Team Lloyd Irvin Hate Explained

You can read a bunch of it here, on Sherdog.

The fact that the detractors are describing the house where the competitors live as cultish, or that the us versus them mentality is somehow unique to Team Lloyd Irvin, or that it's absurd to chase medals in a sport which is largely unpaid all fly in the face of things like the Olympics, most competitive teams have an us versus them mentality, and that many of us pursue jiu-jitsu despite the lack of a clear path or monetary reward.
No one says someone who wants to go to the Olympics, and goes to the OTC, and takes out loans, and sacrifices relationships and a personal life is part of a cult.
It is seen as the pinnacle of human sport and achievement, even if it is Curling or some form of interpretive dance combined with gymnastics. This along with the fact that there is little to any direct monetary reward for most Olympic athletes.

Regardless of assumptions and opinions formed about the current rape scandal/allegations, and the surfacing of Lloyd's own involvement in a rape case from years ago....the discredit the ideas Lloyd's team propose is missing the forest for the trees.

Look around you.
Most of the guys in your gym don't give 100% in training. They train on days, even the young, unmarried, childless guys would rather chase girls and party than get up to train on a Saturday morning. I have slept through and missed training or not performed at 100% due to these same reasons.

Not all coaches give 100%.
Not all teams perform at 100% of their capabilities.
The 3% number only pisses people off b/c they don't want to acknowledge and hold themselves accountable for their own decisions to perform below the best of their abilities.
They make excuses to not roll when they're tired, or roll with the guy with a great wrestling base, or "so and so" only tapped them b/c he's stronger or fatter or whatever.
When someone points this out, they become defensive and find fault with others rather than honestly acknowledging that they have decided to prioritize their lives differently.
They are whiners and complainers who would rather rationalize their deficiencies rather than address them and face the uncomfortable process of holding themselves accountable.

The us versus them mentality exists in every sport with teams that exists on earth, unless you're selling non-tournament self-defense jiu-jitsu whereby encouraging people to not compete will protect your student base by them not realizing part of their jiu-jitsu training is deficient.

All this backlash against the 3% rather than the real issues at large which are the rape allegations and Lloyd's own rape case, shows that this is really about something other than these new and old allegations.
The same slavish devotion to self-defense jiu-jitsu and discounting competition as a whole is no different than the mentality to win at all costs and only medals matter.
If you can't acknowledge the place for both than you're clearly discounting both the spirit of jiu-jitsu whereby you learn what works against opponents fully resisting and that jiu-jitsu is also to help you defend yourself as a martial art.

It's the same as a steadfast aethist arguing with a hardcore evangelical.
They are both as certain of their own position that neither can consider they, themselves, may be wrong. Nor can they even acknowledge the possibility that they may be wrong.

IBJJF European Open Results

The inimitable Terrere stepping back onto the world stage to compete. Inspirational given the past several years for the legend of the sport.

From over at BJJ Heroes:

2013 Jiu Jitsu European Open Results, Absolute Men’s Division

Quarter Finals
Winner	Loser	Method
Bernardo Faria	Renato Cardoso	Submission: Omoplata
Claudio Calasans	Leonardo Maciel	Points: 2×0
Alexander Trans	Lucio Rodrigues	Points
Leonardo Nogueira	Bruno Matias	Submission: Leglock
Semi Finals
Winner	Loser	Method
Leonardo Nogueira	Alexander Trans	Points: 4×0
Bernardo Faria	Claudio Calasans	Points: 4×0

In the final Bernardo Faria gave the victory to Leonardo Nogueira in a gentleman’s agreement as both competitors come from the same camp.

2013 BJJ European Open Results, Absolute Women’s Division

Quarter Finals
Winner	Loser	Method
Marina Ribeiro	Nyjah Easton	Submission: Choke from back
Luana Alzuguir	Caroline de Lazzer	Submission: Choke from back
Polyana Lago	Mackenzie Dern	Points
Michelle Nicolini	WO	N/A
Semi Finals
Winner	Loser	Method
Luana Alzuguir	Marina Ribeiro	Submission: Armbar
Michelle Nicolini	Polyana Lago	Submission: Armbar

The final match never went through as the finalist Michele Nicolini injured herself in a previous match and could not proceed in the competition. The gold medal was awarded to Luanna.

BJJ European BJJ Championship Finals Results, 2013 Men’s Divisions

Rooster Weight/Peso Galo
Winner	Loser	Method
Brandon Mullins	Koji Shibamoto	Submission: Triangle
Light Feather Weight/Peso Pluma
Winner	Loser	Method
Laercio Fernandes	Carlos Vieira Holanda	Advantage
Feather Weight/Peso Pena
Winner	Loser	Method
Rubens Charles	Augusto Mendes	Points: 2×0
Light Weight/Peso Leve
Winner	Loser	Method
Michael Langhi	Vinicius Marinho	Points: 9×4
Middleweight/Peso Médio
Winner	Loser	Method
Claudio Calasans	Fernando Terere	DQ (reaping the knee)
Medium Heavy Weight/Peso Meio Pesado
Winner	Loser	Method
Romulo Barral	Rodrigo Fajardo	Submission: Choke from mount
Heavy Weight/Peso Pesado
Winner	Loser	Method
Dimitrius Souza	Leonardo Maciel	Advantages: 3×1
Super Heavy Weight/Peso Super Pesado
Winner	Loser	Method
Bernardo Faria	Lucio Rodrigues	Points: 4×0
Ultra Heavy Weight/Peso Galo
Winner	Loser	Method
Alexander Trans	Rodrigo Cavaca	Points: 3×0

Countdown to UFC 156: Full Video - Frankie Edgar vs Jose Aldo

Sneaky Bottom Position Baseball Choke: Magid Hage vs Clark Gracie

Zak Maxwell can take solace in the fact that he wasn't the only person caught by Magid Hage and his baseball choke of sneak-ery-ness at the Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in San Diego:

When Life Affects Training: Ian McCall Edition

Add Ian McCall to the list of guys *ahem Junior Dos Santos* with personal problems/separation/divorce impacting their mental game.

McCall claims he still has the gym and peace there and things are going well, but to put it bluntly, that's hard to believe. Benavidez has consistently shown his ability to beat anyone except maybe the guy with the belt *ahem Dominic Cruz* or Demetrious Johnson...and as much love as I have for McCall I am worried that not all is kosher going into a fight that's almost as important for him as the rematch with Demetrious was.

IBJJF Euro 2013 Results/Rundown

From over at Graciemag:

"When Michelle Nicolini hurt her foot at the end of her match against Nyjah Easton, the 2013 Euro Open was without a absolute black belt final, male or female" <-- exactly one of the biggest problems in sport Jiu-Jitsu.

"Cobrinha and Tanquinho waged a full blown war in the featherweight, with a 2-0 win for Cobrinha.
Fernando Tererê was welcomed back to his natural habitat and that’s why the DQ in the final against Claudio Calasans Jr did not realy matter after all.
Alexander Trans did the same thing twice, in the semifinal against Leo Nogueira, and in the final, against Rodrigo Cavaca.
He managed to turn the result arround in the last 30s, with two guard passes.
Romulo Barral never gave Rodrigo Fajardo a rest and ended with a choke from the mount for his first Euro Open gold.
Bernardo Faria played safe against Lucio Lagarto to manage the 2-0 lead that earned him the gold and the decision to concede the absolute gold to friend and teammate Leo Nogueira.
Michael Langhi, known for his almost perfect guard decided to play on top and passed Vinicius Marinho’s guard for the gold.
...
Even after all those thrills, Sunday needed closing and that is what brown belts João Miyao and Keenan Cornelius provided.
...
Both fighters exchanged attacks to each others’ feet.
At the very end, Keenan decided to not let the refs call the winner.
In a move that almost cost him a ruptured knee, he sank an ezequiel choke and put Miyao to sleep."

Sneaky Bottom Position Baseball Choke: Magid Hage vs Zak Maxwell

Anyone who's been caught in this knows the pain. It's the wrist lock of collar chokes. You forget to give it due respect or you're just thinking about other things...and then it's too *&^%ing late.

Aldo/Edgar UFC 156 Extended Preview:

My...how incredibly far we have come....

More MMA Multimedia for your Monday doldrums pretending to look over TPS Reports:
TUF Sonnen vs Jones on Tuesday, Bellator on Thursday, and UFC's Traditional Super Bowl Card on Saturday. Not a bad stretch of MMA for one week, no?

Bellator delivers us:
"David Rickels vs. Lloyd Woodard - lightweight-tourney opening round

Guillaume DeLorenzi vs. Patricky Freire - lightweight-tourney opening round

Will Brooks vs. Ricardo Tirloni - lightweight-tourney opening round

Thiago Michel vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy - lightweight-tourney opening round"

and UFC 156 gives us:
"Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar - for featherweight title

Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva

Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia

Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian McCall

PRELIMINARY (FX, 8 p.m. ET)

• Evan Dunham vs. Gleison Tibau
• Jay Hieron vs. Tyron Woodley
• Bobby Green vs. Jacob Volkmann
• Yves Edwards vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg

PRELIMINARY (Facebook, 7 p.m. ET)

• Chico Camus vs. Dustin Kimura
• Edwin Figueroa vs. Francisco Rivera"

Monday's Multimedia MMA Mailbag

Flyweight Title Scrap: Experience and composure got the win for Demetrious Johnson over the "Magician" Dodson -


Texeira predictably out hustles and grinds out Rampage Jackson in his farewell? UFC fight:




Highlights for Pettis/Cerrone the liver kick felt round the world and Lamas brutalizing Koch with one of the bloodiest elbow stoppages I've ever seen blood spurting and all!

BJJ Kumite Episode 2

Team Lloyd Irvin debate/scandal aside, here's the 2nd episode of the BJJ Kumite.
Good Jiu-Jitsu and production quality.

Drug Testing (Finally) Comes to Jiu-Jitsu

I previously blogged about it here and the impact the lack of drug testing has on our sport:

Read the full article over at Graciemag:

"The testing will begin at the Pan American Championship at the Bren Event Center in Irvine, CA on March 20-24.
If you are a medalist in the black belt adult category, male or female, you are eligible for the In-Competition testing process."

HTFU vs Rick Hawn, Lloyd Irvin Jabs, Sean Roberts' Calf Slicer

Rick Hawn's sponsor who issued a stop payment on his check as a result of Hawn's loss via submission (RNC) has agreed to pay Hawn.

God bless the internet for it's lambasting and over the top onslaught of hate to convince the sponsor show Hawn the $$$.

Belfort Mortal Kombats Bisping:

Some Team Lloyd Irvin hate from Meerkatsu (the artistic T-Shirt/rash guard designer with the guitar). "Proud to be a 97%'er."
I've resisted the urge to discuss the continuing fallout for Lloyd Irvin on here b/c the internet, forums, and otherwise are hashing it out at a rate resembling fision in the sun. That, and despite what media reports may portray, things are never as cut and dry when it comes down to the days that actually matter: which are in court. Anyone who's dealt enough with the media and high(er) profile cases know the media is one of the last places you can trust to accurately portray the ins and outs of a case that is only just beginning and for which the investigation has only just begun.
Being arrested and charged in America is a far cry from a guilty verdict and this cuts both ways: for those who are guilty and for those wrongfully accused.
The past regarding Lloyd's own trial regarding rape is the real snake in the grass within all of this debate. However, a big chunk of what is going on (regardless of what comes out as the truth in the end) is this simply provides a leg to stand on for those who were already overt or closet haters of Team Lloyd Irvin.
I find it interesting that some people have only chosen to come out with their thoughts on Lloyd Irvin and everything else now that this shadow is cast over him already. I have to consider, if you were that concerned about him and any shadiness.....why didn't you make people aware before?
Hmmm.

If you liked that slick calf slicer Sean Roberts hit at the BJJ Kumite, here he is explaining it in detail. Get ready for a lot of exploded knees across mid level belts in many gyms across the US:

Terrere Competing at the IBJJF Euros

That is all.

Watch "Road to the Octagon": UFC on Fox 6"



Not that you care, but Clay Guida, I mean Huggy Bear is fighting on the undercard this weekend.

Given some of the high profile fights to go on free tv, I'm a bit taken aback that the 3 fights on the main card are not necessarily mainstays with casual fans.

Full Fight Card:
"Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson  - two guys who look very much alike that fight very much alike that will very likely go to decision. Mighty Mouse wins it.
John Dodson has the seeing too far in the future disease that has tripped up the likes of Urijah Faber, Brandon Vera and others: they start talking about winning belts in 2-3 weight classes...then they don't win a belt after that. The curse is as real as the Frank Mir curse.

Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira - Rampage's last hurrah. Is Teixeira the next big KO artist at 205? I don't think he is, but after Rampage's less than stellar recent outings against the likes of Machida, Jones et cetera (granted those are the best guys in the world at that weight)...he's just looked a bit flat. Content to throw 1 or 2 punches at a time with only a few flurries per fight. I see the youth and workrate of Teixera taking this one.
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis - I used to believe Cerrone was the next big thing at lightweight but the image of Nate Diaz brutalizing him for 3 rounds still haunts my dreams. That being said Pettis has a more versatile game. If Cerrone fights smarter than entertainingly he, he can win this.
Erik Koch vs. Ricardo Lamas - a good middle of the pack at this weight tilt with the winner moving to bigger things, the loser back to undercards or god forbid facebook broadcast fights.
FX Card (5 PM ET/2 PM PT):
T.J. Grant vs. Watt Miman - Wiman's on a tear and he should be on the main card, period.
Clay Guida vs. Hatsu Hioki - Guida will try to Huggybear/wet blanket Hioki, who hopefully utilized his long jab and avoids the death hug/clingfest Clay Guida always brings to the table.
Ryan Bader vs. Vladimir Matyushenko - wow. two guys on their way down the pecking order. Matyushenko wins by experience and durability.
David Mitchell vs. Simeon Thoresen - Who?
Shawn Jordan vs. Mike Russow - Don't care.
Pascal Krauss vs. Mike Stumpf - not very much excited.

Facebook Card (4 PM ET/1 PM PT):
Sean Spencer vs. Rafael Natal - what?
Michael Kuiper vs. Josh Janousek" - Ok.

My Bellator Predictions & Random MMA/Jits News for Ze Day

Rick Hawn wins a Submission over Chandler in the 4th Round set up by a flurry of punches.

Patt Curran takes a close decision over Pitbull Freire.

Babalu wins a first round submission after an early scare.

=======

Beware the Frank Mir Curse (No one has ever won a fight following beating Frank Mir in a UFC bout).

Sonnen's War online comic book - @w3s0m3n3$$!!!!

Having got my start in combat sports by doing amateur boxing, it's always fun when someone less skilled tries to take your head off...then you feel less bad (if at all) about plastering them into next
week.

Pan Jiu-Jitsu Competitor Case Study over at Bishop BJJ

Jeff Glover/Glover's Travels Lost Episode in Barcelona

Gary Tonon's take on the BJJ Kumite

 

Strikeforce Wednesday: Exported Fighters and Video History



This will never get any less funny to me. Ever. Period.

As Strikeforce dies, Bellator moves to SpikeTV.
It's not quite one dies and another is born, but as most of us I assume out there don't have MTV2 or whatever other strange channel Bellator has been on Deportes something or other originally, right?
I am incredibly excited Bellator will be on Cable TV and on SpikeTV. I think there is room for a different format in MMA not teams like the *ahem* IFL but the tournament format.
Bellator needs to work on keeping its champs more active yet preserving the integrity of the belt should they lose whilst fighting before the crowing of a new tournament division champion....but as it is, I like it as a direct path to fighting for the strap rather than the ABSURDLY AMBIGUOUS AND NEBULOUS way the UFC does it where "so and so might get a shot" or the no. 1 contender bouts that neither guy fights for the belt or one guy loses *ahem* Nick Diaz but still fights for the belt anyway or the interim champs who decide to wait to fight the champ and completely defeat the purpose of an interim champion.
It may have taken a year plus longer than necessary but we've finally stripped the spare parts and like the folding of the WEC we'll have some upstarts beat some guys in the UFC (ala Henderson, Cerrone, Jose Aldo) and the UFC will be better for it. Perhaps this will bolster some of the weak main cards plaguing the UFC events as of late with main cards rounded out by what used to be prelim fights with the ever burgeoning demand of free events for Fuel, FOX, and FX.

From over at MMAJunkie.com:

And what we've really all been wondering......who's going to the UFC now that Strikeforce has made its death rattle?

"HEAVYWEIGHT

• Daniel Cormier (11-0 MMA, 8-0 SF)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

• Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2 MMA, 4-1-1 SF)
• Gian Villante (10-3 MMA, 3-2 SF)

MIDDLEWEIGHT

• Roger Gracie (6-1 MMA, 4-1 SF)
• Tim Kennedy (15-4 MMA, 6-2 SF)
• Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF)
• Champ Luke Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF)
• Ronaldo Souza (17-3 MMA, 7-1 SF)

WELTERWEIGHT

• Roger Bowling (11-3 MMA, 4-3 SF)
• Jason High (16-3 MMA, 3-0 SF, 0-1 UFC)
• Nate Marquardt (32-11-2 MMA, 1-1 SF, 10-4 UFC)
• Champ Tarec Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 6-1 SF)
• Bobby Voelker (24-8 MMA, 4-1 SF)

LIGHTWEIGHT

• Ryan Couture (6-1 MMA, 6-1 SF)
• Pat Healy (29-16 MMA, 7-1 SF, 0-1 UFC)
• Kurt Holobaugh (8-1 MMA, 0-1 SF)
• Adriano Martins (24-6 MMA, 1-0 SF)
• Champ Gilbert Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF)
• K.J. Noons (11-6 MMA, 3-4 SF)
• Josh Thomson (19-5 MMA, 10-3 SF, 2-1 UFC)"

Joe Rogan Experience Podcast: Victor Conte/Steroids

Recommended by my buddy over at BJJRefspot.

Xande Ribeiro vs Keenan Cornelius: Copa Podio

An IBJJF Rule Change I Like (!!!)

Hell has frozen over.
Rule implementation often dilutes the sport and just leads to different styles which game the system (ala Judo, wrestling et cetera) but this one from the IBJJF is legit:

"Starting in 2013, athletes with experience in wrestling at the University level in the USA or with a professional career in MMA cannot subscribe to compete as a white belt. Besides the USA, wrestling competitors with experience in National tournaments around the world are also restricted from competing as white belts."

Rick Hawn Wants to KO Chandler

Hawn joins the ranks of those great grapplers who want to win by KO.

Yay....I guess.

Shocker of the Day: Frank Mir Unimpressed with Cormier's Performance

I know this will blow your socks off/make you spit out your coffee/flip your world upside down.....but Mir was less than impressed with Cormier and the guy he beat Saturday night.

I guess Mir feels the Wes Sims of the world are more the league of greatness.

"He can go out there like his last fight and fight somebody that's subpar," Mir on Monday told MMAjunkie.com Radio "The only problem is that you have to go out there and really be devastating to get any kind of positive criticism."

"Impossible"

One of those words most people fall back on when things seem difficult.....next to "ironic" probably one of the most overused and over extended words in the English language:

Success is often simply not taking "no" for an answer.

Heavyweight Copa Podio Results

Here they are, from over at BJJHeroes.com:

If and when you wanted to see how Keenan Cornelius fared against Rodolfo (arguably one of the top 3 in the world alongside Buchecha and the inimitable Roger Gracie, click HERE).
"

Winner (or Draw)	Loser (or Draw)	Result
Alexandre de Souza “Pop”	Lucio Rodrigues “Lagarto”	Points: 2×0
Antonio Braga Neto	Bruno Bastos	Points: 11×0
Joao Gabriel Rocha	Alexandre de Souza	Points: 2×0
Antonio Braga Neto	Lucio Rodrigues “Lagarto”	Advantages: 3×0
Alexandre de Souza	Bruno Bastos	Points: 11×0
Joao Gabriel Rocha	Lucio Rodrigues “Lagarto”	Points: 7×0
Antonio Braga Neto	Alexandre de Souza	Points: 2×2
Joao Gabriel Rocha	Bruno Bastos	Points: 3×0
Antonio Braga Neto	Joao Gabriel Rocha	Points: 2×0
Group 2
Winner	Loser	Method
Leonardo Nogueira	Keenan Cornelius	Points: 2×2 (draw)
Rodolfo Vieira	Alexandre Ceconi	Submission: Choke
Alexandre Ribeiro “Xande”	Keenan Cornelius	Points: 4×2
Rodolfo Vieira	Leonardo Nogueira	Points: 9×0
Alexandre Ceconi	Keenan Cornelius	Advantages
Leonardo Nogueira	Alexandre Ribeiro “Xande”	Advantages: 2×1
Rodolfo Vieira	Keenan Cornelius	Points: 10×0
Alexandre Ribeiro “Xande”	Alexandre Ceconi	Submission: Armbar
Leonardo Nogueira	Alexandre Ceconi	Submission: Choke
Rodolfo Vieira	Alexandre Ribeiro “Xande”	Advantages: 6×0

After the group stage, Alexandre de Souza and Braga Neto advanced to the semi finals of the tournament from the 1st group and Rodolfo Vieira and Leo Nogueira advanced from the second group.

Copa Podio Results / Semi Final (Heavyweight Tournament)

Semi Finals
Winner	Loser	Result
Leonardo Nogueira	Antonio Braga Neto	Points: 7×0
Rodolfo Vieira	Alexandre de Souza	Submission: Armbar

Copa Podio Results / Final (Heavyweight Tournament)

Note: There was no 3rd place fight as Antonio Braga Neto injured himself on the fight with Leo Nogueira and could not compete.

Final
Winner	Loser	Result
Rodolfo Vieira	Leonardo Nogueira	Advantages: 3×0

"

MMA Multimedia Monday + Upcoming Weekend Events

First off, like that friend you had in college that was your buddy until he got amped out on coke and amphetamines then crashed and burned and now is a husk of his former self.....Strikeforce is dead.

Watching it limp along with half meaningful fights and half mismatches like the final event was tough to watch indeed, but yet, like watching two girls fight in your first period homeroom....there was entertainment to be had...and in true MMA fashion, a surprise or well, one kinda. 

Saffiedine leg kicked his way to a WW belt that stopped existing as soon as the card ended, but upset Marquardt who had looked dynamic and solid whilst dropping down to welterweight to beat Woodley and stopping him decisively while showing improved takedown defense.

Cormier and Barnett did what you do to overmatched guys no one's ever heard of and got some hype and highlight real stoppages to boost their credit when they get exported/imported/whatever over to the UFC (though Barnett's 3 hot piss tests, having the ignominious title of the first UFC Xship belt forfeited due to a piss test, and the fact that he sunk affliction....and his willigness to talk tough about Dana means that I'd say it's 50/50 he gets brought over. Dana has decided to make money and use while also eventually burying you with tough match-ups then rob you with your last fight's decision - see Tito Ortiz - so there's always the chance Barnett does get brought over b/c the heavyweight division is always a fight or two away or a retirement away from growing stagnant especially b/c they'll need some time to rebuild Dos Santos for another title run).

At any rate, the card was entertaining regardless and we have finally begun to strip down Strikefarce for its spare parts which will make for some different match-ups in some of the already stagnant UFC divisions.

Beyond that on Thursday Bellator comes to SpikeTV with its tournament format, exciting fights and solid match-ups. I'm very very very very much excited about this.
Here's the card via MMAJunkie.com:

- I'm interested to see how Chandler's stand-up has improved as has Hawn's who's finally gotten some time off after his tournament run. I see Hawn as having the more varied stand-up which he establishes with his jab and in the clinch I'm interested to see if any of his foot sweeps catch Chandler's wrestling base off guard.
Babalu will have another chance to show he's still the top of the heap when it comes to not A level competition and Pat Curran and Freire will throw down in what I'm sure will be a very entertaining scrap.
The undercard is a who's who of guys that washed out of other organizations at one time or another and are now still plugging away on undercards.

"

MAIN (Spike TV, 10 p.m. ET)

• Michael Chandler vs. Rick Hawn - for lightweight title
• Renato Sobral vs. Mikhail Zayats - light heavyweight tournament opening round
• Pat Curran vs. Patricio Freire - for featherweight title

PRELIMINARY (Spike.com, 7 p.m. ET)

• Cleber Luciano vs. Mario Navarro
• Jacob Noe vs. Seth Petruzelli - light-heavyweight tournament opening round
• Jason Lambert vs. Hector Ramirez
• J.J. Ambrose vs. Brian Warren
• Atanas Djambazov vs. Emanuel Newton - light-heavyweight tournament opening round
• Mike Guymon vs. Savant Young
• Joe Williams vs. Jamie Yager
• Joe Camacho vs. Aaron Miller "

And this weekend we have more free TV action from the UFC with UFC on FX 7 (cool title, no?)
Also via MMAJunkie.com:

Belfort will try to Dan Henderson Michael Bisping, Dolloway will try to right hand/wrestlef*&k Sarafian. Gonzaga will probably flake as he always does after he wins a few and gets our hopes up. And Khabib will likely blast out Tavares who was once hyped as the next big thing.
I've been betting for awhile a bunch of these sambo/mma/combat/whatever Russian guys were going to start showing up on our shores and making serious waves. It has begun.
On the undercard I'll be rooting for Miltinho Vieira to win b/c I've been following his career for a long time now.
"

MAIN (FX, 9 p.m. ET)

• Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping
• C.B. Dollaway vs. Daniel Sarafian
• Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ben Rothwell
• Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Thiago Tavares

PRELIMINARY (FUEL TV, 6 p.m. ET)

• Godofredo Castro vs. Milton Vieira
• Andrew Craig vs. Ronny Markes
• Nik Lentz vs. Diego Nunes
• Edson Barboza vs. Lucas Martins
• Yuri Alcantara vs. Pedro Nobre
• Ildemar Alcantara vs. Wagner Prado

PRELIMINARY (Facebook, 5:35 p.m. ET)

• C.J. Keith vs. Francisco Trinaldo "

Two free events this week with some entertaining match-ups, though I'm willing to bet in terms of entertainment value, Bellator will deliver a bit more bang for the figurative buck of your free viewing pleasure.

It's Good to be Eddie Alvarez

Read the specifics here

"An eight-fight deal would start Alvarez at $70,000 to show and $70,000 to win and raises in $5,000 increments with each win until it tops out at a guaranteed $210,000 for a win, the exhibit states. Alvarez would also be guaranteed a $250,000 signing bonus, payable in two installments of $85,000 and one of $80,000.

When Alvarez fights on a UFC PPV broadcast, the offer states it entitles him to $1 for each "buy" between 200,000 and 400,000 buys, $2 per buy between 400,000 and 600,000 buys, and $2.50 per buy over 600,000 buys.

Additionally, Alvarez is guaranteed a fight on a UFC on FOX card and three appearances as a commentator at UFC-branded events.

The exhibit confirms a previous claim from Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney that his promotion merely changed window dressings on the UFC's offer. Mentions of UFC parent company Zuffa are simply crossed out and replaced with Bellator."

Congrats to the man fighting his way to such offers from not 1 but 2 organizations.
You deserve it after a lifetime of face-punching/human cockfighting.

Upcoming Questions for 2013's Crystal Ball of MMA and Jiu-Jitsu

MMA:
Will Babalu's entry into Bellator show he remains a cut above all but the A list in MMA or is his career waning?

Will Alvarez make the jump into the UFC and was the loss to Chandler a matter of getting caught or are his best days behind him?

Jon Jones vs Chael Sonnen: no elaboration necessary.

How will Lombard fit into the Middleweight division this year and assuming he wins a few more, how many excuses will Anderson make to avoid fighting him?

Will Frankie Edgar get cut into pieces by the varied attack of Jose Aldo or will Edgar prove he is the Cinderella Man of MMA and take the 145 strap.

Who will challenge GSP after Nick Diaz? I lose track of all the interim/title challenger/no.1-no.2.8 ranked challengers thanks to Dana White's refusal to ever actually say if a fight is for the no. 1 contender spot.
How many fights does Jim Miller need to win to get a title shot?

How will Cormier and Melendez fare in the UFC?

Will anyone watch Demetrious Johnson defend his belt against another version of him in John Dodson?

Will Ronda Rousey's import be a boom or bust? So far the ticket sales are less than awe-inspiring. Faber gets his 14,346th title shot on the same card I believe.

Will Overreem pass his drug tests and actually fight in the UFC more than once or just continue to eat horse meat and fight mismatches in MMA between K-1 Grand Prix's?

On steroid news, will John Barnett get a shot in the UFC after being the first guy to get popped for it in the UFC and lose his HW belt he won over Randy Couture and after sinking Affliction by pissing hot before his fight with Fedor?

Jiu-Jitsu:
How will Keenan Cornelius fare in the Copa Podio as a brown belt, moving up from middleweight to heavyweight, in 6 minute matches, and in the so called "group of death" with Rodolfo and Xande among others?

When will the Mendes brothers return to competition?

How will Cobrinha fare coming off that spectacular armbar loss to Rafael?

Will Buchecha continue as the world's best or will Rodolfo reclaim the throne?
Where does Roger fit into the above burgeoning rivalry?

Completely Unrelated MMA & Grappling News

Lombard to face Yushin Okami at UFC on Fuel 8.

Yushin hasn't looked the same since his loss to Anderson Silva not that he's the only one with that post traumatic stress.
Lombard will continue to knock off any UFC jitters and look more impressive with each fight I do believe. I am curious to see how/if Anderson Silva will rationalize not wanting to fight an explosive puncher (much the way Anderson ballyhooed and ducked and dived and bitched about fighting Belfort).

Sonnen vs Jon Jones booked for April 27th.

That guy who wrote the book about travelling and doing Jiu-Jitsu around the world has an article up about why competing is good for you (*ahem* Rener and Ryron).


Lex's chosen best unknown BJJ competitor in the world

Jacare to UFC. One of the better transitions over to the UFC for which I'm glad there will be some match-ups other than Fitch not fighting Koscheck, or GSP fighting guys he's already beaten in dominant fashion.

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If you need some more BJJ/Grappling related news, head on over to BJJNews.com

BJJ Kumite Episode 1: Monday's Grappling Mailbag

Haters gonna hate but Lloyd Irvin is out there makig things happen, making waves, and settling doubts about who is willing to step up and compete no time limits, submission only.

Respect.

Bellator 360 Hype Show, Babalu, & Strikeforce's Death Knell

Sorry for the lack of posts since I was in Florida training.
I've had some rather substantial changes occur in my personal life.
Bellator debuts a hype show on Thursday night at 10pm for its upcoming foray onto SpikeTV

Strikeforce's Death Knell rings in less than two weeks:
From over at mmamania.com:
"170 lbs.: Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Showtime Main Card (10 p.m. ET):
265 lbs.: Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring Who?
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino Who?
205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle Sigh
185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Ed Herman Mildly interesting
Showtime Extreme Prelims (8 p.m. ET):
155 lbs.: Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh
185 lbs.: Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith Who?
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith Who?
155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons
Unaired Prelims (7 p.m. ET)
155 lbs.: Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
155 lbs.: Mike Bravo vs. Estevan Payan"

Babalu is passing up coaching on TUF Brazil 2 in order to fight for Bellator