AUSTIN – Ronda Rousey has faced this provocative question many times, and she’s never wavered in her emphatic response. Would she ever get into the Octagon against a man? “There should never be a venue where we’re celebrating a man hi…
AUSTIN – Ronda Rousey has faced this provocative question many times, and she’s never wavered in her emphatic response. Would she ever get into the Octagon against a man? “There should never be a venue where we’re celebrating a man hitting a woman,” Rousey repeated, and a large crowd at the South by Southwest 2015 Interactive Conference greeted her stance — and her honesty — with huge applause. In other words, no. And if there was any doubt, “With our organization, she’ll never fight a man,” said UFC President Dana White, drawing more claps … Read the Full Article Here
After 17 fights inside the Octagon, and a UFC career spanning seven years, Rafael dos Anjos is the lightweight champion of the world. He rocked Anthony Pettis early with a punch that caused him to lose sight in his right eye, and he kept an unrelenting…
After 17 fights inside the Octagon, and a UFC career spanning seven years, Rafael dos Anjos is the lightweight champion of the world. He rocked Anthony Pettis early with a punch that caused him to lose sight in his right eye, and he kept an unrelenting amount of pressure on Pettis en route to a unanimous-decision victory in UFC 185’s main event. And he did it with a torn MCL, as per SB Nation’s Anton Tabuena.
The night’s other newly crowned champ, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, didn’t need the judges to award her the victory, as she finished Carla Esparza with a Wanderlei-esque barrage on the feet in the second round.
The two new champs weren’t the only fighters to perform impressively at UFC 185, as Alistair Overeem and Johny Hendricks were victorious in their main card fights, and “Irish” Joe Duffy put the lightweight division on notice with his first-round dismantling of Jake Lindsey.
There was a lot to love about UFC 185, and the show will undoubtedly have lasting implications. Let’s take a look back at what went down at UFC 185 with The Reaction.
Welcome to the (dos Anjos) Show
The UFC lightweight division is a dangerous place. The title has changed hands several times over the past few years, and it did so again at UFC 185. The road that dos Anjos has taken to become UFC champion included back-to-back losses to start his UFC career. He went 4-4 in his first three years fighting for the UFC. He was seen as anything but a future champion.
He has quietly been improving his game over the last few years, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt has vastly upgraded his striking game under the tutelage of Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA.
The overall MMA game that was on display from dos Anjos at UFC 185 was leaps and bounds ahead of where he was when he first stepped inside the Octagon in 2008. He stifled the offense of Pettis with hard kicks to the body and big power shots.
Dos Anjos gave us fair warning of what he was capable of going into this fight, and a lot of people (myself included) still chose to overlook him. He had won eight of his nine fights coming into UFC 185, and his assent to the title included plenty of wins over high-level competition.
He knocked out Benson Henderson and won impressive unanimous decisions over Donald Cerroneand Nate Diaz. Pettis ended up being no match for the Brazilian. Dos Anjos was throwing some serious heat throughout the entire fight and was much stronger and more adept on the mat than Pettis.
He was truly the superior fighter, and he welcomed all of us to the Rafael dos Anjos show. Just how long the show will last is another story.
Pettis will now have to go back to the drawing board and take on a few Top 10 lightweights before he gets a chance to reclaim his title. Fights with Michael Johnson or Edson Barboza would be nice for Pettis to start his climb back to the top.
Dos Anjos will now wait for the winner of Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 187 in May. If Nurmagomedov emerges victorious, we may see yet another title change before the year is out, as “The Eagle” dominated the new champ in their first encounter last April.
Joanna Champion
In the lead-up to her strawweight title fight with Carla Esparza, the Polish striker exuded confidence, and on Saturday night we found out why. Jedrzejczyk woman-handled Carla Esparza at UFC 185, defending every takedown attempt and absolutely lighting her up on the feet.
She proved to be too much for the UFC’s inaugural strawweight champion, and she finished the fight with a vicious barrage in the second round that caused Esparza to collapse in the referee’s arms upon the stopping of the match.
UFC 185 was the true coming out party for Joanna “Champion”, and she put an end to Esparza’s title reign in emphatic fashion. Her 60-fight background in muay thai and superb takedown defense will be very problematic for the rest of the newly established UFC women’s strawweight division. I’m excited to see her defend her title, as challengers like Joanne Calderwood and Tecia Torres present interesting matchups.
Cejudo is on the Path to Gold…Again.
In a flyweight landscape where Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson has vanquished every foe put in front of him with relative impunity, fresh challengers are always welcome. So welcome, in fact, that some guys wind up opposite the cage from Mighty Mouse before they are ready. The UFC shouldn’t make that mistake with Cejudo.
He dominated Chris Cariaso for the entire three-round affair, and he said post-fight that he was a bit fatigued from the weight cut. He didn’t look very fatigued, but if he felt less than 100 percent in that fight, imagine how he’ll look if he actually masters the cut to 125 pounds.
The UFC will most likely give him one or two more fights before a fight with Johnson, but timing may necessitate a quick ascension to a title shot for the Olympic gold medalist. He may end up facing Mighty Mouse before he hits his true stride as a mixed martial artist, or he may rise to the occasion and be the man to take the title from Johnson. A fight with someone like Ian McCall or Joseph Benavidez would give us a clear idea of whether or not Cejudo is ready for the champ.
The Irish Invasion Continues
Known most notably for being the last man to defeat UFC title challenger Conor McGregor, Joseph Duffy’s reputation preceded him going into UFC 185. He submitted McGregor in under a minute in 2010, and all but one of his 13 victories came by way of a stoppage. All but one of those stoppages came in the first round.
Duffy didn’t waste any time in his UFC debut, finishing Jake Lindsey in the first round. Every strike he threw was precise and efficient, yet still powerful enough to bring about the finish fairly quickly. The rib roaster at the end was too much for Lindsey, and now Duffy might be setting his sights on the featherweight division, as Duffy’s coach Firas Zahabi told UFC commentator Joe Rogan (h/t MMAJunkie.com’s Dann Stupp and John Morgan).
Whichever division Duffy fights in next, he is a welcome addition to the UFC roster and the latest Irishman to impress on the big stage.
What to Make of Benoit’s Butt-Kick
In the Fight Pass prelim portion of UFC 185, Pettis’ younger brother Sergio took on Ryan Benoit. Pettis was looking like the better fighter in the first round, staying composed and avoiding the wild punches Benoit was throwing. Midway through the second round, that all changed.
Benoit landed a powerful looping hook that floored Pettis, and he rushed in for the finish. Pettis turtled up but Benoit kept pouring on big punches on the mat, and the referee jumped in to stop the attack. But right as he was getting up, Benoit added insult to injury by soccer-kicking Pettis while he was down.
The crowd caught it on the replay and the arena filled with boos for Benoit’s momentary lapse in anything resembling good judgment. Benoit was immediately apologetic, and that is what seemingly got him off the hook for his egregious behavior.
There’s no excuse for putting your hands on your opponent after the fight ends, or for landing a cheap and disrespectful kick after you’ve just won. Punishments for unsportsmanlike conduct vary by jurisdiction and are arbitrary to say the least. Just ask Johnny Eduardo, who was suspended for 30 days by the Ohio Athletic Commission for throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd after his victory at Fight Night Cincinnati last May.
The UFC’s strawweight division is the newest group added to the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. Joanna Jedrzejczyk has snatched the title away from Carla Esparza to put herself at the top of the weight class. She dominated in h…
The UFC’s strawweight division is the newest group added to the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. Joanna Jedrzejczyk has snatched the title away from Carla Esparza to put herself at the top of the weight class. She dominated in her performance at UFC 185 to earn the second-round stoppage. Fans should be excited about what is to come in this weight class as it continues to work itself out.
Jedrzejczyk used a steady dose of takedown defense and striking to finish off Esparza. By the time their co-main event affair was over, she had proved she had the tools to stay on her feet while delivering punishing combinations. The confidence that she displayed in her skill set leading up to the fight proved to be well founded.
“I am a confident person and I said I was going to be a new champion,” Jedrzejczyk said during the UFC 185 post-fight press conference. “You didn’t believe in me. That’s why I’m here. I always believed in myself and that’s why I’m here.”
It will be interesting to see how the division sorts itself out from this point. Many individuals were impressed with Jedrzejczyk’s win and how effective she was from start to finish.
Going forward, there are a lot of questions as to what is next for the new women’s champion.
At UFC on Fox 13, Jedrzejczyk made it through a tough battle with Claudia Gadelha in which she took a split decision. Gadelha is currently ranked in the second position and is planned to compete on April 11 as the UFC travels to Poland. If Gadelha pulls out a convincing victory, she could set the table for the rematch with the current champion.
Beyond that fight, there are still a number of other questions within this weight class. Jessica Penne, Rose Namajunas and Tecia Torres flush out the top five and would be interesting challengers if the opportunity sees fit. Jessica Aguilar is another name within the division, but she’s currently signed to the World Series of Fighting. If she were to become a free agent, she could immediately be added to the equation.
This is an interesting time within the development of the division. Women’s mixed martial arts still has an allure to it which allows it to grab attention in ways that does not occur on the men’s side. Even though there are far less “big name” women fighters than men, the strawweight division has a chance to quickly grow in comparison to the men’s flyweight division.
Joanna is just the type of fighter around whom the UFC can build this division. Her performance at UFC 185 is just the start of what will be a story worth watching.
Anthony Pettis was poised to become a crossover mixed martial arts star if he walked out of UFC 185 with the lightweight title Saturday. Unfortunately for him, Rafael dos Anjos completely stopped that momentum with a dominating 25-minute performance.
T…
Anthony Pettis was poised to become a crossover mixed martial arts star if he walked out of UFC 185 with the lightweight title Saturday. Unfortunately for him, Rafael dos Anjos completely stopped that momentum with a dominating 25-minute performance.
This defeat sends Pettis back to the drawing board. The 155-pound division is full of interesting fights that will help him stay relevant in the weight class moving forward.
Rafael dos Anjos walked out of UFC 185 with the lightweight title around his waist. He defeated a man who was in the process of emerging as a future star within the sport. Not only did he snatch the belt from around Pettis’ waist, but he also den…
Rafael dos Anjos walked out of UFC 185 with the lightweight title around his waist. He defeated a man who was in the process of emerging as a future star within the sport. Not only did he snatch the belt from around Pettis’ waist, but he also denied the UFC a chance to develop another cross over star. The organization was banking on pushing “Showtime” to the masses, and dos Anjos completely ruined that moment.
For five rounds, dos Anjos dominated Pettis in a way that was widely unexpected. Many MMA media experts were picking Pettis to win the fight. Those that didn’t immediately took to Twitter to illicit their excitement in picking the underdog in this fight.
That excitement for being “right” shows how important Pettis was becoming leading into the UFC 185 main event. In December, MMA Fighting chronicled the fact that Pettis is the first MMA athlete to be featured on a Wheaties box. With the highlight reel finishes that Pettis was amassing, it was clear to many people that he was growing into a star that could cross over to other aspects of the entertainment world.
Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports recently wrote a piece about ‘Showtime’ and his growth that brought out an interesting reference to thoughts from UFC President Dana White.
“UFC President Dana White said he believes Pettis is the most talented fighter in the sport,” Iolewrote. “If White has anything to say about it, Pettis will soon become a household name.”
Unfortunately for White’s prediction, Rafael dos Anjos used his time in the limelight to ruin that moment. The win came in such a way that will surely slow any rise to fame that Pettis was expected to enjoy.
This doesn’t mean that Pettis cannot rebuild himself into a superstar in the sport. The 28-year old fighter still boasts an 18-3 record and should be considered one of the best lightweights in the sport. Injuries have hampered much of his career, but he knows that staying active can remove that perception.
“Basically, I have to go out there every couple of months and keep fighting the top guys and winning the fights the way I have been and you’ll see my star power go up,” Pettis said in Iole’s Yahoo Sports piece.
It will be interesting to see what happens next now that ‘Showtime’ is no longer the champion. There are a number of viable fights for him within the lightweight division. If he can dispatch of multiple foes while adding to his list of spectacular finishes, the UFC will find a way to market him into a star. Still, Rafael dos Anjos completely derailed his momentum. Pettis may have the look and style to become a crossover star for mixed martial arts, but fans, the promotion and the fighter alike will have to wait for that moment to occur.
Dana White liked Alistair Overeem’s performance against Roy Nelson for the most part. He just wishes he finished “Big Country.”
The UFC president told Ariel Helwani on FOX Sports 1 after UFC 185 on Saturday night that he wanted to see Overee…
The UFC president told Ariel Helwani on FOX Sports 1 after UFC 185 on Saturday night that he wanted to see Overeem go for it more in his dominant, unanimous decision win over Roy Nelson in Dallas.
“Alistair looked better than he’s ever looked, I just wish he had more killer instinct,” White said. “He had Roy hurt at one point. He doesn’t like to take risks, but he looked good tonight.”
Overeem (39-14, 1 NC) was measured against Nelson, picking his shots and really taking “Big Country” apart with hard knees from distance and kicks to the body and legs. In the past, Overeem has gone in for the kill and either gotten knocked out himself or tired and then finished. He stuck to a more technical strategy Saturday night.
Nelson (20-11) was sporting welts all over his sides and midsection as well as his legs. He took a serious beating, but could not be put away.
“How tough is Roy Nelson?” White said. “Roy Nelson is not human. The shots that guy took tonight. The kicks to the body were unbelievable.”
Overeem, 34, has now won two straight and three of four after a disappointing start to his UFC run. “The Reem” had Travis Browne and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva beat in fights before getting tired and then knocked out.
The former Strikeforce and K-1 champion has always been one of the most promising and fearsome heavyweights in the sport with people always wondering when he would be able to put it all together. Maybe now he has. Overeem credited his change in camps to Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA as the main reason.
“I felt very confident going into the fight,” Overeem said. “At Jackson’s there’s a lot of chemistry, we work together and everyone is there to help their teammates out. The environment over there gives me confidence, everyone is very friendly. Switching to that camp has really been the recipe to my success.”
The one fight people have always wanted to see for Overeem is against former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, another technical striker and heavy hitter. Dos Santos is coming off a win over Stipe Miocic at UFC on FOX 13 in December. White said he’s down for that one if Overeem is.
After 17 fights inside the Octagon, and a UFC career spanning seven years, Rafael dos Anjos is the lightweight champion of the world. He rocked Anthony Pettis early with a punch that caused him to lose sight in his right eye, and he kept an unrelenting amount of pressure on Pettis en route to a unanimous-decision victory in 