Dana White said that the fight between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 would serve as a No. 1 contender’s bout and he’s sticking to his word.White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that with his win over Henderson, Machida is the …
Dana White said that the fight between Dan Henderson and LyotoMachida at UFC 157 would serve as a No. 1 contender’s bout and he’s sticking to his word.
White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that with his win over Henderson, Machida is the next challenger for the light heavyweight crown. The official twitter feed of the UFC confirmed White’s decision:
Joe Silva and White obviously know what they’re doing most of the time. They wouldn’t have built the UFC into the organization that it is today without their ability to put on great fights. That being said, this decision is a real head-scratcher.
Machida‘s won the fight on the scorecards. He out-striked Henderson, he was the more accurate striker on the feet and controlled the fight with his elusive style. Although it was a split decision, there’s no denying that Machida deserved to win the fight.
This wasn’t a case of robbery or anything like that.
However, it wasn’t the kind of performance that warrants another shot at UFC gold.
Should Jon Jones get past ChaelSonnen in his next title defense, the UFC hype machine is going to need to kick into hyper-drive to sell a rematch between the champion and Machida.
Machida is the only fighter to really catch Jon Jones, but Jones choked him out in quick order once he settled in and found his range against the elusive striker.
Since then, Machida has knocked out Ryan Bader (a fighter that Jones has also dominated) and now owns an uneventful decision victory over Henderson.
It wasn’t as though he beat a prime Hedo, either. After being away from the Octagon for over a year, Henderson looked every bit of the 42-year-old fighter he is.
Rather than approach Machida with a varied attack that could keep him off balance, Henderson opted to look for his signature big right hand. It wasn’t until the third round when Henderson embraced his wrestling roots and got Machida to the mat that he looked like vintage Hendo.
However, it was too little too late. Machida had already built enough of a lead on the scorecard with his safe style.
The problem isn’t that Machida was “boring” as many fans will surely proclaim. There’s nothing wrong with having a game plan and being a tactical fighter. The problem is he didn’t show that he really deserves to get a shot at UFC gold.
Unfortunately it appears that the organization is locked into another Machida title shot, whether he truly deserves it or not.
Intriguing fights abound when the pay-per-view portion of UFC 157’s fight card gets underway.Not only will Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche make history by becoming the first women to fight and headline a UFC event, there’s also a No. 1 contender’s bout …
Intriguing fights abound when the pay-per-view portion of UFC 157‘s fight card gets underway.
Not only will Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche make history by becoming the first women to fight and headline a UFC event, there’s also a No. 1 contender’s bout in the light heavyweight division, a fan favorite looking to get back on track and a former TUFwinner debuting in a new weight class.
The main card is set up for a memorable night of fights, and those interested in the odds will have plenty of action to consider before making their final picks.
Here’s a last-minute look at the latest odds for the fights and a prediction for each. Note: All odds via Bovada.
Josh Koscheck (-380) vs. Robbie Lawler (+290)
Coming off of a split-decision loss to Johny Hendricks, Koscheck desperately needs to get a win over Lawler if he wants to avoid falling completely off the map. With fights against a ton of big-name welterweights on his resume, Kos can’t be happy to be fighting someone as far down the ladder as Lawler.
Lawler is just 1-3 in his last four fights and really appears to be outclassed by Koscheck on paper. However, most of his experience comes at middleweight, so he should be the biggest fighter come fight time—that will give him a shot against a fighter in Koscheck that is used to bullying opponents with his strength.
Prediction: Koscheck by Rd. 2 TKO
Lawler has as good a chance as any underdog does in MMA, but Koscheck has to know the stakes are huge for him. He’ll respond accordingly.
Court McGee (-340) vs. Josh Neer (+260)
McGee endeared himself to fans with his incredible backstory and heart in his time on The Ultimate Fighter —however, things haven’t gone well for him in his last two fights.
In hopes of salvaging his career, he has dropped down to the welterweight division and the UFC hooked him up with the ideal opponent, Josh Neer, to get acclimated to the division.
Neer is a grizzled veteran with plenty of experience, but he’s highly beatable. He’s lost his last two fights in the first round and could be on his way out of the UFC.
Prediction: McGee by Rd. 2 TKO
It’ll be interesting to see how McGee handles the weight cut, but as long as he can avoid issues with that he is in a good position to pick up a much needed W. Neer is scrappy enough to make it out of the first round for the first time in three fights, but he doesn’t have as many tools as McGee at this stage of his career.
Urijah Faber (-400) vs. Ivan Menjivar (+300)
After Jon Fitch’s recent release from the organization, it’s easy to speculate that Faber could be the next big name on the chopping block. He’s 1-2 in his last three fights and can’t afford to drop this one to Menjivar.
Menjivar is a dangerous opponent for Faber—he has 10 wins by submission in his career and nine more by way of KO/TKO. He’s a pretty sizable underdog, but he has earned this fight and will put in a good showing.
Prediction: Faber by Decision
This fight should be much closer than the line indicates. Faber’s best bet is going to be to utilize his wrestling and wear out Menjivar, but that comes with the inherent risk of submission.
Faber still has what it takes to win this fight, but it’s a pretty risky pick. If Faber has the slightest lapse in concentration, his opponent has the ability to strike quickly and score the upset of the night.
LyotoMachida (-235) vs. Dan Henderson (+185)
This matchup has “Fight of the Night” written all over it.
Henderson and Machida have been considered top five light heavyweights for years now and this fight is guaranteed to be entertaining. Both have highlight reel knockouts on their resume and it’s highly likely that this one ends with someone sleeping.
The winner gets a title shot, so we know the stakes are high. With Henderson always looking to press the action with power shots and Machida the consummate counter-striker, this should be a fun chess match on the feet.
Prediction: Henderson by Rd. 3 KO
Hendo hasn’t fought since his epic five-round war with Shogun Rua in 2011—ring rust could be a factor. Getting out of the first round without being tagged by one of Machida‘s trademark blitzes will be vital.
If he can avoid that, you have to like Henderson’s chances to land the massive overhand right. The “H-Bomb” is one of the most devastating weapons in the sport and Machida has been tagged with the punch before (Shogun can attest).
Ronda Rousey (-1000) vs. Liz Carmouche (+600)
This fight has people buzzing because of its historical significance—not because it’s all that competitive on paper.
Rousey, as just about everyone knows by now, has won all of her fights by armbar in the first round and really hasn’t been tested. She’s easily the biggest star in women’s MMA and will look to increase her legend by doing the same to Carmouche.
Carmouche comes in as a massive underdog but has a respectable record. She is 8-2 in 10 professional fights and holds wins in Strikeforce and Invicta.
Prediction: Rousey by Rd. 1 Submission
Same old song and dance here.
Rousey is simply on another level right now and Carmouche doesn’t have what it takes to put an end to her streak.
Carmouche may last longer than the average Rousey opponent thanks to her toughness, but one way or another, Rousey will find a way to submit her way to her first UFC victory.
Anybody who’s anybody is going to be watching the historic UFC 157 card Saturday. You don’t want to miss the action this weekend.Headlined by the first female fight in the history of the UFC in Ronda Rousey’s bantamweight title defense against Liz Carm…
Anybody who’s anybody is going to be watching the historic UFC 157 card Saturday. You don’t want to miss the action this weekend.
Headlined by the first female fight in the history of the UFC in Ronda Rousey’s bantamweight title defense against Liz Carmouche, this card has a ton of buzz surrounding it and is a great opportunity for the UFC to gain increased mainstream exposure.
Outside of the ground-breaking main event is a co-main event that features two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida. Both fighters have a penchant for knocking opponents out, so this is definitely a must-see card.
Here’s all the information you need to know to ensure that you don’t miss out on the card everyone will be talking about.
When: Saturday, Feb. 23
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.
Watch: Facebook prelims begin at 6:35 p.m. ET; FX Prelims begin at 8:00 p.m. ET; main card available on pay-per-view at 10:00 p.m. ET
Predictions for Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night
Submission of the Night: Ronda Rousey
Who else?
Pound-for-pound, Rousey is the best submission artist in the UFC. She’s won all six of her professional bouts by way of armbar, and only one opponent has survived the first minute with the expert Judo practitioner.
Carmouche is a respectable opponent, but Rousey should do her thing. Another vicious armbar victory would add a nice submission of the night bonus to her paycheck.
Knockout of the Night: Winner of Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub
This is a good pairing of dynamic heavyweights who bring the heat.
Schaub and Johnson have a combined 34 professional fights—in all of those combined fights, they’ve gone the distance just once. In essence, someone’s getting knocked out before the final bell rings in this one.
It’s tough to pick a winner; it’s essentially going to be determined by who lands the first big blow. However, we can pretty much count on someone going down in spectacular fashion. To the victor goes the spoils of the big bonus check.
Fight of the Night: Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Anytime two of the most accomplished fighters in a division collide with a title shot on the line, there’s bound to be fireworks.
Neither of these guys can afford to go to the back of the line, and both have a history of devastating striking. Henderson is an aggressive fighter who loves to push the pace, and Machida is a counterstriker who prefers to sit back and pick opponents apart.
The resulting clash of style should provide a war that will have fans on their seat. It may not reach the epic levels of Henderson’s last fight with Shogun Rua, but it’s likely he takes Fight of the Night honors again after a great bout with Machida.
The interim featherweight championship bout between Renan Barao and Michael McDonald marks the first time that a title fight will headline a UFC on Fuel card, and it’s going to be a dandy.With Dominick Cruz out since October 2011 and unlikely to return…
The interim featherweight championship bout between RenanBarao and Michael McDonald marks the first time that a title fight will headline a UFC on Fuel card, and it’s going to be a dandy.
With Dominick Cruz out since October 2011 and unlikely to return to action until late 2013 at the earliest, this is an interim title that actually feels like it matters.
Barao and McDonald are the best bantamweights outside of Cruz that the UFC has to offer. Both have been dominant in the UFC and are guaranteed to produce some fireworks when they meet on Saturday to determine who gets Cruz when he gets back from injury.
Odds (via Bovada): RenanBarao -300, Michael McDonald +230
The reigning interim champion gets the nod from Vegas. He comes in as a fairly sizable favorite. That tends to happen when you’ve amassed a 29-fight win streak.
As dominant as Barao has been, it seems like he’s favored a bit too much here.
Barao hasn’t lost since 2005, so it would be absurd to make him the underdog, but McDonald has proved that he’s worthy of the hype.
Miguel Torres was considered to be a big step up in competition for McDonald in his last fight. McDonald won by knockout in the first round.
Breakdown
On the feet, this match comes down to volume versus power.
Barao is a skilled Muay Thai striker who controls distance well. He may not have one-blow knockout power, but he overwhelms opponents with his ability to control the pace of fights.
McDonald, on the other hand, is the most powerful puncher in the division. His boxing makes him an extremely dangerous opponent for anyone and the most dangerous Barao has faced in the UFC.
On the ground, Barao holds the advantage of experience. Not many have tasted McDonald’s power long enough to get the fight to the ground, so his ground skills are largely untested.
Barao is an excellent Jiu-Jitsu player with a proven submission game. McDonald just fought a submission whiz in Torres, but Barao‘s ability to go toe-to-toe on the feet will make him much more dangerous to set up takedowns and threaten McDonald on the ground.
Prediction
If this fight goes to decision, Barao will take it. He has all of the tools to control the fight and win every aspect of the fight that impresses the judges.
However, for the fight to get to the judges, he will have to avoid McDonald’s power for 25 minutes. That’s a difficult task.
McDonald has impressed and shown improvement every time out. He may be the underdog, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him come out and prove everyone wrong again.
The UFC makes a return to England for UFC on Fuel TV 7 with a card that lacks a ton of name recognition, but offers plenty of rising prospects a chance to shine.Wedged between a star-studded UFC 156 card and a historic UFC 157 card, it’s easy to consid…
The UFC makes a return to England for UFC on Fuel TV 7 with a card that lacks a ton of name recognition, but offers plenty of rising prospects a chance to shine.
Wedged between a star-studded UFC 156 card and a historic UFC 157 card, it’s easy to consider this event a throwaway card. However, missing out on Saturday’s action means missing out on some future title challengers.
These fighters may not carry a whole lot of name recognition now, but will be ready to take the next step if they can emerge victorious in England Saturday afternoon. These are the top rising stars you want to keep a close eye on come fight time.
Paul Sass
Sass is one of the more promising prospects in the lightweight division with a 13-1 record that includes 12 wins by way of submission.
The 24-year-old will try to make a statement against veteran Danny Castillo after being handed the first loss of his career by Matt Wiman at UFC on Fuel: Struve vs. Miocic.
Sass has one of the best resumes as a submission artist in the organization, but Wiman was able to outgrapple him with superior wrestling. Castillo has the wrestling chops to test whether or not Sass learned anything from his loss to Wiman.
If Sass can prove that he has evolved after losing for the first time, he’ll be right back on track.
Gunnar Nelson
Nelson made his UFC debut in September of 2012 at the UFC on Fuel: Struve vs. Miocic card. Everyone who tuned in found out that Nelson is a bad, bad man.
The 24-year-old prospect wasted little time in choking out a much bigger DaMarques Johnson. Earning his 17th submission victory by way of rear naked choke in the first round to take his record to 10-0-1.
Nelson will look to make his mark once again when he takes on Jorge Santiago, who will make his return to the organization as a welterweight. Santiago will be another large opponent and a big step up in competition from Johnson.
If Nelson is able to put in another dominant performance, he’ll be well on his way to UFC stardom.
Dustin Poirier
Poirier isn’t exactly an unknown commodity—he’s already headlined a UFC on Fuel event. But he is one of the best fighters under the age of 25 and could be knocking on the door for a title shot.
Since dropping down to featherweight Poirier has been an elite prospect. Upon entering the UFC, he built up a four-fight win streak before losing in a fight of the year encounter with Chan Sung-Jung. Poirier has since rebounded with a submission victory over Jonathan Brookins.
Rebuilding that win-streak won’t be an easy task. His opponent, Cub Swanson, is eager to stake his claim for a title shot and has elite stand up skills that will test Poirier early and often.
If Poirier can get the fight to the ground and control someone like Swanson, he’ll be lining himself up for a title shot in the near future.
Either Cub Swanson or Dustin Poirier are going to be one step closer to becoming true contenders for the UFC featherweight title after UFC on Fuel 7.The two 145ers will co-headline the London event, and the winner will have a strong case to enter the t…
Either Cub Swanson or Dustin Poirier are going to be one step closer to becoming true contenders for the UFC featherweight title after UFC on Fuel 7.
The two 145ers will co-headline the London event, and the winner will have a strong case to enter the title picture.
Swanson has seen his struggles throughout his career. He has five losses, including an eight-second knockout at the hands of Jose Aldo, but he’s looked better than ever lately. He’s currently riding a three-fight win streak with all three wins coming by way of knockout.
Poirier was once considered a top contender in the division before getting upset by Chan Sung-Jung in May 2012. Since then, “The Diamond” has rebounded with an impressive submission victory over Jonathan Brookins. A win over Swanson and he will be right back on track to being a big star in the featherweight division.
With both fighters on the precipice of contention, this should be a highly contested fight. Here’s what each fighter must do to have his hand raised at the end of the night.
Cub Swanson
Swanson’s path to victory is fairly obvious—he wants to use his explosive striking on the feet to knock Poirier out as soon as possible.
He’s one of the most explosive strikers in the division and has highly polished kickboxing that really hasn’t been seen in his first 15 professional fights.
Taking the fight to the ground with Poirier is a risky proposition, but Swanson has been in the cage with much more dangerous strikers. He’ll look to control the distance, figure out the openings in Poirier‘s stand-up game and land big shots.
If he can avoid the clinch, keep the fight standing and turn the fight into a kickboxing match, he’ll be in good shape to win the fight.
Dustin Poirier
Poirier has solid striking in his own right, but he’ll want to avoid the feet against a tough veteran like Swanson.
Where Poirier really excels, and wants this fight to take place, is on the mat.
Poirier has one of the most dangerous submission games in the division and has earned six of his 13 wins by way of submission. Swanson isn’t completely inept in the grappling department, but it’s worth noting that three of his five losses have come by way of submission.
Poirier is a big featherweight with a highly effective top game. His best bet to neutralize the kickboxing of Swanson is to utilize the clinch as much as possible and work for takedowns. Once successful, he can start to work away at locking in a sub.
If he can get this fight to the ground, he should have enough grappling to either earn the decision or catch Swanson with a choke.
Dana White said that the fight between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 would serve as a No. 1 contender’s bout and he’s sticking to his word.