UFC: Yoel Romero KO-3 Lyoto Machida [Full fight]

John S. Anthony

MMA Legend Fedor Emelianenko on God, Dana White, and Putin

Breitbart

by Daniel J. Flynn

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Fedor Emelianenko addressed questions about God and the UFC with Breitbart Sports but he tapped out on a discussion of Vladimir Putin.

The former Pride heavyweight champion and current Russian officeholder, still exuding a strange combination of humility and intimidation, appeared at Bellator 134 over the weekend. Before intently watching the competition cageside at Mohegan Sun Arena, a stone-faced Fedor signed autographs and posed for pictures for two hours alongside Royce Gracie and Kimbo Slice in the Uncasville, Connecticut, casino. The visual of the sport’s founding father, arguably its greatest combatant, and a mere dabbler made famous by bareknuckle YouTube brawls all sitting together nevertheless left more than one passerby to exclaim, “Hey, look! It’s Kimbo Slice!”

Emelianenko went unbeaten for nearly a decade, an unprecedented perfection streak at least in elite-level mixed-martial arts. During his incredible 28-fight unbeaten run he triumphed over such notables as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Hunt, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, and Mark Coleman. But he never stepped inside the UFC’s octagon despite the promotion offering big money, eventually building a stable of the best fighters, and promotion president Dana White dubbing the acquisition of Fedor an “obsession.”

“The organization must first learn to respect the people with whom they wish to work,” Emelianenko told Breitbart Sports in Russian. “I did not sign up because the UFC organization does not show respect for the people that work for it.”

The UFC dubbed Fedor’s handlers difficult and his demands unreasonable after several failed attempts to land the mixed-martial artist many deem the best ever.

The fighter holds a very different view of the organization paying him to serve as an ambassador for the brand in retirement.

“In contrast to [the UFC],” the 34-4 pugilist noted, “I have known [Bellator President Scott] Coker for a long time, and he is an old friend. He invited me to come to Bellator and I agreed with pleasure.”

Emelianenko fought four times under Coker’s Strikeforce promotion. Three of the Russian’s four career losses occurred there—to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva, and Dan Henderson—before he rebounded with three consecutive victories to close out his career. Despite his association with Coker corresponding with the only real fallow stretch of his career, Fedor clearly looks upon the promoter, who now runs Viacom’s Bellator MMA, with fondness.

The fledgling political leader looked upon Breitbart Sports’s question about Vladimir Putin with decidedly less enthusiasm. Emelianenko won election to a provincial duma in 2010 as a member of the ruling United Russia Party and Putin subsequently named the national hero, whom he has watched ringside, to Russia’s Council of Physical Fitness & Sports. Whether from a desire to avoid mixing sport and politics, commenting on domestic matters in a foreign country, prolonging an already long afternoon, or becoming this man should his words get lost in translation, Fedor gave the question about explaining Putin’s popularity in Russia to an American audience a great, big nyet. Emelianenko did not speak but his silence said something.

Part of Emelianenko’s popularity in his homeland stems from his soft-spoken devotion to Christ. Where other mixed-martial artists might sport a tattoo or two (or two hundred), the inkless Fedor wore a wooden cross into the cage and ring. Like other fighters, Fedor traveled with an entourage. But it included a bearded Russian Orthodox priest. Rather than join the Red Devil Sport Club, he prevailed upon them to alternatively call themselves the “Saint Alexander Nevsky Club,” named in honor of the medieval Russian patriot, or the “Imperial Team.” He talked God rather than trash.

His faith helped him as a fighter, he avowed, but it helps him more broadly as a man.

“In my opinion, faith helps in many contexts,” Fedor told Breitbart Sports. “One needs to live every day according to God’s commandments. And then any kind of difficulty or unpleasantness will be manageable.”

UFC: Cuban-American Frank Mir Mauls "Big Foot" Silva

ESPN

As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir snapped a four-fight losing streak on Sunday, knocking out Antonio Silva less than two minutes into the UFC Fight Night main event in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The official time of the stoppage was the 1:40 mark.

Fighting for the first time in one year, Mir (17-9), traditionally a southpaw, came out in an orthodox stance. The unexpected switch might have thrown Silva for a loop, as he threw just three total strikes in the fight.

Mir, 35, credited the switch to his new Las Vegas-based boxing coach, Angelo Reyes. He said he took nearly one year off to heal from injuries -- and re-learn how to box from a new stance.

"I came out looking for the jab," Mir said. "I knew he hits hard. There was no doubt about that. He has a long right hand. I wrestle left side forward and my head coach said, 'Switch back to orthodox.' So, I did. That's why I took extra time off. I learned how to box the correct way. The jab sets up everything. I've never had a dominant jab."

The victory marks the 13th finish of Mir's career, but only his fourth knockout. It is his 15th win inside the Octagon -- the most ever in the UFC's heavyweight division.

The jab was undoubtedly effective for Mir, as he set up both of his early combinations with it. A short flurry caught Silva against the fence in the opening moments of the fight.

After a feeling-out process between the two after that, Mir landed the left hook that dropped the big Brazilian.

Referee Mario Yamasaki gave Silva (18-7-1) every opportunity to recover. Mir stepped over his opponent and rained down punches with both hands. He then switched to a series of elbows, which knocked Silva out cold. It is the sixth knockout loss of Silva's career and third in his last four fights.

Mir earns his first victory a comeback submission victory against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in December 2011.

"This is me," Mir said. "I took time off. I rested. I was banged up. I've been facing top-five guys, four fights in a row, hindered, injured and not 100 percent. I have that 'never say die' attitude. I never turn down fights. I'd sit there and strap up, tape up and everybody would be looking at me saying, 'that's the worst training camp ever.' I said, 'I'll make it work.'

According to immediate cageside stats by Fightmetric, Mir landed a total of 10 strikes in the fight.

Silva, who missed time late last year to undergo surgery to remove a tumor near the base of his brain, landed one.
--------------------------

Frank Mir Highlights

rawrr1g

UFC: Cuban Hector Lombard tests positive for anabolic steroid, removed from UFC 186 bout

ESPN

By Brett Okamoto 

UFC welterweight Hector Lombard has tested positive for an anabolic steroid in a test he submitted after defeating Josh Burkman at UFC 182 on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett confirmed the results to ESPN.com on Tuesday. MMA Fighting first reported Lombard's failed test.

Lombard (35-4-1) tested positive for desoxymethyltestosterone, according to lab reports. The sample was collected Jan. 3 and reported to the NSAC on Jan. 13.

News of the failed test comes immediately after the UFC announced on Tuesday that a scheduled fight between Lombard and Rory MacDonald at UFC 186 on April 25 had been canceled. The UFC did not provide details on why the bout had been pulled at that time.

UFC director of communications Dave Sholler acknowledged to ESPN.com that Lombard was removed due to the failed test. The UFC is exploring new options for MacDonald.

A former Bellator MMA middleweight champion, Lombard signed with UFC in 2012 and dropped to the welterweight division in 2013. He has compiled a 3-0 record since, aligning himself toward a potential title shot in 2015.

He faces a fine and suspension due to the failed test. His unanimous decision win against Burkman will likely change to a no-contest.

Burkman (27-11) commented via Twitter shortly after the news broke.

UFC: Jon Jones Tests Positive for Cocaine

Breitbart

by Daniel J. Flynn

mizladyb.blogspot.com

UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for cocaine the month prior to his UFC 182 title fight with Daniel Cormier. Jones submitted a sample in early December, and the results came back positive shortly before Christmas.

The widely-regarded greatest mixed-martial artist on the planet, whom some regard as the greatest in the young sport’s history, has checked himself into a rehabilitation facility. Despite performance-inhibiting drugs overturning victories from everyone from Mike Tyson to Nick Diaz in combat sports, Jones’s victory over Cormier stands because the Nevada State Athletic Commission regards it as an “out of competition” test.

“I am proud of Jon Jones for making the decision to enter a drug treatment facility,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement. “I’m confident that he’ll emerge from this program like the champion he truly is.”

The light-heavyweight champion instigated a fight with opponent Daniel Cormier at a pre-fight press conference and sounded unlike himself in several interviews leading up to the fight. Whether that stemmed from substance use or from the heightened emotions surrounding his grudge match with Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier remains unclear.

Jones also advanced a story that the skirmish with Cormier in the lobby of the MGM grand forced Nike to kill his endorsement deal with the company. Jones conceded in answering a question posed by Breitbart Sports last week that the story provided to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the media wasn’t true.

“Nike did not drop me because of that fight. I kind of owe an apology to Nike for saying that they dropped me because of the fight. They actually didn’t,” Jones told Breitbart Sports on the UFC 182 conference call. “The truth is that Nike didn’t seem that they wanted to move forward in the field of MMA.”

Despite the personal problems endured by Jones, he put on a signature performance against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. Cormier had his moments in the second round, but the champion showed himself so by outwrestling the Olympic wrestler and through the use of a superior clinch game, both areas where prognosticators imagined that his opponent enjoyed an edge. Jones vaguely acknowledged past immaturity in his postfight interview on Fox Sports 1 and vowed to dedicate himself to training even in his “offseason” in the future. Those plans appear on hold with his stay in rehab.

“We support UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ decision to enter a drug treatment facility to address his recent issue,” the UFC explained in a statement. “While we are disappointed in the failed test, we applaud him for making this decision to enter a drug treatment facility. Jon is a strong, courageous fighter inside the Octagon, and we expect him to fight this issue with the same poise and diligence. We commend him on his decision, and look forward to him emerging from this program a better man as a result.”

Hector Lombard Disappointed in Burkman Fight, Happy for US-Cuba Progress

MMAWeekly.com

MMA - Yoel Romero, Hector Lombard excited about improvement of U.S.-Cuba relations

MMA Fighting

By Marc Raimondi 

Yoel Romero/
www.mmaweekly.com

President Barack Obama announced recently that the United States would restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba. The U.S. will open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than 50 years and negotiations are ongoing about lifting the 54-year-old trade embargo.

The news came as a surprise to many, including UFC fighters and Cuba natives Hector Lombard and Yoel Romero. Both men defected from Cuba to further their MMA careers and are excited about the possibility of U.S. relations with their home country being mended.

"It's great news for all the Cuban families and everybody that is Cuban," Romero told MMA Fighting through a translator. "People from Cuba have a lot of hurt in their heart. Many of their family members have died crossing the Caribbean. It's very dangerous. I wouldn't want to wish it on anybody. Little kids crossing the Caribbean in canoes, they make up floats out of air mattresses. It's incredible. The people in Cuba are really hurt. This is really great news and could bring a lot of happiness to families living in Cuba. They could come here like regular people and not have to worry."

Romero, a former Olympic silver medalist for the Cuban wrestling team, defected to Germany in 2007. Lombard was an Olympic judoka for Cuba and defected to Australia in 2004. Both men still have family members in the country and hope for a better life for them.

"One of the reasons I didn't want to go back is it's painful," Lombard told MMA Fighting. "It's painful to see so much poverty. And me being OK, I wouldn't forgive myself. A lot of people are OK with it. They go over there and show up, show off and drive a nice car, have a lot of stuff, jewelry. I wouldn't feel happy with myself to go over there and show off in front of people and be OK with it. One of the reasons why I never went, there's so much poverty I wouldn't feel happy with myself. You feel guilty. I went through it and it's no fun."

Trade opening up between the U.S. and Cuba would certainly help the Cuban economy. And the ability for Cubans to emigrate freely would also be beneficial -- especially for athletes.

Hector Lombard/ prommanow.com

Romero and Lombard both believe there could be an influx of Cuban fighters in the UFC if that happens. There is a surplus of excellent athletes in the country, they said.

"If they are allowed to leave Cuba and come to the U.S., I think it'll be a great opportunity for a lot of athletes," Romero said. "It'll have to be their choice, but if they do make the choice, it would be a great opportunity for them. I don't know much about baseball, but in MMA there are better gyms here and better coaching. There's more room to grow in the sport. In Cuba, they are more limited and it is more difficult and different."

Both Romero and Lombard said they would look into the possibility of bringing family members over to the U.S., if those relatives so choose. Both of them enjoy their lives in Miami, a Cuban hotbed. Lombard does not paint a nice portrait of what life is like in Cuba.

"Imagine waking up in the morning and not having anything to eat, nothing to wear," Lombard said. "That's tough.

"I hope it helps the Cuban people. They've had a tough time for so many years. Trust me, it's no fun to live there, honestly."

UFC's Yoel Romero 'always going to hurt' after decision to leave Cuba

FOX Sports

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

An hour rarely goes by when Yoel Romero doesn't think about all he has left behind.

The UFC middleweight contender defected from Cuba to Germany in 2007 following a wrestling tournament in the country. Romero had relatives who lived in Germany and also knew it would be hard for him to pursue an MMA career had he remained in Cuba.

When he relocated, though, Romero had to say goodbye to his mother, father and a child.

"It's never going to stop hurting," Romero told FOX Sports in a recent interview through an interpreter. "It's always going to hurt."

Romero's story is unlike some others. He calls his defection "pretty simple." Romero competed in a wrestling tournament in Germany and ended up staying there for years. He met a woman there and married her. They had a daughter.

But if Romero, 37, wanted to continue his MMA journey, he had to move to the United States. The competition level in Germany and nearby Poland was weak. Romero, with his Olympic wrestling silver medal pedigree and boxing experience, was rapidly becoming a big fish in a small pond.

“It's never going to stop hurting. It's always going to hurt.”

-Yoel Romero

"I love Germany," Romero said. "Unfortunately I had to leave, because there wasn't any MMA clubs where I could train and continue to learn there."

That brought him to American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla. Romero, his wife and daughter live in nearby Miami, which is a great fit for him, since there is a large Cuban and Hispanic community.

Being at ATT has helped "Soldier of God" become a top UFC middleweight. Romero (9-1) is ranked No. 6 among 185-pounders in the organization. After knocking out Tim Kennedy at UFC 178 on Sept. 27, Romero could be just one win away from a title shot.

His goal since starting MMA was to become a UFC champion, but Romero has another goal, too, and that's to be reunited with the people he is missing in Cuba.

"Of course, I plan on becoming an American citizen and bringing over my family," Romero said.

Though he is closer to 40 years old now than he is 30, Romero is still evolving, as a fighter and as a person. Following UFC 178, Romero conducted multiple interviews in English for the first time. Learning the language is important to him. When he lived in Germany, he learned to speak fluent German and he is applying himself currently to English.

"I need it for my job, I need it for the fans," Romero told FOX Sports in English. "I want to, when I say things on TV, to talk to the people in English. That's the respect of the people in the country you live."

Romero is well on his way to becoming a full-fledged American. But he'll always keep his pride for Cuba and the memories of leaving there -- even if his family joins him in Miami one day.

"It's something that will continuously hurt the rest of my life," Romero said.

UFC: El cubano Yoel Romero TKO-3 Tim Kennedy

UFC 178

Round 1: Big John McCarthy makes his return to Nevada, and he's the third man for this middleweight bout. They touch them up. Southpaw stance for Romero. Body kick from Kennedy, just a feel out. He back-pedals and resets. Romero tris a kick and Kennedy catches his foot, twists him to the fence. Kennedy with a high kick. Left hand from Romero lands, and Kennedy circles. Now another one, and that one hurt more. Kennedy is bleeding from nose. Romero hunching forward, and looking to further that advantage. Big body shot sends Kennedy rolling back, but Kennedy still plunging ahead cautiously looking for an opening. Punch to the thigh. Now a big leg kick from Romero. Straight left hits home from Romero. It's all Romero right now, big strikes that are landing. Now Kennedy, on cue, shoots for a takedown, gets it, then Romero gets up and takes Kennedy down! Now they get right back up; great example of the type of wrestling on display in this fight. Scrambles are going to be interesting. Blood gushing from Kennedy's face; he seems not to be picking up the speed by Romero. The Cuban rushes in and tackles Kennedy violently at the middle of the cage, but Kennedy once again able to get back up. Kennedy looks to land a knee, but doesn't deploy. Now Kennedy lunges forward with a combo, but nothing much got through flush. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Romero, 10-9.

Round 2: Greg Jackson wants Kennedy to set up his combinations better. They touch them up, and Kennedy swings high but Romero ducks under it. Big high kick from Romero, and that caught Kennedy's forearms. Body kick from Kennedy, and Romero returns with a left. Head kick from Romero now. Kennedy having a very hard time getting Romero's timing down. He can't get inside, either. Romero keeping it at his range, and right as I say that Kennedy drives a big kick into his body. That angered Romero enough to club him on the head with his left. Kennedy comes charging in with a right-left, and those got in. Another lunging overhand right, and that glanced off the top of Romero's head. The Cuban has been quick; deceptively quick, given how massive he looks. It does look like he is huffing air though. Kennedy is a little wobbly, and he ties up at center, and after getting tossed down, they scramble. Now Kennedy grabs Romero's neck, and tries for the guillotine! Can't get it, though, too slick from sweat. They stand up and trade body shots. Spinning back fist from Kennedy lands, but he gets dropped with a left. He stands back up, very unsure on his feet, and Romero drives him backwards into fence, where he is bullying. Still, Kennedy sticking him with acute elbows in tight, which aren't deterring Romero much. He is definitely tired, is Romero, and Kennedy lands a kick to the body on the separation. Then Kennedy lands a huge uppercut! And another! Wow, he is hurt! Late in the round Kennedy comes forward landing bombs and Romero is staggering backwards! But the bell rings and saves him! MMA Fighting scores R2 for Kennedy, 10-9 (19-19 overall)

Round 3: Romero took an extra 30 seconds between rounds, and McCarthy had to throw the stool out. Romero lands a huge shot and Kennedy goes flailing! Now Romero, who was dead on his feet, comes to life! He is landing huge shots on Kennedy, one after another. Kennedy in real trouble here. Romero on top, and Kennedy bleeding profusely. A couple of more shots from Romero and it's over! McCarthy steps in. It was a pushkick and then a left hand that started the trouble. Then Romero came in and just blasted Kennedy with shot after shot. After taking some of those on the ground, he rolled over in a bloody heap, and McCarthy had seen enough. Wow.

UFC 178 official results: Yoel Romero def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (strikes) at :58 of R3

UFC 178 Media Day: Jones and Cormier Brawl

UFC

Cung Le sets a Guinness World Record for the most eggs crushed

UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC middleweight Cung Le sets a Guinness World Record for the most eggs crushed in one minute with a kick.

 

UFC: Yoel Romero mauled Brad Tavares

Bleacher Report

UFC on Fox 11's main card kicked off with a highly anticipated bout between fast-rising middleweights Yoel Romero and Brad Tavares. Romero entered the night with an impressive three-fight knockout streak while Tavares was riding high after winning five fights in a row.

When the two faced off, Romero absolutely mauled Tavares with powerful, physical wrestling. Romero took Tavares down at will, ragdolling him with powerful takedowns and cracking him repeatedly with huge punches and elbows.

So what did we learn?

Romero Has the Tools to Win the Belt

I'll probably look back on this and laugh in a few weeks. I feel this way right now, though.

Yoel Romero has what it takes to win a belt.

That isn't to say that Romero would necessarily beat Chris Weidman. But between his Herculean wrestling, raw punching power and legitimate athleticism, there isn't anybody that would really be immune to Romero's home invasion-like fighting style. 

The Cuban lacks the cardio right now, and he is still very raw, but he has the tools. He just needs to sharpen them a bit.

Tavares' Time Isn't Now

There's no real way around this. Tavares is a grinder who just found himself out-wrestled in every conceivable way. He was out-struck, out-clinched and out-muscled.

Tavares is 26 years old and had an impressive 7-1 UFC record entering the night. With a five-fight winning streak, he was on the verge of forcing his way into the title picture. But Romero completely tossed that notion to the wind.

The Hawaiian has obvious skills and is young enough to make plenty of runs at the belt. Right now, though? It isn't his time.

Romero Needs to Fight a Top-10 Guy

Romero vs. Tavares made sense. Now, though, it's time to determine whether or not Romero is actually a title contender or just a sort of middleweight Gleison Tibau.

There are plenty of potential opponents for Romero. Tim Kennedy, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and the winner of Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Boetsch all make sense.

The UFC Was Smart in Building Romero

Seriously, while I criticize the UFC a lot for how it sets up cards, it has given Romero the opportunities and exposure to succeed with the spotlight on him, and it has paid dividends. 

Right now, Romero is a star. He isn't the most accomplished fighter by any means, but he is somebody fans want to see and somebody that the UFC can use to break into a new market, specifically Cuba. 

It will be interesting to see where the UFC will end up putting him next.

UFC 171: Hector Lombard domina por completo a Jake Shields

enlapelea

www.mmamania.com

Hector Lombard dio la presentación de su carrera este sábado al vencer a Jake Shields en una muy dominante decisión que seguramente lo catapultará hasta el top 5 de la división welter.

Hector Lombard llegó a la UFC con la promesa de ser un asesino, alguien que causaría un enorme impacto en la división de los pesos medios. Por lastima esto nunca paso, pero un cambio de división lo ha llevado a ese nivel. Este sábado en el evento UFC 171 el Cubano logró dominar por completo al eterno veterano Jake Shields en una pelea que seguramente lo catapultará al top 5 de la división.

Hector comenzó a destruir a Shields poco a poco en el primer round, conectando monstruosos golpes sin mencionar una patada a la cabeza que le abrió una cortada al antiguo campeón de Strikeforce. Las cosas se pusieron un poco más lentas en el segundo round, pero aun así Lombard sacó lo mejor del asalto y se mostró muy inteligente al no hacer nada tonto en la guardia de Shields. Lombard continuo dominando el tercer round, salvo por un intento de guillotina por parte de Shields en los últimos segundos del asalto.

Con la victoria Hector elevó su récord a un 34-4-1 y gana su segunda pelea desde haber tomado la decisión de bajar a la división welter.

Anderson Silva's First Interview Since His Injury (Eng Subtitled)

TheLegacyOfSpider

UFC: Ricardo Lamas gets his fighting spirit from his Cuban father

MMA Fighting
By Dave Meltzer 

Ricardo Lamas father fought for and then against Castro/
www.mixedmartialarts.com

Ricardo Lamas, who faces Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight tile in Saturday's UFC 169 show, is the son of a man who was involved in the Cuban revolution that helped put Fidel Castro in power, but then rallied against Castro, barely escaping Cuba with his life, and becoming a U.S. TV executive.

There's no secret where Ricardo Lamas got his fighting spirit from. It's hereditary, on his father's side.

Lamas, the son of an outspoken Cuban underground freedom fighter turned American television executive, challenges UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo at Saturday's UFC 169. It's a title shot he's waited a year for, with a lot of that period being very frustrating. But in hindsight, he thinks it has all worked out for the best.

Ricardo, known by his family as Ricky, seems calm going into the biggest fight of his life. But his father, Jose, who has been through real life-and-death situations, is far more nervous.

"I was running around doing things, putting together the banner, the torch, and I was shaking," Jose Lamas said on Wednesday night, before getting ready to leave Chicago for the fight. "I took two bites of my sandwich and I couldn't eat. I'm nervous about him going into any fight. I think he has a great chance to win this fight. I think he's going to win this fight, but it makes me very tense. It's like a war inside my body."

Jose Lamas was a teenage college student in the 1950s. At the time of the Cuban revolution, he fought for and backed Fidel Castro, thinking he would bring democracy to their country after the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. But he felt double-crossed when Castro instead went with a communistic government. Jose Lamas helped start an underground movement against Castro, using the code name of Bonifacio.

"I had strong feelings about the situation under Batista," he said. "I participated, in 1958, in a strike against the regime of Batista. In 1959, Castro took over. I became a teacher. I realized that the revolution was to create a communist state. We opposed Batista for the lack of freedom. I felt betrayed. For the same reason, I opposed Batista, I joined forces with a group of high school students and university students and we founded a revolutionary movement. I joined farmers, professionals, workers and students. I was in the students sector. I was the national head of the students revolutionary movement.

"In the beginning of the revolution, Castro put on the front that he was going to create a democracy," said Ricardo Lamas. "A lot of Cubans helped in the revolution but found out they were brainwashed or tricked. When my dad realized what was going on, and Castro showed his true colors, my Dad switched sides. He founded a group of students. They started an underground movement against Fidel Castro and the revolution. They started doing their thing, speaking out against the government. They handed out newspapers, tried to take over radio stations and broadcast their message to the people. That's extremely dangerous to do in Cuba."

After participating in an event in 1962, he realized that his life was in jeopardy.

"At the time, the Cuban government had infiltrated my dad's group of underground people," said Ricardo Lamas. "My dad got out and his second in command took over. His second in command was caught, tried, sentenced and executed in the span of 23 days."

Through a connection, Jose Lamas obtained refuge at the Brazilian embassy in Cuba. There were only a few embassies in the country because very few countries still had diplomatic relations with Castro. After getting refuge, he left Brazil for Chicago and started a family of six boys, Ricardo being the youngest.

"Isn't it funny that my son is fighting a Brazilian?", said Jose Lamas. "They saved my life. Even though the government of Brazil was friendly with Castro, they gave me protection and allowed me to leave Cuba."

His father, who at first didn't like wrestling, and later didn't really like MMA, is proudest of the fact that his son never quits.

"He has a great heart," said Jose Lamas. "Ricardo is very courageous, very creative, and doesn't give up. He has never been submitted. He has never lost a fight by decision. He doesn't talk trash and he doesn't like losing at all. If you want to beat him, you have to take out his heart.  He's not going to ever surrender. He's not going to ever give up. He will face Aldo anywhere Aldo wants, and he will take advantage of anything that happens."

After Jose Lamas came to Chicago, he started working in Spanish language radio in 1967, and moved to television in 1974. When Ch. 44 in Chicago became the city's first full-time Spanish language station, he was hired first as General Sales Manager in 1985. Two years later he was the General Manger of the station. He had a reputation for always saying what he thought and fighting for his beliefs. When Telemundo bought the station in 1997, a series of disputes he said made it very easy for him to leave after a few months.

"Growing up, I saw my dad get into plenty of altercations," said Ricardo Lamas. "He's a guy who is never going to be disrespected. He's never going to be talked down to. If he's got a problem with you, he'll tell you to your face. You have to respect a guy like that. They say what they mean and they mean what they say."

More >>

Cubanos en el UFC: Yoel Romero Pre-Fight Interview

UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dr. Sanders the UFC's orthopedic surgeon on Anderson Silva Injury

UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship

St-Pierre's exit leaves door open for return

espn

By Brett Okamoto

Georges St-Pierre, 32, vacated the highly coveted UFC title, saying that after a near 12-year career that has included 14 UFC title fights, he needed to take an indefinite leave of absence to focus on living "a more normal life."

Even in the current media landscape, where news is broken, analyzed and moved on from almost instantaneously, this announcement figures to linger for a bit.

The reason St-Pierre gave for walking away from the absolute pinnacle of his sport was, more or less, that he was tired. In addition to some personal issues he refused to detail, it sounds like St-Pierre has simply grown to dread the weight of that belt.

"Nobody can understand my situation," St-Pierre said. "All this pressure and all this weight I carry on my shoulders.

"Everywhere I go, as soon as I step out of my house, people are [talking about my fights]. It's completely insane. It's every day of my life. Nobody can understand this."

St-Pierre is right, obviously. No one can understand the exact circumstances he's personally under. But if anyone can come close, it might be Anderson Silva.

Connected in one way or another for years (at times, as potential opponents), St-Pierre and Silva have faced similar trials this year in their respective careers.

Silva lost the UFC middleweight title to Chris Weidman via second-round knockout, exactly 133 days before St-Pierre fought Johny Hendricks to a bitterly close split-decision win. It was Silva's first loss in 17 UFC fights.

Immediately after, Silva said he was tired. He claimed he would no longer fight for the UFC belt anymore. He didn't want an immediate rematch against Weidman, whom he made it a point to repeatedly call the champion.

There were other details worth noting. Prior to the fight, Silva tried to give Weidman the belt to hold at a press conference. He predicted in a pre-fight video, which later drew massive interest on the Internet, that Weidman would beat him.

Neither Silva nor St-Pierre appears to have lost his love for the sport -- St. Pierre said Friday he would continue training regularly and improving his skills and, during a recent interview in Brazil, Silva said he would do the same even if he were to lose again and be "forced" into retirement by the UFC.

And they aren't falling apart physically, either. Silva, 38, showed no visible sign of athletic decline in his loss to Weidman. Although St-Pierre's win over Hendricks was close, it was still against one of the most talented and dangerous fighters in his division.

It's hard to sum up two of the most successful MMA careers of all time into one neat comparison (which wouldn't be accurate anyway), but I guess what I'm saying here is that when St-Pierre described his situation, I thought of Silva.

When talking about his future, St-Pierre sounded genuinely excited about the prospect of having to "climb Everest" again. He even mentioned the specific act of wearing (challenger) blue gloves for once, instead of the (champion) red gloves.

I don't think St-Pierre is done in the Octagon. He left the door too blatantly open for a return and he loves the sport too much.

But I think he might be searching for an answer to the question that hopefully Silva has already found (considering he fights this month): How do you want to become a champion again?

Shane Del Rosario Passes tribute video and last interview (1983-2013)

thehollywoodmmashow
By David Kano

UFC Heavyweight Shane Del Rosario Dead at 30 R.I.P.

ShaneLavar by rodnog2009

breitbart

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.
UFC fighter Shane Del Rosario died Monday, nearly two weeks after the heavyweight had a heart attack. He was 30.

The UFC and Del Rosario's family announced his death. Del Rosario had been hospitalized in his native Orange County since Nov. 26.

"It has been truly amazing to realize just how many lives Shane touched in such a positive way," Del Rosario's family said in a statement released to The Associated Press.

"As always, Shane fought hard, but it was his time to go in peace. We will miss his huge smile, his huge bear hugs, his gift of giving to others, and his Aloha spirit. He was larger than life."

Del Rosario's manager, Jason House, said the fighter's doctors believe he had a congenital heart disorder. Del Rosario's family is interested in starting a charitable foundation to aid research on long QT syndrome, the heart condition that may have contributed to the fighter's sudden cardiac arrest last month.

Del Rosario had been a professional mixed martial artist since 2006, also competing in kickboxing and muay thai competitions. He was the first American winner of the WBC world heavyweight muay thai championship in 2007.

He won his first 11 pro MMA bouts while competing in Strikeforce, M-1 Global and other promotions before moving last year to the UFC, where he lost his first two fights. He was stopped by Stipe Miocic and again by Pat Barry, his final opponent in December 2012.

Del Rosario was scheduled to fight at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, but pulled out last month with a rib injury.

"RIP to one of the best people I've ever had the honor to have in my life and call my best friend," UFC flyweight Ian McCall posted on his Twitter account Monday. McCall was Del Rosario's roommate and teammate.

Del Rosario trained with Team Oyama in Irvine, Calif., and spent most of his summers with his grandparents in Lanai City, Hawaii. He missed several months of MMA training with a herniated disc after he was struck in a car accident in 2011, but eventually resumed his career.

The family said it will honor the fighter's desire to be an organ donor.

"He was passionate about helping others and was always there to offer a helping hand, a smile, and encouragement to anyone, not only family and friends, but also to strangers," Del Rosario's family said in its statement.

"He always put others before himself and would give the shirt off his back. He brought genuine joy and happiness to everyone he touched."