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Tuesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Tuesday
3:00 a.m. ET Sportsnet Pacific: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
9:00 p.m. ET FX: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 17 Episode 7: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen: His Fist on My Face The guys get a night out at Hooters; a fighter's recurring leg pain lands him in the hospital; two fighters square off in the sixth preliminary fight.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Fighter's Cut - Frank Mir relives some of his most memorable UFC fights.
10:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 114
11:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news. Read more -
Thursday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Thursday
4:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 12
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
Relive all the action from UFC Fight Night 19: Nate Diaz vs Melvin Guillard in Oklahoma City, Okla.
8:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 157: Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - Prelims
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub; Anton Kuivanen vs. Michael Chiesa; Matt Grice vs. Dennis Bermudez; Caros Fodor vs. Sam Stout. From the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
3:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Roundtable
Analysts II FUEL TV's expert panel of analysts, Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen, Kenny Florian and Brian Stann sit down with Jay Glazer.
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann - Preview for FUEL TV 8 in Tokyo, Japan.
4:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 108
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
6:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Flames: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann - preview for FUEL TV 8 in Tokyo, Japan.
8:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 108
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones; Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort; Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly.
10:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 7
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick and Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 17 Episode 6: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen: Path to Greatness A fighter's attitude ignites a blowup at the house; the fighters battle it out in a night of bowling; two fighters meet in the octagon for the fifth preliminary fight.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
12:00 a.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 7 Read more -
Wednesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Wednesday
3:30 a.m. ET MavTV: The Conventioneers
UFC Fan Expo Jason and Matt jump into the trade show octagon at the UFC: Ultimate Fighting Championship Fan Expo.
5:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Champion's Roundtable With Jay Glazer
Jay Glazer chats all things UFC.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 157: Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - Prelims
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub; Anton Kuivanen vs. Michael Chiesa; Matt Grice vs. Dennis Bermudez; Caros Fodor vs. Sam Stout. From the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
9:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Roundtable
FUEL TV's expert panel of analysts, Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen, Kenny Florian and Brian Stann sit down with Jay Glazer.
10:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: World MMA Awards
In the fifth annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards, the silver statuette is bestowed on some the planet's best fighters.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Liz Carmouche prepares for her UFC debut; All-access for the UFC 157 promo shoot; Dustin Poirier's pursuit of the featherweight championship; and Michael Bisping on the UK's rich combat sports history.
11:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 108
2:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
UFC: Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann - Preview for FUEL TV 8 in Tokyo, Japan.
2:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 108
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC 157: Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - Prelims
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub; Anton Kuivanen vs. Michael Chiesa; Matt Grice vs. Dennis Bermudez; Caros Fodor vs. Sam Stout. From the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Presents Benson Henderson: Rising Up
Benson Henderson's mother, brother, girlfriend, coach and Benson, himself, reveal the motivations and desires that drive him.
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
7:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet ONE: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
8:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
Unification Episode 1 Josh Parrish vs. Shane Whittle; Corbin Polsgrove vs. Art Paden; Damon Jackson vs. Zac Church; Chad Herrick vs. David Heath.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
Relive all the action from UFC Fight Night 19: Nate Diaz vs Melvin Guillard in Oklahoma City, Okla.
10:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
Unification Episode 2 Wesley Crank vs. CL Johnson; Brian Robertson vs. Mat Thomas; Cody East vs. Andenilson Clementino; Josh Bryant vs. Sean Strickland.
11:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen
One of the longest running reality series in television history, The Ultimate Fighter brings together promising MMA prospects from across the world, who must live together in a house and battle each other for a coveted UFC contract. The contestants are divided into two teams, each coached by a star UFC fighter, and they battle it out in pursuit of one goal, one dream: to become The Ultimate Fighter.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
12:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos
From the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
12:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
Unification Episode 1 Josh Parrish vs. Shane Whittle; Corbin Polsgrove vs. Art Paden; Damon Jackson vs. Zac Church; Chad Herrick vs. David Heath. Read more -
Sherdog Photo of the Day: Aug. 14
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Aug. 14, 2010: Tim Sylvia knocked out Paul Buentello at Powerhouse World Promotions' "War on the Mainland" in Irvine, Calif. Photo by Dave Mandel. Read more -
Big Tim Sylvia Goes Pro (Wrestling)
By: Jake Rossen
Tim Sylvia file photo: Peter Lockley | Sherdog.com
If you really want to grunt and sweat and make a job of it, you could draw some thin parallels to Tim Sylvia and Harlan McClintock, the fictional protagonist of Rod Serling’s teleplay-turned-movie “Requiem for a Heavyweight.” In both instances, the audience is witnessing two former champions take a precipitous fall from grace in prizefighting -- only to be turned out and suffering exaggerated falls in the witless world of professional wrestling.
McClintock was the more tragic figure: burned by boxing, he suffered from a punch-drunk brain and few opportunities. Sylvia has no such condition (that anyone is aware of) and will probably make a nice stack of cash for a wrestling debut rumored to be against Josh Barnett at the end of the month in Japan. But isn’t there some level of tragedy in the idea of a champion reduced to flailing around a ring?
Maybe. Maybe not. Wrestling in Japan is a somewhat more noble pursuit than it is in the States. I doubt Sylvia will be asked to eat dog food, as Ken Shamrock once did on WWE television, or sing a Frank Sinatra ballad in the manner David “Tank” Abbott warbled on WCW. I wonder if this isn’t a double standard: Audie Murphy fought in World War II, acted as bravely as any man ever has, and went on to act on soundstages for Hollywood, even replicating his own war efforts onscreen at one point. And no one gave him any heat for it.
I suppose the difference is that Murphy put in his time and any acting pursuits were seen as a victory lap: wrestling, in contrast, is a demotion from actual competition. In a world full of movies that can capably present fictional action and where you can watch real fighting, it seems like an antique form of entertainment.
If you’ve always been an actor, great. If you’re now feigning punches in a circus atmosphere when you were once best known for being a real athlete, it’s more than a little disappointing. Read more -
Poll: Sylvia-Buentello
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Quick Quote: Sylvia Says Pudzianowski Was Not Strong
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Peter Lockley/Sherdog.com
Tim Sylvia, speaking Monday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s Savage Dog Show on whether Mariusz Pudzianowski was strong: “Not at all. I’ve faced guys in the gym that were stronger than him. I’m not saying any of the guys I faced can out-bench-press him or pull a car faster than he can or throw keg barrels around like he can, because none of us can, but that’s not what we train for. We train to go against other human beings that are punching you, kicking you, kneeing you or trying to out-position you with their hips. I knew the strength was not going to come into play just because I knew it was MMA. It’s totally different when someone’s trying to grab you and you’re punching them in the face and kneeing them in the body.” Read more -
Poll: Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski
By: Mike Fridley
The map below displays regional data for the current poll. Refresh (F5) to update:
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Red Ink: Sylvia/Pudzianowski
By: Jake Rossen
File Photo: Sherdog.com
While it has never been easy to be a Tim Sylvia fan -- the tall, smug fighter is neither an underdog nor ring dynamite -- the past year has been especially troublesome. Since the former UFC heavyweight champion defected from that promotion in 2008 to pursue a big money deal with Affliction, he has endured two losses in three fights. One of them was forgivable (the loss to King Fedor) and one was not (a viral video KO at the elderly hands of pro boxer Ray Mercer).
To enjoy more exposure in Strikeforce or in Japan, Sylvia will have to turn the punchline title over to Mariusz Pudzianowski, the no-necked strongman champion who is pursuing an improbable career in MMA. In two fights, Pudzianowski has displayed skill on the level of a very large, very powerful child throwing a tantrum. If he had an iota of wrestling ability, his physical pressure would be a nightmare. But as a fighter, he relies solely on explosive movements and basic brute force; as a novelty act, he falls somewhere in between Primo Carnera and the Green Power Ranger.
This is all high risk for very little reward. Sylvia beating Pudzianowski is an unremarkable chapter in the story of his career. Not beating him would probably be the end of it.
What It Means: For Sylvia, an opportunity to display a restored commitment to conditioning; for Pudzianowski, preserving his value as a carnival attraction.
Might Look Like: A complete mess.
Wild Card: Pudzianowski just fought two weeks ago. While beginners can maintain a busy fight schedule, they’re usually much younger. And better. And not facing former champions.
Who Wins: Unless Sylvia has completely checked out, Pudzianowski will get a boxing lesson similar to the jab-fest suffered by equally squat-framed Jeff Monson back in 2006. Sylvia by TKO. Read more -
Sylvia Goes for Broke
By: Jake Rossen
File Photo: Dave Mandel|Sherdog.com
At a point I can’t even identify, Tim Sylvia became a punchline. This was not always the case. From the beginning, he was awkwardly built -- to the point where he was once popped for banned substances just to streamline his frame -- but had earned the right to be taken seriously. He was a 6’8” heavyweight who used his reach and boxing to make life hell for opponents. He ran a five-fight win streak in the UFC. He knocked out Andrei Arlovski and Ricco Rodriguez when it counted. He busted up Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. There was something there.
Then came the big-money offer to fight Fedor Emelianenko. (He lost.) Then came the viral video loss to Ray Mercer, a 48-year-old boxer who was once submitted by Kimbo Slice. Then came the attempts to book garbage fights against Wes Sims to powder and diaper his ego. A guy makes those moves, and the jokes start writing themselves.
Unfortunately, Sylvia’s latest bid is another monkeys-on-unicycles brainstorm: he’s slated to fight “world’s strongest man” Mariusz Pudzianowski May 21. It will be Massachusetts’ first sanctioned mixed martial arts card. If first impressions count, the state had better hope for a power outage.
Sylvia doesn’t need these fights. What he needs are competitive bouts that can help restore some of the intimidation factor. There is still a place in the heavyweight division for a decent boxer with arms like telephone poles who is hell to take down. He should book a Mercer rematch to correct that glitch, and then pursue fights in Strikeforce or Dream that could put him in some kind of position for a comeback. If he loses to Pudzianowski, a fire hydrant of a man with one “pro” fight to his name, there isn’t going to be anything left of his career to salvage. Read more
