Author: Donald Wood

UFC Fight Night 32: Where and When to Watch Belfort vs. Henderson

As Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 32 approaches, the hype surrounding the main event between mixed martial arts stars Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson has reached a fever pitch.
While there is no doubt that both men are past the prime of their careers…

As Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 32 approaches, the hype surrounding the main event between mixed martial arts stars Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson has reached a fever pitch.

While there is no doubt that both men are past the prime of their careers (Belfort is 36 and Henderson is 43), each fighter believes there is more to prove and will be fighting for the chance to once again begin the climb into title contention.

For the eventual loser, this could be the end of the road.

There are so many storylines following these two combatants, and with an already stacked undercard, the Belfort vs. Henderson main event will be the icing on the UFC cake Saturday.

 

Where: Goiania Arena, Goiania, Brazil

When: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX Sports 1

Live Stream: FOX Sports GO

 

Vitor Belfort’s Keys to Victory

Veteran fighter Vitor Belfort has been at the center of plenty of controversy over his career, but there is no denying his success and his willingness to fight the biggest names in the sport.

Belfort and Henderson have squared off against each other before—Hendo beat the Brazilian at Pride 32 in 2006 via unanimous decision—and there is a familiarity between the men. While much has changed since the first bout, Belfort knows a convincing win over Henderson could lead to big things in his hunt for another championship.

Henderson is one of the toughest men in the world, and Belfort shouldn’t be looking to knock the legend out. Using his jiu-jitsu and submission skills, the Brazilian should grind his challenger down over the course of the fight and steal a decision win.

While it wouldn’t be a flashy win, Belfort needs this victory over Henderson in any way possible.

 

Dan Henderson’s Keys to Victory

As much as Henderson will claim that he still has something left to prove, the 43-year-old has accomplished everything in the business and is now just looking to end his career with a few more hard-fought victories.

After missing all of 2012 with injuries, Henderson has lost each of his fights in 2013 (suffered defeat at the hands of Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans) and must beat Belfort Saturday to keep his hopes of continuing his career alive.

Henderson’s biggest advantage has always been his wrestling, and that will once again be the case against Belfort. As good as the legend is on the ground, he must be wary because his opponent is one of the best submission artists in the business.

For Hendo to earn this victory, he must control the fight on the ground and dominate Belfort from the mount positions.

 

Predicted Winner: Vitor Belfort via Unanimous Decision

Belfort has an underrated ability to strike, but he doesn’t want to stand toe-to-toe with the heavy-handed Henderson. The Brazilian knows that his challenger will be looking to take the fight to the ground and must prepare to take advantage of his predictability.

When Hendo shoots for the takedowns, Belfort must focus in on his jiu-jitsu and try to find an opening for a submission. With Belfort’s desire to redeem his previous loss to Henderson and get his career back on the title track, expect this fight to go the distance.

Belfort will pick up the decisive win.

 

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Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis: Davis’ Win Must Earn Her a Shot at Ronda Rousey

When Alexis Davis overcame Liz Carmouche via a unanimous decision victory on Wednesday in the UFC Fight for the Troops 3 co-main event at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, it was clear that Davis should be the next contender for Ronda Rousey and the women&rsq…

When Alexis Davis overcame Liz Carmouche via a unanimous decision victory on Wednesday in the UFC Fight for the Troops 3 co-main event at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, it was clear that Davis should be the next contender for Ronda Rousey and the women’s bantamweight championship.

Rousey still must square off against Miesha Tate at the conclusion of the filming of season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. However, with the defending champion making Tate tap in the first round when these two women last met in 2012, the stage has been set for Davis to become the new No. 1 contender.

Davis is one of the strongest fighters in the division, but it’s her ability to take as much punishment as she gives out that will prove she deserves the spot in the title fight.

Carmouche is regarded as one of the toughest women in the sport of MMA, but Davis had her moving backward for most of this fight with her strong leg kicks and precision punching.

As great as Davis looked, Carmouche was able to land a few shots of her own and opened up a cut that covered Davis’ face with blood. Despite the adversity, Davis continued moving forward with her game plan and took the battle right to her opponent with an aggressive style.

That relentless attitude and attack shown on Wednesday is exactly what it will take to pull out an upset over a talented fighter like Rousey. While the champion still has the better submission skills (all seven of Rousey‘s victories have come via armbar submission), Davis is one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in the women’s division.

Davis would have to use the clinch to minimize Rousey’s effectiveness.

As great as the champion is at judo, Davis took Carmouche to the ground several times, and it was her ability to hold control along the walls of the Octagon that proved she will be able to drag a potential fight against Rousey past the first round.

Add in the fact that Davis vs. Rousey is a fight fans still have not witnessed in UFC or Strikeforce, and Dana White and company officials must see the results from Wednesday’s show and give Davis the eventual title shot she deserves.

As long as Rousey gets past Tate—that shouldn’t be too big of a test—the superfight between Davis and the champion will be the biggest women’s bout in UFC history. 

 

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UFC Fight Night 31: Fight for the Troops 3 Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

The excitement surrounding UFC Fight Night 31 was already reaching a fever pitch, but the fact that this is the third Fight for the Troops show makes this one of the most exciting events of the year.
Not only are MMA fans in store for a night of intens…

The excitement surrounding UFC Fight Night 31 was already reaching a fever pitch, but the fact that this is the third Fight for the Troops show makes this one of the most exciting events of the year.

Not only are MMA fans in store for a night of intense action, but they will also witness the UFC giving back to the armed forces and showing their support for the men and women that protect and serve the United States of America.

While the sport of MMA has often been locked down upon because of brutality, Wednesday’s showcase will be for the sole purpose of giving back. There will no denying the kind-hearted nature of this gesture.

 

Where: Fort Campbell, Kentucky

When: Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX Sports 1

Live Stream:  FOX Sports GO

 

 

Wednesday’s Most Exciting Battles

Tim Kennedy vs. Rafael Natal

The main event of the evening should also feature the best pure in-ring work on the card. With Tim Kennedy squaring off against Rafael Natal in a bitter Middleweight bout, this fight could legitimately go either way.

Kennedy is the stronger puncher and will be looking to get the knockout. As strong as he is, Natal has the ability to take this fight to the ground and dominate on top. Both men will be trying to keep this bout where they have the decisive advantage, and that will result in a fierce battle.

As well versed as Natal is in the Octagon (17-4-1 over his MMA career), he has not faced a fighter as tough as Kennedy. Fans should expect this to be a brutal fight that somehow goes the distance.

Predicted Winner: Kennedy via Decision.

 

Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis

While the main event has stolen most of the headlines, the most exciting bout of the night should be the women’s bantamweight battle between Liz Carmouche and Alexis Davis.

Both women are trying to make a case for a future title shot, and winning on Wednesday in decisive fashion would be the best way to do so. Carmouche and Davis are both solid wrestlers, but expect each woman to be looking for a possible submission finish.

Champion Ronda Rousey has made a living forcing her competition to submit to her wicked armbar, but Wednesday’s battle will feature two of the division’s top stars looking to send a message using her signature move.

Predicted Winner: Carmouche via Submission.

 

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Machida vs. Munoz: Breaking Down Each Fighter’s Keys to Victory

Saturday’s UFC Fight Night will feature a marquee main event between middleweight championship contenders Lyoto Machida and Mark Munoz in Manchester, United Kingdom.
The bout was originally supposed to include English star Michael Bisping, but he…

Saturday’s UFC Fight Night will feature a marquee main event between middleweight championship contenders Lyoto Machida and Mark Munoz in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The bout was originally supposed to include English star Michael Bisping, but he was forced to pull out of the matchup with an eye injury. That news opened the door for Machida.

With Dana White and high-ranking UFC officials taking a vested interest in this bout—searching for new contenders worthy of fighting for the middleweight championship—the battle between Machida vs. Munoz will be must-watch TV.

 

Where: Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom

When: Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX Sports 2

 

Machida’s Keys to Victory

There is no mistaking a Lyoto Machida fight. With one of the most unique styles in UFC history—mixing a blend of karate with Jiu-jitsu and wrestling—the key for every fight for the Brazilian is sticking to his strengths.

Munoz will be trying to bait Machida into becoming more aggressive, but the veteran knows what it takes to not absorb punishment and how to pull out the close victories. Machida will frustrate Munoz as he has so many fighters before him.

One of the biggest focuses for the Brazilian star is the wrestling ability of Munoz. Not only can the challenger take his competitors to the ground, but he is also one of the most dangerous ground-and-pound fighters in the company.

With a takedowns defended percentage of 79.41, Machida will stop Munoz’s assault and use it to set up the counterpunch or even open up a possible submission late in the fight.

 

Munoz’s Keys to Victory

The UFC is littered with great wrestlers across all weight divisions, but one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers today is Mark Munoz. While his striking has improved, he still leans predominantly on his ability to take the fight to the ground and pound out victories.

While the plan should simply be to take down Machida and beat him on the ground, he is one of the best takedown defenders in the sport. Add in the Brazilian’s ability to counter with strikes or submissions, and Munoz must be weary when shooting.

Munoz must not abandon his strengths, though. The key to victory will be working through Machida’s defense and taking him down regardless. Once this fight hits the ground, the distinct advantage goes to Munoz.

Look for Munoz to shoot early and often Saturday.

 

Main Event Preview and Prediction

For the fans that complain about slow-paced fights that feature heavy amounts of wrestling and mount positions, this main event has the potential to drive you crazy. With Munoz thriving on his wrestling abilities and Machida renowned for fighting his defensive style, this matchup will feature several futile shoot attempts and plenty of backpedaling.

The winner will be the fighter that sticks to his game plan the longest. Each man depends on their opponent to waiver and fall into their trap, but that creates long periods of stalemate that can cause fans to become impatient.

It doesn’t matter whether critics like Machida’s style or not, he has the experience and ability to wait for his chance to beat Munoz. Machida will land enough strikes and keep his challenger from taking this fight to the ground long enough to win via unanimous decision.

Predicted Winner: Lyoto Machida via Decision (unanimous).

 

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Cain Velasquez Retains UFC Heavyweight Title vs. Junior dos Santos via TKO

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defeated No. 1 contender Junior Dos Santos via TKO in the fifth round in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 166 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Once again, it was Velasquez’s ability t…

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defeated No. 1 contender Junior Dos Santos via TKO in the fifth round in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 166 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Once again, it was Velasquez’s ability to apply constant pressure that ensured he remain atop the UFC’s heavyweight division. He survived some early blows from dos Santos in Round 1 before settling into a game plan that involved slowly wearing down his opponent against the cage. 

Velasquez nearly finished the fight in the third frame when he landed a strong overhand right to dos Santos’ jaw. Referee Herb Dean refrained from stopping the bout at that point, but it turned out he was only delaying the inevitable.

The champion continued dominating the bout in the fourth and finished off the challenger in the fifth and final round.

This was the third fight in the duo’s longstanding feud—dos Santos won the first matchup and Velasquez regained the title in their second meeting—and the perfect culmination of an intense heavyweight rivalry.

Velasquez and dos Santos have always matched up well because neither is a typical heavyweight fighter. With each possessing elite speed and stamina—attributes bigger fighters typically lack—this trilogy has been everything fans hoped for and more.

It was clear once again that Velasquez was the better volume striker over the course of this fight, but dos Santos’ raw power and striking ability were once again on showcase. While this rubber match will likely be the last in this feud, another chapter down the road would surely have the support of MMA fans.

Now that Velasquez has beat dos Santos again and eliminated him from title contention for the time being, the natural question now becomes who the champion will fight next. 

After a fierce battle between Daniel Cormier and Roy Nelson earlier in the night—Cormier defeated Nelson via decision—the next fight for Velasquez could come against Cormier. However, D.C. has made it clear that he intends to drop down to the light heavyweight division, making the next logical opponent Brazilian Fabricio Werdum. 

With dos Santos looking for a chance to bounce back, JDS should take on a top 10 opponent to get back into the championship conversation.

 

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Velasquez vs. JDS 3: Where and When to Watch Saturday’s UFC 166 Main Event

When Cain Velasquez defends his heavyweight championship against Junior dos Santos in the main event of the stacked UFC 166 card, the sport of mixed martial arts will be put on notice for what could be the most exciting bout of the year.

Hardcore and …

When Cain Velasquez defends his heavyweight championship against Junior dos Santos in the main event of the stacked UFC 166 card, the sport of mixed martial arts will be put on notice for what could be the most exciting bout of the year.

Hardcore and casual UFC fans both are excited about this defining rubber match—Dos Santos won the first bout and Velasquez won the second—and this pay-per-view main event will be one of the most entertaining in years.

This is a fight fans can’t afford to miss.

 

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

When: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: PPV (call your local provider)

Live Stream: UFC.com

 

Velasquez’s Keys to Victory

There are few fighters on earth who have the unique mix of skill, size and power that Velasquez possesses. Saturday’s fight will require the champion at his best if he wants to beat dos Santos for the second consecutive time.

Velasquez’s biggest strengths are his wrestling ability and his cardio. With the capability to take down dos Santos at will—proved with his dominance in the second fight by controlling the ground attack—and elite endurance to grind a fight out for five rounds, the key will be keeping dos Santos’ power from making an impact.

Dos Santos is one of the greatest strikers in heavyweight history, and his heavy hands have made great fighters (including Velasquez) look weak. If the defending champion can use the ground attack to keep the challenger from landing clean strikes, Velasquez will successfully defend the title.

 

Dos Santos’ Keys to Victory

It is clear that Velasquez will try to take Dos Santos to the mat on Saturday night, but the No. 1 contender’s game plan will be centered on avoiding the shoot attempts and countering with his heavy hands.

After losing the title to Velasquez in the duo’s second fight, this could be dos Santos’ last chance at the heavyweight title for the foreseeable future. With the new champion so heavily based in wrestling abilities, expect the challenger to come in ready to not only defend the takedown attempts, but also turn them into his own form of offense.

If dos Santos can stifle the wrestling ability of his opponent, he will be able to keep the fight standing up. With Velasquez unable to match the pure punching precision, power and speed of the No. 1 contender, the title could easily change hands if these fighters stand toe-to-toe.

 

Prediction

Both men have each won a fight in this series and this will be the ultimate rubber match to decide which star truly is the better champion.

Velasquez has been a great title holder since taking the belt back from dos Santos in Dec. 2012, but the No. 1 contender has fought his way back into contention and will push the champion to his limit once again.

While Velasquez has the definitive edge on the ground, it will be dos Santos’ improvements in his wrestling game and his dangerous striking ability that will once again dethrone the champion.

In spectacular fashion, dos Santos will catch Velasquez with a clean shot to the head in the first round and the fight will end in a TKO.

Predicted Winner: Junior Dos Santos via first-round TKO.

 

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