Author: Dan Hiergesell

UFC 169: Jamie Varner Replaces Bobby Green, Faces Abel Trujillo

Jamie Varner is a mixed martial arts journeyman. 
From WEC champ to forgotten veteran, the UFC lightweight has been through a lot in his 10-year career.
After an announcement Tuesday morning, originally reported by MMA Fighting, it looks like Varn…

Jamie Varner is a mixed martial arts journeyman. 

From WEC champ to forgotten veteran, the UFC lightweight has been through a lot in his 10-year career.

After an announcement Tuesday morning, originally reported by MMA Fighting, it looks like Varner will add to that elusive resume by stepping in for Bobby Green opposite red-hot Abel Trujillo.

UFC officials did not elaborate on the undisclosed reasons as to why Green won’t be fighting on Feb. 1 as part of the UFC’s Super Bowl blowout.

In any case, Varner now gets the nod against one of the more physically strong fighters in the division.  Blessed with devastating punching power, solid submissions and an elastic chin, Trujillo is as dangerous as they come.

Coming off a recent victory over the formidable Roger Bowling early last month, “Killa” will attempt to prolong his divisional momentum for 2014.

Varner on the other hand is more than likely on the last legs of any sort of title run.  He’s posted a pedestrian 2-2 UFC record since making his return last year and just lost a split decision to veteran Gleison Tibau back in August.

That means the 29-year-old will be more motivated than ever to disgrace the potential of a promising top prospect, sort of what he did when he leveled Edson Barboza back at UFC 146.

While Green vs. Trujillo was sure to thrill, Varner should step in nicely and start UFC 169‘s main card off with a lightweight bang.

 

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UFC Fight Night 34: Who Is Hyun Gyu Lim?

Some people look at Hyun Gyu Lim and see Jake Ellenberger’s fill-in for UFC Fight Night 34 this Saturday.
Some people look at Lim and don’t respect his professionally sculpted resume.  Some people have never heard of him.
But what almost every per…

Some people look at Hyun Gyu Lim and see Jake Ellenberger’s fill-in for UFC Fight Night 34 this Saturday.

Some people look at Lim and don’t respect his professionally sculpted resume.  Some people have never heard of him.

But what almost every person watching this weekend will come to a realization of is that Lim is truly a welterweight force to be reckoned with.

After all, six first-round finishes in his last seven bouts is more than most UFC fighters can boast about.  Not to mention his success has come before his 29th birthday.

As one of the newest names to South Korea’s short list of high-level mixed martial artists, Lim carries potential beyond the Octagon.  He’s fighting for international recognition and the chance to become the next big thing back home.

That’s motivation at its highest form.

For Lim to gain that recognition, he’ll have to escape the well-timed and well-tuned arsenal of former Strikeforce welterweight champion Tarec Saffiedine, who will be making his UFC debut.

But what Lim has around his waist are the tools to end the four-fight win streak of his challenger.  Correction, he has the one tool to end Saffiedine‘s divisional momentum.

That tool, better suited for chopping wood in the backyard, is raw power.  Not the sort of power writers and media hounds like myself sometimes throw around without caution, but the kind of power that leaves fighters challenging the force of gravity.

That’s what Lim has at his disposal.  Accompanied with the athleticism and dexterity to land any of those vicious attacks from unimaginable angles and distances, his power can change a fight.

So when Saffiedine is dancing around the cage looking for his opening, The Ace will be locked and loaded, ready to let loose like a cannon sparked by an atomic explosion. 

That’s who Lim is—just in case you were wondering.

 

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UFC Fight Night 34: 5 Reasons to Watch

Just days removed from one of the most memorable and unprecedented finishes in mixed martial arts history, UFC fans already have fresh fights on the horizon.
Saturday will mark the first time in promotional history that a UFC Fight Night is not broadca…

Just days removed from one of the most memorable and unprecedented finishes in mixed martial arts history, UFC fans already have fresh fights on the horizon.

Saturday will mark the first time in promotional history that a UFC Fight Night is not broadcasted on national television.  Instead, it will serve as the inaugural event for the UFC’s new digital market, which is free to the public through Feb. 28.

Regardless, UFC Fight Night 34 does carry some weight—not only in regards to future top contenders in a Georges St-Pierre-less welterweight division but also for a chance to value the Singapore market.

Here are five reasons why this weekend is a nice time to sit down, crack a brew and enjoy some ultra-cool fights.

 

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UFC 168 Results: Dustin Poirier Wants Cub Swanson Rematch

Back in February at UFC on Fuel TV 7, Dustin Poirier and Cub Swanson put on an absolutely tantalizing battle of back-and-forth striking, grappling and Octagon persistence.
They fought to the bitter end as Swanson captured his fourth straight victory an…

Back in February at UFC on Fuel TV 7, Dustin Poirier and Cub Swanson put on an absolutely tantalizing battle of back-and-forth striking, grappling and Octagon persistence.

They fought to the bitter end as Swanson captured his fourth straight victory and left “The Diamond” wondering why he took such a high profile fight on 63 days notice.

Since then, Poirier has looked like a man on a path for revenge.  He dismantled divisional youngster Erik Koch back in August and most recently destroyed a high-intensity Diego Brandao this past Saturday at UFC 168.

What this means for the 24-year-old is that he’s finally ready to fight another Top 10 featherweight.  He’s ready to avenge that early 2013 loss to Swanson and get back on track for a 2014 title shot.

“I feel like I deserve to be 100 percent and fight him [Swanson],” said Poirier at the post-fight press conference this past weekend, originally reported by MMA Mania:

“With the Zombie [Chan-Sung Jung], I was 100 percent prepared for that fight,” added Poirier.  “I showed up to fight that night and he actually beat me. But with Cub I beat myself. I took the fight on short notice. I cut 30 pounds in a week. I took the fight because I got the call and I’m a fighter, but Cub Swanson didn’t beat me that night, I beat myself.”

As of right now, with Swanson recovering from elbow surgery and key contenders like Ricardo Lamas and Frankie already tied up entering 2014, a rematch just one year later looks very promising for Poirier and Swanson.

Of course, that’s unless fellow UFC 168 standout Dennis Siver pries for a quick turnaround.

 

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UFC 168: Did Chris Leben Retire with This Tweet?

Blessed with concrete hands and an iron chin, UFC veteran Chris Leben has been one of the most entertaining Octagon fighters of all time.
Now while his 12-10 promotional record isn’t mind blowing, it was Leben’s ability to go toe-to-toe with anybody in…

Blessed with concrete hands and an iron chin, UFC veteran Chris Leben has been one of the most entertaining Octagon fighters of all time.

Now while his 12-10 promotional record isn’t mind blowing, it was Leben’s ability to go toe-to-toe with anybody in the middleweight division that made him such a fan favorite.

But on the heels of his fourth straight loss and a slew of personal drug problems, “The Crippler” seems to have finally met his match.

It’s unfortunate for fans who grew accustomed to seeing the 33-year-old tuck his chin, grit his teeth and swing for the fences, but the carnage was never going to last forever.

While his retirement from the cage isn’t official, this recent Twitter post suggests Leben is most likely walking away:

As a mainstay in the middleweight division for over eight years, Leben has been one of the UFC’s most consistent fighters.

He has served as a great ambassador for the sport throughout its prolific evolution, especially when it came to putting new top contenders to the test.

Now while some people will remember Leben for quitting against Uriah Hall this past Saturday at UFC 168, true fans will appreciate his appetite for brutality until the world turns post-apocalyptic.

In any case, the orange-haired bruiser has done enough over the years to be renowned as an everlasting name in mixed martial arts.

 

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UFC 168 Video: Chris Weidman Talks Silva, Title Defense and Gaining Respect

Chris Weidman has a lot to hang his hat on.
Still undefeated at 11-0, the UFC middleweight champion is fresh off his second 2013 victory over the greatest fighter of all time.
But somehow, through all the perfected strikes and relentless pressure, Weid…

Chris Weidman has a lot to hang his hat on.

Still undefeated at 11-0, the UFC middleweight champion is fresh off his second 2013 victory over the greatest fighter of all time.

But somehow, through all the perfected strikes and relentless pressure, Weidman‘s monumental accomplishments have been overshadowed by Anderson Silva‘s failures.

Watch “The All-American” explain his take on Silva’s brutal leg injury, a future title defense opposite resurgent Vitor Belfort and gaining respect from unsatisfied doubters.

*YouTube video courtesy of Fox Sports (originally reported by MMA Underground)

 

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