May 22, 2013

Boxing: Guillermo Rigondeaux batters Nonito Donaire in surprising win

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(It took 12 rounds, but Guillermo Rigondeaux outlasted Nonito Donaire for a bantamweight title.Al Bello/Getty Images) (PhatzRadio / AP) — NEW YORK — Not since Ricardo Lopez in the early 1990s has boxing seen a little man as dangerous as Nonito Donaire. For years, he’s been regarded as one of the world’s five best fighters [...]

UFC / MMA: Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland to headline UFC 161

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Renan Barao won the interim bantamweight title at UFC 149 in July.(Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights UFC President Dana White announced the interim bantamweight title fight for June 15 in Winnipeg Renan Barao has won 31 straight fights, including winning the interim bantamweight title at UFC 149 in July Eddie Wineland was [...]

UFC / MMA: Ronda Rousey retains title over Liz Carmouche at UFC 157

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Story Highlights Ronda Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 Rousey got the win with an armbar 4:49 into the first round It was Rousey’s first bantamweight title defense ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ronda Rousey got her seventh consecutive first-round armbar victory — but only barely. The Olympic bronze-medal judoka faced adversity in the UFC’s first-ever [...]

UFC/ MMA: Ronda Rousey ready for UFC octagon history

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Ronda Rousey, shown here before an August 2012 bout against Sarah Kaufman (not pictured) that Rousey won in 54 seconds, can claim the UFC bantamweight crown with a win over Liz Carmouche on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights Photogenic fighter in high demand as she’s about to become [...]

UFC / MMA: Renan Barao reigns again at UFC on FUEL TV 7

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Renan Barao celebrates defeating Urijah Faber (not pictured) in the interim bantamweight title bout of UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.(Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights Renan Barao extended his unbeaten streak to 30 fights by defeating Michael McDonald Barao retained the interim bantamweight title with an arm-triangle choke After the fight, Barao [...]

Barao beats Faber for 19th straight win at UFC 149

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CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Renan Barao won a unanimous decision against Urijah Faber at UFC 149 Saturday night for his 19th straight victory. The Brazilian, who outlasted his opponent in the five-round main event, now holds the interim bantamweight title and has put himself in position to take on current titleholder Dominick Cruz. The two [...]

Boxing: Morel’s dream includes victory against unbeaten Mares

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Eric Morel (R) lands a left hand to the head of Jose Silveira of Mexico at Honda Center on December 3, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (December 2, 2011 – Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America) (PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Former two-time world champion Eric Morel knows all about comebacks. Morel, 37, has come [...]

Boxing: Magdaleno looks to stay unbeaten and on track for title shot

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(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Diego Magdaleno has to hope he can make it until fight night without a new opponent. The undefeated super featherweight will face his second replacement opponent in the last two weeks on Friday night in a 10-round main event of Showtime’s ShoBox series in Tucson (11 p.m. ET/PT). At least [...]

Boxing: Steve Farhood’s top 10 Mexico vs. Puerto Rico fights

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(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — When Mexico’s WBO featherweight world champ Orlando Salido faces off in a rematch against Puerto Rican star Juan Manuel Lopez on Saturday (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET), it will be a continuation of a storied history of rivalry fights between Mexican and Puerto Rican fighters. There have been some unforgettable matchups [...]

Boxing: Donaire ready to test higher weight against Vazquez Jr.

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(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Moving up to a higher weight class has brought at least one somewhat unexpected, positive change to Nonito Donaire’s life. For the first time in his career, the 29-year-old boxer known as “The Filipino Flash” does not have to cut weight for a fight. He’s only moved from 118 pounds [...]