Author Archive: Ian Blanding

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Justin Wilcox is Ready For MMA Stardom

Justin Wilcox is Ready For MMA Stardom

| June 16, 2011 | 4:05 pm | Reply

In the past two years, Strikeforce has done a tremendous job of gathering a group of talented young fighters in need of exposure and a bigger stage. Lightweight contender Justin Wilcox (11-3) has eagerly taken advantage of such circumstances as he faces Dream and Shooto veteran, JZ Cavalcante at Saturday’s Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum.

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No Obstacle Too Great for Kenny Florian

No Obstacle Too Great for Kenny Florian

| June 12, 2011 | 1:51 pm | Reply

There are few fighters willing to test themselves as frequently as Kenny Florian (16-5) has, but the payoff has been worth the seemingly endless drive. “Kenflo” came to public attention as a finalist in the Middleweight (185lb) bracket of the original “Ultimate Fighter”, but it wasn’t until his runs at Welterweight (170 lbs) and the resurrected Lightweight (155lb) divisions that Florian flourished and built himself to two title shots at Lightweight.

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Frank Mir and Roy Nelson: A Tale of Two Blackbelts

Frank Mir and Roy Nelson: A Tale of Two Blackbelts

| May 26, 2011 | 4:00 pm | Reply

Las Vegas is a large city sitting in a circular valley; the bright lights of the strip can be seen from every corner of the metro area, and those lights bear heavily on fight night. The city is a different place, as the advertisements, posters and fighters themselves flood Las Vegas Boulevard. Both Frank Mir and Roy Nelson grew up experiencing the buzz of a Fight Night, though these days, the two veteran fighters are at the center of it and on May 28th they will face one another in an important Heavyweight bout.

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Nate Diaz vs Rory Macdonald: Measured Aggression

Nate Diaz vs Rory Macdonald: Measured Aggression

| April 28, 2011 | 3:27 pm | Reply

The Nate Diaz and Rory Macdonald welterweight bout can be seen on the latter side of the free, televised prelims leading into UFC 129; an appetizer that is sure to spike (pun intended) the pallet of casual and hardcore MMA fans alike. The two young fighters are both coming off of losses to respected top contenders in the welterweight division and look to re-establish a base in a competitive division.

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Freire and Chandler One Fight Away fom Title Shot

Freire and Chandler One Fight Away fom Title Shot

| April 17, 2011 | 5:00 am | Reply

The lightweight final for this season of Bellator is a monster of a fight with Patricky Freire (9-1) meeting Michael Chandler (7-0) in clash of violently ambitious young fighters, looking to put sweat on the brow of champion Eddie Alvarez.

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The Aura of Shinya Aoki

The Aura of Shinya Aoki

| April 12, 2011 | 9:48 pm | Reply

This past Saturday, everyone’s favorite noodle-legged grappler returned to the cage and erased whatever bad taste was left over from his ill-fated New Years Eve Exhibition. Shinya Aoki stopped Lyle Beerbohm with a brutal neck crank a little over a minute into their bout; marking his first win under the Strikeforce bannner and his 27th win overall.

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Melendez and Kawajiri to Meet Again, with Higher Stakes.

Melendez and Kawajiri to Meet Again, with Higher Stakes.

| April 7, 2011 | 11:14 am | Reply

Kawajiri is a monster of a fighter at lightweight; a large grappler with excellent composure and ring-savvy who brings a unique brand of ground control and slick guard passes to the mat, coupled with peppering, rapid ground and pound that leaves his opponents frustrated and in a “survival” mindset.

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Ben Saunders Displays His Potential at Bellator 39

Ben Saunders Displays His Potential at Bellator 39

| April 3, 2011 | 2:30 pm | 1 Reply

Ben Saunders (10-3-2) is a violent man. Standing at 6’3, he is a giant in the Welterweight division, and his aggressive, relentless style of striking is a handful for anyone who cannot pin him down.

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