Author: Dwight Wakabayashi

Jose Aldo: 5 Potential Opponents for UFC 149

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced that the date for their first show in Calgary, Alberta will be July 21st.They also announced the highlight attraction in featherweight champion and world top-five fighter Jose Aldo. The division is…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced that the date for their first show in Calgary, Alberta will be July 21st.

They also announced the highlight attraction in featherweight champion and world top-five fighter Jose Aldo.

The division is a bit light at the top right now, and some new blood like Frankie Edgar and some of the other smaller lightweights could soon be on the horizon. In the meantime, there are three men at the front of the line to Aldo. Two of them, Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung, will face each other on UFC On Fuel TV 3 on May 15th, from Fairfax, Virginia.

Waiting in the wings without a scheduled fight is Hatsu Hioki, whom many feel is the undisputed No. 1 contender for the title right now.

Aldo facing any one of those three men is a high-level, headline-worthy fight for UFC 149 in Calgary. After that, it gets a bit questionable, but here are a few more possible fights for Aldo in addition to those three.

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UFC 146: Why All the Fuss with the Heavyweights? Frank Mir Says It Best

The UFC rolled out what can be termed “Heavyweight Royalty” at the UFC 146 press conference today from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. President Dana White was on hand to answer questions and he was flanked on both sides by six of the biggest and badd…

The UFC rolled out what can be termed “Heavyweight Royalty” at the UFC 146 press conference today from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

President Dana White was on hand to answer questions and he was flanked on both sides by six of the biggest and baddest fighters on the planet. Top-10 UFC heavyweights Roy Nelson, Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Frank Mir and Antonio Silva were all in attendance to promote UFC 146, which will take place on May 26th from the same venue where they sat today.

The fighters on hand answered many different questions about their upcoming fights against each other and the new-and-improved depth in the heavyweight division. The May card is being billed as one of the best heavyweight fight cards in the history of the promotion. 

World and UFC Champion Junior Dos Santos will defend his title against monster striker Alistair Overeem, while two former champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir will battle for the next shot at the title. 

“After this card it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out,” President Dana White stated. 

The event has an “Elimination Tournament” feel to it, with very intriguing consequences for the future of the division, although it wasn’t made that way by design.

“There are so may factors in making fights and this one just lined up as an all heavyweight card,” White said.

In a heavyweight fight, it is often feast or famine. You get a brief slug fest of fireworks ending in a devastating knockout or submission, or you get two tentative and out-of-shape men who are weary to engage.

A question was asked if having this many heavyweights on one card is a risky thing for the quality of entertainment that fans are expecting to see.

“There is a concern there, but if you look at the last few fights that these guys up here have had, they weren’t boring. Yes it’s possible, but not likely,” White acknowledged.

It is very true that fight fans have a particular obsession and admiration for the heavyweights of the sport. Fans rarely get more excited than they do leading up to an elite heavyweight clash.

Why is that? Why the popularity over the lighter and smaller divisions?

Each fighter at the table gave the obvious cookie-cutter answer that people like finishes and “heavyweight’s finish fights. People like the knockout.” While that is all very true, it was veteran Frank Mir who once again articulated it best.

“When a lot of fans see a 135-pound elite fighter, if you are a 220-pound man you are still thinking ‘I could still kick his ass,’ but we’re the heavyweights….if you are thinking that you are stupid,” Mir said.

Frank Mir often says it best, and I see him holding the title before 2012 is done.

 

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA, MMA Editor at CKSN.ca and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The UFC Announces Three PPV Events for Canada in 2012

The Ultimate Fighting Championship invaded Calgary today to announce their debut show in the city as UFC 149 will take place on July 21st from the Pengrowth Saddledome. It was the first time that UFC President Dana White visited the Alberta city and th…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship invaded Calgary today to announce their debut show in the city as UFC 149 will take place on July 21st from the Pengrowth Saddledome. It was the first time that UFC President Dana White visited the Alberta city and the great news for Canadian fans did not stop there.

Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright was also on hand to announce two additional Pay Per View shows for the country in 2012. UFC 152 will take place in Toronto on September 22nd, and UFC 154 will go down in Montreal on November 17th.

Canadian fighters Mark Hominick and George St-Pierre were beamed in via satellite for the announcement and the November show could mark a much anticipated return for the welterweight champion St-Pierre.

It was also announced that the UFC has made a commitment to Toronto and Montreal as their Canadian anchor cities for the next two years.

No fights were confirmed for any of the Canadian shows but it was announced that Jose Aldo will defend his title in Calgary against an opponent to be named later. Despite no commitments yet, UFC President Dana White promised to deliver a “sick” card for the salivating fight fans of western Canada

Alberta fighters Nick Ring, Mitch Clarke and Jason MacDonald were on hand at the conference, and Macdonald announced that he would like to retire in the cage after a fight in Calgary in July. To be considered for that card, MacDonald must put in a good fight and come out healthy against Tom Lawlor at UFC On Fuel TV 3 in May.

 

Keep it tuned in here to Bleacher Report MMA for all updates and confirmed fights announced for those three Canadian shows.

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA, MMA Editor at CKSN.ca and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

15 Fighters Who Have Yet to Reach Their Potential

No one likes an underachiever. Elite level athletes and mixed martial artists are driven not by how good they are, but by how good they can possible be. They are constantly pushing forward, always evolving and trying to get a l…

No one likes an underachiever. Elite level athletes and mixed martial artists are driven not by how good they are, but by how good they can possible be. They are constantly pushing forward, always evolving and trying to get a leg up on the guy in the gym over there.

When you are competing against the best in the world, you know you are good enough, so what makes a Jon Jones or Jake Ellenberger gut and sweat it out on the mats day after day after day? Potential.

The potential of the next big league or promotion and what it brings. The potential of the next big contract and payday and what it can do for your life. The potential to some day be the king of the mountain as the very best in your weight class. The potential to be a legend in your craft.

All the fighters on this list are damn good already but show the signs to be so much more in the future and one day possibly occupy the top of the mountain. There are so many young talents in the sport that there is no way to get them all. Here is a start.

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Chris "The Polish Hammer" Horodecki Set to Make His Featherweight Debut

After fighting professionally for seven years at lightweight with much success, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki is set to make his featherweight debut at Bellator 64 in Windsor on April 6th.
The former IFL and WEC contender is 18-3 i…

After fighting professionally for seven years at lightweight with much success, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki is set to make his featherweight debut at Bellator 64 in Windsor on April 6th.

The former IFL and WEC contender is 18-3 in his career at lightweight, but has decided to make the shift to 145 pounds for his upcoming fight against Mike “The Marine” Richman. In my opinion, it is a very wise and exciting decision for the future of this young, elite fighter.

I was able to chat with Horodecki last week at the Adrenaline Training Center in London, Ontario.

“First fight at featherweight, yes. All my fights have been at 155 but I need to make that transition, you know. I feel making 155 was too easy and, you know what, these guys at 155 are getting really, really big. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be a contender at 145.” Horodecki told Bleacher Report MMA.

Horodecki is and has been a top contender in Canada at 155 pounds throughout his seven-year professional career. During his time in the IFL and WEC, he also tangled with some of the best lightweights in the world, such as Anthony Njoukuani, Danny Downes and UFC contender Donald Cerrone.

In his next fight on April 6th, he faces Minnesota native, former cast member of the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter and U.S. Marine Mike Richman. Facing the United States’ elite tough guys is nothing new to Horodecki.

“Actually, my last opponent, Mike Corey, is a Marine or former Marine with the military, and I have also had another Marine in the IFL, Josh Odom, that I competed against.”

This time it will be a bit different for the London, Ontario native and part owner of Adrenaline Training Center.

“I’ve done pretty well, they keep lining me up with these Marines, but this time they’re on our territory on Canadian soil so I got my fans with me.”

Horodecki defeated Odom via unanimous decision, and fought Corey to a controversial draw last November in a fight that many thought he had done enough to win. He remains undefeated against the United States servicemen.

Corey has since dropped down to featherweight as well, and is currently in the second round of the Bellator FW tournament. Horodecki is watching the tournament closely, and shared his thoughts on who he thinks may come out on top.

“A close friend of mine, Ronnie Mann, was fighting in that tournament, fought Mike Corey, who I was training with the week previous so it was kinda a tough one to watch, but Mike did really good, he’s a grinder. He’s got a tough fight next as he’s fighting Daniel Strauss in Windsor. It’s going to be on the same card as me. He’s kind of the sleeper right now”

Corey trains at Team Curran in Chicago with head trainer and MMA veteran Jeff Curran, as well as current Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran, who recently won the title with an incredible highlight reel knockout of Joe Waren.

Team Curran shares a great training relationship with Horodecki and Team Tompkins, dating back a few years. Horodecki touched on the history of that valuable relationship.

“We’ve been training together for the past seven or eight years, going back and forth. When Shawn moved to Las Vegas it kind of slowed down a bit. But now we’ve decided to get the team going again, the connection and myself and Mark Hominick made the trip out last week.”

“It’s great to have that alliance again. We are going out there again in a week, and then Jeff Curran’s coming back and he’s gonna be cornering myself in my fight at Bellator in Windsor. He’s also going to be cornering Mark Hominick in UFC Atlanta in April.”

I’m looking forward to Horodecki’s debut on April 6th, and a steady climb up the featherweight division in 2012.

Photography Courtesy of Randi Lotsberg Photography/MMAOntario

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA, MMA Editor at CKSN.ca and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Score Fighting Series Results: Petz Steals the Show, Hill and Ricci Impress

The Score Fighting Series fighters delivered an absolute war, some quick knockouts and some hometown wins last night in an exciting night of fights in Hamilton. The night was set to be a showcase for Canadian lightweight John Alessio and a fe…

The Score Fighting Series fighters delivered an absolute war, some quick knockouts and some hometown wins last night in an exciting night of fights in Hamilton.

The night was set to be a showcase for Canadian lightweight John Alessio and a few local favorites, but two surprise fighters stole the show when the dust settled.

Veteran Forrest Petz and Toronto’s Sergey Juskevic traded vicious blows from the opening bell, and Juskevic hurt Petz early in the fight and looked to have the finish in hand. Juskevic could not secure the finish and Petz recovered enough to push the war to the second round.

The fireworks only picked up in the second with Petz pounding hard to the body and Juskevic throwing to the top with the crowd in a frenzy. The battle stayed hot right up until Petz backed Yuskevic to the cage and peppered him with unanswered shots, leading to the referee stoppage at 3:25 of the second round.

In other headline action, John Alessio was able to overcome a tough Ryan Healy by using strength and takedowns to gain a unanimous decision victory.

Alex Ricci continued his early career assault on his foes, as he beat Iraj Hadin by TKO at 3:16 of the first round.

Josh Hill used his strength, quickness and takedowns to stay undefeated and dominate Eric Wilson for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision.

Lyndon Whitlock landed a beautiful shot to the button of Cory Houston, knocking him out cold at 4:28 of the first round, and massive heavyweight Craig Hudson knocked out John MacPherson one minute into their fight.

The rest of the results:

– Adam Assenzio defeated John Roche via verbal tap; 4:17 of the first round

– Elias Theodorou defeated Erik Herbert via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

– Jason Meisel defeated Mike Sledzion via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

– Shane Campbell defeated Derek Boyle via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

– Attendance: 1,800

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA, MMA Editor at CKSN.ca and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com