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UFC on FUEL TV 2 results recap: Alexander Gustafsson vs Thiago Silva event wrap up from Sweden
04/16/2012
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to cable television airwaves this past Saturday (April 14, 2012) with UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson Silva," featuring Alexander Gustafsson continuing his rapid rise up the light heavyweight ladder by soundly defeating the returning Thiago Silva.
The next Jon Jones? We shall see.
Brian Stann got back on the hog despite extensive trouble at home with one of the sickest knockouts you'll see this year. That's because he put Alessio Sakara out with short shots from guard inside the first round.
And what's there to say about Siyar Bahadurzada and his 42 second destruction of Paulo Thiago?
In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Sweden.
In we go.

UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva"
Results and live fight coverage
Post-fight press conference video
Bonuses and awards
Event photos gallery
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva fight video highlights
Briann Stann vs. Alessio Sakara fight video highlights
Brian Stann knocks out Alessio Sakara (GIF)
Fight recap: Brad Pickett submits Damacio Page after two round slugfest
Fight recap: John Maguire armbars DaMarques Johnson
Fight recap: Dennis Siver wins close decision over Diego Nunes
Fight recap: Siyar Bahadurzada knocks out Paulo Thiago in 42 seconds
Fight recap: Brian Stann stops Alessio Sakara in the first round
Fight recap: Alexander Gustafsson mauls Thiago Silva en route to decision win
Fight review and analysis: John Maguire vs. DaMarques Johnson
Fight review and analysis: Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page
Fight review and analysis: Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes
Fight review and analysis: Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Paulo Thiago
Fight review and analysis: Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara
Fight review and analysis: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva
UFC on FUEL TV 2 post-fight fallout
Big winners and lowly losers
Mania matchmaker
What's next for Alexander Gustafsson and Brian Stann?
The future of the UFC was on full display in Sweden
Comparing Alexander Gustafsson to Jon Jones isn't as crazy as you might think
Alexander Gustafsson could go against any of the top light heavyweights
Alexander Gustafsson is just living the dream after defeating Thiago Silva
Brian Stann happy he knocked out Alessio Sakara but he almost didn't even make it to the fight
Paulo Thiago gets his plank on after knockout loss to Siyar Bahadurzada
Brad Pickett isn't content with just being in the UFC, he wants to make something more of himself
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking — at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC on FUEL TV 2?
Sound off, Maniacs.

Mini-racing: Get the entire Texas experience in 11 minutes
04/16/2012
The Texas race perhaps wasn't the most riveting of the season; 200-plus consecutive green flag laps and two caution flags all race will do that for you. Still, if you're a Greg Biffle fan, you've got to be loving how this all shook out. Anybody else? Eh, not so thrilled. Still, any racing is good racing, right? Right … ?

UFC on FUEL TV 2 results: Alexander Gustafsson vs Thiago Silva event photos gallery from Sweden
04/15/2012
UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" took place yesterday (Sat., April 14, 2012) from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, featuring Alexander Gustafsson continuing his rise up the light heavyweight ladder with a hard fought unanimous decision victory over Thiago Silva.
In the co-main event of the evening, Brian Stann bounced back from his loss to Chael Sonnen last year with a first round knockout win over Alessio Sakara. "All American" may not be looking at a title fight anytime soon but he's certainly on the right path.
Other action on the card saw Siyar Bahadurzada knock out Paulo Thiago in 42 seconds in his Octagon debut, Brad Pickett choke out Damacio Page, John Maguire submit DaMarques Johnson, and Dennis Siver defeat Diego Nunes to win his featherweight debut.
A photo gallery (via UFC.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here.

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva

Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Paulo Thiago

Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page

Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes

John Maguire vs. DaMarques Johnson

UFC on Fuel TV 2 results recap: Dennis Siver vs Diego Nunes fight review and analysis
04/15/2012
After 13 fights in the UFC, German-born mixed martial artist Dennis Siver made the cut to featherweight yesterday (April 14, 2012) and debuted at 145 pounds against Diego Nunes on the main card of UFC on Fuel TV 2 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Nunes had experience taking on men who dropped from lightweight, having previously bested former Ultimate Fighter season 5 runner-up Manny Gamburyan and having given multiple-time title challenger Kenny Florian more than he could handle in his 145 pound debut.
Both Siver and Nunes had flashy styles, with a diverse arsenal of kicks and spinning attacks, but it was Siver who would take a unanimous decision.
So what was the veteran German's key to victory yesterday which set him apart? And what's next for both featherweights?Follow me after the jump for our Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes UFC on Fuel TV 2 fight review and analysis

The biggest difference in this fight was Siver's ability to control the center of the Octagon and the fact that he never surrendered the center. Nunes was forced to battle from the outside and throw his long range attacks, which are almost completely ineffective.
Nunes had a wide assortment of strikes, but he just can't land any of them with power or accuracy. He also telegraphs them pretty badly so Siver had no problem avoiding the big spinning wheel kicks or the spinning backfists.
Nunes has a pressure-based style which can wear his opponents down, but Siver took the Brazilian down every time he got in too close and this forced the Nova Uniao fighter to be much more tentative with his attack. Also, whenever Nunes got a little too close, Siver would wing a huge left hook which occasionally would clip him on the exit.
By the start of the third round, Nunes was already down two rounds to none and he tried to ramp up the aggression, even stunning Siver once or twice, but he couldn't get the 10-8 round or the stoppage that he so desperately needed. Thus, Siver easily took home a 29-28 decision across the boards.
For Diego Nunes, this was a case of his fighting style coming back to bite him. He's simply not aggressive enough in terms of looking for the finish and when he needs to make something happen like yesterday, he doesn't have the experience to do it. He's gone to nine straight decisions and that means if he drops the first two rounds, he's almost certainly going to lose the fight. In my opinion, he should abandon all the flashy crap that he throws and focus on improving his leg kicks and his regular punching. If he can actually be more effective with those strikes, then he can start mixing it up with some flashy strikes to catch an opponent off guard but when he's winging spinning back fists from 10 feet away, he's not going to surprise anyone.
For a next opponent, I think Nunes could take on someone like George Roop, Bart Palaszewski or Cole Miller.
For Dennis Siver, he came into this fight with a strong gameplan of controlling the cage center and he executed it perfectly in the first two rounds. He did a great job of keeping Nunes at bay with his push kicks and threats of a takedown and that played into his long-range kicking game as well. He was simply the cleaner, more technical striker over the course of three rounds and that's the type of style he brings to the featherweight division.
I'd like to see him step up against another top featherweight like Yuri Alcantara, Ricardo Lamas or even Erik Koch next if he came out of this bout with no injuries. He's 33 years old so if he's going to make a run in the division, he'd better do it soon.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you impressed by Siver's featherweight debut? Or were you more frustrated by Diego Nunes' lack of effective attack in the first two rounds? Who would you match each fighter up against next?
Sound off!
For complete UFC on Fuel TV 2 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

UFC Quick Quote: The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is absolutely coming to India
04/15/2012
"We've been around for a long time. I've heard this, the question you just asked me I have heard a million times about a million different leagues. We will see what happens with us and the Super Fight League. We're on TV there now. Let me ask you this, and you can answer this question yourself. The UFC is absolutely 100-percent coming to India, it is happening. We are on television there now, and we will be looking for fighters to do the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) in India. So if anybody over in India that is considered talented, or whatever, do they want to fight in the Super Fight League, or do they want to fight in the UFC? That's up to them. We will be going over there and we're going to be putting together the same show. Obviously the show that these guys are doing is a rip off and a copy of what we do. So, we'll see what happens, we'll see how this whole thing plays out. But I'm pretty confident we are going to do alright over in India."

Sorry, Super Fight League (SFL), but you're not going to be the only game in town here soon. That's because the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is, in fact, coming to your home turf. At least that's what UFC President Dana White told members of the media (via MMA Heat) last night (April 14, 2012) after UFC on Fuel TV 2 wrapped from Stockholm, Sweden. Zuffa, which recently announced a multi-year deal with Multi Screen Media (MSM) — a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television — to broadcast UFC programming in India on its new sports channel "SIX," is ready to stake its claim in yet another country. SFL, who has put on two shows to date, is currently the only mixed martial arts (MMA) league in India, but it will all change soon as the UFC plans to not only bring its live show but also its own version of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). What say you, Maniacs, is this bad news for that "rip off" show that is SFL? And will they be able to survive once the UFC and its stars touch down on their own turf?

Dana White on the Rally for Mark Hunt to get a UFC 146 title shot against Junior dos Santos: It ain't going to happen
04/15/2012
Well, it was cute while it lasted, huh?
The "Rally for Mark Hunt" to get a title shot against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada is officially dead. This according to UFC President Dana White himself, who squashed the hopes of fans all across social media sites with these biting words at today's UFC on FUEL TV 2 post-fight press conference:
"They can keep rallying. It ain't going to happen," he said.
White would go on to say that Hunt can beat Stefan Struve over the Memorial Day weekend, then it's definitely a possibility that he'll fight a top-five opponent. But that's only after he gets past "The Skyscraper," assuming he's able to do so.
What's for certain, though, is that a title shot is nowhere in the cards for "The Super Samoan." At least not right now and not in the near future. Sorry, but a three fight win streak (with the best win coming over Cheick Kongo) and an 8-7 record isn't good enough to fight the best heavyweight on the planet.
Even if a segment of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans wanted it to be.
Plus, we still don't know what will ultimately happen with Alistair Overeem. He could very well leave his hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on April 24 with a license and the originally scheduled main event at UFC 146 could go right along as planned.
But even if he doesn't, Mark Hunt will not be taking his place.
Sorry.

GIF: Brian Stann knocks out Alessio Sakara at the UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" event…
04/15/2012
GIF: Brian Stann knocks out Alessio Sakara at the UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" event today (Sat., April 14, 2012) at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. It was a weird finish in real time but the slowed down version (via Smoogy) shows Stann landing a monster left hand in Sakara's open guard before dropping one more bomb for good measure. What the .gif doesn't show is "All American" pulling back and stopping the fight himself. Classy fighter is classy. For a more detailed look at Stann vs. Sakara click here and for complete UFC on FUEL TV 2 results click here.

UFC Quick Quote: Alexander Gustafsson is living the dream after defeating Thiago Silva
04/15/2012
"It's amazing. It's a dream come true. Of course I fought in Vegas against a tough opponent and win and now I've fought on the home ground. You know, I'm just living my dream. … I'm not fully satisfied with my fight but I'm learning and I'm progressing too, so it was a good learning experience. I did my game plan but I didn't finish him like I like to do. This was my first decision. I'm learning, you know. I do what I love to do."

– Fresh on the heels of his unanimous decision win over Thiago Silva in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 2 earlier today (Sat., April 14, 2012) at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Alexander Gustafsson tells UFC.com he's just living the dream as a budding young mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar. With this latest victory, which came in front of his native people, "The Mauler" improves to 14-1 in his five year professional career, including a 6-1 record inside the Octagon. When asked about a potential showdown against current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, Gustafsson quite simply said he would be ready if called on but he's perfectly content to continue growing at his current pace. Which is just fine, too, because he's progressing at a rate maybe only matched by Jones himself. What do you think, Maniacs? Do you see a champion in the making? For more on the Gustafsson vs. Silva fight click here and for complete UFC on FUEL TV 2 results click here.

Brian Stann eyeing future showdown against Michael Bisping in England
04/14/2012
After having his three-fight win streak snapped by the master of trash talk, Chael Sonnen, at UFC 136 last October, Brian Stann looks for a successful return this weekend (April 14, 2012) against Alessio Sakara at UFC on Fuel TV 2 in Stockholm, Sweden.
In what promises to be an electric stand up battle featuring two heavy-handed middleweights, "Legionarius" and "The All American" look to climb the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 185-pound division with a victory on Saturday night.
Although he's not looking past Sakara, Stann is eying a future showdown with a top five fighter if victorious his next time out. And he has one specific opponent in mind, a man that suffered his last loss to Sonnen as well — Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season three winner, Michael Bisping.
Speaking to ESPN, the former Marine talks about what he expects when he steps into the Octagon against Sakara in Stockholm, as well as his desire to fight Bisping on his home turf:

"A decisive victory on Saturday puts me back among those names. Bisping had a really good performance against Sonnen so I'd have to have another couple of wins before I get a shot at a guy like him, but a win Saturday night gets me in the mix. It's definitely high on my agenda, he's one of the top middleweights out there. It makes sense from a style point of view, from a marketable view – it's the fight a lot of fans ask for. I would love to fight in England. I've never been to England but I'm very close to Tom Watson, I'd love to go over there to fight. I've heard so many fantastic things, I've served with members of their military and they were fantastic, it'd be a great opportunity for me."

Before the "The All American" can look forward to a fight with "The Count," he has his hands full with Sakara. A bout both Alessio and Stann say will be a mostly stand up affair:

"I think he'll try to use his hands, stick and move and use combinations, he won't want to be in front of me for too long to avoid my power. At some point he'll try to take it to the mat, but for the most part we'll just be trading punches."

Of course, Bisping has his dance card full at the moment as well, as he is scheduled to take on "The Barbarian" Tim Boetsch at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012.
It appears that Stann is desperate for a fight with the British brawler, as this isn't the first time he has called him out.
What say you, Maniacs? If the stars align and Stann and Bisping are victorious in their next outings, is this a bout that interests you?

UFC on FUEL TV 2: Seven weeks without UFC action is too long to wait for fights
04/14/2012
42 days.
It's the length of time between the last Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event and tomorrow's (April 14, 2012) UFC on Fuel TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" card.
Since the first weekend of March, fans have had nothing but Bellator Fighting Championships (BFC) and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) to hold them over. That's more than 1,000 hours for those counting at home.
It seems like such a distant memory now. I have vague recollections of Thiago Alves beating the tar out of Martin Kampmann, only to have the Dane submit "The Pitbull" in the last minute of the third round. It's the kind of comeback victory mixed martial arts (MMA) fans love and use as proof this is the most exciting sport in the world.
I have hazy memories of four men — weighing 125 pounds each, if you can believe that — putting on two excellent, albeit strikingly different, fights. Joseph Benavidez dominated his opponent, Yasuhiro Urushitani, for five minutes before lighting him up and knocking him out mere seconds into the next round. The other two flyweights, Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson, battled back and forth for 15 minutes in what would eventually be ruled a draw.
A fun night of fights, but it was so long ago. I find myself wondering if it actually ever happened. After all, seven weeks is a long time to wait for Octagon action for both fans and for the UFC itself.

Maybe I'm spoiled nowadays when it seems there's either a pay-per-view (PPV), an FX or Fuel card or one of the handful of events being broadcast on Fox this year airing week in and week out.
After tomorrow night / tonight, we only have to wait a week before UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" beams into our television, satisfying our bloodlust. And then only two more weeks until the next UFC on Fox event following that.
In fact, as I peer into my crystal ball, I notice a three week period is the longest gap between UFC events all the way through the end of the summer.
It's safe to assume Dana White and company were hoping the latest season of TUF — which premiered during this seven week lull on March 9 — would compensate for the lack of proper events but it's been a poor facsimile at best and downright ignored at worst. The reality show program hasn't produced a fighter who is thought of as championship caliber since the 155 pound-centric fifth season. A win over Jim Miller presumably puts Nate Diaz, the TUF 5 winner, one fight away from a title shot.
The talent pool has been diluted and the format is tired and trite. Ratings have responded appropriately. But that's a different article altogether.
It should serve as a notice to UFC. Fans want higher level fights than what TUF affords them. And they want them in greater frequency.
Seven weeks is far too long for the number one fight promotion in the world to stay out of the limelight. In a time where they are trying to grow and expand, 42 days is a lifetime in terms of exposure. Sure, other professional sports have off-seasons, effectively putting them on the backburner for months at a time but UFC doesn't have the brand recognition Major League Baseball (MLB) or the National Football League (NFL) have.
Hell, people want to talk and read about the NFL so much, ESPN and other sports outlets covered Peyton Manning's signing to the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow's subsequent departure to the New York Jets like CNN would cover the US going into war. Every angle, no matter how ridiculous, was covered.
UFC doesn't have that luxury. It needs to produce events on a consistent basis to ensure its name stays in conversation.
I'm not saying a show every weekend — although that would be fantastic, wouldn't it? — is the answer, but it seems the company dropped the ball when scheduling the first quarter of 2012. Going into mid-year, only a couple of weeks pass in between events which is exactly where UFC needs to be right now.
MMA fans live in a bubble. We basically eat, sleep and breathe the sport. But the truth is, for many casual fans, UFC isn't something they seek out every day.
Out of sight, out of mind, after all.