Fighters Only

Issue 096

December 2012

All the head-turning information every mma fan needs to know

VELASQUEZ SAYS DOS SANTOS UFC TITLE LOSS HAUNTS HIM

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has revealed his only loss, a 64-second knockout in which he surrendered his title to current king Junior Dos Santos, is still “eating” at him.

Currently training for their rematch in December, Velasquez was talking at a fan Q&A during the UFC 152 weekend in Toronto and said: “It’s my only loss, and it’s just eating at me. So I can’t wait to get back in there; can’t wait to fight against Junior again. And I guarantee this fight will be much better than the last one for sure. I’m excited about that.”

Velasquez also told those in attendance he’s planning on adjusting his approach from their first fight, in November 2011, after which he took criticism for an unusually reserved approach. The 10-1 AKA wrestler said he plans on, “attacking him. Not staying on the outside, not waiting around: my normal style of fighting. And that’s going forward, attacking him, being in his face.”

His gameplan going into the cage, however, will remain unchanged, bar one major addition. “Just go with the same we did last time, this time just implement it,” Velasquez added. “The last time I just stood on the outside too long. It was a brain fart kind of thing, where you stand on the outside too long with him and didn’t really have a chance to do what I was training to do.”

BELLATOR BEGINS WORK ON 2013 REALITY TV SERIES

Rising promotion Bellator has begun casting for its 2013 reality TV series for channel Spike TV. The show’s planned format has not yet been announced but the promotion – home to talent like wrestler ‘King Mo’ Lawal, striker Paul Daley and lightweight champion Michael Chandler – held tryouts for contestants in early November. All prospective candidates had to be at least 21 years of age, with at least three fights under their belt and a winning record. Bertram Van Munster, co-creator of The Amazing Race reality show, has been lined up to the produce the program.

5-0

UFC welterweight Dan Hardy is 5-0 in the UFC when entering to the original recording of England Belongs To Me by punk band Cock Sparrer, as opposed to the re-recorded version Hardy guests on.

Within three years, the UFC wants to be holding 10 fight cards a year in Asia, it has been reported.

WHAT'S HOT

JIMI MANUWA

After demolishing Kyle Kingsbury in September, all everyone’s talking about is the UFC’s latest stand-up wrecking machine

FIGHTER TRADES

Imagine if fighter contracts could be bought and sold between promotions…

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Even with a fighter diet you can eat like a jolly old soul this Xmas, thanks

to THFE

WHAT'S NOT

STRIKEFORCE?

At the time of going to press, rumors were abound the promotion was about to close its doors