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MMA on Tap March Fighter Rankings

Here are the latest MMA on Tap fighter rankings. We will be updating these every month or whenever an adjustment is needed, like after a major event for example. The rankings break down into seven different lists of ten, each of them by division.

If you ever want to compare these with your own or just take a look at the latest update, you can find them under the "Top 10" category in our features section. The organization a fighter is currently under contract to is listed next to the fighter’s name.

The rankings were tabulated by the MMA on Tap staff. Feel free to chime in with your own lists, thoughts, or suggestions.

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Fight of the Week: Amanda Lucas Wins DEEP Women’s Open-Weight Title

Over the weekend in Japan, Amanda Lucas, daughter of Star Wars' creator George Lucas, became the first-ever winner of DEEP's inaugural women's open-weight title with a third-round submission win over female MMA pioneer Yumiko Hotta. Video of the fight is above.

(HT: Bloody Elbow)

MMA on Tap February Fighter Rankings

Here are the latest MMA on Tap fighter rankings. We will be updating these every month or whenever an adjustment is needed, like after a major event for example. The rankings break down into seven different lists of ten, each of them by division.

If you ever want to compare these with your own or just take a look at the latest update, you can find them under the "Top 10" category in our features section. The organization a fighter is currently under contract to is listed next to the fighter’s name.

The rankings were tabulated by the MMA on Tap staff. Feel free to chime in with your own lists, thoughts, or suggestions.

Continue reading "MMA on Tap February Fighter Rankings"

MMA on Tap January Fighter Rankings

Here are the latest MMA on Tap fighter rankings. We will be updating these every month or whenever an adjustment is needed, like after a major event for example. The rankings break down into seven different lists of ten, each of them by division.

If you ever want to compare these with your own or just take a look at the latest update, you can find them under the "Top 10" category in our features section. The organization a fighter is currently under contract to is listed next to the fighter’s name.

The rankings were tabulated by the MMA on Tap staff. Feel free to chime in with your own lists, thoughts, or suggestions.

Continue reading "MMA on Tap January Fighter Rankings"

Rock the Vote: Rockhold or Jardine?

Who do you have in tonight's Strikeforce main event? Will Rockhold's fluid combination of striking and wrestling keep Jardine guessing or will the UFC vet's unorthodox style give the champ trouble?

Tap Selections: Rockhold vs. Jardine

Less than a month since their last venture, Strikeforce kicks off the New Year with another event on Showtime. Saturday night’s main event features upstart Luke Rockhold making the first defense of his Strikeforce middleweight crown against Keith Jardine.

Other televised bouts include former Strikeforce light heavyweight title holder Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal going up against dangerous striker Lorenz Larkin and slugger Robbie Lawler battling Adlan Amagov.

Here are my predictions for the televised main card, which airs on Showtime starting at 10 PM ET.

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Upset of the Year: Ortiz Topples Bader

After failing to win a fight in four years and five consecutive fights past that point, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy", who once carried the UFC through the dark ages a decade ago, was finally at the end of the line with the organization.

Tito Ortiz, the longest reigning light heavyweight champion in the history of the UFC, had lost it. Leading up to an anticipated rematch with Chuck Liddell in December 2006, Ortiz had won five straight fights. Ortiz fell to Liddell a second time. A point for grabbing the fence led him to a draw with Rashad Evans next. But following that, Ortiz lost decisions to Forrest Griffin, Lyoto Machida and former protege Matt Hamill.

Ortiz had never lost three straight fights before in his career. To make matters worse, UFC President Dana White had informed him and the public that with a loss, Ortiz would be released from his contract. Beating a world-ranked light heavyweight in "Ultimate Fighter" winner Ryan Bader shouldn't be too hard, right?

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Submission of the Year: Mir on Nogueira

While last month's rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was going to be a memorable one no matter what, it's hard to say that anyone imagined the outcome that occurred.

The first meeting between the two submission specialists took place in December 2008, right after both finished up stints as opposing coaches on a season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. The fight never hit the ground, and Mir used surprisingly superior striking to become the first fighter to ever stop Nogueira.

Since their original clash, Mir had continued to remain among the top heavyweights in the world, while Nogueira battled injuries and brutal losses alike. Many pundits thought that Mir would use his power to stop Nogueira again, in a similar fashion as UFC 92. Mir stopped Nogueira, but not with strikes, and made history in the process.

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KO of the Year: Silva vs. Belfort

On February 5, 2011, Anderson Silva was supposed to have met his match.

A fellow Brazilian that was an explosive striker with knockout power, potentially faster on the feet, and a black belt in jiu-jitsu, Vitor Belfort posed the biggest threat that Silva had seen in a long time. Chael Sonnen would argue that, but we're talking about on pre-fight paper here.

It only took "The Spider" three and a half minute to put a stop to the hype.

Continue reading "KO of the Year: Silva vs. Belfort"

Fight of the Day: Fedor vs. Ishii

From DREAM's New Year's Eve event this past Saturday night, here's longtime heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko returning to action against former olympic judoka Satoshi Ishii.