Author: Andrew Barr

UFC 144 Results: What We Learned from Steve Cantwell vs. Riki Fukuda

Riki Fukuda defeated former WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision.It was a closely contended matchup in the early goings, but as the fight went on Cantwell faded and Fukuda poured it on, perhaps fueled by his countrymen c…

Riki Fukuda defeated former WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision.

It was a closely contended matchup in the early goings, but as the fight went on Cantwell faded and Fukuda poured it on, perhaps fueled by his countrymen cheering him on.

In Round 1, it appeared that Fukuda had the advantage on the ground and that Cantwell had the advantage on the feet. However, as Cantwell tired Fukuda was able to capitalize and control the fight in all areas.

 

What we’ll remember about this fight:

Fukuda’s performance in the later rounds.

Smelling blood in the water, he really pushed forward as the fight went on, throwing punches in bunches and putting on a show for the fans.

 

What we learned about Riki Fukuda:

Though rough around the edges, this guy has a ton of heart and may have a place in the middleweight division.

At 31-years-old, it’s unlikely that Fukuda will ever improve to the point of being a legitimate contender at 185lbs, but he has what it takes to be a middle-of-the-road fighter in the UFC.

 

What we learned about Steve Cantwell:

Cantwell needs to make some big changes.

This was his fifth straight loss in the UFC, so there is no doubting that he will be cut from the promotion following UFC 144.

At 25-years-old, Cantwell still has a lot of time to improve his game, but he needs to start improving quickly if he ever wants to compete with the best in the world. Switching training camps might be a good idea.

 

What’s next for Riki Fukuda:

Solid win for Fukuda tonight, but he’ll need a couple more wins before the UFC gives him a significant step up in competition.

Jared Hamman or Mike Massenzio could be next.

 

What’s next for Steve Canwell:

No idea, but you can bet his next fight won’t be in the UFC.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8

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UFC 144 Fight Card: Where Does Cheick Kongo Rank With a Win?

Cheick Kongo will look to continue his climb up the heavyweight ladder when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 144.A win over Hunt would put Kongo on a five-fight unbeaten streak, not having been defeated since his 2009 loss to Frank Mir.This is a very winna…

Cheick Kongo will look to continue his climb up the heavyweight ladder when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 144.

A win over Hunt would put Kongo on a five-fight unbeaten streak, not having been defeated since his 2009 loss to Frank Mir.

This is a very winnable fight for Kongo, as Hunt has always been a mid-level fighter at best and boasts a mediocre record of 7-7. However, Kongo will need to be cautious of Hunt’s striking game, which is dangerous to say the least.

Kongo himself is also a dangerous and skilled striker, but it would be wise of him to use his grappling skills to win this fight, as opposed to standing and trading with Hunt.

A win over Hunt, singularly, will mean little for Kongo, but when combined with his recent success in the heavyweight division, it should garner him a top-10 opponent for his next outing.

It’s clear that Kongo’s back-to-back losses to Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez back in ’09 convinced the UFC that he doesn’t belong among the elite of the division, but enough wins will get anyone back to the top.

Where exactly Kongo will rank with a win at UFC 144 is difficult to determine because of the impending amalgamation of the UFC and Strikeforce’s heavyweight divisions—but one thing is for sure, his opponent will at least be high-profile.

A win at UFC 144 should move Kongo into the division’s upper echelon—two or three wins away from a title shot.

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8

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UFC 144 Fight Card: Why Benson Henderson Won’t Dethrone Frankie Edgar

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given th…

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.

Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given that Edgar’s previous two opponents were BJ Penn and Gray Maynard. Both Penn and Maynard were considered top 10 pound-for-pound fighters when Edgar beat them.

It is debatable whether or not Henderson will be Edgar’s toughest test, but most would agree that he has the best style to get the job done. He is a much larger lightweight than the champion, with a strong wrestling base, diverse striking and surprising durability.

There’s no denying it—Henderson has the tools to win this fight. But, will he win it?

I don’t see it happening.

For the most part, Edgar has already dealt with better versions of what Henderson brings to the table.

The champ has bested Gray Maynard, who is a more decorated wrestler than Henderson, and he has also bested BJ Penn (twice), who is a more effective striker than Henderson.

Henderson does have a more well-rounded striking game than Edgar is used to dealing with, and is known for his kicking attacks. However, I believe that Henderson will have more to adjust to than Edgar.

Edgar has not dealt with someone who uses their kicks as effectively as Henderson, granted, but Henderson has never fought anyone as fast as Edgar, or with the boxing and cardio of Edgar.

Expect to see Edgar use his speed and footwork to pop in and out of Henderson’s range throughout the night, peppering him with quick combos. Henderson will look to neutralize Edgar’s speed with kicks, but the champ will use those kicks to bring the fight to the ground.

History has shown that Henderson is a tough man to finish, and Edgar, who is not particularly known for his finishing ability, will not likely be able to do it.

That said, the champ will walk away from UFC 144 with a decisive decision victory.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8

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UFC 143 Results: 4 Fights for Stephen Thompson to Take Next

UFC newcomer and undefeated Stephen Thompson made big waves in the UFC’s welterweight division when he defeated Dan Stittgen at UFC 143.Near the end of the first round, Thompson charged in with a wild attack, missing his first couple punches but landin…

UFC newcomer and undefeated Stephen Thompson made big waves in the UFC’s welterweight division when he defeated Dan Stittgen at UFC 143.

Near the end of the first round, Thompson charged in with a wild attack, missing his first couple punches but landing a roundhouse kick at the end of the combination. The kick connected flush on Stittgen’s jaw and put him to sleep.

It was a hell of a way to make his debut and an effort that earned him Knockout of the Night honors.

Without a doubt, Thompson will be looking to ride this momentum into his next fight.

Here’s four fights for Thompson to take next.

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UFC 143 Results: Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit Will Be a Snoozefest

Carlos Condit is the UFC’s new interim welterweight champion, after defeating Nick Diaz at UFC 143. It was a close fight, but Condit was ultimately able to enforce his game plan and walk away with a decision victory.As the new interim champ, Condit has…

Carlos Condit is the UFC’s new interim welterweight champion, after defeating Nick Diaz at UFC 143. It was a close fight, but Condit was ultimately able to enforce his game plan and walk away with a decision victory.

As the new interim champ, Condit has earned the right to face the undisputed welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, when GSP returns to action later this year.

It is not set in stone that the two will face each other, though. Condit has said that he would be okay with defending his interim belt before facing St-Pierre, who may not be able to return until November.

However, it seems likely that the two will face each other, as the welterweight division is currently void of a clear contender for Condit’s interim belt.

On paper, Condit vs. GSP has all the makings of a great fight.

Condit is known as the “Natural Born Killer” because of how aggressive he is when he fights, and he’ll be eager to prove that he really is the No. 1 welterweight on the planet. GSP is a proud champion who will have been on the injured list for over a year and will want to return in style.

Unfortunately—and I hate to be the bearer of bad news here—this fight is more likely to be a snoozefest than anything else.

Anyone remotely familiar GSP knows that his style is to bring the fight wherever he has the best chance of winning. Against Condit, his best chance for victory lies on the ground.

Now, a battle on the ground does not necessarily make for a boring fight, but Condit has a crafty guard, which will likely lead to St-Pierre being cautious with his ground and pound.

As far as Condit’s strategy goes, he will want to keep the fight standing, but he won’t be overly aggressive on the feet because he’ll be worried about getting taken down.

Expect to see Condit fight similarly to how he fought Diaz. A lot of moving back and trying to soften his opponent up with kicks. He might be even more tentative, in fact, because he didn’t to worry much about Diaz taking him down.

If you enjoy a good chess match between two great strategists, then this fight might be for you, but don’t go into it expecting a dog fight.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8

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UFC on FOX 2: Why Demian Maia Must Go Back to Using His Jiu-Jitsu

Demian Maia suffered a tough loss tonight at UFC on FOX 2, dropping a unanimous decision to up-and-coming prospect Chris Weidman.It was a relatively unimpressive showing from both fighters, who were noticeable gassed by the end of the first round, but …

Demian Maia suffered a tough loss tonight at UFC on FOX 2, dropping a unanimous decision to up-and-coming prospect Chris Weidman.

It was a relatively unimpressive showing from both fighters, who were noticeable gassed by the end of the first round, but Weidman managed to sway the judges’ decision using his takedowns.

Weidman’s lackluster performance was understandable, as he took the fight on just 17 days notice, but Maia’s performance was particularly disappointing, given that he had a whole camp to prepare for this fight.

The fight was originally announced as a split-decision win for Weidman, but it was later discovered that one of the scores had been added wrong and that all three judges had in fact given Weidman the decision.

Maia is now 4-4 in his last eight fights with the UFC and seems to have lost the spark that he had when he first entered the UFC.

Maia came into the UFC as a jiu-jitsu specialist, winning his first five fights by submission.

However, Maia eventually ran into a fighter who he couldn’t take down, Nate Marquardt. Marquardt knocked Maia out seconds into the first round, in what was one of the most devastating one-punch knockouts in the UFC history.

Since that loss Maia has worked diligently on improving his striking and focused much less on his jiu-jitsu.

While his striking has improved by leaps and bounds, he has strayed from the technique that gave him success in the first place.

It’s great that Maia has rounded out his game because it’s good to be comfortable anywhere a fight goes, but it’s time for him to go back to what he is best at.

Maia has arguably the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the UFC—he should be using that to his advantage whenever possible.

Let’s look at it this way:

Anderson Silva is the best striker in the UFC. He also has great jiu-jitsu. He uses that jiu-jitsu when he needs to, but whenever possible he uses his striking skills.

In a nutshell, Maia has not been playing to his strengths and that’s no way to win fights.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8

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