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UFC 175 Live Stream: Online Viewing Info for Weidman vs. Machida Undercard

The best card of the year has arrived.
While Chris Weidman, the two-time conqueror of one Anderson Silva, is worthy of the main attraction along with Lyoto Machida, the real meat of UFC 175 on Saturday in Las Vegas that makes it 2014’s best slate is th…

The best card of the year has arrived.

While Chris Weidman, the two-time conqueror of one Anderson Silva, is worthy of the main attraction along with Lyoto Machida, the real meat of UFC 175 on Saturday in Las Vegas that makes it 2014’s best slate is the jaw-dropping set of matches on the undercard.

Machida‘s quest to become just the third fighter in history to win a title in more than one weight class is the perfect finale to a stunning card that has not been given nearly enough attention.

The full card is as follows, with a closer look at two of the undercard‘s better offerings after the jump.

What: UFC 175

When: Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1 prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET, main card at 10 p.m. ET)

Online: UFC TV

Stefan Struve vs Matt Mitrione

Part of what makes this card particularly great is not only UFC’s ability to match up similar competitors but mix in plenty of human interest stories, too.

Take Stefan Struve, for example.

Struve, a giant among men at 7’0″ and 260 pounds, was last seen eating the canvas after a hook from Mark Hunt. One trip to the hospital later, and Struve was given jaw-dropping news—he suffered from athletic heart syndrome and may never enter the Octagon again.

He shared the experience with Damon Martin of Fox Sports:

I was born with this but they just found it at a real late age. Normally they find this when you’re really young. But even now when a doctor listens to my heart, because normally hear a slight murmur, but even now when a doctor listens you really, really need to pay attention (to hear it). The thing is back when they found it, my heart was enlarged. The chamber which is connected to the aorta, in between the aortic valve, and that’s the entire problem the aortic valve is different than a normal one.

But Struve is now cleared to resume his passion, and it’s bad news for his opponent, Matt Mitrione. Not only is Struve a better fighter on paper, he has a year’s worth of pent-up aggression after a life-altering diagnosis. The Skyscraper sounds more than ready:

Add in some bad blood over Mitrione allegedly asking to fight Struve, who at that point in time had not been medically cleared, and things may get ugly Saturday night.

Mitrione is known for his knockout power, which actually makes the fight intriguing with Struve‘s main issue being an ability to manage distance and take shots to the chin. Then again, we don’t know how many of his brutal losses via knockout were because of his condition, and whether or not things have changed.

Regardless, it will be thrilling just to see Struve back at it, and one of these two men ascending the heavyweight ladder.

Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis (Women’s Bantamweight Championship)

It is so easy to forget that Alexis Davis ranks No. 2 overall in the face of the unflappable, 9-0 Ronda Rousey.

Rousey‘s ninth victory was a 66-second, should-have-been-eligible-for-criminal-charges beatdown of Sara McMann at UFC 170, and the general consensus seems to be that Davis is in for the same fate in Las Vegas on Saturday.

But not so fast. Davis is ranked highly for a reason, and her strikes are some of the best in the business. She enters riding five straight victories, and the jiu-jitsu specialist can certainly win via submission if things get taken to the mat.

Davis has more in the way of experience, but as MMA Infographics helps to illustrate, Rousey has been more dominant during the course of her brief career:

Rousey is explosive, so much so that she is an Olympic athlete in comparison to the slower Davis. While her opponent has an experience edge and may have what it takes to win the battle standing up, Rousey‘s athleticism and grapples should be enough to see her make it 10-0.

If not, the sport simply gets that much more interesting. Either way, fans win.

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UFC 175 Fight Card: Start Time and Predictions for Saturday’s Event in Las Vegas

Saturday marks the 20th time a UFC event will feature two championship bouts.
In other words, Dana White and Co. have once more pulled out all the stops to ensure the Fourth of July weekend is yet again a resounding success.
With headliners like Chris …

Saturday marks the 20th time a UFC event will feature two championship bouts.

In other words, Dana White and Co. have once more pulled out all the stops to ensure the Fourth of July weekend is yet again a resounding success.

With headliners like Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey—the former a two-time slayer of Anderson Silva and the latter a champion furthering the women’s side of the sport—what could go wrong?

Beneath the surface of the main events, the rest of the card completes what is the sport’s best offering of the year. Here is a look at the full card and a taste of two of the underrated events residing below the main spectacles of the night.

What: UFC 175

When: Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 7 p.m. ET (main card begins at 10 p.m. ET)

Online: UFC TV

Underrated Bouts to Watch

Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos

A middleweight bout of epic proportions has been a bit swept under the rug in the wake of the superb main events Saturday night.

For Uriah Hall, the proceedings in Las Vegas represent a chance for him to shed the “bust” label and realize his full potential after being a star on The Ultimate Fighter quite some time ago. He managed to halt a two-fight skid with a triumph over Chris Leben last December.

Perhaps Dana White has the answer to Hall’s issues, as he told the media after UFC Fight Night 26:

It’s a mental thing. He was this killer that everybody was afraid of on TUF and then he comes into the big show where it all really matters and where you’re going to make, you know, this is going to make your livelihood and everything else and he turns into this different person. This super nice guy.

If that’s the case, Hall better get mean in a hurry to dance with Santos.

While he only touts a 1-1 record since joining the promotion, Santos is a deadly striker who has finished two of his last three bouts with kicks. His wrestling has left something to be desired at this point, but putting his head down and matching Hall blow-for-blow may very well be enough for him to pull off the victory.

Hall can hang if both men remain upright, but one has to take into account his habit of fading down the stretch on major stages, as he did in recent losses to Kelvin Gastelum and John Howard.

Two men with everything to lose enter a grand stage Saturday night, and the one who remains focused on the task at hand by any means necessary will get a major career boost with the promotion. Unless Hall can suddenly live up to his potential, that man will be Santos.

Prediction: Santos via split decision

Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane

A late addition to the card, Marcus Brimage and Russell Doane‘s duel will quietly be one of the highlights Saturday night given the offensive skill of both men.

Both men love to stay on their feet, which means more action for fans.

Brimage won over fans on The Ultimate Fighter 14 and went on to win three fights in a row, but he got destroyed in April of 2013. That’s no exaggeration—he was dominated by Conor McGregor in just 67 seconds.

It has indeed been quite some time since fans have seen the strike-happy ways of Brimage, who since that crippling loss has been rehabbing an Achilles tendon injury.

Meanwhile, Doane has been a treat to watch after making his promotional debut in January, using elite speed and great striking to leave an impression. He matches up well with Brimage in a clash of similar styles.

Pair concentration issues and lesser speed, and there is a recipe for Brimage to take another ugly loss. Doane is red hot and can use a diverse array of strikes to eventually get the win, especially if his opponent falls back to his flat-footed ways.

Prediction: Doane by TKO

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Weidman vs. Machida: Breaking Down Keys for Each Fighter in UFC 175 Title Bout

For Chris Weidman, the UFC 175 main event against Lyoto Machida presents an opportunity to begin his era.
It wasn’t enough for Weidman to win the title while remaining undefeated; he had to enter a second bout with Anderson Silva as the underdog champ….

For Chris Weidman, the UFC 175 main event against Lyoto Machida presents an opportunity to begin his era.

It wasn’t enough for Weidman to win the title while remaining undefeated; he had to enter a second bout with Anderson Silva as the underdog champ.

Weidman is still undefeated and can finally emerge from Silva’s shadow into the spotlight. On Saturday night, he meets one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers in Machida, a man on a mission to become just the third fighter in history to win a title in two different weight classes.

When the two step into the Octagon as the headline act for UFC’s Fourth of July festivities, two rather contrasting styles will give fans all they can handle to finish off the night. That goes ditto for the fighters, who will have to strictly adhere to specific strategies to win.

Chris Weidman: Shrink the Octagon, Take it to the Mat

At first glance, Weidman is going to struggle with Machida‘s style. Weidman is extremely mobile in the cage and vicious in close, but we are talking about a champ who has spent his time preparing for two bouts with a fighter like Silva.

Weidman is arguably at his best on the ground, so that’s the obvious strategy for the champ. He’s never been knocked down or out, and his superior stature is obvious from the jump, as journalist Josh Gross notes:

To be fair, Weidman has shown off some improved striking in his last two fights, but it’s still not good enough to do away with what works against someone who specializes in that approach.

That someone is a 36-year-old Brazilian who expertly picks and chooses his spots like Silva, sans the ego, and has struck down the likes of Rashad Evans and Randy Couture. Weidman has never encountered such a fighter, so a cautious approach rather than a straight charge ahead is a must to survive.

“Stylistically, (Machida) is going to be the same as he was at 205. Going down might make him feel a little quicker, a little stronger and maybe give him more confidence. I’m expecting a very confident Lyoto Machida, but I’m going to break his will,” Weidman said, per Fox Sports’ Damon Martin.

Confidence is great, but again, Weidman can’t go charging around recklessly, or he’ll get dropped. His best bet is to slowly attempt to pin Machida before going for the takedown. Once on the ground, the fluidity of his movements, brutality of his ground-and-pound and downright effectiveness of his submissions will make it rather easy to finish off his opponent.

Lyoto Machida: Keep at a Distance

Patience. Patience. Patience.

A savvy veteran who has danced with many elite fighters, Machida understands that his approach for a victory on Saturday night will most certainly not be a crowd-pleaser.

He enters knowing that if this thing goes to the mat, there is a 95 percent chance it’ll be over early. But it’s also quite apparent that Weidman is a bit of an unknown, meaning if the champ leaves himself vulnerable going for a takedown or simply drops his hands, we don’t really know how his chin will react to a strike.

In fact, those strikes that slip through as Weidman advances are inevitable, so Machida has to keep that cat-and-mouse pursuit going as long as possible to pepper the champ with his legendary strikes.

Or not, as his striking coach Rafael Cordeiro makes it sound like Machida will be the aggressor, as captured by Yahoo Sports’ Elias Cepeda:

Machida has developed a reputation for being a patient and sometimes cautious fighter but his coach says that “The Dragon” will go for the kill against Weidman Saturday night. “If Chris thinks he’s going there with that little hand and that he’ll simply take him down and lay and pray, he’s dead wrong,” he predicted.

If Machida is lucky, that’s his coach trying to make his upcoming strategy harder to discern. The Dragon may have more experience by a wide margin, but charging in on the attack is not a good way to approach Weidman, given the potential for a takedown.

As a former champ who has tangled with the best in the business and has been considered as such at one point, Machida has the recipe for a title triumph on Saturday night, should he stick to the plan.

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Ronda Rousey Should Pursue History by Taking UFC 176 Main Event

The face of the UFC has one major obstacle left.
For Ronda Rousey, the sport’s equivalent to Tiger Woods at this point, a unique opportunity has presented itself. Already in the co-main event of Saturday night’s UFC 175, Rousey may have a chance to ste…

The face of the UFC has one major obstacle left.

For Ronda Rousey, the sport’s equivalent to Tiger Woods at this point, a unique opportunity has presented itself. Already in the co-main event of Saturday night’s UFC 175, Rousey may have a chance to step in and be the headlining act at UFC 176, too.

For all of her talk about wanting time off to recuperate, things have done a 180 since it was announced the promotion lost its main event at 176, a featherweight title match between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, because the former sustained serious injuries while training, per Fox Sports’ Mike Chiappetta:

As the card stands, Dana White has to be in a frenzy. A co-main event of Ronaldo Souza against Gegard Mousasi is great in that slot, but not enough to headline the card.

No matter, Rousey might just be there to save White and co., as she explained at UFC 175 media day in Las Vegas, according to Fox Sports’ Marc Raimondi:

If they needed me to step up, I would do it. I would appreciate the rest, but if they really needed me to do it, they know I would do it. I told them I would fight on 24-hours’ notice and they know that. When I make a promise, I mean it.

Her bout on Saturday marks her third match in just over six months during an era in which the promotion books champions two or three months in advance to give them ample rest and time to properly promote the event.

Clearly, Rousey doesn’t enjoy the modern schedule, per Chiappetta:

I definitely don’t like resting too much. That high after a win is what I enjoy the most, not sitting around and resting. I can really only enjoy the rest while that high still lingers, so there’s only so long I can enjoy sitting on the couch and eating as much pie as I want and then going to the gym and pressing repeat. I really need that big goal and obstacle to be excited about what I’m doing.

Rousey’s elite skill set, in tandem with the rather mediocre talent pool in her division (she’s an Olympic-level athlete fighting opponents with average athleticism and great technical skill) gives her some leeway in the quick-turnaround department.

But there’s less than four weeks until 176, which would shatter the record books—a record she coincidentally holds after submitting Miesha Tate at UFC 168 (the first time a women’s bout headlined a UFC pay-per-view card) and then battering Sara McMann at UFC 170, a mere 56 days apart.

The logistics of such a turnaround are not too difficult to iron out, other than who her opponent would be. Convincing another fighter to step in the Octagon with someone who has run roughshod over the division, with eight of her nine victories coming in the first round, would be quite the task.

Then again, it’s a title bout and a fleeting shot at glory, right?

For any of this to matter, though, Rousey has to first overcome Alexis Davis, the No. 2-ranked contestant. She’s no slouch either, riding a five-match winning streak and renowned for her strikes and ability to submit once on the mat.

Equipped with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and winner of eight of her last nine, there is undoubtedly upset potential in the form of Davis, who, like Rousey, has also won three UFC fights.

“She’s a well-rounded fighter and she has a great ability to give out and endure a lot of punishment,” Rousey said, per Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole. “And she’s the first jiu-jitsu black belt I’ve fought.”

It’s clear Rousey is not looking past her opposition, but the thought of headlining 176 and the benefits it would bring for herself and the sport, not to mention her lasting legacy, are difficult to not consider.

At this point, Rousey can safely seek out artificial ways to challenge herself, because unless Davis can pull off the stunner, there isn’t a woman in the sport who stands a chance.

Rousey is like Woods in that she is carrying the sport at the moment. No matter her form, fans will flock to her matches, even if it’s just to see her fail. A back-to-back appearance from her in major events is nothing but a great thing for UFC.

For Rousey, it’s a chance to back up the talk. Should she choose to make history and succeed, perhaps then she’ll get some rest.

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UFC 173: Highlighting Most Important Results from Saturday’s Marquee Event

Saturday’s UFC 173 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was not only a shockingly great card, but a lesson in the unpredictable nature of the sport and what is to come.
The night’s main event saw TJ Dillashaw rip the bantamweight title from Renan Barao, which…

Saturday’s UFC 173 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was not only a shockingly great card, but a lesson in the unpredictable nature of the sport and what is to come.

The night’s main event saw TJ Dillashaw rip the bantamweight title from Renan Barao, which proved to be but one critical decision on a night that wound up telling many stories about the present and future of the proceedings in the Octagon.

Let’s take a look at that classic bout and two others at UFC 173 that are notable in a variety of facets.

Daniel Cormier Knocks off Dan Henderson

Perhaps it’s time for Dan Henderson to ponder his future.

When the cage door to the Octagon closed, the former Olympian was thrown around like a rag doll by another past Olympian to decide who remains in the hunt for the lightweight title.

Daniel Cormier has now hit a 15-0 mark and looks every bit of a title contender at 35 years of age. Cormier applied consistent pressure and eventually won on a rear-naked choke in the third round to cement a victory more brutal than anyone has ever handed Henderson.

It’s a clear sign that the two fighters are headed in very different directions. Henderson, surely to non-approval from fans, intends to keep his career alive, as recorded by MMAFighting.com:

That’s a questionable decision, to say the least, but nobody can blame Cormier for calling out Jon Jones, per Mike Chiappetta of Fox Sports:

No matter where you go boy, I’m coming. You better hurry because I’m getting better.

I know nobody can wrestle me. It doesn’t matter. If I decide to take Jon Jones down 100 times, I’ll take him down 100 times. This is my octagon.

Cormier joins a short list of those worthy of the title shot, and tossing around a past juggernaut on Saturday sure does not hurt his chances.

Robbie Lawler Downs Jake Ellenberger

Remember when Jake Ellenberger was a top threat?

Good times.

Just a few years ago, Ellenberger was tearing through the likes of Jake Shields and had the look of the next big thing. On Saturday, Ellenberger looked like the subject of a Space Jam-esque victim, because he had clearly forgotten how to fight as Robbie Lawler dominated every second of their encounter.

“Ruthless” was just that over the course of the entire bout, peppering the former superstar with an onslaught of strikes that resulted in a total strikes advantage of 72-30 before the fight was called in the third round.

It’s clear Lawler will not get a title shot right away, but his dominance in a way nobody could have predicted on Saturday jump-starts his path back to contention. For Ellenberger, it is time to go back to the drawing board and rediscover something, anything that will make him competitive again.

TJ Dillashaw Jaw-Dropping Triumph over Renan Barao

It had to happen at some point, but few thought Dillashaw would be the one to do it.

Barao entered Saturday night as a winner of more than 30 straight, dating back to 2005, and a name many considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

So much for that.

Barao was nearly knocked out in the first round via a barrage from Dillashaw, regained composure and was fully destroyed every step of the way before his eventual knockout in the final round.

For Dillashaw, it’s a coming-of-age moment and one he will forever cherish, as captured by the UFC:

UFC fans around the globe just witnessed a passing of the torch. A rematch is surely on the table with Barao still one of the sport’s best, but it is important to recognize the arrival of a new champ and face of the sport as he begins his journey.

Note: All info courtesy of the UFC’s official website unless otherwise specified.

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Rampage Jackson vs. King Mo: Viewing Info and Prediction for Epic Showdown

Bellator’s inaugural pay-per-view event on Saturday night features a loaded card highlighted by what will surely be a violent showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.
The promotion is pulling out its biggest guns possibl…

The promotion is pulling out its biggest guns possible, as expected. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney expects a major turnout, as captured by Bob Bakken of desototimestribune.com:

“It’s going to be a packed house,” he said. “The lower bowl is going to be completely packed and the upper bowl is filling up right now. It will be a packed, loud, crazy house with Rampage here coming home. The response has been unbelievable.”

The card is stacked from top to bottom, but the main event is what will steal the show and potentially make the event a success from a financial standpoint. Jackson and Lawal have a lengthy history, and watching things come to a head at this stage of their careers is still worth the time investment.

Let’s take a look at the details surrounding the highly anticipated event and break down the biggest fight of the night.

Bellator 120

Where: Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi

When: 6:30 p.m. ET, Main Card at 10 p.m.

Predictions

It’s safe to say Rampage and King Mo don’t like each other too much. This was apparent yet again when the two got physical at the weigh-ins for the event, as captured by MMAWeekly.com on Twitter:

While this fight is a tough sell due to both fighters being so deep into their careers, there will still be some entertaining stand-up action on display.

Make no mistake, King Mo will run away with the fight with relative ease if he takes things to the mat and wrestles. But will he?

Doubtful.

Lawal has continued to get better with each fight after a bout with staph infections, but he has yet to put everything together in one cohesive package.

It’s a battle of contrasting styles on Saturday night. Rampage was great on the mat early in his career, but his departure from UFC in part had to do with his desire to act as more of a striker. He’s got a great chin, so his standing in there and hurting King Mo while upright would not come as a surprise.

As Josh Gross of DWNLA notes, it is Jackson who can save the first Bellator pay-per-view from being a disappointment:

Jackson will uphold his end of the bargain. He has not lost by TKO or KO since 2005. Lawal on the other hand has lost twice in the past four years via strikes.

Considering Jackson has not lost much power, still has a great jaw and can do much to counter Lawal‘s wrestling advances, expect him to score a major win and move on to face current champion, Emanuel Newton.

Prediction: Rampage wins via decision

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