The past two years have presented difficult challenges for Brian Foster.After a freak injury knocked him out of the UFC and nearly ended his mixed martial arts career, the 28-year-old is finally starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. …
The past two years have presented difficult challenges for Brian Foster.
After a freak injury knocked him out of the UFC and nearly ended his mixed martial arts career, the 28-year-old is finally starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Recovering from the brain hemorrhage which forced him out of a scheduled bout with Sean Pierson at UFC 129, as strange as this may sound, has been the easy part of the process.
The hard part for the Oklahoma native has been getting the national suspension lifted, which currently prohibits him from competing inside the United States.
Foster has exhausted every measure and resource in order to meet the requirements of the athletic commission. While past efforts have only added frustration to the situation, Foster is confident the end of this nightmare is soon approaching.
Foster has his focus locked on a long-awaited return to the Octagon and he’ll do whatever it takes to get back to the most prominent organization in the sport.
Foster told the Bleacher Report:
I belong in the UFC. It is the biggest and best promotion in the sport and all the best fighters are in that organization. The other shows don’t have the type of competition the UFC brings to the table. I know for a fact that is where I belong. I look at the guys I’ve defeated in the UFC and I see how well they are doing now, and it just has me shaking my head.
I belong inside the Octagon and it’s time for me to get back there. I won back-to-back fights before I was released and have put together five straight since. I want to prove I’m one of the top welterweights in the world. There are so many great fights for me in the UFC, and all I want to do is put on a great show. That is my job as an entertainer and it is the way I support my family.
After his release from the UFC, Foster signed on to compete in Bellator’s 2012 welterweight tournament. He was set to face David Rickels in the opening round but was unable to compete when the Mohegan Sun athletic commission refused him clearance to compete.
While Foster was taking the necessary measures to get the suspension lifted, he continued to run into obstacles. This forced him to compete outside the country.
During that time, he’s won four more fights. While it has been a trying process, Foster believes it has helped turn him into a better man.
The past few years have been an absolute headache. Sometimes it felt as if I was doing these things, following these steps to get cleared for no reason at all. Everyone involved would give me guidelines and tell me what I had to do, but when I went about getting everything done, it would circle back around the beginning. It is like I did everything for nothing. I’m still sitting in the same spot I was two years ago. The biggest difference now is that I have several MRIs that show I’m healthy. I have several different doctors who have released me and say I’m clear. I’ve fought seven times since the UFC, and I’m undefeated during this stretch.
Everything I’ve done in the process of this suspension has come out of my own pockets. I’ve spent my own money to meet their requirements and it has been obstacle after obstacle. I’ve jumped through every flaming hoop they’ve put in front of me. I’ve taken the proper steps necessary to get this suspension lifted and I’m confident it is all going to work out in my favor. I’m healthy, man. I’m ready to go.
It’s time to get back into the Octagon. After my release from the UFC, I didn’t talk a mess about them. I took it in stride and tried to move forward in a positive fashion. Unfortunately, I went through hell in the process but I managed to hold it together. It wasn’t easy by any means, but I’m still here. I’m still fighting and I’m ready to get back to where I belong.
“I want my job back,” Foster added. “I belong in the UFC. They are an entertainment company and I’m an entertainer. We work well together. I’m ready to whoop some ass.”
Last weekend at UFC 155, Jim Miller made a statement to the UFC lightweight division.It was a gritty, blood-covered and hard-nosed declaration that resonated throughout the MMA community following this three-round war with Joe Lauzon in Las Vegas. Over…
Last weekend at UFC 155, Jim Miller made a statement to the UFC lightweight division.
It was a gritty, blood-covered and hard-nosed declaration that resonated throughout the MMA community following this three-round war with Joe Lauzon in Las Vegas. Over the course of 15 minutes in what some are calling the “Fight of the Year,” the New Jersey-native proved the fires that fueled his previous run to title contention are still raging as he scrapped his way to victory in an action-packed tilt.
Prior to the co-main event, the pay-per-view portion of the card was flatlining, but when the cage door closed, the two lightweight fighters put on one of the best battles in recent memory. After an early onslaught by Miller, the two men spent the rest of the fight trading punches and attempting to out-manuever one another in grappling exchanges.
When the final bell sounded, the bout went to the judges’ cards where Miller took home the unanimous decision.
While the fight didn’t end in the fashion Miller hoped, the win over Lauzon to close out 2012 will set the stage for big things in the coming year.
“It was a fun fight,” Miller told Bleacher Report. “We went in there and fought hard. Both of us were dead at the end of it. I’ve never had a fight where I was so out of breath doing a post-fight interview. After the fight, I stood up for a couple of seconds, and then, I had to go sit down against the cage because I could barely stand at that point. That was satisfying because I left it all in there.
Even being confident that I won at that point, you still never know what’s going to happen. I’d rather be completely exhausted and hear the other guy’s name than have something left in the tank, having held something back and hear their name.
“Seeing the outpouring of compliments from the fans and the fight community make it feel like it was one of those ‘once in a career’ type fights. It left an impression on people, and it was cool to be a part of it. I still would have liked to finish him. I was trying to put him away in the first round, and from that point on, but even though I didn’t get the finish, it was still cool to be a part of that fight.
“I feel I made a pretty good statement. I want the big fights. I’ve proven that I can be in exciting fights and I’m excited to see what’s next.”
From the jump, both fighters set about imposing their respective wills.
After two minutes of back-and-forth exchanging, Miller landed a counter left hand that stunned Lauzon and put him on the defensive. Feeling he had his opponent hurt, the AMA-trained fighter unleashed a vicious flurry of short elbows which opened a nasty cut above Lauzon’s right eye. The Massachusetts native endured the attack, and after being battered and bloodied, survived the opening frame.
“It played out pretty good for me in the first round,” Miller said. “I came out and wanted to set the pace. I have an aggressive as well, and it seemed like he was getting a lot of attention before the fight for his aggression. But I think I pretty clearly out-aggressioned the most aggressive guy on our roster.
I just wanted to get in his face, and I had him hurt. I was connecting, and I really made an effort to put him away. I don’t think most guys would have survived that first round like he did and still been able to do some things later on in the fight.
“I could feel the finish there, and I was trying to keep the pressure on him. Thinking back on it, I probably should have changed my target a bit and went to the body because he was covering up pretty good up top. I should have went to the body in order to get him to drop his hands and maybe that would have opened him up for a knock out shot or something like that.
I had the momentum so I was trying to take it. I did not want to have to fight him for 15 minutes because he’s a dangerous guy. I was trying to take that opportunity and really run with it.”
Throughout his career Miller has been most effective when the action hits the canvas. An accomplished grappler, the 29-year old is a three-time “Submission of the Night” winner, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has put intense focus on broadening his striking skills.
In the fight with Lauzon, the southpaw consistently found a home for his left hand, but it was the elbows Miller threw which did the most damage.
“Standing elbows are something I’ve been working on for a couple of years now,” Miller said. “It’s just one of those things where you have to get the reps in. I’ve done thousands of standing elbows now, and when I’m sparring with guys and we aren’t throwing elbows, I have to prevent myself from elbowing them. Which is what I want. I want it to come automatically and it has finally reached that point.
I threw some elbows at Ben [Henderson] and had a couple I threw at Nate [Diaz], but I just didn’t have the range down. I was able to find my range in this fight and make them count.”
Following Miller’s flurry of short elbows, Lauzon’s face became a blood mask. In between rounds, UFC’s ringside team of cut men did their best to shore up the wound, but once the action resumed, the cut resumed spilling blood all over the fighters and canvas alike.
For the man famously responsible for painting the floor of the Octagon crimson at the expense of Mac Danzig at UFC 100, Miller is no stranger to the unique situation of fighting through a blood bath. He believes it all comes down to adapting your game plan to the circumstances at hand and applied that strategy during the fight with Lauzon.
“It does become a factor,” Miller answered when asked about the blood. “It really makes it hard to get a hold of somebody. When we were tied up and I had him on the mat, I really wanted to use more of a pressure game and not let him bump me up or scramble. I wanted to use a tighter style of grappling I figured would work.
It was hard as hell to hold onto him, and it definitely made my job harder trying to keep him flat. The blood changes the way fights can go and what you have to do. You definitely don’t want to be on the bottom if you are bleeding or have the guy who is bleeding on top of you.”
With the fight clock ticking down and Miller heading toward the victory, Lauzon went for broke as he dove in with a flying heel hook. The TUF 5 alum wrapped his body around Miller’s legs, and both men hit the canvas as Lauzon attempted to crank out the submission.
While Miller admits the ankle lock and guillotine attempt that followed were tense moments, the level of exhaustion both fighters were experiencing made the submissions less dangerous than they appeared.
“The heel hook and ankle lock got a little uncomfortable, but I wasn’t really in pain from it,” Miller said. “As soon as he threw it we hit the mat and I started reaching for his hand. I got my heel driven through so it turned into a straight ankle lock. I made the note to myself that he was just going to have to break it.
I knew there were only 15 seconds left, and I was prepared to be walking on crutches right now if I had to, but it wasn’t even to the point where I would have tapped to it in training. As for the guillotine, we were both pretty exhausted so it really wasn’t that close.”
In the aftermath of the Miller versus Lauzon fight and the night’s main event which saw Cain Velasquez reclaim the heavyweight title in a lopsided victory over Junior dos Santos, a dialogue arose in the MMA community over when a fight should be stopped.
In both fights, with varying degrees in the debate, there were examples where officials could have stepped in and called the bout to save a fighter from taking unnecessary punishment.
It is an issue which is going to look different from every perspective. Miller, and many other fighters, operate from a headstrong approach. Outside of medical issues or the corner taking control, the fight should always go on.
There are people in attendance who have the power to say when enough is enough, but when it comes down to the fighter, they are always going to look for that “Hail Mary” opportunity no matter the circumstance.
“I think I can speak for most guys and you want to play it out,” Miller explained. “You want to keep going. Joe threw up a beautiful submission at the end of our fight and could have pulled it out if he had more energy. That’s the mentality we all have. It is the bottom of the 9th, two outs, bases loaded, down-by-three type attitude where you are going to look for that home run shot in the last second.
Fights have been won like that. Situations where the fight would have been lost had it gone to the cards but the fighter who was down pulled it out with a knockout or a submission.
“There are lots of ways fights can end, and you can’t count anybody out. Until the fight is stopped and over, anybody has the potential to muster up something. That is where you get the great stories. How great was Frankie’s comebacks against Gray? Those fights could have potentially been stopped, but you let it play out, and it becomes awesome and a fighter makes a big name for themselves.
“Nobody wants an opportunity taken away from them. The opportunity to pull out a spectacular finish. There are doctors present and people in place to monitor the situation. There have been some instances where you would think it might be necessary to stop something, but the refs do a good job. We are all human and everybody makes mistakes, but for the most part, they get it right. As a fighter, you put your trust in them when it comes to those things.”
With the victory over Lauzon, Miller has kept himself in the upper tier of one of the organization’s most competitive divisions. The race to remain at the top of the UFC’s 155-pound weight class is fierce, and with possibility of Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez coming into the mix, the fight for top rankings are only going to get intensify.
“I will probably fight at least one of them,” Miller replied when asked about the potential newcomers.”There are a bunch of good guys coming in and there are still top guys in the UFC that I either haven’t fought yet or a guy like Gray, whom I fought for years ago, where it would be a totally different fight now.
There are plenty of matchups for me. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it because I like to fight. I want to fight them all. We’ll see how everything pans out and see who is next.”
Regardless of who the UFC taps him to face next, Miller is excited to see how the situation plays out. He is focused on making a run toward the lightweight title, and while the battle toward his ultimate goal of becoming a UFC champion continues, he’ll be in the gym every day grinding out progress the only way he knows how.
“I’m looking to constantly improve,” Miller added. “I’m working to be the best fighter I can be, and I don’t believe I’ve scratched the surface on that yet. I’m in the gym trying to learn everyday, and things are starting to come out in the fights that I’ve been working on for some time now. I’m creating those opportunities, and there is a lot more in store.”
Last year was the low end of the spectrum for Mark Munoz. After a dominant 2011 campaign which saw the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” pick up three solid wins and climb into the upper tier of the 185-pound weight class, the following 12 months were filled…
Last year was the low end of the spectrum for Mark Munoz. After a dominant 2011 campaign which saw the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” pick up three solid wins and climb into the upper tier of the 185-pound weight class, the following 12 months were filled with the type of adversity that could topple lesser men.
Following his victory over Chris Leben at UFC 138, Munoz was slated to face ChaelSonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago. The bout was figured by most to determine the next contender to Anderson Silva‘s crown, a goal the former NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion has been chasing since dropping down into middleweight waters.
Unfortunately for Munoz, an elbow injury would scratch him from the fight, and the surgery to repair the damage would keep him out for the first half of 2012. The 34-year-old would make his return to the Octagon against surging contender Chris Weidman. Despite his lengthy absence, the bout still carried title implications, but it wasn’t the performance Munoz was hoping for as he suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of the Ray Longo product.
Never one to be deterred by hardship, the Team Reign leader has set his sights on making 2013 the year where his goals will be accomplished. In Munoz’s mind, he’s had to adjust at every level of competition, and a year filled with setbacks has provided the inspiration for a huge comeback.
“I’ve always struggled at the beginning of my careers, whether it was wrestling or different levels of competition, it was hard in the beginning for me,” Munoz told Bleacher Report. “I struggled at the start of my wrestling career but I ended up excelling once I became comfortable and developed my style. Right now, I’m still fairly new to mixed martial arts. I’ve only been doing this for four and a half years.
“I’m a perfectionist. I pride myself in learning as much as I can. I’ve learned throughout every fight, especially my losses. This last loss is a setback for sure but setbacks are just a set up for a comeback. I’ve learned from it and it is time to move on. I’m staying positive and I’m going to keep shooting for that title because that is what I want the most.”
Munoz’s positive perspective is highly regarded throughout the sport. His reputation as one of MMA‘s “good guys” is a well-earned label, and when faced with the current trend of trash-talking and posturing to get higher-profile fights, Munoz is confident he’ll find his way through without compromising his character.
This situation came briefly into play last year when a recently signed Hector Lombard lashed out at Munoz after comments the Filipino made in an interview. The Cuban powerhouse asked to fight Munoz, and while time has passed and the face of the division changed, the former Oklahoma State wrestling standout isn’t opposed to a potential showdown between two of the UFC’s top middleweights.
“The Lombard fight makes sense,” Munoz said. “He came into the UFC and got upset with me saying he doesn’t deserve a title shot. He has to win a few times to be considered and he got mad at that. I was just being honest and up front.
“I’ve been in the division and the UFC for over three years and I felt that was the proper order of things. He got upset about the things I said and we’ll see how it turns out. We’ll see if our paths cross. If it does—cool, but if not, I won’t be hurt off it either.
“Fans are never going to see me take the villain role. I’m going to do things on my terms and according to the way I was raised. I carry myself with respect and any fighter I face; I’m going to respect them as well. But at the same time, I’m not going to fear anyone.
“I’m a competitor and I want to get to the top. I definitely set a goal and I want to accomplish that goal. I’m not going to put on that black hat and just start talking trash about everyone I step into the cage with. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to give them respect and we will settle things in the cage.”
The road to the top is a difficult path to travel. While Munoz may still be fairly new in his career as a mixed martial artist, it is a climb he has made before. Plenty of variables come into play as a fighter attempts to make his way into contender status. With the recent formula detouring from the normal sum of wins and losses, additional obstacles have been added. While it isn’t the way Munoz is used to things being handled, he also understands the business of the matter.
“When you look at competition you want things to go to who deserves it the most,” Munoz said. “But at the same time, I see where the UFC is going with giving people fights that are going to draw a lot of attention. This is a business and you have to match business and what is fair in competition as well.
“You don’t want to continue to give other people fights when someone is doing their darndest to work their way to the No. 1 contender spot trying to earn their shot at the title. You can’t just keep skipping over people. That being said, there are certain fights the people want to see.
“I come from the sport of wrestling and you see returning national champions come in and get beat first round. If they get beat first round, they are not wrestling for a title. That is where I came from and that is what is fair. You get beat—you have to wait. I’ve experienced this twice in mixed martial arts.
“I reached the pinnacle twice. I lost to YushinOkami and had to win four straight before even being considered for a contender position. I reached that peak again, lost to Chris Weidman, and here we go again. For me it is about deserving a title shot and doing what is necessary to accomplish that goal.
“I’ve done things within the realm of competition but I’m starting to become aware of this being a business as well. I have to be a business man too and under these circumstances I have to voice my opinion.”
Many things combine to make a fighter successful, but work ethic and determination are high on the list of intangibles which can take an athlete to the next level. Fortunately for Munoz, those attributes are in heavy supply, and he has every intention of climbing his way back to contention in the coming year.
“You are going to see a different Mark Munoz in 2013,” he said. “Especially when it comes to a more well-rounded striking game. That has always been my weak link and people know that. Striking is an area I’ve put a lot of focus on and people are going to see improvements in that aspect of my game.
“I pride myself on learning and continuing to improve as a competitor, but at the same time, I go in there with ferocity and intensity. Fans are always going to see that from me but I’m coming into the new year a different man.
“I’m excited for what the new year is going to bring. I’m going to work my butt off to reach where I want to be, but I’m not going to be a punk in the process. I’m going to treat people the way I want to be treated. I use the Golden Rule and I’ll continue to be considered one of the nicest guys in the sport.”
This past weekend, the UFC closed out 2012 with its annual New Year’s Eve event. The card itself was a strange mixture of bland and epic, as the forgettable and unforgettable alike played out inside the Octagon in Las Vegas.The night’s final two bouts …
This past weekend, the UFC closed out 2012 with its annual New Year’s Eve event. The card itself was a strange mixture of bland and epic, as the forgettable and unforgettable alike played out inside the Octagon in Las Vegas.
The night’s final two bouts put a dramatic stamp on a year wrought with injury and chaos, and while the books are officially closed on 2012, all signs are pointing to an explosive 2013 for the sport’s most prominent organization.
A solid mixture of high-profile title bouts, fan-friendly tilts, and fights that are set to shape the pecking orders in several weight classes fill out the UFC’s first-quarter schedule. After a year that saw the UFC’s machine forced off the track with several pit stops, Dana White and Co. appear to have their foot on the gas pedal coming out of the gates in the new year.
In addition to the moving pieces already set in motion, several variables have the potential to make the coming year not only historic, but one which could raise the bar in the sport of mixed martial arts.
Strikeforce Dies and the Next Chapter Begins
Everyone in the business of MMA saw the demise of the San Jose-based promotion lingering on the horizon for some time, but with the official announcement coming in December, the doors will finally close for good on what was the second-best promotion in the sport.
Strikeforce will host one final event on Jan. 12, but the impact of the merging roster is already making noise on the MMA landscape.
In the final event, the spotlight will fall mainly on the shoulders of a promising heavyweight/potential light heavyweight contender and a resurgent champion looking to take the next step, as Daniel Cormier and Nate Marquardt look to close out their Strikeforce career’s in proper fashion. Both figure to have a solid impact when they cross over into the UFC, and strong showings in their final pre-merger fights could send them into the UFC ranks with momentum.
For Marquardt, the return to the sport’s biggest stage is a shot at redemption.
The former middleweight contender was looking to establish himself as a threat in the 170-pound weight class, but a drastic turn of events in Pittsburgh not only cancelled his welterweight debut, but forced him out of the organization entirely.
Marquardt proved his resilience by not only weathering the public relations storm, but by charging back into action to become the Strikeforce welterweight champion. Should he defend the belt successfully against TarecSaffiedine, Marquardt will most likely enter what is undoubtedly the UFC’s most competitive division on a hot note. While champion Georges St-Pierre’s dance ticket is stacked for the time being, “Nate the Great” will certainly draw a high-profile matchup in his return to the UFC.
Current circumstances have things looking a bit different for Cormier.
This past weekend, his friend and teammate Cain Velasquez reclaimed the heavyweight crown, making an immediate title fight between the two AKA fighters non-existent. D.C. has previously talked about dropping down to light heavyweight if Velasquez sat atop the division, and in the UFC 155 post-fight press conference, White stated a shot at Jon Jones’s light heavyweight crown could possibly be on deck for Cormier.
There is also a challenge issued by former two-time champion Frank Mir on the table for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner, but only time will tell which direction Cormier will choose to take.
The other looming factor, and what could perhaps make the biggest splash, will be what happens with Strikeforce’s lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. “El Nino” told me several weeks ago, in an interview, the fight he wants most is UFC champion Benson Henderson.
A champion-versus-champion bout makes a tremendous amount of sense, but there has yet to be an official commitment from White on this fight becoming a reality. Should the winner of the upcoming scrap between Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis determine who gets the next shot, it would seem likely that former No. 1 contender Gray Maynard could welcome Melendez to the big show.
In the same position of uncertainty as Melendez will be middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. With the UFC 185-pound picture in the midst of chaos with the recent stunting of potential contenders at UFC 155, Rockhold could transition directly into the upper tier on the UFC side of things.
While a champion-vs.-champion bout against Anderson Silva is highly unlikely due to the lure of potential super-fights, a title-eliminator bout against Chris Weidman could be possible.
Outside of the champions crossing over, a collection of talented fighters have the potential to shake up the scene in the UFC. Former belt-holders GegardMousasi, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and TyronWoodley should draw upper-tier matchups in their respective divisions, and scrappy veterans Josh Barnett, Tim Kennedy and Pat Healy could all make huge statements in the coming year.
The Ronda Rousey Show Takes Center Stage
When Dana White introduced the organization’s first women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at the UFC on Fox 5 press conference, the moment stole the show. There is no denying Rousey‘s star power and the UFC is putting its chips on her side of the table in 2013.
In the past, White has shown reluctance about committing to a women’s division under the UFC banner. While signing Rousey and making her debut fight against Liz Carmouche the main event of UFC 157 is certainly breaking new ground for the promotion, the UFC’s venture into WMMA is still very much in the experimental stage.
White himself has made zero attempts to mask the fact that this is the “Ronda Rousey Show” and the key to women’s longevity in the UFC depends on her.
Despite the organization wanting her first opponent to be Brazilian wrecking machine Cris Cyborg, the bout with Carmouche is not a gimme by any means. “The Girlilla” is as aggressive as they come and the only female campaigning for the Rousey fight using a Twitter movement to storm White’s timeline. The tactic worked, and Rousey vs. Carmouche is set to make history.
Outside of the first women’s bout under the UFC banner, other potential contenders could help shape the next steps in the future of the women’s bantamweight division. A lot will depend on Cyborg’s ability to make the weight limit, but should the promotion decide not to wait on the former Chute Boxe fighter to come down, former Strikeforce 135-pound champion Miesha Tate or the always scrappy Alexis Davis could find themselves in the next title fight.
With the competitive lightweight division only getting hotter, Jim Miller finds himself in a make-or-break situation. It wasn’t long ago the New Jersey native was putting together a seven-fight win streak that had him knocking on the door of a title sh…
With the competitive lightweight division only getting hotter, Jim Miller finds himself in a make-or-break situation. It wasn’t long ago the New Jersey native was putting together a seven-fight win streak that had him knocking on the door of a title shot, but after dropping two of his last three outings, Miller’s back is against the wall heading into his bout with Joe Lauzon this weekend at UFC 155.
The opportunity to fight Lauzon arose when former No. 1 contender Gray Maynard was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury. When the UFC tapped Miller to face the season 5 TUFalum, the 29-year-old saw the perfect situation develop which would allow him remain a factor in a heated race in the 155-pound weight class.
“This fight comes at the right time and is a perfect opportunity to get back to where I want to be,” Miller told Bleacher Report. “For this camp, I’ll get about six weeks. Some people consider that short notice, but I’m not one of them. Short notice to me means a couple of weeks. As long as you are not walking around too heavy, you should be able to make the weight by fight night. If you can’t do that in six weeks, you really need to question your commitment to being a professional fighter.”
It is often said in MMA that styles make fights and the stylistic similarities between Miller and Lauzon make this matchup extremely interesting. Both men have shown to have solid power in their hands, but the dominant skill set for Miller and Lauzon comes when the action hits the canvas.
Much like his counterpart, Miller has proven to have slick submission skills. While he believes there are areas he would hold advantages, Miller is pumped up and looking forward to mixing it up with a talented fighter with Lauzon‘s credentials.
“Joe is a dangerous opponent,” Miller said. “He is very skilled on the ground and is a solid fighter. Judging from his past fights, it looks like he hits pretty hard as well. He’s an aggressive fighter, and I typically have done very well against guys who come at me that way. I think it is going to be a great matchup stylistically and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I think I’ll have an advantage in the strength department, but I put far more focus on the technique aspect. Technique should beat strength every time, and the little details are going to be important in this fight.”
While a victory over Lauzon won’t put Miller in a position to fight for the UFC title, a loss would threaten to push him out of the division’s coveted top 10 rankings. As things continue to heat up in one of the UFC’s most talent-rich weight classes, Miller fully understands the situation at hand, and knows it is crucial for him to emerge victorious at UFC 155.
“This division has been crazy,” Miller said. “After the title rematches and what not, things are flowing again. But when everything was tied up because of the rematches, there were a few of us who went good runs. Then it just so happens over that time, pretty much all of us lost, and now things look completely different. I’m trying to claw my way back up the ladder and put another streak together.
“Fighting for the title has always been my goal. I’m going to do whatever it takes to put myself in that position. I’m ready to get back to the win column. I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to beat him up and put him away. I don’t like close fights, and I don’t want them. I want to go in there and dominate every time I fight. Fans need to be ready for a Jim Miller who is coming out on fire and ready to get after it.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report’s Caged In. All quotes are obtained first hand unless noted otherwise.
The waters have been rough sailing for the UFC in 2012. What is commonly referred to as the “injury bug” in the MMA community developed into a swarm and left a path of wreckage in its wake. One of the biggest things UFC President Dana White has to look…
The waters have been rough sailing for the UFC in 2012. What is commonly referred to as the “injury bug” in the MMA community developed into a swarm and left a path of wreckage in its wake. One of the biggest things UFC President Dana White has to look forward to in the upcoming weeks is that the books will finally be closed what has undoubtedly been the most challenging years for the organization in recent history.
Before White and company can begin what is set to be a stellar run in the early goings of 2013, there is still one more event left on the table with UFC 155. While the card wasn’t immune to injury or circumstance (remember, ChaelSonnen vs. Forrest Griffin was the original co-main event), the UFC’s final pay-per-view of the year will take place next weekend in Las Vegas, NV.
Headlining the event will be one of the year’s most anticipated fights. Champion and heavyweight wrecking machine Junior dos Santos will step in to rematch the man he claimed the title from in Cain Velasquez. It only took “Cigano” 64 seconds in their first meeting to score the knockout victory and finally get his hands on UFC gold.
Outside of the main-event heavyweight clash, there are several interesting matchups throughout the card that have the ability to impact their respective divisional pictures heading into the new year. Depending on how everything shakes out on December 29th, several weight classes could see their contention pictures finally taking shape, while others will see the room at the top become a bit smaller.
The Baddest Man on the Planet
There is certainly a solid amount of talent laced throughout the card at UFC 155, but the fight MMA fans are looking forward to most is dos Santos versus Velasquez 2. It has been over a year since the powerful Brazilian dropped a huge right hand on the AKA-trained fighter on the UFC’s debut on the Fox network. It was an emotional win for the 28-year-old, as he collected an impressive eighth consecutive victory and remained undefeated under the UFC banner.
After besting Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1, dos Santos’ next outing would come against former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 146. It was yet another brilliant showing from the Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira protege, as he hammered out the stoppage victory over Mir in the second round.
On the same card in Las Vegas, Velasquez also made his triumphant return to the increasingly competitive heavyweight picture. The 30-year-old California native was a man on a mission as he brutalized former Strikeforce contender Antonio Silva. Velasquez put on a vicious display of ground-and-pound as he earned the first-round victory by way of stoppage. It was a high-caliber performance at the right time, as Velasquez earned his shot at redemption by defeating “Bigfoot.”
His case for a rematch was also assisted by heavyweight juggernaut Alistair Overeem’s suspension following the debacle which pulled him from a scheduled showdown with JDS. With “Reem” on the sidelines, the rematch was the fight to make without question.
But with Overeem’s return set, and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier set to make his UFC transition this spring, the divisional waters are beginning to heat up at the perfect time.
These factors make next weekend’s heavyweight tilt between dos Santos and Velasquez all the more important. The past few years have been hit-or-miss for the weight class. After seeing the belt change hands at nearly every turn, interim or otherwise, the division is finally experiencing stability on the championship level.
While dos Santos has only defended the title once since beginning his reign, he has yet to show any holes in his armor. Every one of his nine victories inside the Octagon have been lopsided, and the potential is there for a dominant title run. On the other hand, should he come up short against Velasquez, the loss wouldn’t drop dos Santos far enough down the ladder where another crack at the title wouldn’t come in quick fashion.
The perspective looks a bit different on the Velasquez side of the fence. While dos Santos handed him the only defeat thus far in his professional career, when they step into the Octagon to do battle on Dec. 29th, there will only have been 13 months between the two meetings. Another defeat at the hands of JDS, in addition to Overeem and Cormier coming into the picture, would serve to push the former champion to the end of line.
Contention and Relevance at Stake in Lightweight Division
It can certainly be argued the welterweight and light heavyweight divisions carry a higher profile on the UFC totem pole, but in my humble opinion, the 155-pound weight class is the most competitive in the organization. The lightweight Top 10 is a shark tank filled with versatile fighters who could all lay claim to the title on any given night. From champion Benson Henderson to veterans who have recently struggled to gain their footing such as Jim Miller, it is a dog-eat-dog world at 155 pounds.
While the original matchup was set to feature a lightweight clash between former No. 1 contender Gray Maynard and his Season 5 TUFhousemate Joe Lauzon, an injury to “The Bully” forced him out of the fight. In his place, the UFC tapped AMA-trained fighter Jim Miller, who is coming off a loss to Nate Diaz back in May. The loss was Miller’s second in three fights and a departure from the seven-fight win streak that placed him in the upper tier to begin with.
The opportunity to face Lauzon comes at a crucial time for the New Jersey native, as his relevance in the division will be put on the line. A victory over “J-Lau” would serve to keep Miller’s name in the conversation of the divisional elite, but a loss not only knocks him out of the Top 10, but would end his ultimate goal of a title shot, out of the picture for the foreseeable future.
The downside is a bit less grim where Lauzon is concerned. The Bridgewater, Mass.-based fighter has won three of his last four, with his only loss on that run coming to former WEC champion Anthony Pettis. Lauzon came out on the business end of their meeting at UFC 144 but bounced back strong with a submission victory over another former king of the “little blue cage” Jamie Varner at UFC on Fox 4.
There is no doubt the previously scheduled bout with Maynard carried more upside for Lauzon, but Miller’s name isn’t without clout. A victory over Miller will not earn him a title shot, but it will keep Lauzon‘s momentum building as his fellow contenders (Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis) prepare for their throwdown next month in Chicago. That being said, a loss to Miller next weekend at UFC 155 would take Lauzon down a few notches in the rankings but not force him out of the Top 10 entirely.
Often Overlooked, Boetsch and Belcher Look to Solidify Contention at UFC 155
Anderson Silva could very well be the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time. Since claiming the middleweight title in the summer of 2006, “The Spider” has amassed a legendary career that has shattered both records and souls in the process. Silva has demolished the opposition at every turn, and on multiple occasions has stepped up into the light heavyweight division to further extend his dominance when the division he champions has run thin of competition.
While it was once said that Silva had cleaned out all possible contenders in his weight class, this is no longer the case. Despite his record-breaking run showing no signs of slowing down, a handful of future contenders have made a run toward the top of the division.
A short time ago, ChaelSonnen appeared to be the only legitimate threat to Silva’s crown. After the Brazilian phenom put the last nail in the coffin to their rivalry at UFC 148, it seemed as if Silva was once again dangerously close to wiping the divisional slate clean of contenders. There was always VitorBelfort, but with the front-kick knockout still fresh in everyone’s mind (Belfort included), the only possible choice at 185 pounds was surging upstart Chris Weidman.
The undefeated New York native was coming off an impressive first-round knockout victory over Mark Munoz, but the buzz surrounding a potential title bout with Silva carried little to no buzz. Several factors played into the scenario, the loudest of which came from Silva’s camp, as they stated a title fight was not something Weidman had earned just yet.
After his campaign for a bout with Silva failed to gain traction, Weidman accepted a fight with fellow contender Tim Boetsch. Despite having a four-fight win streak of his own, “The Barbarian” is rarely mentioned in the talk of the divisional upper tier. With neither fighter carrying an extremely high profile, Dana White was slow to officially call their meeting at UFC 155 a true No. 1 contender’s bout, but it certainly had the potential to produce Silva’s next opponent.
Unfortunately, the bout would fall apart several weeks out, after Weidman suffered an injury that required surgery. This put Weidman on the sidelines for the time being but left Boetsch on the card with a chance to show and prove. The UFC tapped Costa Philippou to step into the spot left vacant by Weidman. While a victory over Philippou won’t carve out an undeniable title shot for Boetsch, it will keep his streak alive and give the former wrestling standout from Maine a chance to display his skills on one of the year’s best cards.
Where his peers in the divisional elite can afford a bit of give and take, taking a step back is not a luxury Boetsch has. Fighters like Michael Bisping, Belfort and even Hector Lombard, whom Boetsch defeated at UFC 144, all have bigger names and more fan recognition. This creates a scenario where a loss wouldn’t kill their title hopes, but for a fighter overlooked as much as Boetsch, every time he steps into the Octagon becomes a “must-win” if he hopes to keep his dream of a title shot alive.
Another fighter in a similar position to Boetsch is Duke Roufus-trained fighter Alan Belcher. Just like Boetsch, “The Talent” has built an impressive win streak but has done so on a quieter frequency. The biggest difference in UFC stock would come in their respective fighting styles. Where Boetsch has an efficient wrestling attack, supported by knockout power in his hands, Belcher operates behind an unpredictable, fan-friendly striking and grappling attack.
The Arkansas-born fighter will face former No. 1 contender YushinOkami at UFC 155. Belcher has been slowly making his case for title consideration, and a victory over “Thunder” will be another step in that direction. The fight is a rematch from their first meeting at UFC 62, where Okami spoiled Belcher‘s promotional debut with a unanimous-decision victory. If Belcher is successful in his second bid against the Japanese star, it will position him for one of the weight class’ big names in his next outing.
If both Boetsch and Belcher are victorious next weekend, their names will be added to a short list that includes the previously mentioned Bisping, Belfort and Lombard, making the middleweight division deeper than it has been in years.
Situations to Keep Your Eyes On
The pay-per-view portion of the card carries a ton of action, but there are several bouts earlier in the night that will hold a bit of weight as well. Where Lauzon and Miller will compete to see who stays in the ultra-competitive race in the lightweight division, Melvin Guillard and Jamie Varner could very well be fighting to see who keeps their job. They were originally scheduled to fight at the TUF 16 Finale, but after Varner experienced illness pre-fight, the bout was scrapped and ultimately bumped back to UFC 155.
There is no love lost between these two men. With so much at stake, the fight should be a “knock-down, drag-out” affair between two fighters who have seen their career trajectory drastically altered over the past two years. Where Guillard was once on the verge of getting a long-awaited title shot after winning five straight, the “Young Assassin” has dropped three of his last four contests.
A loss to Varner would be devastating and would turn a corner in Guillard‘s career extremely difficult to bounce back from, and a win for the former WEC champion would take him off the seemingly “borrowed time” he appears to be operating on since coming back into the UFC fold.
Another bout that could hold future title implications will come on the FX preliminaries, as Brad Pickett squares off with Eddie Wineland. The current situation in the bantamweight division is tricky, and certainly one or both fighters could serve to benefit from it. With one of the “thinnest” divisions on the roster and champion Dominick Cruz’s time away from the sport being extended due to another injury to his previously damaged knee, the winner of Pickett vs. Wineland will take a big jump up the ladder.
With interim champion RenanBarao defending his title against Michael McDonald in February, the position of “next” is wide open.”One Punch” has found victory in three of his last four fights, where the Indiana native has been successful in five of his last seven. Both were previously defeated by Barao, but with the weight class lacking depth, whoever emerges victorious from their clash at UFC 155 will find themselves on the doorstep of a title shot. With no date set for Cruz’s return, the fight between Pickett and Wineland could easily determine who faces the winner of Barao vs. McDonald.
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