SpikeTV and the UFC team up once again to bring a free night of live fights! The Ultimate Fight Night series can sometimes be lackluster. It’s often used to showcase up and coming talent in the UFC that isn’t quite ready for a big pay-per-view. While these card certainly showcased up and comers, ‘lackluster’ is not how COED would describe it.

The entire card showed why the UFC is indeed the premiere MMA organization on the planet at the moment. Smart matchmaking and a complete swelling of talent made this one of the best free fight cards that Spike has ever aired.

The card was headlined by a lightweight bout between the always tough Josh Neer and the ridiculously entertaining Nate Diaz. One half of the legendary Diaz brothers, Nate, the younger brother of Nick, trains at the same camp, boxes the same way, and sports the same slick submission game as his brother. The only difference (they even look alike) is that Nate seems angrier. He ended his last fight flipping the double-bird salute to the audience as he had his opponent caught in a triangle. (more…)

A new month and a new UFC card. Taking place on Saturday, September 6^th at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, UFC 88 lacks any title fights, but does include a few bouts that have title implications. Here is an overview of the card.

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell vs. “Sugar” Rashad Evans

The return of the king. Or rather, former king. Chuck Liddell makes his first appearance in the Octagon since his ridiculously exciting bout versus Wanderlei Silva in 2007.

This fight was supposed to take place in June but Chuck injured his hamstring, and despite his insistence that he could fight (Chuck had never pulled himself from a card before) Dana White pulled the plug. A smart decision, considering Rashad is no pushover.

Evans is a TUF winner and currently undefeated in the UFC (one draw, versus Tito Ortiz). This is a classic wrestler vs. striker match-up, and while we definitely believe that Rashad is a prospect at 205, COED is taking Liddell in this one.

Chuck might be getting older, but he showed in his fight against Silva that he’s still hungry and can play an intelligent game. The one thing that hasn’t declined for Chuck is his sprawl. More so than his knockout power, The Iceman’s ability to stay on his feet is truly legendary. If Rashad wants to win, he’ll have to shoot and scoop. Unfortunately, Chuck won’t let this happen and will catch Rashad multiple times as he comes in for the take down.

COED Pick : Chuck Liddell by TKO. (more…)

After wrecking some sh*t in his giant truck, getting arrested, then bailed out (by Dana White), claiming that he was God and being admitted to a hospital for observation, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is apparently back to what equates to normal.

He was seen walking around Minneapolis during the pre-fight preparations for UFC 87, accompanied by Dana White, and he spoke at a press conference for the event.

Apparently Dana is Quinton’s new security, at least until the UFC can be sure that he’s not the crazy dude he was acting like a few weeks ago. Jackson can be seen in several of Dana White’s UFC 87 video blogs.

Everyone at COED is pleased to hear that ‘Page is healthy both mentally and physically, but his time in the spotlight of bad fortune may not be over just yet. Apparently when Rampage went on his, well, rampage, he may or may not have caused the miscarriage of a Huntington Beach, CA resident’s unborn child. (Whoops!) (more…)

Just when you thought it was safe to say Fedor has regained his crown of pound for pound greatest MMA fighter on the planet, this happens…on the same night. In an obvious (though they denied it) attempt to draw eyes away from Affliction : Banned (unnecessary, really, the Banned guys did a horrible job advertising), Dana White and company set up a fight card on the same evening, featuring their best fighter, Anderson Silva, moving up a weight class to test the 205 waters. Critics of the UFC said this was a stupid risk. Silva’s opponent, while not a world beater, was the ever-dangerous James ‘The Sandman’ Irvin, who’s basically made a career off of bizarre defeats (in one of his fights, his opponent tried to double leg him and they both broke through the cage wall, ending up in the crowd, WWE-style) and quick ridiculously brutal knockout victories. He’s not ‘amazing’ but he’s very random, and under the dictionary definition of ‘Puncher’s Chance,’ you’ll see Irvin’s picture. There was also talk of Irvin being bigger and stronger then any guy Silva has faced, etc.

These worries ended up being unwarranted. Silva is better then Irvin at everything Irvin does best, and good at things Irvin doesn’t know how to do. He’s simply a far superior fighter and he showed that on Saturday night when he ripped ‘The Sandman’s’ face off in 61 seconds. (more…)

This past weekend, street fighter Kimbo Slice entered the Elite XC octagon and burst James Thompson’s cauliflower ear. It was bloody, exciting, and saved Kimbo from what was sure to be a loss.

Kimbo Slice, a former varsity football player, bouncer, and bodyguard, became famous via underground street fights posted on YouTube. He’d win his fights by fiercely bludgeoning his opponents, which turned the heavy-hitter into an over night sensation.

Kimbo decided to take his craft to the world of Mixed Martial Arts, and so far has a record of 2-0. On Saturday though, his weaknesses were exposed: Despite being a great street fighter and striker, Kimbo is out of his element on the ground. If an experienced opponent like Tito Ortiz takes him down, he’s potentially finished.

But there is another famous Mixed Martial Artist who is as inexperienced as Kimbo,ds but is generating buzz–former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. (more…)