Author: Andrew Saunders

UFC 147: 5 Fights That Could Make the Card Worthwhile

Chris Lytle, the king of fight night awards, was a guest of MMA Junkie Radio and gave the world an update on his life post-retirement. While in the studio, “Lights Out” was asked if he would ever get back into the Octagon. Here’s the only conditio…

Chris Lytle, the king of fight night awards, was a guest of MMA Junkie Radio and gave the world an update on his life post-retirement. While in the studio, “Lights Out” was asked if he would ever get back into the Octagon. 

Here’s the only condition in which I’d take a fight. Let’s say it’s about four days out (from a UFC) event, and someone got hurt. And it was the right kind of fight, and they say, ‘We need you Chris.’ Then I might do it because I’m still in pretty good shape. And if I didn’t have to go out and spend all day training, spend time away from my family, I’d do that. I’d hop in last minute. That wouldn’t be too bad. That could be a possibility.

The thought of Lytle getting back into the cage on short notice makes us think about other notable fighters who might be willing to forego a full training camp and throw on a pair of gloves on short notice.

With UFC 147 appearing to be the weakest pay-per-view in recent memory, a late addition to the card could make the event purchase-worthy. Franklin vs. Silva II is a decent main event in a rematch from UFC 99. The current co-main event features top-five heavyweight Fabricio Werdum against once-beaten Mike Russow.

Aside from these contests, the card has no brand-name fighters, nor any ranked fighters of any kind. This makes us wonder if there are any fights that could be booked on short notice that would make the card worth a $45 purchase.

Here’s a look at five fights that are within the realm of possibility and might make the top half of the PPV buyable.

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The 15 Most Outrageous Moments in UFC History

In the aggressive sport of mixed martial arts, fans are treated to an athletic competition between warriors who attempt to thrash and contort their opponent’s body until he can not continue any longer. However, even in a sport where we are told to expe…

In the aggressive sport of mixed martial arts, fans are treated to an athletic competition between warriors who attempt to thrash and contort their opponent’s body until he can not continue any longer.

However, even in a sport where we are told to expect the unexpected, some things that happen are outside of our imagination.

In a world where citizens are literally eating the faces off of homeless people, should anything take us by surprise? You be the judge. Here is a look at 15 of the wildest, craziest and most outrageous moments in UFC history.

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10 UFC Fighters That Need to Worry About Their Jobs

In the wild, there are young and hungry lions who are waiting for the opportunity to establish their dominance. When a member of the pack can’t keep up with the rest, he will inevitably be replaced by someone stronger and faster than himself. While the…

In the wild, there are young and hungry lions who are waiting for the opportunity to establish their dominance. When a member of the pack can’t keep up with the rest, he will inevitably be replaced by someone stronger and faster than himself.

While the eight-sided cages of the UFC are a far stretch from the plains of the Serengeti, the same struggle for contention happens under the Zuffa umbrella on a regular basis. Competitive fighters hit a rough patch and quickly find themselves ejected from their surroundings. New stars from the regional circuit are brought in to replace them, and the cycle begins anew.

Enough of the lame safari metaphors. Here is a look at 10 fighters who could find themselves in the unemployment line if their next fight doesn’t go the way that they’d like. 

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UFC on FX 3 Results: What’s Next for Ian McCall

In the main event of UFC on FX 3, Demetrious Johnson was able to outwork fan-favorite Ian McCall en route to a unanimous decision victory. The win put Johnson in the finals of the UFC Flyweight Championship Tournament, but it also left Ian McCall in li…

In the main event of UFC on FX 3, Demetrious Johnson was able to outwork fan-favorite Ian McCall en route to a unanimous decision victory. The win put Johnson in the finals of the UFC Flyweight Championship Tournament, but it also left Ian McCall in limbo.

McCall is one of the best flyweights alive, as he entered the tournament as the top-ranked 125 pound fighter in the world. Unfortunately, in this division, there isn’t a lot of notable talent in the UFC outside of the three guys at the top.

What happens if Demetrious Johnson wins the tournament and Ian McCall wins his next two fights inside the Octagon? Does he get a title shot? Do we get Johnson vs McCall three times within 15 months?

When you can’t beat an opponent in two tries, it’s not like Joe Silva to give you a third. I’m sure fans wouldn’t be opposed to a third fight against Demetrious Johnson one day, and that’s a good thing, because the flyweight division is extremely thin, and rematches are going to be commonplace at the top.

Uncle Creepy is charismatic, funny and a damn good fighter. There is no doubt that we will see him step back into the Octagon. The question is, “against who?”

The UFC tends to pair losers against losers, and I can’t think of a better matchup than Yasuhiro Urushitani. If you pit the two semi-finalist losers across the cage from one another, they would essentially be competing for the bronze medal in this championship tournament. Anything that the UFC can do to make flyweight contests of a higher profile is a good thing.

Urushitani isn’t the only option, though. John Dodson has looked great since entering the Ultimate Fighter house. Due to the lack of contenders, it is likely that he is a future challenger for the belt. A fight with McCall would show us how well he stacks up against the best in the world.

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UFC on FX: Head-to-Toe Breakdown of Upcoming Benavidez vs. Johnson Bout

After the main event of UFC on FX 3, Demetrious Johnson heard his name announced as the winner of a hard-fought battle against Ian McCall. This time, it was no mistake.Now that he has gotten past the first round, he will take on another former bantamwe…

After the main event of UFC on FX 3, Demetrious Johnson heard his name announced as the winner of a hard-fought battle against Ian McCall. This time, it was no mistake.

Now that he has gotten past the first round, he will take on another former bantamweight from the WEC, Joseph Benavidez, for the inaugural UFC flyweight championship.

The bout will likely take place by the year’s end, but that doesn’t mean it is too soon to take a look at the pairing. Here is the breakdown of Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson.

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UFC on FX 3 Results: What We Learned from Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall

The main event of UFC on FX 3 is a rematch of the highly-entertaining battle between flyweights Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. Who knew they could live up to the excitement of their first battle? The fight was an action packed affair with…

The main event of UFC on FX 3 is a rematch of the highly-entertaining battle between flyweights Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. Who knew they could live up to the excitement of their first battle? 

The fight was an action packed affair with excellent movement, lots of kicks and some incredible striking.

Despite his biggest success coming on the ground in their first fight, McCall didn’t seem to want a battle on the canvas in the first round. He did go three for three on takedowns in the second round, but he couldn’t work his way into a dominant position.

The third round saw McCall slow while Johnson continued to show off his unparalleled cardio as he worked in and out to win the final round with quick combinations. The final frame decided the outcome of the bout, and it was a unanimous decision for Mighty Mouse.

Here’s what we learned from the bout.

What we’ll remember about this fight: 

The incredible pace. The flyweight division is home to the fastest fighters in MMA, and our main event highlighted that characteristic. Johnson used great movement throughout the fight to keep McCall guessing, and his opponent continued to walk forward and press the action.

What we learned about Ian McCall:

That he is probably related to Anthony Johnson. McCall told the world on Friday afternoon that he had already rehydrated and was walking around at over 150 pounds–25 pounds heavier than when he hit the scales.

His cardio wasn’t as good this time around. The third round saw McCall look like he lost the spring in his step, while his opponent remained fresh. It is rare to see McCall get outworked, but when he faded, Mighty Mouse took advantage.

What we learned about Demetrious Johnson:

That his power is excellent for such a small guy. He would land a heavy shot between the eyes of McCall halfway through the first round and it put Uncle Creepy down. Although Johnson couldn’t capitalize the way he would have liked, it was nice to see him score the knockdown.

His diverse skills will prove to be invaluable in the newly created division. With lightning-fast combinations and some of the best head and foot movement in the sport, Johnson is hard to beat standing. 

Johnson called McCall a better fighter than Dominick Cruz. Is that a jab at the man who beat him last year, or does he truly have that much respect for McCall and his abilities?

What’s next for McCall:

Perhaps a bout with Yasuhiro Urushitani. The semi-final losers can duke it out for an unofficial bronze medal. McCall is a popular fighter who has lots of charisma, so they’ll set him up with something winnable.

What’s next for Johnson:

The flyweight final against Joseph Benavidez. You might want to watch that battle in slow motion. Otherwise, you won’t be able to see what is going on.

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