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Hendricks Looking to Steal the Show, Send Message to GSP at UFC 158

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came …

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.

The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came across the news wire. The talented young Canadian had suffered a neck injury during training and was forced out of his rematch with Carlos Condit in Montreal. This turn of events left the former interim welterweight champion without an opponent and it was an opportunity the surging welterweight’s camp wasn’t about to pass up.

A phone call was made. A new bout agreement signed. And just like that, the fight between Hendricks and Condit became official.

Now “Bigg Rigg” will look to carry the momentum of a five-fight win streak into the Bell Centre against one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. “The Natural Born Killer” has won five of his last six bouts, with the only loss over that stretch coming to champion Georges St-Pierre in their title unification bout at UFC 154.

Hendricks has made no secret of his hunt for a crack at the UFC welterweight title, and the former two-time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion believes the road to gold goes through Condit.

“Nothing against Jake Ellenberger, but Carlos Condit just came off a title fight,” Hendricks told Bleacher Report. “This is his first fight back after holding the title for nine months. He was the interim champion and is coming off a fight with Georges St-Pierre. That fight is still fresh in people’s minds and if I can put on a good performance against Condit, that should show everybody I’m ready for that title shot. That’s what I’m looking at. If I can go out there and put on a performance where people say, ‘Wait a minute…that’s not how GSP did it,’ then I know the next step can’t be taken from me.

“Condit did well against GSP. If a couple of things change in that fight, he might have won. That being said, if he went out and put on a great performance against Rory MacDonald and ended up beating him, then they could possibly say that Carlos looked much better and let’s give him another opportunity. Or that gives St-Pierre a chance to say Carlos Condit looked better than Johny and I want a rematch with him. That was my thought process. Now that I get to fight him, all the stipulations go to the end. If I lose…I lose. If I win…the next step is there.”

While Hendricks was originally preparing to face a power-puncher with a strong wrestling base, his new opponent presents a different set of issues to deal with. Condit has one of the division’s most diverse striking skill sets, and when his jiu-jitsu skills are factored in, the former WEC welterweight champion is easily one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 170-pound weight class.

Nevertheless, Condit has shown a weakness against wrestling in the past. But despite having one of the best wresting pedigrees in mixed martial arts, Hendricks is looking to test Condit in all areas of the fight game. The former wrestling standout from Oklahoma State University is looking to prove he deserves a title shot and believes this new matchup with Condit will solidify his place.

“Both Ellenberger and Condit present their problems, but what this fight boils down to is that Condit had the interim belt,” Hendricks said. “Jake Ellenberger was going to be just another fight for me to hold my position. But this fight is different. If I go out there and I win against Carlos, then that is just going to skyrocket me because what he did last year was pretty big.

“He went out there and fought GSP closer than GSP wanted it to happen. If I can go out there and do the same thing, fight to that caliber, then I prove a lot. I think that is what people are trying to use to justify why they think I don’t deserve a title shot. Just because I’ve been going out there and knocking guys out in 12 or 40 seconds, whatever it is, people don’t think that I have an all-around game.

“One thing I’ve realized is that in some fights you don’t need it. Take the Kampmann fight for example. I knew if I wanted to take him down I could, but I also felt I was just as good of a striker as he was. That is a reason people haven’t seen a lot of my game. If you are the best on your feet, well, I want to test myself. If you are going against a solid wrestler like Jon Fitch, I wanted to test my wrestling against him. That’s my goal and how I keep myself driven every day. That’s how I keep the drive to keep getting better and better. Wherever you are the best at, that is where I want to attack you.”

After scoring a first-round knockout over Martin Kampmann at UFC 154, Hendricks appeared to be on the doorstep of his long-awaited title shot. But after champion Georges St-Pierre told UFC President Dana White he wanted to settle his grudge with Nick Diaz, the Oklahoma-native was pushed aside.

Hendricks thought his impressive win on the same card St-Pierre earned a unanimous decision victory over Condit would have sent the message loud and clear. But since it obviously hasn’t been heard, Hendricks has every intention of making another statement at UFC 158

“It’s a pretty sweet set up because I get to do it again in front of him,” Hendricks said about fighting on the same card as GSP. “That is exactly what I want to do. Last time at UFC 154, I felt like I was able to steal the show and that is what I want to do again this time around. I don’t care how it goes. I know Carlos is tough and I respect him. After our fights at UFC 154, we talked a little bit and ate pizza in the locker room. I like Carlos and I know that we are going to put on a very good fight.

“I know he’s coming to fight and that’s the only way to do it. You have to come there saying, ‘Let’s put some leather on each other and see who is still standing.’ There is nothing more exciting in my opinion. For some strange reason, nothing makes me feel more alive than getting hit. I don’t know why, but it’s true. A couple of times in the past I’ve been hit and remember thinking that it felt good. It brings out the inner-animal.”

When the news of the St-Pierre versus Diaz matchup was announced, the typically reserved Hendricks immediately went public with his frustration. Having won five consecutive bouts and knocking off three legit contenders in the process, Hendricks believed it was his time to face the pound-for-pound great. It wasn’t the way Hendricks wanted to go, but with the UFC title as the ultimate goal, the 29-year-old will do whatever it takes to get there.

“I don’t like that having to do that,” Hendricks said about calling out the champion. “I thought my work would speak for itself, but I maybe I did my job a little too well. The striking part of my game does put fear in some people. Knowing that I don’t have to catch you flush or hit you that hard, but if it does hit you are going down makes some people afraid.

“Even if I throw it 80 percent and it doesn’t hit you flush — you still go out. We’ve seen it a couple of times now. That is something right there that puts fear in some people. That’s great because guess what…if they are worried about that then I can get the rest of my game working. My wrestling is my best attribute, and I’m telling you right now, my jiu-jitsu is better than my striking. I just haven’t really had the opportunity to showcase it.”

In less than a month’s time, Hendricks will step into the Octagon at the Belle Centre in Montreal, looking to make the final push towards earning a title shot. Once the cage door closes, all the talk and debating whether or not Hendricks deserves a chance to fight for championship gold will go away and the time to show and prove will come front and center.

Holding a UFC title is the motivation which drives Hendricks forward and he has every intention on making his dream a reality.

“Nothing else matters but that title and my goal is to get that belt,” Hendricks said. “Nothing else matters except for that belt. It doesn’t matter who has it when I step in there, but I need it. I want to be the champion. That is what I want and all I dream about. I want to have it at my house and showcase it to my kids as they grow older.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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How the UFC 158 Shake-Up Affects the Welterweight Title Picture

The news of an injury forcing Rory MacDonald out of his scheduled bout with Carlos Condit at UFC 158 hit the MMA media headlines last night, and the UFC has its first taste of the “injury bug” in 2013.The rematch between the surging young star and the …

The rematch between the surging young star and the former interim champion was a highly anticipated tilt, but before fans could feel the full weight of the letdown, the UFC moved quickly to build a new co-main event for the welterweight showcase in Montreal.

As first reported by Bleacher Report’s Damon Martin, “The Natural Born Killer” will now square off with contender-in-waiting Johny Hendricks. “Bigg Rigg” was originally slated to face Jake Ellenberger on the same card, but when the doors to a fight with Condit opened, Hendricks jumped at the opportunity. At the current time, Ellenberger is still without an opponent, but it appears he will still compete in Montreal next month.

The switch-up has obviously had an immediate impact on the lineup at UFC 158, but the ripple effect has the potential to ultimately shake up the entire contender’s class in the 170-pound weight class.

Johny Hendricks Looking to Leave No Questions on the Table

Heading into his training camp for UFC 158, Johny Hendricks already had a chip on his shoulder. The former two-time Division I national champion wrestler had just collected his fifth consecutive victory in stunning fashion by knocking out Martin Kampmann in the first round of their tilt at UFC 154, only to see the title shot he expected to get ultimately given to Nick Diaz.

The decision was undoubtedly frustrating for the Team Takedown fighter. But rather than wait for the next opportunity to come around, Hendricks jumped immediately back into the title hunt by accepting a bout with Ellenberger. It seemed to be a risky move, putting a potential title opportunity on the line against a dangerous opponent, but Hendricks wanted to make his case for contention loud and clear.

By accepting the bout with Condit, the 29-year-old now has taken destiny into his own hands. The Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter is the only other welterweight in the current picture who could lay claim to the same level of title contention as Hendricks.

Condit has won five of his past six, with the only loss on that stretch coming in his most recent outing against welterweight king Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154.

Should Hendrick’s hammer left hand and wrestling pedigree prove too much for Condit to handle, the next title opportunity will be carved in stone.

On the other hand, the former WEC champion has one of the division’s craftiest skill sets, and Condit’s well-rounded attack has the potential to give Hendricks fits inside the cage. If Condit can derail Hendricks in Montreal, another shot at welterweight gold could be in the near future.

The Timing is Bad, but Situation is Ultimately Good for Maia

As soon as Condit vs. Hendricks became official, Twitter blew up with suggestions from all corners of the MMA community as to who should step in to face Ellenberger. One name that came up in popular fashion was former middleweight contender turn welterweight, Demian Maia.

The Brazilian submission ace has been on a tear since dropping down to 170 pounds, and his recent dominance of perennial contender Jon Fitch has Maia on the cusp of big things in the welterweight division.

While MMA fans held out hope of Maia stepping in to face “The Juggernaut,” MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported via Twitter that Maia was suffering from a minor meniscus injury and wouldn’t be healthy in time to make the bout next month. Despite this opportunity passing him by, Maia has the potential to benefit from the entire situation caused by McDonald’s injury.

With the Tristar-trained fighter moving to the sidelines for the time being, the potential for Maia to get an opponent in the divisional upper tier greatly increases. The card at UFC 158 will serve to unseat at least three of the division’s best, and Maia will have the opportunity to move up the ladder in his next outing.

There was talk this week of a potential matchup with Tarec Saffiedine, but with news of the former Strikeforce welterweight champion turning down an opportunity to face Condit, it is difficult to tell what Saffiedine’s next step will look like. Nevertheless, Maia will undoubtedly get a high-level opponent for his next trip into the Octagon, and a victory could put him on the doorstep of a title shot.

Three More Contenders at the Ready

Jake Ellenberger may have lost his top-ranked opponent for UFC 158, but his mission to become a UFC champion has not been detoured. The former Marine has won seven of his past eight bouts, with his most recent victory coming over veteran Jay Hieron at UFC on FX 5.

In the wake of the GSP vs. Diaz announcement, Ellenberger told Bleacher Report the Hendricks fight was the thing he wanted next and his wish was granted. But now the bout with Hendricks is gone, and Ellenberger’s road to a long-awaited title shot has just had a few steps added to the path.

A possible option to step in to face Ellenberger would be former Strikeforce welterweight contender Tyron Woodley. The former University of Missouri wrestling standout made a major splash in his UFC debut by knocking Hieron stiff just 36 seconds into the opening round.

The victory over the Xtreme Couture staple was a strong rebound after Woodley suffered the first loss of his career against Nate Marquardt last July. Immediately following his win at UFC 156, Woodley told UFC president Dana White he was ready to go if any welterweights dropped off the UFC 158 card. Now that this scenario has become a reality, “T-Wood” could very well get the call to face Ellenberger.

Another fighter who has the opportunity to make a move up the divisional ladder is Josh Koscheck. The former NCAA Division I wrestling champion steps back into action for the first time in nine months when he throws down with Robbie Lawler this weekend at UFC 157.

The TUF alum has been one of the sport’s best welterweights for the past six years and is only a couple of wins away from becoming a serious contender again. If the 35-year-old is successful against Lawler this Saturday night, a potential show down with Maia or MacDonald when he becomes healthy would make sense.

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Urijah Faber: ‘I’m in This Sport to Be a Champion’

Every fighter who steps into the cage has, at one time or another, been driven by the dreams of being a champion. In the competitive realm of mixed martial arts, that goal is often difficult to obtain, and many competitors never complete the climb to m…

Urijah Faber is one of the fortunate few who knows what it feels like to wear championship gold and he is determined to battle his way back to the top of the mountain.

“The California Kid” was once the most dominant featherweight fighter on the planet. Over a three-year period spanning from 2005-2008, the Team Alpha Male leader collected an impressive 13-fight win streak which included Faber holding court over the WEC’s 145-pound weight class.

Unfortunately for the Sacramento native, his run would come to an abrupt halt against Mike Brown at WEC 36. The loss of his coveted title was undoubtedly difficult for Faber, but the 33-year-old isn’t the type to wallow in the negative.

After the fall, the journey back is never an easy path to navigate, but Faber is consistently up for the challenge. Despite numerous opportunities to lay claim to a UFC championship, Faber continues to fight towards his ultimate goal, and has proven his ability to bounce back from adversity time and time again.

Faber believes he has what it takes to be a champion and the first step on the road back to title contention will come this weekend against Ivan Menjivar at UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif.

It is a rematch seven years in the making and Faber is eager to re-ignite his run towards the bantamweight crown.

“I’ve been out for awhile and I’m hungry,” Faber told Bleacher Report. “I want to get in there and have a knock-down, drag-out fight. I want to get the ‘W’ for sure and hopefully a finish. I don’t know how many times Menjivar has been legitimately finished but I’d like to do that with either a knockout or a submission.

You never really know until you are right in front of someone. It has been seven years since I was right in front of Menjivar and I remember the last time we fought, he was very strong in traditional Muay Thai. I think that was the biggest advantage he had against me when we fought the first time. I was a good grappler at the time. My stand-up was decent but he probably had the advantage there.

At this point, I won’t really know until I get right in front of him because we are going to be so different than we were seven years ago. I feel very comfortable everywhere. I feel I can stand with the best guys, go to the ground with the best guys, and I believe I’ll have the advantage in the places in-between as well.

I think it will be a very close fight but I should definitely walk out with the victory.”

The bout between Faber and Menjivar is a part of what will be a historic night for the sport’s biggest promotion. For the first time in the UFC’s nearly 20-year history, two women will compete inside the Octagon. It will be a watershed moment when women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey squares-off with Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157.

Throughout his career, Faber has been involved in several landmark moments and is excited to take part in another monumental moment for the sport.

“It’s neat to be a part of the history,” Faber said. “I’ve been in a lot of monumental fights. Jose Aldo and I were the first pay-per-view fight in the WEC. Dominick Cruz and I were the first title fight in the UFC bantamweight division. I’ve been a real part of the history in this sport and it’s been an honor.

It will be another chapter with the girls coming in and doing their thing. I’m not sure how the pay-per-view is going to do, but it should be interesting. Both Rousey and Carmouche are very impressive. Ronda coming in with her Olympic background is pretty cool because we get to see the continuation of an Olympic athlete in mixed martial arts. It’s cool, man.”

While Faber’s work inside the cage has played a huge part in the quest to establish recognition for the lighter weight classes, the proud Californian’s efforts in the business realm have also helped to move the sport forward. By starting his Torque brand, Faber has put a focus on helping fighters both established and on the rise.

Sponsorships play an important role in a fighter’s financial stability. And with the current unpredictability of the economy, Faber is happy to provide an option for his fellow fighters.

“Torque is doing great, man,” Faber said when asked about his latest endeavor. “It’s been cool to see the brand getting out there and getting behind a lot of great fighters. It seems like we have a couple new fighters competing at every show. It feels great to be someone who provides another stream of revenue and support for up-and-coming fighters as well.

It’s an important time right now for fighters in this sport. People are fighting for sponsors in this economy. With so many brands coming in and falling out of this sport, it’s nice to be someone that is stable and able to get behind guys when they might not have too many options.”

After a decade in the sport and numerous accomplishments under his belt, it would be understandable if Faber’s drive began to fade. Nevertheless, the former No. 1 contender is more motivated than ever before to make another run at UFC gold.

For Faber, perspective and setting goals makes all the difference. During his preparation for the upcoming bout with Menjivar, the former featherweight king put his focus on what originally set him on the course he now travels. The original goal was to become a champion and it’s something he’s never forgotten.

“The reason that 90 percent of mixed martial artists get into this sport is because they love it. You are talking about guys who come from wrestling backgrounds where there is no professional avenue, or Muay Thai where the sport is one of the most taxing things you can put your body through. People come from Judo, boxing and all these sports of passion

That is what you have with fighters and I think the important thing is to remember why you are doing the sport and the reason you chose this path.

I’ve been trying to focus on that a lot lately. You need to make sure you remember the reason you got into this sport in the first place, but the ultimate quest is to be the best in the world.

I’m on that quest. I’m in this sport to be a champion.

I’m fighting the fights I need to and I’m just inches away from getting the belt.”

Duane Finley is a feature writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Cris Cyborg: Is There a Method to the Madness?

What a long strange trip it’s been for Cris Cyborg.In under two years time, the Brazilian wrecking machine has gone from being the most feared female mixed martial artist on the planet, to teetering on the boundaries of relevance. With women’s MMA, a s…

What a long strange trip it’s been for Cris Cyborg.

In under two years time, the Brazilian wrecking machine has gone from being the most feared female mixed martial artist on the planet, to teetering on the boundaries of relevance. With women’s MMA, a sport the 27-year-old helped build, is currently experiencing its greatest push to date, the current situation Cyborg finds herself in only becomes all the more curious.

Multiple factors have played a hand in the former Strikeforce featherweight champion’s fall from prominence. That being said, the road back to the top of the sport is still an open path to travel. But with her request to be released from her UFC contract and signing to compete in the Invicta FC fight promotion against Ediane Gomes in April, it appears navigation on the journey to reclaim her status will ultimately play the most crucial role.

Inside the cage, Cyborg isn’t a fighter many women are lining up to tangle with. Unfortunately for the former Chute Boxe fighter, her most difficult battle will likely come on the front lines of MMA media.

Not Buying Tickets to The Ronda Rousey Show

This Saturday night, the doors of the Octagon will open for the first women’s MMA bout in the organization’s history. The media push to promote the show down between women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey‘s first title defense against Liz Carmouche has been non-stop and the blitz has put the spotlight on WMMA more than ever before.

While Carmouche is a solid opponent to face Rousey in the historic bout, the Team Hurricane Awesome fighter wasn’t the UFC’s first choice– a turn of events the UFC has made public. In fact, had things gone differently during the process of putting together the first women’s bout under the UFC banner, the long-awaited show down between Rousey and Cyborg would be the main event at this weekend’s UFC 157 in Anaheim.

Cyborg was on the sidelines in 2012, serving a one-year suspension after failing her post-fight drug test following her fight with Hiroko Yamanaka in December of 2011. During her absence, Rousey‘s stock skyrocketed as she not only claimed the Strikeforce bantamweight title against Miesha Tate, but defended the belt before the year closed out.

“Rowdy’s” success only served to build the potential match-up of former Strikeforce champions, as she called out Cyborg at every turn. But the biggest hitch in making the fight a reality came down to the 10-pound weight difference between their respective weight classes.

Cyborg’s manager and UFC Hall of Fame fighter Tito Ortiz has addressed the media on multiple occasions to explain his client could not physically make the 135-pound weight limit without risking her personal health. To assist in the process, the UFC offered to pay for the services of nutritional guru Mike Dolce in order to make sure Cyborg’s weight cut was done safely, but Ortiz and Co. ultimately decided not to go the way of “The Dolce Diet.”

Instead, they chose to keep Cyborg at 145 pounds and go forward with her career fighting as a featherweight. The decision seemed strange since the UFC only has a 135-pound division and has voiced zero intention of bringing on another women’s division into the fold any time soon.

The Invicta promotion is certainly making great strides for WMMA, but the immediate path appears to be short on great match-ups for Cyborg. Gomes is a game fighter, but if Cyborg wins that tilt she will square-off with Marloes Coenen, who she stopped via TKO two years back.

It seems to be a simple equation. Rousey is in the UFC as a bantamweight, therefore the one option to fight her would come at that weight in the UFC. Nevertheless, Cyborg and her management team are either banking on an unseen turn of events taking shape or drastically over-stating her value in the current marketplace.

The UFC has Rousey, and with signing four more women onto the roster, it doesn’t appear they will need Cyborg any time soon. But the bigger question lingering is will they “ever” need her? And this is perhaps what her management team is banking on. Should the UFC’s journey into WMMA stumble out of the blocks, it is possible the Cyborg situation could be revisited in a big way.

Who is Ducking Whom?

There is no doubt Rousey‘s star power has never been brighter, but let’s not forget it wasn’t long ago the former Olympic judoka was shaking off a stigma of her own. The 26 year old fought her initial four bouts as a professional as a featherweight, including her first two showings inside the Strikeforce cage. Following her victory over Julia Budd, Rousey decided to drop down to compete for the bantamweight title, making it appear she wanted no part of a bout with Cyborg in the foreseeable future.

At the time of Rousey‘s arrival to Strikeforce, all of the cards rested on Cyborg’s side of the table. Where the California-native was just starting out on her mixed martial arts career, the Brazilian powerhouse was in the midst of a 10-fight win streak and wrecking shop at every turn. ‘with a lack of quality challengers lined-up for Cyborg, the idea of Rousey coming back up in weight seemed at least a possibility.

In 2011, Cyborg held the lion’s share when it came to the higher profile, but that situation has drastically changed in the current picture. Now Rousey is the biggest name in WMMA and Cyborg is on the outside looking in. Then again, perception shapes reality in the MMA world.

When Rousey was calling out Cyborg in her post-fight speeches during the Brazilian’s suspension, it seemed fair play for the most part. Granted, there was a weight class separating them, but the idea of cutting 10 pounds seemed entirely feasible, due in large part to the amount of weight male fighters typically shed to compete.

But with Rousey now in the UFC and the ship apparently sailing in the other direction, Cyborg returning the call out favor while signing with Invicta comes off as stale. Things only become more confusing when UFC President Dana White tells the media in London that he was willing to allow Cyborg to compete under the Invicta banner while still remaining under the UFC contract.

This would only make sense if Cyborg was looking to shed the idea of a potential Rousey fight and simply move on with her career. That would be understandable. Unpopular sure, but something MMA fans could get their minds around. But rather than cut ties with the idea completely, Cyborg’s “Ronda will be my b**ch” tee shirt during her Invicta signing announcement says otherwise.

Either Cyborg and Ortiz are working out some unseen master plan and attempt to make a future Rousey show down on their terms, or it is simply a ploy for promotion.

If the Rousey talk is simply for the sake of hype, it would be the equivalent of Usher setting up shop in the Staples Center parking lot as Justin Timberlake is set to blow the roof off the place. While Usher can certainly hold his own on any stage with “JT,” hijacking hype for the sake of a push is the wrong move to make in my opinion.

Then again, it is the fight business and all is fair in love and war.

The Road Ahead

The coming year will be crucial for WMMA. With the UFC lining up more women’s bouts and Invicta set to put on a handful of shows in 2013, the stage for women to compete in mixed martial arts has never been bigger or brighter. Another strong push will come from Bellator as the surging promotion will feature the best women on their roster in a more prominent role. This will only serve to further the push for WMMA in the months ahead.

Whether or not the paths of Rousey and Cyborg will ever cross remains to be seen. At the current time the potential match-up seems further away than it ever has. Both the UFC and Cyborg’s camp have offered their explanation for why things didn’t work out and it is clear each party wants something different.

Rousey is open to the fight with Cyborg but as the current champion in the women’s bantamweight division, she isn’t willing to leave her division to make the bout happen. On the other side of the coin, Cyborg says she wants to fight Rousey, but will only do so if the scrap takes place at 145-pounds or a 140-pound super-fight which Cyborg’s camp has suggested.

As for now, their respective careers will go on and MMA fans will have to wait for the next chapter of this story to unfold.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

A Look at the Crowded UFC Featherweight Title Picture

It was featherweight division fury today in London as Cub Swanson and Dustin Poirier squared off in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV 7.Two of the best fighters in the 145-pound weight class traded leather, kicks and knees in a “Fight of the Night” w…

It was featherweight division fury today in London as Cub Swanson and Dustin Poirier squared off in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV 7.

Two of the best fighters in the 145-pound weight class traded leather, kicks and knees in a “Fight of the Night” worthy battle. When the smoke cleared, Swanson’s hand was raised, and the 28-year-old collected his fourth consecutive victory. By defeating Poirier, the Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter now joins a crowded scene in the divisional upper-tier of the featherweight division.

It will be interesting to see how everything plays out heading into the summer as a collection of featherweight contenders set out to take their next step towards championship gold.

A Grinder’s Paradise Coming to San Jose

With champion Jose Aldo set to throw down with surging lightweight-turned-featherweight Anthony Pettis in August, upcoming 145-pound tilts are going to shape the future in the divisional title race.

The first matchup to come under the spotlight will take place at UFC on Fox 7, when former number one contender Chad Mendes tangles with human live wire Clay Guida. “Money” has earned back-to-back victories since suffering a first-round knockout loss to Aldo at UFC 142—”The Carpenter” recently earned a split-decision nod over Hatsu Hioki in his featherweight debut.

Mendes was originally slated to face Manny Gamburyan at UFC 157 next weekend in Anaheim. Unfortunately for the Team Alpha Male fighter, “The Anvil” suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the bout. With little time to find a quality opponent for Mendes, the UFC made the decision to pull Mendes from the card and save him for a later date.

The situation may ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise for Mendes. As game a fighter as Gamburyan has proven to be, the TUF alum is nowhere to be found in the Top 10 rankings of the division. Facing Guida, who is a former contender in the lightweight division, will draw much more attention than a bout with Gamburyan—it will also provide Mendes the stage to prove he deserves another shot at the featherweight crown.

The opportunity is equally huge for Guida. The Chicago native vacated the 155-pound fold in hopes of making traction in the featherweight division. While his performance against Hioki has drawn its fair share of criticism, a win over Mendes would catapult Guida into the title picture.

Two of the division’s strongest wrestlers will collide on April 7 in San Jose with the winner staying in the hunt and the loser getting reshuffled.

One More Step for Ricardo Lamas

When the news of Aldo versus Pettis came across the MMA media headlines, Ricardo Lamas was left shaking his head. “The Bully” has been on a tear through the featherweight division as he’s knocked off three of the top competitors in his weight class.

The 30-year-old’s most recent performance resulted in a flat-out destruction of former number one contender Erik Koch at UFC on Fox 6. It took Lamas less than two rounds to break one of the division’s most talented young fighters in what was undoubtedly his most impressive performance to date.

The victory of “New Breed” appeared to bring Lamas’s hopes for a title opportunity front and center. But, after Pettis dropped down and his fight with the Brazilian phenom became a reality, Lamas was pushed aside. With the bout between Aldo and Pettis coming in the fall, waiting around is apparently not something the Chicago native is interested in.

During a recent exchange with Mendes on Twitter, Lamas stated he has a bout lined up in May. While his opponent is yet to be announced, it is clear Lamas will have to earn another victory before his long-awaited title opportunity comes to fruition.

A Journey Into the Hypothetical

Outside of Mendes versus Guida and Lamas’s projected date in May, what happens next in the divisional race is anyone’s guess.

Swanson’s victory over Poirier tonight in London puts him in a position to get a top-ranked opponent in his next outing—with several options available, it will be interesting to see who the UFC lines up for the Palm Springs native.

Swanson doesn’t appear to have any injuries following today’s dustup with “The Diamond”, which would likely mean he could be looking at a June/July return. That timeline would match him up perfectly with Chan Sung Jung—a dance with “The Korean Zombie” is one Swanson has been asking for since last year.

Another fighter to watch in his next turn will be Frankie Edgar. “The Answer” is coming off a loss to Aldo at UFC 156, and the former lightweight champion will be hungry to gain some traction in his new division. When Edgar dropped down to 145-pounds, he immediately became one of the best featherweights in the UFC fold. While he came up short against Aldo, Edgar’s performance backed up the notion that he deserves to be in the upper-tier at 145-pounds.

There has been no talk of when the Toms River native will return to the cage. Yet, with the race for contention heating up and Edgar’s desire to reclaim championship gold, the sooner would seem to be the better.

While other names are ruling the current featherweight conversation, a new entry into the mix is Nik Lentz. Since dropping down to 145-pounds, Lentz has won back-to-back fights and looked impressive in the process. “The Carny” has been criticized for less than entertaining performances in the past, but both of his outings in the lighter weight class have the 28-year-old’s stock at an all-time high. The Minnesota-based fighter steam rolled Diego Nunes in his most recent showing at UFC on FX 7, and the victory should earn him a high-profile opponent in his next fight.

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Rockhold’s Quest for a UFC Title Starts with Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 8

Three years ago, Luke Rockhold was one of the most highly touted prospects in mixed martial arts. The AKA-trained fighter was blitzing his way through Strikeforce’s Challengers series and showing a level of skill that put him on the radar as a fighter …

While potential can be a difficult thing to carry inside the cage, the California native delivered at every turn, eventually parlaying the promise of expectation into championship gold. Rockhold finished his run in Strikeforce as the last man to hold the now-defunct promotion’s middleweight title. With his first bout inside the Octagon now official, a new chapter begins and the former champion has his sights set on a new belt.

The road to a UFC title has proven to be a difficult path to navigate, especially in the middleweight division where Anderson Silva has reigned for the past eight years. Rockhold has embraced the challenge and wants to fight the best of the best. The first step of his new journey comes against former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in his native Brazil at UFC on FX 8, and the stage is now set for Rockhold to make a proper introduction.

“I’m excited about it,” Rockhold told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “Vitor is a legend and I want to fight the best guys out there. Vitor seems to be that guy right now. I have a lot to prove and I believe I can do it. Vitor looked good in his last fight but I’ve seen some holes in his game and some things that have beaten him in the past. I am coming in there to get the win and continue to do what I’ve been doing for years.”

“I’m looking for the biggest fights and to get to that belt as fast as I can. I believe I can beat these guys and I’m going to do so. I’m going into enemy territory. I’m going into Brazil and fighting one of the best fighters in the game in his home country. That should show people how serious I am about this. I’m going in there to handle my business and I’m going to bring it home.”

The matchup between Rockhold and Belfort will feature two of the division’s best strikers. While both have impressive skills on their feet, the stylistic differences make the pairing unique. Rockhold‘s length has allowed him to set the range against past opponents and once the distance is established, the former Strikeforce champion has shown the ability to not only close distance quickly, but remain accurate in the process.

As for Belfort, the 35-year-old Brazilian’s power punches have historically been his foundation for success inside the cage. But in recent outings, “The Phenom” has shown patience and a crafty striking game where he’s used feints and footwork to create openings and opportunities. Their respective styles should make for a dynamic clash and Rockhold is excited to test his skills against the MMA legend.

“I think he’s getting a little wiser,” Rockhold said when asked about the recent changes in Belfort‘s approach. “He’s waiting for his opportunities and you could see him baiting for the kick in the Bisping fight. Most of the fight he was looking for it and found that it worked in the first round, then he waited for it in the second and got the knockout.

“Vitor is still one of the best fighters in the game and he’s still sharp. He lost to Jon Jones and Anderson Silva and those are the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Who else has he lost to lately? He’s pretty much destroyed everyone else in his path. I think he’s still sharp. He’s definitely looked explosive and in shape his last fight. He’s constantly in the gym and he’s focused right now.

“I’m coming out there to do my thing. I’m excited about fighting a southpaw and a striker at that. Vitor will be the best striker I’ve faced thus far and it should bring the very best out of me in the striking department. I’m a kickboxer and I’m going to employ my range and distance.

“You might also see some offensive wrestling from me,” Rockhold added. “It’s been a weakness in the past and people don’t think I can wrestle but wrestling and jiu-jitsu are some of my strongest attributes. I’m going to be fighting everywhere, put on a great show and I’ll be in the best shape of my life. I’m excited about the big fight and I’m expecting the best Vitor Belfort to show up.”

While the bout has been rumored since shortly after Belfort defeated Bisping at UFC on FX 7, it did not become official until earlier this week. Over that time, news of Belfort‘s TRT exemption for the fight in Sao Paulo emerged, which immediately became a hot-button issue in the MMA community, with Belfort‘s past steroid issues coming under the microscope.

A prior offense for PED’s would make it very difficult to get an exemption in the United States, but the decision to grant Belfort the recent exemption was made by the newly formed Brazilian athletic commission. Nevertheless, Rockhold was aware of the conditions at hand when he accepted the fight and isn’t concerned with what Belfort does or doesn’t use.

“I think the TRT thing should be out in the open before fights and not after they end,” Rockhold said. “I was also under the belief that if you’ve been caught with performance enhancing drugs in the past, there was no option for TRT…but ultimately it doesn’t matter to me.

“I saw Ben Henderson’s statement about TRT and PED’s being a weakness and I feel the exact same way. I don’t really care. I’m going out there and I’m going to do what I do. I’m going to beat people whether they are on it or they are clean. I’m a clean fighter and I’m going to go out there and I am going to do my job. It doesn’t matter to me. Honestly I get more satisfaction beating people who are on the stuff.”

In the time Rockhold has been a professional mixed martial artist, he’s worn several different labels. The Santa Cruz native has gone from prospect to champion and held himself to the highest standards over his pursuit of becoming one of the sport’s best middleweights.

Shortly after earning the Strikeforce title, Rockhold publicly stated he wanted to face the best fighters in the world and issued a challenge to those competing under the UFC banner. Now Rockhold will see that opportunity realized as he goes from champion to contender, and sets out in pursuit of UFC gold.

“This is the next big chapter for sure,” Rockhold said. “I’m happy about what I accomplished in Strikeforce. It meant a lot to me but this is the next chapter in my life. I’ve always wanted to be the best in the world and now I have my chance to prove that. I’m getting better, learning new things every day and I’m coming into my prime. I still have a lot of good years ahead of me and I feel I have a lot to prove. I’m coming to kick some ass and take my spot.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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