MMA Nation - UFC 136 To Stream Four Preliminary Bouts On Facebook

VIDEO: Countdown To UFC 136

2011-10-04T21:31:12Z

As we edge closer to UFC 136, the promotional push has hit full swing. Today's entry is the newest iteration of the UFC's "Countdown" series, detailing all the preparation and behind-the-scenes action from championship participants Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo, and Kenny Florian.

Florian and Aldo's clip can be seen above. Edgar and Maynard's clip can be viewed here.

Also included in the series are Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann, who are slated to duel for the number-one contender spot in the middleweight division. Their video entry can be seen here.

UFC 136 is scheduled for Saturday, October 8th at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Additional match-ups featured on the main card are a lightweight battle between potential top-contender Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon, and a featherweight rematch between "The Ultimate Fighter 12" veteran Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia. As usual, the entirety of the undercard will be available to fight fans, with two bouts televised live on Spike TV, and the remaining four streamed live on the UFC's Facebook page.

UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Has 'Never Been Confident' Heading Into A Fight

2011-10-04T19:10:29Z

When you think of UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, several things likely come to mind. The bravado, the ceaseless trash-talking, his ongoing war with Anderson Silva and Black House. But does "insecure" ever land on that list? Apparently it should, Sonnen explained in an interview with QuickSHOOT! as he continued his promotional tour to hype UFC 136.

I've never been confident going into the ring. I've never been secure. There's no position that I'm secure in... People always ask me, ‘are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?' I'm never ready, but eventually it's going to be my turn.

Needless to say, comments such as these are stark departure from the brashness fans are used to hearing from the middleweight contender. Yet this isn't the first time. Sonnen had an eerily similar tangent during last week's UFC 136 conference call.

I get sick before every fight... I hear some guys say they're excited (before fights), and I'm jealous of that. I'm never excited to go fight another man.

Whether Sonnen's abrupt candidness is a newfound sense of humility or simply the result of fighting a man he appears to greatly respect in Brian Stann, it is nonetheless compelling theater to watch, and thus a perfect reminder of why he remains such a polarizing fan-favorite despite a year-long layoff.

Sonnen is set to square off against Brian Stann this Saturday at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, to determine the next challenger to Anderson Silva's middleweight title.

UFC 136 To Stream Four Preliminary Bouts On Facebook

2011-10-03T21:35:36Z

As expected, four bouts on the undercard of UFC 136 will be available to fans live via Facebook, according to reports from MMA Junkie.

Continuing in a tradition the UFC has maintained since UFC Fight Night 23, all non-televised preliminary fights are set to stream live on the popular social networking site. Saturday's iteration will feature two middleweight contests -- Steve Cantwell (7-4) vs. Mike Massenzio (12-5) and Aaron Simpson (10-2) vs. Eric Schafer (12-5-2) -- a featherweight bout, Zhang Tie Quan (15-1) vs. Darren Elkins (12-2), and a heavyweight bout, Joey Beltran (13-5) vs. Stipe Miocic (6-0).

Any fans wishing to access the stream must simply "Like" the UFC's Facebook page. The stream will kick off in tandem with UFC 136 on Saturday night.

UFC 136 fight card:

Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
Featherweight Championship: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian
Middleweight: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
Lightweight: Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard
Featherweight: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan

Preliminary Card (Spike TV):
Middleweight: Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago
Lightweight: Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens

Preliminary Card (Facebook):
Heavyweight: Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic
Featherweight: Zhang Tie Quan vs. Darren Elkins
Middleweight: Aaron Simpson vs. Eric Schafer
Middleweight: Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio

VIDEO: UFC 136 In-Depth Preview Featuring Edgar Vs. Maynard 3

2011-09-29T15:44:54Z

The UFC has released the above in-depth video preview of UFC 136. It focuses on the headlining lightweight title fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, a rubber match sequel to their UFC 125 bout. That fight was one for the ages that saw Maynard very nearly KO the champ in the first round, only to have Edgar survive and thrive in the second. From there they alternated rounds in one of the best back-and-forth fights you'll ever see.

The video also looks at the co-main event on the card, Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian for Aldo's UFC featherweight belt. Since becoming the UFC champ, Aldo has defended his belt once at UFC 129. Florian has fought once at 145lbs since moving down from the lightweight division. It ought to be a good one and could help establish Aldo at the superstar level that many feel his talent merits.

The card will also feature Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann in a middleweight title-eliminator, Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon and Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan. replacing Dave Herman vs. Mike Russow due to Herman's apparently failing a drug test.

UFC 136 Fight Card: Dave Herman Denies He Smoked Marijuana

2011-09-29T03:40:17Z

According to an interview he gave with Clinch Gear Radio today, Dave "Pee Wee" Herman was pulled out of his UFC 136 bout with Mike Russow because he failed a drug test by testing positive for marijuana.

Clinch Gear tweeted from the show:

@ClinchGear
Clinch Gear Dave Herman tells Clinch Gear Radio he is off 136 due to a failed drug test for marijuana. Dave denies the charge. #ufc136
Sep 28 via Twitter for AndroidFavorite RetweetReply

UFC Fight Card 136: Dave Herman Vs. Mike Russow Cancelled, Nam Pham Vs. Leonard Garcia Moves To Main Card

2011-09-28T20:07:35Z

Bad news for the UFC 136 card: Dave "Pee Wee" Herman has been forced to pull out of his heavyweight bout with Mike Russow. The bout has been replaced by featherweights Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia in a rematch.

Most obervers, including UFC president Dana White, felt that Phan (16-9, 0-2 UFC) beat Garcia (15-7-1, 2-3 UFC) in their first meeting at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. Unfortunately, the judges saw it for Garcia. This could be a do-or-die bout for Phan's UFC career as he's 0-2 in the UFC. Garcia is 6-6 overall under the Zuffa umbrella, including his 4-3 run in the WEC.

Herman (21-2, 1-0 UFC), a 27-year-old wrestler, made his UFC debut with a TKO win over Jon Olav Einemo in a wild brawl at UFC 131. Russow (14-1, 3-0 UFC), a 35-year-old Chicago policeman, is best known for his comeback win over Todd Duffee at UFC 114. Hopefully, Herman is not badly hurt and Herman vs. Russow will get bumped to an upcoming UFC card.