My MMA Resource

UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar’s disdain for dealing with the general public has been well documented. Despite being the Octagon’s most marketable fighter, company brass seldom ask their biggest meal ticket – literally and figuratively – to participate in media junkets or promotional events.

“Brock Lesnar might be the biggest star in this sport, but he’s the only guy we don’t make do [marketing] stuff because Brock doesn’t like people. That’s why he lives out in the middle of the woods somewhere,” sports personality Jim Rome recalled of his conversation with UFC president Dana White.

Oh, so that explains why the company’s most popular athlete is in only a handful of fan pictures on the UFC 121 Facebook page. Cain Velasquez, the next threat to his throne, is featured in countless fan-submitted photographs.

“I’ve been in front of the camera for 10-12 years,” Lesnar matter-of-factly told ESPN’s Jim Rome is Burning. “I was a star at the University of Minnesota, and then I went on to World Wrestling Entertainment, [was a] wannabe NFL player and here I am the UFC heavyweight champion.

“I just don’t put myself out there to the fans and prostitute my private life to everybody. In today’s day and age, with the internet and cameras and cellphones, I just like being old school and living in the woods and living my life.”

At the same token, it’s not as though Lesnar unleashes lyrical gems when he rocks the mic either. Let’s not forget about his dissing of the UFC’s most mainstream corporate sponsor at UFC 100, which at the time was the organization’s most monumental show.

“I’m going to drink a Coors Light,” Lesnar stated after beating Frank Mir back in July 2009. “That’s right a Coors. Because Bud Light won’t pay me nothin’.”

The world’s premier mixed martial arts show hosted a UFC 121 open media workout on Thursday. Guess who was not in attendance?

Clearly, “The Next Big Thing’s” appearance on JRIB played a role in his absence. However, it would have been interesting to see if he would’ve been asked to attend the media pow-wow had ESPN not phoned.

Lesnar recently emerged from hibernation to hop a private jet destined for the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Make sure to order Saturday’s pay-per-view broadcast, it might be the last time to see or hear from Lesnar in a while.

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

Brendan Schaub will throw down with Gabriel Gonzaga on Saturday night at UFC 121. Although the former top contender marks his most formidable foe to date, “The Hybrid” appears fully prepared to seize the moment.

“I’m stoked. It’s just a great opportunity and a big-named opponent and tough opponent in Gabriel Gonzaga. I couldn’t ask for much more. [Octagon president] Dana White and [matchmaker] Joe Silva have been pretty good to me,” Schaub told 5thRound.com.

Everything has happened rather quickly for the former football stud, a lot faster than he could have even imagined. However, when you have stars like Nate Marquardt and Shane Carwin within your “circle of trust,” it’s not as unbelievable as one would think.

“Shane and I just talked about this the other day. It seems like just yesterday me and him were in this little gym with no technique, messing each other up. He used to always tell me, ‘Be ready because the UFC’s is gonna come calling sooner than you think,’” explained Schaub. “Sure enough, I got the call for ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ after only four fights and here I am on the biggest card of the year. On the pay-per-view portion, fighting a top fighter in the world.

“I just need to chill out and kinda embrace this and not look past all this. Things happen quick, but I’m trying to put it slow-mo and embrace all of this.”

Since losing to Roy Nelson at the TUF 10 Finale, Schaub has finished his last two opponents in a combined 114 SECONDS. Most fighters would be amped over such devastation, but as the Denver native explained, he’s completely unsatisfied and wants to make amends for what transpired at UFC 116.

It is a night he’s dubbed the worst of his career, despite the fact he collected his sixth pro victory.

“I’ve put my body through hell this camp. This last fight at UFC 116 with Chris Tuchscherer, I threw one punch and the fight was over,” said Schaub. “I was so unsatisfied cause Chris is a tough guy so I was figuring it was going to go three rounds.

“One punch, knocked him out. I went to the back and I was so unsatisfied. And then Carwin lost. That was one of the worst nights of my career.”

While most would be pleased with capturing a win to go along with a phat paycheck, the 27-year-old has shown great maturity in understanding the need to showcase his entire repertoire if he’s to make it to the land of the elites. At the same time, his selfless compassion for his fallen big brother shouldn’t go unsung either.

A self-professed “uber MMA fan,” Schaub admits he never focuses on early finishes and is always prepared for an all-out war. That being said, he won’t allow himself to get involved in a scrap where the fans and his boss lose.

“You look at a fight like Frank Mir/[Mirko] ‘Cro Cop.’ Was there really a winner in that fight? Dana White and the fans were pretty upset with [UFC 119]. So in that case, yeah, it definitely matters how you win,” the Grudge Training Center athlete said.

“A convincing win over Gabriel Gonzaga, I think it puts you right up there with the rest of the top heavyweights.”

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

For a guy who prefers to escape the demands of superstardom by secluding himself in the backwoods of Alexandria, Minnesota, UFC heavyweight king Brock Lesnar still garners plenty of attention.

In some instances, the former WWE superstar has served as the perfect employee for the world’s premier mixed martial arts show. Sitting atop the food chain and knowing others are trying to eat off your plate is usually enough to keep most champions focused and motivated. So when Lesnar goes into hibernation for weeks on end, it doesn’t worry UFC president Dana White in the least.

When it comes to fighting and everything involved with perfecting his craft, Lesnar’s got his career on lock. Although the 33-year-old’s willingness to deal with the media and general public leave a lot to be desired, Octagon brass feel it’s just Brock being Brock.

“He gets angry sometimes and he lashes out at people he shouldn’t lash out at,” White admitted during Wednesday’s UFC 121 pre-fight press conference.

Ok, so dissing a major corporate sponsor, taunting a beaten and battered man to his face and flipping off an entire arena filled with ticket-paying customers doesn’t necessarily make him a Human Resources’ dream. Although, it has helped him become the UFC’s poster boy.

“I do appreciate it,” Lesnar said of his face getting plastered across the globe. “It’s a business for me. I think we’ve got a good business relationship. I don’t make it more complicated than has to be. I don’t buy into any of the BS. Train, sleep, family, fight. It’s my life and I like it.”

“I just want to be better, to be the best I can be. That’s the whole purpose [of me competing in this sport], proving that I’m better than that guy I step in the cage with.”

Now that Lesnar has unofficially become the face of the Octagon, let’s talk about the grass that’s growing around his chin. Do they not sell weed wackers in Minnesota?

“I finally just hit puberty and I wanted to try it out and see if I could grow one,” Lesnar jokingly said of his bushy beard. “I’m going hunting the next day in Canada. It’s cold up there, so [the beard] is not going anywhere.”

We’re gonna go ahead and let HR deal with that one…

UFC 121 will be jumping off this Saturday inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

And then there were none. As in no more of Paul Heyman’s captivating vignettes for “EA Sports MMA.” The marketing guru released the final of five promotional videos for the highly acclaimed video game, which hit shelves this past Tuesday.

His latest masterpiece stars Strikeforce lightweight king Gilbert Melendez. Although the weatherman had predicted sunny skies, a vicious and violent storm – let’s just call it El Niño – comes blazing through the San Fran area.

“Melendez’s offense is like a vicious, angry storm front, and yet away from the cage he is calm and introspective. He presents an atmosphere of inner peace, but when that switch flicks on, you know you’re in the eye of a dangerous storm!” Heyman stated.“We wanted to convey that aspect of his personality because it’s what makes Gilbert Melendez the lightweight champion of the world!”

The gaming giant recently acquired Heyman’s services to produce five promos for their heavily hyped game. Now that he’s fulfilled his commitment to EA, rumors have swirled as to what his next venture may be.

Some have speculated this video game deal, which features a bevy of Strikeforce talent, has paved the way for a potential partnership with the San Jose, California-based MMA promotion. It’s not like Heyman could help or anything…

Please click the media player below to watch his last video:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

If you can’t seem to get enough of the pre-fight promotional hoopla surrounding “UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez,” make sure to stream Monday’s replay of “Countdown to UFC 121″ right here on 5thRound.com.

Spike TV’s 30-minute documentary showcases heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez as they prepare to headline the most talent rich fight card of 2010.

The highly popular show also takes fans into the lives of co-main event fighters Jake Shields and Martin Kampmann. Shields recently abandoned his Strikeforce middleweight crown to swim in the Octagon’s pool. He’ll be riding a 14-fight win streak into his shootout with the Dutchman.

A light heavyweight scrap between Matt Hamill and his former “The Ultimate Fighter 3″ coach Tito Ortiz also received special attention in the show.

UFC 121 will be popping off this Saturday inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Please click the media player below to watch “Countdown to UFC 121″:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

It’s not often Fedor Emelianenko makes a public appearance stateside, particularly when a fight’s not looming. However, the planet’s former/reigning top heavyweight recently hosted a seminar in Chatsworth, California to pass along some tricks of the trade to a few fortunate fanboys.

“The Last Emperor” was last seen tucking his head between Fabricio Werdum’s lanky legs for a shocking submission loss. The June defeat marked his first professional MMA blemish in nearly a decade.

Emelianenko has only one fight remaining on his current Strikeforce deal.  M-1 Global, the management company that handles all of his affairs, were hoping to have an extension ironed out by week’s end.

While their intentions are appreciated, it’s highly unlikely as negotiations have lagged for several months to no avail. It’s appearing as though he could become a free agent after the next time he takes the cage.

On Tuesday, Emelianenko battled UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture in a friendly button mashing game of “EA Sports MMA” at Universal City Walk in Southern Cali. No word on whether he’ll be attending the biggest fight card of the year just down the I-5 this Saturday at “UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez.”

Please click the media player below to watch Fedor 101:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

The world’s premier MMA organization has released countless promotional videos leading up to Saturday’s “UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez” extravaganza. However, it appears CainPainTrian has saved the best for last.

Unlike the American versions that were previously released on YouTube, this edition is done in Spanish – subtitles and all. No offense to the Octagon’s media department, but a few underground video producers have recently emerged and have certainly upped the ante.

UFC 121 takes place Saturday inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Cain Velasquez will headline the pay-per-view broadcast opposite heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar.

Lensar became the planet’s top dog after his dramatic come-from-behind victory over Shane Carwin at UFC 116 in July. The submission win bumped his pro MMA record to a dominant 5-1.

Despite having only six bouts under his gold belt, half of Lesnar’s scraps have been of the championship variety.

Velasquez earned his top contender status by putting down Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 in February. The talented American Kickboxing Academy fighter is perfect through his first eight contests, ending all but one in devastating TKO fashion.

Please click the media player below to watch the video:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

HawaiiNewsNow.com is reporting controversial UFC middleweight Chris Leben was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. According to the media outlet, Leben lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into a wall near a freeway off ramp at around 2AM this past Tuesday morning.

He was allegedly driving without a license and car insurance. The report did not confirm if the vehicle is registered or owned by the Oahu, Hawaii-based mixed martial artist.

Leben was released after posting $1,000 bail.

“The Crippler” is scheduled to appear in front of a judge at the Honolulu District Court on November 22th.

If this report holds true, it wouldn’t be first time the talented slugger has found himself on the wrong side of the law. In fact, it wouldn’t be his first DUI bust. In April 2008, he turned himself in to Oregon authorities and was arrested for a parole violation stemming from a previous DUI offense.

Leben was then sentenced to 35 days in jail, causing his UFC 85 scrap against Michael Bisping to be rescheduled for UFC 89 – much to the dismay of Octagon brass.

The 30-year-old subsequently parlayed his unanimous decision loss to Bisping into a positive steroid test and nine-month suspension.

In regards to his MMA career, thing’s have never been better. He’s riding a three-fight winning streak and has a New Year’s Day date with former WEC light heavyweight champ Brian Stann at UFC 125.

No word from the UFC regarding their 185-pounder.

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

It’s not often you’ll hear an MMA fighter reveal his strategy prior to showtime. However, Cain Velasquez not only shared his UFC 121 game plan for Brock Lesnar, but he opted to do so on sports’ biggest stage.

“In this fight, I’m looking to go everywhere. I’m expecting to box, kickbox with him. I’m expecting to wrestle with him,” Velasquez vaguely told ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I’m expecting to be on the ground with him, to be in bad positions, to get out of those bad positions. To be on top of him, too.

“So I’m expecting to be everywhere in this fight.”

In addition to donning Octagon gold, Lesnar stakes claim to a dominant 5-1 resume and will be riding a four-fight winning streak into the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. So, thanks for providing clarity in regards to the obvious…

“Just seeing him with his stand-up against Shane Carwin [in his last fight], he didn’t look too comfortable,” Velasquez said of his perceived edge. “I know where he wants to take the fight, he wants to take the fight to the ground. That’s where he feels more comfortable, so we’ve devised a game plan around that.”

Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. It appears the prior All-American wrestler isn’t interested in dusting off his Asics and reliving his collegiate wrasslin’ career against the former 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion.

Although Carwin unleashed a vicious barrage of strikes on Lesnar at UFC 116, the former WWE stud surprisingly survived the 1stRound assault to collect a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Despite the fact no heavyweight had ever shown that kind of perseverance against Carwin, Velasquez believes he’s got the goods to get the job done.

The 28-year-old owns a perfect 8-0 mixed martial arts record, with seven of his wins ending in vicious TKO fashion. While the chances of this scrap going the full 25 minutes are remote, Velasquez has prepared for the worst nonetheless.

“I’m expecting a five round war for this fight, so I’m definitely ready,” he emphatically stated.

Please click the media player below to watch Velasquez’s interview with ESPN:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word

After rallying to submit former interim champ Shane Carwin at UFC 116 to unify the heavyweight title, most believed Brock Lesnar’s stranglehold on the division had never been more convincing. Being dubbed ‘The Next Big Thing’ is old hat for the former WWE superstar, so Lesnar refused to buy into the hype as he secluded himself inside his Death Clutch Gym and eventually emerged a brand new man.

“I thought I had a good diet, and when I got diverticulitis I really had to do a lot more research and look into what I was putting into my body. In [how is was] fueling my body,” Lesnar told ESPN’s SportsCenter. “Now that I’m 33-years-old, you definitely don’t recover as fast as you used to and you have to be smarter in the training room.

“What you put in your body definitely helps the recovery time.”

Lesnar “miraculously” healed from his intestinal illness in January and hasn’t looked back. After collecting his fourth straight win en route to handing Carwin his only pro blemish, the planet’s baddest heavyweight refused to rest on his your laurels.

He aggressively attacked his training and revamped diet in hopes of resurfacing a more agile fighter. Lesnar was rewarded with improved quickness and a physique so chiseled it left UFC president Dana White in awe.

“I am a lot leaner than I have [been]. Normally I walked around at about 280-285 [pounds] and now I’m walking around about 268-270,” he proudly stated. “Obviously it’s from the diet and a long, extensive, brutal training camp. I should have no problem coming in naturally at 265 for fight night. Maybe around the 270 area.

“Looking lean and mean and ready to come down and whoop some butt.”

UFC 121 will be jumping off this Saturday inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Please click the media player below to watch Lesnar’s interview with ESPN:

Help 5thRound.com spread the word