Josh Kosova check: I ' ll be the bad guy to make money

Three months away from his UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre Champion title fight, and the week before his debut as a coach on season 12 of "the ultimate fighter," Josh Kosova check know he is the bad guy.

Kosova check, its role as a fighter who hate love began on the inaugural season of "The Ultimate Fighter" has many fans always seemed to its own beat to marschieren.Und on Tuesday, he said Ariel Helwani on "The MMA Hour", that will be looked as the villain him regardless.

"" Loved or hated, you know what? it's about making money for me, "said Kosova check.""So when I got to the bad guy making money then I the bad guy will be making money."

Although ended he briefly to say he embraces that villain role MMA fans often, mark it with Kosova check implies at least he could be misunderstood.

"It never me, has tapped from the first day", said Kosova check. "I know who I am as a person."I know the people around me who know me.I'm not here, friends to make I'm here to make money.I have enough Freunde.Die people around me interest me and love me, and it is the same relationship zurück.Ich not try, friends here'm machen.Ich here to earn money. "It's a business."
I think, will make this a sporting event instead of a fight Georges St-Pierre.
-Josh Kosova check
Kosova check deserves his shot at St-Pierre in may in UFC 113 in Montreal - St - Pierre's home Turf.Seinen unanimous decision victory over Paul Daley had all sorts of drama thrown in.Daley threw a knee in the direction of Kosova check's head while Kosova check's knee on the ground - an illegal strike, if it landete.Und although appeared Kosova check on the canvas, replays the knee to show fehlt.Post fight, sucker punched Daley Kosova check after the Bell, which a rapid pink slip from UFC President Dana white deserves.

And while interviewed after winning Joe Rogan, Kosova check took any remote chance he had of love from the Montreal fans and plowed right about it with the announcement of his hometown of Pittsburgh Penguins would hit the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup playoffs and that he would soon hit St-Pierre. On his way from the arena, he was under fire from the fans. "I beer that is thrown at me, popcorn it was fantastic," said Kosova check.

Kosova check had no idea if he got his second shot at St-Pierre (he lost a unanimous decision to him at UFC 74 in August 2007), he did back in Montreal.UFC 124 held 11 finds at the Bell Centre on Dec., as first reported by MMA fighting.

But Kosova check said, makes the situation to him.

"I honestly no matter where we are fighting, really," said Kosova check. "I will fight anywhere." So, it looks like I'm going back to Montreal. Montreal - the fans are - and I have a wonderful relationship.And I appreciate the opportunity to become the next welterweight champion. ..."I'm gonna irrespective of having fun, whether it really care war.Ich in Pittsburgh, Vegas or Montreal me not."

Kosova check declined in comparison to St-Pierre, which debuts Wednesday on Spike TV after UFC fight night 22 easy to say that "it was a good experience" and fans should respond to see every possible interaction between him and St-Pierre many details about his coaching stint the show "The Ultimate Fighter".

But he was much less reluctant about the recent controversy with comments referee, Yves Lavigne allegedly about Kosova check's chances against St-Pierre in a story in Canoe.com made.Although Lavigne, later denied the MMA hour, ever an interview on the site, and the story was removed, Kosova check was adamant that the he never fight a competition of Lavigne officiated.

"He has denied doing the interview it has denied never to say the comments," said Kosova check."Whether it should be on the plate or off the record, an arbitrator is never a fighter publicly erklären.Yves Lavigne can suck his opinion on my (expletive) it will never REF, which again only due to the fact that.. its opinion my existence could affect me, and this is not fair."It is not correct.People are out there say 'Josh Kosova check tried Lavigne, Yves fired get.'"No, Yves Lavigne got opening released from his mouth, if it does."

Lavigne Helwani later told the show: "I give him an interview on or off record.""Who are my quotes."

But as Lavigne also said, "The damage was done."Kosova check went on to say, he believes that Lavigne should be the reigning business.

"" Yves Lavigne, whether he it or not, not with my career, I take this type of risk, either said to have which could have said such things about me (Mein Kampf amtierenden), Guy ", said Kosova check.So I to good referee stick will: Josh Rosenthal, herb Dean - these two guys ref can my fighting anyone not ref everything allowed would never see day which week ....(Avril_Lavigne) should be, a professional sports such as the NFL and NBA (have) an official to say something like that, and in fact still retain their jobs."

As for his next task at hand, the title shot against St-Pierre, Kosova check said it expected that a different battle from your first meeting.

"" I think that differ this fight because of the fact I have matured and become as a fighter, ", said Kosova check."I think, will.Ich make white Georges St-Pierre a sporting event instead of a fight, he goes me down to try and put on mich.Also I really focused on all realistic to sein.Georges is a complete Kämpfer.Er has definitely standup fähigkeit.Aber I think he has some weaknesses."

(Ed note: Watch the last week episode of the MMA-hour below.)

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How resolve do to a problem such as Antonio?

It is appropriate, his last could be that we have so time wrestler discuss much and rings on MMA fight because tonight marks the return of Antonio McKee in a fight against this week, he claims.

When Luciano Azevedo MFC 26 as almost all his other battles gone is his struggle, are (i.e. what a decision victory and an anaesthetized audience), who is boring unapologetically MMA fans from Tokyo to New Jersey during his 11 year career, he'll according to McKee, withdraw.

As he told me back in July: "I said, if it's a decision and it's a boring decision I in the ruhestand.Wenn this fight the fight of the night is retired I." "Basically, if I not out there to go and a show only destroy and destroy this guy then I'm done."

Why? not because he does not believe it more can compete. He's pretty sure he can not only compete but other more or less easily dominate each on the planet, even at the age of 40.

No, he says that he will stop because he, for which waited to develop sport and at least as far as he is not concerned.

By developing, I think, it means he waited for fans all together wake up one morning and discover that love to see takedowns and ground control.Bafflingly, has done this yet.

Whether he it or didn't know is McKee was exactly the kind of fighters who speak Dan Hardy if it implies that some wrestlers in violation of the MMA rule against "Timidity." be McKee takes people down, works a little ground and pound, makes very little obvious effort to stop (he is admitted as much in the past), and relies on the judges him the victory.

It's not exciting, but it is effective.Can say much McKee's record has betrachten.Er no battle lost since 2003 (over to diamonds Parisyan... wait for it...) (decision) Although he exactly the cream of the crop has been fighting either not.

But for those of us who defended ply the wrestler's right to his trade in MMA, McKee presented a philosophical problem.His commitment to fighting without ever at risk or even with entertaining fans to win is so complete that it almost borders abuse the scoring system.His salary is paid by fans who want to be entertained, and yet he has never (until now, anyway) hoped you a show.

Seems not, I don't know somehow wrong?

Short answer: Ja.Lange answer: maybe, but the only what worse than watching an Antonio McKee rules fight, this kind of fight would be an impossible rendering manipulation.

I feel about McKee's style and his defence of it the same way I feel about the people who say idiotic things and then claim first amendment protection.In other words, I personally enjoy it, but I respect your right to leveling damage we do would by trying, to stop it would damage far which our delicate sensibilities is done by sitting by it.What he is doing is legal.It is fair.Es is simply fun.

The truth is, McKee is paid a price for his fighting style hat.Er 24-3-2, he has a 10-fight winning strip going and it still takes some outrageous speak and a retirement threat for him which MMA worldwide attention to bekommen.Er may very well be the greatest fighter who would like to see no one and he has only itself to blame.

McKee, doesn't seem surprised, a little bitter darüber.Er will tell you that fans want just blood and then say in the next sentence is not he furiously on fans but the other fighters, the envious will tell sind.Er on him, it is the result of racism, then say it's not about race, at least in his Fall.Auf this way his interviews are more than his fights often entertaining, even if only because so confusing.

But McKee's career is purgatory mainly due to an unofficial fan referendum on his Stil.Seine got their chance wrestling-centric tactics in the marketplace of ideas, and consumers decided she liked it about as much as Crystal Pepsi.McKee dear fans would say what he thinks, as try want what he already knows how to be.

Thats Ordnung.Es is not his Vorrecht.Aber means that someone sorry, complains for him as he is about should feel overlooked.

And when this career ends - theoretically - with another boring performance in Canada today evening, well, that would almost be a fitting way for him to go: lying above on an opponent, while the amount of licences hits.

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Ex-Boxer, UFC star Davis on Toney's opportunities: ' he ain't doing nothing

BOSTON--no fighters on the UFC 118 card can identify with James Toney how Marcus Davis. A former boxer, Davis, was watertight with two in a six and a half years - ring - career records, before he decided to make the transition to mixed martial arts.

Unlike Toney, who tracked UFC President Dana white into submission, until he contracted received took Davis a conventional path to MMA's big show.It was one with many bumps, bruises and proved blood, a true learning journey, the Davis what it takes, to MMA successfully to sein.Und because one is the experience not purchase of Toney's-claims he feels at ease in the cage and ready to go.

"He is not nothing do." He's not going to do everything ", said Davis, when asked about Toney's chances. "Exactly how anyone who is a journalist of MMA, a doctor, a coach or a fan, will you give you say it has to be a one punch victory and thats it."Stand up when he is pushed calls against the cage, he goes down on the Boden.Wenn below go, he is again. "Randy not going to happen."

"It is simply different, as is a professional basketball player, says mounted to a Mitt and professional baseball to play," Fort Davis. "It's another sport." It is so different. I remember when I a boxer, things I thought I was remember me. 'Oh, if you're going to shoot, I ' ll Uppercut you.' As it is so easy. "You think really that, until you get there."

Davis said that in his early days of MMA he was against opponent voted similar MMA experience levels, but because of his days as a boxer, he would simple cut-outs result.

One particular fight for new insights about how difficult MMA could be conducted. It was still early in his career, and he was matched up with current UFC welterweight Thiago Alves.Die event was in a small, Massachusetts-based support, and Alves was only 20 at the time.

"" I never ever, had kicked in the leg,", said Davis."We have only gekämpft.Es went a vicious battle three rounds a decision."I landed my eyes always six staples in my head and both sewn up."

Davis said that after the battle he leg kicked been so hard and so often that he not to endure could.At this point he decided to learn how with leg kicks deal, and the fulfilment of his long-time striking coach led to him mark DellaGrotte.

He didn ' t really begin to study Jiu-Jitsu and rings until after he started on season of the ultimate fighter in 2005.

The experience proved sobering, Davis, who says that he almost this no interest just a newbie mixed martial artists face Randy Couture, regardless of the fact has that the neophyte a multi time boxing champion.

"" "I called Randy, I spoke with Randy, and I said:" you know what? the worst thing about this fight is that everybody wants me my boxing talk background ", said that Davis who while the pay of the map is square with Nate Diaz,."And I said ' prove me right. outdoor just go to and prove me right.' And he said: 'I am going.'"

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Brad Blackburn Re-Ups with Bellator

Although welterweight Brad Blackburn in his Bellator debut shortly fell last Thursday to Dan Hornbuckle, Blackburn fight Thursday at least once more for the promotion, MMAFighting.com learned.

Bellator remains CEO Bjorn Rebney Blackburn's services that based on Blackburn's performance against Hornbuckle Bellator 25 in Chicago, where Blackburn saw the best he was years had and even discarded Hornbuckle in the first round.

"It was a very close fight."I have happy right hand and I walked away from our game plan.Rookie mistake and I make it the next Mal.Ich boxes stopped because I wanted my knockout, "Blackburn said MMAFighting.com after the fight.""I did not [in a long time] and I got also focused and I stopped the predictably, had me and my coaches and corner fight fight."

Although he could close the distance on the longer Hornbuckle, he says shorter strokes to establish a connection with the takedowns instead of Gunning k.o. has caused the Blackburn.

"I had shoulder surgery so I have my power for a few years", said Blackburn. "I had surgery and I feel my arm recovering hat.Ich felt like my power back." I landed a good shot and he fell."It has been awhile since I've had this power, so have I got just really excited about it cause I used to most everyone knock out and I for so lange.Ich back my power and I must go because outdoor stick to my game plan and a bit smarter next time to fight."

The unanimous decision loss Hornbuckle was third Blackburn directly.Blackburn the UFC entered in July 2008 and win streak went on a three-fight with the organization only fall back to back struggling this year, leading to his release.Bradburn has lost four straight fight before 2005 and he hopes to avoid a repeat of this period.

"" I wanted to [in Bellator] and get the win, ", said Blackburn."It was a good fight but do you know what? A win is a win, and I didn't get one today evening... I expect, busy to bleiben.Ich will have two weeks to Kämpfen.Ich not so I have no injuries to keep training, come back here and get me a profit."

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Suddenly tried soft spoken, BJ Penn, emphasis back to combating roots

BOSTON--at 31 years old feels BJ Penn time slipping away. Almost a decade ago he was a 22 year old prodigy, as a sport nascent seemed one-man evolution. Since he was the guy who seemed to come up short in the big fight. He became a two Division Champion. Now he's practically an elder statesman.

For all his immense talent has Penn to go with him the epic career, had even though this "epic" has so much to do with peaks and valleys of the high drama as it that casual "Epic" that gets passed around from this generation something amazing to bedeuten.Penn's recent setback came in April when he by massive underdog Frankie Edgar in Abu Dhabi was upset.

Since Penn been preternaturally calm.This is the man who told Georges St. Pierre, he was ready to fight "to the death," said Sean Sherk he would punish him for the use of steroids and once spent a whole season of "The Ultimate Fighter" Jens Pulver.doch antagonizing, had leadup to say his rematch with Edgar Penn's surprisingly little.And when he spoke he was alternately self-critical self-confident and sometimes, brutally dull.

Trying, there was a topic of Penn's to give, within the last two weeks is that he see as fighters hopes seems convinced, be he also caught been in marketing and with a professional advertising and all the other things that go Athleten.Er came in a competitive and that's the way he wants to go.
I would like to be labeled No champion; I would like to be labeled a fighter.
-BJ Penn
"I love it."I love a contender ", said Penn on Wednesday.After I beat, I know Frankie is UFC policy that I would like to avail of the belt, but I just a guy, all the best fighters fighting, know you what I mean? "I have eight belt at home, no disrespect [on the UFC belt], but I want only a true fighter to werden.Ich no champion would be labeled; I would like to be labeled a fighter."

What exactly Penn and how it for his UFC 118 applies on Saturday night fight, remains to be seen.

It means that he plans to avoid technology and instead incite a fight?Some believe that a simple way to victory for Penn (15-6-1) may the has the power edge in the standup while Edgar has the superior speed.

Maybe it means forget about game plans and Los Instinkt.Oder maybe it is rather a way of thinking; he has repeatedly made reference to his early days in the UFC, if he was really more a "fighter" as a mixed martial artist.

On the other hand, Penn granted he has had his problems ("I think certain times I lived up to expectations and I don't have specific times definitely" he said at one point), but offered no explanation or excuses, said: "the people which makes me pressure on me, who I regret bin.Ich nothing.""Every time, if you lose you come back stronger."

However, it is something of a crossroads for Penn, who has made no secret of the fact he hopes as the best lightweight in MMA history reminds werden.Seine first as a 155-Pounder dominant war.Da come back to the light Division in 2007, he is 4-1 lead, but a second loss of Edgar badly would his argument as the largest lightweight damage ever.

While with likes of Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes, losses would colored him 5-5 over his last 10 fights to make a record pretty ordinary paper looks.

Penn, but says that will not happen.

"" I feel I will blow away a lot of people Saturday, "Penn said.""You will be surprised by who is BJ Penn."

And given this new approach, just who is this?

"" I know not,"Penn said.""This is it here richtig.Ich think I don't know what you say."

If it to assess moment arrived this new Penn Outlook where he thought when he was asked on a scale of 1-10, its performance will be a bottom line.

He said "I think sit here now and are ready to perform on Saturday, I think, I ' ll be on a 9".

Say the fighters would not, he would be a ' 10 ' fight night? but these are the types of answers you from Penn 2010 erhalten.Nicht these days, instead of self-promotion is more trash Talk.In it even Bewusstsein.Nach all these years of wild declarations and trash talk he let canvas for him speak the image he paints on the UFC.

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White comes full circle: Irish mob forced him from Boston, now he is back

Dana White still wants to bring MMA in Toronto and New York, but make no mistake about it, this weekend is right up there on the list of his career more satisfactory results. White, joined by UFC VP Marc Ratner and brothers Fertittas, has helped build the mixed martial arts in a sport accepted in most us His native area of Boston Gets his first glimpse of UFC in person with 118 UFC Saturday.

He is returning to its own terms something he didn't get to do in 1995. White argues his move to Las Vegas, where he reunited with his friends from high school, the Fertittas, was not part of the plan.

"... a day in the summer of 1995, while he was at the Centre of teaching a class at the Boston Athletic Club in Southie, two men walked and told him he had to go out with them, says white had, by mafia Ireland.

"The details of what went down were a little cloudy, but was the bottom line: you owe us some money," black told the Boston Globe. " I don't know why they were [expletive] with me, what the real reason was, but to come after me and bust my balls and try to shake me down was a bit strange.They wanted a couple grand from me ... and I said, ' no. ' they said, "get it from your girlfriend."I said, ' She hasn't, o. ' they said, "well, better figure it out.""

A couple of weeks later, his phone rang. the caller told him that till Sunday to pay them, he says, "or we'll kill you."

Triumphant return of white in Boston as a multi-millionaire is something that he never expected after being forced to leave the city.

"When you talk about things like the fate and [expletive] that happens for a reason, if there is proof, then what is?" said White."What are the odds that a child who is riding [expletive] mountain biking around Southie, teaching housewives and businessmen and children as a box, is about to be rocked to the point where he is like, ' this [expletive], I am out of here, ' and leave?

"And then," He adds, suspension, "happen this [expletive]".

It's nice to see that the Globe and the Boston Herald are spreading White's story and the increase of UFC sports casual. whenever the history is written as promotion hits new cities, we always seem to be unveiled a new nugget. it is interesting to hear Bill Baker from Globe speak absolute control of white over promotion.

So not only white leading promoter and creator of deal; he is also, with its fighters, judge and jury. in the past, he has met with some fighters during their remuneration (stars can do more than a half million for a fight; newcomers can make as little as $ 6,000, with another $ 6,000 if they win) and the amount of control has throughout their careers (UFC has no classification system; white organizes the struggles that he thinks that the fans want to see), and that he does not hesitate to cut loose a combatant. on the flip side, white is famous for distributing discretionary bonus for fighters that really throwing down (that he says he went up to one million for a single fight) and welcomed back fighters that once feuded with him.

Enormous discretionary bonus entries are ventilated for years. listen to white give a number is a little unusual. Any guess who got a million?

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To continue two opponents of switches, Efrain Escudero to his progression

It has been a game of musical chairs for Efrain Escudero. It seems like every time he sits, has a new opponent.

Escudero 8 lightweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter," being season Charles Oliveira Wednesday at UFC fight night planned 22 gegenüberstehen.Aber only after another with two matchups for him on the map change.

Escudero was a bout with John Gunderson on Wednesday's map in Austin, Texas, planned for, the season 12 premiere of "The ultimate fighter" on Spike TV vorausgeht.Wenn had to pull co-main event fighter Mac Danzig his rematch with Matt Wiman, moved Escudero in Gdansk's spot. And then Wiman got hurt and fell out of the map.

Type Oliveira less than a month before the fight. But Escudero said Thursday at a media call for the event that the opponents bothered him changes.

You know, I have to pay really isn't much attention, said Escudero. "It was a month so I had enough time.".. .We are concerned about what we bring to the table are. We are not concerned about on what you go to the table put. We make our fight to fight, and we will go out and make our work. "Where fighting in top shape and ready to someone to take you with us is that our main priority and our main goal."

Unbeaten as professional title in the TUF House, Escudero, the victory of Phillipe Nover the final with a recess of Cole Miller at UFC 103 followed.But he ran lightweight Evan Dunham at UFC 114 in the Mai.Die Armbar Dunham colleagues unbeaten, on Escudero in the third round may beat what is now known Escudero so much as "The Ultimate Fighter." gewinnenNach one exciting and forth two rounds caught Escudero. Dunham he cranked Armbar, - and Escudero waited a long time to open up. Too long. But he escaped with only a few tendon damage.

Escudero (filling, 3-1 UFC) said the loss could have been the best that could happen him at least in the grand scheme of things.

"Is unbeaten puts a lot of pressure on you, always try to be on the top", said Escudero."I always said I'd data sets aside, but in the end that is bottom line, it is indeed a good role spielt.Und now that this first loss of my way - it is I get one of those where I been caught making a mistake." I blame it on my Herz.Aber Dunham, I wish him the best. You know that enabled on my mistakes."And I think I more have gained a lot of the loss as I had won a victory."

Escudero rebounded for a victory over Dan Lauzon at UFC 114 in may, sweep the scorecards, save for a late penalty for a kick, beat the Lauzon in the bar.He'll look Wednesday for two in a row, but he must again on an unbeaten up and comer in Oliveira (13-0, 1 0 UFC), take, that submission victory last month comes from a 41 second.

Oliveira, which could in the short term worry war.Er said to the fight, the basis for his fast work about Darren Elkins at UFC live versus 2 as Escudero, leave this struggle with a $ 40,000-submission of the night bonus in his UFC debut to take.

"The first battle I had in the UFC was very fast," said Oliveira of Brazil, through his translator."So I was I very well Form.Als that immediately heard the news about the fighting, (doesn't bother) me at all because I was training anyway already.""Would at best with the best you've got the best Kämpfen.Und short term as the nehmen.Dies is normal."

It is only natural that Escudero has its Jiu-Jitsu game honing was first come from Armbar loss to Dunham, then on the road in a fight against an opponent, has five of its last seven profits which is Vorlage.Es all part Escudero's evolution in what he hopes that one will be complete fighter.

"" My progression have been great,"said Escudero.""I began, a (wrestler), and I work much on my Jiu-Jitsu (and) my standup.Ich work much since ' the Ultimate Fighter.Ich got stuck in the gym, and it has my battles in the entire shows been."

Escudero Oliveira is the co main event of UFC fight night 22, Wednesday at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin stattfindet.Der main card of airs live at 9 am Eastern on Spike TV as an introduction to the season 12 premiere of "The Ultimate Fighter."

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