Get the breakdown of the main card action from UFC Singapore, including longtime stalwart Michael Johnson looking to turn away Scotland’s Stevie Ray.
I’ve been trying to find a reason to give to potential viewers to tune in to UFC Singapore live… and I’m having a hard time doing so. It’s not that these fights are bad. In fact, I’d say all these contests are all matched up very well. I can promise you I’ll enjoy taking them in. The issue is, I can’t justify telling others to sacrifice potentially a rare opportunity to sleep in to take in contests of this quality live. Viewers can probably wake up whenever they please and tune into these contests on replay with the strong likelihood the results won’t be inadvertently spoiled for them. Or… you could wait for Bellator 232 later in the evening. Or… even wait a week for UFC 244. Basically, I’d recommend taking in this card in real time only if you’re really having a hard time scratching that MMA itch.
The main card of UFC Singapore begins at 8:00 AM ET/5:00 AM PT on Saturday.
Michael Johnson (19-14) vs. Stevie Ray (22-9), Lightweight
Johnson’s odyssey to featherweight never really made much sense to me. Had he looked to rely on his wrestling, I could have understood the move as he would probably find more success taking opponents to the mat when he’s the larger guy. However, he did the same thing he did at lightweight: rely on his speed and quickness to outwork the opposition with his fists. I’m not saying Johnson was horrible at featherweight, but it probably did little in helping him get his career back on track.
Returning to lightweight at the age of 33, Johnson’s chances of making a run up the ladder into contention is slim and none. Nonetheless, the only man to notch a loss onto Tony Ferguson in the UFC has a chance to hang around for a while longer as a gatekeeper of sorts. He still has fast hands and can rack up the volume in a hurry. However, the problem Johnson ran into that led to his venture at 145 remains the same: he struggles to moderate his energy levels and slows considerably late in fights. By that time, his defense has eroded and his chin can’t take the punches the way it could in his younger days.
That’s going to be Ray’s only hope as the Scotsman not only tends to start slow, but he’s physically slow as well, particularly next to Johnson. Nonetheless, Ray is at his best when the opposition is willing to stand in the pocket and trade fisticuffs as Ray is a technically sound boxer. When he’s forced to track down his opponent, he struggles to take proper angles. However, the biggest weakness of Ray’s is his inability to stop takedowns. Any opponent that has had a half decent wrestling game – and been willing to use it – has been able to have their way with Ray.
This should be a cakewalk for Johnson. Ray doesn’t have the quicks to keep up with the athletic veteran… when Johnson’s fresh. He’s done a better job of maintaining a reasonable pace in recent contests, but he still hasn’t completely solved that problem. If Ray manages to push a hard pace that Johnson can’t help but use large amounts of energy, the Scot could pull off the upset with a late stoppage. However, Ray isn’t the same type of threat to finish a fight that Andre Fili is and Fili wasn’t able to put the finishing touches on Johnson. The American’s return to the lightweight division should prove to be successful. Johnson via decision
Frank Camacho (22-7) vs. Beneil Dariush (16-4-1), Lightweight
Even though Dariush has put together a pair of wins since his three-fight winless skid, it still feels like he’s trying to crawl back into relevance. Given he was once a mainstay in the top ten of the division, it’s a bit surprising the UFC still has him fighting an opponent who isn’t even on the fringe of the rankings at this point. Regardless, if Dariush has his way, this could be the rare Camacho fight that proves to be less than exciting.
The primary issue that led to Dariush’s skid was the dissolution of his chin, somewhat of a surprising development given he’s only 30. Then again, the knee that Edson Barboza landed on him to begin that stretch was the type of shot that alters career in a major way, if not ends them. Though Dariush has proven on multiple occasions he is a skilled striker in his own right, that doesn’t mean much when you can’t take the return fire. However, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing that Dariush has turned his focus onto a ground-based approach. After all, he is a former no-gi world champion in BJJ. He has rededicated himself to his wrestling too, ensuring he can get the fight where he’s unlikely to be sparked out.
Camacho isn’t known for his ground game, which what makes Dariush’s new approach very worrisome for the brawler. However, just because he isn’t known for his ground game doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one. Camacho has done better than most would expect at keeping the fight standing, allowing him to be the beloved brawler that fans know and love. Then again, it isn’t like he’s fought anyone noted for their ground game in his UFC run as the UFC has wisely tried to put him in situations that allow him to shine.
The only logical pick is Dariush. He’s an intelligent fighter with the skill set to overwhelm Camacho on the mat. However, though Camacho is known as a brawler, he’s a wily brawler. Even when he pushes an ungodly pace, he’s still swinging late in the contest and every round starts on the feet. I’m picking Dariush as he should control Camacho on the mat similar to the way he did Thiago Moises – or submit him – but don’t discount the chances of Camacho finding the Iranian export’s chin. Dariush via submission of RD2
- Given he was a training partner of Francis Ngannou, there was quite a stir surrounding Cyril Gane upon his UFC entry. A two-time national Muay Thai champion, he has the striking accolades aside from just training from the most feared man in the sport. He upped the ante when he scored his first UFC victory by submission, showing he’s more than just a one-note fighter, even if he doesn’t end up playing that secondary note very often. He welcomes Dontale Mayes, a product of DWCS. It took Mayes three appearances before he finally made his way onto UFC roster, largely because he’s still a raw product. The physical tools are clearly there. Size. Raw power. Athleticism. He’s improved his wrestling too. However, his cardio still appears to be an issue and he still doesn’t have a full grasp on how to use his physical gifts. If he doesn’t find a finish early, he’s going to be in trouble. Finishing Gane isn’t going to be easy. In fact, I’d guess it’ll prove so difficult he doesn’t do it. Gane via KO of RD2
- After a rough UFC debut that saw him get ragdolled by human bowling ball Alex Garcia, Muslim Salikhov has since put together a pair of impressive KO’s. Nobody is predicting the King of Kung Fu is going to race up the division and challenge for the title, but if the UFC puts him in the right stylistic contests, he could be a regular highlight machine. Getting the cue, the UFC is pitting him against a fellow striker in Laureano Staropoli. A youthful prospect out of Argentina, Staropoli proved he’s ready for the big show in his sophomore effort when he picked apart veteran Thiago Alves. He’s got a sizeable athletic advantage and has shown signs of a functional ground game at this level, something Salikhov hasn’t displayed. Nonetheless, the youngster doesn’t have Salikhov’s wisdom of angles and distance. At some point, Salikhov explodes for another highlight reel finish. Salikhov via TKO of RD2