November 19th, 2007
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - When the history of mixed martial arts is written years from now, 2007 may be dubbed the year that The Ultimate Fighters grew up. It's been a 12 month period that has seen the participants from the Spike TV reality series truly hit their stride and show that they aren't just members of "Team Hollywood", but legitimate talents that deserved to be on the sport's biggest stage.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - After a historic 2007, UFC President Dana White is not resting on his company's laurels in 2008, as he announced at Saturday's UFC 78 post-fight press conference in Newark, New Jersey that former two-division PRIDE Champion Dan Henderson will drop from 205 pounds to 185 to tackle UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, considered by many to be the best pound for pound fighter in the sport. White said this anticipated super fight will take place in March. Stay tuned to UFC.com for more details in the coming weeks.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - After his July draw with Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans' place in the talent-rich light heavyweight division was questioned. But in the UFC 78 main event at the Prudential Center tonight, the Michigan State product returned to his lofty spot in the 205-pound pecking order with a solid three round split decision win over England's Michael Bisping.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - Houston Alexander was everywhere in the weeks leading up to his UFC 78 bout against Thiago Silva, with newspapers and websites telling his story with a fervor, but when the two 205-pounders stepped into the Octagon at the Prudential Center Saturday night, it was Silva who carved his own name into the headlines as he stopped the light heavyweight knockout artist in the first round.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - The welterweight war between Thiago Alves and Chris Lytle lived up to expectations for the first ten minutes at the Prudential Center Saturday night, but two cuts suffered by Lytle prevented the final five minutes from being fought, allowing Alves to leave the Octagon with a second round TKO victory on the UFC 78 undercard.
NEWARK, NJ, November 16 - Click below for the official weigh-in results for UFC 78: Validation, which will be held on Saturday night at the Prudential Center.
Michael DiSanto, UFC - It's one of the more intriguing moments in mixed martial arts. Two undefeated prospects standing at the doorstep of title contention face off. Neither man knows the taste of defeat. Both enter the Octagon supremely confident.
Rashad Evans - Weigh-in day is here and this is the calm before the storm. After I wake up, (UFC site coordinator) Burt (Watson) tells me what I've got to do and where I've got to meet for the pre-weigh ins. After that, I cut weight, and after the weigh-in, I get together with my family and my coaching staff, and we have a dinner. We kinda open up a little bit and relax.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - Karo Parisyan doesn't get stumped by too many questions. But when you ask the welterweight contender what keeps him motivated after all the ups and downs he has experienced in an amazing 11-year journey through mixed martial arts, he falls silent."I don't know," he chuckles. "I always find an answer for something."
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - Want a little perspective on the experience gap between welterweights Tamdan McCrory and Akihiro Gono, who will meet at Newark's Prudential Center on Saturday's UFC 78 card? When Japan's Gono made his mixed martial arts debut in April of 1994, McCrory was just eight years old.But "The Barn Cat" laughs off such a trivial tidbit.
