(Video courtesy of Sapo/IronForgesIron)
If you weren’t excited about the next major Zuffa show on February 25 before, this 10-minute extended preview should get you pumped for the first UFC show in Japan.
You know the card for UFC 144 is good when Yushin Okami, “Kid” Yamamoto and Hatsu Hioki are on the prelims. The card is stacked. Edgar versus Bendo will be a fast-paced chess match, Rampage versus Bader should be a slugfest, Hunt versus Kongo will be a K-1 bout in a cage and Pettis versus Lauzon is an interesting clash of styles. What’s not to like about this event?
Considering that there will only be one event between this event and the one in Sweden on April 14, it’s a good thing the card isn’t a dud, otherwise we might have all said, “I’m not going to accept this as a card. I think I’m done with this MMA stuff; I don’t think they can pay me enough to do this again.”
If only they would bring in the ramp and have crazy PRIDE lady make a guest spot, JMMA fans’ wet dream would be complete.
UFC 144
February 25, 2012
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan
Main Card (PPV)
Lightweight Championship Bout
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Ryan Bader
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon
Preliminary Card (FX)
Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski
Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Vaughan Lee
Riki Fukuda vs. Steve Cantwell
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso
What pairings are you most looking forward to, Potato Nation?