Latest Mike Chiappetta Stories

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle Set for Co-Main Event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 23rd 2012 3:51PM
Rumors of a bout between Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle have spread at various times over the last year. In fact, the duo seemed destined to meet in both April and September of 2011 before various issues sidetracked the pairing from being made.

Now, it's on again.

Sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the Mousasi-Kyle matchup has been agreed to as the co-main event of March 3's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 23rd 2012 3:22PM
A lightweight fight pitting Ryan Couture against Conor Heun has been added to March 3's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event in Columbus, Ohio, MMA Fighting has learned.

Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 23rd 2012 2:37PM
Three months after calling it quits in the MMA arena, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has chosen to continue his combat sports career, going back to his roots in accepting a kickboxing match with Ray Sefo.

The bout will take place on March 10 in Zagreb, Croatia. Cro Cop confirmed the fight to several Croatian news outlets.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 23rd 2012 9:33AM
For Jim Miller, Friday night was another impressive performance against an opponent on the fringe of the division's top 10. The next thing he needs is a breakthrough win against a truly elite opponent. Overall, Miller's resume is outstanding. He's a finisher, with 15 stoppage victories in 21 career wins. His only three losses have come to Frank Edgar, Gray Maynard and Ben Henderson -- a UFC champ, and two No. 1 contenders, respectively.

Now, it's time for Miller to get over the hump. At least mentally, he's there. After beating Melvin Guillard at last Friday night's UFC on FX 1, he said that he believes he's the "most dangerous lightweight in the world."
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 21st 2012 2:30PM
After four dominant wins in a banner 2011 that saw him ascend to UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jon Jones said he was headed for a long vacation, but after about one month on the sidelines taking care of other business, Jones is ready to begin preparations to get back into the octagon.

During an interview on Friday night's UFC on FX post-fight show, Jones said that he's awaiting his next assignment, which is likely to come in the form of either Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson or Phil Davis.

Asked when he might return, Jones (15-1) said he was "hearing rumors" of a date in Atlanta for what would be UFC 145.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 21st 2012 11:59AM
Chael Sonnen says forget about it, that Anderson Silva can't or won't fight him in a rematch of their August 2010 bout. Not now, not ever. That's what Sonnen said on a Friday teleconference for next weekend's UFC on FOX 2 show.

"I can guarantee you, Anderson Silva and I will never cross paths again," he said.

But Friday night brought another guarantee, this one from UFC president Dana White, who tends to get the final word on such matters. When asked about Sonnen's comments in a UFC on FX 1 post-fight interview with FUEL TV's Ariel Helwani, White offered a very different opinion of what would happen if Sonnen emerges victorious in his bout with Michael Bisping.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 20th 2012 7:11PM
Atlanta's UFC 145 has rapidly taken shape over the last 24 hours, with most of the fights originally scheduled for Montreal shifted to the April 21 card.

But it also has some additions. Among the newest bouts signed is a bantamweight tilt with rising star Michael McDonald taking on former WEC champ Miguel Torres. The UFC confirmed the matchup on Friday afternoon.

Just 21 years, McDonald (14-1) is considered one of MMA's brightest lighter weight prospects, and he's won all three of his octagon bouts so far, most recently knocking out Alex Soto in just 56 seconds at UFC 139.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 20th 2012 6:00PM
This is the UFC on FX live blog for all the preliminary bouts televised on FUEL in support of tonight's FX card from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

The six undercard bouts are Jorge Rivera vs. Eric Schafer, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Kamal Shalorus, Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts, Fabricio Camoes vs. Tommy Hayden, Daniel Pineda vs. Pat Schilling and Nick Denis vs. Joseph Sandoval.

The live blog is below.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 20th 2012 12:07PM
After a review of the controversial finish to UFC 142's Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater bout, UFC's vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner has decided not to overturn referee Mario Yamasaki's decision.

Prater was awarded the victory when Yamasaki ruled that at least some of a series of Silva's finishing blows landed to the back of Prater's head, making them illegal. In a statement released by the UFC, Ratner noted that Silva had been previously verbally warned during the fight, making it "not the type of decision that can be reviewed."

Ratner's decision not to overturn the ruling is understandable, as the promotion does not want to put themselves in a position where their power supersedes that of the referee or any presiding athletic commission. But it does highlight the need for two things: instant replay, and a clear and consistent definition of the "back of the head" a vague term that leaves things far too open for interpretation in a sport that is fast enough and hard enough to referee as it is.
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By Mike Chiappetta
Jan 20th 2012 9:26AM
In another situation, Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard could sit down with plenty to talk about. Both UFC lightweights were close to fighting for UFC gold, only to see the possibility slip away when their long win streaks were snapped. Instead of commiserating over their lost opportunities, the duo will stand across from each other and try to rebound back into the win column while worsening the other's pain.

The success of the fighters is based on very differing skill sets. While Guillard favors open space as a way to utilize his quick and powerful strikes, Miller prefers to close distance, fight in tight quarters and drag the fight to the mat where he uses an attacking ground game.

In the past, the latter type of approach has been Guillard's kryptonite. An immensely gifted fighter, Guillard has struggled with opponents who refuse to be bullied or scared off by his striking firepower. And he's had nightmares on the ground, with all five of his Octagon losses coming via submission.
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