MMAjunkie.com Radio: UFC 132's Shane Roller and Brad Tavares, Jeff Meyer

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show two fighters from Saturday's UFC 132 event: Shane Roller and Brad Tavares.

Tuff-N-Uff promoter Jeff Meyer and some of his fighters also stop by the studio to discuss Friday's event in Las Vegas.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/WgaUi07DRGE/mmajunkie-com-radio-ufc-132s-shane-roller-and-brad-tavares-jeff-meyer.mma

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UFC to host event in Japan "this year"

LAS VEGAS - The UFC could make its long-awaited return to Japan this year.

UFC president Dana White today said that plans are moving forward for for the organization to promote a show in the country, which hasn't hosted a UFC event since UFC 29 way back in 2000.

"The rumor is true," said White, who couldn't given any exact details on a date or host venue. "We're going to come to Japan, and probably soon."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/i5rppiWwv_0/ufc-to-host-event-in-japan-this-year.mma

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No play for Mr. Great: Nate Marquardt got three strikes and now he's out

Source: http://www.mmamania.com/2011/6/30/2253245/no-play-for-mr-great-nate-marquardt-got-three-strikes-and-now-hes-out

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Pat Barry 2.0 looks to seize opportunity against Cheick Kongo

PITTSBURGH -- You don't need to point out Pat Barry's weaknesses as a fighter to him. He's well aware of his reputation as a striker with no ground game.

"The three things that Pat Barry needs more than anything else is heavyweight training partners, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. The whole world knows that, like I'm allergic to the ground or something," Barry said.

Even the UFC's video game reflected his problems with grappling.

"Whoever made the video game, as soon as my character falls down, he dies. Even if I just lay down on my back, he dies."

But to learn the ground game and give him an edge in his UFC on Versus 4 bout with Cheick Kongo, he had to find other heavyweights who knew the ground game inside and out. He found that at Death Clutch, the Minnesota-based training home of Brock Lesnar that is run by former University of Minnesota wrestling coach Marty Morgan. Barry first went to Death Clutch to work with Lesnar on striking and was asked to stay. Now, he works with Lesnar, Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad (pictured), and Chris Tuchsurer, among other big guys.

"If anything, I think Marty Morgan saw my work ethic, saw that I always work hard, I don't complain -- I complain a little bit, but ignore my complaining -- he saw that I learn fast, and being a student of the game, it's hard for him to see someone struggle and ignore it. He's like superman. He saw it and came to the rescue."

Under Morgan's tutelage, Barry said that his game has evolved to keep up with the ever-changing and growing sport.

"What I was doing in my mind was enough, but apparently there is never enough, especially with the way the sport is evolving. You've got wrestlers coming and knocking people unconscious. You have strikers who take people to the ground and beat them up. It never stops."

Like Barry, Kongo has a background in kickboxing, but has added a nasty component of ground and pound to his arsenal in recent bouts. Sunday night, Barry will finally get the bout that he has been asking for since signing with the UFC.

"This is the fight I've been asking for ever since I've gotten in the UFC. It's the opportunity I was waiting for. He's a heavyweight striker, and he was known as one of the most deadly heavyweight strikers in the UFC. I never brag, I don't have the most killer ego, but I couldn't take hearing that. I want to be known as the guy to watch out for."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Pat-Barry-2-0-looks-to-seize-opportunity-against?urn=mma-wp3900

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Free Agency Preview: Defensemen Who Can Fill A Need For The Blues

Source: http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2011/6/29/2250860/2011-free-agency-blues-defensemen

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Cormier takes next step by picking apart Monson

Daniel Cormier is taking baby steps working his way towards being legitimate heavyweight contender and he's passing each test with flying colors. Tonight, he avoided the clutches of submission artist Jeff Monson and lit up the veteran with a variety of punches and kicks. Cormier cruised to the eighth victory of his young career with a unanimous decision, 30-27 on all cards.

Cormier's arsenal of left hooks, right hand leads and powerful clinch work tired the 40-year-old. He outlanded Monson 120-40. His combinations confused and startled the former UFC title contender. Cormier also made good on 37-of-47 kicks.

By the end of the fight, Monson's face was all marked up and he suffered a cut on the top of his head.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Cormier-takes-next-step-by-picking-apart-Monson?urn=mma-wp3673

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Mitrione interview II: Xtreme Couture worked to take TUF 10 alum to the next level

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Mitrione-interview-II-Xtreme-Couture-worked-to-?urn=mma-wp3841

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Q&A: Former Washington great Steve Emtman

The term "unblockable" probably gets thrown around too much, but Steve Emtman was unblockable at Washington, which he led to consecutive Rose Bowl victories and a national championship.

A 290 pound defensive tackle with nine percent body fat -- he once shocked teammates with a spontaneous back flip before a spring practice -- Emtman was a unanimous All-American, finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and won both the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy in 1991. He was the frontman for one of the best defenses in college football history, one that gave up just 9.2 points and 67.1 rushing yards per game. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

His NFL career didn't go as planned after he entered the draft as a junior in 1992 and was taken No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts. Injuries derailed his career: He blew out both knees and ruptured a disc in his neck. At age 27, he retired with just 134 tackles, eight sacks and a memorable 90-yard interception return. When the Chicago Bears tried to lure him back into the league, he took score of his body and declined.

"I said, 'I think I can play, but I don't think I can put the product on the field that I'd be proud of'," Emtman said. "That was my end, if you will. I had a chance to come into camp in Chicago, but I just didn't want to do it. I didn't want to put something on the field that I didn't feel like was me."

Today, he lives in Spokane, Wash., where he's in real estate development and construction. He takes particular pride in a recent project, a master planned community at Eastern Washington University of over 1,300 units.

We decided to check in with Emtman as part of ESPN.com's "Simply Saturday" feature on college greats who didn't pan out in the NFL.

What would you say is your best memory at Washington?

Steve Emtman: Probably winning the national championship at Washington would rate up there, going undefeated. That whole season, that whole year was probably the highlight, being a part of great team.

Are you still involved with Washington? Do you keep up with their progress?

SE: Since I stopped coaching there a few years back [2005], I moved over to Eastern Washington and started developing full-time now. I haven't really had the time to be involved.

What's your take on why things didn't work out in the NFL?

SE: I would say 12 surgeries. I didn't quit. I came back from ACL, MCL and patella tendon [tears] in 11 months. I busted my ass to do the best I could. I really honestly don't look back at it. I did everything in my power, everything I could to try to earn my money, if you will. I think even the owner of the Colts would tell you that.

Does it frustrate you that when people make lists of NFL busts that your on them?

SE: The reality is the reality. The only thing that really bothers you is I had a teammate of mine pop off about me being a bust. That irritated me a lot because he knew the situation that I was in. Like I said, I don't know many people who came back as fast as I did from the injuries I had. I know people had the same surgery and never played again. To me, getting back on the field was a feat. It's kind of that I really only answer to myself and God. I don't have to answer to everbody else. But, yeah, I'm a competitor and I wish things would have been different. I wish I had stayed healthy. When I was healthy, I think I did OK. It wasn't like I didn't perform at all. Yeah, there's frustration. Any athlete who sets out to set a higher standard, if you don't reach, it's frustrating. As you get older, though, you look back on it and you go, 'I don't question my work ethic or my effort to be good.' I just didn't achieve everything I wished to achieve.

How do you feel today -- do the injuries still bother you?

SE: You know, all and all, I feel pretty good. I'm not crippled or anything. I definitely feel the aches and pains. But as an athlete looking back, you can only deal with it and move on. I feel like I'm somewhat normal at 41.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/43570/qa-former-washington-great-steve-emtman

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Kvitova beats Azarenka to reach Wimbledon final

WIMBLEDON, England —�Petra Kvitova rode her big serve right into the Wimbledon final, beating Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 Thursday.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-kvitova-beats-azarenka-to-reach-wimbledon-final-20110630,0,1001995.story?track=rss

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Facebook streams four remaining UFC 132 preliminary bouts

For the sixth-straight event, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will make its full card available for viewing.

MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with UFC officials that in addition to the previously announced pay-per-view and Spike TV broadcast plans, the promotion will also stream four preliminary-card matchups on Facebook.

Brian Bowles vs. Takeya Mizugaki, Aaron Simpson vs. Brad Tavares, Anthony Njokuani vs. Andre Winner and Jeff Hougland vs. Donny Walker will stream live beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT local time).

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/lDAH__raD_o/facebook-streams-four-remaining-ufc-132-preliminary-bouts.mma

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Cormier takes next step by picking apart Monson

Daniel Cormier is taking baby steps working his way towards being legitimate heavyweight contender and he's passing each test with flying colors. Tonight, he avoided the clutches of submission artist Jeff Monson and lit up the veteran with a variety of punches and kicks. Cormier cruised to the eighth victory of his young career with a unanimous decision, 30-27 on all cards.

Cormier's arsenal of left hooks, right hand leads and powerful clinch work tired the 40-year-old. He outlanded Monson 120-40. His combinations confused and startled the former UFC title contender. Cormier also made good on 37-of-47 kicks.

By the end of the fight, Monson's face was all marked up and he suffered a cut on the top of his head.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Cormier-takes-next-step-by-picking-apart-Monson?urn=mma-wp3673

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UFC on Versus 4 medical suspensions: Barry, Morecraft, Lentz head minimal suspensions

Pat Barry, Christian Morecraft and Nik Lentz received the longest medical suspensions following this past weekend's UFC on Versus 4 event, netting 60 days each.

MMAjunkie.com recently requested and today received the list of suspensions from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.

UFC on Versus 4 took place June 26 at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center. Heavyweight striker Cheick Kongo secured a first-round knockout of Barry in the evening's main event.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/cyWnHcGRgRo/ufc-on-versus-4-medical-suspensions-barry-morecraft-lentz-head-minimal-suspensions.mma

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Medical Beat: In MMA, testosterone-replacement therapy is too ripe for abuse

The specter of performance-enhancing drugs is very high in elite-level sports. The desire to win and be rewarded - especially financially - has further fueled the "win at all costs" and "if you're not cheating you're not trying hard enough" mentalities.

Testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) primarily is intended to treat fairly uncommon conditions of teenage boys who were not maturing properly.

The legitimate use of TRT, as it pertains to elite-level athletes, is a relatively new phenomenon - and potentially a very slippery slope and ripe for abuse.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/idxyn9c-CeI/medical-beat-in-mma-testosterone-replacement-therapy-is-too-ripe-for-abuse.mma

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Matt Brown relishing ?second chance? at UFC on Versus 4

PITTSBURGH -- Matt Brown is on a three-fight losing streak, something that rarely happens in the UFC. Fighters with just two losses expect an unpleasant phone call from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, so Brown was surprised when Silva told him that he wasn't cut.

After he was submitted by Brian Foster at UFC 123, Brown was convinced that he would be released, and that experience forced him to grow as a fighter.

"It may have helped me because I've been there. I know what it feels like to be released. I was 100 percent under the impression that I've been released. I've gotta figure out something else to do. I feel like I've already seen the worst," Brown said.

Now, in preparing for his fight with John Howard at UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburg Sunday evening, he knows that he is on borrowed time.

"I think having that in the back of my head helps a little. This is like a second chance. I'm looking at this fight like my first fight in the UFC. My first and last fight in the UFC."

Brown has grown to define himself as more than the guy whose chewing tobacco was messed with on "The Ultimate Fighter."

"One of the things I've learned in my fight career is that, fighters, all we ever do is fight and train. That becomes all you are. Now I'm a father. I own a home. I've grown up a lot, and I've come to realize that my self-worth is not based on if I win fights."

That doesn't mean he isn't craving a win on Sunday night over Howard. With both fighters' hard-hitting styles, Howard said the Fight of the Night bonus is "locked down," but Brown's main concern is a win and getting back on track.

"I think all my fights have potential to be fight of the night. Not to insult my past opponents, but they've all backed down when it comes time to do it. I don't see that in John Howard. I don't care about Fight of the Night. I'm here to do what I'm trained I'm to do. I'm not here to get bonus checks. Winning is what gets you somewhere. Winning is what makes you money. "

Brown said that he respects his opponent and got to know him at the UFC Fighter's Summit, but that won't keep him from "whooping his ass."

"When you're standing next to him, it humanizes him. It should chill our nerves a bit.� Then we'll be in there and be ready to bang right off the bat, instead of thinking, are you trying to kill me? Do you have a knife in your pocket?"

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Matt-Brown-relishing-second-chance-at-UFC-on-V?urn=mma-wp3870

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Martinez says Pelini 'misunderstood' call

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez doesn't often divulge a whole lot to the media. But the sophomore talked to CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd about last season's most controversial moment, when head coach Bo Pelini got in his face during a loss to Texas A&M.

Martinez re-injured his right ankle during the game and called his father, Casey, in the locker room after being examined. After he emerged from the locker room, Pelini poked his finger in the chest of the quarterback.

Here's Martinez's recollection of events, via Dodd:

"I went back to the lockerroom. I couldn't move at all. It was so painful, my left toe and my right ankle. I was in so much pain. I didn't think I was going back in.

"I was trying to walk to our lockerroom to feel it out. I plugged in my phone for the charger. It was on and it lit up. I saw it. I saw my dad called me. I called him back and told him I didn't think I was going back in. I couldn't move at all. I explained to him what happened."

Martinez said his dad was worried that he had torn his ACL or broken a bone and "was concerned like any other father would be." He said a team trainer was next to him when he made the call.

"Coach Pelini misunderstood what one of the trainers told him [about] what was going on. That's when Coach Pelini came over and talked to me about it. He was heated because of everything going on, everything going on in the game."

Pelini also got after the officials that night, and Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman criticized the coach's behavior. There were also rampant rumors that Martinez would leave the team after that loss.

If Martinez is willing to talk about that now, perhaps this matter can be considered settled once and for all. And that would be a good thing for the Cornhuskers, who have no experienced depth behind him at quarterback. They need a healthy and focused T-Magic in order to contend in their first year of Big Ten play.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/43549/martinez-says-pelini-misunderstood-call

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5 years after his death, Randy Walker's spirit lives on at Northwestern

Walker's widow, Tammy, reflects on the late football coach's legacy at his former school and within their family

Randy Walker's widow, Tammy, reflects on the late football coach's legacy at his former school and within their family.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-northwestern-randy-walker-remembered,0,4686905.story?track=rss

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Impact true freshmen: Western Division

True freshmen have been rolling onto SEC campuses this month to get a jump on summer school, and more are on the way for the second session of summer school.

Every year about this time, it’s the same question: Who among the true freshmen will make the biggest impact?

We’ll take our stab at it, breaking it down by division.

We’ll start with the West. One thing to keep in mind is that we’re only including true freshmen who weren’t on campus early and didn’t go through spring practice, so you’re not going to see guys like LSU’s Anthony Johnson, Arkansas’ Brey Cook, Auburn’s Reese Dismukes and Florida’s Jeff Driskel on this list.

We’ll do our impact newcomers (freshman early enrollees, junior college players, transfers, everybody) at a later date.

For now, here’s a look at who among the incoming true freshmen in the West might contribute right away. Edward will do the same with the East later today:

ALABAMA

Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S: Alabama boasts one of the best safety tandems in the league in Mark Barron and Robert Lester, but the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Clinton-Dix has the size and skill set to come in and make the Crimson Tide even stronger on the back end of their defense.

Cyrus Kouandjio, OT: One of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country last year, Kouandjio could provide some immediate depth. The Tide were already looking at moving All-SEC guard Barrett Jones to left tackle.

ARKANSAS

Tevin Mitchell, CB: The Hogs ended the spring a cornerback short in their secondary, which is where Mitchell comes in. He’ll get a chance to show what he can do this fall both as a lock-down cover guy and potentially as a return specialist. It was a real coup for Arkansas to get him away from Nebraska.

AUBURN

Erique Florence, S: The Tigers were hit hard in the secondary by personnel losses, and Florence was one of the most coveted safety prospects in the country last year. He’s a big-time talent with the size (6-2, 190 pounds) to come in and contribute right away.

Kiehl Frazier, QB: It’s never easy for a quarterback to go straight from high school to the SEC without the benefit of enrolling early and going through spring practice. But the Tigers haven’t settled on a quarterback, and Frazier is the type of run-pass threat Gus Malzahn is looking for in his offense.

Jermaine Whitehead, CB: There should be some fierce competition at cornerback this fall on the Plains, and Whitehead will be one to watch. Auburn was able to sway him late in the recruiting process, and he’s expected to vie for a starting spot from the time he walks onto the practice field.

LSU

Jarvis Landry, WR: If the Tigers are going to make a run at a national championship in 2011, they’re going to need a lot more production from their passing game than they got a year ago. Landry is dynamic in the open field and should complement Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard nicely.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Joe Morrow, WR: Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has been outspoken about the Bulldogs’ need for more receivers. The 6-4, 200-pound Morrow gives them a different dimension with his size and ability to make plays over the middle.

OLE MISS

C.J. Johnson, LB: As long as Johnson stays away from Twitter, he’s poised to play a major role at linebacker for the Rebels in 2011. Losing D.T. Shackelford to a knee injury threw the door wide open for Johnson, who could play in the middle or outside.

Tobias Singleton, WR: A lot of the attention in Oxford has been concentrated on who’s going to be throwing passes for Ole Miss this coming season. Singleton, who says he qualified academically, is one of those sure-handed, athletic receivers who could help spruce up any passing game.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/43548/impact-true-freshmen-western-division

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UFC 131 drug testing comes back clean; Carwin selected for screen but not tested

All five UFC 131 contestants who underwent testing for performance-enhancing drugs and recreational/drugs of abuse at UFC 131 passed their tests.

Main-event contestants Shane Carwin and Junior Dos Santos, as well as UFC 131 winners Donald Cerrone, Dave Herman, Nick Ring and Krzysztof Soszynski were selected for testing. However, due to Carwin's condition after his hard-fought decision loss to Dos Santos, he was not required to provide a sample.

The remaining five were all tested using the World Anti-Doping Agency's international standard for in-competition testing.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/N1UYwgQgFZQ/ufc-131-drug-testing-comes-back-clean-car.mma

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