Tag: Matt Serra

Skippy Asks the Tough Questions at UFC 133

A couple of weeks before UFC 133 in Philadelphia, Dana White made an appearance on Philly’s Preston and Steve show on WMMR to promote the show. Preston and Steve, being the wacky morning radio show duo they are, invited local comic and YouTube star Ed Bassmaster down to meet the Baldfather as one of his many alter-egos. Dana obviously had no idea who this guy was, as he completely bought that Skippy was just your average TUF fan in khakis and comically thick glasses.

So what happens when you ask Dana why he frequently seems upset and angry?

Well, Dana was so amused that he decided to have Ed wander the locker rooms and hallways at the event, doing interviews and trying to put some moves on Chandella. Of course, what he really wanted to do was get Skippy in the same room with Lorenzo Fertitta and sit back and watch the big guy squirm.

A couple of weeks before UFC 133 in Philadelphia, Dana White made an appearance on Philly’s Preston and Steve show on WMMR to promote the show. Preston and Steve, being the wacky morning radio show duo they are, invited local comic and YouTube star Ed Bassmaster down to meet the Baldfather as one of his many alter-egos. Dana obviously had no idea who this guy was, as he completely bought that Skippy was just your average TUF fan in khakis and comically thick glasses.

So what happens when you ask Dana why he frequently seems upset and angry?

Well, Dana was so amused that he decided to have Ed wander the locker rooms and hallways at the event, doing interviews and trying to put some moves on Chandella. Of course, what he really wanted to do was get Skippy in the same room with Lorenzo Fertitta and sit back and watch the big guy squirm.

Props to Dana, Lorenzo, Chandella, and the fighters for being patient with the funny guy.

But hey, if Dana likes comedians, why does he hate us so much? Hey Dana, call us; we’ll punk anybody you want. If all it takes to make Dana laugh is “make Lorenzo uncomfortable”, we should be able to get backstage access for a decade.

Props to MiddleEasy for the tip.

[RX]

Matt Serra Talks About Getting Rid of the ‘Preggo Pounds’

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — MMA Fighting caught up with former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra to talk about when he’ll fight next, his student Chris Weidman‘s win at UFC 131, a new addition to his family and much more.

 

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — MMA Fighting caught up with former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra to talk about when he’ll fight next, his student Chris Weidman‘s win at UFC 131, a new addition to his family and much more.

 

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UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre: Defining a Champion

Start up a conversation with anyone about mixed martial arts, and who are the best or favorite fighters, and inevitably one Canadian superstar tends to pop up. You will not find any list of pound-for-pound best without seeing Georges “Rush”…

Start up a conversation with anyone about mixed martial arts, and who are the best or favorite fighters, and inevitably one Canadian superstar tends to pop up. You will not find any list of pound-for-pound best without seeing Georges “Rush” St. Pierre’s name near, or at the top of it.

GSP has been one of those fighters that comes along every so often that is able to adapt and improve himself as time goes on. He has proven his dominance in the cage and has truly written his name down in MMA history already. 

When defining a champion, one has to look at a few factors.

By sheer numbers, the opponents they fought play a role, as well as the means in which they came out victorious. Beyond the arena, fans and critics alike look at a fighter’s character and demeanor to determine if they ACT like a champion.

Lastly, after winning the title, many believe that in order to be considered a “true” champion, they must defend their title at least once.

GSP is in no shortage of any of these factors. He has fought top name fighters such as Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, Josh Koscheck, Thiago Avles, Jake Shields, BJ Penn and more. He has defended his UFC title six times in a row, a feat that is impressive in an organization where titles change quickly in other weight divisions. 

GSP now stands with a record of 22-2. 

The one factor that is of controversy and debate is the HOW he was victorious in his fights. GSP is notoriously criticized by fans and critics alike about his inability to finish fights. It may be an inability, but even some fellow fighters have looked at their Canadian colleague and have indicated they thought he was playing it safe, and just trying not to lose instead of trying to win.

Having five out of the six title defenses be by decision, it does not help his case.

Whether or not he is playing it safe, his wins are still wins. With almost every fight, we see two things stand out.

We see what new developments he has made to his game, and we see his game plan unfold.

For example, after bringing on Freddie Roach to train him in boxing, GSP showcased his vast improvement in striking. Josh Koscheck can attest to that. Many have said that GSP is one of the smarter, if not the smartest, fighter.

He intelligently prepares and comes up with a game plan, and then executes it in the cage. He shows that he learns from his mistakes and pushes himself to be a better fighter each day.

A champion is a fighter that does not attain the belt, then sit back and wait. They train and study the same way they did to get to the top. GSP has proven that having the belt is not the summit for his legacy, but rather the beginning. He stays unsatisfied with himself to a degree and looks for new means of improving himself as a champion, an athlete and a mixed martial artist.

GSP may be the next best Canadian product aside from Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky drinking maple syrup while riding a moose, Eh?

But he truly has been not only an ambassador for the fan-filled nation of Canada, but for the rest of the world as well. GSP is a name that people recognize far more than other fighters in MMA. With his sponsorships of Under Armour, ESPN, etc, he is not only a terrific fighter, but a very marketable one as well.

His humbleness inside and outside the cage is unwavering and helps his overall image as a champion.

Whether you are a fan of GSP or not, one cannot deny his ability as a fighter in the biggest organization in MMA. He still retains that 12 lbs of gold and does not show any signs of slowing down. Whether he loses his next fight or retires tomorrow, he will go down as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

 

EPISODE TWO of “Defining a Champion” Series: Georges St. Pierre

 

What do YOU think is GSP’s defining factors that makes him a Champion? Please leave your answers and why in the Comments Section below! 

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Injury, Impending Fatherhood Sideline Matt Serra

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsMatt Serra hasn’t competed since his September loss to Chris Lytle at UFC 119, and chances are he won’t be returning to action in the immediate future.

Serra’s long-time coach, Ray Longo, said on Monday’s epis…

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Matt Serra hasn’t competed since his September loss to Chris Lytle at UFC 119, and chances are he won’t be returning to action in the immediate future.

Serra’s long-time coach, Ray Longo, said on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, that with Serra’s wife expecting the couple’s second child in April and a lingering hand injury still bothering the former UFC welterweight champion, the 36-year-old Serra will most probably remain on the sidelines for a good portion of 2011.

Eight MMA Fights That Were Over Before They Started

 
By Cage Potato contributor Chris Colemon(Actually, make that the "9 MMA Fights That Were Over Before They Started.")
Your average Mixed Martial Artist devotes three months of his life to preparing for a fight. That’s ninety days …

 
By Cage Potato contributor Chris Colemon


(Actually, make that the "9 MMA Fights That Were Over Before They Started.")

Your average Mixed Martial Artist devotes three months of his life to preparing for a fight. That’s ninety days of rigorous training and dieting; ninety days of mental preparation and time spent away from friends and family. That great sacrifice becomes worthwhile the moment the bell rings and he gets to show the world what ninety days of commitment can bring. There are few better ways of displaying your hard work than to shut down your opponent in theblink of an eye. After months of speculation, hype, and anticipation, you could say that such fights were over before they even began. You could say that, but you’d be wrong. That ignoble distinction belongs to a whole other category of fights. Fights that didn’t end with a winner and a loser. Fights that didn’t make the sacrifice of training worthwhile. Fights that were truly over before they began.

Check them out after the jump.


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Video Roundup: The Five Most Memorable Insults in ‘TUF’ History

As we recently learned, the next season of The Ultimate Fighter will be coached by a grumpy mountain man who probably won’t spend any more time on set than he absolutely needs to, and a Brazilian dynamo whose grasp on the English language is limited to simple phrases like "I believe too much in my boxing" and "tub you are a cold — so we’re not expecting a verbal rivalry on par with Tito/Ken or Rampage/Rashad. Still, it’s TUF, so somebody’s gonna get told at some point. Can this season’s insults possibly stack up to some of our past favorites?

#5: "You’re like an expert swimmer who’s never been in a pool."

Matt Serra’s epic dress-down of Marc Laimon was his star-making moment — and a firm bitch-smack to every sideline-hater who talks tough without any intention of actually backing up his words. A year later, Serra was coaching that damn show.

#4: "Bro, you’re a male nurse."

Like a Katy Perry song, it’s annoying as hell, and yet you can’t get it out of your head. "Bro, you’re a male nurse" — I say that to all my friends now, no matter what their professions actually are. And it aggravates them too.

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As we recently learned, the next season of The Ultimate Fighter will be coached by a grumpy mountain man who probably won’t spend any more time on set than he absolutely needs to, and a Brazilian dynamo whose grasp on the English language is limited to simple phrases like "I believe too much in my boxing" and "tub you are a cold — so we’re not expecting a verbal rivalry on par with Tito/Ken or Rampage/Rashad. Still, it’s TUF, so somebody’s gonna get told at some point. Can this season’s insults possibly stack up to some of our past favorites?

#5: "You’re like an expert swimmer who’s never been in a pool."

Matt Serra’s epic dress-down of Marc Laimon was his star-making moment — and a firm bitch-smack to every sideline-hater who talks tough without any intention of actually backing up his words. A year later, Serra was coaching that damn show.

#4: "Bro, you’re a male nurse."

See More: TUF 12 • Josh Koscheck • Team Koscheck • Team GSP

Like a Katy Perry song, it’s annoying as hell, and yet you can’t get it out of your head. "Bro, you’re a male nurse" — I say that to all my friends now, no matter what their professions actually are. And it aggravates them too.

read more