professional strength coach for a living. My spare time is now consumed by MMA. What’s the good news? Well, after having trained the best fighters in the business and having prepped them for some all out wars, I now get to break down fights and “Weigh In” on who I think will win and why. This article is no different.
Talk about a card with a fight that came out of left field. I only get 500 words, so let me say this. GSP, I wish you a speedy recovery, but this fight Condit vs Diaz will be exciting enough without you. The UFC PR people sent me some quotes from the open press conference, Condit summed it up best. “It’s been a crazy roller-coaster, this last few months. First I was fighting BJ Penn, then Georges St-Pierre for the belt, now Nick Diaz for the interim belt. I just know I am ready. I’m ready to spoil the plans for GSP to come back and fight Diaz. I understand Diaz has said things to upset Georges, I understand he wants to fight him, but it won’t be next. When GSP comes back, I will be the interim champion.” To break the fight down, let’s talk Diaz first. Sure the dude is a little strange, but I have been to the gym in Stockton… We made a wrong turn on the way to a pretty gym and wound up in the hood. Not kidding, Nick Diaz was raised to be a fighter. He has earned the right to be strange, angry, and a bit of a recluse. With all his faults personally, you can not take anything away from Diaz’s fight game. He has picked apart the best of the best with striking and put submissions on top notch jujitsu guys. Diaz comes ready to fight, no question he will be ready. When the bell rings, across the cage will be Carlos Condit. The most underrated fighter in MMA. He quietly has put together 4 tough wins. Tough in the sense that they were against top notch fighters. His last 3 fights have ended in TKO/KO’s. The last 2 ended in the first round. Carlos Condit is game, and he will come in to this fight at a whole other level. Why? Because he is a product of Jackson MMA. They are home to the best fighters, those top fighters keep each other working and improving. I realize this sounds like I am the crazy person, not Diaz. But I don’t see this fight making it past the half way point of the second. Condit will need the first round to time Diaz’s unorthodox jab, once he does, you will see him counter punch and use the 2 inch reach advantage he has. Diaz is listed at 74 inches, Condit at 76. Once Condit finds his range, the fight will end quick.
Anyone remember that Fedor fellow out of Russia?? He had something like a 9 year win streak going. Well that ended really quick when Fabricio Werdum got a hold of him. He took Fedor’s excitement and turned it into a triangle choke. Last time I was at reign gym I watched Fabricio on the mats, he is calm and powerful, and he is a rare breed of jujitsu player. Fabricio can take a punch. That’s good news because his opponent Roy Nelson can give a solid shot, just ask Mirko Cro Cop. Nelson is trying to prove that he is in the elite league. Here is what Nelson had to say about his career “All my UFC wins are by knockout, but fighting a BJJ guy it may be time to use some of my BJJ skills in this fight. Beating Werdum will change the landscape of the division for me. From a ranking perspective, I think this win would take me to No.3 or No.4. I am here to win the world title, that’s my goal. Even when I lost to Junior, I didn’t slip down (the rankings) too much and I got a lot of fans for that fight. I’m the guy in the division who is having fun fights and I’m hoping to have another Saturday night.”
I hate to be the one to say this, had he beat Mirko 6 years ago, I would be impressed. That was his only win in his last 3 outings. Before that, he lost to Mir and Dos Santos. Nelson just isn’t there… yet. He has a ton of skill, he beat Mir almost 8 years ago in a Grappler’s quest competition. That’s straight Jujitsu, so you know he has game. However, it’s not at the level of Werdum. Nelson clearly has the striking advantage, but the time Werdum has been spending at Kings MMA will have him sharp. I don’t think sharp enough to out strike Nelson, but sharp enough to avoid a KO and take this one to the mat. There will be a submission of the night in this fight from Werdum. It will be in the 3rd round as Nelson will have the ability to keep Werdum from taking an easy sub. But Werdum will be winning this fight.
Every time I “Weigh In” I like to pick a fight of the night. Koscheck often finds himself in my picks for a fight to watch. Two reasons for that, one the guy is talented and two, the guy is always fit and ready to perform. His mouth writes a lot of checks, so far he seems to be able to cash most of them. Koscheck has a way of getting into his opponents head and getting them to fight his fight. It’s quotes like this one “I didn’t really know who this guy was when I agreed to fight him. I remember he fought (my teammate) Jon Fitch but not too well. I think I remember that fight, he didn’t get anything going until the very last minute. I know he called me out, so he must think he can win… but they all think that until I punch them in the face” that get his opponents to cave to his fight wishes. What Koschek usually wants is a stand up battle with some spectacular take downs. I don’t mean to be offensive with this statement, but I don’t think Mike Pierce is in Koscheck’s league. Pierce relies heavily on his take downs in fights. He lost a decision to Hendricks recently, and looked solid. That performance however, still lacked the explosiveness he is going to need to beat Koscheck. In my opinion Koscheck finish’s fights, and pushes the pace. Koscheck is going to lure Pierce into a striking match and win that. He will also be able to defend Pierce’s take downs. This one will be a war, with Koscheck taking a decision.
There you have it, my picks on the 3 main fights. Koscheck wins by decision, Werdum will get a submission win in the 3rd, and Condit will find his range in the 2nd and send Diaz home with a concussion. Love to hear your thoughts, @pefitness… I stand by my picks!
MFC cuts McKee and Cobb
McKee and Cobb officially released from MFC, Haddad also cut for missing weight. Here’s the MFC release
MFC Staff
The Maximum Fighting Championship has released Antonio McKee , Brian Cobb, and James Haddad from their contracts
McKee and Cobb were both slated to compete for the MFC lightweight title at MFC 32: Bitter Rivals on Jan. 27, but both fighters came in over the contract weight at the official weigh-in – defending champ McKee by seven pounds and challenger Cobb by one-half pound.
“I was thoroughly disgusted by the lack of professionalism that Antonio McKee showed towards the belt he was scheduled to defend as well as the Maximum Fighting Championship as a organization,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.
“It was unacceptable behavior for a champion to demonstrate. On top of that, Antonio never really apologized for missing weight that badly. That was the end of things for him with the MFC. That’s why he was stripped of his belt immediately and told that he would never fight in the MFC again. I hope it’s a message to all the other fighters in the MFC.”
Cobb, who was coming off a win over Drew Fickett at MFC 30, lost a narrow decision to McKee at MFC 32.
“It’s disappointing to have to release Brian as he is a tremendous character person,” added Pavelich. “Everyone in the MFC has a great deal of respect and admiration for Brian, but unfortunately he admitted to making an error in preparing for the weigh-in and was over the limit. For a title fight that is a big mistake.”
Haddad, who lost via decision to Dan Ring at MFC 32, was over by two pounds for his lightweight bout.


mfc 32 predictions
Again, our man Jordan Cieciwa breaks down tonight’s MFC 32:Bitter Rivals for us.
Here it is Folks, a prediction blog designed to get you more than excited. MFC 32 Bitter Rivals. I have been waiting for this card for 2 solid months. In fact, the second Mark Pavelich announced this bad boy I called him and booked him for my Radio Show on TSN 1290. Headlined by Wilson Gouveia vs Dwanye Lewis, this card will be one for the ages.
Here is how it plays out, well at least 4 of the fights I want to see.
First is Diego Bautista vs Ryan McGilvary. You want explosive welter weights, watch this fight. Diego has won his last 7 fights convincingly. 3 of those by choke, 1 TKO, and one very very clean KO. Diego has a lot of hype behind him. He has a solid all around game, and comes in ready for a war. Why does that matter? Because we the fans what guys like Bautista in the MFC ring. He will bring a solid show. Now flip to the other side of the ring. Ryan McGilvary brings all the same game, with more experience, and the hometown. What does hometown me to fighters? Same thing it means to all the other athletes in the world. GIRLS TO IMPRESS. I am kidding, but with family and friends in the audience that extra little bit in the tank comes out. Ryan has a 10 fights in the MFC, he will have the comfort to bring his game. His game seems to tend more to the submission world. So if Ryan can score the take down, and keep his adrenaline under control we are in for a show. My money is on the Veteran, Ryan McGilvary. Expect to see a first round that is on the feet, Diego will take the points on that round. Round 2 will go to the ground and finish with McGilvary taking the points. Round 3 will end half way through with McGilvary finding and taking home a solid submission win.
After a solid Welter Weight fight what do you want to see? How about another even more explosive Welter Weight Fight. I have been waiting to see Dheigo Lima vs Bruno Carvalho with baited breath since they announced this one. In fact, this is the fight to watch. Bruno Carvalho has the skill to take this one either on the mat or standing. He can definitely make this fight exciting, as he has done in all of his 18 fights. He is coming in off a loss, that loss ended an 8 fight win streak. Why did he have an 8 fight win streak going? Because he is really good at fighting. With that said, he is coming in to fight Dheigo Lima. Dheigo is right in the middle of a monster hype machine. He has the talent to back it all up, and right now people in the MMA world are talking about him. Why not, he has 6 fights and 6 wins. Of those 6 wins, none went to decision. That’s right fight fans, Dheigo Lima ends fights. That’s the reason Mark Pavelich tossed him in the Ring with Bruno Carvalho. Before the hype machine gets going on full speed, we are going to see Dheigo tested. My prediction on this fight is a quick Dheigo TKO due to punches. He has had enough time to work hard on sharpening those already impressive skills. From what I can see, and what I hear in the fight world, he is coming in to this fight to make sure he makes big money for the rest of his career. To do that, you have to be fight of the night potential. Expect Dheigo to enter the MFC ring with bad intentions and the skill to end this one quick.
So once Dheigo has impressed the MMA world, we get to see the light weights go at it. Brian Cobb vs Antonio McKee. This is no typo combined age is 70 for these two fighters. Antonio has the MFC light weight belt and that means the always impressive Brian Cobb has to win if he wants it. Brian has the skill, and he has proved it with a 4 fight win streak. His last win was against a very talented Drew Fickett. The problem Cobb is going to have is that McKee has the wrestling skill to minimize the threat of submission. Antonio always comes to fight, and he comes as fit as anyone in the MMA game. I would love to see Cobb win this, but I don’t think he will be able to get around the wrestling of McKee. Expect this to go the distance, and McKee will win on points.
The Main Event of the MFC card has my favorite weight classes going at it. Light Heavy Weight division always has the best fights. Athletic, fit, and talented. Power in the punches to end it quick, and the speed and agility to make the ground game interesting. This Light Heavy Weight bout has Wilson Gouveia vs Dwayne Lewis. Gouveia has been around the MMA game a long time, and has fought some of the best. He has lost close battles with top talent, and he has won some real barn burners. Most of his big wins have come from submissions. Wilson finishes fights, and that’s what promises to make this a great fight. Of his 12 wins, only 1 is a decision. Dwayne has a similar record, of his 12 wins only 2 have been by decision. Dwayne doesn’t have the impressive resume like Wilson, but he does have the home town advantage. Lewis also has a very heavy hand, which means any mistake from Gouveia and this one ends quick! I really think that Wilson Gouveia takes this on the ground in the 4th(that’s right this one promises to be a 5 rounder). His submission skills and the fact that he has been in with top talent gives him the edge. This will be a fun one to watch knowing that at any minute a heavy right hand from D-Bomb can end this one.
Big thanks to Mark Pavelich and the whole MFC family. This card promises to make Friday night very exciting. Yet another great card from a top organization in MMA. Did I mention, it’s in a ring? I can’t wait for MFC 32 bitter rivals!
Missing Mark Muñoz
This piece of food for thought comes compliments of MMA writer/broadcaster Jordan Cieciwa of Winnipeg. Stay tuned for more from Jordan in the near future.
Is anyone else out there a little heart broken that Mark Munoz has been replaced by Mike Bisping? In case you have missed it, Mark Munoz was set to face Chael Sonnen. A match that I think the quiet and soft spoken Munoz would have won. I had the pleasure of meeting and training with Mark when I filmed a feature in March’s UFC magazine. Mark is an amazing coach, awesome family man, and a fantastic role model. Chael Sonnen is not. What does that matter, absolutely nothing, it’s a fight.
Mark has already had his surgery and is on the road to recovery. With a solid team around him at Reign training center, he will back in no time. Which is good, because someone has to beat Chael, and then Anderson Silva. If it was up to me, and Joe Silva if you are reading, I would have put Chael against Dan Henderson. Why? My thought is that Dan beats Chael, then gets his shot at Anderson… again. I want Danny to go in the Octagon and run wild on the Spider. No offense to Anderson Silva, he is one of the most impressive fighters ever. He doesn’t lose because he is really just that good. So there you have it Anderson Silva is good, Dan can beat him, but he has to get through Chael first.
Wait, I am missing a step. Chael has to beat Michael Bisping first… currently laughing a little that I even wrote that. All though, I would love to see a UFC 100 all over again. I was up at Dan’s ranch after that fight, we ate Mako Shark and laughed a lot about how good it was to “Knock out a Deuche bag”. So the Count doesn’t really get to be a factor in my Chael, Anderson, Henderson story. He gets to be the comic relief. With that said, he is really improving his stand up and working with the right people. He will have an awesome career… He just isn’t quite ready for the league he stepped in with Chael. Although, I would love to see what Anderson would do with him. IE Leben and Forrest Griffin.
So the reason I went down that path was Mark Munoz. I was excited to see how he did with the high level competition. It would have been by far his best test. I personally think he would have been more than ready for the challenge, but so would Chael. Who wins a battle when class and sportsmanship don’t matter? Tough to say, would have been a great match. It’s going to be fun watching another great wrestler plant a solid shot on Bisping.
Whatever the outcome, I wish Mark Munoz the fastest and most complete recovery possible. The sport needs him. He is a fantastic role model in any sport. I also want to say it one more time. Dan Henderson vs Anderson Silva. Someone make it happen… preferably before Danny turns 50. Tick Tick Tick.
JOHNSON MISSES WEIGHT
Embarrassing, unprofessional and, quite honestly, unexpected.
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson made a big deal about being bigger and stronger now that he was leaving the 170 lbs.-class to fight at 185 lbs.
He talked about how much easier it was to keep a smile on his face during fight week knowing he didn’t have to cut as much weight.
He joked about sneaking in a gummy bear or two.
It now looks like Johnson may have sneaked in a few too many gummy bears prior to his co-main event battle against Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort at UFC 142.
When the fighters hit the scales Friday, Johnson weighed 197 lbs.
UFC rules state that fighters are allowed to come in one pound over the allowable weight limit and those that are close, are given an extra hour to make weight.
With no chance of him shedding a full 13 lbs. in the allotted time, Johnson will forfeit 20% of his purse to Belfort and can’t weigh any more than 205 lbs. on fight day.
Belfort, came in at the allowable limit of 186 lbs.
Earlier in the week, Johnson had spoken quite boldly about his plans in the 185 lbs. class.
He said having the extra weight on his frame was a welcome change.
“At 170, I guess you can say I looked like ‘Skeletor.’ At middleweight, I guess you should call me ‘Big Foot,’” said the 27-year-old.
“The move to middleweight has been great so far. I’m still eating healthy and getting my body ready. I mean, I still eat my gummy bears from time to time.”
The 6-ft-2 former welterweight has an impressive 10-3 record with 70% of his wins coming by (T)KO.
The Georgia-born fighter now trains one state down in Florida with a stellar cast of training partners.
“I train with (former light heavyweight champ) Rashad Evans every single day,” says Johnson.
“He’s the guy I train with the most. It’s helped me a lot. Then, I’m working with guys like (kickboxing champion) Tyrone Spong and (former UFC contender) Jorge Santiago. It’s been the best thing for my career. The training down there has really helped me become a better fighter.”
He says he is fully aware of Belfort’s arsenal.
“It’s always interesting fighting a jiu-jitsu black belt, but we don’t fight in gis in UFC anymore,” says Johnson.
“You can’t judge a black belt in the cage until the punches start flying.”
Johnson seriously sullied his chances at being taken seriously as a middleweight.
Earlier, he said he planned to begin a rise up the ranks with Belfort.
“Vitor has done a lot in this sport, but I’m not thinking about that,” he said.
“I’m thinking about beating this guy up.”
UFC 142 goes Jan. 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and also features a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
London Ont.’s Sam Stout will take on Thiago Tavares in a preliminary fight.
The event is available in Canada on pay-per-view.
jose.rodriguez@sunmedia.ca <mailto:jose.rodriguez@sunmedia.ca>
twitter: @joser403

Lesnar facing hunting charges
The following is the Calgary SUn story on court case in Canada.
Following a recent hunting trip to eastern Alberta, ultimate fighting superstar Brock Lesnar is grappling with a foe in an entirely different ring.
Charges related to the improper handling of hunted game were read out against the sometime UFC and WWE champ in Medicine Hat Provincial Court Thursday.
The burly fighter failed to properly tag at least one of two animals his party had shot a white tail and a mule deer, said Darcy Whiteside, spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
“They shot an animal and didn’t tag it,” said Whiteside.
He also said Lesnar had removed the sex organs of his kill another offence.
“When you field dress an animal, you have to keep the (organs to) identify the sex, you have to keep a portion of the sex organs,” he said.
His guide and Albertan Chad Stryker, who was allegedly accompanying the celebrity, is also charged with the offences – unlawful possession of wildlife, abandon/wastage of the edible flesh of big game, and after killing wildlife, failure to immediately affix tag.
Neither men appeared in court Thursday.
Lesnar’s well-known in hunting circles for stalking deer in Alberta.
The mixed martial arts and wrestling expert is a three-time WWE champ and took the UFC heavyweight title in 2008.
It’s not the first time Lesnar’s gone from hunter to prey during a game-bagging trip to Canada.
While bow-hunting white tail deer 100 km west of Brandon with his brother Chad in 2009, Lesnar was struck with diverticulitis, or an inflamed, infected colon.
He ripped the care he received at a Brandon hospital as “third world … I had to get out of there.”
After four days in Brandon hospital, he was driven by his wife to Bismark, N.D. where he received continued medical care.
He was sidelined briefly by the condition but resumed his bouts with the UFC last May.
It was then that Lesnar again fell ill to diverticulitis, underwent surgery and in August declared his intention to return to the UFC.
bill.kaufmann sunmedia.ca
twitter SUNbillkaufmann
Mayhem’s lucky break
It’s been nearly seven years since the 30-year-old Atlanta-born fighter last graced the UFC Octagon.
It was UFC 52 and Miller faced a young up-and-comer from Canada named Georges St. Pierre.
Miller lost that fight by decision. It was his one-and-only appearance in the UFC.
Plenty has changed since then.
St. Pierre is now the UFC welterweight champ and Miller has jumped up a weight class and made a name for himself — more for his colourful personality and flashy entrances than his actual fight resume.
Though he has a respectable 23-7-0 record with one No Contest, he has built his reputation through his whacky antics. The only two notable names he’s beaten are Robbie Lawlor and Denis Kang and those wins came more than five years ago.
But the man who is perhaps best known for crashing Jake Shields in-cage celebration following the Shields/Dan Henderson Strikeforce fight and getting a street-clothes beating at the fists and feet of Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, has a monumental opportunity.
The Ultimate Fighter coach will take on the man the fans love to hate in Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping.
The two coached the latest season of the UFC reality TV show and will now square off Dec. 3 in what will be the live capper to the months-long program.
Miller — who also hosted MTV’s reality show Bully Beatdown — wasn’t the first choice to coach opposite Bisping.
But with Chael Sonnen sidelined by suspension, Miller was called in and TUF 14 has played host to some of the best fights in the show’s history.
Both Bisping and Miller are big-ego personalities though the obvious edge when it comes to big-name experience goes to Bisping.
The mouthy Brit with a 21-3 record has fought Henderson, Kang, Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva and Chris Leben.
He’s well accustomed to the UFC limelight and, by all accounts, should make short work of Miller.
For his part, Miller is well aware the opportunity before him.
Should he be successful against Bisping, his next battle will likely involve the winner of the Mark Munoz/Chael Sonnen fight unofficially slated for early in the new year.
The winner of that would get a shot at Anderson ‘Spider’ Silva and the UFC middlweight crown.
It’s been a long road back to the UFC for Miller, but he couldn’t have asked for a better scenario.
The TUF 14 Finale will air live on SPIKE TV and Rogers Sportsnet Dec. 3 and will also John Dodson facing T.J. Dillashaw in the TUF bantamweight final as well as Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao in the featherweight final.
jose.rodriguez@sunmedia.ca
twitter:@joer403
MMA Awards
• There was little surprise at this week’s annual MMA Awards in Vegas. Light-heavyweight champ Jon ‘Bones’ Jones took Fighter of the Year honours at the event. An awards panel sets the nominees and fans vote for the winners of the Fighters Only sponsored event. The late-Shawn Tompkins of London, Ont. received a lifetime achievement award for his coaching and mentoring. Other winners include:
• Fight of the year went to Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard at UFC 125
• Chan Sung Jung won submission of the year for his defeat of Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24.
• Anderson Silva took knockout of the year for his win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 126
• Cheick Kongo took comeback of the year
• Greg Jackson won coach of the year
• Alistair Overeem won International Fighter of the Year
• Herb Dean won referee of the year
• Joe Rogan won personality of the year
• Meisha Tate took female fighter of the year.
• Donald Cerone took breakthrough of the year
• Arianny Celeste won ring girl of the Year.
•And of course, leading man of the year honours went to UFC president Dana White.
Don’t blame Diaz
Paging Nick Diaz….Mr. Diaz, Line One please.
In a far-from-shocking development, the man demoted from a title fight for failing to show up to do pre-fight press, almost did it again.
But before you judge him too harshly, Diaz wants you to know it’s not his fault.
“I have big money people like lawyers and s*#& who get paid like $100,000…or like a lot of money, to tell me what to do and what not to do,” Diaz said.
Having missed two previous press events for the Vegas bout, Diaz was about to make it three straight no-shows.
He finally made it onto the call — 45 minutes late.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to be on a call today. Nobody told me. It’s a simple as that,” said the 28-year-old.
The Strikeforce champ was bumped from his title shot against Georges St. Pierre by UFC president Dana White after failing to arrive at two live press events.
He was given a co-main event spot against B.J. Penn instead and Carlos Condit was called on to fight St. Pierre.
But with GSP suffering a knee injury before Oct. 29 event, the Penn/Diaz fight now takes top billing.
Diaz admitted he regrets having lost the title shot. But again, it’s not his fault.
His “people” didn’t let him know just how important those pre-fight hype events were.
There’s little doubt Diaz is one of the strangest cats in the UFC. He marches to his own beat and that will likely never change.
B.J. Penn — who has trained with Diaz in the past — accepts that.
“Nick is Nick. He does what he does. He’s a character. He does always show up for the fight though,” said Penn.