Shane Carwin anuncia aposentaria após quase dois anos sem lutar. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

Shane Carwin, lutador americano de 38 anos anunciou a sua aposentadoria no MMA. O peso-pesado, que já foi campeão interino da categoria no UFC, não conseguiu dar adeus ao octógono como gostaria.

Uma série de lesões na coluna e joelho acabaram afastando o atleta, que conhecido pelas mãos pesadas venceu sete de suas 14 lutas por nocaute. Carwin só sofreu duas derrotas em sua carreira: ao perder o cinturão para Brock Lesnar, e a dura e sangrenta batalha contra Junior Cigano. Estes foram seus últimos combates.

Após meses se recuperando de uma cirurgia nas costas, o peso-pesado voltou ao UFC como um dos treinadores da 16^a edição do reality “The Ultimate Fighter”, liderando a equipe rival de Roy Nelson. Os dois se enfrentariam ao final da temporada, em dezembro de 2012, mas uma nova e séria lesão no joelho acabou tirando Carwin do card.

Nesta terça-feira, através do Twitter, Shane Carwin anunciou sua aposentadoria após quase dois anos sem atuar no Ultimate.

“Oficialmente aposentado hoje. Agradeço minha família, amigos e fãs. Sonhe alto e Deus abençoe”, disse o ex-campeão.

Roy Nelson nocauteou Matt Mitrione. Foto: Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC

Astro principal do evento TUF Finale 16, realizado nesse sábado, dia 15 de dezembro, Roy Nelson comprovou ser uma das maiores figuraças do UFC. E dono de um dos maiores murros do evento de Dana White.

A ponto de um leitor do GRACIEMAG.com pedir na mesma hora: “Dana White, queremos Roy Nelson vs Anderson Silva em 2013!”

Apelidado de “Kung Fu Pança” pela revista brasileira “Trip”, o barbudão faixa-preta de kung fu e Jiu-Jitsu comentou com Joe Rogan por que, hoje, ele prefere nocautear a finalizar.

“Desde a primeira vez que nocauteei eu percebi que isso era mais fácil para mim do que quedar ou arrochar um golpe”, sorriu.

O nocaute em cima do ex-jogador de futebol americano Matt Mitrione, bem mais alto que Roy, veio aos 2min58s do primeiro assalto. No início, Roy estudou, defendeu uns chutes e socos, e até clinchou por uns segundos, para não deixar Mitrione se empolgar.

No fim, desceu a lenha, com um gancho imprevisível que veio lá de baixo, furou a guarda do rival e pegou na ponta do queixo. Foi o nocaute de número 11 em sua carreira, que tem ainda cinco finalizações.

Aí foi só escalar as grades, com aquela dificuldade de sempre, e alisar a pança para a galera, com o riso de sempre.

Colton Smith: carrapato contratado

A final do reality show “TUF 16”, capitaneado pelos treinadores Roy Nelson e Shane Carwin (que se contundiu), trouxe os meio-médios Colton Smith e Mike Ricci, duas feras compridas e esguias que disputavam o contrato com o UFC, além de uma motocicleta novinha. Ambos já haviam faturado 55 mil dólares no programa, mas queriam mais. Desejavam a glória de poder bater no peito e dizer: “Eu sou o melhor”.

Tal glória coube a Colton Smith, americano, ex-militar, que não deu espaço para o nocauteador canadense amigo de Rory MacDonald e GSP. Colton punha para baixo sempre que Mike chutava, e manobrava sem dificuldade para as costas.

A luta foi assim até o último minuto do derradeiro terceiro assalto, quando Ricci chapou as costas de Colton no chão, virou-se e ficou por cima pela primeira vez. Tentou atacar as costas, arriscou o bote no braço, mas era tarde. Vitória por decisão unânime para o campeão do TUF Finale 16.

O UFC aproveitou o ensejo e confirmou o UFC 158, dia 16 de março em Montreal, com os meio-médios GSP vs Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald vs Carlos Condit e Johny Hendricks vs Jake Ellenberger. Explodiu ou não?

Jiu-Jitsu hábil com selo ATT

Para abrilhantar ainda mais um bom evento, com lutas frenéticas, houve ainda boas finalizações na noite em Las Vegas, nas dependências do Hard Rock Hotel & Cassino. O ponto negativo foi a espera entre as lutas, que tornou o show de 11 lutas longo demais. No chão do Octagon, porém, só suavidade.

Destaque para Dustin Poirier (ATT), que finalizou Jonathan Brookins (GB Orlando) na peleja mais arrepiante do show, com um triângulo de mão no finzinho do primeiro assalto. Quem também fez bonito foi Anthony “TJ” Waldburger, que pôs o mais experiente Nick Catone para dormir, no meio-médio.

No card preliminar, um pouco mais cedo, o estreante Mike Rio já havia aplicado um interessante armlock da guarda para despachar John Cofer.

Outros destaques da noite foram Hugo Wolverine, com uma patada assustadora, no peso-galo, e o russo Rustam Khabilov, que apagou o oponente Vinc Pichel com um suplê.

UFC – TUF Finale 16

Las Vegas, Nevada, EUA

15 de dezembro de 2012

Roy Nelson derrotou Matt Mitrione por nocaute técnico aos 2min58s do R1

Colton Smith derrotou Mike Ricci por decisão unânime dos jurados

Pat Barry derrotou Shane del Rosario por nocaute técnico aos 26s do R2

Dustin Poirier finalizou Jonathan Brookins no triângulo de mão aos 4min15s do R1

Card Preliminar (Fuel TV)

Mike Pyle derrotou James Head por nocaute técnico (joelhada e socos) a 1min55s

Johnny Bedford derrotou Marcos Vina por nocaute a 1min do R2

Rustam Khabilov derrotou Vinc Pichel por nocaute (suplê) a 2min15s

TJ Waldburger apagou Nick Catone no triângulo a 1min04s do R2

Card Preliminar (Facebook)

Hugo Wolverine nocauteou Reuben Duran aos 4min05s

Mike Rio finalizou John Cofer na chave de braço da guarda aos 4min11s do R3

Tim Eliott derrotou Jared Papazian na decisão unânime dos jurados

Roy Nelson punches Matt Mitrione during their heavyweight fight at the TUF 16 Finale. (Photo by Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Roy Nelson put down Matt Mitrione, scoring a first-round technical knockout of the former NFL player in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Also, Colton Smith dominated Mike Ricci for the unanimous decision in the Season 16 final of the UFC’s reality show, earning a six-figure contract with the company.

Nelson, who is known for his heavy right-handed punch, traded strikes with Mitrione early on in their contest. Mitrione landed significant strikes that shook his opponent, including an inside leg kick that knocked Nelson off his base.

Nelson, however, recovered from any shots he absorbed and threw a counter-uppercut that was the beginning of the end for Mitrione. Knowing his opponent was backpedaling from being stunned, Nelson pushed forward with a flurry and Mitrione fell to his back. Nelson followed his opponent to the ground and finished him with strikes.

The finish came came at 2:58 of the opening frame.

The victorious “Big Country” was content with the TKO, but wanted to stretch out the match longer so he can prove doubters wrong.

“I was looking to pick him apart and do it in the later rounds,” Nelson said, “and show all the critics that a fat guy can go five rounds.”

Smith Tops Ricci, Wins Ultimate Fighter 16

Colton Smith lifts the Ultimate Fighter season 16 trophy after his lightweight fight at the TUF 16 Finale. (Photo by Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Smith imposed his will on Ricci for the length of their three-round affair, and set that standard from the get-go.

With superior wrestling, Smith controlled his opponent, securing Ricci’s back and working for the rear-naked choke on several occasions. Ricci, a fighter that typically competes at lightweight, had few moments in the welterweight bout where he mounted any sort of offense because his opponent scrambled and transitioned so well for advantageous positions.

For a brief instance in the final round, Ricci secured Smith’s back and transitioned to an armbar attempt. Smith was able to break the hold, however, and time expired. Smith was then announced as the Season 16 winner with a unanimous nod with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26.

“He was a dangerous opponent,” Smith said of Ricci. “I had to be careful with him”

Pat Barry Brutally KOs Shane Del Rosario, Dustin Poirier Subs Jonathan Brookins 

Pat Barry punches Shane Del Rosario during their heavyweight fight at the TUF 16 Finale. (Photo by Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Pat Barry knocked out Shane Del Rosario early in the second round of their TUF 16 Finale main card bout, landing strikes against the cage en route to the finish.

The two traded well in the first round, but it was Barry that landed the over-hand left in the second round that started Del Rosario’s demise. With his back against the cage, Del Rosario covered up, but Barry found an opening and landed a right hand down the middle that sent his opponent’s head springing backwards. The knockout was called at 0:26 of the second round.

Although he dealt with a barrage of strikes early on in the match, Dustin Poirier recovered and submitted Jonathan Brookins late in the first round of their main card fight.

Brookins looked sharp on the feet at the beginning stages of the fight, rocking Poirier with punches and short strikes in the clinch. Poirier found his timing, though, and eventually landed some strikes of his own before locking on a D’Arce choke in the final minute of the opening frame. With no choice but to tap, Brookins was submitted at 4:15 of the first round.

A scheduled bout between Melvin Guillard and Jamie Varner was removed from the card in the moments before the fight because Varner fell ill and was vomiting in the backstage area. The fight will be rescheduled for UFC 155, which takes place in two weeks on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Here are the full results for the TUF 16 Finale:

• Pat Barry def. Shane Del Rosario by KO (punch) at 0:26, R2
• Dustin Poirier def. Jonathan Brookins by submission (D’Arce choke) at 4:15, R1
• Mike Pyle def. James Head via TKO (punches) at 1:55, R1
• Johnny Bedford def. Marcos Vinicius by KO (punches) at 1:00, R2
• Rustam Khabilov def. Vinc Pichel by KO (suplex) at 2:15, R1
• T.J. Waldburger def. Nick Catone by submission (triangle choke) at 1:04, R2
• Hugo Viana def. Reuben Duran by TKO (punches) at 4:05, R1
• Mike Rio def. John Cofer by submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:11
• Tim Elliott def. Jared Papazian by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

GRACIEMAG.com will stream The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale weigh-ins live today at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. Watch the stream in the video player above!

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T.J. Waldburger (L) punches Brian Ebersole (R) in a welterweight bout during UFC on FX 4. Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

As a high school kid in Belton, Texas, UFC welterweight T.J. Waldburger sat and watched fights with his buddies, and eventually wrestled with those friends in the house because they were still on a high from the action they saw on television.

They would rip the sheets off the mattresses and roll like the fighters they saw on the broadcast, boxing in the bedroom like the strikers featured in the octagon.

“We’d act like we knew what we were doing,” Waldburger told GRACIEMAG.com, referring to what was, at the time, his lack of MMA knowledge.

He was just a kid who loved sports. His stepfather watched the teenager engage and thought it would be best to focus that energy somewhere else — an MMA gym.

At first, Waldburger thought his old man was joking around, but sure enough it was for real. After all, he played sports and was active all his life, so getting into the highly physical world of MMA might be the right fit.

“It was one of those things where I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” he said. “And I was good at it. Me and the coach hit it off and we became best friends.”

That friendship proved to be important beyond MMA because the coach, John Moore, ultimately became his father-in-law.

But before the nuptials, Waldburger wanted to fight, and he had his first bout before legally becoming an adult. At 17 years old and still in high school, Waldburger was a pro. And as much as his parents might have worried that their boy would fight in a cage while still legally a child, they eventually had to give in to the young man’s charm.

“After a long talk and puppy dog eyes, I talked my parents into signing the waiver so I could turn pro,” he said. “They noticed that I was getting good at it.”

Looking back, Waldburger thinks he may have turned pro a little early. But it all worked out, he said. Even after “15 or 16” fights of making little to no money.

But it’s not all about the cash, he said. Fighting is something he genuinely loves doing, so it wasn’t a big deal that he didn’t see what he could consider income until he landed in the bright lights of the UFC.

The love of the sport is what motivated him, he said, along with the challenge of overcoming opposition.

“It’s just what I want to do,” he said when asked of what drove him to compete when there was little money at stake. “The pressure, it’s like nothing else.”

And the next spike in pressure will come in his next fight, which takes place Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale in Las Vegas. He’ll meet Nick Catone on the evening’s undercard, and, unlike before his pro debut, the fight won’t be with his buddies at the house. Instead, he’ll face a welterweight looking to get back on the winning track after suffering a TKO against Chris Camozzi.

This time, stepfather will look on a man who was once a teenager messing up the living room with his buddies and see a fire in him on FUEL TV.

“I was in high school and people were telling me that I was crazy,” he said. “It just lit a fire.”

For more UFC and MMA coverage,

visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Junior Cigano coloca cinturão em jogo contra Cain Velasquez, em Dezembro. Foto:UFC

Dezembro é o mês de se preparar para um bom descanso e para as festas de fim de ano. No mundo das lutas, porém, sempre foi sinônimo de grandes shows, desde os tempos do Pride até hoje.

Para seguir a tendência, o UFC programou uma maratona para os fãs de luta, e o mês das festas será o mês de muita ação também. A festa começa a aquecer no dia 8 de dezembro, em Seattle. No dia 15, o circo do Ultimate viaja para a Austrália, e depois parte para Las Vegas, que tem um evento também no dia 15 na madrugada de sábado e outro na madrugada do dia 30, para fechar o ano em grande estilo, com Cigano vs Velasquez 2.

Confira um resumo das atrações.

UFC on Fox 5, dia 8/12

No início de dezembro, a cidade de Seattle, em Washington, terá a disputa de cinturão da categoria leve, com Benson Henderson enfrentando o também talentoso Nate Diaz. O evento conta com Mauricio Shogun em luta com o sueco Alexander Gustafsson, na penúltima luta da noite. O fã do UFC ainda verá BJ Penn contra o perigosíssimo canadense Rory MacDonald. Confira o card, aqui.

UFC on FX 6, dia 15

Em Gold Coast, Queensland, a torcida australiana terá um card menos estelar, porém equilibrado. O finalizador da BTT Rousimar Palhares volta recuperado de lesão e mede forças com a aposta do UFC no peso médio, Hector Lombard, fazendo o chamado co-main event. A luta principal será entre pesos leves, com o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu George Sotiropulos contra Ross Pearson. Outro destaque do Jiu-Jitsu nessa noite será o peso-pena Hacran Dias, que vai enfrentar o duro Chad Mendes. Confira o card, aqui.

The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale, dia 15

Além de conhecer as novas promessas do UFC, o fã de MMA terá como atrativo o encontro dos pesadões treinadores do TUF 16,  que farão a luta principal da noite. Roy Nelson e Shane Carwin tem, de fato, tudo para fazer um belo espetáculo para o público. Na dependência do “TUF”, o evento ainda não tem seu card completo. O eventovai acontecer na madrugada de sábado para domingo, em Las Vegas.

UFC 155 – Dos Santos vs Velasquez 2, dia 29

A cidade de Las Vegas, Nevada vai pegar fogo, e o palco do show será o tradicional MGM Grand Garden Arena, na madrugada do dia 29 para 30. Na véspera do último dia do ano, Junior Cigano concede a aguardada revanche contra o mexicano Cain Velasquez, detonado pelo baiano no primeiro assalto ano passado. O badalado Chris Weidman encara o experiente Tim Boetsch, em sua rota até o Aranha. Outra atração é o americano Gray Maynard, faixa-azul que tem feito seu treinamento na Nova União, enfrentando Joe Lauzon. Confira o card, aqui.

Junior Cigano puts his belt up for grabs against Cain Velasquez this December. UFC publicity photo.

December’s always been the month for kicking back and making the most of the end-of-the-year festivities. In the fight world, however, it has been synonymous with major events ever since the days of Pride FC.

In keeping with tradition, the UFC has put together a marathon of fistic delights for fight fans to relish, and the month of holiday cheer can now be one of hard-core action as well. The party will start warming up with the December 8 show in Seattle, Washington. On the 15th, the promotion will pitch its tent in Australia, before heading straight back across the ocean to Las Vegas, where they have one event set for the 16th and another for the 30th, when they close out the year in grand style with Cigano vs. Velasquez Part Two.

Here’s a breakdown of the coming attractions:

UFC on Fox 5, December 8

In early December, the city of Seattle, Washington, will get treated to Benson Henderson defending his lightweight title against the equally talented Nate Diaz. The event will also feature a light heavyweight tilt between Mauricio Shogun and rising star Alexander Gustafsson just before the Henderson-Diaz main event. And if that’s not enough excitement for UFC fans, BJ Penn will have a stern test ahead of him, as he takes on stalwart Canadian welterweight Rory MacDonald. Click here for the card.

UFC on FX 5, December 15

The Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, will get to host a card somewhat less stellar; but what it lacks in star power it makes up for in the promise of excitement. Submission whiz Rousimar Palhares is healed up from injury and will square off with Cuban middleweight judoka Hector Lombard in the co-main event. The marquee fight will be a lightweight affair, with Jiu-Jitsu black belt George Sotiropulos taking on Ross Pearson. Another Jiu-Jitsu stylist in the show is Nova União representative Hacran Dias, who will have his hands full against the game Chad Mendes. Click here for the card.

The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale, December 16

Besides getting a glimpse at the UFC’s next batch of promising upstarts, MMA fans will be served a big helping of heavyweight action, with TUF 16 coaches Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin going toe to toe in what looks sure to be a bona fide barnburner. As the card awaits definition of the finalists from the reality show, the full card has not yet been released. The event will take place Sunday the 16th, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 155 – Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2, December 29th

Again in Las Vegas, the promotion has a big night planned for the MGM Grand Garden Arena the day before New Year’s Eve. Junior Cigano will be defending his belt from Cain Velasquez, the very man he took it from decisively with a first-round knockout a year ago. And the highly touted Chris Weidman will lock horns with the seasoned Tim Boetsch, as he steers a course to his coveted showdown with the Spider. Another big name on the card is Gray Maynard, a blue belt who has been doing his training at team Nova União, and who will be taking on the Jiu-Jitsu-savvy Joe Lauzon. Click here for the card.

Igor em ação na Europa. Foto: arquivo pessoal

O brasileiro Igor Araújo conseguiu uma das 16 vagas para a 16a edição do reality show “The Ultimate Fighter”.

Com um cartel oficial de 22v e 6d, o professor da Gracie Barra Suíça honrou suas origens e finalizou Cortez Coleman com um triângulo no terceiro round da luta eliminatória.

A vitória aconteceu em uma luta de recuperação, uma vez que Coleman foi superior no primeiro round.

No Facebook, Igor comentou o desempenho: “Obrigado a todos pela força, essa luta foi foda, sangue, suor e lágrimas literalmente, inesquecível lutar o UFC no Mandalay Bay! Tava com medo de perder e ter de voltar pra casa, morrendo de saudades dos meus filhos. Assistam aos próximos episódios, vai ter muita coisa desse brasileiro maluco ainda!”

O TUF 16 terá Shane Carwin e Roy Nelson como técnicos dos times e o primeiro episódio foi ao ar hoje nos EUA.

Igor ficará no time de Shane Carwin.