On a pay-per-view card situated around a championship trilogy, a heavyweight grudge match and a bloody lightweight war, some marquee matchups are simply being overlooked.
From the first fight to the last, UFC 166 has all the key ingredients to be one o…
On a pay-per-view card situated around a championship trilogy, a heavyweight grudge match and a bloody lightweight war, some marquee matchups are simply being overlooked.
From the first fight to the last, UFC 166 has all the key ingredients to be one of the best events of the year, especially when you consider the number of bouts currently flying under the radar.
Whether it’s a women’s battle for divisional title contention or two lightweights fighting to stay on the UFC roster, Saturday is going to pack a devastating punch.
Here are five underrated and undervalued fights set to occupy the Octagon this weekend.
Before the long-awaited third act of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos trilogy plays out, two of the UFC’s most grizzled lightweight veterans will look to capture Fight of the Night honors.
As well-oiled and well-conditioned machines, former Str…
Before the long-awaited third act of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos trilogy plays out, two of the UFC’s most grizzled lightweight veterans will look to capture Fight of the Night honors.
As well-oiled and well-conditioned machines, former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and former top contender Diego Sanchez have all the tools to make their fight a bloody, memorable war of attrition.
For Melendez, a victory over a well-known tough man like “The Dream” could lead to another shot at the lightweight title sometime next year, maybe even in Mexico.
For Sanchez, a former top dog who has struggled to compile only three decision victories since 2009, a victory over one of the best fighters in the promotion could lead to a career resurgence.
Here’s how the initial head-to-toe breakdown stacks up entering UFC 166 this Saturday.
Demian Maia’s torrid pace atop the welterweight division has come to an abrupt halt. The world-renowned submission specialist fell victim to former No. 1 contender Jake Shields last night in Brazil.
The split-decision loss was somewhat uncharacte…
Demian Maia’s torrid pace atop the welterweight division has come to an abrupt halt. The world-renowned submission specialist fell victim to former No. 1 contender Jake Shields last night in Brazil.
The split-decision loss was somewhat uncharacteristic for a grappling guru like Maia, but nonetheless his impressive three-fight win streak since making his welterweight debut has come to an end.
Ultimately, a decision loss doesn’t completely knock Maia out of the division’s top 10, but it’s not going to help his case for a title shot sometime in 2014.
Instead, a man who has already tasted a heartbreaking championship defeat at the hands of Anderson Silva will be forced back to the drawing board. It’s a step in the wrong direction for a 35-year-old, but potentially only a minor hiccup for a fighter who has only been finished once in his career.
So who’s next for one of the UFC’s best jiu-jitsu practitioners? Who can Maia match up with who offers him a chance to win and pad his growing welterweight resume?
Look no further.
Rousimar Palhares
As a fellow welterweight who thrives on grabbing his opponents and imposing his strong grappling, Palhares would be an excellent choice for Maia’s next opponent.
Both fighters are excellent at utilizing transitions, hip control and guard work, so you can count on a ground war. Now, while that may deter certain fans from watching, it’s still a versatile battle that offers some of the best Octagon action around.
A decisive victory over a submission savant like Palhares would certainly instill some confidence into Maia after his recent collapse against Shields. Of course, if he happened to get caught or whittled down by the bigger Brazilian, then Maia would most definitely drop out of the division’s top 10.
Martin Kampmann
Even after dropping back-to-back fights to some of the division’s most prolific names, Kampmann still possesses enough pizazz and respect to be an outstanding notch on Maia’s belt.
It would be a matchup that would not only showcase the Brazilian’s ability to get in close on a precise kickboxer with strong hands, but it’d be interesting to see if Maia could muscle down one of the better takedown defenders in the weight class.
Kampmann is also still ranked fairly high in the division, so a finish over him would put Maia right back where he needs to be to contend for a title sometime late next year.
Nick Diaz
Why not, Diaz?
With speculation swirling about a possible return, albeit an undetermined one at that, Diaz would essentially be a lottery ticket for Maia’s title hopes.
A fighter like Diaz commands a certain popularity that only a few athletes in today’s MMA have the privilege of showcasing. So even though he hasn’t captured a victory inside the Octagon since 2011, the hard-nosed Californian can still promote the heck out of a fight.
If Maia was to ever fight Diaz, an impressive victory would once again supplant him atop the welterweight crop heap. Of course, this is assuming he can escape the penetrating presence of Diaz’s suffocating boxing and in-fight antics.
Fighters come in all different shapes and sizes. From a heavy-handed Irish featherweight to a 240-pound Brazilian submission specialist, the vast pallet of UFC talent never ceases to forge masterpieces.
Over the years, these elite athletes have b…
Fighters come in all different shapes and sizes. From a heavy-handed Irish featherweight to a 240-pound Brazilian submission specialist, the vast pallet of UFC talent never ceases to forge masterpieces.
Over the years, these elite athletes have been tagged and bagged in order to secure the future of a promotion challenging the world for supremacy. As a result, the UFC has reaped the benefits.
Timely title threats, infamous rivalries and explosive young phenoms have been the foundation for nine growing weight classes.
But as it is in any sport, things are bound to change. Revered champions, perennial challengers and boastful finishers are all destined to fall. Luckily, each durable and self-regenerating division supports itself from within.
Here is a breakdown of each UFC weight class and which key names play increasingly intricate roles within their respective divisions.
This year has been full of historic fights. From Chris Weidman knocking out Anderson Silva to Jon Jones narrowly escaping the onslaught of a Swedish mauler, 2013 has delivered through and through.
But what makes the next three months even more en…
This year has been full of historic fights. From Chris Weidman knocking out Anderson Silva to Jon Jones narrowly escaping the onslaught of a Swedish mauler, 2013 has delivered through and through.
But what makes the next three months even more enticing for mixed martial arts fans around the world is the fact that the UFC has once again perfected the art of scheduling.
Championship trilogies, storied grudge matches and detrimental divisional showdowns are all on the docket to close out the calendar year. Lucky for us, many of these bouts will be decided in a matter of weeks.
Being an ex-UFC champion these days isn’t easy. In a youth-injected era recently overtaken by evolutionary talent and skill, the ins and outs of being an elite mixed martial artist are becoming more intricate by the day.
So when you falter, thing…
Being an ex-UFC champion these days isn’t easy. In a youth-injected era recently overtaken by evolutionary talent and skill, the ins and outs of being an elite mixed martial artist are becoming more intricate by the day.
So when you falter, things tend to fall apart, especially for a tenured titleholder.
Critics are the first to jump ship at the sight of a potential fall-off, followed by a fanbase often depicted by the always unfair “what have you done for me lately?” motto.
But through all of the hardship and experiences endured by ex-champions looking to reclaim their throne, the future is still bright. They still have a chance to reboot the system, work out the kinks, settle into a new mode of offense and aim for greatness.
Here’s how each current ex-champion ranks amongst their peers. Enjoy.
Demian Maia’s torrid pace atop the welterweight division has come to an abrupt halt. The world-renowned submission specialist fell victim to former No. 1 contender Jake Shields last night in Brazil.