As far as know, Morgan’s Bar and Grill by the UIC (Chicago, Illinois) main campus; Maxwell Street….will air the WEC 47 event.  The event is to be aired on Versus, which isn’t ppv.  It’s this Saturday, March 6th, 2010…at 9pm Chicago time.   So, any bar that wants can show this event.  But many won’t; only upon request, and there may not be any sound.    Joe’s on Weed Street may offer an area to watch the WEC 47 with sound, but good luck with that considering that it’s a college bar that LOVES all of it’s college March Madness that will be going on ALL weekend!  Please post if ya know of any other locale.  Thanks.

Where To Watch In Your Area

Catch the latest current news updates of all pertinent headlining news from ESPN MMALive! MMALive is an espn.com live-cast that puts out a continuous 30-40 minute show every 10-15 days.

Their latest show includes guess mma analysist Pat Miletich, joining Jon Anik and Franklin McNeil.  Kenny Florian is usually partnered with Franklin, but Pat Miletich is standing in for this episode.

In this video episode, predictions are given for WEC 47 main card. Also discussed is the recent signing of future boxing hall of famer James Toney to the UFC.  ESPN Radio host Steve Cofield also gives a preview of TUF 11, and his enthusiasm for yet another potentially improved show.  Mr. Big Muscle UFC newcomer Todd Duffee makes an appearance and discusses his purpose for fighting at the current moment.  Duffee, holding the UFC’s fatest knockout honors is slated to fight Chicagoan Mike Russow (12-1), who’s both a mma veteran, and a veteran Chicago Police Officer.  Russow has 8 wins by submission….AND 7 of them are from different submission holds!

Strikeforce CEO Steve Coker is interviewed and tackles a plethora of topics across mma.  He talks about Fedor Emelianenko not being included on the May card, King Mo Lawal, and the booking of Japanesse sensation Shinya Aoki and the signing of Andrei Arlovski.  Coker gives us Arlovski’s next opponent.

By Jane W.
– Foreign Correspondent

Finding top mma on television in Canada has been a more or less hit-and-miss process. Sure, there’s pay-per-view, but what about us poor schmucks who can’t afford that? If you subscribe to “extended” cable, you probably get Spike TV. Here you can watch many UFC events, as well as The Ultimate Fighter reality gameshow. And every once in a while, CBS will throw some mma event on in primetime. Most cable companies in Canada carry CBS affiliated channels on their basic service. (Unlike the United States, most homes in Canada have some sort of cable service.)

But where can I find a Canadian channel that carries mma? As you may know, if you read my previous post, mma is technically illegal in Canada. And while it is not illegal to show the sport on television, it sometimes feels like some channels are afraid of being prosecuted for it. I first saw mma while flipping the channels about five years ago. It was something from the UFC, but it was over too fast. And it was on TSN (The Sports Network).

TSN is the reigning king of sports channels in Canada, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. Most in Canada joke that the ‘T’ stands for Toronto, since most of its coverage is centred there. Their headquarters are in Toronto. And Ontario is notorious for enforcing the anti-mma law. After seeing this fight on TSN, I continued to look for more, but there was none to be had.

The Ultimate Fighter began in January 2005 on Spike TV. At the time, Spike was a haven for Star Trek reruns … and that’s about it. So this show was kept off my radar until I happened across an ad for the live finale. Ooh, I thought, mma on TV! So I watched Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar beat the shit out of each other. How could one not be hooked after that? I watched a lot of mma on Spike after that!

A couple of years ago, Rogers Sportsnet in Canada started airing The Ultimate Fighter. The problem is that they tend to air it later than Spike, due to Canadian laws regarding content. Spike airs it at 10PM, however cable companies in Canada tend to carry only the eastern feed of US cable channels, so it airs in Vancouver at Read more »

It’s the little guys turn, to display their mma skills, and at an elite level.  The WEC only has 3 weight divisions: bantamweight(135lbs), featherweight(145), and lightweight(155).  Consensus opinion tend to say that the small weight divisions give the viewer the best fights.  For one, they are tireless and tend to go all out every minute of the fight.  As well, the action of the fight is faster and more casual fan appealing especially.

The WEC brings us yet another potentially action packed weekend.  WEC 47 airs live on the Versus cable channel in the USA and on The Score in Canada.  Fighters that will compete on this card are Brian Bowles (WEC Bantamweight Champ), Dominick Cruz, Miguel Torres (former WEC Bantamweight Champ), and longtime UFC veteran Jens Pulver (former UFC Lightweight Champ).  Between these 4 guys, they have a combined record of 81-15, 30 ko’s, and 31 submission wins.

Also, there are 3 Chicagoland locals on this fight card in Torres, Bart Palaszewski, and Ricardo Lamas.

WEC 45 is held in Columbus, Ohio, less than a 6 hour drive from Chicago.

MAIN CARD

• Champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz (for bantamweight title)
• Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Torres
• Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez
• L.C. Davis vs. Deividas Taurosevicius
• Karen Darabedyan vs. Bart Palaszewski

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Chad George vs. Scott Jorgensen
• Erik Koch vs. Chad Mendes
• Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Pettis
• Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop
• Bendy Casimir vs. Ricardo Lamas
• Courtney Buck vs. Fredson Paixao

Here’s a quick synopsis of the noted fighters:

Miguel Torres(37-2; 22 submissions/9 ko’s)
…fighting style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Muay Thai

-the East Chicago, Indiana native looks to bounce back after a dominating knockout loss to Brian Bowles in  his last fight.  Torres was looked at as almost an unbeatable champion in the featherweight division (135lbs). He probably has the best conditioning and endurance level of any current mma fighter.  As well, very few are as supremely crafty as Torres….always finding ways to go for submission and striking advantages in every way possible.

Even though Torres is from Indiana, he’s from northwest Indiana, which is basically an adopted area of Chicago; he has family connections as well. People who live in this area of Indiana are Chicago Bears fans, and not necessarily Indianapolis Colts fans. They follow Chicago sports teams. It’s just like the southern-most part of Illinois residents tend to follow the St. Louis Rams and Cardinals.   Notre Dame is also rightfully mutually adopted by Chicago. 

Miguel Torres  vs. Jose Benevidez Fight Hype Video Interview from a few months ago, discussing how he will prepare for his next opponent, as well as comments about Kimbo Slice. View videos »

Don’t wanna budget for some or all of the UFC ppv events?  Are you a saint, and don’t use pirate sites to illegally watch ppv (payperview) events?   The best and cheapest alternative is to invade a bar or restaurant near you.  Some locations are free of a cover charge.  And in my opinion, $5 -$10 is okay for a cover, especially for the bigger name mma fighters.

Where To Watch MMA (UFC) Fights

MMA fighting veteran and native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Chris Lytle (35) has amassed a respectable record of 28-17, 18 wins via submission.  With 50 professional mma and 15 professional boxing (13-1-1) matches, there’s no questioning the heart and steadfastness of this midwestern 170 pound welterweight.

Despite 17 defeats, he has been a part of the UFC’s “Fight of the Night” honors four times, won two “Submissions of the Night” and one “Knockout of the Night”.  He also was the runner-up in the Ultimate Fighter 4 series (losing to Matt Serra by split decision).

Chris Lytle

Lytle’s losses via decision reads like a Who’s Who within the mma realm. He’s been on the unfortunate end of decision losses to Shonie Carter, Kazuo Misaki, Nick Diaz, Robbie Lawler, Karo Parisyan, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, and Josh Koscheck.

Lytle is a full-time firefighter. It’s only fitting that his other regular occupation has the word ‘fighter’ as its base.  To be a firefighter, it takes a ton of character and bravery.  So for Lytle, getting back up 17 times has made succeeding second nature.   As evident by his accolades, he is always going to give you sparks.

Read more »

Catching Up with the latest news and happenings of fighters……

Heath Herring, UFC & Pride Veteran

Heath Herring, aka The Texas Crazy Horse, is one of the most interesting personalities of the current mma world. He’s known for his crazy hair colors, his “dramatically-driven” ring entrances and a likable toughness to take the fight to any fighter out there. As a heavyweight, he has one of the top submission win percentages, amassing 16 total wins by way of submission.

He has went the distance with Brock Lesnar, Vitor Belfort, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice).   And it took ten straight minutes for Fedor Emelianenko to take him out in a match in 2002, when Herring was just 24 years of age.  In my opinion, Herring has some very good fights left in him.  And surely Dana White, President of the UFC, wouldn’t mind having his infectious personality around for say, 3 more fights…..which are the remaining fights he has left on his UFC contract. Read more »

Also, Frye gives his candid opinions on other professional sports figures coming into mma.

If you like all-out backyard brawls between two guys at the height of their manhood and blunt courageousness, then you’ll love the classic mma fight video of UFC Legend Don Frye vs. Japan’s mma fighter and professional wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama!

Don Frye, UFC veteran

This fight, which took place in June of 2002, displays arguably the greatest fighting spurts and exchanges in the history of mma! Don “The Predator” Frye (20-8) recently said that he’s probably done fighting. However, the 44 year old says he’s always open to the right fight … for the right money. Frye is quite possibly a future UFC Hall of Famer, having started out his career 15-1, beating many notable fighters.

Tom Selleck, actor

Frye is also a two-time UFC Tournament Champion, both in 1996.  He’s one of mma’s most rugged and toughest personalities, having had a few disagreements with Dana White in the past; he has had his share of run-ins with a few others in and around and near the mma world with his brash and say-as-you-go rhetoric.  Frye also gets credit from many people as he has a slight resemblance to actor Tom Selleck … if you’re comparing the 1980’s cop mustache.

Yoshihiro Takayama was and still is Read more »

This coming Saturday will be UFC 109:  Relentless. The fight card has some familiar names and veterans of the UFC. In the main event, Randy Couture (46) faces Mark Coleman (45) in a Light Heavyweight Bout (205lbs). This fight marks the first time two UFC Hall of Famers will face each other in the octagon. They have actually met before in a Freestyle Wrestling match in 1998, with Coleman winning by one point.

Don’t think these two old guys of mma are washed away of their skills.  After a loss (submission) to Fedor Emelianenko in 2006, Coleman went away from mma. However, last year he made his return and won Fight Of The Night honors in a loss to “Shogun” Rua.  He then went on to defeat Stephan Bonnar by decision.  As for Couture – arguably the most revered UFC fighter amongst the mma fanbase – he fought twice last year (1-1).  He’s coming off a controversial decision loss to Brandon Vera. Couture and Coleman have a combined twelve championship and tournament belts.

Also on the card is the return of Matt Serra (35), the ultra-Italian sparkplug from New York. Serra has only fought four times since 2006. After stunning Canadian mega-champion Georges St-Pierre by knocking him out to win the UFC Welterweight belt in 2007, Serra has lost twice since then – once to GSP and a controversial decision loss to Matt Hughes. Serra states that he’s as much of a mma teacher as he is a fighter, which may be the reason for Read more »

Brock Lesnar & Frank Mir

Brock Lesnar (4-1) stormed onto the mma and UFC scene in February, 2008. The 32 year old former WWEntertainment wrestler, in just 2 fights later, was given a shot at the heavyweight belt in November of the same year.  During that match, Lesnar dominated the ageless and iconic Randy Couture. And thus the dislike for Lesnar picked up steam.

The fact that Brock Lesnar was given a title shot so early had some of the loyal UFC fanbase to raise an eyebrow.  Although the UFC heavyweight division has had a very recent resurrection, just last year there were no clear hierarchy as to who should get a title shot.  Lesnar was vehement in protesting that he wanted to fight the best.  And with that, one has to admire his toughness and willingness to put it all on the line so early in his mma career.

One thing Lesnar doesn’t have to worry about, is a loyal fan following.  He owns the state of Minnesota fanbase.  And with the WWE’s massive fan following, he’s brought over some of those fans which has turned many into casual UFC fans.  Some feel that Lesnar is just a big strong bully, who has very… Read more »