Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Watch Penn vs Sanchez Fight Video
Live streaming:
http://atdhe.net/
http://www.justin.tv/
Round by Round Coverage:
http://www.sherdog.com/
Friday, December 11, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez Weigh-in Video
http://www.mmaconvert.com/2009/12/11/ufc-107-penn-vs-sanchez-weigh-in-results/
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Diego Sanchez's Life Philosophy
In fact, he evokes a string of adjectives — batty, bananas, bonkers, cracked, cuckoo, daffy, demented, deranged, loony, loco, mad, mental, unbalanced, unstable, unhinged and just plain nuts.
Even lightweight champ B.J. Penn, whom Sanchez will battle for all the marbles in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 107 in Memphis, has found himself drawn into giving an impromptu psychological assessment of his opponent, telling reporters on Wednesday that he believes Sanchez is more weird than wacko.
Of course, the 27-year-old MMA fighter comes by his nitroglycerin reputation honestly. Just look at him and you can see insanity in his eyes. He marches into the octagon to the strains of Queen’s "We Will Rock You" while literally foaming at the mouth like a rabid pitbull and shouting “Yes!” with every step.
He’s the world’s foremost — and likely only — proponent of the “Yes!” cartwheel, in which he performs a series of cartwheels while shouting that simple Stuart Smalleyesque affirmation. He also routinely takes barefoot walks over hot coals and runs marathons in the New Mexico desert to visit the graves of his ancestors. Indeed, it would appear that Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez is missing some dots on his dice.
Named for the Spanish conquistador Don Diego de Vargas, Sanchez is possessed, for lack of a better word, by a conquering spirit. He was a state karate champion as a pre-teen and a wrestling star in high school. He took up mixed martial arts out of high school and became the middleweight winner of Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter when he was just 21.
Once a student of Greg Jackson, the Yoda of MMA who is Georges St-Pierre's head coach, Sanchez now trains in San Diego under brothers Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, who have combined to win 11 world jiu-jitsu titles and six Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships. He’s the owner of a 21-2 professional record — his only losses came when he was fighting at welterweight – and possesses a natural propensity for punching, kicking and otherwise mangling the human body, no matter how tenuous his grip on reality.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a method to his madness. Sanchez is a devoted follower of Tony Robbins, the motivational guru and self-described “peak performance coach,” who has taught Sanchez how to “unleash the power within.”
“The psychological aspects of mixed martial arts are so huge, if you’re not right in the mind you’re not going to be right in the cage, and the worst thing a fighter can let enter his mind is doubt,” Sanchez says.
Doubt is the one thing that Sanchez seems not to experience. He simply cannot conceive of losing. In his mind, he is already the UFC lightweight champ, he just has to go into the cage on Saturday and let Penn know that.
In Robbins speak, Sanchez operates in the “Peak Mind State,” in which the impossible becomes possible, including defeating the overwhelmingly favoured Penn.
“It doesn’t matter — lack of sleep, nutrition, training, everything — because there is a power within all of us, a spiritual power,” he says. “There is something special in all of us and you can tap into that at any given time.” Sanchez calls it “the switch,” a mental on/off button that he flips before a fight, unleashing his untapped inner energy. The Chinese call it qi, Obi-Wan Kenobi calls it the force and Tony Robbins calls it the Peak Mind State. Mostly, it’s an inner faith, he says. “I flip the switch and just trust in myself.”
Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2009/12/10/ufc-107-there-is-method-to-diego-sanchez-s-madness.aspx#ixzz0ZHTCMeTL
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Source: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2009/12/10/ufc-107-there-is-method-to-diego-sanchez-s-madness.aspx
Diego Sanchez Training Video for UFC 107 vs Penn
Hope you enjoyed this quick Penn vs Sanchez video! More to come :)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
UFC 107 Countdown Video
Copy and paste the following link into your browser to see the Penn vs Sanchez Video: http://blog.thesavagescience.com/2009/12/09/countdown-to-ufc-107-video
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
New Diego Sanchez Vlog & BJ Penn Video
A quick video from BJ Penn's website about his conference call. His voice is sounding a little raspy, hope BJ is 100% health-wise cause Diego looks as ready as I've ever seen him.
Find more videos like this on BJPENN.COM
Penn vs Sanchez Countdown Video
The camera crew will also follow Sanchez around the mainland as he preps for the biggest fight of his career. The final segments of the show will be dedicated to the heavyweight matchup between former two-time UFC champion Frank Mir and Cheick Kongo.
The show will highlight the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of 2009, which will be jumping off inside the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee this weekend.
Penn has been the class of the division since returning to it a couple years back. He has rolled off four consecutive wins at lightweight, all ending in finishes, en route to capturing the title. He was last seen schooling a talented Kenny Florian at UFC 101 in August.
Speaking of winning four straight, Sanchez will be rolling into the Octagon with one of his own. Although he has been one of the UFC’s toughest and most successful competitors, this will be his first 5Round affair. However, you can’t really blame “The Ultimate Fighter 1″ winner as he has fought in three different UFC divisions.
Source: http://www.5thround.com/news/16989/countdown-to-ufc-107-debuts-tonight-on-spike-tv/
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sanchez Calm Before Penn Fight
He represents perhaps the last significant threat to UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn’s reign, but Diego Sanchez claims he feels no additional pressures heading into his five-round title fight with the gifted Hawaiian.
Pushed as the promotion’s top two lightweights, they will meet in the UFC 107 “Penn vs. Sanchez” main event this Saturday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
“There’s going to be pressure in any fight,” Sanchez said during a Monday teleconference. “There was pressure on me when I won a state championship in high school. If you don’t know how to deal with pressure, you’re never going to be champion. This is what I’ve been working for the last eight years.”
The 27-year-old Sanchez moved down to lightweight following his technical knockout victory over American Top Team’s Luigi Fioravanti last year and seems to have been on a collision course with Penn ever since. Decision wins against former title challenger Joe Stevenson and the relentless Clay Guida hastened his ascent.
In Penn, he meets a man who holds him in high regard.
“I think Diego’s good in all areas,” Penn said. “He’s got great takedowns and jiu-jitsu and has improved his striking a lot. All that said, I think his greatest strength is his tenacity. All you’ve got to do is look at his past fights.”
One of the sport’s top five pound-for-pound competitors, Penn remains one of only two men -- Randy Couture is the other -- to hold UFC titles in two weight classes. He has not lost at 155 pounds since his majority decision defeat to Jens Pulver eight years ago.
“If you want to beat the best, you have to fight the best,” Sanchez said. “I suppose I’ve wanted to fight him since back when he beat Matt Hughes for the [welterweight] title. I always wanted to train with B.J., but it never happened. I suppose it was for a reason. It’s a good thing we never got together and trained. Now, we’re going to go to war. It’s going to be like chess.”
In other notes from the teleconference:
• Penn has returned to training with conditioning guru Marv Marinovich in California. “Marv is on a different level,” Penn said. “Every [other] trainer out there is doing the same stuff. It’s all built the same way. It’s mindless stuff. Everything I do works the right side and left side of my brain, uses my balance. Marv’s exercises are based on performance. It’s head-over-heels beyond the other stuff that’s out there. Marv’s really tapped into something.” The soon-to-be 31-year-old champion began training with Marinovich prior to his submission victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 101;
• For the first time in his career, Sanchez decided to work with a strength and conditioning coach, as he brought Steve Maxwell into the fold. “I feel like I got a lot stronger. I feel stronger at 165 than I did when I was at 185 on the show. We did a lot of yoga, a lot of work with kettle bells,” Sanchez said;
• Penn likes the idea of facing someone, like Sanchez, with a healthy fan base of his own, as it leads to more pay-per-view buys and higher paydays;
• Sanchez has no physical concerns as he heads into his first five-round fight. “In my two losses, I wished there were more rounds. I’ve always been a five-round fighter. I’ve never gotten tired in a fight,” he said;
• Penn made it a point to focus on his conditioning since Sanchez has become known for his ability to break down opponents with his savage pace. “That’s an area we did a lot of work on -- people trying to push the pace on us. We amped up our cardio to get ready for what’s going to take place. It makes no sense to train with a slow jiu-jitsu guy if you’re fighting a strong wrestler who’s exploding all the time,” Penn said;
• Sanchez spoke of the importance of self confidence. “I’m rigged differently. In my mind, I’m going to beat whoever I’m in the cage with. You’ve got to believe in yourself. I believe it’s my time. Everything in my career built up to this moment. Everything feels right,” he said.
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Pressure-Cooker-Sanchez-Calm-Before-UFC-107-Storm-21384
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Can Diego Sanchez win B.J. Penn's title at UFC 107?
Diego Sanchez undoubtedly is considered the underdog heading into Saturday's UFC 107 main event with UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn.
But can "The Nightmare" pull off the upset and deliver Penn his second career loss at 155 pounds and his first such defeat in nearly eight years?
We posed the question in our latest weekly poll, and the results were revealed on this past Friday's new edition of "Inside MMA" on HDNet.
The oddsmakers have tapped Penn approximately a 75 percent favorite to win the fight. And fans have predicted pretty much the same.
Thousands of votes were cast, and 72 percent favored Penn as the winner of UFC 107, which takes place Dec. 12 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. The remaining 28 percent of the votes went to Sanchez.
Penn (14-5-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC), who's bounced between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, looks for his second successful title defense of 2009 and his third overall since winning the belt in early 2008. Penn won the vacant belt with a win over Joe Stevenson and defended it against Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian. However, Sanchez (21-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), many fans argue, brings a type of intensity Penn has rarely seen. The "TUF 1" winner is 2-0 since his drop from welterweight to lightweight with wins over Stevenson (unanimous decision) and Clay Guida (split decision).
Do the oddsmakers and fans have it right? Should Penn be a bigger favorite, or is Sanchez being overlooked?
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/17096/poll-results-can-diego-sanchez-win-b-j-penns-title-at-ufc-107.mma
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez Gambling Advice - Value Of Early Lines
Okay, so gambling is usually Mike Fagan's thing, but today I wanted to talk a little bit about getting in on fights early.
I don't think I'm going out on a limb here when I say that Diego Sanchez is a huge underdog against BJ Penn. He has almost no reliable path to victory. Penn's BJJ is better, Penn's striking is better, and Penn showed that cardio isn't a huge issue for him anymore with the fight against Kenny Florian. Still, the average opening line for the fight was Penn at -190. That is an insane amount of value (Penn is at roughly -300 now which is still a good value honestly).
When the Kimbo Slice v. Houston Alexander fight was announced it was clear that Houston was a big favorite. His power is much more proven against professional competition, he is much quicker, Kimbo is dealing with a weigh cut for the first time in his life, and so on. Still, when the fight line opened you could get either guy at -115. Again, tremendous value. Within 24 hours we were closing in on Houston being a -300 favorite.
Jon Jones, opened at better than -200 most places and is now around -300.
If you liked Brendan Schaub against Roy Nelson you could have gotten in on him at +225 early vs. +165 now.
This is a part of MMA gambling that gets overlooked by a lot of people, a lot of the time. It can feel like you're just tying money up when you bet on something that isn't going to happen for a month or two but in the end there is a lot of money to be made on the earliest lines. If you plan on becoming serious about the gambling you're doing, you'd be very well served to stay on top of lines as they come out and make your early plays.
Source: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/12/5/1187147/gambling-advice-recent-fights
Thursday, December 3, 2009
New Diego Sanchez Vlog!
I've searched around BJ's site to find some cool videos, but this is as close as I came to finding some:
nh
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New BJ Penn vs Diego Sanchez Video Interview!
Kenny Florian Interview
Kenny Florian is one of the top lightweight fighters in the world. He lost in his last bout, a title shot against B.J. Penn in August, but Florian is undeterred. He left long-time trainer Mark Delagrotte behind and joined Firas Zahabi's Tri-Star Gym in Montreal, the home of top fighters like Georges St. Pierre and Rashad Evans. The move was the first step on Florian's long road back to a lightweight championship fight.
He'll step into the cage on December 12 against Clay "The Carpenter" Guida at UFC 107. We sat down with Kenny to discuss soccer, his role as a member of the media with ESPN, the Guida bout and more.
Heavy.com: Tell me about your days playing soccer.
Kenny Florian: Both of my parents come from Peru, and my dad was a big soccer fan. Soccer is pretty big down in South America, obviously. He had us all playing soccer when we were pretty little. I just love the sport and I played all the time. I played all the way through college at Boston College. I still miss the sport today.
Heavy.com: Why did you stop playing after your days at Boston College?
Kenny Florian: You know, it got to the point where it just wasn't fun anymore in college. I had a few disagreements with the coach. It just got to the point where it didn't move me anymore, which was a sad thing because I never thought it would happen. But I just didn't find it fun anymore, and I had this other little thing on the side called Brazilian jiu-jitsu that I was doing and that was occupying a lot of my mind power as well. I was obsessed with it. So out went soccer and in came Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Heavy.com: Did you have a favorite pro soccer teams?
Kenny Florian: Yeah, I followed the Spanish League. The English Premier League, of course, was always great to watch. I used to watch a lot of the Italian League and the Bundesliga in Germany. But now I'm pretty much just watching the Spanish League and the Premier League when I can. I don't even get to watch it that much, but I watch when I can. And I'm excited for the World Cup, of course.
Heavy.com: If you had to pick one: be a superstar footballer for a top-flight EPL squad or do what you're currently doing, what would you choose?
Kenny Florian: (Laughs) That's tough. But they definitely get paid a lot more playing soccer. If I could play in one of the European leagues, I might be doing that. That would be pretty cool.
Heavy.com: That's probably a pretty tough question to answer.
Kenny Florian: Yeah, it is tough. I really love what I'm doing now.
Heavy.com: You are a host of MMA Live for ESPN and you have written several print features. Do you have any formal media training?
Kenny Florian: No, actually. I graduated with a degree in communications from Boston College, so that's my formal training. But I've had no actual coaching. I didn't go through any media training or anything like that as far as how to present myself on camera. It's something that I learn as I go. I speak to producers and get feedback. But as far as prior experience, I didn't really have any. I just did commentary for the UFC, and that was pretty much it.
Heavy.com: Is it tough to separate Kenny the fighter from Kenny the media personality?
Kenny Florian: It is. It can be difficult doing commentary, especially when you have to critique friends and training partners. It can be a challenge.
Heavy.com: Do any of your friends ask you for preferential treatment on MMA Live or in commentary?
Kenny Florian: (Laughs) No, no. Not yet, anyway.
Heavy.com: Have you gone back to analyze the Penn fight, and have you seen anything that you would change if you get another chance to face him?
Kenny Florian: There would be a lot of things that I would like to change and would need to change. Some of it would be in preparation for the fight and some of it would be during the fight itself. There are a lot of things. I know that I didn't perform up to my abilities. But that's the fight game, you know? Sometimes it's your night and sometimes it's not. That night, I knew it was going to be difficult heading into it.
It wasn't my best performance, but you live to fight another day. I've changed a lot about the way that I train and the way that I prepare for fights now. Every fight is a lesson, whether you win or lose, and I've done my best to learn something from every single fight. I think that for this fight, I'll definitely be at my best. Hopefully it will be my night.
Heavy.com: I guess the biggest change in your training has been your move to a new camp. What drew you to Firas Zahabi? Was it a spiritual MMA thing or just the success he's had with his fighters? And have you trained with Greg Jackson at all?
Kenny Florian: Yeah, I'm training with Firas at Tri-Star Gym in Montreal. They're associated with Greg Jackson, of course. I haven't gone to New Mexico to train with Greg or anything like that. Actually, Clay Guida has been training over there, so that would be a little awkward.
But training with Firas, bringing him on as my striking and MMA coach, he's been phenomenal. He's doing things that no one else is even close to thinking about. So for me, I feel that between having my brother Keith as a coach and Firas as well, with my boxing coach Peter Welch and all the incredible people I've had a chance to work with for this camp, it feels like I'm in my Ph.D course for mixed martial arts. So it's been really enjoyable with these guys. I've improved my game leaps and bounds for this fight.
Heavy.com: Will Firas be in your corner for the Guida fight?
Kenny Florian: Yes, he will.
Heavy.com: That will be a little bit strange, won't it? Greg Jackson and Firas facing each other?
Kenny Florian: Yeah, they will be cornering against each other. They're not sure exactly how that's going to work. I know they are very good friends. But I know that Clay was preparing at Greg's camp for this fight.
Heavy.com: No insult to Mark Delagrotte's camp, but training with GSP and Rashad Evans like you do now seems to be a completely different level than what you're used to in the past. How different is it training with guys like Georges and Rashad?
Kenny Florian: It's amazing, you know? To have an opportunity to train with guys like GSP and all the other pro fighters at Tri-Star, it takes you to a different level. You know you're training with the very best. You're going to be learning a lot from them. You're getting direct feedback from the sparring sessions. You're training with the best, and it doesn't get any better than that. So for me, it's provided a lot of great learning, a lot of great technique. It has stepped up my game, for sure.
Heavy.com: Your next opponent is Clay Guida. Clay maintains a furious pace in the cage. Have you been doing extra cardio in order to keep up with him?
Kenny Florian: Definitely. I've been working very hard. My strength and conditioning coach and I have been working very hard during my sparring sessions, and all of my coaches have really been pushing me hard to prepare for that. They know that Clay is the kind of guy that doesn't really come with the best technique, but he's a guy that's always going to be there until the end. He can really push you and tire you out. He's beaten a lot of fighters that were technically superior to him because of that pace. I'm planning on bringing technique and pace into the cage on December 12. I'm going to be in the best shape that I can and be at the best technical level that I can. I'll do whatever it takes to get that win.
Heavy.com: Where do you think a victory over Clay leaves you in the lightweight division?
Kenny Florian: I think a win over Clay would definitely keep me as one of the top lightweights in the world. My goal is to get the chance and the opportunity to fight for the lightweight title again. But I'm taking it one fight at a time. I need to get by Clay Guida, and then hopefully that puts me in a good position to challenge for the belt. Hopefully I continue to get great fights. I want to fight the best people in the world, and Clay is certainly one of those guys. So I'm just looking forward to December 12, and I'll be ready for whatever happens after that.
Heavy.com: You competed as a middleweight on the ultimate fighter. If the UFC came to you and asked you to move to welterweight and fight Georges St. Pierre or Mike Swick or another top contender, is that a move you'd be interested in?
Kenny Florian: I'm probably too small for 170. I've been trying to put on weight, and I'm putting on a few pounds of muscle every year. I'm trying to get a little bigger. Right now, I feel like I'm a decent size. I'm a pretty big lightweight. I think I would be undersized for 170. But who knows? It's possible.
Heavy.com: I talked to Tim Credeur last weekend in Las Vegas, and he was telling me about a few guys at his gym that he thinks have the potential to go a long way in the sport. Are there any guys like that at Florian Martial Arts Center?
Kenny Florian: Yeah, there are a few guys that we train with that have a lot of potential. It's important to continually train with new guys, to train with new guys coming up because of the hunger they have. Both Keith and I really enjoy training other people, seeing them improve and helping them as much as possible. We learn a lot during that process as well. We do have a few guys in the local scene here in Boston who are coming up that we train with. Hopefully we'll see bigger and better things for them in the future.
Heavy.com: You mentioned Boston. We're getting closer and closer to the first UFC card in Boston, probably in 2010 if all goes according to plan. How special would it be for you to fight on that first card in Boston?
Kenny Florian: That would be a dream come true. I am definitely looking forward to being able to fight here in Boston, and hopefully that happens.
Heavy.com: What's your pick for the B.J. Penn/Diego Sanchez fight?
Kenny Florian: That's a tough fight. On any given night, one person can be on and one person can be off. But I think that based on their skills and based on everything we've seen, and assuming that both of those guys come in at 100%, I think B.J. Penn should be the favorite heading in that fight. But Diego is a very tenacious and tough competitor. It will be a tough fight, but I expect B.J. Penn to come away with the win.
We'll be posting Kenny's fight video along with the Penn vs Sanchez video
Monday, November 30, 2009
Is A Nightmare About To Strike In The UFC Lightweight Division?
Will Diego Sanchez shock the world and become BJ Penn's nightmare? Here's what analyst Jessy Morris had to say:
Since January 19, 2008, "The Prodigy" BJ Penn has been unstoppable as the UFC Lightweight Champion. His destruction of Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian have cemented his place as the greatest lightweight fighter in the world. He is also one of the only two UFC fighters to hold championship gold in two different weight divisions.At UFC 94, BJ moved back up in weight to challenge UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre to avenge a previous loss. BJ Penn found out the hard way that night that he wasn't on the same level as GSP. Penn was dominated the whole fight and his corner ended up throwing in the towel between the fourth and fifth rounds.
Meanwhile, Kenny Florian was waiting for his shot at the lightweight champion, Penn. The fight was scheduled for UFC 101 in Philadelphia. Several people thought that the loss to St-Pierre was so devastating that BJ would not mentally recover and that Kenny Florian would use that to his advantage and win the gold. Unfortunately for Florian, the loss to GSP lit a fire under BJ and he found a new motivation to train. BJ Penn ended up showing why he is the most feared lightweight in the world when he dominated Kenny and eventually choked him out in the fourth round.
Ever since UFC 95, the lightweight division have been experiencing a nightmare and now that nightmare is the number one contender for BJ's title. Former UFC welterweight and winner of season one of The Ultimate Fighter, Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez is now fighting at 155 pounds. At UFC 95 he defeated Joe Stevenson by Unanimous Decision and then won a Split Decision over Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale.
At UFC 107, Diego will challenge the seemingly unstoppable BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight title. Diego could prove to be the biggest challenge for BJ since he won the title. What's very interesting in this fight, is the fact that neither fighter has ever been submitted or knocked out. BJ Penn has a granite chin and fighters like Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre and Lyoto Machida were never able to knock him out. BJ is also a BJJ black belt that has one of the greatest ground games in MMA today. The big question is, how can Diego win this fight?
It is highly improbable that Diego will win by KO or submission. If there is any weakness on BJ penn (and even that is questionable) it's his cardio. Diego Sanchez has great cardio and he always pushes the pace. His best strategy is going to be aggressiveness and always being in BJ's face. The only way Sanchez can win this fight is by decision, but can he survive that long.
BJ has never loss to a lightweight fighter since UFC 35 against Jens Pulver. Other then that, Lyoto Machida, Matt Hughes and GSP are the only men to beat BJ Penn. If there is any weakness in Diego's game, BJ will be the man to capitalize on it.
UFC 107's main event between BJ and Diego should be very interesting. It will be very interesting to see if Sanchez can do any damage on BJ, I personally doubt it. Diego should prove to be a worthy challenger, but I truly believe it's a bad time to fight "The Prodigy" BJ Penn.
Source: http://hittheropes.com/wrestlingarticles/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255:is-a-nightmare-about-to-strike-in-the-ufc-lightweight-division&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=29
Penn vs Sanchez Extended Preview Video
UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez will be shown live on pay-per-view on Dec. 12 from the FedEX Forum in Memphis, Tenn. The UFC decided on Memphis for UFC 107 due to the fact it is the hometown of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who was scheduled to fight Rashad Evans at the event. As we all know, Jackson pulled out of the fight, and the UFC all together, to pursue his acting career. Hopefully he'll be back...until then,
Check this out from UFC.com:
Unbeaten at 155 pounds for nearly eight years, BJ Penn has ruled the lightweight division with an iron fist, finishing top contenders Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, and Kenny Florian along the way. "The Prodigy" will face a challenger as willing as he is to leave it all on the line in the Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez, who has reinvented himself as a relentless cardio machine that wont't stop moving forward until he wears the UFC championship belt around his waist.
The following video is the extended UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez preview. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez fighter weigh-ins on Dec. 11 at the FedExForum in Memphis
Official fighter weigh-ins for next month's "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez" event take place Friday, Dec. 11, at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT local time). Doors open at 3 p.m. ET.
The same venue hosts the following day's pay-per-view event, which features a headliner and championship bout between UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn and top contender Diego Sanchez.
UFC 107 also features a pivotal heavyweight clash between former champ Frank Mir and contender Cheick Kongo, a welterweight bout between longtime contender Jon Fitch and fast-rising Mike Pierce, an intriguing lightweight contest between veterans Kenny Florian and Clay Guida, and the promotional return of heavyweight Paul Buentello.
We'll try to hook up some live coverage of the event for you!
In addition to the weigh-ins, the UFC hosts a UFC Fight Club Q&A session with top UFC welterweight contender Dan Hardy (2 p.m. ET) and an autograph session with a host of UFC fighters (TBA) from 1-3 p.m. ET.
The full UFC 107 card includes:
MAIN CARD
* Champ B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez (for lightweight title)
* Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir
* Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
* Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida
* Paul Buentello vs. Stefan Struve
PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
* Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia
* Shane Nelson vs. Matt Wiman
* Ricardo Funch vs. Johny Hendricks
* Lucio Linhares vs. Rousimar Palhares
* Edgar Garcia vs. DaMarques Johnson
* Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant
For the latest on UFC 107, stay tuned to Penn vs Sanchez Video!
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/17023/ufc-107-fighter-weigh-ins-slated-for-dec-11-at-fedexforum-in-memphis.mma
Penn vs Sanchez Videos and Interviews
In this UFC 107 video preview, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir talks about his loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100 and his upcoming fight against the hard hitting Cheick Kongo.
Cheick Kongo talks about his fight with Frank Mir at UFC 107. He wants to shut Mir's "big mouth".
Here's a clip from the past. It's Diego training for his fight with Clay Guida. You can see his discipline and work ethic in this video. I'm sure he'll be bringing his best game with his fight against BJ Penn at UFC 107.
Betting Lines for Penn vs Sanchez
Friday, November 27, 2009
New UFC 107 Preview
In this UFC 107 Video preview number one lightweight contender Diego Sanchez talks about why he is going to prove after the BJ Penn fight that he is the best 155 pound fighter in the world. We are now two weeks away from Diego being able to prove that statement at UFC 107 when he fights for the lightweight title against BJ Penn.
Be sure to check back here for the Penn vs Sanchez video of the fight. We'll be giving away links to live streaming.
Sherdog Penn vs Sanchez Analysis
"Biggest in-house threat: Diego Sanchez.
The former welterweight has cut down to 155 -- he had not been that light since high school -- and has shown increasing flashes of his old self with wins over Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida. Sanchez’s high-energy pace and cardio are his best assets. However, given the time he spent on his back against Guida, the jury remains out on the effectiveness of his grappling at this weight.
Like many fighters battling for a competitive edge, the decision to drop a weight class often leaves him sapped come fight time, given the rigors of a dangerously excessive cut. If Sanchez can combine his trademark cardio and pressure with his scramble-and-smash style against Penn, he appears to be a live dog.
This one should be compelling as the UFC 107 headliner, particularly if Sanchez can be effective on the feet early. If so, watch out. If not, Penn should win handily in a replay of his Sean Sherk stoppage at UFC 84.
Acquisition you’d love to see: Eddie Alvarez.
The current Bellator champion notched another win in Dream when he submitted Katsunori Kikono on Oct. 25. A rough customer with an aggressive style and all-out attack, Alvarez has the best chance of any non-UFC lightweight to beat Penn. Shinya Aoki’s submissions may be the best in the game, but stateside commissions would not allow him to sport the trademark leggings he does in Japan; those are especially effective in helping set up finishing moves. Plus, Penn’s submission defense can only be described as stellar. In fact, he has proven so good on the ground that, at 155, he rarely if ever fails to dictate what goes on there.
Who’ll turn the trick? If one cross-compared the skill sets of all five UFC champions, Penn rates the best from a pound-for-pound perspective. He has proven a solid striker with subtle stand-up defense and a granite chin, and he gives opponents fits in a tie-up, whether he defends a takedown or attempts one. He has also proven incredibly dominant from top position, and once he obtains it, the fight essentially ends. There are better wrestlers (Brock Lesnar and Georges St. Pierre) and strikers (Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and St. Pierre), but Penn has proven more dangerous from more ranges and positions than any of them.
The big challenge for Penn remains himself and staying motivated to defend his crown. Forever in search of greater tests, his lightweight reign could become an amazing one, given the depth of the division and high-energy foes. Aggressive scrappers like Sanchez, Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar and Tyson Griffin comprise the top tier of deserving challengers. It provides a full cupboard for the Hilo, Hawaii, native and could serve up a memorable reign if he brings his “A” game for the next few years.
If Penn loses his 155-pound crown, it will be to an opponent pitching a perfect game -- likely a great wrestler with good stand-up and the tenaciousness to wear down Penn, a la St. Pierre."
Thursday, November 26, 2009
UFC 107 Analysis
On December 12th BJ Penn will attempt to continue cementing his legacy as one of the best 155 pounders in the world. He has torn through Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, and Kenny Florian. But on this evening he will face a nightmare opponent in Diego Sanchez.
The most gifted fighter in the UFC was winning fights before, when he hardly trained, now BJ Penn is refocused, rededicated, and hungry to win. His opponent, though, is just as hungry if not more. Diego Sanchez has only two losses, one a hit and run decision loss to Josh Koscheck, the other a split decision loss to Jon Fitch. Both fighters hate losing, both fighters are aggressive, and both want that belt.
BJ holds power in both nads which may be the key to victory in this battle. Diego has power as well but when have we ever seen BJ rocked. Diego is a great wrestler, however BJ has undoubtedly the best takedown defence in the world, and both are highly On December 12th BJ Penn will attempt to continue cementing his legacy as one of the best 155 pounders in the world. He has torn through Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, and Kenny Florian. But on this evening he will face a nightmare opponent in Diego Sanchez.
The most gifted fighter in the UFC was winning fights before, when he hardly trained, now BJ Penn is refocused, rededicated, and hungry to win. His opponent, though, is just as hungry if not more. Diego Sanchez has only two losses, one a hit and run decision loss to Josh Koscheck, the other a split decision loss to Jon Fitch. Both fighters hate losing, both fighters are aggressive, and both want that belt.
BJ holds power in both nads which may be the key to victory in this battle. Diego has power as well but when have we ever seen BJ rocked. Diego is a great wrestler, however BJ has undoubtedly the best takedown defence in the world, and skilled in jiu-jitsu. I think if BJ can weather the storm and pick him apart he will win. Diego needs to get this fight to the ground and keep him there, and attempt to do what Georges St-Pierre did.
The co-main event features two heavyweight fighters trying to bounce back from crushing losses, in a classic striker versus grappler match up. Frank Mir just lost a title bout to Brock Lesnar, a bout in which he got manhandled. On the other side of the cage, Cheick Kongo looks to rebound from a dominating loss to Cain Velasquez. Their strategies seem pretty crystal clear. Frank Mir wants it to go to the ground as quick as possible. While Kongo will look to keep it on the feet looking for the knockout. The key to this fight is bother fighter's wrestling ability. Cheick's wrestling has vastly improved since his octagon debut. He should be able to stuff Mir's shots and pick him apart with leg kicks and jabs.
Another fighter looking to get back in the win column is Kenny Florian. One has to wonder what his mindset is after losing his second title shot. He will take on Clay "The Carpenter" Guida. Guida has one of the most ferocious paces in the world, he never stops. Kenny's weakest point is his wrestling which could smell bad news for him as Guida will look to take him down and smother him for fifteen minutes.
Paul Buentello looks to make another run for the belt after he got knocked out in his first attempt. He has knockout power with amazing boxing. He faces 6'11" Stefan Struve. Struve had a rough start in the UFC, getting blasted by Junior Dos Santos in his debut. Since then he reeled off consecutive wins over Chase Gormley, and Denis Stoijnic. His best chance of winning is submitting Paul Buentello, but the Headhunter has good take-down defence and should pull off a TKO win.
The final main card bout is Jon Fitch versus Mike Pierce. Fitch's hard work plus great wrestling should lead to an easy unanimous decision victory.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/297347-ufc-107-lightweight-showdown
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez Preview Video
Return to Penn vs Sanchez video.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
MMA Gym 'The Arena' Featured in UFC 107 Preview Show
UFC 107, featuring the Diego Sanchez vs. BJ Penn Lightweight title fight, will take place December 12th, 2009 at the FedEx forum in Memphis, Tennessee. The highly anticipated Sanchez/Penn fight will be the main event, with the card also featuring Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo, Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce, Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida and 7 other bouts.
“Countdown to UFC 107″ goes behind the scenes as Sanchez and Penn ready for a fight that will determine the UFC lightweight champion of the world. The 60-minute preview show has earned rave reviews as the UFC has continually created better shows with each filming, including high quality production values and close access to the fighters.
Sanchez was interviewed and filmed training at the Arena, under the watchful eye of head coach Saulo Ribeiro, the 6x Jiu Jitsu World Champion. The Arena is the Premier MMA gym in San Diego, and where Ribeiro calls home.
Besides its own MMA program, The Arena houses Ribeiro’s University of Jiu Jitsu, one of the most successful Jiu Jitsu programs in the world. The Arena is also home to other UFC and WEC fighters including Fabricio “Morango” Camoes and Rani Yahya, as well as many up and coming young MMA fighters.
The Arena – The San Diego MMA Gym. Training in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai and Wrestling in San Diego
The Arena is THE MMA Gym in San Diego that trains professional fighters as well as students who want to train like fighters. The Arena offers training in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai, and Wrestling in its San Diego MMA gym. For more information on The Arena, go to http://www.TheArenaMMA.com
Source: http://www.TheArenaMMA.com.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
UFC 107 Fight Card: B.J. Penn vs Diego Sanchez
There are some great fights on the upcoming UFC 107 fight card and we’ll go over every bout scheduled for December 12th.
The main event on the UFC 107 fight card is for the lightweight title and BJ “The Prodigy” Penn will take on Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez and Penn is favored on the UFC 107 odds at -280 with the challenger Sanchez returning +220.
We are still waiting for most of the odds to come out for the UFC 107 fight card but the lightweight matchup between lightweight title contenders Kenny "KenFlo" Florian and Clay "the Carpenter" Guida is ready for betting with Florian the -190 favorite to take out the pesky wrestler. Florian challenged Penn for the title not long ago but his lanky frame will be given a big challenge by Guida’s smothering style. Our UFC 107 betting picks are definitely going to be on “The Carpenter” as the underdog.
Both of these UFC 107 odds are available at BoDog Sportsbook and we recommend you sign-up for an account and take advantage of their 10% bonus for new customers. They also offer a poker room and a horse racing book.
Other fights on the UFC 107 fight card have former heavyweight champion Frank Mir taking on the striking prowess of Cheick Kongo. This is a great submission versus striking matchup and it could go either way. Jon Fitch takes on Mike Pierce in other UFC 107 action and this could be one of the most even bouts on the fight card considering Pierce is one of the few fighters out there that can challenge Fitch’s world class wrestling.
The rest of the UFC 107 fight card includes Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello returning to the octagon to take on lanky Stefan Struve, Alan “The Talent” Belcher facing off against Wilson Gouveia, Matt Wiman against Shane “Sugar” Nelson, and Johny Hendricks taking on UFC-newcomer Ricardo Funch.
More untelevised fights on the UFC 107 fight card have Rousimar Palhares against Lucio Linhares, Ultimate Fighter contestant DaMarques Johnson versus Edgar Garcia, and Kevin Burns facing off against TJ Grant.
Source: theonlinewire.com
BJ Penn vs Diego Sanchez Predictions
It’s time to cook up my UFC 107 Predictions for the upcoming December 12, 2009 mixed martial arts event that features a packed card with Co-Main Events, one of the main events is the Lightweight Championship bout between Diego Sanchez and BJ Penn. Penn currently holds the Lightweight championship belt, Penn successfully defended his title when he defeated Kenny Florian at UFC 101.
Frank Mir will make his return to action against Cheick Kongo in the other Co-Main Event feature, Mir was recently crushed when he faced Brock Lesnar to unify the Heavyweight Championship at historic UFC 100. Those of you that missed UFC 100 should check out my UFC 100 Review to see some of the discussion that followed Brock Lesnar’s post fight antics, regardless Mir is looking to comeback against Kongo.
My UFC 107 predictions are based on who I would like to see win as opposed to who I actually think will win, that’s important for those of you looking for mma betting tips. I include the UFC 107 card, UFC 107 trailer, UFC 107 poster and the UFC 107 odds below. Hopefully you will find what you need in regards to the up and coming UFC 107.
UFC 107 Predictions
Diego Sanchez vs BJ Penn:I can’t really explain how happy I am that the main event features a Championship bout again, in my UFC 106 Predictions I explained how I really dislike when main events in MMA are not Championship fights. If Diego Sanchez shows up to fight with BJ Penn in the same fashion he showed up to fight Clay Guida (video below) this thing could be one killer fight, not saying that BJ Penn is a pushover by any means. BJ Penn had an excellent showing for his UFC 101 fight against Kenny Florian, his technique as well as his striking ability looked ridiculous.
This is a pretty tough fight to call if you look at the most recent performances of Sanchez and Penn as both fighters were explosive and showed that they can pretty much fight anywhere, Penn has the experience advantage as well as a long list of top rated contenders he put out over the years. As I mentioned above I typically make my predictions based on who I want to win, since BJ Penn appears on my 10 Most Hated MMA Fighters list it’s safe to say I will be hoping for a title change. My UFC 107 prediction Diego Sanchez. Check out the Sanchez video. Hopefully he does the same vs Penn:
Frank Mir vs Cheick Kongo:
If you have been watching MMA for a while it’s safe to say that you know Frank Mir can run his mouth pretty good, he is already talking about how he wants a rematch against Brock Lesnar for the Heavyweight Championship. I hope that Mir isn’t making a big mistake in looking past Cheick Kongo, Kongo is a beast and depending on which Kongo shows up Mir might be in for another brutal battle.
Cheick Kongo might not be as big as Brock Lesnar but he is certainly one of the more powerful heavyweight’s in the UFC, Mir has a tremendous advantage when it comes to submission’s and he is no joke standing up either. As much as I like Kongo and even think there’s a chance he might beat Frank Mir I still have to go with Mir, his experience should keep him from getting in trouble as long as he keeps his head on straight and doesn’t make any mistakes. My UFC 107 prediction Frank Mir.
Kenny Florian vs Clay Guida:
Man oh man I can’t wait for this fight, there is just something about the high energy fast paced action that Clay Guida brings in to the octagon for every single on of his fights. Guida is going to need all of the energy he can get if he plans on defeating Kenny Florian who is coming off of a loss to BJ Penn in a fight that Florian was pretty much dominated in for the entire night.
Florian is no push over and he certainly has the tools in the tool shed to put Guida away, one challenge for Florian will be finding a way to control Clay Guida’s maniac like tendencies and movement. Florian hasn’t faced a fighter that moves as unpredictable and as quickly as Guida does, or at least not that I can think of under my current condition
You know I have to go with Guida on this one. My UFC 107 prediction Clay Guida.
Jon Fitch vs Mike Pierce:
If you were going to rush to judgement quickly you would look at the records of both fighters and easily pick Jon Fitch based on the amount of experience he has, not to mention he has a pretty impressive MMA record of 23-3-0. I honestly can’t say that I have done my homework on Pierce in order to give a decent excerpt of what he brings to the table, I know kill me.
On the other hand I have seen Jon Fitch fight for years, I know what he brings to the table and I am pretty confident that he will walk away with the win here. My un-educated Ufc 107 prediction Jon Fitch.
Paul Buentello vs Stephen Struve:
I wouldn’t mind seeing “The Head Hunter” Paul Buentello walk away with a win in this fight, and who knows maybe a head to go along with it. I can’t say that what I want to see happen in this fight will and as much as I would like to see Buentello win this fight I am going to have to go with Stephan Struve, he has been on fire lately and I can’t see Buentello being able to handle Struve’s speed. Not to mention he’s the stringiest guy ever. My UFC 107 prediction Stephen Struve.
Source: Extremejohn.com
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Diego Sanchez Talks About Penn *Video*
Friday, November 20, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez UFC 107
The UFC also confirmed previously reported matchups pitting Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo and Thiago Alves vs. Paulo Thiago.
“I can’t wait to defend the title,” Penn said in a news release. “I know what kind of competitor Diego Sanchez is and I am training very hard. This will be a good test.”
Penn submitted Kenny Florian in his most recent defense at UFC 101 in August. Sanchez, 2-0 at 155 pounds and 21-2 overall, is coming off a split decision over Clay Guida in June.
“I’ve always wanted to face the best,” Sanchez said. “I’ve worked so hard for this and now I finally have a shot at the title. I’m training like I’ve never trained before and I expect an all-out war.”
Mir and Kongo will be the co-headliners for the event, which takes place at the FedEx Forum.
“Cheick Kongo is one of the best strikers in the UFC,” Mir said. “I’m coming off a loss and I definitely want to get back on the road to the title. I think this will be a difficult challenge.”
Like Mir, who lost to Brock Lesnar in July at UFC 100, Kongo is coming off a defeat. He was outwrestled by Cain Velasquez in June at UFC 99.
“In the UFC, you can’t take any opponents lightly,” Kongo said. “But when you face a former champion such as Frank Mir, you’re expecting one of the toughest fights of your career. It’s going to be a classic.”
UFC 107 “Penn vs. Sanchez”
FedEx Forum,
Memphis, Tenn.
UFC Lightweight Championship
B.J. Penn (No. 1 LW, No. 6 PFP) vs. Diego Sanchez
Thiago Alves (No. 3 WW) vs. Paulo Thiago (No. 6 WW)
Frank Mir (No. 4 HW) vs. Cheick Kongo
Kenny Florian (No. 4 LW) vs. Clay Guida*
Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia*
Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant*
Damarques Johnson vs. Edgar Garcia*
* - Bout is not yet official.
BJ interview
Deigo Sanchez interview talking about BJ
UFC 107: Penn Vs. Sanchez News
It has recently been announced that BJ Penn will fight top contender Diego Sanchez for the UFC Lightweight Division belt. The fight will take place on December 12 at UFC 107, in Memphis Tennesee.
Penn (14-5-1) is coming off a submission victory over Kenny "Kenflo" Florian. Sanchez (23-2) is coming of a split decision victory over Clay Guida, a fight that many consider to be a "Fight of the Year"candidate.
This will be a very interesting fight for BJ Penn who has yet to come across a fighter in the lightweight division that has truly tested him. Many thought that Kenny Florian would be Penn's biggest challenge. That was until BJ submitted Kenny in four rounds.
The difference in the Penn Vs. Sanchez fight will be how Diego's strength matches up against BJ's. Diego is a lightweight in a welterweight's body, and as we saw in BJ's last three fights at Welterweight, he struggles with this size difference.
With that said, I see Diego taking BJ to all five rounds with a Unanimous Decision win for Baby James.
Source: smashmouthmma.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
UFC 107 Fight Card
The UFC 107 Fight Card is stacked with some of the best MMA fighters in the business. The main event is BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, and it will be available to watch on Pay-Per-View. Read more below.
With UFC 107 just around the corner, fans are flocking to the Internet to get the scoop on their favorite fighters. Well I have good news for you! There’s no need to look any further.
This was supposed to be the UFC event that “The Ultimate Fighter” coaches Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson duked it out at. That was until Rampage turned Hollywood on us, and quit Dana White’s organization (BOO!).
Now for the main event, we have Penn (14-5-1) vs. Sanchez (21-2). So, by no means am I complaining, because this should be a heck of a battle to watch.
Let’s take a look at the rest of the UFC 107 fight card.
Frank Mir (12-4) vs. Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) – Heavyweight
Kenny Florian (13-4) vs. Clay Guida (25-7-1) - Lightweight
Todd Duffee (6-0) vs Paul Buentello (27-10) - Heavyweight
Preliminary bouts:
Alan Belcher (13-5) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-6) - Middleweight
Matt Wiman (10-5) vs. Shane Nelson (13-4) - Lightweight
Johny Hendricks (6-0) vs. Ricardo Funch - Welterweight
Rousimar Palhares (18-2) vs. Lucio Linhares - Middleweight
DeMarques Johnson (14-7) vs. Edgar Garcia (7-1) - Welterweight
Kevin Burns (8-3) vs. TJ Grant (14-3) - Welterweight
The highly anticipated event will be held on December 12, 2009 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Which bout on the UFC 107 Fight Card do you think will be the most exciting? Tell us your answer in our comment section. You’ll also find pictures and a video below.
Source: sports.rightpundits.com
UFC 107 Live Stream
On Saturday Dec. 12, tune into this page for the UFC 107 live stream. We'll be posting links to the live stream videos here so you can enjoy the fights from the comfort of your own home.
UFC 107 Play by Play
We'll be posting the UFC 107 play by play information here. Be sure to bookmark this page for fight night as we will be updating after every round!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Penn vs Sanchez Video
UFC President Dana White reaffirms his plan during the UFC 101 post-fight press conference to bring surging lightweight Diego Sanchez into a championship bout against current 155-pound kingpin BJ Penn later this year or perhaps early 2010. "Nightmare" earned his shot after dropping to lightweight and outpointing Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida, effectively vaulting himself to the top of the number one contender list -- which may have also been helped by his 8-2 record in the welterweight division. He'll have his toughest test to date against "The Prodigy," who submitted Kenny Florian at UFC 101 on August 8 to solidify himself as the best lightweight in the UFC -- and perhaps the world.
Source: mmamania.com
Go here to watch the Penn vs Sanchez video.