Bloody cut suffered by “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC 146 only required three stitches, says manager
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Last Saturday’s bout between Cain Velasquez and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva was one of the worst bloodbaths in UFC history. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion welcomed the Strikeforce import into the Octagon by opening up a cut between the eyes that bled profusely, obstructing Silva’s vision on the ground and covering the canvas a dark crimson.
However, the cut itself wasn’t nearly as bad as it appeared from a cosmetic standpoint, Silva’s manager Alex Davis revealed this week.
“It wasn’t really a big cut,” Davis said in an interview with MMAjunkie.com. “It was right between the eyes. It’s a very fleshy part. It bleeds a lot. He’s a big guy, and his head is very well irrigated, so it was a blood bath.
“But it only [needed] three stitches. It wasn’t that bad, but it looked bad on TV.”
Davis credited Velasquez for his offense, but said the cut and subsequent issues with blood and vision are a big reason he disapproves of elbows in the UFC.
“I’m against elbows,” Davis said. “That’s all they do. They do little nick cuts, which aren’t really that damaging. They’re not submissions, they’re not a KO, and the fight gets stopped early or gets messed up early because of a small cut. That’s one reason I don’t like elbows.”
“‘Bigfoot’ would have survived there,” he continued. “We trained that position a lot. I think that if he hadn’t been for the cut and the blood in the eyes, he could have ended up sweeping Cain. He at least would have survived, and there would have been more fight, but with the blood in his eyes, he just couldn’t see anything.”
“It just wasn’t his day. He’ll be back, though.”
Penick’s Analysis: It’s really surprising that the cut wasn’t any bigger than that, but it was just in the right position to cause that much bleeding in the fight on Saturday night. As for elbows in the UFC, I’m always going to point to one fight in particular when debating with critics of elbows: Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera. Jones’ elbow attack destroyed Vera’s face in that fight in a very similar position as this attack took place against Silva. There’s more to elbows on the ground than opening “little nick cuts,” and some fighters are immensely dangerous with their elbow strikes on the ground. They can be very damaging, and though Silva was impaired by the blood from the cut, elbows also helped lead to the stoppage when he took a couple to the jaw later in the fight as well.
Rebellion MMA Radio: Marcus Brimage, Chad Robichaux, and Liz Carmouche
It’s Memorial Day Weekend and, hopefully, people are showing some love for the troops in-between grilling and chilling with friends. Rebellion MMA Radio is honoring the holiday on this Sunday night’s show with a lineup featuring a trio of talented fighters who have also spent time in the military. Joining hosts Mitch Ciccarelli (who is […]
“Mayhem” Miller Announces Retirement, Talks About UFC 146 Incident
Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s brief return to the UFC ended Saturday after a loss to CB Dollaway. Miller recently talked about his promise to retire and the backstage incident UFC President Dana White alluded to following UFC 146.
Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller done with the UFC, Dana White confirms
UFC president Dana White is done with Jason “Mayhem” Miller. After losing to C.B. Dollaway in a bout that was booed for being less than thrilling and an unknown backstage incident, White said Miller is no longer with the UFC.
“Mayhem’s done. He’s gone,” White said, adding that the incident was “just some bulls—t that I don’t want to talk about. We’re on a crazy string here of dumb bulls—t.”
Miller fought in the UFC early in his career but then moved to Japanese promotions and to Strikeforce. He returned to the UFC with a coaching stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” that was followed by a bad loss to Michael Bisping.
White also was not happy with Miller’s playful entrances for the weigh-in and his fight. Miller brought a pink boa and boom box to the weigh-in, and he wore a paper bag out to the Octagon on Saturday.
“When you get embarrassed the way he did against Michael Bisping, then you show up in that pink whatever that thing was, I’m not into that stuff,” said White. “It’s not my thing. I guess I don’t really care if guys do it because you see it at weigh-ins all the time. Just take this thing serious. If you want to be a clown do that stuff on your reality show.”
Miller is the host of MTV’s “Bully Beatdown,” a show that allows bullied teens to get their comeuppance against their tormentors via a trained fighter. He leaves the UFC with an overall record of 23-9, and no wins in the UFC.
MMA: Inside the Cage #95 — “One Sport Under God” [VIDEO]
Our always-entertaining bros at MMA: Inside the Cage are back with their latest episode, featuring these must-see highlights… 6:58: A knockout that defines the phrase “sitting duck.” 9:37: An exclusive first look at the documentary Fight Church, from the producers of The Hammer, about a Christian ministry in New York that uses MMA and kickboxing as a means to spread their message. “Can you love your neighbor as yourself and then at the same time knee him in the face as hard you can?” 17:44: One-legged flyweight MMA fighter Matt Betzold faces off against Rudolph Kennedy at WFF 8 on May 12th. Betzold secures the takedown right away, opens Kennedy’s forehead up with an elbow, and sinks the rear-naked choke, evening his pro record to 3-3. Give it a look, and be sure to follow Casey and Cyrus on Facebook and Twitter!
UFC to Nottingham, England on Sept. 29, could be Fuel TV card
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC will officially head to Nottingham, England on Sept. 29, as officials announced over the weekend that they will head to the Capital FM Arena.
Though the television outlet for the event has not yet been set, MMAJunkie.com reports that it may be a Fuel TV event. Regardless, the event will more than likely air live in North America, instead of a tape delayed card as was the case with UK events on Spike TV.
Jason “Mayhem” Miller retires from fighting at UFC 146 loss and dismissal from UFC
Jason “Mayhem” Miller is a man of his word.
The now-unemployed fighter said before his bout with C.B. Dollaway that if he’d lost, he’d retire. He dropped a decision at UFC 146 on Saturday, then was cut from the UFC.
On Monday’s “MMA Hour,” he said he’s walking away from fighting after winning 23 bouts and losing nine.
“Every fighter gives the same answer when they say they’re retired. Pretty much every fighter says ‘I’m retired until I need money.’ I’m a pretty smart dude, I have other avenues open to me.”
Miller hosts MTV’s “Bully Beatdown,” and is, as he puts it, a smart dude. He gets business and selling his own brand, which is why he uses the flamboyant entrances that Dana White blasted.
He also shed light on the “backstage incident” White referred to when discussing Miller’s dismissal at the UFC 146 post-fight press conference.
“It was my mask,” Miller said. “Burt suddenly started yelling about my mask. I had a gas mask for the troops underneath my paper bag, and Burt started telling me right as I’m walking out for the fight. I’m trying to get focused instead of arguing about a paper bag. Maybe it was my fault for, I don’t know, I thought we had an understanding once I start walking out to the cage that now I’m working, but obviously we’re not on a playing field of mutual respect.”
He is referring to UFC backstage director and jack of all trades Burt Watson. UFC events being the well-run events they are has much to do with Watson and the respect fighters afford him. If there is just one rule that supersedes every other in the UFC, it’s listen to Burt. Fighters, employees, media and anyone doing business with the UFC knows this. Whether Miller is right or wrong is not important.
Now, Miller will have both the time and freedom to figure out his next move. He tweeted on Tuesday:
Don’t worry. I’m not dead. Just analyzing it all so I can share my human experience with you.
Though his next move won’t be in a cage, it will still be interesting to see what Miller does with his post-fighting life
With Rich Franklin being moved to UFC 147 to rematch Wanderlei Silva, one-time title challenger Patrick Cote has stepped in to fill the void left by “Ace’s” absence as he steps into face Cung Le at UFC 148. “The Predator” returns to the UFC on a four-fight win-streak, which includes the likes of Kalib Starnes, […]
UFC president Dana White is done with Jason “Mayhem” Miller. After losing to C.B. Dollaway in a bout that was booed for being less than thrilling and an unknown backstage incident, White said Miller is no longer with the UFC.
Jason “Mayhem” Miller is a man of his word.