UFC: Pat Audinwood to make UFC debut at UFC 119

Team Bombsquad’s Pat Audinwood will make his UFC debut at UFC 119, TheSteelCage.net has learned.

Audinwood has fought on the local circuit for some time, debuting in 2007. He has fought at both 170 and 155 pounds, and is 9-0-1 in his career, drawing Andrew Montanez before beating him in a decision just a month later.

I’ve seen Audinwood fight numerous times – the last being at American Steel Cage Fighting last year – and the kid is one of the smartest fighters I’ve ever seen. Nothing will “wow” you, but he’s good at almost everything. He’s also incredibly smart – he knows when to attack, when to defend and when to use which strategy.

Of his nine wins, Audinwood has five decisions (4 unanimous) and four submissions (3 triangle chokes and an arm bar).

The 24-year-old Audinwood will make his UFC debut against Aaron Riley (29-12-1, 3-4 UFC).

MMA: Lawrence’s Santiago to turn pro

I spoke with Will Santiago this morning, who confirmed that he will turn pro with his next fight, most likely in October.

Santiago will be featured in my weekly “On MMA” column in this Sunday’s Eagle Tribune.

Santiago (3-0 as an amateur) trains with Intenze MMA Academy in Lawrence, Mass. His first amateur fight was in November – a TKO win over Ryan Sexton. He followed that up with a TKO win over Joshua Morales in January and a submission win over Lowell Zangri last month.

Santiago said he will fight a few more fights at 185 pounds before moving down to 170 pounds, where he hopes to stay.

For more on Santiago, reaction from UFC 116 and looking ahead to Combat Zone 34 in Salem, N.H. next month, be sure to check out Sunday’s Eagle Tribune.

UFC reaches settlement with over 500 for illegal broadcasts

As a part of its ongoing efforts to combat piracy, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that it reached confidential settlements with over 500 businesses and individuals as a result of illegal broadcasts and views of UFC events.

The settlements, reached over the past two years, are only part of the UFC’s campaign to combat piracy, which includes working closely with Federal and state law enforcement agencies.

“We are committed to standing toe-to-toe with anyone trying to illegally broadcast or stream UFC events,” UFC President Dana White, said. “Today’s announcement further drives home the fact that we are fully prepared to pursue any business or individual that steals our programming.”

Batista trains with Cesar Gracie through Strikeforce

Sherdog.com posted a great read about former WWE champ Dave Batista, who trained with Cesar Gracie for two days in California. The arrangement was facilitated by Strikeforce, according to the story.

“He’s got a lot to learn but his strength alone is impressive,” Gracie told the site. “Obviously he’s a beginner at jiu-jitsu but we can take a guy like that that’s already a strong athlete like that and teach him what to not get caught in.

“He’s a pretty good kicker,” said Gracie. “He hits very hard.”

Batista hit the mats with former Strikeforce middleweight champ Jake Shields – who is rumored to be signing a UFC deal soon – as well as welterweight Nick Diaz.

You can read the full story by clicking here.

Strikeforce: “Why not Batista?”

Scott Coker, CEO of the MMA group, Strikeforce, was a guest on Sherdog’s “Beatdown” show where he discussed the possibility of former WWE star Batista joining the promotion.

Batista told TMZ.com a few weeks back that he had signed with Strikeforce, but there were later reports that he did not sign with the company.

“Is he signed right now? No. But is he somebody we’d like to see in the cage in the future fighting for Strikeforce? It’s a possibility.” Coker said. “Just like we did with Herschel [Walker], we’d have to put him into a gym. It doesn’t matter what gym, as long as it’s a reputable mixed martial arts academy. He has to go in there and train because if he didn’t, we’d probably have a short relationship.

Coker was asked about a possibility of a Batista-Bobby Lashley fight; Lashley also wrestled for WWE.

“That would just be a fun fight to watch,” Coker said. “We’re not the guys that are putting all the circus fights on, but in all fairness, look at Brock Lesnar. He made the crossover. Why not Batista?”

UFC: Lesnar-Velasquez could headline UFC 119

According to MMAJunkie.com’s Dann Stupp, Brock Lesnar, health permitting, could defend his UFC heavyweight title against Cain Velasquez at September’s UFC 119 in Indianapolis.

UFC president Dana White confirmed over the weekend that Lesnar’s next title defense would come against the undefeated Velasquez, who has six straight UFC wins.

UFC 119 takes place Sept. 25 at the Conseco Fieldhouse; it will be UFC’s debut in Indiana.

If the fight takes place, it would mean just a little over two months off for Lesnar, who beat Shane Carwin on Saturday to unify the heavyweight belts. Velasquez last fought at UFC 110 (Feb. 21), knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria.

UFC: Kenny Florian talks about UFC 118

TheSteelCage.net’s Mike McMahon had the opportunity to  speak UFC lightweight contender Kenny Florian last week about his upcoming fight with Gray Maynard at UFC 118 in Boston on Aug. 28 as part of his weekly “On MMA” column in The Eagle Tribune.

Florian also talked about getting MMA sanctioned in Massachusetts and recovering from a staph infection that sidelined him for a period in April after his win over Takanori Gomi.

Florian played a major role in helping MMA get sanctioned in Massachusetts, allowing the UFC to hold its first event at Boston’s TD Garden later this summer. He was featured in advertising campaigns on the web and lobbied the athletics commission to finally sanction the sport.

Florian also talked about his regular training, his specific training for Maynard, and how he feels about his fight at UFC 118 possibly determining the No. 1 contender for the winner of that night’s main event between B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar for the lightweight championship.

Florian also praised UFC and president Dana White for their contributions to the success of not only UFC, but MMA around the world.

UFC: Lesnar beats Carwin, retains UFC heavyweight belt

As Shane Carwin beat on the head of Brock Lesnar in the first round of their heavyweight title fight on Saturday, I turned to the person next to me and said, “he needs to finish him here, or he’s toast.”

Sure, Brock was bleeding quite profusely from his eye. Didn’t matter. I had been saying for the start that if Carwin can’t beat Lesnar in the first round, then he can’t beat Lesnar, period.

And not that I’m the type of guy to say “I told you so,” but that’s just what happened.

Lesnar made Carwin tap in a triangle in the second round of what proved to be the biggest fight the UFC heavyweight division has ever seen.

UFC: Shane Carwin’s three keys to victory at UFC 116

1. Get that first round knockout

As we said in Brock’s keys, the longer the fight goes, the more it becomes Brock’s fight. Shane is a monster – this guy is finishing everyone in the first round, usually inside of two minutes – and that has to continue against Lesnar, who may still be a wounded animal. Sure, Brock says he’s fine, but he was battling an illness that many thought would postpone or even end his career. I don’t think the question has been asked, but how much weight did Brock lose during that time period? He’s back to 265 pounds, but how low was he? It’s not the best thing for the human body – both from a muscular and bone standpoint – to go through those drastic changes in weight. … Bottom line is that Shane will be in unknown territory if he goes to his corner and every second that passes by, Brock will get a little more comfortable, and a little more confident.

2. Go for the submission

Everyone is expecting this to be a slugfest, and it will, but Shane has got to remember to go for the submission. I see a lot of similarities in Brock going into this fight like he did the first Frank Mir fight. After what he’s been through, he has a lot to prove – just like he did in that UFC debut – and who knows if he’ll make a mistake that could open him up for a guillotine, an armbar or even a kneebar, like in that Mir fight. Brock could be so anxious, so hyped up, that he makes that costly mistake. Shane has to watch for it.

3. Be the better wrestler

Just like with Brock, the better wrestler wins this fight on the ground. If it goes to the mat, it becomes a wrestling match.

UFC: Brock Lesnar’s three keys to victory at UFC 116

1. Sit back and don’t attack

Sounds crazy? Yeah, I know. But for the first round, Lesnar just has to survive. Shane Carwin is going to come out swinging, he’s finishing everybody in the first round. Brock, on the other hand, hasn’t fought in a year. Let Shane get tired and avoid being knocked out. This fight isn’t going five rounds, so it doesn’t matter if Brock loses the first. If I’m his coach, I tell him not to throw a friggin punch. Just defend, dance and avoid Carwin. Will the crowd hate it? Yeah, probably, but Brock wants to win the fight. Just survive that first five minutes. The longer the fight goes, the more it’s in Brock’s favor. Shane gets into more uncomfortable territory – he’s never been to his corner – and Brock shakes more and more rust off.

2. Use that left hand

Peter Welch was brought in for a reason – to make Brock deadly with both hands. Use it! Once you get into that second or third round, use the right jab to setup a big overhand cross or uppercut, if in close. The fact of the matter is that this is a new weapon in Brock’s arsenal. Carwin doesn’t have any video or any tool to scout this new left power hand of Brock’s. Use it to your advantage.

3. Be the better wrestler

If the fight goes to the ground, the better wrestler wins. Both of these guys are tremendous wrestlers – the fact that Carwin wrestler DII in college in moot, he still is a champion. Guys go DII all the time – maybe it was money? Who knows the reason? If the fight goes to the ground, Brock has to out-wrestle Carwin. Can he do it?