Author: Andrew Barr

UFC on FOX: What We Learned from Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas

Highly anticipated featherweight bout Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas has just come to an end, with Lamas winning the bout via second-round arm triangle choke.Swanson started off the fight strong, pushing the pace and putting Lamas in some bad positions,…

Highly anticipated featherweight bout Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas has just come to an end, with Lamas winning the bout via second-round arm triangle choke.

Swanson started off the fight strong, pushing the pace and putting Lamas in some bad positions, but the successful first round made him a bit too confident, perhaps, and Lamas was able to capitalize on that.

There are still several fights left on this evening’s card, but right now this fight could be the front-runner for Fight of the Night.

 

What we’ll remember about this fight

Cub Swanson is a wild man.

Lamas walked away with victory, but Swanson put on the more memorable performance.

Swanson set a furious pace in the fight and stayed active no matter what position he was in.

Throughout the fight he through some unorthodox strikes, went for a standing guillotine, almost locked up an omoplata, and even tried to finish the fight with a scissor choke.

The fans love to see a fighter who is looking to finish the fight from whatever position he is in and Swanson fit that description tonight.

 

What we learned about Swanson

He’s got crazy skill, but lacks focus.

Swanson was able to clearly win the early goings of the fight, but the success went to his head and he got too confident.

In the second round, Lamas managed to plant Swanson on his back, after Swanson charged forward looking to land a combination.

Once on the ground, Lamas took Swanson’s back, but Swanson did not seem phased by it.

Swanson did improve his position and went for a guillotine, but in doing so left himself vulnerable to the arm triangle choke that ended the fight.

Swanson needed to be more focused on being defensive and less focused on being offensive.

Not showing respect for his opponents skills cost him this fight.

 

What we learned about Lamas

He’s a gamer, he’s got skill, and he may be relevant at the top of the featherweight division.

Lamas could very easily have been discouraged after being handled by Swanson in the first round of this fight, but instead he came out in the second round ready to bounce back.

He also showed skill both offensively and defensively by fighting out of some tight submissions and then submitting his opponent.

Swanson has only lost to high-level fighters in the past, so this win could mean that Lamas is ready to face the best at 145 lbs.

 

What’s next for Swanson

Swanson is still a relevant force in the featherweight division and can expect a well known fighter in his next fight.

Leonard Garcia or the loser of Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung are potential next opponents.

 

What’s next for Lamas

Conveniently enough, this fight is right beside another featherweight fight on tonight’s card: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza.

After tonight’s performance, I think Lamas deserves to be matched up with the winner of that fight.

 

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC on FOX. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the November 12 fight card, from pre-fight predictions, to in-fight coverage, results and post-fight analysis, which you can find out at our event hub page.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.

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UFC 137 Result: What a Win Would Mean for Hatsu Hioki

Hatsu Hioki isn’t a name that most casual fans will be familiar with, but hardcore fans will know that he has long been considered one of the best featherweight fighters on the planet.Tonight at UFC 137, Hioki will finally make his UFC debut against to…

Hatsu Hioki isn’t a name that most casual fans will be familiar with, but hardcore fans will know that he has long been considered one of the best featherweight fighters on the planet.

Tonight at UFC 137, Hioki will finally make his UFC debut against tough competitor George Roop.

In the past, we have seen many Japanese fighters crossover from the Japanese to the American circuit and get exposed as overrated and incapable of competing with top competition, so it will be interesting to see how Hioki fairs in his UFC debut.

A win over Roop tonight would mean a couple things for Hioki.

It would confirm that he is deserving of the reputation he’s earned by fighting overseas and that he has what it takes to be a relevant factor in the UFC’s featherweight division.

Furthermore, a decisive victory over Roop would likely put Hioki in line for a shot at the title.

Roop isn’t exactly a top contender at featherweight, but the division is hurting for new title challengers and, given his reputation from fighting in Japan, it’s not unlikely that the UFC would fast-track him to a crack at the belt.

One win will not be enough for a title shot, but it should get Hioki a match with one of the division’s top contenders.

If he disposes of Roop, expect to see Hioki fighting someone like Mark Hominick, Mike Brown or Chang-Sung Jung.

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.

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UFC 137 Fight Card: What A Win Would Mean For Mirko Cro Cop

Tonight may be the last time we see MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop step into the cage.In the lead to his fight tonight with Roy Neson, Cro Cop has openly expressed that he may retire after this bout—win or lose.This news came as a surprise to no one, a…

Tonight may be the last time we see MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop step into the cage.

In the lead to his fight tonight with Roy Neson, Cro Cop has openly expressed that he may retire after this bout—win or lose.

This news came as a surprise to no one, as the Croation fighter has looked unimpressive in his past few outings and, at 37 years old, it’s safe to say he’s not going to get any better.

While it will be a sad thing to see him go, MMA is a young man’s game and every fighter must walk off into the sunset eventually.

Cro Cops potential-last opponent is a dangerous one, as Nelson is a skilled grappler with big knockout power and an incredible chin.

So, what would a win tonight mean for Cro Cop?

In essence, a win tonight could mean whatever Cro Cop wants it to mean—it’s up to him.

If he decides to retire after tonight, a win would mean a happy ending to a beautiful and unforgettable career as a mixed martial artist.

If Cro Cop decides to go the other route and keep on fighting, a win tonight means… well, it doesn’t mean much.

Nelson is on a two-fight losing skid, so a win over him doesn’t hold much weight in the division.

Plus, Cro Cop is coming off two devastating losses, so the UFC will be in no hurry to bolster him back into contention.

If Cro Cop wants to keep competing, a win tonight will get him a mid-range opponent like Stefan Struve or maybe Matt Mitrione.

Retirement is the more likely road, though.

Cro Cop seems to know that his time in the sport has passed and goodness knows his fans would love to see him go out on a win.

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.

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UFC 137 Fight Card: What Cheick Kongo Must Do to Beat Matt Mitrione

Cheick Kongo is set to take on up-and-comer Matt Mitrione later today at UFC 137.Since dropping back-to-back fights to Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo has been considered the UFC heavyweight division’s unofficial gatekeeper, and he has been…

Cheick Kongo is set to take on up-and-comer Matt Mitrione later today at UFC 137.

Since dropping back-to-back fights to Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo has been considered the UFC heavyweight division’s unofficial gatekeeper, and he has been struggling to make his way back into title contention.

While defeating Mitrione tonight will not put Kongo in line for a title shot, it would put him on a four-fight unbeaten streak, and would likely prove to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva that he is once again ready to face some of the division’s top contenders.

Mitrione is a tricky opponent, though, and no one has been able to figure him out so far.

Although Mitrione only has had five professional fights, he is a dangerous fighter, and Kongo will need to take him very seriously if he wants to walk away the victor.

Kongo certainly has all the tools required to take Mitrione out—it’s just a matter of using those tools properly.

A European-style kickboxer, Kongo is one of the most dangerous and technical strikers in the heavyweight division and has tremendous power in his hands.

There is no questioning that Kongo is the better all-around striker, but Mitrione arguably has the better striking defense.

Mitrione is light on his feet, with quick footwork, and good head movement. This allows Mitrione to move in and out of his opponents’ range with surprising quickness, and we’ve seen some fighters thrown off by that.

If Kongo can take away some of Mitrione’s movement, he can win this fight easily.

He needs to cut off the Octagon and force Mitrione to move backwards, rather than letting him circle or move side to side.

If Kongo can get Mitrione to move back and get him stuck against the cage, Mitrione will have no choice but to try to match speed and power with Kongo.

That’s a fight that Mitrione can’t win.

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Jason "Mayhem" Miller Wants Anderson Silva Next, If He Beats Bisping

The Ultimate Fighter 14 coach Jason “Mayhem” Miller is set to make his return to the UFC after more than six years away from the promotion against Michael “The Count” Bisping.According to mmajunkie.com, while his fight with Bisping is not scheduled to …

The Ultimate Fighter 14 coach Jason “Mayhem” Miller is set to make his return to the UFC after more than six years away from the promotion against Michael “The Count” Bisping.

According to mmajunkie.com, while his fight with Bisping is not scheduled to happen until December 3rd, it seems like Miller may already be looking past his opponent.

“I’ve got another guy on the radar: the guy with the damn strap, Anderson Silva,” Miller said to the crowd at this past weekend’s UFC Fan Expo in Houston. “He’s the best fighter in the world, and I want to stick my nose right to his nose and see what happens.”

Right now, Mayhem getting a title shot seems a strange thought, but if his popularity grows through coaching TUF 14 and then he completely dominates Bisping, a crack at the belt would not be out of the realm of possibility.

Miller is aware that the UFC’s middleweight division is lacking viable title contenders and that a big win could put him in contention.

When asked how he believes the fight with Bisping will go down, Miller made it clear that he intends on finishing the fight.

“I would prefer [the rear-naked choke] because it’s just so intimate when you get a rear-naked choke on somebody,” Miller said. “You’re behind them, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to whisper a lullaby in your ear.’ To me, that’s awesome.”

Whether or not Miller is a better fighter than Bisping remains to be seen, but so far he appears to be the better coach.

So far in this season of TUF, Mayhem’s team has won four fights and Bisping’s team has won zero.

Tune in to the show this Wednesday to see if Team Mayhem can keep their unbeaten streak alive.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.

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Shane Carwin to Undergo Back Surgery, Vows to Keep Fighting

2011 has been a rough year for Shane Carwin.He spent the first half of the year inactive because of an injury, then he returned at UFC 131 in a losing effort against Junior dos Santos, and now it looks like Carwin is back on the injured list.Carwin pos…

2011 has been a rough year for Shane Carwin.

He spent the first half of the year inactive because of an injury, then he returned at UFC 131 in a losing effort against Junior dos Santos, and now it looks like Carwin is back on the injured list.

Carwin posted a blog today, informing his fans that he had recently suffered an injury during training.

After having the injury checked out by a doctor, Carwin received unfortunate news. “I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves,” Carwin wrote.

The doctor informed Carwin that he had two options. One was that he could wait a couple years before the surgery became absolutely necessary, but that would mean retirement. The other was to have the surgery as soon as possible, which would enable Carwin to continue fighting.

“The decision was easy. I have unfinished business. The UFC had me lined up to face one of the best in the world and I am confident I have everything I need to be a champion. I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012.”

Carwin’s outlook is optimistic and it seems as if he plans to continue fighting for some time still.

At 36 years old, Carwin has Father Time working against him, so hopefully he has a speedy recovery and is able to return to action soon.

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.

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