SB Nation New York - UFC 149: Disappointing Bouts Cloud Middleweight Title Picturehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2012-07-27T17:31:50-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29380632012-07-27T17:31:50-04:002012-07-27T17:31:50-04:00Anderson Silva's co-Manager: Potential Weidman Fight 'A Joke'
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Anderson Silva's camp is apparently not receptive to a title defense against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128569/chris-weidman" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Weidman</a>. In an interview with Brazilian website Tatame, Silva's co-manager, Jorge Guimaraes, called potential fights against Chris Weidman, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129560/alan-belcher" class="sbn-auto-link">Alan Belcher</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122507/tim-boetsch" class="sbn-auto-link">Tim Boetsch</a> a "joke."</p>
<p>Silva's manager, Ed Soares, <strong><a href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/29906/silva-manager-likes-third-fight-with-franklin-but-gsp-leading-candidate-for-ufc-champ.mma" target="new">explained to MMAJunkie.com</a></strong> that he doesn't label any opponent a "joke," but believes the best fights for the Spider are either a third bout with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129197/rich-franklin" class="sbn-auto-link">Rich Franklin</a> or a super fight against welterweight champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a>.</p>
<p>"At the end of the day, it's difficult to find an opponent that can fight Anderson," Soares told Junkie. "There's not a ton of them out there. I just think that some of his opponents just aren't as attractive.</p>
<p>"When I look at Weidman, I think he's a very talented guy. He's got a bright future. But when I look at it, he's 9-0. Anderson (32-4 MMA, 15-0 UFC) has got double the wins he has in his career in the UFC. So I just don't see the value of being able to fight a guy like this right now. That's my opinion."</p>
<p>Weidman has repeatedly stated he has paid enough dues in the UFC to warrant a title shot. His last two fights, a decision win over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122560/demian-maia" class="sbn-auto-link">Demian Maia</a> on 10 days' notice and a second-round destruction of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/126094/mark-munoz" class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Munoz</a>, are compelling cases. In addition, the division's other top contenders (Michael Bisping-Brian Stann, Alan Belcher-Vitor Belfort) are booked in elimination contests.</p>
<p>Furthermore, St. Pierre has been inactive since December surgery to repair a torn ACL and must get past <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122573/carlos-condit" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Condit</a> in November. Combined with the fact that Silva is 37 years old (38 next April), the champion may not want to wait too long for a "super fight" at a catchweight. Let him face -- and defeat -- Weidman and St. Pierre do his part, and then we'll have something.</p>
<p><em>Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: <strong><a href="http://twitter.com/JonLaneNYC" target="new">@JonLaneNYC</a></strong></em></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/27/3197203/anderson-silvas-co-manager-potential-weidman-fight-a-jokeJon Lane2012-07-25T13:30:17-04:002012-07-25T13:30:17-04:00UFC 153: Alan Belcher to Meet Vitor Belfort
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>A roadblock to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128569/chris-weidman">Chris Weidman</a>’s shot at middleweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122568/anderson-silva">Anderson Silva</a> has been removed. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129560/alan-belcher">Alan Belcher</a>, who has also lobbied for a match with the Spider, has verbally agreed to fight <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122550/vitor-belfort">Vitor Belfort</a> on the main card of <span class="caps">UFC</span> 153 on October 13, according to various reports.</p>
<p>"The Talent" recorded a spectacular <span class="caps">TKO</span> victory over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122564/rousimar-palhares">Rousimar Palhares</a> in May for his second consecutive first-rond stoppage since a 16-month inactive period due to a detached retina. "The Phenom" is 7-1 over his last eight bouts, that lone loss coming on Silva’s front-snap kick that kayoed him in February 2011. Belfort had asked for a fight with Weidman and also wants a rematch with Silva.</p>
<p>Belcher-Belfort will go a long way to figuring out the middleweight title picture, but with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122551/michael-bisping">Michael Bisping</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128666/brian-stann">Brian Stann</a> meeting at <span class="caps">UFC</span> 152 in September, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129559/hector-lombard">Hector Lombard</a> off an unimpressive loss to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122507/tim-boetsch">Tim Boetsch</a> last Saturday at UFC 149, the probability of a Silva-Weidman title fight is increasing.</p>
<p><em>Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: <strong><a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/JonLaneNYC">@JonLaneNYC</a></strong></em></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/25/3186521/ufc-153-alan-belcher-to-meet-vitor-belfort-chris-weidman-anderson-silvaJon Lane2012-07-22T17:20:19-04:002012-07-22T17:20:19-04:00Sorting out the UFC Middleweight Title Picture
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Due in part to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122507/tim-boetsch" class="sbn-auto-link">Tim Boetsch's</a> possible broken foot, and his sheer disappointment with the main card of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95473/ufc-149" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 149</a>, Dana White put off any announcements on his big plans to sort out who fits where in the UFC middleweight title hunt until the "next couple of days." Boetsch's split-decision victory over a lackluster <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129559/hector-lombard" class="sbn-auto-link">Hector Lombard</a> eliminated the former Bellator middleweight king from immediate contention. (White even went as far to suggest that Lombard may be better off dropping to 170 pounds.)</p>
<p>If any light was shed on who's next for champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122568/anderson-silva" class="sbn-auto-link">Anderson Silva</a>, White told reporters in Calgary that if he had to make a quick decision, unbeaten Long Islander <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128569/chris-weidman" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Weidman</a> would get the call. While Boetsch and Lombard failed to impress Saturday night, Weidman looked awesome in destroying <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/126094/mark-munoz" class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Munoz</a> in the main event of UFC on FUEL 4.</p>
<p>It's one thing to win in the UFC. You open eyes wide and mouths in awe, you earn serious points with the UFC president and championship committee.</p>
<p>"An impressive win's going to give somebody a title shot," White said. "I'm looking for a guy who goes out and performs like Weidman. You go in and you're ranked low in the Top 10 and you take out No. 2 or 3 the way you did – that's what I'm excited about."</p>
<p>It's always fun playing matchmaker, yet to mimic Joe Silva or Sean Shelby and stand in their respective shoes are completely different animals. Still, if I was matchmaker, this is how I'd map out the top contenders at 185:</p>
<p><b>Silva vs. Weidman</b></p>
<p>Weidman has the wrestling base, tools and mettle to provide the Spider a serious challenge -- similar to what <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122570/chael-sonnen" class="sbn-auto-link">Chael Sonnen</a> did for four-and-a-half rounds of his first title shot and the first round of his rematch. To slow down Silva, you don't defend him, you attack him. It worked for Sonnen and Weidman's camp is supremely confident in their protege's ability to neutralize Silva's vertical base and grind the fight out on the ground. The G.O.A.T. versus the popular native of Baldwin, N.Y., will create major buzz on both a local and national level.</p>
<p><b>Belcher vs. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122550/vitor-belfort" class="sbn-auto-link">Vitor Belfort</a></b></p>
<p>Two fighters who live up to their respective monikers when at the top of their games. Alan "The Talent" Belcher is peaking since an 18-month layoff due to eye surgery. Victor "The Phenom" Belfort -- when healthy -- is one of the most exciting fighters in the world and is waiting to hopefully fight someone in his native Brazil. Belcher recently decreed he'd step up and take that challenge. These two are perfect for one another at this time.</p>
<p><b>Boetsch vs. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128666/brian-stann" class="sbn-auto-link">Brian Stann</a>/<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122551/michael-bisping" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Bisping</a></b></p>
<p>The Barbarian's broken foot will sideline him indefinitely, which leaves time for Stann and Bisping to eliminate the another from contention and then take on this bruiser who in his last two bouts owns victories over Lombard and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122563/yushin-okami" class="sbn-auto-link">Yushin Okami</a>.</p>
<p><b>Lombard vs. Munoz</b></p>
<p>Lombard's UFC future -- at 185 -- is still very good. One must not dismiss a fighter as accomplished as Lombard after a bad night. Sonnen would be ideal if not for his apparent move up to light-heavyweight. But since Lombard has an axe to grind with Munoz, it makes perfect sense to place both in a position where a dominant performance vaults them right back into title contention.</p>
<p><i>Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/JonLaneNYC">@JonLaneNYC</a></span></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/22/3176370/sorting-out-the-ufc-middleweight-title-picture-ufc-149-dana-whiteJon Lane2012-07-22T02:00:33-04:002012-07-22T02:00:33-04:00Dana White Non-Committal on UFC Middleweight Title Picture
<figure>
<img alt="Jul 21, 2012; Calgary, AB, CANADA; Hector Lombard's UFC debut was a major disappointment and may have cost him a title shot. Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N3hfriCwuqQEfzwf_hutBBG8onU=/0x1187:2438x2812/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7985267/20120721_kdl_as9_505.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jul 21, 2012; Calgary, AB, CANADA; Hector Lombard's UFC debut was a major disappointment and may have cost him a title shot. Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>An angry Dana White declined to reveal his plans for the 185-pound division, instead teasing a future announcement of multiple fights to eventually decide Anderson Silva's next challenger. This leaves Chris Weidman's title shot aspirations in limbo for the next couple of days.</p> <p>An angry Dana White declined to reveal his plans for the 185-pound division Saturday night, instead teasing a future announcement of multiple fights to eventually decide Anderson Silva's next challenger.</p>
<p>White was thoroughly disappointed with two fights on the main card of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95473/ufc-149">UFC 149</a>. Heavyweights Cheick Kongo and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/132926/shawn-jordan">Shawn Jordan</a> bored a sold out audience in Calgary en route to Kongo taking a unanimous decision; White blasted referee Yves Lavigne for failing to break up the frequent clinching between the two burly fighters.</p>
<p>In addition, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129559/hector-lombard">Hector Lombard's</a> greatly-anticipated UFC debut resulted in a complete dud that saw his 25-fight winning streak came to an end when he dropped a brutal split decision to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122507/tim-boetsch">Tim Boetsch</a>. Lombard, a former Bellator middleweight champion, was in prime position to position himself for a shot at the Spider. He instead stood flat-footed and did virtually nothing, drawing a massive amount of boos during the final round.</p>
<p>Rampant speculation quickly spread over social media that Long Island's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128569/chris-weidman">Chris Weidman</a>, off an impressive victory over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/126094/mark-munoz">Mark Munoz</a> at UFC on FUEL 4, would be named No. 1 contender at middleweight. White, however, was too flustered to reveal anything.</p>
<p>"The next couple of days we'll get it figured out who's going to fight next and what's going to happen," White said. "This isn't the Ultimate Clinching Championship. This is the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/ufc">Ultimate Fighting Championship</a>. We can count on one hand how many of these shows sucked."</p>
<p>Following the formal press conference, White told Ariel Helwani that if Silva wanted to fight right now he would do the Weidman fight, but needs to talk to him to figure out the schedule. White may be considering a tournament to determine Silva's next opponent. My guess is Weidman, Boetsch, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129560/alan-belcher">Alan Belcher</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122550/vitor-belfort">Vitor Belfort</a> and perhaps <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122569/wanderlei-silva">Wanderlei Silva</a> will be a part of it. Two other contenders, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122551/michael-bisping">Michael Bisping</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128666/brian-stann">Brian Stann</a>, are already paired for the main card of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95855/ufc-152">UFC 152</a> on September 22.</p>
<p><i>Follow Jon Lane on Twitter:</i><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/JonLaneNYC"><i><b> @JonLaneNYC</b></i></a></p>
<center><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uAiYR2UvS_I" height="315" width="560"></iframe></center>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/22/3175295/dana-white-non-committal-on-ufc-middleweight-title-picture-ufc-149Jon Lane2012-07-21T08:37:49-04:002012-07-21T08:37:49-04:00UFC 149: High Stakes for Middleweights
<figure>
<img alt="UFC president Dana White has a lot of options to sort out the stacked middleweight division." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HGfpf4kYkLQsBOPu_YBmlEWH8yY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7850611/20120711_kkt_st3_016.jpg" />
<figcaption>UFC president Dana White has a lot of options to sort out the stacked middleweight division.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hector Lombard and Tim Boetsch will determine the immediate course of a crowded middleweight division Saturday at UFC 149. </p> <p>Before bantamweights <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122468/urijah-faber">Urijah Faber</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129571/renan-barao">Renan Barao</a> take center stage and fight for the interim title at 135 pounds, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129559/hector-lombard">Hector Lombard</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122507/tim-boetsch">Tim Boetsch</a> will determine the immediate course of a crowded middleweight division Saturday at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95473/ufc-149">UFC 149</a>. An impressive win by Lombard (31-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) could anoint him the No. 1 contender to Anderson Silva's title and place Long Island's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128569/chris-weidman">Chris Weidman</a> (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) into a title-elimination match to determine the next top contender at 185.</p>
<p>"We got plans, my friends," UFC President Dana White said this week in Calgary. "It's all I've been talking about for four days, believe me. I've been on the phone with me and [matchmaker] Joe Silva putting together some really good fights. As long as everyone stays healthy, believe me."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128666/brian-stann">Brian Stann</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122551/michael-bisping">Michael Bisping</a> are fighting at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95855/ufc-152">UFC 152</a> in September. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129560/alan-belcher">Alan Belcher</a> is also in the mix. Currently without an opponent, Belcher has openly campaigned for the next title shot. Weidman told SBNation New York before defeating <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/126094/mark-munoz">Mark Munoz</a> he's paid enough dues to merit the next shot and challenged the Spider after wiping out Munoz at UFC on FUEL 4. Lombard is on a 25-fight unbeaten streak and hungry to prove he belongs in the UFC after an incredible run in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/bellator">Bellator Fighting Championships</a>. Boetsch (15-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), coming off an upset victory over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122563/yushin-okami">Yushin Okami</a>, will skyrocket up the rankings if he defeats Lombard in the co-headliner of UFC 149.</p>
<p>Once the results are in the books, White promises to unveil the title picture at middleweight.</p>
<p>"You know how normally, after a fight on Saturday, you guys are like ‘who is he going to fight next,' I'll have answers for you on Saturday," White said. "We'll see who wins, and I'll have a lot of answers for the 185-pound division. I'm excited, man, I'm serious, the 185-pound division has never been more exciting."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/JonLaneNYC" target="_blank">@JonLaneNYC</a></span></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/7/21/3173887/high-stakes-for-middleweights-at-ufc-149-hector-lombard-tim-boetsch-chris-weidman-dana-whiteJon Lane