From trading punches to trading hunting stories, former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture recently spent some quality time alongside current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in preparation for the former WWE superstar’s title defense against Shane Carwin at UFC 116.

In total, Couture spent five days at the Death Clutch gym in Alexandria, Minnesota in order to gauge Lesnar’s camp for Carwin. During that time the UFC Hall of Famer came away with a valuable inside look into the training methods of the biggest draw in the sport.

“I don’t think the year off has hurt him. He’s made the adjustments physically and dietarily,” said Couture to Sherdog.com in reference to Lesnar’s recent time away from MMA due to an intestinal infection. “He’s back to 100 percent full strength and I think that having the downtime wasn’t a huge issue for him. He was back pretty quickly to being able to train. Technically, he’s probably learned more and is a better fighter than he was a year ago.

“He’s had to make some dietary changes because of getting sick that has him leaner than he’s been, but he’s still in that 280-pound range. He probably won’t have to cut as much weight come fight time.”

According to Couture, for as skilled in the art of pummeling men as Brock currently is, the massive heavyweight champion is still a work in progress. In this bout with the fearsome undefeated knockout artist, Lesnar appears to be focusing on his opponent’s strong point in order to avoid being knocked senseless early, like all of Carwin’s previous opponents.

“He continues to learn very quickly. For this camp, he’s refining his striking tactics and technique, as that could be a component of this fight with Carwin,” said Couture. “There’s no secret there that Carwin’s going to try and come out and knock your head off.”

“I think the more Brock can make this a wrestling match, the less likely that Carwin is going to be able to have it his way and win the fight. I think Brock’s wrestling credentials are stronger and he’s a bigger, generally stronger, more athletic fighter than Carwin. If he can make it a wrestling match and keep it in those terms, he has a very good chance of winning the fight. If he gets sucked in the firefight, throwing four-ounce gloves at one another, anything can happen.”

UFC Interim Heavyweight champion Shane Carwin is certainly one of the most humble and open fighters in mixed martial arts today, and he continued to speak openly via his blog at ShaneCarwin.com. Carwin took a moment to speak about his pay, and how it’s changed his life as well as his urge to get paid part of the PPV proceeds.

As for the money side of things. I wont lie and say I wish I was getting a piece of this PPV. Of course I want that, so does every other fighter on the card that is not. I love to fight but I would love to fight for millions of dollars. Who wouldn’t want to be paid millions of dollars for doing what they love (aside from that girl in Twilight)? But, I am not fighting for the money. If I was I would have checked out of this sport LONG ago. This is not the NFL and there is no league minimums. You eat what you kill and that is all. I have a great team making sure that I have plenty of game to hunt. I am not dependent upon fighting Brock to cash out. I am making more off of being a fighter than I could ever have imagined. I regularly make calls to my manager thanking him for “changing my families life”. I have been blessed by MMA, most of the MMA media, the fans, and even the haters and for that I am forever grateful. For those of you reporting I am only making $50,000 for this fight and that is the reason behind my limiting media, please get your facts right it is $80,000 ($40 to show and $40 to win) plus you have to factor in my generous sponsors (THANKS) and the KO and FOTN bonus that will be awarded to me on July 3rd. I would have done it for less, I love competing and testing myself.

Carwin also addresses his issues with the media, and his current media blackout as he prepares to take on UFC Heavywieght champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 116 on July 3rd.

It appears Shane Carwin, already viewed by many as one of the classiest individuals in Mixed Martial Arts, has revealed yet another likable characteristic – a self-deprecating sense of humor. The UFC 116 headliner recently took to popular forum The Underground to address his subdued demeanor and monotone delivery while being interviewed, alongside UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar, during last weekend’s Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale in order to promote their upcoming bout.

“I wanted to tell you that I am now sponsored by the Night Time Nyquill. The interview during the TUF Finale was our attempt at gorilla marketing. If you were sleepy or felt “bored” by my interview then we hit our mark. Imagine what the actual product will do for you if I was able to put you to sleep with my words. Nyquill it helps you sleep like my right hand. Available at fine Pharmacies everywhere.

Man what a boring interview. They should have played the part where Goldberg was talking about going hunting with Brock.

No excuse but it was a lazy day and I had just been in a epic water balloon fight with my son and I was trying to keep a straight face. I will do better if they ever have me back.”

Carwin, who holds the UFC’s interim heavyweight title, will clash with Lesnar on July 3rd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. His knockout of former champ Frank Mir at UFC 111 this past March moved his record to 12-0 with the entire dozen coming by way of first-round finish.

Long time legendary pro wrestler Ric Flair recently talked to the Mirror UK and had some interesting, if not controversial, things to say about MMA and its fans.

My take on MMA is that those guys are phenomenal athletes and extraordinarily tough and committed but the people that are crazy about them got nothing going on themselves.”

“I actually think most of the male public that is crazy for that are living vicariously for something they can never be.”

“When Lesnar fights, I like watching Brock… and I recognise a lot of names … you’ve got to have so much respect for what those guys put themselves through but it is a limited time frame [they've got].”

Seems like some of the things Flair is saying are well thought, but his overall assessment of MMA fighters and his belief that they’re trying to “kill each other” certainly is not founded in fact.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (26-6) doesn’t care if you hate him, because he hates you just as much.

This past Friday Sylvia earned his second straight victory, after losing three straight, having defeated five times World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski in the main event of “Moosin: God of Martial Arts” show.

The heavyweight weighed in at 305 pounds for the event and makes no apologies to fans for his size, or as a matter of face, for anything else he’s done.

“I know what I’ve done,” he responded Monday. “I know no one else has been a five-time UFC heavyweight champ besides Randy (Couture). As soon as Brock (Lesnar) defends it and makes that, then he’s in that division too, but no one else is. Not even Arlovski.”

“I’m drastically different,” he said of his fight-week personality. “I have no patience. I’ve worked my butt off for 10 weeks to prepare myself for my opponent, and it’s constantly going through my mind. When I go to bed, when I get up, it’s all about who I’m fighting and what I have to do to win this fight. That’s when a lot of the fans, they’ll come in to the show and they’ll see this standoffish guy who’s set on beating the guy in front of me. Maybe that’s it?”

Sylvia was a recent guest on Sherdog.com’s radio show and fans can listen to the entire interview by clicking the link.

More photo’s of Sylvia and the entire Moosin event can be found at MiddleEasy.com.

In July the UFC’s two top heavyweight fighters will step into the octagon in a title unification bout between UFC champ Brock Lesnar (4-1) and undefeated interim champion Shane Carwin (12-0). Their fight was made official on Tuesday, UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin will take place on July 3rd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

“When people wonder why the heavyweights capture the imagination of all fight fans, it’s because of guys like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin,” said UFC President Dana White. “Not only are they great athletes and former national wrestling champions, but they both have the ability to end a fight with one punch. This is one of those fights that you won’t be able to turn away from because it can be over in a split second, and when it’s over, only one will walk away as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world.”

Tickets will go on sale starting Thursday, May 13th with seats reaching a maximum price of $1000 for the event. Ultimate-level members of the UFC Fight Club will get the chance to purchase tickets early on Tuesday, May 11 while UFC.com newsletter subscribers will get their chance on Wednesday, May 12.

Lesnar will make his return to the octagon after a year’s absence due to an intestinal infection that almost ended his career.

“I can’t wait to get back in the Octagon and defend my UFC heavyweight title,” Lesnar said. “July 3rd can’t come soon enough. I’m ready to fight. At UFC 116, Shane Carwin is going to face the REAL UFC heavyweight champion. I’m going to end Shane’s perfect record and walk out of the Octagon with my championship belt around my waist.”

Carwin earned the interim title by defeating former heavyweight champ Frank Mir and will take his undefeated streak into the octagon.

“I have wanted a chance to compete against Brock since my college wrestling days,” Carwin said. “He is an elite athlete who is always dangerous. His college wrestling background makes him extremely tough. I will be the first fighter he has faced who is equal in size. He won’t be able to bully me or hold me down as he has others in the past. This is the biggest fight of my life. I think it can go down as one of the greatest fights in UFC history. I expect to have my hand raised and to become the REAL UFC heavyweight champion.”

Source: UFC.com

Strikeforce on CBS was an interesting TV show Saturday night that I watched live and then watched again later in the evening. Was Strikeforce the most compelling MMA TV show that I can remember seeing in the past few weeks? No. Was I sorry that I watched it? Absolutely not.

Why was Miller even allowed to enter the cage in the first place. Brock Lesnar was professionally brought into the Octagon after Shane Carwin destroyed Frank Mir to set up the July 3 Lesnar-Carwin fight but Brock conducted himself like the big time, professional athlete that he is. Lesnar did not go ‘thug life’ or in business strictly for himself but did make me want to see Brock fight Carwin for the undisputed heavyweight title in UFC.

Check out the rest of his comments by clicking the LINK and if your a BBQ fan check out his list of products, yummy!

Brazilian heavyweight Junior “Cigano” dos Santos (11-1) has won five straight bouts in the UFC, four via KO or TKO and one by submission (punch). With one more victory, the Brazilian say`s he`ll have a shot at the heavyweight title.

Another heavyweight ,“TUF” season 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson recently talked about facing dos Santos in the octagon, a match “Cigano” is not in favor of.

“He’s a tough guy, who works hard. But as the UFC told me, I’m close to getting a shot at the title. So to me this fight doesn’t make much sense. But if they pencil it, I’ll fight him for sure. I feel he’s a dangerous guy, who has been doing good work.”

On a chance at the title in the near future he says:

“They told me Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin are going to fight now and that Cain Velasquez awaits the winner between those two. I’ll have one more fight and, if I win, I’ll get a shot at the belt. Something like that,” he explains.

Dos Santos last competed at UFC LIVE: Vera vs. Jones knocking out Gabriel Gonzaga by knockout in the first round.

HT: Graciemag.com

UFC heavyweight and “The Ultimate Fighter” season 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson (15-4) understands just how much talent there is in the UFC heavyweight division, knowing that there are others ahead of him when it comes to a title shot.

“I don’t really make those choices. I was saying I’d rather be fighting for the belt and be done with it. It’s the UFC and there’s so many great guys, there’s so many great fights to match up with.”

Nelson has won back-to-back fights in the UFC, earning first round knock outs against “TUF” finalist opponent Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve last month at UFN 21. If he could pick his next opponent the former IFL heavyweight champ would like to step into the octagon against Junior dos Santos.

“I’d love it,” Nelson said about a fight with the Brazilian knockout artist. “I think Dos Santos deserves (a title shot) over Cain (Velasquez) just cause he’s whipped some better competition. I mean his very first fight was (Fabricio) Werdum. He’s beat up some really good guys. I think he definitely deserves a good chance or a good stab at it.”

…

“I know I won’t get Shane (Carwin) or Brock (Lesnar), they’re supposed to be fighting in July. Cheick Kongo is just coming off his win over Paul Buentello, so he’s out in the wind. Then you’ve got Dos Santos, he’s still out in the wind. You’ve got Velasquez still out in the wind,” said Nelson.

HT: MMAWeekly.com

With his recent victory over former UFC heavyweight champ Fran Mir, the 12-0 Shane Carwin is readying himself for a shot at the title later this summer against Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar is known as a trash talker and Carwin welcomes the taunts, saying he’ll just laugh it all off. He’d rather have fans remember him for his actions in the octagon rather than the words he uses outside.

“…I didn’t really care that Brock was in there, I didn’t even really pay any attention to him,” said Carwin. “I was elated for my win. It was a big victory over a big time opponent, and I just wanted to go celebrate with my coaches. Him being in there talking, I could have cared less.

“I want to be remembered as the type of fighter for my fights in the Octagon, not for all the talk outside of it.”

HT: MMAWeekly.com