Sunday, August 9 1:23 pm PT: As far as the WEC is concerned, the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter isn’t aligned with Strikeforce and isn’t the product of a Cold War laboratory: he’s Miguel Torres, and he fights Sunday against a man who could be his very violent equal.
The 135 lb. Torres has gone largely unchallenged since taking the WEC’s bantamweight belt in February of 2008. He’s defended it three times, has lost only once in his career, and has used much of his athletic prime learning trade skills instead of proper benching form.
Opponent Brian Bowles has only been fighting for three years to Torres’ nine; he holds a perfect finishing record (7-0), is equally self-assured, and does not appear to be at all intimidated by Torres’ relative celebrity or reputation. There are no real guarantees in prizefighting, but the only way this fight would be anticlimactic is if someone forgets to wear a cup.
Sunday, August 9 11:34 am PT: From one top pound-for-pound fighter to another, as told by B.J. Penn at the postfight presser: “When Anderson started fighting, I walked into the bathroom because I didn’t want to see what was happening so I could (focus). And then I heard everybody yelling and yelling and then I saw Anderson walk in and say, ‘Now it’s your turn.’”
Anderson Silva connects on Forrest Griffin at UFC 101. Photo by Dave Mandel.
A sizeable chunk of the $3.55 million gate from UFC 101 “Declaration” on Saturday went into middleweight champion and pound-for-pound ace Anderson Silva’s wallet.
Silva banked a pair of $60,000 post-fight bonuses -- “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” -- after he throttled former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin in the opening round of their co-main event, stopping him with a short straight right hand 3:23 into the match. A crowd of 17,411 was on hand to witness Silva’s virtuoso performance, according to UFC President Dana White. In two UFC appearances at 205 pounds, Silva has dispatched Griffin and James Irvin in a combined 4:24.
Sunday, August 9 12:01 am PT: Boston’s famous Fenway Park is in the UFC’s sights, said UFC President Dana White at the post-fight press conference for UFC 101 early Sunday morning in Philadelphia. The state’s senate passed a bill on July 22 to regulate the sport, a first step that could see the Octagon makes its Massachusetts debut by next summer. White is a Boston native himself.
Meanwhile, White also mentioned that the promotion has other potential deals in play and could add another event to its October calendar in addition to UFC 104, which is scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Sunday, August 9 12:00 am PT: You could argue that every single night in Philadelphia plays host to
some kind of gruesome assault. The difference tonight? This is the
first time it’s under trademark.
UFC 101 "Declaration" -- headlined by B.J. Penn’s first-ever unified
lightweight title defense -- is scheduled for a 10 PM EST start. If
you’re unable or unwilling to visit Philly’s Wachovia Center and/or
don’t want to risk $44.95 on Anderson Silva once again mistaking the
Octagon for a ballroom, you can settle in here for up-to-the-hematoma
coverage. It may not beat a ringside seat, but it
also won't require a second mortgage.
I opened the New York Post on Friday and noticed an advertisement
notifying that Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club would be airing UFC 101
"Declaration" with “complimentary admission.”
If you are in the New York area, I cannot compete with this. Residents
outside the tri-state area should refresh this page for live updates
and observations from tonight’s card.
