Ultimate Fight Night 11

mutosufan

Fiance made him quit gambling
This airs Wed. Sept. 19th

Obviously not a card worsy of PPV status, but they useally have some really nice fights.

Main Event:
Din Thomas (20-6) vs. Kenny Florian (6-3)
Main card (televised):
185 lbs.: Chris Leben (16-4) vs. Terry Martin (16-2)
155 lbs.: Nate Diaz (6-2) vs. Junior Assuncao (5-2)
185 lbs.: Nate Quarry (8-2) vs. Pete Sell (7-3)
Under card (may not be broadcast):
170 lbs.: Thiago Alves (11-3) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-3)
170 lbs.: Dustin Hazelett (9-3) vs. Jonathan Goulet (19-8)
155 lbs.: Leonard Garcia (10-2) vs. Cole Miller (12-2)
170 lbs.: Luke Cummo (5-4) vs. Edilberto “Crocota” de Oliveira (8-1-1)
155 lbs.: Gray Maynard (2-0) vs. Joe Veres (4-1)

Wilde, I agree with your Thomas choice. He, IMO, is one of the most underratd fighters that the UFC has. Maybe because he is 5-3 over his last eight and getting beat by guys that I have never heard (not that I am the guru by any means).

Terry Martin at -200ish is a steal.

And Quarry should make quick work of Sell.


I have Thomas +130

And I parlayed Quarry and Martin at -103
 
UFC Quick Quote: Kenny Florian still feels underrated

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“I think so in some ways. Obviously there’s still something for me to do, so I need to fight those top guys – the Joe Stevensons, the Spencer Fishers, the Din Thomases – those guys I still need to face to prove to everybody. The only way to do that — to prove you’re the best — is to fight the top guys and beat them. The guys I’ve been facing right now I’ve been beating, obviously with the exception of Sean Sherk. I want to fight those guys. I think I have to do that in order to prove that point.”
– Lightweight Kenny Florian tells MMAMadness.com that he is still out to prove himself as a dangerous and respected mixed martial artist. Now a 155-pound fighter, Florian made it to the finals during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) against Diego Sanchez as a middleweight (185 pounds). Florian will face Din Thomas during the main event at UFC Fight Night 11 on September 19.

 
so TUF is going to be on Wed. nights now instead of Thurs., or just for UFN?
 
so TUF is going to be on Wed. nights now instead of Thurs., or just for UFN?

No just for this episode and it moves back to Thursday.

I have a feeling this season will be too over the top from the previews I have seen. Dana needs to tell the guys to stop it with the demolition derby inside. But then again they my want it for ratings.
 
Matt Hughes picks Din Thomas over Kenny Florian (Video)

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Props: iFilm.com
 
UFC Fight Night 11 quick preview, analysis and predictions

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UFC Fight Night 11 is set for this Wednesday, September 19 at 9 p.m. ET from the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Spike television special will air right before the debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 mixed martial arts reality series.
Put simply, it’s a great night to be a UFC fan.
We’re getting ready for all the action with our quick preview, analysis and predictions for the televised portion of the main card.
Normally, I go toe-to-toe with UFCmania.com contributor, Jesse Holland. However, after talking to some of our top posters I learned that many of them enjoyed sharing their thoughts in this column while I was on baby “vacation.”
So, every once in a while we will ask a site regular to chip in with some feedback on upcoming events. In the meantime, I’ll try not to take it too personal.
First up: Loyal UFCmania.com reader “Luppers.”
Below, you’ll see that Jesse and Nathan took one fighter in each bout to support. It’s important to note that while someone may be lauding a certain fighter, he isn’t necessarily the guy who he thinks is going to win.
Basically, we never want this to come out sounding repetitive — that happens enough on this site day in and day out. At the end of each analysis, therefore, you will see the picks.
Here we go:
Din Thomas (20-6) vs. Kenny Florian (6-3)
Jesse Holland: Kenny Florian versus Din Thomas in any other place and time might be nothing more than a battle of two talented lightweights. But thanks to the Sean Sherk steroid scandal, this match now has an air of title contention surrounding it. And don’t think Din Thomas doesn’t know it. In our conversation with Din back in July, he spoke candidly about getting the title shot he feels he deserves. It won’t be an easy task as he faces The Ultimate Fighter alumnus and perennial lightweight contender Kenny Florian. KenFlo might get goofed on for looking like Ben Stiller and Kevin Richardson, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a skilled fighter. Five of his six wins have come by submission, including his quick disposal of the up-and-coming Sam Stout at Ultimate Finale 3, an opponent many “experts” picked to send him back into obscurity. His losses to Diego Sanchez and Drew Fickett were in a weight class where his body was not welcome, and a five round decision loss to Sherk? Not exactly a blemish considering Sherk’s accomplishments. Thomas is very well rounded and is nearly impossible to submit but I think Florian is a better fighter on the inside and fights the smarter fight. He’s also quicker and assuming Thomas continues his love affair with his jab Florian may have little trouble getting the better of each round.
UFCmania reader “Luppers:” Din has been around for years, fighting hard and being very undersized at 170 pounds. Now that the 155-pound division has returned to the UFC and the weight class is in full swing, Din is back at his natural weight. The match up with Kenny should be a good fight. Din has always demonstrated exceptionally fast hands and refined standup. “Dinyero” also has fantastic submission talent, winning more than half of his fights by submission.Thomas knows this fight with KenFlo is his chance to get back to fighting the top fighters in his division and could earn him a potential rematch with BJ Penn in the near future. Thomas is going to take full advantage of this chance.
Final Predictions
Holland — Florian via unanimous decision
Luppers — Thomas via unanimous decision
Chris Leben (16-4) vs. Terry Martin (16-2)
Jesse Holland: Terry Martin is back by unpopular demand to face the only fighter in the UFC with a mouth that can match his own. Aside from a big trap, Martin also has big power. He’s finished more than 60% of his fights by (T)KO and is 4-0 since losing to Jason Lambert at UFC 59. He’s much quicker and better conditioned now that he’s dropped to a more natural 185lbs. and a win here could put Martin into the title hunt in a division that is quickly starting to thin out. Martin also has an advantage going into this fight in that a loss would be much more devastating for Leben than it would for him. “The Crippler” has been on a downturn since his KO loss to Anderson Silva, going 1-2 and publicly questioning his commitment to the UFC. Whether or not Martin can use this to his advantage remains to be seen. Martin needs to be cautious because he can be susceptible to the haymaker. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him try and outmuscle Leben as he did Ivan Salaverry at UFC 71. In 18 fights Martin has only gone to a decision once so he can’t be accused of not brining it. As long as he keeps that momentum and doesn’t get reckless he stands a good chance of making it up one more rung on the middleweight ladder.
UFCmania reader “Luppers:” Leben is well-known from his time on the TUF series. Not exactly a fan favorite, Leben has always been respected for what he is - a banger. Rogan said it best when he made the statement that Leben’s red dyed head was ‘like a fire hydrant.’ Even though Leben has lost his last two fights in rather undramatic fashion, he boasts wins over such exceptional fighters as Mike Swick, Patrick Cote and Luigi Fioravanti. Leben’s back is basically to the wall, which makes men fight much harder.
Final Predictions
Holland — Leben via technical knockout
Luppers — Leben via technical knockout
Nate Diaz (6-2) vs. Junior Assuncao (5-2)
Jesse Holland: The UFC hopes Junior Assuncao will continue the long and honored tradition of playing patsy to a recently crowned TUF champ. Assuncao on the other hand, hopes to be the first fighter since Josh Neer to rain on the graduation parade. Nate Diaz, like his brother before him, is a difficult fighter to match up against from a style perspective, but that may actually work in Junior’s favor. Assuncao is brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is comfortable tussling on the ground. He also loves to battle but will probably look to avoid striking with Diaz where he has a distinct disadvantage. Even if it stays on the feet however it’s not necessarily a foregone conclusion. Full Throttle fans will remember when Dustin Hazelett turned Junior’s body into peanut brittle only to get knocked out shortly thereafter in a spectacular finish. Assuncao needs to be the smarter fighter to pull this one out and not let Diaz pick him apart in the stand up. To that end, he should try and avoid staying in one place for very long. To me the most interesting aspect of this fight is taking place outside of the Octagon. Will older brother (and EliteXC fighter) Nick be cornering Diaz for Wednesday’s fight?
UFCmania reader “Luppers:” Yet another standout from the TUF series on this lineup, many casual fans know of both the Diaz brothers. Nate trains with his exceptionally talented brother, Nick, at Cesar Gracie jiu jitsu. Diaz’ last fight ended early because of a Manny Gamburyan injury during the TUF 5 Finale where Diaz walked out the winner. With Diaz’ exceptional jui jitsu skills he has a great chance of winning against almost any fighter in the lightweight division.
Final Predictions
Holland — Diaz via unanimous decision
Luppers — Assuncao via unanimous decision
Nate Quarry (8-2) vs. Pete Sell (7-3)
Jesse Holland: Nate Quarry returns to the Octagon for the first time in almost two years and his first order of business is to prove his TKO stoppage of Pete Sell back at 2005’s Ultimate Fight Night was no accident. Fans may remember the questionable stoppage for being a bit premature and also for creating a Quarry “Manwich”. While critics may be concerned about Quarry’s ring rust it should be noted that Drago hasn’t exactly been tearing up the division since they last met. He’s 1-2 with back-to-back losses in the UFC including a tough KO loss to Scott Smith at Ultimate Finale 4. Quarry’s strength has always been his hands and he’ll be looking for the KO to put an exclamation point on his return. The last place he wants this fight to end up is on the ground where he is easily outmatched. Look for Quarry to keep away from the shot and set up the big punch. Considering the layoff “The Rock” may have a questionable gas tank but in my opinion he’s not interested in letting this one to go the distance. None of his UFC wins have gone longer than one round and I don’t expect this one too either. I have a feeling history is going to repeat itself.
UFCmania reader “Luppers:” “Drago” is another fighter from the TUF series who fights and trains with current Welterweight Champion, Matt Serra, at Serra jiu jitsu. Sell — like Leben — has lost his last two UFC, holding a 1-3 record in the Octagon. His only win, in fact, is a submission over the hard-hitting Phil Baroni. One of his losses in the UFC has come against Nate Quarry. Pete is a skilled jiu jitsu artist that absolutely needs to win this fight and get back to his winning ways. Look for him to come out aggressive and try to win this fight cleanly.
Final Predictions
Holland — Quarry via technical knockout
Luppers — Quarry via technical knockout
 
I totally disagree with both on the Leben/Martin fight. Leban has been terribly out of shape his last few fights and Martin hasnt been beaten since dropping weight. Martin via (T)KO.
 
UFC Fight Night 11 Preview and Predictions

<!-- Print the time the article was posted --><!-- EMF updated style to include date + time -->Posted by Sam Caplan on September 18, 2007 at 11:37 am ET
<!-- The article content -->by Sam Caplan/MMAjunkie.com
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Today we preview for UFC Fight Night 11, which airs tomorrow night on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The event takes place at The Palms Las Vegas and features a main event between Kenny Florian and Din Thomas.
The debut episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra” immediately follows the fight broadcast.
Main Event: Kenny Florian (6-3) vs. Din Thomas (20-6) — Originally scheduled to be Thomas vs. Spencer Fisher, Florian was added as a late replacement when Fisher came down with staph infection. Florian is seemingly always in training, so I don’t think fighting on short notice will be an issue.
There are major implications in regard to the outcome of this fight because the winner could be in line for a future shot at the lightweight title. If Sean Sherk’s appeal in October is upheld, then he’ll be stripped of the lightweight title and B.J. Penn in all likelihood will fight Joe Stevenson for the vacant championship at UFC 78 in Newark, N.J. It would not be a surprise to see the winner of Thomas vs. Florian face the winner of a potential Penn vs. Stevenson match.
Thomas, training out of American Top Team in Florida, has a tremendous ground game with 11 of his 20 wins coming via submission. He’s also 3-0 since returning to the UFC following an appearance on the fourth installment of “The Ultimate Fighter.“
He’ll have his hands full though with Florian, who ranks as a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, so I see the ground game being a stalemate. Florian is one of the hardest working fighters in MMA and has improved in almost every facet of MMA since debuting with the UFC in 2005. Known primarily as a submission specialist, he worked his ass off and started showing excellent Muay Thai skills with some vicious leg kicks.
The knock against Florian at that point was that he didn’t have much ground and pound. Well, he went back to the gym and worked on that and took out Alvin Robinson with G ‘N’ P at UFC 73. He has also upped his nutrition and conditioning and came in shredded for his past fight. If there’s something broke in Florian’s game, he goes out and fixes it. What was a weakness in one fight suddenly becomes a strength in his next.
Final Prediction: I don’t see either guy finishing the other. I see this going to a decision, and I’m picking Florian because he has more offense in his arsenal.
Terry Martin (16-2) vs. Chris Leben (16-4) — This is a nice little semi-main event. Both are sluggers with one-punch knockout power. With both having similar styles, this match will be brief, but exciting nonetheless.
Martin is on a four-fight win streak and is 2-0 since returning to the UFC and dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight. It is a weight class that suits him well in spite of the fact that he’s still small for middleweight. For all of his punching power, Leben still might not have as much power as Martin, with 10 of Martin’s 16 wins coming via TKO or KO.
A win for Martin could put him in the picture for a future middleweight title shot in a division that is in a drought when it comes to viable challengers. For Leben, it’s a chance for him to get back on the winning track. He’s lost two straight fights and has just one win in his last four fights. The UFC likes his aggressive style and the notoriety he gained from “The Ultimate Fighter,” but he still needs to make a strong accounting for himself.
<IFRAME name=300x250 align=right marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://www.activeathletevector.com/OAS/AA_300x250.cfm?pub=tas.ufcjunkie&refresh_rate=60&refresh=yes" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250></IFRAME>Leben actually has some wrestling ability, but his ground game is not technical enough for him to rely on it as a way to win. There are also questions about his conditioning. Leben says he’s in the best condition of his career. but we’ll have to wait and see. He trains hard, but he also parties hard. Leben has acknowledged to being a big drinker, and you can see he retains a lot of water as a result. If he cut out drinking, he could probably fight at 170 pounds.
Final Prediction: Leben will have the reach advantage, but Martin is fearless and won’t be afraid to fight inside. The two will likely trade in the pocket, but I predict Martin will win because he has the power advantage. Look for Martin to take it with a first-round TKO.
Nate Diaz (6-2) vs. Junior Assuncao (5-2) — Assuncao is no joke, but I think his brother, Raphael, might be the best fighter in the family. We all know that Diaz has a brother who fights as well, so this is an interesting matchup. This should be a good fight, and it will be interesting to see if Diaz’s striking has improved. His ground game is legit, but he still has some areas for improvement. He’s worked with boxing coaches in the past and he’s still very young, so the Nate Diaz we see Wednesday night won’t be the same one we saw at The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale vs. Manny Gamburyan, who looked very beatable.
Final Prediction: Diaz by third-round submission.
Pete Sell (7-3) vs. Nate Quarry (8-2) – This match got bumped up to the TV portion after Mike Swick pulled out of his match vs. Jonathan Goulet due to injury. Sell vs. Quarry is an interesting match because both guys bring the heat. They also haven’t always shown the best chins in the world. In fact, the last time we saw Quarry, he was doing a Ric Flair dead fall onto the mat after getting blasted by Rich Franklin at UFC 56.
Since the loss to Franklin, Quarry has been idle recovering from a neck injury and reevaluating his career options. I’m not really sure where he’s at in his career right now because rumor has it that Team Quest gave him the boot. I have no idea where he’s been training, who he’s been training with, or how motivated he is. Is he coming back from the long layoff because he misses the competition? Or is this some sort of cash grab? I hope “The Rock” is 100 percent committed to MMA because if he’s not, he’s going to get hurt by Sell.
Final Prediction: There are just so many unknowns with Quarry. As such, I can’t pick him to win and have to go with Sell via second-round TKO.
Preliminary Matches:
Thiago Alves (11-3) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-3) — Sell vs. Quarry interests me, but I’d rather see the Alves vs. Hironaka match televised because I think it has a chance to be great. Before getting suspended, “The Pitbull” was starting to gain some traction, which is not easy to do in the UFC’s crowded welterweight division. A product of ATT, Alves is a fighter to watch, and if he was in another promotion, he’d be getting a lot more attention. Hironaka is no joke with wins over Charuto, Nick Diaz and Ryan Schultz, but I’m going to go with Alves winning via unanimous decision.
Dustin Hazelett (9-3) vs. Jonathan Goulet (19-8) — I’ve never been the biggest Goulet fan in the world. It seems like he got back into the UFC by talking his way back into the mix. Hazelett, a product of Team Jorge Gurgel in Ohio, is my pick here.
Leonard Garcia (10-2) vs. Cole Miller (12-2) — Is the UFC trying to make Garcia the “TUF 5” killer? He took out “Monsta Lobsta” at The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale and now they are putting him up against Miller. Miller spent some time recently at Cesar Gracie’s Jiu-Jitsu Academy to get ready for this match, so hopefully working with top training partners helped him get prepared for this match. I really like Garcia as he impressed me vs. Roger Huerta, and I think he might be too tough for Miller. I’m going with Garcia.
<IFRAME name=300x250 align=right marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://www.activeathletevector.com/OAS/AA_300x250.cfm?pub=tas.ufcjunkie&refresh_rate=60&refresh=yes" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250></IFRAME>Luke Cummo (5-4) vs. Edilberto de Oliveira (8-1-1) – This could be a match that really thrills the live crowd because both are skilled. This is a very even match. Cummo doesn’t have the best record in the world, but the UFC has never done him any favors. They never give the kid a layup. A Matt Serra product, Cummo is similar to Florian in the sense that he improves rapidly each time out. He also has a kid on the way, and he needs the money. I’m thinking he comes out like a ball of fire and takes the win.
Gray Maynard (2-0) vs. Joe Veres (4-1) — Veres is a UFC newcomer that I don’t know much about, other than the fact that he fought for the Cage Fury Fighting Championships in Atlantic City once. Obviously, we know a lot more about Maynard. He’s a great wrestler but still needs to become a more versatile mixed-martial artist. Working with Randy Couture at Xtreme Couture in Vegas is a damn good place to try to expand your game. I think the UFC holds Maynard in high esteem, and my gut instinct says they wouldn’t put him in a position where they didn’t think he would succeed. As such, Maynard is my pick. I apologize for the lack of scientific analysis on this one.
 
UFC Fight Night 11 betting odds: Free tips and advice from Desert Dog

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UFC Fight Night 11 is set for September 19 at 9 p.m. ET on the Spike television network.
The main event between Kenny Florian and Din Thomas is a much better match up than the originally scheduled Spencer Fisher vs. Thomas showdown (Fisher pulled out because of a bad staph infection).
There are a number of other fights that should be very tight contests. No belts are on the line at this event, but as always the special event will help to sure-up the ranks of several divisions and provide some high quality entertainment.
And it’s always fun to spice up the action with a friendly wager.
Without further delay, here are the “Smart Bets” for UFC Fight Night 11:
Main card picks
(Note: + = Underdog, - = Favorite)
Din Thomas +135 (Bet $100 to win $135.00)
Thiago Alves -220 (Bet $100 win $45.45)
Terry Martin -210 (No Action)
Pete Sell +190 (Bet $100 win $190)

Preliminary card picks
Nate Diaz -255 (No Action)
Luke Cummo -140 (No Action)
Gray Maynard -285 (No Action)
Cole Miller -130 (Bet $100 win $76.32)
Jonathan Goulet -145 (No Action)

(NOTE: UFCmania.com recommends BetUS.com to place wagers. However, Bodog.com is also a good place to bet and compare odds.)
As always — if you are going to bet — only play with what you are willing to lose.
Thiago Alves (-220) is the best value on this card with a simple chalk bet. The Miller bet has value but is should be a very tight fight, making a bet a bit risky.
The best probability for an underdog win is with a bet on Din Thomas (+140). A bet on Pete Sell is right on the edge of having value — anything below +200 and it’s probably not worth it.
The bet on Terry Martin is also on that edge of having value. I do believe he will win this fight; however, anything above -190 and he is overvalued.
Now onto a more detailed breakdown of the fights for those bettors who require a little more reassurance:
Kenny Florian (-165) vs. Din Thomas (+135)
This fight is definitely going to determine who the next top lightweight contender is, providing the winner with a probable match up against Joe Stevenson or another top dog.
This situation will become more clear once the final verdict on Sherk comes down on October 31.
Thomas continues to train with American Top Team. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and his prowess on the ground shows with more than half of his wins coming via submission. Since his time on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 4 he is unbeaten. Along with his strong ground game, Din has also displayed great technical boxing skills.
Before his fight with Clay Guida I was beginning to question if his heart was still in the game. Needless to to say, his is win over the relentless captain caveman impressed me.
Put simply, the crafty veteran knows where a win here will put him, and I believe he is prepared and we’ll all see his A game.
Kenny Florian — who also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu — has continued to surprise and improve. Although his submission game and sharp elbows are well-known, his marked improvement in Muay Thai (especially leg kicks) was evident in his submission win over Dokonjonosuke Mishima.
Florian’s conditioning and “Never Say Die” attitude means no rest for any opponent.
Heart, conditioning and technique will determine the outcome of this one. When it comes right down to it, I see this fight as a coin toss, and when one side of the coin is worth more than the other that’s where I’ll put my money. I don’t see a submission (maybe a technical knockout or cut) but most likely this fight will go to a decision.
Prediction: Thomas via decision
Terry Martin (-210) vs. Chris Leben (+170)
Has the legendary Randy Couture been able to teach Leben anything about strategy and game planning? Or will we see another slugfest?
The very heavy-handed Martin is on a tear since returning to the UFC and dropping to middleweight. I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again:
Terry Martin is a knockout machine.
A quick glance at his record tells you as much. His ground game has not been tested for a while and a well conditioned Leben should look there first for an advantage. Martin wants this win because he feels it will propel him into contention with the top 185-pound fighters.
And he’s right.
So is Leben in the greatest shape of his life? Tomorrow nght will tell a lot, but I would counter that an in-shape Leben should be fighting at 170 pounds. If he chooses to stand up in this fight his iron chin will again be put to the test.
Training with Team Quest will make anyone solid on the ground and if he wants this win, he’ll have to take it there and control to score points. I don’t think he has the skills to finish from there but he could pull out a decision.
The likely scenario is a half a round of dancing around each other and then they move in for a big exchange. This will push Leben’s buttons, leading to him forgetting any game plan and opening him up for another Mike Tyson looking knockout. I won’t bet on this one unless I can get odds less than -200.
Prediction: Martin via knockout
Pete Sell (+190) vs. Nate Quarry (-230)
With Mike Swick out, Pete Sell finds himself again in the spotlight of a televised event.
And you know he’s not going out easily.
Sell is an emotional aggressive fighter who has let his nerves and hunger get the better of him in the past. Pete’s bizarre group hug loss to Quarry two years ago told me nothing of what to expect in this fight.
Overall he’s about even in standup with Quarry and holds a decent advantage on the ground. Two years has allowed for improvement in all aspects of his game and hopefully this fight will repair his confidence.
The question for Nate Quarry is. “what have the last two years done for him?” Recuperating from a very serious neck injury, inactivity and removal from Team Quest leaves many open questions for “The Rock” to answer. Standup was always his game in the past and he will likely continue on that road.
Prediction: Sell via decision
Nate Diaz (-255) vs. Junior Assuncao (+205)
This is an excellent test for both fighters. Nate will not have to worry about being overpowered in this fight and he will be able to make excellent use of his reach advantage.
Assuncao is another strong submission fighter, but he still lacks a bit in the standup game. Often in these types of fights the submission skills cancel out and the fight is determined by standup aggression and points scored on the ground. Reach and better boxing skills should provide Diaz with the edge to pull out another win.
Prediction: Diaz via decision
Thiago Alves (-220) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (+190)
Before getting suspended Alves was gaining great confidence and showing some fantastic aggressive abilities in all parts of his game. Alves — another ATT team member — is training with some great competition and that type of work will show again in this fight.
Hironaka is a very solid Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo and “ground and pound” fighter. However, he tends to move to slow, often not looking to control a fight but find an opening. In this matchup that style will be overwhelmed by the aggression and athleticism of Alves.
Prediction: Alves via technical knockout
Dustin Hazelett (+115) vs. Jonathan Goulet (-145)
Tough fight to call.
The polls have Goulet way ahead. The Canadian import has fought his last four fights outside of the UFC and is looking to make things right after his loss to Josh Koscheck. He has very solid Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills and even better hands.
Hazelett is training with Team Jorge Gurgel and of course is known for his submission abilities. But those abilities will not be that big of a factor in this fight. Strikes and takedowns will decide this one and Dustin is likely not up to facing this level of competition.
But you never know, it’s a fight and anything can happen.
Prediction: Goulet via technical knockout
Leonard Garcia (+100) vs. Cole Miller (-130)
This is a super close fight.
Garcia impressed the world in his fight with Roger Huerta and commands a lot of respect now for all aspects of his game. He’s a gritty fighter who is hard to put away.
Cole holds as much experience as Garcia and has many of the same skills … they are just packaged very differently. The only advantage I would give in this fight is to Miller’s height, which will allow him to use those bony ass knees inside and solid overhand right on the outside.
Prediction: Miller via decision
Luke Cummo (-140) vs. Edilberto de Oliveira (+110)
Cummo continues to improve under the tutelage of UFC Welterweight Champion, Matt Serra. He should be able to put another win under his belt in the very interesting fight between two odd, but very skilled ground fighters. Somehow I see myself laughing out loud at some point during this fight.
Prediction: Cummo via decision
Gray Maynard (-285) vs. Joe Veres (+225)
Working with Randy Couture should help Gray to get his head on straight and become less of a one dimensional fighter. His wrestling is great and it seems that the UFC has thrown him a bit of a bone with the mostly unknown Veres.
Of course, some unknowns make a huge mark like the one like the ones Alexander Houston left on the faces of Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara.
For now I’ll go with what I know and pick Maynard. No bets though on a fight with little information or background.
Prediction: Maynard via technical knockout
That about does it for this installment of betting tips and advice. UFC Fight Night 11 is a solid card that offers some intriguing betting options.
Remember to bet smart.
Betting is not for everyone. But if you want to take a stab at it head over to BetUs.com (with a deposit you get a $50 free play) or to compare competitive MMA lines visit Bodog.com.
Enjoy the fights and good luck.
 
LEBEN READY FOR WHEREVER THE FIGHT GOES

With the Ultimate Fighter Season 6 set to debut this Wednesday on Spike TV, one of the show’s most famous cast-mates looks to rebound from back-to-back losses as Chris “The Crippler” Leben faces Chicago native Terry Martin at UFC Fight Night.

The former Team Quest member comes into the fight knowing that a third loss in a row could be devastating to his career, but he sounds confident heading into the bout.

“I’ve been out in Hawaii and the last eight weeks have been nothing but daily doubles; just eating, sleeping, and training getting ready for this fight,” said Leben.

Speaking of Hawaii, Leben recently relocated to the Aloha State full time to be the head trainer at the Icon gym. Teaching is something he embraces.

“The gym’s great. Everyone there is great. We’ve got a bunch of students and a bunch of young guys who are excited, so I love it out there,” Leben stated about his new home.

“I coached for years at (Team) Quest and I’ve been teaching and coaching for quite a long time. Actually, I got away from it for a while and it was something that I really, really missed. Believe it or not, it’s kind of a rewarding feeling seeing people lose weight. They get motivated. They start feeling better about themselves. You know, young guys are fighting in the ring, not in the street, so I love it.”

Coming off of two tough losses, Leben is still under contract with the UFC until at least April 2008 and from his words, it sounds like he’d like to stay there longer.

“After this fight, I’ll have to sort of analyze things and see where we’re at, see what they want because, ultimately, it’s their decision,” said Leben about the UFC. “Hopefully, I’ll go out and have a great showing in this fight and they’ll want me back.”

The former Ultimate Fighter was also recently embroiled in some controversy when another member from his season, Mike Swick, called Leben out after a rematch between the two was rumored, but then fell apart.

Swick lost to Leben in World Extreme Cagefighting in 2004. Ever since that time, fans have clamored for a second bout. Leben seemed uninterested in Swick’s verbal jabs in which he called him out for backing out of a fight that was proposed at 170lbs.

“Interesting guy,” said Leben about former roommate Mike Swick. “I’ve heard people say I’m ducking him, this or that, but that’s just really not the case. The case is that I was kicking around going down to 70 (170lbs) and after talking to my coaches and stuff, they just realized that I’m too big of a guy to make that cut.”

Leben’s next opponent, Terry Martin, has also been very vocal about their upcoming bout.

“I don’t care, it doesn’t matter to me,” says Leben about Martin’s recent comments. “I’m concerned about the fight. I’m concerned about the style, the match-up. I’m really not concerned with what he has to say. He keeps reminding everyone that he’s a D-1 wrestler and he can punch hard and stuff. I can see that that’s important to him; that he has to keep reminding himself that he’s a tough guy. I know I’m a tough guy, so I don’t need to tell everyone and talk all the smack to everybody all the time and keep reassuring myself. It’s kind of like loud bark, small bite.”

In the end, it’s Chris Leben who ultimately feels like he is in the best position to win this fight and put an end to Terry Martin’s rants.

“I’ve worked so hard, I’m in such great shape right now. I can fight him in every aspect. A lot of guys say they want to stand with me, they tell themselves that, then as soon as they get in the ring they change their minds real quick.”

“If he wants to go to the ground, I’ve just been grappling like crazy, rolling with a bunch of black belts and D-1 wrestlers, as well. This fight in particular, I just feel like it’s a terrible match-up for him because I think I’m a better fighter in every aspect than him and if he wants to stand in front of me and slug, we know how that usually works out. You can ask Mike Swick about that one.”

Chris Leben will face Terry Martin on Sept. 19 at UFC Fight Night.
 
The Return of Nate Quarry

By Thomas Gerbasi

Nate Quarry had finally reached the breaking point.

Tortured <TABLE align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>by the pain of a degenerative disc condition in his back, the former UFC middleweight title challenger was forced to face the fact that his fighting career was on the verge of ending, and that only a dangerous spinal fusion surgery would save it.

The surgeon didn’t sugar coat things for the Oregon resident either, letting him know that while the surgery could be a success, it could also fail – with fatal consequences.

“Here’s the drawbacks,” he told Quarry.

“You could die on the operating table.”

“You may be paralyzed.”

“The surgery may not work at all and you may still be in pain; you may be in worse pain, or we may cut the pain down by 50 percent.”

“It’s a gamble,” he concluded.

Quarry pondered his options for a moment, and then realized he didn’t have any.

“I don’t see as if I have any choice,” said Quarry, and his doctor agreed to perform the surgery.

“I’ve been told my whole life what I’m gonna be and what I’m gonna do,” explained Quarry, “and now I’ve had to make my own decisions about where I’m gonna end up, so for me, it was a simple decision.”

So on June 14, 2006, Nate Quarry began his biggest fight, and one that, for the first time, he had no say in the outcome of. But when the back surgery was over, the two vertebrae in his back that had been grinding against each other and forcing him to walk and feel like a man 50 years his senior, had fused together. The pain was gone.

The previous three years had been filled with pain followed by anti-inflammatories and ice that would ease his torture, albeit briefly. Quarry would wake up in the morning barely able to walk from his bed to the bathroom, and he couldn’t even lean over the sink to wash his face. Instead, he would support himself on the sink with his left hand and scoop water to his face with the right. Even lifting up his daughter (now seven) was not an option.

But Quarry fought on, taking the pain as an occupational hazard as he burst on the scene with his stint on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. And by the time he fought his way into a 2005 title shot against then-UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin at UFC 56, he was 14-1 in pro MMA, and 3-0 with three TKOs in the Octagon.

“It really never affected any of my fights whatsoever,” said Quarry of his back issues. “There’s no way in hell I will ever use an excuse such as that. But it was one more thing to be thinking about during my training.”

Against Franklin, Quarry would crash hard, getting knocked out in the first round with a shot that will be replayed on UFC highlight reels for perpetuity. Some said it was a case of Quarry being rushed into a title shot; others figured that was the end for Quarry, especially when he didn’t surface for a while after the defeat. Few knew that it was his back that had given out on him in the aftermath of the Franklin bout, not his desire to keep fighting.

Yet even with the surgery complete, the road back to the UFC was not going to be an easy one. In fact, it was going to be more grueling and would test Quarry more than any fight ever had. But after a childhood and young adulthood being raised in an environment where he was not allowed to play sports or allowed to explore life outside of his home due to his upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness, he was not about to give up on his dream.

“I’m sure that there are much easier ways to make your way through life, I just haven’t figured out what they are yet,” he chuckles. “Ever since I was a little kid, I was very restricted in what I was allowed to do. I wasn’t allowed to compete in sports, and that was really something that was a hunger in me. I wanted to do that, I wanted to push myself to the limit and see how good I could be and how good I could be in competition against others, and that was something I wasn’t allowed to do. And finally, when I started living life for myself, then it was like ‘I have no limitations. My limitations are when my body shuts down, because my mind won’t.’”

Quarry’s body hasn’t cooperated so far though, as he has dealt not only with his back issues, but with surgeries for a nose reconstruction, a torn right pectoral muscle, and a broken ankle. He doesn’t cry ‘woe is me’ though.

“These are the cards I was dealt and now we’re gonna play out this hand, and in the end, I’m gonna win,” he said. “Thank God surgery is around to put things together. Some people have a very fortunate career where they don’t get injured like this. I haven’t been one of those guys, but at the same time, when I look back at my life and where I came from, I could be so much further away from where I am now. I have friends to this day that grew up very similar to the way that I did, and they’re hardcore alcoholics, have messed up family lives, are on drugs all the time, and are basically living out of their vans. And all I can say when I see them is, ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’ It could have been so easy for me - instead of having this drive to make myself something and to show the world that we can be whatever we choose to be - I could have easily just found myself in the bottom of a bottle. But that’s not me and I want to experience what life has to give to the fullest.”

He also wants to set an example for the most important person in his life, his daughter.

“That has been a very huge motivating factor for me and I’ve actually wondered what my life would be like without my little girl,” said Quarry. “Would I have the same drive I have now? So much of what I do is to show her that she can make her life whatever she wants it to be, and I will tell her that constantly. When I was raised, going to college was never an option for me. I was raised to be a manual laborer and live my life as such. But with her, I want her to know that she could pursue any options she wants to in her life and so I set the example for her.”

That example started years ago, but it really kicked in the day after his back surgery when he almost immediately began walking the hospital floor. A week later back in his hotel, his mission was to walk halfway down the hallway and back. Two days after that, the goal was to walk the entire hall. Less than a year removed from fighting for a world championship in one of the world’s most demanding sports, Nate Quarry had to re-learn the simplest movements that we all take for granted.

“Each day was pushing the limitations further and further,” he recalled, but with each two steps forward, he would suffer a little setback that
m

let him know that he wasn’t ready to resume training. Whether it was visiting the weight training gym and not being able to do a dip or a back extension, or being cleared to start boxing training and not being allowed to do anything but wrap up and hit his trainer’s hands, it was, as he describes it, “a very excruciating period of time, but at the same time it was very exhilarating to finally know that I was taking my steps back.”

Finally, six months after the surgery, Quarry got an early Christmas present when his doctors cleared him to begin full training again, and he was going to be a fighter again. Of course, nothing never goes as smoothly as it may seem in a couple of paragraphs, and Quarry was also forced to deal with a split from the gang at Team Quest before he would truly get back on the road to the Octagon.

“I left Team Quest purely because I disagreed with the management style and the way that they were treating the fighters and the team as a whole, so I felt that I needed to voice my opinion and stand up not only for my future and my daughter’s future, but also for the other fighters on the team,” said Quarry of the split. “And so when we had a disagreement, Quest basically said take it or leave it, and I said ‘well, my future depends on this so I guess I’m gonna have to go elsewhere.’ So I definitely miss the training partners, and miss being able to show up at the gym and knowing that 4-5 of my closest friends will be there to give me rounds. But at the same time, now that I’ve broken free and opened my eyes, I’ve gone out and got individual coaches like I’ve never had before.”

He’s also stayed close with some of this Team Quest teammates, some of whom helped him train recently, and Quarry also went out to Hawaii for a spell to work with another former Team Quest member, Chris Leben. All that was left was to get a fight, and when the call came for him to fight an old nemesis, Pete Sell, on Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas, he eagerly accepted. But to be truthful, Quarry didn’t care who the man on the other side of the Octagon was – he was just happy to be fighting anyone again.

“I think its kinda academic who the opponent is,” he admitted. “I was just looking for a tough opponent to prove to myself again what I’m capable of and to show that to everyone, so I’m just grateful that Pete accepted the fight and I’ve got the same opinion of Pete now that I had before, that he is a very tough guy, and you can see that in all of his fights. There’s no quit in him whatsoever, so he’s going to be coming at me and looking to show that the last fight was a fluke, and I’m looking to show that I didn’t just get lucky, and that’s the way it was meant to be. So I think it’s gonna be a great fight for the fans because we’re gonna be standing there bangin’ or going down to the ground and beating on each other. It’s just gonna be an exciting fight all the way around, and I look forward to that. Those are the best fights.”

In their first fight, in August of 2005, Quarry rocked and dropped Sell, with referee Cecil Peoples quickly stepping in to halt the fight in controversial fashion. The win propelled Quarry into his title shot against Franklin and all was well in the world for him at the time. Since then though, life and the middleweight division has changed significantly. That’s a good thing on both counts for Quarry.

“I think it’s really exciting,” he said. “The UFC has always been the best organization around and now they’re pulling in fighters from all around the world. And with so many cards now, you get to see all these fighters. It used to be five UFC cards a year, so basically it was one, two, three, title shot, you’re out. Now there are so many cards and so many good fighters that for the fans, it’s just gotta be a wonderful buffet because they get to see their favorite fighter and maybe he’s not the titleholder, or maybe he’s not in the top ten in the world, but there’s enough action out there that he can fight in the UFC for several years and build himself up to where he will be a title contender. That’s exciting for me as a fan and as a fighter.”

For fans, Quarry’s return is pretty exciting in itself if he can regain the form that made him one of the top 185-pound prospects in the game two years ago. If he does, and makes it to the top, it will be MMA’s equivalent of Jim Braddock’s ‘Cinderella Man’ story. If he doesn’t, hey, he still made it back to the big show despite the odds, and that alone makes him someone to root for.

“I’m gonna continue to fight, not only as a career move, but as a lifestyle choice, and to show that I can be a motivation to everyone out there that has any difficulty that they may be presented with in their lives,” said Quarry. “They can look at what I’ve gone through and say, ‘man, if he went through major back surgery and now he’s fighting for the greatest mixed martial arts organization in the world again, then I can get through whatever problems I may have.’ That was a huge motivating factor – not just for my livelihood, but also to show others that your life can be more than you’re told it has to be.”
 
My bets

Din Thomas and Terry martin are very solid plays in my opinion.

Thomas for value (he should be favored).

Martin will absolutely destroy Leiben. Should be -400 at least.
 
Din Thomas and Terry martin are very solid plays in my opinion.

Thomas for value (he should be favored).

Martin will absolutely destroy Leiben. Should be -400 at least.

I think the Martin is the "easiest" pick tonight.

I am on Thomas and I agree with you, but I wont be surprised if Kenny wins.

I am not a big fan of my Sell/Quarry prediction. People call Sell "unlucky", I call hime "not too good", that is why he is "unlucky". We will see.
 
mutosufan,

I agree completely re: Thomas/Kenny. I just think I would make it Thomas -130ish...so getting +130 is a solid value play. That being said, I wouldn't be shocked at all if Florian won.

Good luck tonight and pray for my domers ;)


I think the Martin is the "easiest" pick tonight.

I am on Thomas and I agree with you, but I wont be surprised if Kenny wins.

I am not a big fan of my Sell/Quarry prediction. People call Sell "unlucky", I call hime "not too good", that is why he is "unlucky". We will see.
 
Final Card
Din Thomas +156 2 units
Chris Leben +181 2 units
Leonard Garcia +121 2 units
Jonathan Goulet -131 2 units
LEBEN VIA SECOND ROUND TKO !
 
Martin and Diaz (combo) +105

Thomas +130

Martin and Quarry (combo) +105 not thrilled about Quarry now.

G/L everyone
 
In Game Update #1--Pete Sell has condomdepot.com as the advertisement on the back of his fighting shorts. This leads me to believe he will be fucked in the ass, meaning he will clearly win the fight but lose on a decision from the judges
 
Basically a kickboxing/muay thai fight. Really surprised Quarry won. Sell kept peppering him with overhand rights. Quarry dropped his hand EVERY time he threw a leg kick.

Nice fight. Little rought go on the technical difficulties with Spike LOL
 
Hey Wilde,

have you seen the results for the Garcia fight? I liked Garcia, but wasnt offered at my books.
 
No I didnt muto I just got in, what happened?

I think junior will win this one but dont know either of the fighters well at all
 
That was some nasty BJJ. Diaz is very young and he is going to be tough as he gets older. Very good sub mission match for Diaz anyways. Assuncao had todefend the entire fight..
 
Yea i still think his strikes are a little wreckless.. Could easily get caught the way he flings those wild punches. Either way he countered really nicely on the ground when the dude had his back..
 
Yea i still think his strikes are a little wreckless.. Could easily get caught the way he flings those wild punches. Either way he countered really nicely on the ground when the dude had his back..

Talking about Diaz?

If so, that has been the knock on him so far, his striking needs to be tighter. He will learn though.
 
It is BS. Liddell will want t fight until he fianlly beats him then he will declare himself that the badass. I hate Liddell.
 
Little side note on Martin fighting next.

He was a gang banger on streets when he was younger. Got rescued by a coach or principal in Chicago. Put him on the wrestling team and was pretty good. Went to college on a wrestling schollie and graduated. That wasnt enough so he has now completed his PhD.
 
Martin is in significantly better shape here. I think the 1 point deduction may cost Leben the fight. I bet Terry Martin pisses on Leben's pillow tonight as well
 
Thats what that fool gets for taunting him after he landed that big shot. Go to sleep son!!
 
i have no idea how he just ended that fight. Dude was rocked big time and landed a lucky punch. But it was a huge punch!!
 
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