For those Polish MMA fans whose jones to see muscle-bound power-lifting body-builder types floundering around inside a mixed martial arts cage wasn't satisfied by World's Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski, we have a new hero to pin our hopes on: Lithuanian body builder Robert Burneika who made his MMA debut in the main event of MMA Attack 2, April 27th in Spodek, Poland against Marcin "El Testosteron" Najman (0-3)

Fans may recall that Pudzianowksi made his pro MMA debut against Najman before moving on to stellar competition such as Eric "Butterbean" Esch, Tim Sylvia and James Thompson. The sky is truly the limit for Burneika as he's got a very comparable skill-set to Pudz: lots of beefy lumbering, awkward kicks and punches and some really impressive moves in the flex off.

Burneika was given a stern test by "El Testosteron" in his debut. Naiman ran in backwards circles around the cage and forced Burneika to chase after him for well over a round before they finally engaged to everyone's satisfaction



http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/5/1/2991943/video-lithuanian-strongman-robert-burneika-makes-his-mma-debut

After Scare In Rio, Dana White Has Doubts Of Bringing Sonnen Back To Brazil


Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has done his fair share of talking about Anderson Silva and the Nogueira brothers. To say that he’s frustrated Brazilian fans would be putting it mildly.

At the UFC Silva vs. Sonnen 2 press conference held in Brazil, the move of his fight with Silva to UFC 148 in Las Vegas didn’t help his case at all, especially with how Sonnen addressed the Brazilian media.

Extra added security measures were in place in Rio de Janeiro for UFC president Dana White and Sonnen to get home safely and when the Brazilian reporters were beginning to get aggressive, White decided it was time for him and Sonnen to high tail it out of Brazil.

“We went down to the press conference and he had a scrum,” White said last week. The reporters were getting really aggressive with him at the scrum. Somebody got him with a shock pen and all kinds of stuff like that. He went out the side door. I went out the front door. Helicopters took us back. We got on a plane and got him out of there. I wanted to make sure we got in and out and got him safe.”

Now, after a week has gone by, White can rest a little easier with Silva vs. Sonnen replanted firmly in Las Vegas. It’s not that White wasn’t prepared to have the fight in Brazil, it’s just the United Nations had an event scheduled during the same week.

White still hopes to one day host a UFC event at the Maracanã Soccer Stadium, but he is likely to have second thoughts bringing Sonnen back down there. At certain times, he was even shocked at what Sonnen had to say while in Rio.

“It’s not fun taking Chael to Brazil,” White said following Thursday’s UFC on Fox 3 pre-fight press conference. “I’m not a big fan of that. I was actually confident, if we did the big stadium, we’ll pull this thing off. We’ll bring Chael down there. I didn’t think Chael was gonna say that type of (expletive) he would say down there. It’s one thing sitting in your living room in America and say (expletive) like that, but let me tell you, that was one of the more surreal press conferences I have ever been in.”

At one point in time, the UFC president would joke around and laugh about Sonnen’s potential problems down in South America. But in light of everything that’s happened, the boss isn’t laughing about it as much anymore.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/after-scare-in-rio-dana-white-has-doubts-of-bringing-sonnen-back-to-brazil

It didn’t take long for the big boys at UFC on Fox 3 – Lavar “Big” Johnson and Pat “HD” Barry – to get to work. On this night, it was Johnson earning a first round TKO victory in New Jersey.

When the opening bell rang, Barry started working his patented leg kicks on Johnson, but Johnson made it clear he didn’t want to stay on the outside. Johnson immediately pushed forward and clinched with Barry against the fence, throwing heavy leather.

Barry broke out of the clinch and surprisingly shot for a takedown. Johnson stuffed it, but lost position, Barry moving from full mount to side control. Barry had the advantage grappling, but Johnson got an underhook and worked back to his feet.

Johnson felt another leg kick, but then fired off a kick of his own that backed Barry up against the fence. From there, Johnson pressured Barry against the cage with a barrage of punches. This time Barry went down and looked out against the cage, as Johnson was awarded the TKO victory at the 4:38 mark.

With the win over Barry, Johnson moves his UFC record to an impressive 2-0 with both of his fights being finished in the first round.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fox-3-results-lavar-johnson-upsets-pat-barry-with-tko-win

They say you play with fire and you’ll get burned.

Well, Alan Belcher stepped right into the fire on Saturday night in New Jersey and came out unscathed and without a mark on him after his fight with Rousimar Palhares at UFC on Fox 3.

The story going into the fight was Belcher wanted no part of Palhares’ deadly ground game. A submission specialist, Palhares has been known for his vicious techniques including a heel hook that has kept more than a few orthopedic surgeons in business.

As soon as the fight started, Palhares got his wish because he snatched a single leg and put Belcher on the mat. There was a collective gasp between the fans in the arena and the ones watching at home because it was almost like everybody saw the end coming.

Everybody didn’t include Alan Belcher.

Belcher actually locked up Palhares’ leg at first looking for a Twister submission, but then went into defense mode as the Brazilian started clasping for his leg, looking for a knee bar or heel hook. Either way, Palhares was hell bent on twisting Belcher’s leg into a completely wrong direction.

He got to do neither.

Belcher scrambled and stayed calm and after a few back and forth moments, he ended up on top of Palhares working inside his guard. From there, the Mississippi native took over with a decimating ground game that had nothing to do with submissions.

Belcher absolutely unloaded on Palhares with punches and one big elbow that was heard all the way back in his opponent’s native Brazil. The barrage continued and with each punch landed, Belcher felt the victory drawing closer and closer.

Finally, with Palhares clearly dazed and not defending himself the referee swooped in for the save. Belcher had won the fight in the unlikeliest of positions against one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the sport.

“Why don’t you guys asked Toquinho who the baddest man on the ground on MMA is? Not him no more,” Belcher shouted after finishing Palhares on the mat.

The win marks Belcher’s 4th in a row and sixth out of his last seven. It’s clear the longtime UFC middleweight is gunning for a title shot sooner rather than later, and it’s hard to deny he made a strong statement with his performance on Saturday night.

“I just wanted to prove I could beat the best guy on the ground, I can beat the best guy standing up,” said Belcher.

“Baby, that belt is mine. I’m coming for it. I think you know it now.”

http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fox-3-results-belcher-plays-with-fire-and-burns-palhares-on-the-ground

John Dodson Suffers Broken Hand In First Round Against Tim Elliott


John Dodson won a unanimous decision over a tough and game Timothy Elliott on Saturday night, and he fought much of it one handed.

It was noted during the fight that Dodson was favoring his left hand, and by the third round he wasn’t throwing it much at all.

Following the fights in New Jersey, Dodson’s manager Jahani Curl of Machi Sports and Entertainment confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that his fighter’s hand was broken during the first round of the fight.

Dodson managed to outwork and still score the win over Elliott despite losing one of his primary weapons in the first five minutes of the fight.

The Team Jackson fighter will visit with a doctor later tonight to have his hand checked out for a final diagnosis.

Dodson won the fight against Elliott 29-28 on all of the judges’ scorecards.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/john-dodson-suffers-broken-hand-in-first-round-against-tim-elliott

Michael Johnson told MMAWeekly Radio prior to facing Tony Ferguson that he believed the former Ultimate Fighter winner was talented, but was also the product of a weaker season of the reality show than the one he was on just two sessions earlier.

Johnson backed up his claim with a very strong performance as he defeated Ferguson to cap off the UFC on Fox 3 prelims on Fuel TV.

Showing off his striking acumen, Johnson put Ferguson on his heels multiple times throughout their 15-minute war, and showed his punching power as he popped his fellow Ultimate Fighter alum right in the mush without fear of reprival.

Johnson’s footwork and hand speed kept Ferguson guessing and it appeared he just couldn’t get his timing down because his normal attack of moving forward with aggressive power wasn’t working this time around.

The judges agreed and gave Johnson the unanimous decision victory, his second in a row. Meanwhile, Ferguson drops his first fight since winning the 14th season of the reality show.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fox-3-results-ultimate-fighter-veterans-steal-the-show-during-fuel-prelims

Following Split Decision Win Over Koscheck, Hendricks Wants Title Shot


In the co-main event of UFC on Fox 3, two former four-time All-American wrestlers went to war, as Johny Hendricks took on former no. 1 contender Josh Koscheck. After a hard, grueling fight, Hendricks was awarded the split decision over the veteran.

Round one saw Koscheck opening with a front kick to the mid section of Hendricks. Koscheck got the better of the strikes early against Hendricks, who winced in pain in his right eye. Hendricks went for a takedown against the fence and had Koscheck down, but couldn’t get him flat on his back. Koscheck easily scrambled back to his feet. For the duration of round one, Hendricks got the better of Koscheck using his patented left hand.

Koscheck got taken down briefly against the fence again in round two, but scrambled back to his feet. Hendricks got the better of the strikes once again and Koscheck’s right eye appeared damaged, starting to swell up. Hendricks landed with a lead uppercut. To Koscheck’s credit, he put Hendricks against the fence and landed a sweeping elbow just as they broke apart. Hendricks kept getting the better of the punches, however, and the round closed with Hendricks attempting another takedown.

The third round started with Koscheck going for a takedown, but they end up on the fence. The referee separated them again, and Koscheck tries to back up Hendricks with a right hand, but Hendricks would have none of it and started swinging for the fences. From there, Hendricks landed a solid knee, but Koscheck landed a clean takedown, putting Hendricks on his back. For the duration of the round, Hendricks worked from half guard to get back to his feet, but Koscheck stayed busy grounding and pounding him.

The judges scored the bout (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) for the winner, Johny Hendricks. Hendricks was surprised that Koscheck never really went down at all during the fight, but at the end of the day, Hendricks admires Koscheck’s ability to march forward.

“That’s one tough dude man,” Hendricks said post-fight. “I hit him with everything I got and I did everything I could. Hats off to goes to that dude, man; he’s a real fighter.”

Now with victories over former no.1 welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, Hendricks believes he is next in line for a shot at the title.

“Give me that that title baby, I want to bring it home to Texas.”

http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fox-3-results-following-split-decision-win-over-koscheck-hendricks-wants-title-shot

In the night's lone all-Canadian matchup. Roland Delorme won bragging rights.

"The Ultimate Fighter 14" quarterfinalist survived some stinging shots from Nick Denis before scoring a stunning submission win in the final second of the first round.

The UFC on FOX 3 preliminary-card bout took place at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. It streamed on Facebook before additional prelims on Facebook and a FOX-televised main card.

Denis entered the bout with a boost of hype following his 22-second knockout of Joseph Sandoval in his UFC debut. But against Delorme, a late replacement for injured Johnny Bedford, he faced a remarkably resilient opponent.

After trading some heavy punches early, Denis checked a hip toss, got one of his own, and delivered some hammerfists from the top. Once back on their feet, Denis landed with more and more frequency until dropping Delorme with a straight right and then a flush knee to the face. Delorm survived, though, and he soon wobbled Delorme with a swarm of punches.

After scoring a takedown as the crowd roared, Delorme worked to his opponent's back and forced a tap-out with just one second remaining in the round.

"I never quit," he said after the comeback. "I don't care if there's one second left or two rounds."

Denis raised some eyebrows when he knocked out Sandoval with standing elbow strikes in January, and he admittedly had Delorme in some trouble.

"I'm proof that he hits hard, but it don't matter," he said. "I was rocked, but whatever. It comes with the territory. I always get rocked and come back."

Denis hardly remembers the finish.

"He dazed me pretty good, and he got a takedown on me that I don't even remember coming," he said. "He locked that choke on tight, and I was trying to wait out the round. I don't even remember tapping, but the replay doesn’t lie."

Delorme (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who won a UFC contract after defeating Josh Ferguson on the undercard of the TUF 14 Finale, now has eight stoppages in eight career wins. Denis (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) halts the momentum of a recent 4-1 run.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28559/ufc-on-fox-3-results-roland-delorme-vs-nick-denis.mma

Edmonton's Ford Wins Big At Bellator 67


Edmonton's Ryan (The Real Deal) Ford made his Bellator Fighting Championships debut a successful one, as he defeated MMA veteran Luis Santos by TKO at Bellator 67 in front of a sold-out crowd of over 5,000 at Casino Rama.

After being knocked down with a head kick midway through the first round, the 30-year-old Ford ate some shots on the ground and was controlled by Santos, but recovered and finished the frame no worse for the wear.

Early in the second round, while the two were clinching along the cage, Ford landed a knee to the chin of Santos that dropped the Brazilian. Ford followed up with strikes and referee Yves Lavigne was forced to step in at the 1:24 mark of the second round.

Ford, who trains at the Tristar gym in Montreal, improved to 18-4, while Santos, who fights out of Coconut Creek, Fla., dropped to 50-8.

"I don't even know what to say I'm so damn excited," Ford said after the fight.

Ford explained that it was the first time he had fought a southpaw and that threw him off a bit at the start of the fight.

"I knew in the second round I was gonna put it on him a bit more," Ford added.

The win was Ford's ninth by knockout or TKO and his 17th stoppage victory.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/2012/05/04/bellator_67_ford_wins_big/