The return of Georges St. Pierre is upon us and with that comes great expectations from fans. Will they see the GSP of old or will we see a new, evolved version coming off his major knee injury.
From top to bottom, UFC 154 is stacked. You have some big name fighters, but for the most part you have under-the-radar talent that will go out and gun for that “Fight of the Night” bonus.
Here are the three favorites to cash that “Fight of the Night” check.
Sam Stout vs. John Makdessi
Every time you put two dynamic strikers that can take a punch in the Octagon with one another, you have yourself a top contender for that post-fight bonus.
Both Sam Stout and John Makdessi have a great arsenal of strikes in their respective repertoires. While Makdessi uses more flashy techniques, Stout uses technical striking on the outside to fluster opponents.
I guarantee that head kicks, spinning back fists and other fun strikes will be thrown in this fight, and some may land. Fans will be even more into this fight because it is two Canadians squaring off trying to steal the show.
I don’t know if a knockout will follow, but whatever happens, this is bound to be an awesome fight.
Patrick Cote vs. Alessio Sakara
Speaking of great striking battles, the feature bout on the preliminary card between Patrick Cote and Alessio Sakara has the chance to be a barn burner. It may not be the longest fight in the world, but it will be good nevertheless.
Think of Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley. That fight only lasted a round, but it was a fight of the night performance and even got looked upon as the fight of the year in most cases.
Both Cote and Sakara have powerful striking. They will stand in the pocket and look to knock each others heads off.
The key here is Cote’s chin. He can take a punch way better than Sakara can, which makes this even more intriguing to see if the Italian can break through the Canadian’s chin.
This may also have “Knockout of the Night” implications. Either way, this is definitely a top candidate for “Fight of the Night.”
Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit
Yes, believe it or not, but the fight between GSP and Carlos Condit has “Fight of the Night” implications. This is because Condit poses the biggest threat to GSP in a very long time.
Condit has the outright aggressiveness with his striking that can make GSP uncomfortable. However, people must remember that GSP is very sound on his feet and will use his quickness and jab to keep Condit at bay.
If GSP gets Condit down, it will be fun to watch. Condit has a tricky guard to deal with, but GSP is the best MMA-based wrestler in the welterweight division.
It will be a five-round chess match, but it will be an intriguing one that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Whatever the outcome, I think this could definitely earn “Fight of the Night” honors.
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