The Pac Man Cometh

Photo Credit: ONE FC

By: Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Usurped yesterday by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones and Daniel Cormier brawling at an event promoting their fight at UFC 178 was the news that Manny Pacquiao, long considered one of the best boxers in the world, purchased shares in ONE FC, a burgeoning mixed martial arts promotion in Asia.

It’s still unknown what role Pacquiao will have with ONE FC, if any, according to reports. But this definitely brings a spotlight to a MMA promotion not named UFC, Bellator or World Series of Fighting. While the latter two still lag far behind UFC in terms of media attention, Pacquiao lending his name to another promotion makes getting a seat at the MMA media coverage table that much more difficult.

An unspoken rivalry between MMA and boxing has definitely simmered over the years. Recently, boxing’s Floyd Mayweather made headlines when he referred to UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey as “he” when he responded to a claim by UFC President Dana White that Rousey would beat Mayweather in a street fight or MMA bout. “I don’t even know who he is” was Mayweather’s exact quote concerning Rousey.

Floyd later apologized and praised Rousey, so there is that. White is also a frequent critic of boxing and its personalities, including Mayweather and promoter Bob Arum. A quick Google search can confirm that.

However, White also considers Mike Tyson a friend, and boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. has openly campaigned for a match against Anderson Silva for years. So the two sports may be more similar than it seems on the surface. Just to stand on my soapbox for a minute, while I admittedly watch boxing rarely, if at all, to me it seems the sport suffers from an over-saturation of title belts, weight classes and loosely-kept-together federations, not to mention rampant corruption.

If the phrase “less is more” can ever be applied accurately, I think it can apply to boxing. I believe a consolidation of weight classes, title belts and federations into one entity would go a long way toward “the sport of kings” reclaiming the luster of its heyday.

Will White feel threatened by Pacquiao throwing his hat into the MMA ring? Unlikely. But when UFC’s chief “rivals,” Bellator and World Series of Fighting, are run by knowledgeable people but who lack a certain personality, having someone emerge to match White in terms of name recognition in MMA ownership is a welcome development.

If nothing else, I hope Pacquiao’s affiliation with ONE FC, whatever it is, turns out better than Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent association with the ill-fated Affliction.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

UFC 175 postmortem: Where do we go from here?

Photo credit: John Locher/Associated Press 

By: Chris Huntemann, Columnist

In case you already forgot, UFC 175 was last weekend, and it included two showstopping performances from two of the UFC’s premier champions: Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey.

The career paths of those two and others may take an interesting turn following their performances. I’ll share my thoughts on where I think some of their paths will take them.  

Urijah Faber Faber made a rare preliminary card appearance prior to the actual PPV, securing a rear-naked choke victory against Alex “Bruce Leroy” Caceres. Although Faber was a heavy favorite, Caceres gave “The California Kid” all he could handle. Faber was medically suspended following the show and will be sidelined until 2015. By then he might have the opportunity for a rubber match with his nemesis Dominick Cruz, assuming “The Dominator” gets past Takeya Mizugaki in September. He might also be ready for a title shot against the winner of T.J. Dillashaw/Renan Barao 2 at UFC 177 on Aug. 30.

But, would Faber be willing to fight his teammate for the belt? According to this article, only if asked by Dillashaw. I’d count on Faber being in the mix yet again for a bantamweight title shot by this time next year. If we get Cruz/Faber 3, all the better.

Matt Mitrione/Stefan Struve This fight was cancelled at the last minute when Struve passed out in the locker room. Struve is coming off a long break due to a serious heart ailment, the type of condition that makes any athlete second-guess what he or she is doing. Struve says he’s fine and that what happened isn’t related to his condition. Mitrione has already moved on and is slated to face Derrick Lewis in September. I think after getting his health in order, we’ll see Struve in the new year, maybe against someone like Gabriel Gonzaga.

Ronda Rousey has another bout under her championship belt, and it was another instance of out-and-out domination for Rousey. If there was still any doubt that she is the most dominant fighter in women’s MMA, it was thoroughly eradicated with her 16-second obliteration of Alexis Davis. Now Rousey gets some well-deserved time off, thanks to a hand injury and arthroscopic knee surgery that will keep her on the shelf until next year.

The big news in women’s MMA is not only Rousey’s domination of Davis, but also the fact that UFC signed Holly Holm, long rumored to be the next formidable challenger for Rousey. She will most likely need to win at least one fight before getting a title shot. Rousey’s rumored other challenger, Cat Zingano, makes her return against Amanda Nunes at UFC 178. Cris "Cyborg" Justino is also in the mix now that she is apparently agreeing to terms with Invicta and plans to fight at 135 pounds.

So where does this leave Rousey in the new year? I think if Zingano makes short work of Nunes (which I believe she will), she will finally get her long-awaited title shot, and we will possibly see yet another Rousey domination.  

Chris Weidman: Any belief that Weidman’s two victories against Anderson Silva were a fluke was hopefully erased after his performance against Lyoto Machida. Weidman received all he could handle from “The Dragon,” but he displayed a champion’s mettle and perseverance and battled through. It is definitely Weidman’s division now. So, who will be his next challenge? I think it will be Vitor Belfort. He seems to finally be working through his drug testing-related issues and will finally receive a title shot that seemed to be a lock after he knocked out Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson back-to-back-to-back. Will “The Phenom” be the same fighter without testosterone? I guess we’ll find out. But a battle between Belfort and Weidman will definitely be must-see-TV in the new year.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

UFC Seves Up Two Incredible Cards With Champs Retaining Belts and a Legend Leaving the Cage Behind

By: Rich Bergeron

UFC 175 and The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale took center stage at Mandalay Bay this weekend as part of the biggest fight week of the year in Las Vegas.

First up was UFC 175, where the main event saw Chris Weidman (12-0) prove his doubters wrong by dominating Lyoto Machida (21-5) over the first three rounds. Weidman did have to weather a late storm from the Karate expert, who turned on the jets late in the fight and seemed to have Weidman in survival mode by the final bell.  The champion retained his belt, but he told Color Commentator Joe Rogan that he didn't remember parts of the fight. This is concerning to many in the MMA media, but Weidman also tempered those remarks by saying he was just fighting in the moment. It also came to light after the bout that Weidman had one of his worst training camps ever and was still recovering from knee surgery and a camp injury. Either way, it looked like Machida was auditioning for "Dancing With The Stars" in the first few rounds. His style needs to be more aggressive through the entire fight if he wants to stay relevant in the division. Weidman was patient, and it paid off with the judges giving him a unanimous decision by a wide points margin. 

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey (10-0) took just 16 seconds to bulldoze over Alexis Davis (16-6). After a few punches were exchanged, Rousey executed a phenomenal Judo throw, holding onto Davis in a tight headlock as both fighters hit the ground. Rousey rained down at least seven straight shots to the face of Davis before the ref jumped in to save the day. Still, Davis fought on in zombie mode, first clinging to Rousey's waist and then trying to take the referee down before realizing what happened.

There was more to talk about in the post fight interview process there, as Rogan relayed a question from "the truck" in reference to the possibility of Rousey fighting at UFC 176. She replied that she'd have to talk to her team, but Dana White then appeared to berate Rogan after apologizing to Rousey for the suggestion. Obviously White and the truck weren't on the same page.

Further adding injury to insult was a backstage scene in which Rousey had to have her hand stitched up due to a knuckle injury she left untreated. A cyst developed in the previous cut that split open again in the fight. Rousey will also undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, which she said is already scheduled. She previously stated she wanted to take a long break after this fight, so we probably won't see her back in the cage until late this year.

Uriah Hall (9-4) weathered a broken toe to beat Thiago Santos (9-3) in one of the most gutsy performances of his career. Hall earned the unanimous decision despite the doctor almost stopping the fight when Hall came back to his corner after the first round with his toe just about twisted off his foot.

"The California Kid" Uriah Hall (31-7) appeared for the first time in a long time on the undercard Saturday night against a game Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres (10-6, 1 N/C).  Caceres gave Faber some trouble early on with his awkward style, but Faber used his wrestling and jiu jitsu to maintain control of the fight until he sunk a picture-perfect rear naked choke to end the fight at the 1:09 mark of the third round.

In Other Results:

Russell Doane (14-3) won a split decision against Marcus Brimage (6-3)
Kenny Robertson (14-3) earned a unanimous decision victory over Ildemar Alcantra (20-7)
Bruno Santos (14-1) edged out a split decision over Chris Camozzi (19-8)
Rob Font (11-1) demolished George Roop (15-11-1) with a knockout win at 2:19 of the first round.
Luke Zachrich (14-3) earned a unanimous decision win over Guilherme Vasconcelos (3-2)
Kevin Casey (9-3) made quick work of Bubba Bush (8-3) with a series of elbows to earn a 1st round KO


Sunday night featured another series of phenomenal fights headlined by the final fight in BJ Penn's career. The third bout between Frankie Edgar (17-4-1) and Penn (16-10-2) cemented Dana White's statements about "The Prodigy" needing to retire. Penn pulled guard for most of the fight, looking more like he was a break dancer working on his backspin than an MMA fighter trying to go out on top.

Other than a series of upkick attempts and some ineffective punches and elbows from his back, Penn looked hopeless in his final fight in the Octagon. Edgar used his superior wrestling and striking to stop Penn for the third time in the Hawaiian's career. Elbows and punches opened Penn up late in the third round with Referee Herb Dean stepping in to save Penn from further damage at the 4:19 mark of the round.

Penn told Rogan after the bout that he should not have even been in the cage for this fight, and it was time to call it quits. He's had a fantastic and memorable career, but unfortunately he may be most remembered for refusing to realize his time was up. Penn only managed one victory over the course of his last six fights, including the other two losses to Edgar for the lightweight title. To add insult to injury, none of Team Penn's fighters made it to the finale except for Dan Spohn, who was beaten soundly by Patrick Walsh earlier in the night.

Corey Anderson (3-0) earned his first official UFC win and The Ultimate Fighter trophy for this season's 205 pound class with a dominating performance against Matt Van Buren (6-3). Ironically, Van Buren said in the montage leading up to the bout that he was going to hit Anderson harder than he'd ever been hit in his life. It turned out the opposite way with Anderson unloading some heavy punches to quickly force his opponent's back against the cage. Anderson blazed forward with bombing lefts and rights, dropping Van Buren to the mat. Though Van Buren appeared to be covering up well on the ground, he did not fight back enough to keep the fight going. The fight lasted just one second over a full minute, and Van Buren never really had a chance to showcase any of his best skills in the bout.

Eddie Gordon (7-1) made the best of his time working with Matt Serra and Ray Longo after leaving The Ultimate Fighter house. Dhiego Lima (9-2) didn't have a chance to lock up one of his slick submissions thanks to an immediate attack from "Truck" to start the bout. In only took Gordon ten more seconds than Anderson to get the finish and earn his own trophy and become this season's Welterweight winner. He also used a blitz of punches to finish his opponent.

Both fights were more explosive and exciting than any of the experts predicted they would be, and both were also far better than any performance the winners displayed while on the show. Both fighters won a customized Harley Davidson motorcycle in addition to a cheesy crystal trophy. Can't the UFC afford something better for these guys considering what they go through to win the tournament?

Both Anderson and Gordon are sure to become serious contenders in their respective divisions. They both seem to realize now that dynamic striking is what keeps their fans and their bosses entertained.

Patrick Walsh (5-1) wound up getting a win in the preliminaries by almost entirely abandoning his hands-down approach to striking. He dominated the bulk of the first two rounds against Daniel Spohn (8-4) with his superior wrestling, all the while working to submit Spohn with a Kimura. Spohn looked doomed until the referee stood the two fighters up late in the third round. Walsh kept his hands up this time, but he also positioned them a bit too far away from his face. Spohn split the uprights and gave Walsh reason to panic with a series of heavy handed punches and elbows. It could have been curtains for Walsh if Spohn didn't make the mistake of trying to sink a guillotine choke, which Walsh always escaped from on prior attempts. Walsh escaped yet again, bleeding from a gash on his forehead. He rode out the final seconds in top control and earned a unanimous decision by 29-28 scores across the board. Congrats to Walsh, a fellow Massachusetts native and recent guest on our FNU Combat Sports Show.        

In Other Results:

Derrick Lewis (11-2-1) scored a first round KO of Guto Inocente (6-3) at the 3:30 mark.
Dustin Ortiz (14-3) won a split decision against Justin Scoggins (9-1).
Kevin Lee (8-1) used smart defense and striking to edge out a split decision against Jesse Ronson (13-5)
Leandro Issa (12-4) pulled off an incredible comeback to submit Jumabieke Tuerxun (14-3) in the 3rd
Adriano Martins (26-7) knocked out Juan Manuel Puig (11-3) at 2:21 of the first with punches
Sarah Moras (4-1) notched a unanimous decision win over Alexis Dufresne (5-1)
Robert Drysdale (7-0) led off the card and made his UFC debut count with a Rear Naked Choke submission of Keith Berish (5-1)

Ronda Rousey: A double standard?

Credit: USA Today Sports 

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Fewer fighters experienced a more rapid ascension in mixed martial arts than Ronda Rousey. She seemingly entered the spotlight overnight. Since she won the women’s bantamweight title in 2012, she’s been one of the most recognizable faces in all of mixed martial arts, if not the most recognizable. But, as with any entrance into the limelight, Rousey's fame also translates to her receiving extra scrutiny.

From the weigh-ins for her first title fight against Miesha Tate (starting at the 6:52 mark):



 To the pair’s stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter:







Rousey has displayed the attitude and demeanor that’s straight out of the Nick Diaz or Michael Bisping School of Villainy. With it came a flood of criticism both from her fellow fighters, fans and some media types alike:

I wish @MieshaTate would just unload a can of whoopass on Ronda Rousey. Ronda was such a poor sport on @UltimateFighter
— Igor Vovkovinskiy (@Igor2tall) June 30, 2014

I don't blame the fans who booed Ronda Rousey last night. No one likes a poor sport.
— Miss Giggles (@AndreaKcc) December 29, 2013

Also a shame to see Ronda Rousey, the best female fighter on earth by far, show absolutely no class after a great fight with Tate #UFC168
— Mark Heath (@mark__heath) December 29, 2013

Now, compare those tweets about Rousey to similar tweets about the previously mentioned Diaz:

#mma It’s Time to Face the Facts, Nick Diaz is Really F ***ing Awesome: First off I apologize for the spora... http://bit.ly/hBDBGb #ufc
— Travis McPherson (@TravisMcP) April 10, 2011

That said, here’s a tweet from a knowledgeable colleague I follow on Twitter:

So, at the #UFC175 workout session, Rousey received the most cheers and highest welcome from fans. Yet all these people allegedly hate her.
— Dizz - #WSOF11 (@TalkMMA) July 2, 2014

So it’s possible my belief is unfounded. But, Rousey has never made apologies about who she is or tried to be someone she’s not. So why is she on the receiving end of boos and venom from certain fans, while male fighters who exhibit the same demeanor are cheered and revered?

One argument is that Rousey showed poor sportsmanship when she refused to shake Miesha Tate’s hand after their fight at UFC 168 last year. While many fighters shake hands, hug, etc. after they fight each other, many don’t. Let’s not kid ourselves though. It’s called the Ultimate Fighting Championship for a reason. At its core, it’s about two individuals stepping into a cage with the intent to beat each other up. Many times, the two people stepping into that cage don’t like each other, as is the case with Rousey and Tate.

Is it possible that the only two people who bring this side out of Rousey are Tate and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino? Perhaps. Leading up to her fights against Liz Carmouche and Sara McMann, Rousey was basically complimentary of her opponents. Carmouche even trained with Rousey and her team during her stint as coach on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

But overall, I still think some MMA fans hold Rousey to a different standard than male fighters. What is the cause of this? I don’t know. Is it a case of “too much, too soon” with Rousey’s unprecedented success? Is it based in some subconscious belief in so-called “traditional” gender roles - that men should be aggressive and women should be submissive?

If you’re not a fan of Ronda Rousey, that’s well within your rights. But for her to be criticized for the same reasons other fighters are celebrated doesn’t pass the smell test.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

UFC 175: The Start of a New Era, Again?

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

 

Remember “The Machida Era?” 

Think back to UFC 98 when Lyoto Machida’s punches to Rashad Evans’ face crumpled him to the mat and landed “The Dragon” the light heavyweight title. No sooner did Evans hit the mat that we heard Joe Rogan proclaim “Welcome to the Machida Era.”

Well, it didn’t last very long. A controversial title defense against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua followed by a rematch and first-round knockout loss to Shogun ended “The Machida Era” before it really began. Machida had a chance to bring his era back to life against current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at UFC 140. But this time it was Machida’s turn to crumple to the mat, courtesy of a guillotine choke.

Since then, Machida moved to middleweight and hopes the third time is the charm as he takes on Chris Weidman for the middleweight title Saturday at UFC 175 in Las Vegas. Will “The Dragon” roar once again? Or, will Weidman prove his two victories against the seemingly unstoppable Anderson Silva were not a fluke?

I’ll get to the main event fight in a moment. 

First, let’s take a look at the other fights on this Saturday’s main card:

Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane (Bantamweight – 135 lbs.)

Brimage is a veteran of season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter (Team Michael Bisping vs. Team Jason “Mayhem” Miller, for those who don’t remember), where he showed great promise and power in his hands. That led to a three-fight win streak for Brimage before he helped launch the career of featherweight Conor McGregor by losing to him in April of last year.

Doane’s lone UFC fight resulted in a triangle choke victory against Leandro Thomas Issa at the UFC Fight Night: Lim vs. Saffiedine card in January. His record is rife with submission victories, and I like him to do the same here in an upset against a TUF veteran.

Prediction: Doane by submission

Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos (Middleweight – 185 lbs.)

Everyone knows who Uriah Hall is. He was pegged for stardom on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, when he viciously knocked out every single one of his opponents, and Chael Sonnen himself said he could have been a number one contender for the middleweight title right on the heels of the show.

Given Chael’s current situation, we’re not sure how much stock to put in his words. It also didn’t help that Hall seemed so timid in losing the final of TUF to Kelvin Gastelum and then lost again to John Howard. He rebounded somewhat by sending Chris Leben into retirement last year.

Santos secured a TKO victory against Rony Markes – who’s no joke himself – in his last fight. But I think Hall continues his climb up the middleweight ladder with a TKO victory of his own.

Prediction: Hall by TKO

Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione (Heavyweight)

Matt Mitrione is a curious case. He came across as a weirdo on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, but he proved his doubters wrong when he embarked on a five-fight win streak following his time on the show. Then he suffered a two-fight losing streak before alternating wins and losses in his next three fights.

Struve is fighting for the first time since having his jaw rearranged by Mark Hunt. More importantly, it's his first time competing in the cage since the discovery that he suffers from a serious heart ailment. I watched Struve fight in person when he submitted Pat Barry on the UFC Live 6: Cruz vs. Johnson card in 2011. Mitrione has serious power, and Struve has been knocked out before. But I like Struve to be methodical in his approach and use his reach advantage to set up strikes while avoiding Mitrione’s loaded fists.

Prediction: Struve by unanimous decision

Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis (Women’s Bantamweight Title – 135 lbs.)

I’ve said this before, but I don’t think Ronda Rousey will ever lose. To anyone. However, I said the same thing about Anderson Silva, and we saw what happened. But unlike the men’s middleweight division, I don’t believe the depth of talent is there yet in women’s MMA, even though it has been an exciting addition to the UFC. Ronda is clearly the best female fighter in the sport, and I don’t think any other woman even comes close to matching her incredible talent.

Ronda showed vastly improved striking in her latest bouts, and she ended her last fight thanks to a vicious knee to Sara McMann’s liver. Still, I like her to go back to Ol’ Reliable to successfully defend her title yet again. Once she gets a grasp on an opponent's arm, there's no escape.

Prediction: Rousey by submission

Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida (Middleweight Title – 185 lbs.)

There are those who claim Weidman’s victory against Anderson Silva and subsequent title defense were flukes – a product of Silva’s arrogance in the first fight and a freak broken leg in the second. I’m not sure I agree with that assertion for the first fight. Yes, Silva was trying to clown Weidman. Yes, Silva dropped his hands, which is a cardinal sin in MMA. But Silva tried clowning other fighters and dropped his hands against other fighters before.

The difference? Weidman didn’t take the bait. He stepped up his aggression, which is what the best fighters do. Machida won’t clown Weidman like Silva tried to do, but he will do his patented stick-and-move and basically play keep away from Weidman the entire fight. It’s up to Weidman to close the distance with Machida and give him no breathing room.

I think Weidman will do just that. Machida will avoid being finished, but he won’t avoid being ground into the mat by the master wrestler and ground-and-pound specialist Weidman. It looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the rebirth of “The Machida Era.”

Prediction: Weidman by unanimous decision

Let's open up the comment section for fan predictions and see how many folks agree or disagree with my picks. 

BOXING'S POUND-FOR-POUND CHAMPION FLOYD "MONEY" MAYWEATHER EXCITED ABOUT 2014 ESPY AWARDS DOUBLE NOMINATION

Las Vegas (June 25) - Eleven-Time World Champion and boxing superstar Floyd "Money" Mayweather continues to rack up career accolades as it was announced yesterday that he has been nominated for the 2014 ESPY Awards for "Best Male Athlete" and "Best Fighter." While Mayweather has won the ESPY for "Best Fighter" five times, he is the first boxer in the history of the ESPYs to be nominated for "Best Male Athlete." Mayweather is coming off of two wins in the last year, including a dominant, record-breaking performance against Canelo Alvarez last September and a thrilling victory in May against Marcos Maidana. Fans can vote now at http://espn.go.com/espys/2014/. Voting closes on Wednesday, July 16 prior to the ESPYs telecast on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET. "It's been a great year for me and I'm very excited to receive these nominations," said Mayweather. "I know I wouldn't be here without the fans and I'm grateful for the support I've received from them over the years. I appreciate everyone that has already voted for me and those that haven't still have time." Mayweather is also nominated for the BET Award for Sportsman of the Year, which will be announced this Sunday, June 29 at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. In addition to being nominated for these prestigious awards, Mayweather was also recently named the highest-earning athlete in the world by Forbes and Fortune/Sports Illustrated magazines "Floyd is at an incredible place in his career, both from a performance and recognition standpoint," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Winning the ESPY for 'Best Male Athlete' would be another indicator of Floyd's stardom.He shows love to all the fans and now they have the opportunity to continue to show their support by taking the time to vote for him and once again prove that he is 'TBE'." Mayweather is nominated alongside Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) in the "Best Male Athlete" category and Jon "Bones Jones", Manny Pacquiao, Ronda Rousey and Andre Ward in the "Best Fighter" Category.

Topps and UFC Launch Most Ambitious Promotional Platform Partnership To Date

Chael Sonnen Selected As Brand Ambassador, With New Relics, Autographs and a special “Golden Ticket” promotion

NEW YORK (June 5, 2014) -- The Topps Company, Inc. and the Ultimate Fighting Championships today launched the 2014 Topps ® UFC Knockout card set, the most comprehensive and engaging collectable card product ever launched in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The launch of the 2014 set will feature special giveaways and promotional opportunities, including a “Golden Ticket” insertion in select sets where fans can win a chance to train with UFC star and new Topps ambassador Chael Sonnen.

“We are very excited to bring the UFC back to the market with this enhanced and expansive program,” said Jeremy Fullerton, Topps UFC Brand Manager. “There are no fans in any sport around the globe as engaged as those of the UFC, so we wanted to create a program that addresses that passion, from customized autograph and relic cards to new images of rising stars, current and past champions to this special promotion with Chael. We think there will be something here for the die-hard follower and the casual fan.”

“There are few brands that sports fans identify with in the U.S. more than Topps, and the product line they have come up with for the UFC is outstanding,” Sonnen added. “I am looking forward to working with the company to help give our fans these really special added extra programs in the coming year.”

A big part of the new launch will be the 2014 UFC Knockout Golden Ticket Promotion. There will be ten Golden Tickets randomly inserted into boxes of 2014 KO cards available at retail nationally. Those ten will have a chance to be selected for a meet-and-greet session with UFC Ambassador, Chael Sonnen, and a chance to train with him, while the nine runner-ups will receive a piece of training equipment signed by Sonnen.

In addition to the promotion, the set is full of special autograph and relic cards containing fighter-worn shorts, shirts and mats from some of the greatest fights and champions of the UFC past and present, including Ronda Rousey, Chris Weidman, Sonnen, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez and many others.

2014 Topps® UFC Knockout is available at hobby stores and internet retailers now.

About The Topps Company, Inc.

Founded in 1938, Topps is the leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include the NFL, MLB, UFC, MLS, WWE and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include Bazooka® bubble gum, Ring Pop®, Push Pop®, Baby Bottle Pop® and Juicy Drop ® Pop lollipops. For additional information, visit Sports Cards and Entertainment Cards at Topps.com and follow us on facebook atfacebook.com/Topps, on twitter @Toppscards, and now on Instagram @ToppsSports.

Beckett Auction Services - MMA in April

Beckett Auctions Services has something you should see… One hundred plus autographed posters, autographed and memorabilia trading cards, autographed gloves, autographed championship belt, and much more are available in Beckett Auction Services April auction!Check out all the MMA lots available. To see the full list, visit our online catalog page. What is Beckett Auction Services? Beckett Auction Services is Beckett Media's full service auction house featuring monthly online auctions, an eBay consignment service, and much more. Supported by a staff with over 100 years of combined hobby experience, including two state licensed auctioneers, Beckett Auction Services is your premier destination for buying, bidding, and selling high-end collectibles. Meet your auction services team: Bill Sutherland, Sr. Director, TDLR License #17413 Rob Springs, Acquisitions Manager, TDLR License #17414 Traci Kaplan, Auction Coordinator Daniel Moscoso, Digital Studio Manager Our first online auction begins April 13 and runs through April 27, 2014.  Take a look below at some of the great MMA memorabilia and cards available. We'll be adding more all the way to the start of the auction, sovisit often to see the ever-growing list. Bidding is easy. First register with Beckett Auction Services. Once registered, you are eligible to bid in an auction. When the auction begins April 13th, visit us at auctions.beckett.com to browse and bid on the full list. Please note that there is a 15% buyer's premium added to the final bid amount of the winning bid. Interested in consigning with Beckett Auction Services? We are always accepting consignments for future auctions. Learn more about what we are looking for and become a consignor today.

Here's a peek at some of the MMA lots available in April.

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Ronda Rousey protégé Marina Shafir headlines Tuff-N-Uff’s November 29 return to Orleans Casino

Promotion to honor founder Barry Meyer, who will be named chairman emeritus Ahead of next weekend’s The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale, a Team Rousey assistant coach will headline a very special night for “Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars of MMA.” Rousey’s friend and protégé, undefeated prospect Marina Shafir (3-0), meets Tabby Patterson (3-1) in the headlining bout of Tuff-N-Uff’s November 29 event at Las Vegas’ Orleans Casino. Additionally, Tuff-N-Uff will honor its founder and longtime president Barry Meyer, who unexpectedly passed away in October. “The past month has been a difficult time for the Tuff-N-Uff family,” Tuff-N-Uff Vice-President and Barry’s brother Jeff Meyer said. “But I’m proud to help carry on the legacy my brother and I started. We’ll start by honoring Barry and naming him chairman emeritus of our promotion, and then we’ll carry on by doing exactly what he would have wanted us to do, and that is to enjoy a great night of mixed martial arts, the sport he truly loved.” The first Tuff-N-Uff fight is at 7 p.m., and doors to the venue open one hour earlier. The night’s officials schedule will also feature a very special memorial video to honor Barry Meyer. Shafir made her Tuff-N-Uff debut in March and submitted Danielle Mack in just 59 seconds. A fellow judoka ace, Shafir is living up to the reputation Rousey built, with all three of her amateur bouts to date ending by first-round armbar. Meanwhile, Patterson hails from Kansas and currently boasts a two-fight win streak. She most recently fought in October, when she earned a first-round TKO win over Natalie Jones. The bout mark’s Patterson’s Tuff-N-Uff debut. The night’s co-feature also takes place in the women’s division as Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu’s Shannon Reid (2-1) and Evolve MMA’s Jessica “The Zombie” Zomcik (8-3) meet with a Tuff-N-Uff 145-pound tournament title on the line. As further proof to Tuff-N-Uff’s standing as the nation’s leading amateur MMA promotion, AXS TV cameras will be on hand to film the action, and the highlights will be featured on “Inside MMA.” In addition to the night’s headlining contests, a full lineup of aspiring amateur fighters from some of the world’s top academies – including Xtreme Couture, Syndicate MMA, Torres MMA, Team Alpha Male and Cobra Kai – will compete at Tuff-N-Uff’s November 29 event. Tickets for the event, which start at just $25, are available at the Orleans Casino box office or by calling (702) 284-7777. Pink Spot Vapors presents Tuff-N-Uff, in association with Sin City Fight Promotions. This event is brought to you by Findlay Kia, Glen Lerner Injury Attorneys, Lemper Pain Centers and Nutrition Rush. The full fight card is available for viewing at TuffNUff.com. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/tuffnuff. Follow us on Twitter at @tuffnuff. Come see the future stars of mixed martial arts.