SB Nation Tampa Bay - UFC 152 Results: Marcus Brimage Beats Jimy Hettes By Decisionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-09-23T10:21:09-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31370512012-09-23T10:21:09-04:002012-09-23T10:21:09-04:00UFC 152 Jon Jones vs Vitor Belfort Results and Weekend Recap
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<img alt="September 22, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Jon Jones applying the Americana shoulder lock on Vitor Belfort to defend light heavyweight championship during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vRUhDVXdKV3nBzZWVQ3b5scI1x4=/0x121:4000x2788/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/9280975/20120922_tjg_sx9_536.jpg" />
<figcaption>September 22, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Jon Jones applying the Americana shoulder lock on Vitor Belfort to defend light heavyweight championship during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>T.P. Grant looks at this weekend's events in Mixed Martial Arts: A champion gets his arm broken but still manages to win and a new weight class crowns its first king. </p> <p>The main events of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95855/ufc-152-jones-vs-belfort" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 152</a> delivered all the action and drama that fans come to expect from high-level Mixed Martial Arts. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122514/jon-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Jones</a> retained his UFC <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/light-heavyweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Light Heavyweight</a>, but not without a serious scare from former champion and sport pioneer VItor Belfort, who caught Jones in a full on armbar. Jones' right elbow clearly hyper-extended at one point, but he refused to tap out. In the end it was Jones who submitted Belfort, catching the Brazilian in a shoulder lock.</p>
<p>The status of the champion's arm is unknown but there was clear damage done to the elbow and a medical layoff is very likely for Jones. While Vitor failed to defeat Jones, he still had the most impressive showing of anyone who has fought him to this point in his career. While not living in Florida, Vitor did spend the months leading up to the fight training with the Sunshine State-based fight team known as the Blackzilians, named from an internal joke at the camp that all their fighters there are either Black or Brazilian. Home to Jon Jones' former friend and now rival <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans" class="sbn-auto-link">Rashad Evans</a>, it is very likely that Evans was able to point out key weaknesses in the champion's skills to Vitor as Evans spent a great of time training with Jones as he was coming up.</p>
<p>The UFC also crowned its first <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/flyweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Flyweight</a> champion as Demetrious "Might Mouse" Johnson was able to use his amazing speed, wrestling and ever-improving boxing to defeat <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/125034/joseph-benavidez" class="sbn-auto-link">Joseph Benavidez</a> in a five-round decision. This was the conclusion of a four-man tournament to crown the first champion, going into which Benavidez was considered to be the favorite. Training out of the California-based Team Alpha Male, Benavidez's loss is yet another title fight defeat in the team's growing reputation for close but no cigar performances.</p>
<p>Other notable fights included <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122551/michael-bisping" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Bisping</a> getting another quality win at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/middleweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Middleweight</a> as he was able to out-maneuver former marine <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128666/brian-stann" class="sbn-auto-link">Brian Stann</a> to a one-sided decision, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130160/vinny-magalhaes" class="sbn-auto-link">Vinny Magalhaes</a>' triumphant return to the UFC with a slick armbar win and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122606/t-j-grant" class="sbn-auto-link">T.J. Grant</a> putting the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/lightweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Lightweight</a> division on notice as he put a beating on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122526/evan-dunham" class="sbn-auto-link">Evan Dunham</a>.</p>
<p>The UFC also had two of its brighter prospects suffer serious setbacks last night as <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122976/cub-swanson" class="sbn-auto-link">Cub Swanson</a> knocked out promising young Brazilian fighter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122643/charles-oliveira" class="sbn-auto-link">Charles Oliveira</a>, and Florida's own <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/141450/marcus-brimage" class="sbn-auto-link">Marcus Brimage</a>, one of the largest underdogs on the card, defeated Jimy Hettes.</p>
<p>In other MMA news for the weekend, Florida native and Blackzilian fighter Anthony "Rumble" Johnson notched his third win outside of the UFC on Friday night. Cut from the UFC for struggles making weight, Johnson is trying to redeem himself in the eyes of the UFC on the regional circuit and his head kick knock out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129743/jake-rosholt" class="sbn-auto-link">Jake Rosholt</a> and successful weight cut both bode well.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/mma/2012/9/23/3376444/ufc-152-jon-jones-vitor-belfort-results-weekend-recap-winners-losers-championship-flyweight-armbarT.P. Grant2012-09-22T21:06:48-04:002012-09-22T21:06:48-04:00UFC 152 Results: Marcus Brimage Earns Surprising Decision Over Jimy Hettes
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<p>On the first FX prelim fight of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/95855/ufc-152-jones-vs-belfort" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 152</a> Florida resident and American Top Team fighter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/141450/marcus-brimage" class="sbn-auto-link">Marcus Brimage</a> was the biggest underdog on the card heading in against Jimy Hettes, but Marcus Brimage walked away with a decision victory.</p>
<p>Brimage shocked <span class="caps">MMA</span> fans as he was able to keep the fight standing for the majority of the fight and out strike Hettes on the feet. A strong grappler, Hettes was able to take Brimage down only a few scant times and Brimage was able to escape to his feet. Clearly Brimage’s time at American Top Team training under their excellent grappling coaches has paid off.</p>
<p>Hettes seemed content to strike for much of the match and had a strong second round, but Brimage clearly won the first and third round. True to his anime roots Brimage wore a "Dragon Ball Z" scouter while waiting to be announced the winner of the fight.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/mma/2012/9/22/3375066/ufc-152-marcus-brimage-earns-suspiring-decision-over-jimy-hettesT.P. Grant2012-09-22T11:41:26-04:002012-09-22T11:41:26-04:00UFC 152: Marcus Brimage Kicks Off FX Prelims Against Jimy Hettes
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<img alt="ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 21: Marcus Brimage reacts during his featherweight bout with Maximo Blanco (not pictured) for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GW6B2oX8CePfDCAT3_4mggOxiGg=/25x0:975x633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6594834/143226728.jpg" />
<figcaption>ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 21: Marcus Brimage reacts during his featherweight bout with Maximo Blanco (not pictured) for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Florida fighter Marcus Brimage looks to use his strong striking and KO power to defeat dynamic grappler Jimy Hettes at UFC 152 free on FX. </p> <p> </p>
<p>The UFC returns to Pay-Per-View tonight with a double title match, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/light-heavyweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Light Heavyweight</a> Champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122514/jon-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Jones</a> takes on<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122550/vitor-belfort" class="sbn-auto-link">Vitor Belfort</a> after <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/125034/joseph-benavidez" class="sbn-auto-link">Joseph Benavidez</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122884/demetrious-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Demetrious Johnson</a> square off to decide who will become the first UFC <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/weight_class/flyweight" class="sbn-auto-link">Flyweight</a> Champion. Before the title matches, the UFC will air free prelim fights on FX starting at 8 p.m. ET, and kicking off those free fights is Florida resident and American Top Team fighter <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/141450/marcus-brimage" class="sbn-auto-link">Marcus Brimage</a> taking on dynamic grappler Jimy Hettes.</p>
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<p>Brimage is undefeated in the UFC since entering into the promotion through season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). He gained quite a few fans while on the show due to his exciting striking and his unabashed love for martial arts action based anime cartoons. Inspired to begin training by the cartoon Dragon Balls Z and drawn to MMA by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Brimage's background is in striking arts including Muay Thai and Boxing.</p>
<p>While Brimage is 2-0 in his UFC career, he comes into this fight against Jimy Hettes a plus-400 underdog. There is an old combat sports saying that styles make fights and in this case the style matchup is very bad for the Florida-based fighter. Brimage, while a powerful striker, is still very much a work in progress when it comes to grappling. American Top Team boasts some of the very best grappling coaches in the sport, but Hettes will likely enjoy a strong advantage on the ground. Experienced in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Hettes dominated TUF veteran and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/127446/nam-phan" class="sbn-auto-link">Nam Phan</a> with highlight reel throws and fluid top position grappling in his last fight.</p>
<p>Brimage has worked hard on developing his grappling, but it is unlikely he is ready for a grappler of Hettes' caliber. This fight has the appearance of a showcase fight for Hettes, but MMA remains a sport where anything can happen. If Brimage is able to stave off a few takedowns or hit Hettes before he can close the distance, he may be able to score the upset. That said, Hettes mostly likely walks away from this fight a winner by submission.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/9/22/3372714/ufc-152-watch-free-marcus-brimage-jimy-hettes-Jon-Jones-Vitor-Belfort-prelimsT.P. Grant