GSP & Carwin to Take UFC 111

Sit Down Mr. Mir

Two world titles will be on the line for the first time in 2010 when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 111: St-Pierre vs Hardy. UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been unstoppable since regaining the title in 2008, and he aims on extending his reign and his six fight winning streak against British bomber Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, who is unbeaten in the UFC and fresh off wins over Marcus Davis and Mike Swick.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir will attempt to make history when he squares off against number one contender Shane Carwin in a clash of the titans that will leave the winner with the interim UFC heavyweight championship belt. UFC 111 – Saturday, March 27th, live on Pay-Per-View from Newark, New Jersey.

UFC 92 Results

They don’t call him Rampage because of his careful approach to life.

Yet the sometimes self-destructive dynamo also known as Quinton Jackson insists he’s finally taking himself and his sport more seriously as he heads to a crossroads in his mixed martial arts career.

In preparation for Saturday’s rematch with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92, Jackson claims he transformed his mind and his body, determined to take full advantage of a career that seemed to be slipping away earlier this year. In changing his diet and moving overseas for a distraction-free training camp, he seemed determined to bounce back from the loss of his light heavyweight title and two subsequent stints in police custody during the past six months alone.

“My last fight was probably the best thing that happened to me,” said Jackson, who lost his belt to Forrest Griffin by unanimous decision in July. “I got rid of some baggage, and it actually made me hungrier. I started back and trained as hard as I’ve ever trained. My cardio is the best it’s ever been. It really made me think about my career.

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“I’m a professional athlete. I’ve got to start eating like one. I should have been doing this stuff years ago.”

Changing his diet from a steady stream of burgers and fries to a strict regimen of proteins and nutritional supplements was just the start. Jackson revamped his fight preparations with a trip to England, where he trained at Wolfslair Academy on a mission to improve both his endurance and his precision.

His confidence? The man who knocked out Chuck Liddell last year has never needed much help in that department.

“I’m still champion. I’m not going to let some judges tell me I lost a fight,” Jackson said, still disputing his loss to Griffin. “This time I trained like I’m a champion, and I’m acting like a champion. (Being) a champion isn’t only (about) the way you fight. If you’re a champion, you’re a champion inside the octagon and outside the octagon.”

Being across the Atlantic allowed Jackson to avoid any distractions from his most recent troubles, which began with his disputed loss to Griffin. Less than two weeks later, Jackson was arrested on a variety of charges after leading police on a chase and hitting several cars near his home in Southern California.

Jackson later spent several additional days in custody for mental evaluation, but was released in plenty of time to resume his career. The mishaps of the past few months changed his perspective on his career and his family — which includes four children who won’t get much attention from their father until after Christmas.

He doesn’t want to talk about the recent drama now, saying it didn’t affect his preparation for the loaded UFC 92 card that will be contested at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. His reunion with Silva provides all the conflict he needs in his life right now.

Jackson was a junior-college wrestler before picking up the sport and eventually moving to Japan to fight with the PRIDE organization. That’s where he lost two fights with Silva, the Brazilian star who excels in muay thai and jiujitsu — including an October 2004 loss that left Jackson unconscious and hanging on the ropes, bleeding from a broken nose.

“I knew that I would see Wanderlei again, especially since he signed with the UFC,” Jackson said. “I don’t see this as revenge. Revenge is a dangerous motive. I see this as my job. … This is my time to make it better. I’m a little more mature. I’m a little better with my skills. So what if he beat me back in the past? That’s what it was, the past. This is a whole new Rampage, a whole new beginning.”

With his wife and kids mostly staying away from him until after the holidays, Jackson spent part of Tuesday walking around Las Vegas, handing out tickets to UFC 92 to people who also had to work on Christmas. Though he’s all about business now, Jackson can’t resist having a little harmless fun.

“I want my belt back, and I’m going to get my belt back,” he said. “I’m going to do what I say I’m going to do.”

UFC Coach Frank Mir – Ultimate Fighter Coaches? Sha’ BAM’

Spike TV announced that the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and former champion Frank Mir will be the coaches for the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter.  The season, which premiers on Spike TV will return to the two-weight class format. It features light heavyweight and lightweight fighters. Production on season eight begins in late May, with the entire cast to be announced in September.

Nogueira and Mir, after serving as coaches, will meet at UFC 92 for Nogueira’s UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship. The fight will take place December 27th in Las Vegas, Mir’s home town.

Frank Mir (Left) Vs. Brock Lesnar

Mir met UFC matchmaker Joe Silva at a school Silva was visiting. Silva saw potential in Mir as a future UFC fighter and suggested that he first prove himself against some fighters in the mixed martial arts community. Mir would make his professional MMA debut against Jerome Smith at HOOKnSHOOT: Showdown on July 14, 2001. Mir won the bout by judges’ decision after two rounds. He won another match by submission at IFC Warriors Challenge 15. After these events, Silva proposed a match up between Mir and Roberto Travern, a new UFC fighter; Mir accepted the offer.

Mir defeated Roberto Travern by armbar at 1:05 of round one at UFC 34: High Voltage on November 2, 2001. The submission earned Mir the “Tapout of the Night” award.

He faced Ian Freeman, at UFC 38: Brawl at the Hall, held in London, England on July 13, 2002. Despite several leglock attempts by Mir, Freeman achieved side control at around four minutes into the first round, landing numerous elbows and punches on Mir’s head. After Freeman separated, the referee signaled an exhausted Mir to stand back up. A time out was called due to an apparent cut on Mir’s face, and the referee stopped the fight when a wobbly Mir had difficulty standing up.

On June 26, 2003 Mir fought Wes Sims at UFC 43: Meltdown. Mir won by disqualification at 2:55 of round one after Sims stomped down on Mir’s face after slamming his way out of Mir’s armbar attempt. They would rematch at UFC 46: Supernatural on January 31, 2004. Frank Mir won by knockout at 4:21 of round two.