Ryan Bader (11-0)

Source: Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com

Keith Jardine threatened to interrupt Ryan Bader’s climb up the light heavyweight ladder, but “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner had other plans.

Bader ended a competitive bout 2:10 into round three, when he wobbled Jardine with a straight right hand, followed with a flying knee and put away the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts veteran with a clean left hook. The 26-year-old remains unbeaten through 11 professional appearances.

“I just tried to implement my game plan, kind of stay safe in my own comfort zone,” Bader said. “I’ve been working on my boxing a lot with the Lally Brothers at [Arizona] Combat [Sports].”

A two-time collegiate All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, Bader controlled round one with takedowns, ground-and-pound and the occasional power punch. Jardine seemed to bounce back in the second, as he neutralized his opponent’s wrestling advantage with his sprawl, landed his trademark leg kicks and held his own in the standing exchanges.
(more…)

Aaron Simpson (7-0)

Source: www.ufc.tv

FAIRFAX, VA, January 11 – AZ Combat Sports Fighter, Aaron Simpson, kept his perfect record intact the hard way, surviving a full-on first round striking assault from Tom Lawlor to battle back and earn a razor-thin three round split decision victory.

The two 185-pound prospects immediately engaged, and it was Lawlor who was surprisingly winning the striking battle, as he repeatedly rocked Simpson. As the round progressed, he kept the pressure on, and while Simpson’s head was in the fight, it was obvious that his legs were not. Lawlor, cautiously aggressive, continued to press the action, but he refused to get reckless.
(more…)

AZ Combat Sports Fighter, Aaron Simpson (6-0), was featured in this month’s issue of MMA Sports Magazine. Aaron Simpson will fighting at the UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11th, in Fairfax, Virginia. Check it out.

Andre Pederneiras and Jose Aldo

Source: www.wec.tv

By Frank Curreri

LAS VEGAS – It’s no longer speculation, and he’s no longer a secret: Jose Aldo (Nova Uniao) is clearly one of the world’s best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists. It will be hard for anyone to argue otherwise after the explosive Brazilian notched his ninth straight win by destroying WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown.

The outcome, which had been hotly debated by pundits leading up Wednesday night’s mega-fight at The Palms, was never in question once the bout commenced. In a battle billed as speed versus power, Aldo was the aggressor early, whacking Brown with leg kicks and drilling him with combinations. Brown tried to take the fight to the ground, where he presumed he would enjoy a sizable advantage, but Aldo proved even more difficult to take down than Urijah Faber had been, and he fought off the attempts. Brown scored here and there with kicks, but his hard overhand rights were largely blocked and did little damage to the composed challenger.
(more…)

Source: onthemat.com

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, there was another significant title fight taking place in MMA, other than Machida vs. Shogun at UFC 104 in Los Angeles, California. Instead of taking place under the famous lights of Tinseltown, this bout would take place about halfway across the country in the northern Great Plains, not too far from the Canadian border, in the small town of New Town, North Dakota. The bout was for the Sovereign Nations MMA women’s flyweight title and it featured two-time world champion and Hall of Fame boxer Elena “Baby Doll” Reid squaring off against the seasoned Japanese fighter Masako Yoshida, who was a veteran of 36 pro MMA bouts.

(more…)

Ryan Bader (10-0)

Source: www.mmaweekly.com

The UFC 104 took place in Los Angeles, California on October 24th. AZ Combat Sports was well represented by Ryan Bader.

It was apparent early on that Bader was definitely ready to show off his stand-up skills in facing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Eric “Red” Schafer, as the former Ultimate Fighter winner opened up early in the fight with big punches trying to end the fight early. Bader landed a big shot midway through the first that rocked Schafer, and it looked like the finish was on its way, but the Milwaukee based fighter persevered and made in through the first five minutes, while enduring some severe punishment from the former Arizona State wrestler.

(more…)

Nova Uniao Fighter Jose Aldo (15-1) will be fighting for the WEC Featherweight title against the Champion Mike Brown on  November 18th in Las Vegas, NV.

Go to the WEC Website for more info.