Issue 066

September 2010

Catch the latest news and hot interviews over at our website, updated daily by our worldwide team of reporters

News: THIAGO SILVA HAD EIGHT CORTISONE SHOTS BEFORE UFC 117 CANCELLATION

Brazilian light heavyweight Thiago Silva underwent eight injections of cortisone before finally admitting defeat and removing himself from the UFC 117 card in Oakland, California, according to his strength and conditioning coach Stefane Dias. Silva had three herniated discs in his back at the time he fought Rashad Evans at UFC 108, yet he still managed to take the fight the distance.

INTERVIEW: ROSS PEARSON Q+A

FO: One of your training partners, Dan Hardy, was the first Brit to receive a UFC title shot. What did you think of his performance against GSP?

RP: “I thought he did well against GSP. Dan knows where he went wrong, what he needs to improve on, I know for a fact he will be back KO’ing people like normal. Personally I feel it was two to three fights too early, which is a mistake I don’t want to make. But no one can take anything away from Dan. He stepped up and was a man fighting GSP; didn’t tap out and showed how tough he is.”

Feature: FROM WRESTLING TO MMA

By Kieran Bamford

Before the inception of MMA, amateur wrestlers had few paths to take once the national championships (or for a lucky few the Olympics) came to a close. Coaching was an option, with wrestling on many high school and college programs throughout America. A second, and more daunting, option was the world of pro wrestling. Those who had the showmanship and flair could transition from takedowns and reversals to powerbombs and piledrivers.

Feature: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

By Matt Hyde

Over a month has passed since the greatest shock in the history of the heavyweight division was followed by the biggest heavyweight fight in the annals of the UFC. Much-maligned for many years for its lack of depth and quality, it now seems that the top weight class of the sport just got interesting. Each of the division’s seven standouts – four from the UFC and three from Strikeforce – look more than capable of beating each other and exactly which fighter sits at the very top of the line-up is passionately debated daily by fans and keyboard warriors around the world. Indeed, we could well be approaching the Golden Age of the heavyweight division.