Stipe Miocic is looking to shake things up in the heavyweight division in a major way at UFC on Fox 13. And it’s an opportunity he’s been chasing for the better part of the year.
The former two-sport standout from Cleveland State University began his 2…
StipeMiocic is looking to shake things up in the heavyweight division in a major way at UFC on Fox 13. And it’s an opportunity he’s been chasing for the better part of the year.
The former two-sport standout from Cleveland State University began his 2014 campaign by notching a victory over former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga when the UFC returned to Chicago back in January. The Brazilian grappling ace has played the unofficial role of gatekeeper to the upper ranks of the heavyweight fold, and Miocic was able to use his superior boxing skills and wrestling to outwork “Napao” en route to a unanimous-decision victory at UFC on Fox 10.
Yet, while defeating Gonzaga was a big addition to Miocic‘s resume, when the UFC came to offer a bout with former champion Junior dos Santos, everything shifted up a notch in the 32-year-old Ohio native’s career. “Cigano” has been one of the top two heavyweights in the world for the past three years—fighting was either champion or challenger in the majority of his bouts during that span—and stepping into the Octagon with “JDS” would automatically put Miocic on the title radar.
And with the heavyweight championship his ultimately destination, it was precisely the caliber of fight Miocic wanted.
That said, MMA is a chaotic sport, and the road to his showdown with the former champion hit more than a few snags. Where they were originally set to square off at UFC 173 in May, the bout was shifted to the main event of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale on May 31. Things would take a more severe turn when dos Santos was forced to pull out of the bout with an injury, and the promotion tapped resilient light heavyweight slugger Fabio Maldonado to step up a weight class and face Miocic.
While it was nowhere near the fight he wanted, Miocic is in the fight game to handle business, and that’s exactly what he did by knocking out the Brazilian Brawler inside of the one minute mark. Just as it should have been, Miocic put on a quick and dominant performance to pick up his third consecutive victory and bring his running total of successful showings to 11 out of his last 12.
Furthermore, the UFC rewarded his diligence for remaining on the Brazilian card by giving him the fight he had wanted all along, and the bout with Dos Santos was rescheduled for UFC on Fox 13 on Dec. 13 in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, with the stakes set exactly where he wants them to be, Miocic is going into his bout with the heavy-handed knockout artist looking to end Dos Santos’ time as a title threat, and carve out his own place in the heavyweight championship picture.
“It was great to get this fight back because this is the fight I’ve wanted for a long time,” Miocic told Bleacher Report. “It is a fight he wanted as well, but unfortunately he got hurt. He’s ready to go now and I couldn’t be happier. My goal at the end of the day is to become the heavyweight champion and he’s standing in the way of that happening. I have to take him out.
“There was a chance I wouldn’t get this fight back and it’s definitely something I thought about. There are a lot of variables in this business and you never really know how things are going to play out. Maldonado is a tough guy and that fight could have been a lose/lose for me. If I would have lost that fight, I would have dropped way down in the rankings and lost all the momentum I had going, but I did what I finished it quick and got out of there. I did what I was supposed to do.
“I couldn’t be more pumped than I am right now for this fight,” he added. “Iv’e been training hard, have a great game plan and I’m firing on all cylinders right now. I feel fantastic and I’m facing a guy who is a former champion and the No. 2 ranked fighter in the world. But it’s my time now. I can’t wait, man. I wish this fight was tomorrow.”
When Miocic enters the Octagon to face dos Santos he fully understands the capabilities of the man he’ll be trading leather with. To date, eight out of the 10 victories the Nova Uniao representative has earned under the UFC banner have come by settling the opposition in abrupt and punishing fashion. The only two men to go the distance with Dos Santos outside of his two title fights with Cain Velasquez were Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. They were both roughed up for the majority of their 15 minutes inside the cage with Dos Santos.
Yet, while the perennial contender is undoubtedly one of the most feared knockout artists in the heavyweight ranks, Miocic has a massive amount of confidence in his own boxing skills. Where dos Santos prefers to sit down on his power punches, Miocic employs a movement-heavy style that has given other power punchers he’s faced fits inside the Octagon.
Once the cage door closes on Saturday night, Miocic plans to keep the former heavyweight king on his toes and not let him off the proverbial hook until the final bell sounds.
“I think my versatility is going to be a big factor in this fight,” Miocic said. “Of course he wants me to stand there and bang with him and just trade off, but I have a lot of other weapons. I do wrestle and I can grapple and do a lot of things he’s not used to seeing. But we’ll see what happens. I’m going to be ready to fight and I’ll be ready for whatever comes my way.
“My footwork will also play a factor. It’s been a major focus of this camp and working my coaches to keep him at range and to keep him guessing. You have to keep moving which a lot of his past opponents haven’t done. You stand in front of that guy and let him tee off on you then it’s going to be a short night. I’ve prepared properly and we have an excellent game plan coming into this fight.
“I’m looking to end this year on a good note and a win in this fight is the way to do it,” he added. “I’ve been training my ass off my entire life and I’ve taken the right path. You have to crawl before you walk and I did that by taking baby steps early on and taking bigger and bigger fights. This is the biggest fight yet and I couldn’t be more ready for it. On Dec. 13 I’m coming for Junior dos Santos and I’m coming to get the victory.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Any time there is a UFC title on the line, serious business is sure to follow. Furthermore, when two divisional straps go up for grabs on the same card, a powerful front of chaos is likely to roll through. There were two championship bouts topping…
Any time there is a UFC title on the line, serious business is sure to follow. Furthermore, when two divisional straps go up for grabs on the same card, a powerful front of chaos is likely to roll through. There were two championship bouts topping the lineup at UFC 181 on Saturday night, and both were of the highly anticipated variety.
The main event showcased a title tilt in the 170-pound ranks as champion Johny Hendricks and resurgent contender Robbie Lawler stepped in for their rematch. Their initial go-round at UFC 171 back in March was a five-round war for the ages, as BiggRigg edged out the veteran powerhouse to claim the vacant welterweight title via split decision on the judges’ scorecards.
While Hendricks spent the next eight months rehabilitating a torn bicep suffered in his first bout with Lawler, Ruthless would jump back into the fray looking for another title shot. He dispatched fellow slugger Jake Ellenberger via knockout at UFC 173 in May and then outlasted “The Immortal” Matt Brown in a 25-minute free-for-all two months later in San Jose. With back-to-back victories—and the fashion in which he claimed them—the American Top Team product earned another shot at Hendricks and championship gold at UFC 181.
That said, the former two-time NCAA Division I national champion wrestler would not only be making his long-awaited return to action on Saturday night, but the rematch with Lawler would also represent his first attempt at defending the welterweight title. Hendricks wants to have a long reign over the 170-pound fold, and a victory over the resilient knockout artist would be the perfect way to kick things off.
With their first tussle bringing the proverbial noise in every measurable sense, their rematch at UFC 181 had big shoes to fill. And things started out that way.
From the opening bell Lawler came out like a man possessed as he launched power punches and kicks in the champion’s direction, which forced Hendricks to stay on the defensive. Yet, while Lawler was the aggressor, Hendricks still managed to get key takedowns at crucial moments to swing the momentum in his favor. By the fourth round, the aggressive Lawler was gone, and the frustrated veteran did everything he could as he tried to land the home run shot.
Nevertheless, Lawler never gave up hope, and with the clock ticking down, the veteran powerhouse unleashed a frenzied attack, battering Hendricks with punches and kicks until the final bell sounded. And when the scorecards were read this time around, it was Lawler who took the split-decision victory to become the new champion of the welterweight division.
The lightweight title would also be up for grabs at UFC 181, as Anthony Pettis returned from a 17-month layoff to face perennial contender Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event.
Showtime has been an absolute monster as of late and came into his bout with El Nino on the strength of three consecutive finishes over top-ranked opposition, including the likes of Joe Lauzon, Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson. The Milwaukee native’s bout with Smooth ultimately produced the lightweight title as he submitted the MMA Lab representative with a slick armbar in the first round at UFC 164 in August of 2013.
Yet, a knee injury and corrective surgery kept the champion on the sidelines for a lengthy stint, and he was eager to return to action on Saturday night. That said, Melendez was equally as hungry to get back into the Octagon and make a bid for the 155-pound belt that had eluded him since crossing over from Strikeforce in early 2013. The Skrap Pack leader was narrowly edged out by Henderson in his first title shot under the UFC banner and was determined not to let the opportunity to slip through his fingers once again.
The fight was figured to be a high-octane affair, and that’s exactly what it was for as long as it lasted. Melendez jumped on Pettis from the opening bell and remained in the champion’s face, throwing heavy shots and diving in for takedowns. Yet, while Melendez’s game plan gave him the edge in the first round, Pettis found his groove in the second. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter landed a stiff counter shot that stunned Melendez near the cage, and with his opponent hurt, Pettis pounced to lock on the fight-ending guillotine choke.
It was a great showing for both men, but the victory marked Pettis‘ reign as the undisputed king of the lightweight division. It was a good night of fights from the Mandalay Bay, and let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 181 in Las Vegas.
The Good
While “Ruthless” is Robbie Lawler‘s official nickname, “Resurgent” may be more appropriate at the current time.
After spending years away from the UFC and being on the brink of becoming a cautionary tale of potential unfulfilled, the heavy-handed slugger re-emerged onto the UFC scene in 2013 as a man on a mission. The 32-year-old steamrolled his first three opponents en route to earning a shot at the vacant welterweight title against Hendricks at UFC 171 back in March.
Lawler would come out on the business end of a split decision that night in Dallas, but he was determined to get back into title contention and get his hands on UFC gold.
That opportunity came on Saturday night in his long-awaited rematch with Hendricks at UFC 181, and from the opening bell, there was no doubt he was prepared to put it all on the line against BiggRigg. That said, much like their first fight, Hendricks took used his superior wrestling to stall and frustrate the American Top Team powerhouse. Yet, whereas Hendricks ultimately pulled out the win in their first meeting in the fifth and final round, Lawlerwasn‘t going to be denied on Saturday night.
He stuffed each of Hendricks’ takedowns and punished the champion to the head and body with elbows and hammerfists. Then, with the clock running down, the perennial contender unleashed a berserk-style attack that sent Hendricks reeling from his power until the final bell sounded. With the fight clearly a close-fought affair, the judges’ decision was once again going to dictate who won the fight, and this time around it was Lawler with his hand raised.
While the decision is controversial and will be debated across the MMA community for weeks to come, the end result of Lawler becoming champion puts the finishing touch on one of the greatest resurgences in MMA history.
Ten years ago he was the next big thing. Five years ago he was all but finished. Saturday night at UFC 181, Robbie Lawler became the UFC welterweight champion. That’s a crazy ride any way you cut it.
There is a proverbial ceiling every athlete eventually finds in their career, but Anthony Pettis is nowhere near finding where his boundaries are.
Long before he became the UFC lightweight champion, the Milwaukee native showed flashes of greatness inside the cage, as he racked up victories and climbed toward the top of the competitive mix at 155 pounds. Yet, there comes a time when every prospect either cashes in to become a contender or folds, and Pettis has done nothing but hit his mark time and time again, and the 27-year-old has continued to round out his all-around skill set every step of the way.
Showtime has always been a versatile and dangerous striker, but once he added the ground game to complement his dynamic stand-up attack, the sky was going to be the limit. And that’s where things currently stand with the undisputed lightweight champion.
After steamrolling a cast of top-ranked opponents that included Cerrone and Henderson, the Roufusport representative made his inaugural attempt to defend the strap when he stepped into the Octagon to face Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181. While the two fighters couldn’t be further apart from a stylistic standpoint, Pettis came into the bout confident he could handle anything the hard-charging former Strikeforce champion could throw his way.
And while Melendez was able to score and control the action in the opening round, Pettis found his groove in the second round and started to cut angles on El Nino. He eventually caught Melendez with a straight shot on the counter and locked on a fight-ending guillotine when the Skrap Pack leader attempted to take a sloppy shot. The result was Pettis‘ second consecutive finish via submission and further proof that the talented young champion is only getting better.
And this is where things get interesting for Pettis. While the Wisconsin native has already built an impressive resume, he truly has the opportunity to make a run at being the most dominant champion in the history of the lightweight division. It’s certainly a possibility for Pettis to accomplish, and there doesn’t seem to be much at the present time that isn’t within his reach.
On the flip side, while Melendez came up short once again on his quest to become the UFC lightweight champion, the former longtime Strikeforce titleholder gave the new king hell for as long as he could.
Travis Browne is a fighter who has carried high expectations since he first debuted under the UFC banner back in 2010. While the Hawaiian powerhouse has suffered setbacks along the way, he’s also shown a level of skill that has led some to believe he can be a contender to the heavyweight crown.
Following his loss to Fabricio Werdum back in April, Hapa needed a victory over Brendan Schaub on Saturday night to keep those future title hopes alive. Fortunately for Browne, he proved too much for Big Brown to handle and pounded out the victory with big shots on the canvas.
With the win, the 32-year-old striker has now found victory in four of his past five showings and will most certainly draw one of the division’s best in his next outing.
Todd Duffee was once considered to be the hottest young prospect in the heavyweight ranks when he debuted with a record-setting seven-second knockout of Tim Hague back in 2009. Less than a year later he was cut from the UFC and floating in career limbo.
While he would spend the next two years battling health issues and attempting to get his career back on track, Duffee came into his bout with Anthony Hamilton at UFC 181 determined to make that happen. And that’s exactly what he did when the Indiana native blasted the Freight Train with a big shot in the opening stages of the first round.
The lightweight division is one of the most talent-stacked collectives under the UFC banner, and Tony Ferguson is starting to make some real progress toward a top-10 ranking. El Cucuy had won three consecutive bouts coming into his scrap with Abel Trujillo at UFC 181 and was looking to take another big step toward breaking through to the next level by defeating Killa on Saturday night.
While the Team Blackzilians fighter came out throwing bombs that put Ferguson on the deck early, The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 winner hung tough and kept applying the pressure. Trujillo eventually faded, and Ferguson locked in the fight-ending rear-naked choke to secure the victory and notch his fourth straight win in the process.
Typically, time away from the Octagon causes ring rust to some degree, but Josh Samman showed zero signs of that in his bout against Eddie Gordon. While the two TUF alumni spent the opening round trading heavy shots and pressing the action in grappling exchanges, it was in the second round where Samman stamped his most impressive moment to date as a mixed martial artist. Just as Truck stepped in to attack, Samman unloaded and landed a left head kick that blasted the Serra-Longo representative into oblivion. It was a brutal shot from the Floridian that will make the highlight-reel loop for years to come.
As cliche as it sounds, every second counts inside the Octagon, and Raquel Pennington provided the latest example of this on Saturday night. After a rock em’, sock em’ opening frame where her opponent Ashlee Evans-Smith busted her open with elbows and punches, it appeared Rocky was on her way to losing the first round. Yet, The Ultimate Fighter alum proved to be quick on her toes as she caught Evans-Smith in a nasty bulldog choke in the final seconds of the round. And when the bell sounded and the referee pulled the two fighters apart, Evans-Smith was out cold on the canvas. As a result, Pennington picked up her second victory in her past three outings.
Despite getting off to a slow start where he was rocked by a big shot from Matt Hobar, talented prospect Sergio Pettis rebounded in strong fashion and settled in to do his thing in the second round. Once the Phenom found his rhythm, he peppered Hobar with punches and kicks en route to picking up the unanimous-decision victory, which his third successful showing in four appearances under the UFC banner.
Nevertheless, in his post-fight interviews with the media on hand at the Mandalay Bay, Pettis suggested this may be his final fight as a bantamweight, as he’s strongly considering making the drop down to compete in the flyweight division.
There wasn‘t anything pretty about Clay Collard’s second UFC fight, but the scrappy featherweight got the job done against Alex White to kick off the action at UFC 181. While both fighters had moments of success throughout the three-round tilt, it was Collard who had the gas tank to outlast the hard-hitting Missouri native to pick up his first victory inside the Octagon.
The Bad
There are going to be some rough roads ahead for Schaub.
Whereas The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 finalist once seemed poised to be a rising new talent in the heavyweight ranks, the past three years haven’t been all too kind to the fighter commonly referred to as Big Brown. The former football player turned mixed martial artist carried a four-fight winning streak into his bout with Antonio Nogueira at UFC 134—a bout he was heavily favored to win—but a stunning knockout loss to the MMA legend brought his momentum to an abrupt halt.
Nevertheless, crazy things happen in MMA, and any fighter can be defeated on a given night, and the TUF alum’s next fight against Ben Rothwell at UFC 145 was supposed to be the bout where he shook off his loss in Brazil and got back on track. Yet, Schaub would once again stumble and suffered a knockout loss to Big Ben in the first round of their tilt in Atlanta.
Schaub would go on to pick up wins in his next two fights, and once again talk of him becoming a potential contender started to pop up around the MMA community, until a split-decision loss to former champion Andrei Arlovski once again stopped his progression. As controversial as the setback was, it was one Schaub couldn’t afford, and that put a heavy amount of pressure on his shoulders going into his scrap with Browne at UFC 181 on Saturday night.
Hapa was also coming off a loss in his most recent showing, and the bout featured two one-time prospects who desperately needed to make good in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Schaub, the rangy Hawaiian established the upper hand in the early going and held that position until he pounded out the finish late in the opening round. Browne rocked Schaub with an uppercut as the Colorado native moved in to strike, and he was unable to get his wits about him before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
While back-to-back losses won’t cost Schaub his spot on the UFC roster, four setbacks in his past six outings won’t do him any favors.
There are going to be plenty of readers who will jump on the comment section and rage how Hendricks won his rematch with Lawler at UFC 181. BiggRigg seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges in the middle rounds and used his wrestling to control the fight at crucial moments, and he could have easily been given Rounds 2, 3 and 4. But I’m not going to debate these things in this column because Lawler‘s victory means we will most likely get a trilogy fight between these two warriors.
I’ll take that any way I can get it.
The Strange
By far the weirdest thing to happen on Saturday night occurred outside of the Octagon when Joe Rogan interviewed former WWE champion CM Punk.
Not only was it strange to see the play-by-play staple sharing microphone time with a professional wrestler, but when Punk (real name Phillip Brooks) announced he would no longer be participating in the scripted form of combat sports and would be testing his skills inside the Octagon things, jumped up into an entirely new level of wackiness.
Punk isn’t the first professional wrestler to cross over into mixed martial arts, but unlike Brock Lesnar or Bobby Lashley, he doesn’t have a background in combat sports to fall back on. He does train jiu-jitsu with the legendary Gracie family, but jumping into the fray on the sport’s biggest stage at 36 years old seems like quite the risk.
I wish I had a better way to describe this situation, or cared to for that fact, but Punk signing with the UFC is one of the biggest pieces of news to come out of UFC 181.
Moving on….
Urijah Faber has notched many impressive statistics throughout his storied career, but perhaps the most impressive is that The California Kid has never lost a bout where a title wasn‘t on the line. Unfortunately for Francisco Rivera, that trend continued on Saturday night.
While the 33-year-old Californian gave the former longstanding WEC featherweight champion a tough scrap in the opening frame, the tides changed in a big way when Faber caught Cisco with a straight right hand and then forced Rivera to tap with a rear-naked choke. That said, the post-fight replay showed it wasn‘t a punch that staggered Rivera but an inadvertent eye poke that brought about the beginning of the end.
With the win, Faber has now won back-to-back bouts and six of his last seven showings in the bantamweight division. With those types of numbers, he should be drawing close to yet another title opportunity, but with his good friend and teammate T.J. Dillashaw currently holding the crown, and the Sacramento native already getting three championship opportunities since 2011, it will most likely be some time before Faber gets another crack at UFC gold.
Then again, he has such a high level of name recognition, the UFC has plenty of options to keep him busy. The promotion could slot him in fan-friendly tilts to headline smaller cards or match him up in catchweight bouts against other fighters with solid name recognition. If Faber isn’t going to be in a title hunt, then the UFC needs to keep him relevant, and having him fight No. 11-ranked opponents is not the way to get that done.
Corey Anderson stormed through the tournament to win the 19th season of The Ultimate Fighter and scored a big knockout finish over Matt Van Buren to win the coveted six-figure contract at the TUF 19 Finale back in July. The Rockford, Illinois, native continued his impressive run when he defeated short-notice replacement Justin Jones on the preliminary portion of the card in a bout that not only further showcased his punching power but his ever-improving cardio as well.
Nevertheless, while Anderson possesses talent as a mixed martial artist, he also has one of the worst nicknames to come along in recent memory.
In an individual sport such as MMA, originality is a good route to travel, but “Beastin’ 25/8” is proof that Anderson may have traveled too far down said path. Then again, he’s winning fights, so it is quite possible he is actually living up to his nickname. His victory over Jones was not only his second official win inside the Octagon but kept his undefeated record intact in the process.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Junior dos Santos’ power is nothing to play with.
The heavy-handed Brazilian is one of the most feared knockout artists in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and his ability to level his competition is what carried him through the divisional rankings up t…
Junior dos Santos’ power is nothing to play with.
The heavy-handed Brazilian is one of the most feared knockout artists in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and his ability to level his competition is what carried him through the divisional rankings up to wearing championship gold. In fact, his title fight with Cain Velasquez back at UFC on Fox 1 in 2011 was perhaps the best display of Cigano’s most prominent attribute, as all it took was one clean shot from dos Santos to derail the title run of the American Kickboxing Academy staple.
Prior to defeating Velasquez that night in Anaheim, California, six of his eight showings inside the Octagon resulted in JDS stopping his opponent in abrupt fashion. While Velasquez avenged the sole loss of his career by defeating dos Santos in two bouts that were near mirror images of one another, dos Santos was still able to knock out two more opponents in between those losses. He clobbered former two-time champion Frank Mir and recent interim title challenger Mark Hunt.
Yet, while dos Santos’ talent for putting grown men to sleep is certainly one he covets, what the 30-year-old slugger wants more than anything is to become champion once again. But with his two losses to Velasquez occurring in a 10-month span, the former titleholder understands it is going to take some work before he’s back in title contention.
Nevertheless, until that moment arrives and he’s once again tapped to compete for championship gold, dos Santos has no problem facing whoever the UFC puts inside the Octagon with him. His next opportunity comes against surging prospect-turned-contender StipeMiocic in the main event for UFC on Fox 13 in Phoenix on Dec. 13.
“Everything in my mind is happy because I am going to be competing again,” dos Santos told Bleacher Report. “After a very tough year for me, I’m going to be competing again. Thank God for that because that’s what I love to do, and that is what I’m doing for my livelihood. I couldn’t be happier.
“I’m going to tell you the truth, that I had a hard time staying positive sometimes. It was a tough year for me, and there were some moments where I was very sad. But right now, I’m really happy and motivated. I had a great camp, and I’m going to go in there and get a big victory. I really believe this with my heart, and that is what I’m going to do.
“The whole world is going to be following, and there are going to be a lot of people cheering for me. That makes me more motivated because I want to show them and prove to them that I’m still Junior dos Santos. I want to prove to them I still have my knockout power and I’m a more complete fighter than I was before. Wherever this fight happens, I’m going to be able to shut him down.”
While it has been more than a year since dos Santos was turned back in his quest to reclaim the heavyweight strap, the brick-handed Brazilian understands there is no more room for failure. If he intends to keep his title hopes alive, he has to get back into the win column and hold his place as a perennial title threat. Where those circumstances undoubtedly add weight upon a fighter’s shoulders, the pressure surrounding dos Santos’ situation has missed him entirely, which becomes obvious by the upbeat tone in his voice when he discusses his next fight.
The only focus on his upcoming tilt with Miocic is to leave the Cleveland native lying on the canvas and staring up at the arena lights—a feat he’s beyond confident he will accomplish on Dec. 13.
“I’ve been watching a lot of Miocic‘s fights and the entire time, he tries to use his boxing skills,” dos Santos said. “He has really good boxing, and I really believe he’s going to try to stand up with me. That’s bad news for him because if he decides to stand up with me, I’m going to knock him out. I’m very confident in my boxing, and I can knock out anyone in the world.
“But I really think once he starts to feel the power of my hands, he’s going to try to use his wrestling and take me down. If he does take me down, I’m going to show everyone how much my game has improved, and I’m going to try to submit him. Maybe he will be the first fighter submitted by Junior dos Santos in the UFC. Miocic has a good wrestling background, and I really believe his second strategy in this fight is to try to take me down. If he does that, I’m going to submit him.
“This is a very important moment in my career, but I’m not nervous. I’m happy,” he added. “I’m excited and happy, and that is going to lead to a great performance and allow me to win the fight. Everything I want and I’m thinking about right now is to come back healthy and put on a great fight. I want to get back to winning again. I have a very tough opponent in front of me, and Miocic is coming off some good victories. I know how tough he is, but I’m very confident. I’m going to win this fight, and I’m going to knock him out.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
It’s been an interesting year for Abel Trujillo.
The lightweight powerhouse put himself on the larger radar of the 155-pound scale back in February when he emerged as the last man standing in an all-out slug fest with Jamie Varner back at UFC 169. It w…
It’s been an interesting year for Abel Trujillo.
The lightweight powerhouse put himself on the larger radar of the 155-pound scale back in February when he emerged as the last man standing in an all-out slug fest with Jamie Varner back at UFC 169. It was a back-and-forth affair, with both men finding a home for their respective power with frequency, but it was Trujillo who landed the shot that counted as he claimed the biggest win of his career, but two performance-of-the-night bonuses in the process.
Following a victory of that caliber, Trujillo seemed poised for much bigger things, but the fight game is a tricky beast and the Team Blackzilians fighter would watch opponent after opponent pull out with injury. Three fighters in total would fail to make it to the Octagon to face the heavy-handed Iowa native, then a scheduled tilt with Ross Pearson would fall by the wayside due to Trujillo suffering an injury of his own.
Those circumstances would undoubtedly be enough to rattle even the most focused fighter, and while Trujillo will be the first to admit all the starting and stopping in his training camps weren’t the easiest things to manage, they served to test a mental fortitude he’s grown quite proud of. Therefore, when the bout with Tony Ferguson at UFC 181 was announced, “Killa” jumped right back into the proverbial saddle to sharpen up his skill set.
“I believe that whatever type of vibrations you put out into the universe is what you are going to get back,” Trujillo told Bleacher Report. “That’s why you don’t see me putting any negative things out there and why I always keep it positive. I keep my mental locked on the positives and I know good things are going to come.
Furthering what Trujillo believes is coming his way, The 31-year-old lightweight is confident it’s his time to shine. He plans on making a strong run up the competitive ranks of the lightweight division, and that mission jumps off against “El Cucuy” on Saturday night Las Vegas where Trujillo plans to make the biggest statement of his career at UFC 181.
“It feel great to be getting back in there,” Trujillo said. “I haven’t fought since February and that’s been nine or 10 months that have gone by. It feels good to be fighting again and it’s long overdue. I’m excited to preform and I’m coming into this fight injury free. I feel blessed, man. I got an opponent who will be there on fight night and I couldn’t ask for anything else.
“This fight with Ferguson is either going to separate the winner and put them into the top 15, or put one of us in a situation where they are back to just fighting in regular bouts. This fight is pretty much a career changer for me so it’s very important.”
“It’s one thing to be an exciting fighter, but when you are an exciting fighter who is getting dominant wins in there they can’t deny you,” he added. “They have to put your name up there with the title.”
When it comes to exciting styles, neither Trujillo nor Ferguson are in short supply. Both have built their respective reputations for bringing the ruckus each and every time out, and Trujillo believes their upcoming tilt at UFC 181 will be no different. Where Trujillo’s power is enough to discourage the majority of his opponents to stand toe-to-toe with him, he believes The Ultimate fighter alum may roll the dice against him in the striking realm.
If Ferguson decides to take a different route in the fight, Trujillo is confident he’ll be ready for that as well, and those dynamics have fight fans thinking this tilt could steal the show on the stacked card that features two title fights at UFC 181.
“It’s hard to say what Ferguson is going to do,” Trujillo said. “He stands in a lot of his fights, but I think he’s going to try to wrestle me. But it’s MMA so you never know. You never go into a fight with a solid game plan because you have to be able to adapt and improvise.
“A lot of people have been talking on Twitter about this fight having the potential to be the fight of the night. And I think that’s very agreeable. Tony likes to come forward and is very aggressive just like I come forward and I’m very aggressive. This fight has fireworks written all over it. Neither guy backs up and this is going to be a great fight.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
There’s no denying Anthony “Showtime” Pettis is a special brand of fighter with a unique set of skills.
Even going back several years before Showtime ever became a WEC or UFC champion, the Milwaukee native was a highly touted prospect with talent…
There’s no denying Anthony “Showtime” Pettis is a special brand of fighter with a unique set of skills.
Even going back several years before Showtime ever became a WEC or UFC champion, the Milwaukee native was a highly touted prospect with talent that was recognizable from the moment he first stepped foot inside of the cage. A rangy striker, blessed with speed, precision and an impeccable sense of timing, the Duke Roufus-trained fighter has proved to be a nightmare matchup for his opposition when the fight is in the stand-up realm.
He has the ability to knock you out in a variety of ways, some of which have never been seen before his mind creates them in the heat of the moment.
Yet, like most dynamic strikers, things take a different turn when the action hits the canvas, and Pettis was not immune to those particular growing pains. There would be fights where he struggled against opponents from a wrestling background—most notably his UFC debut against Clay Guida back in 2011, where he was put on his back early and often and forced to fight outside of his comfort zone. Even with Pettis having an established jiu-jitsu game, the constant pressure an experienced wrestler brings is a different type of animal—and one that appeared to be his kryptonite.
Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is a lifelong student of martial arts and a quick study. His progression would show in his next outing against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 where Pettis emerged victorious via split decision. In that bout, Lil Heathen attempted to take the same approach Guida had used four months earlier, but this time around, Pettis had answers.
The Roufusport representative picked up his first win inside the Octagon that night in Houston and proved the missing element to round out his all-around game was starting to fall into place.
“I think I’m a bad style matchup for anybody,” Pettis told Bleacher Report. “Everybody that fights me is going to try to take me down because the only guy to ever really give me a problem inside the Octagon was Clay Guida back in my UFC debut. People take that and think that’s the blueprint to beating me and think, ‘That’s how you beat Pettis.’ There was a lot of fight that went into that outcome and a lot of good things that came out of it.”
His next three showings resulted in absolutely dominant performances, all of which came inside of the opening round. He steamrolled a collection of world-class talent in highlight reel-worthy fashion. He used a head kick to end Joe Lauzon’s night in Japan, a vicious body kick to fold Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone” in Chicago and then a slick armbar in transition to submit Benson Henderson in front of his hometown crowd.
In addition to picking up his second victory over the MMA Lab leader, he also claimed the UFC lightweight strap that had been on his radar since coming over from the WEC. His victory at UFC 164 not only appeared to be the culmination of a long journey but the beginning of a new era in the 155-pound fold. However, more injuries would happen, and being selected to coach the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter would put his chance to start his reign on hold.
More turbulence would arise when a collection of former training partners and one former coach launched allegations of abuse at his mentor and head trainer Duke Roufus in regard to how the former kickboxer turned MMA guru ran his Roufusport team in past years. While Pettis chose not to comment on the matter for this interview, the combination of everything he experienced while sitting on the sidelines was undoubtedly frustrating for the young champion.
Nevertheless, rising from a hard-scrabble upbringing to becoming a prominent sports figure in Milwaukee’s blue-collar environment has made Pettis as headstrong as they come. He’s as determined as he is ambitious, and both elements enabled him to keep his focus locked on his physical recovery and his return to the Octagon after a 17-month layoff.
“I’ve been through a lot in my life, and I believe I’m mentally very strong,” Pettis said. “There isn’t much that can faze me mentally. But it’s hard, man. Seeing all of these people advancing their careers and winning these fights and I’m stuck on the sidelines. It’s just one of those things you just have to get through, and I had to get through it. Once you do that, the great things come.”
The lightweight titleholder’s extended absence from the cage will come to an end when he steps in to face Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event at UFC 181 this Saturday night in Las Vegas. The former longtime Strikeforce champion coached opposite of Pettis on the most recent season of TUF, and their eventual collision inside the Octagon has been on the schedule for quite some time.
Therefore, El Nino has been on Pettis‘ mind for the past several months, and the 155-pound champion is ready to get their tilt underway. Furthermore, he has been patiently waiting to kick off his championship campaign for some time now and sees his upcoming bout with the Skrap Pack leader as the perfect opportunity to stamp his place atop the lightweight fold with authority.
“I’m ready to get out there and get this thing rolling,” Pettis said. “It’s been a while since my name has been in the bright lights, and I feel this is my time. I’m excited to be back, and my body is feeling good. The preparation for this fight went very well, and I’m ready to go.
“Melendez is a tough fighter, a decent wrestler and I think he’s going to try taking me down. He’s going to try boxing me up, but unfortunately for him, my stand-up is on a whole different level than his. His striking is very basic, and I’m on a completely different level in that department.
“My ground game is getting better every day, as is my wrestling. I just have to go out there and fight my fight, don’t get caught up in any of the hype and get in there and have fun. That’s how I’ll get the job done.”
Once the cage door closes and the scrap with Melendez gets underway, the first chapter of Pettis‘ time as lightweight champion will commence. He’s currently sitting on the throne of what is arguably the most competitive and talent-stacked division in the UFC, and he has zero intention of giving up the position any time soon.
Holding court at the top of a mountain of that caliber makes Pettis the best lightweight fighter in the world, but in all reality, he has the opportunity to become recognized as the best fighter to ever compete at 155 pounds in the years ahead. But in order to do that, he’s not only going to have to fend off the world’s best one after the next, but he’ll also have to remain healthy and active as the divisional titleholder.
Champions have to defend their belts in order to build legacies, and this isn’t something that is lost on Pettis. He’s been the undisputed champion of the lightweight division for 17 months, but due to his time out of the spotlight, he feels his time holding the belt has come without any of the weight and perks of being a UFC champion. Pettis is in a constant pursuit of greatness, and that drive—at least in the physical sense—has been stalled for the past year-and-a-half.
That said, he sees the coming year as his chance to cement his place in lightweight history, and defeating Melendez is the catalyst to everything he wants to make happen in 2015. All the praise and acclaim up to this point have come as the product of his hard work thus far, and he plans to take things to a different level next year.
“This is my time, and 2015 is going to be a huge year for me,” Pettis said. “I’m the lightweight champ, but I don’t have the star power or anything that comes along with it yet because I haven’t had the chance to defend the title. This year is huge for me, and I’m going to have a big year both inside and outside of the Octagon. And I’m going to enjoy the ride. I’m enjoying what I worked so hard to get. I have these skills and talents I possess, but I’ve busted my butt to get them. Now, I’m gonna reap the rewards. I’m going to go out there and test my skills against great fighters and prove that I’m the best in the world.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Robbie Lawler’s journey through mixed martial arts has been nothing short of compelling and is a tale told in two parts. The opening chapters were filled with both success and failure—great expectations and letdowns—while the second ha…
Robbie Lawler‘s journey through mixed martial arts has been nothing short of compelling and is a tale told in two parts. The opening chapters were filled with both success and failure—great expectations and letdowns—while the second half that is currently being written has a story of redemption fit for a Hollywood portrayal of a prize fighter.
As the saying goes, “Everyone loves a comeback story,” and Ruthless has battled back from the brink of obscurity to become one of the most dominant forces in what is arguably the most talent-stacked division under the UFC banner. Simply put: Lawler isn’t the type to squander second chances, and his work inside the Octagon over the past two years is proof to solidify that notion.
Since making his return to the UFC in early 2013, the American Top Team standout has won five of his six showings inside the cage as he’s notched one impressive performance after another. Over this stretch, the storied knockout artist has not only returned to form but surpassed previous expectations as he’s battered a collection of top-ranked opponents en route to becoming a title contender.
Yet the one setback he’s suffered during what has been an extraordinary resurgence came when the stakes were at their highest when he squared off with Johny Hendricks for the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171 back in March. The 32-year-old powerhouse and BiggRigg put on one of the year’s best scraps as they took turns teeing off on one another throughout the duration of the 25-minute affair with Hendricks earning the split-decision nod on the judges’ scorecards.
And while Lawler is admittedly not one to linger in the past, that doesn’t take anything away from his determination not to repeat it. He has his sights set on Hendricks and championship gold once again as the dynamic striker heads into their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. Since coming short that night in Dallas, Lawler has worked furiously to get another shot at the welterweight crown, and he accomplished that task on the strength of back-to-back victories over fellow members of the divisional upper tier of the 170-pound fold.
Hendricks has been on the sidelines recovering from a torn bicep he suffered in their first meeting and hasn’t stepped inside the Octagon in eight months, but none of this makes any difference to the current No. 1 contender. He sole focus is locked on what he has to do to get his hands on the welterweight title, and that’s exactly what Lawler plans to do at UFC 181 on Saturday night.
“I’m not too worried [about Hendricks’] time off,” Lawler told Bleacher Report. “I’m thinking about how I’ve improved as a fighter now. I’m not necessarily thinking about how Johny’s training is going. I’m focused on making myself the best fighter I’ve ever been before, and that’s the only issue that matters to me. I’m going to be the best fighter I’ve ever been on fight night, and that’s what the problem is going to be for Johny Hendricks.”
While the lion’s share of attention will fall on the fate of the welterweight title Saturday, Lawler‘s renewed run at the highest level of the sport stands a great chance of being unaffected regardless of the outcome. Granted, winning his first UFC title would be a tremendous feather to add to his cap, but failing to do so won’t change the fact that fight fans have fallen back in love with watching Lawler work when the cage door closes.
Over the course of his current run of success, he’s reminded MMA‘s passionate fanbase what made him a must-see attraction in the first place, and that’s an incredible accomplishment in its own right. Every second of any fight Lawler is just one clean shot away from bringing his opponent’s night to a brutally abrupt end, and the lingering threat of such things will always be one of the biggest attractions in combat sports.
It’s the very thing that made him want to be a fighter growing up, and the fact he’s now someone people tune into see for that exact reason is a part he’s honored to play.
“I just go out there and do what I do best, and that’s fight,” Lawler said. “I let my hands and feet go and try to finish fights. I guess fans appreciate that, and that’s what I always looked up to when I watched martial arts and boxing growing up. I always appreciated guys who went out there looking to finish and gave it their all. That’s what I’m looking to do every time I go out there.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Stipe Miocic is looking to shake things up in the heavyweight division in a major way at UFC on Fox 13. And it’s an opportunity he’s been chasing for the better part of the year.