UFC 160: Velasquez vs Big Foot Fight Pick & Preview

This Satuday, Antonio "Big Foot" Silva gets a rematch and a chance to avenge a loss where he was plain and simply demolished by UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.  This MMA fight is taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Let's take a closer look at these two fighters and then I'll make my UFC 160 fight pick. 

Antonia "Big Foot" Silva was demolished in their first fight, but since then he's earned his way back into a title shot and rematch with two straight UFC knock out wins! Silva has an overall record of 18-4 and he definitely shows up to finish fights.  Of those 18 wins, 13 have come way of KO or TKO, and three via submission.

Antonio "Big Foot" Silva is a huge fighter. He comes in at 6' 4" and hits the UFC heavyweight limit at 265 lbs.  His size, strength and knock out power are just a few of his weapons.  Silva also has a high level BJJ game which he uses to gain position on other fighters. 

Cain Velasquez comes into this fight after just regaining his UFC heavyweight title in a fight where he avenged the only smudge on his record.  Velasquez used his gritty in your face smothering style to overwhelm Junior Dos Santos for five rounds.  This style of fighting helped Velasquez run through the UFC Heavyweight division on his way to the title, and after a brief set back to JDS, helped him recover his title. 

Cain Velasquez has the best wrestling in the UFC Heavyweight division.  Strong wrestling was his base and he's only improved his overall MMA game by adding sharp boxing skills to the mix.  He also has an incredible gas tank.  He has the ability to push forward and grind down other fighters like no other heavyweight. 

This fight is going to come down to speed.  Velasquez is a lot smaller than Big Foot but he's also a lot faster and he'll use that speed to dictate the fight.  Sooner or later in this fight he'll wear down Silva, bring home another victory and hold on to the UFC Heavyweight belt! 

Check out the Countdown to UFC 160 video:

Agree? Disagree?  Feel free to comment with your thoughts on UFC 160.

MMA Fights Pasadena - Proving Grounds 9

Herb Dean, Karyn Bryant and Savant Young

By Ricardo Robles
Chingasos MMA Writer/Consultant

Savant Young's Proving Grounds, held at The Fight Academy in Pasadena, California, held its ninth edition on May 4. A special prelude to this edition of Proving Grounds was "Grassroots", a youth Pankration event. Those fighters might be young, but they brought intense, crowd pleasing action. Their hard work outside of the cage definitely showed inside the cage.

Proving Grounds 9 featured eight intense MMA fights, including one with women throwing chingasos. Power 106's own Yesi Ortiz took charge of the mic and was the MC for the night. As a special bonus for the two fighters throwing chingasos in the main event, the best referee in the business, Herb Dean, refereed their fight!

The following gyms all had at least one fighter step into the cage for Proving Grounds 9 (in alphabetical order): Adrenaline Fight Club, Brazilian Top Team Orange County , Fight Academy, Gracie Barra, Mihaj Valuro MMA, NZT Pankration, Sityodtong, SoCalMMA, Submission Factory, Team Sweatshop, Team Taylor Fitness.
Now on to the action....

Sean Guzman vs. Mathew Ma
Ma put up a good fight and did an excellent job of defending submission attempts, but Guzman had too much for him. Guzman was aggressive with his wrestling and his submission attempts.

Sean Guzman wins via unanimous decision.

Martin Naboroski vs. Daniel Bermudez
When the fight was over, everyone in attendance knew that this would be fight of the night. Naboroski came out strong and dominated round one. Bermudez came back with a vengeance in round two, and nearly finished the fight with vicious ground and pound. Naboroski gathered himself and came out charging in round three. Bermudez waited and dropped him instantly with a brutal chingaso. Naboroski somehow survived, and to the crowd's astonishment, came back to catch an Americana on Bermudez.

Martin Naboroski wins via Americana submission.

Eduardo Estrada vs. Ahmad Mabrok
This was a good back and forth battle, and a tough one for for the judges. Both fighters brought the heat, and both fighters had their moments.
Eduardo Estrada wins via split decision.
Alexandria Whitlock vs. Diana Manzanares
These two ladies proved that women are just as exciting cage warriors as the men. This was an excellent fight that could have gone in either direction. Neither fighter sat passively inside the guard, with both women landing chingasos from inside the guard.

Diana Manzanares wins via split decision.

Mark Perez vs. Eddie Lloyd
Perez was able to get two takedowns, but Lloyd used the cage to get back up each time. Lloyd was able to get a throw then landed a vicious chingaso for the KO.

Eddie Lloyd wins via knockout.

Dellwuan Macon vs. Michael Bañuelos
Bañuelos got the better of the wrestling on this night. Macon did show, however, that he has exciting kicks, but Bañuelos was able to dodge them.

Michael Bañuelos wins via majority decision.

Elliot Jones vs. Joel Alvarez
Jones dominated the majority of the fight. He went for a submission attempt in round one then let his hands loose in round two.

Elliot Jones wins via TKO.

Michael Quintero vs. Jay Okeke
When two of the biggest men in the building step into the cage, you know some chingasos are on the way. Okeke came out aggressive, throwing hard chingasos. When Quintero slipped, Okeke pounced and went after him. Quintero was able to get the sweep, and end round one with ground and pound. In round two, Quintero got the takedown and unloaded the ground and pound once again. Herb Dean gave Okeke plenty of opportunities to get back up, but he stopped the fight when Okeke was not able to defend himself.

Quintero wins via TKO.

Check out a Chingasos MMA produced highlight video of Proving Grounds 9

Check in on for upcoming MMA events in the Los Angeles area as well as UFC main event fight picks and fight previews. 

MMA Events Los Angeles May 2013

For those of you new to the website, Chingasos MMA is based in the Los Angeles area.  When possible, we'll accept press passes and tickets to attend the best local MMA events in the area. We'll do our best to keep an updated list of the best upcoming MMA events in the Los Angeles area for those of you interested in attending a live MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) event.  If you're a fight promoter, feel free to contact us with info on your event, and how you can accommodate our attendance.  Photos and video we capture will be posted on our Facebook Page. 

With all that out of the way, let's get to the MMA events in the Los Angeles area for May 2013:

Proving Grounds 9 is going down Saturday May 4th in Pasadena.  This is a CAMO event (amateur) and will feature some of the best upcoming fighters in the area.  Doors open at 5 p.m. and the fights get going at 7 p.m.  Proving Grounds 9 will be held a the Fight Academy in Pasadena, California.

Respect in the Cage is also going down Saturday, May 4th.  Respect in the Cage is a professional MMA event and will feature pro fighters ready to take that next big step.  Respect in the Cage will take place at the Fox Theatre in Pomona, California located at 301 S. Garvey. 

Valley Invasion is going down Saturday, May 11. Valley Invasion is a professional MMA event brought to you by National Fight Alliance and will be held at the Warner Center Marriot in Woodland Hills, California.  Doors open at 6 p.m. and the fights start at 7 p.m.

Rising Stars 3 is going down Saturday, May 18. Rising Stars 3 is a CAMO sanctioned event going down at Big John McCarthey's Academy.  Yes, that's Big John, UFC ref!  Doors open at 5 p.m. and fights get going at 6 p.m.

Submission Championship MMA is also going down Saturday, May 18.  Submission Championship MMA is a professional event and will be held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. 

Flawless Fighting Championship 3 fills out the schedule of MMA events going down Saturday May 18.  Flawless FC 3 is a professional MMA event and it will take place at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the MMA fighting action starts at 6 p.m.

Feel free to contact us with any additional and updated info on these events.

UFC 159: Jon Jones vs Chael Sonnen Fight Pick

This Saturday April 27, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to New Jersey with UFC 159: Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen.  Most experts aren't giving Chael Sonnen a chance in this fight as he's stepping up a weight class to fight Jon Jones who's done nothing but dominate the light heavyweight division.  Chael Sonnen used more of this mouth, than his fighting skills to earn this title fight, but does he have a chance?  Lets take a closer look at these fighters and then I'll make my official fight pick. 

Jon "Bones" Jones entered the UFC and just like a runaway freight train he's run through everyone in the light heavyweight division.  Most of those fights have ended in domination!  He's barely even been touched or left those fights with a scratch on him. 

Jon Jones has an official record of 17-1, but that one smudge was only because of a disqualification he received when he smashed Matt Hamill with an illegal downward elbow.  He easily would have won that fight if not for the disqualification. 

Since that disqualification, Jon Jones has racked up 8 impressive victories, 3 via TKO and 4 via submission technique.  The only fighter that has survived all 5 rounds was Rashad Evans, and while he survived, he didn't put up much of a threat and lost a decisive decision. 

Chael Sonnen enters this UFC title shot with an overall record of 27-12.  He's had 8 fights in the UFC middleweight division and has racked up a record of 5-3.  Two of those UFC losses where at the hands of the UFC's Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and the other was a loss to Demien Maia.  He does have solid wins over the likes of Michael Bisping, Brian Stann, Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami.  Although, those wins were at middleweight, now he's talked himself into a light heavyweight fight with Jon Jones. 

Chael Sonnen deserves this title shot only because he understands that the UFC is an entertainment business and he's talked enough trash to get the attention of the fans and UFC president Dana White.  He has great wrestling, but it's just not going to be enough to challenge the best of the best at a heavier weight class.

Jon Jones not only has all the tools required to be a great MMA fighter, he's showed them off at the highest level of MMA competition.  His dominance of the light heavyweight division is proof, and this Saturday, he will do to Chael Sonnen what he's done to every other fighter he's faced, he will dominate if not demolish him.

Check out the UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen Extended Preview Video


How do you feel about UFC 159?  What can Chael Sonnen do to give himself a chance of pulling out a miracle? 

UFC 158: GSP vs. Diaz Fight Pick

This Saturday, a fight that MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fans have been waiting to see for a long time finally comes together.  UFC 158 will pit likable vs. unlikeable. George St. Pierre is one of the sport's most beloved fighters, while Nick Diaz is one of the sports most hated!  I personally like both fighters for different reasons.  George St. Pierre (GSP) is a great ambassador of the sport, while Nick Diaz brings excitement and a fight promoting, angry, trash talking style that entices the casual fan to tune in. Let's take a closer look at these two fighters and then I'll make my fight pick for the main event at UFC 158.

George St. Pierre (GSP) has been a dominating force in the UFC Welterweight division.  He comes into this title defense at UFC 158 with an overall record of 23-2 and a 10 fight winning streak.  He's beaten the who's who and the best of the best in the Welterweight division.  GSP stays in optimal fighting shape, never gasses and has a huge tool box of MMA skills.  GSP takes the fight where he wants it.  He has precise striking and great footwork, but if he sees an advantage on the ground, he uses his great wrestling skills to get the fight there. 

In his last fight, GSP was coming off a long lay-off due to an injury but showed the fans he's back 100% by beating Interim UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit in a 5 round unanimous decision.  Now he faces his biggest challenge and the man many experts thought beat Carlos Condit when the UFC Interim Welterweight title was up for grabs. 

Nick Diaz has been calling for this fight for a long time and he finally gets it!  Deservingly so! He comes into this fight with an overall record of 26-8 and 11-1 in has last 12 fights. The only loss in that stint was in his last outing at the hands of Carlos Condit in an extremely controversial decision.

Along with a great ground game, Nick Diaz has a volume punching style that has been dubbed the Stockton Slap.  It bothers and overwhelms opponents. He also has a solid, durable chin that allows him to stand and engage in a brawling style with anyone. He's never been knocked out or submitted.  The only time he was stopped was back in 2007 where he suffered a cut in a fight with KJ Noons and the doctor to stopped the fight. He avenged that loss three years later. 

This fight comes down to an excellent Mixed Martial Artist and tactician at the top of his game, versus a pissed off, angry fighter with dangerous MMA skills. GSP is that tactician.  The knock on him is that he's not a finisher.  His last 5 fights have all gone to the judges score cards.  Diaz is that pissed off angry fighter that comes to fight.  People love and hate him for that, but at the end of the day, he will engage in a fight and if his opponent doesn't run, it make for a great fight.  In Diaz's last 12 fights, he's finished 9 of them via either TKO or submission. 

Look for GSP to use his first-class wrestling skill to put Diaz on his back and smother him.  He'll use leg kicks and a powerful jab to set that up.  He'll need to avoid engaging in a brawl with Nick Diaz to pull out a decision victory. 

GSP is a huge favorite in this fight, most odds makers have him as a 5 to 1 favorite, but look for a big surprise. I'm picking the underdog in this fight.  Diaz will have 5 rounds to work with and to get into GSP's head.  He'll land his volume punches from different angles and while he'll most likely be put on his back, he'll be able to use his high level Jiu Jitsu to work on the ground.  Condit was able to pull off a decision victory by running from Diaz and picking his spots to deliver blows, but GSP won't run like Condit did.  GSP will engage, Diaz will welcome it, and Diaz will get the better of it. 

Agree? Disagree?  Feel free to comment and make your pick for UFC 158.  

Check out the UFC 158 Countdown video: