Musclepharm Backs Another Winner, MSLP on the Rise

– UFC 121 Matches draw an estimated 850,000 pay per view buys and is watched by an estimated 10 million viewers.

Musclepharm sponsored Jake Shields, who won his UFC debut, pulling off a split decision over Martin Kampmann. Shields seemed struggled to do much in the final seven or eight minutes, but judges had it 30-27 and 29-28 for Shields and 29-28 for Kampmann, apparently qualifying Shields for a shot at the winner of the welterweight title bout at UFC 124 on Dec. 11 between champion Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck. Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole, Dave Doyle and Dave Meltzer all had it 29-28 Kampmann.

Kampmann never let his hands go, and that may have hurt him with the judges.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, MusclePharm is a rapidly expanding healthy life-style company that developments and manufacturers a full line of NSF and scientifically approved, nutritional supplements that are 100% free of any banned substances. Based on years of research, MusclePharm products are created through an advanced six-stage research protocol involving the expertise of top nutritional scientists and field tested by more than 100 elite professional athletes from various sports including the NFL, MMA, and MLB.

MSLP`s proprietary and award winning products address all categories of an active lifestyle including muscle building, weight loss, and maintaining general fitness through a daily nutritional supplement regimen. MusclePharm is sold in over 120 countries and available in over 5,000 U.S. retail outlets that include GNC, and Vitamin Shoppe, as well as over 100 online stores, including bodybuilding.com, Amazon and Vitacost.com.

Brock Lesnar's fame prior to entering the UFC brought him a considerable amount of money and opportunity. It also brought some unrealistic expectations for a man with only six professional fights to his name.

Lesnar, 4-1 since his 2008 UFC debut, looked uncomfortable from the outset against contender Cain Velasquez on Saturday, getting into desperate punching exchanges and eventually suffering damage to the point that referee Herb Dean stopped the bout. His sole trump card -- takedown to position to landing molar-rattling punches -- was canceled the minute Velasquez popped up within seconds of being grounded. Taking the fight as sole proof, Lesnar's is a reputation in search of a complete skill set.

Inexperience isn't the only explanation: Velasquez only had eight fights himself. But there's a world of difference between hosting a camp catered exclusively to you (Lesnar) and having the in-and-out daily camaraderie of a high-level gym (like Velasquez's AKA) offering constant emotional and physical support. Lesnar has insulated himself from the sport and most of the world in his Minnesota compound. Being a misanthrope may seem like a good base for a career that involves harming people, but not when it also requires team energy and direction.

There was tremendous crowd reaction to Velasquez, but whether that was directed at his win or at the sheer adrenaline dump of seeing someone of Lesnar's proportions beaten down is an open issue. Maybe they were simply rabid at the sight of a sport fight turning into a fight-fight: Lesnar and Velasquez dug into each other like they were in a parking lot.

Lesnar will be fine; there are plenty of fighters that can't stop his takedown in the division, and he'll win more than he loses. Velasquez, who is every bit as good as his coaches say, is a poor standard to hold yourself to. He'll make a great champion for the UFC.

Next for Velasquez: Junior dos Santos, and another serious test of his chin.


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