Thursday, 30 June 2011
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MMATORCH INTERVIEW: Jorge Masvidal discusses Strikeforce win over K.J. Noons, potential shot at Gilb
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Lightweight Jorge Masvidal stunned most earlier this month when he took out K.J. Noons in a dominant performance at Strikeforce "Overeem vs. Werdum." The three round beating saw Masvidal cut Noons open with a vicious knee, nearly finish him in the first round and cause a massive hematoma by fight's end. The win was his second straight in Strikeforce, and now has him a likely challenger for Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Masvidal took some time out of his schedule to speak with MMATorch this week, where he commented on Noons, Melendez, Paul Daley and much more.
JAMIE PENICK: First of all, congratulations on the victory over K.J. Noons. What did you think was your biggest advantage coming into that fight?
JORGE MASVIDAL: Thanks so much. I think the fact that everyone expected so much from him and I was flying under the radar a little. Honestly, my training at this point is more focused and better than it has ever been. I'm at my peak right now endurance wise - so it is going to be hard for anyone to come up against me. I'm focused.
PENICK: You out-struck Noons and utilized an excellent game plan with your reach and speed. Do you feel he didn't respect your striking game?
MASVIDAL: No one did until this fight. All the press was about what a great striker he was - he was the golden child. I think I out classed him big time and hope I gained the respect of those who haven't given me my due in the past.
PENICK: Noons freely admitted prior to the fight that he was looking past you and towards a title shot against Gilbert Melendez. How much did statements like that from him fuel your preparation and performance?
MASVIDAL: Not at all. I go in there to win. I don't listen to what other people say and I don't read the MMA media stuff. I was focused on Gilbert and I was going to plow through anyone in my way of that.
PENICK: You've now put on two very impressive performances in the Strikeforce cage and are in line to meet Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. What do you feel you bring to that fight as a challenger that Melendez hasn't had to deal with from his recent opponents?
MASVIDAL: I don't think he has ever fought someone of my striking caliber before. Period.
PENICK: What weaknesses do you see in Melendez's game that you feel you can exploit or take advantage of in that potential matchup?
MASVIDAL: His only weakness will be that he has never faced me.
PENICK: You took Paul Daley to the judges' scorecards in a welterweight bout last September in a decision that arguably could have been yours. What did that fight do to your confidence level, seeing as you were at a weight class higher against a fighter that had just competed in a number one contender's fight in the UFC in his last bout prior to that?
MASVIDAL: I was really upset that I lost that fight. I don't know what the judges were thinking. I know I proved I can [go] toe-to-toe with the best, at a higher weight class, and still hold my own. I left that fight without even a scratch.
PENICK: What did you learn the most from that fight that you've been able to translate into your Strikeforce performances?
MASVIDAL: That if I can [I need to] leave the decision on the outcome of a fight in my hands.
PENICK: Where do you feel you stack up in the lightweight division?
MASVIDAL: There are some great fighters out there but I feel I'm the best. I've fought some of the top fighters in the world and proved myself over and over again. I don't want to call anyone out but I would put myself up against anyone.
PENICK: Outside of the fight with Gilbert Melendez, who in the lightweight division would you most like to face and why?
MASVIDAL: Gilbert is the only thing in my sight right now.
PENICK: Are you still haunted by the inverted triangle against Toby Imada? Are your recent performances and success on a bigger stage helping to erase the memory of that loss?
MASVIDAL: Nothing erases a memory of a loss. I watch those tapes over and over again to remind myself of what it feels like.
PENICK: Do you feel you're coming into your prime as a fighter at 26, or is this still just the beginning of what we've seen from Jorge Masvidal?
MASVIDAL: Just wait. There is a lot to see of me yet.
PENICK: Finally, what do you feel has been your biggest improvement in the cage over the last year?
MASVIDAL: Definitely my ground game. I've been working hard at it.
PENICK: Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions, if you have any sponsors or trainers you'd like to be recognized, please let me know.
MASVIDAL: Thank you for supporting me and thanks to all my fans! Please hit me up on Facebook @Jorge Masvidal and on Twitter @Gamebredfighter. A big thanks to my clothing sponsor Xtreme Couture for gearing me up for my fights in some kick ass clothes, to Training Mask for helping me prepare for my fights, Feltus, my management Team at ML Management, Tina, ATT, SMSP, and all my coaches and trainers.Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Interviews_34/article_9768.shtml
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Tito Ortiz Needs Win At UFC 132, Will Retire If Dana White Asks
By <a href="mailto:howie@mmanews.com">Chris Howie</a> <Br> MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer<Br><Br> Do or Die.<Br><Br> That's what it is for former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz who steps into the Octagon Saturday against Ryan Bader in what could very well be his last fight inside the UFC's cage if he loses.<Br><Br> Ortiz hasn't won a fight since he beat Ken Shamrock five years ago and according to a previous interview, had to beg for one more chance in the UFC. Ortiz knows whats on the line when he fights Bader this weekend and spoke about it while on MMAWeekly Radio this week:<Br><Br> "I can?t make decisions for my future, only Dana can, only the UFC can. There?s nowhere else for me to go. There?s no more Strikeforce. There?s no more Pride. There?s no more WEC. Everything?s been bought by the UFC, and they?re doing a great job of promoting one of the best brands in the world and that?s the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I?ve been fighting for the UFC since day one, since my career began back in 1997, and I don?t plan on going anywhere else. If Dana thinks it?s time for me to bounce, and go somewhere else or hang up my gloves, I don?t feel like it, but if they feel like it, I have no choice. There isn?t much of a choice I can do, besides fight my ass off on Saturday night and get my hand raised to let everyone know that I?m not going anywhere."<br><Br> Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.mmanews.com/forums >Forums</a> and/or the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom >Facebook</a>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <a href=http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom >@mmanewsdotcom</a>.<Br><Br>Source: http://www.mmanews.com/home.php
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Urijah Faber feels he's got Dominick Cruz's striking figured out into UFC 132 main event
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
There may not be another opponent more knowledgeable about UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz than his UFC 132 challenger Urijah Faber.
Faber defeated Cruz four years ago in the WEC, and has been in the corner for teammate Joseph Benavidez's bouts against Cruz. On top of that, Faber does extensive breakdowns of his opponents in preparation, and Faber enters Saturday's pay-per-view main event in Las Vegas with the belief that he's got Cruz's style mapped out.
"What he does is he throws some straight punches but his body is not right behind it. It's not like he's standing and throwing a straight punch," Faber observed in an interview with Luke Thomas at SBNation.com. "One of his best punches is a straight right that he runs off to the side. It's a straight punch if you look at the actual punch but his body is way out of the way. So although it looks like it's a lot of crazy stuff that he's doing out there, there's quite a few things that are regimented."
"He moves the same direction quite a bit. He throws the same combos after jabs. He ends with low kicks. He throws a lot of right hand-right kick combos and does the same motion that he switches to a body shot, a head shot, a low kick. There's a real method to his madness and I've seen a ton of his tapes, I've been in the corner when he's fought, I've fought him, so I'm pretty savvy to what he's doing."
In seeing Cruz's two fights with Benavidez up close, including the title fight the two had that ended in a split decision in Cruz's favor, Faber believes he knows what he needs to do in the fight and what he needs to try to avoid from Cruz.
"I would say first and foremost that in the second fight Joseph got the better of the standup," Faber said when asked what he learned from Benavidez's performances. "He lost because he was six takedowns to none and when the takedowns happen, it wasn't anything dominating happening from the takedown from Dominick but Joseph didn't do anything in retaliation. He didn't reverse position. He didn't come close to any submission attempts. I would say the thing that lost him the fight was being taken down and losing points by that front."
"Other than that, Joseph did a pretty good job but Dominick walking around outside the ring, I've been around both of them, is about 10 pounds roughly larger than Joseph and I am also. I think there's a size different there and Joseph is really strong and explosive. I think that if he really wanted to, he could make 125 pounds which is completely out of the question for me, it is completely out of the question for Dominick Cruz. I think I have to connect with punches and not get hit by all of his stuff and not get outpointed on the grappling."
This fight is extremely important for Faber. At 32-years-old, Faber has had a lot of success in the sport already, but the last three times he's been in a title fight he's come out on the losing end. This is a chance for him to capture the UFC belt for the first time; he feels he's coming into his own and that this fight marks the start of a new era for him.
"I think [this is a legacy defining fight for me]," Faber admitted. "I don't plan on going anywhere win, lose, or draw but I plan on winning and I plan on adding that to my list of accomplishments and going on a run and being a defending champion. Then having super fights after that.
"Right now my body feels incredible, my technique keeps getting better and better, I'm evolving, and at this new weight I feel great so I'm just excited for the future man. This is the first step in a new direction."
Link to Full Interview
Penick's Analysis: Faber's extremely smart and is an excellent game planner, and his breakdown of Cruz's striking here is a fantastic read. The full interview is wholly worth checking out, but despite the fact that Cruz has greatly improved his game since the first time the two met, Faber knows what he's up against. Being in the corner of Benavidez against Cruz, especially in their second fight, is going to be very beneficial for Faber. Cruz could still prove to be simply too far improved for Faber to handle, but I think we're going to see a very good fight out of the challenger on Saturday night. We're in for a great main event in Las Vegas either way.
[Urijah Faber art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9789.shtml
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Demian Maia Fighting With New Purpose Since Birth of First Child - UFC 131
Demian Maia Fighting With New Purpose Since Birth of First Child Video by UFC 131
