These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.
This Saturday, tw…
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.
This Saturday, two of the best featherweights will meet inside the cage to fight for the title of UFC Champion. It all goes down on Saturday for UFC 163 at 10PM EST at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. FX prelims will air prior to the main card as well.
In the blue corner you have Chan Sung Jung. Better known as “The Korean Zombie,” Jung has been on a tear through the UFC, coming up with three huge wins over tough opponents. Not only did he win, but he did so in very impressive fashion and all three being finishes. Jung is a fighter that will not quit and continues to push the pace. He is dangerous anywhere the fight may go.
In the red corner you have the reigning champion Jose Aldo. “Junior” is regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport and rightfully so. Standing at 22-1, he hasn’t lost since 2005. He is a versatile fighter and a very quick and explosive fighter. He is very technical, and with the Brazilian crowd behind him, he seems unstoppable.
The styles of these two fighters make this very interesting. Aldo is known for his striking prowess, but Jung is known for finding a way to win and giving it his all. Cardio is the one variable that could make or break this title defense for Aldo, but his legs and knees may give Jung a flashback to his fight with George Roop.
Jung may have a better chance on the ground, but it will be a matter of if he can hold him there. At the end of the day, Jung’s striking is going to look sloppy comparatively, but if he can weather the initial storm, drag him into later rounds or to the ground and keep him there, Jung may very well have a much better shot to take the title than people think.
Prediciton: Aldo wins via TKO in the 1st or 2nd Round.
The Ultimate Fighter has been a cornerstone of the UFC and is revered by the masses as the saving entity that kept the UFC from fizzling out into a brief page in sports history. The first season, while not widely popular during the actual episodes, dre…
The Ultimate Fighter has been a cornerstone of the UFC and is revered by the masses as the saving entity that kept the UFC from fizzling out into a brief page in sports history. The first season, while not widely popular during the actual episodes, drew attention when Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar stepped into the cage and gave all of their heart and will to a true sports competition.
Since then, we have had many seasons come and go; some exciting, some over-hyped, some under-hyped and some that we have just forgotten about completely. Regardless of its popularity or which network it has aired on, TUF has been successful in providing some great up-and-coming talent to join the ranks of the UFC fighters.
This upcoming season has thrown an extra twist and different flavor into the mix, though. For the first time, the coaches of the fighters will be female. Not only that, but the show itself with be co-ed. This adds a different dynamic into the show, but time will tell if it is enough to get people interested again.
One thing is for sure—the UFC loves to market Ronda Rousey.
Rousey is the first, and only, UFC women’s champion. She is also very outspoken, attractive and marketable, and she’s undefeated, with armbar finishes within the first round of all of her fights. This type of fighter is a perfect candidate to help ratings and the overall success of the next season of TUF, but will the show be able to maintain the hype? Or generate more reason to tune in?
The dynamic of having both sexes on the show breathes a little new life into it. One major reason many fans tune in is to see the fun or chaos that ensues between the fighters themselves or the coaches. The drama and stories play just as big a role, if not a more significant one, to the show beyond the actual competition.
Besides the potential of some interesting interactions, there is also the chance that this season will not live up to the hype. When a new dynamic is inserted into the show, fans get something to look forward to. This generates interest, but also lets fans set standards of what to expect. When the UFC may/may not deliver, the show can either boom or trail off.
For example, the last season was coached by Jon Jones and ChaelSonnen. When this was announced, the first thing many people thought about was how Sonnen was going to be tearing into Jones unmercifully and spending the show talking trash, coming up with witty and clever jokes and all around just trying to get under Jones’ skin. But this wasn’t the case. Soon after the announcement, the two had seemingly started to become friends, and what was once a heated debate turned into both men respecting each other and changing their minds on the subject.
While there was still some tension, it was not what fans expected as far as the potential for fun/chaos that was evident on paper. It wasn’t until after the show was done that the tension between the two began to rise to the level we were hoping for during the show. Given the time and circumstance, it was the best marketing choice, but it still failed to truly reignite the TUF show.
Ronda Rousey has become such a fan favorite, though, and she has the potential to help liven up the scene. With her original opponent out with injury, she is now going to coach against Meisha Tate, who brings similar attention with her as Rousey. There is again a potential for butting heads with these two, and we will see if it actually plays out that way.
There is the potential for fighters to interact with the opposite sex in some inevitable drama or other intriguing or hilarious situations. Some of the fighters may even try to prove their “undying love” for Rousey given this opportunity—you never know. These instances and situations can make or break this season.
The nice thing about this season is that it isn’t coming across as too gimmicky. While it does seem like a business decision that is marketing-based, it doesn’t feel saturated by the notion of looking solely at the bottom line. This is a milestone in Women’s MMA history, and thus carries importance and fairness, along with any UFC agenda. The potential is great for this season, but even if it does flop a little more than projected, it still carries significance that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.
Time will tell if this season brings something truly unique that can reignite or build a new fire under the TUF brand, but there is potential for greatness, and that is something that will be worth watching and following.
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, we’ll analyze what could happen in the fight and end with a prediction. The UFC puts on another free event here in Ap…
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, we’ll analyze what could happen in the fight and end with a prediction.
The UFC puts on another free event here in April and brings the action back to FOX Saturday. Two of the world’s greatest lightweight fighters will meet inside the Octagon and one will bring home the belt. This is a showdown between a former WEC champion and a former Strikeforce champion, with the two coming together in the UFC to throw down for the seat on the throne.
In the blue corner, you have Gilbert Melendez. “El Nino” had been on a tear in Strikeforce, attaining and defending his title for years. Ultimately, he remains as the final champion for the Strikeforce lightweight division before the promotion was nixed.
Melendez is riding a seven-fight winning streak and now will try his luck against UFC talent. It has always been a curiosity to see how the champ of Strikeforce would fare against the UFC lightweights, and this will be his opportunity to show he truly is the best in the division, no matter the banner it is under.
In the red corner, you have Benson Henderson. “Smooth” has been extremely impressive since the WEC merger, racking up a six-fight winning streak of his own and winning the UFC title as well. He has defended it twice and now looks to solidify his presence on top with a decisive win over Melendez.
Henderson was a former champion himself in WEC, but he lost his final match before the promotion was stopped. While others have buckled under the pressure of UFC debut jitters, Bendo has lit a fire under himself and has looked better than ever since arriving in the UFC.
This is a fight that should be an excellent striking display, but it’s more than likely that it will end on the ground.
Melendez is great with takedowns and ground-and-pound, but Bendo poses a significant submission forte that could put “El Nino” in some danger. The kicks from Bendo will give him a distance range on the feet, and his overall size helps him regardless of the virtually identical height and reach.
Bendo is a very tough man to finish, and Melendez has been on decision streaks recently, too.
This is an opportunity to see one of these strikers get a TKO/KO finish, and if it does end that way, Bendo takes the technical-striking edge. If this fight goes to the ground, it could be a dominant, grinding decision for Melendez or a fantastic submission victory for the champ.
Prediction: Benson Henderson wins via submission in the first or second round.
Anderson Silva, widely considered the greatest talent in the UFC and MMA, will once again put his middleweight title on the line against breakout-contender Chris Weidman. Silva’s last title defense was against his rival Chael Sonnen, which will h…
Anderson Silva, widely considered the greatest talent in the UFC and MMA, will once again put his middleweight title on the line against breakout-contender Chris Weidman. Silva’s last title defense was against his rival ChaelSonnen, which will have taken place precisely a year before Weidman will step into the cage. He last squared off against Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight showdown and put on yet another highlight performance.
Anderson has shown his dominance at both 185 and 205 weight classes, but middleweight is where he reigns supreme.
Chris Weidman has been very vocal about getting his shot, and after putting the pressure on Silva’s camp, the two have finally come to an agreement. Originally Silva showed little interest in facing Weidman, claiming he was not a PPV seller, nor had done enough to deserve a shot. Time will tell if Weidman will pull in the PPV buys that Sonnen or Silva’s past opponents have, but Silva’s fame will already set a standard of monetary success.
Weidman and others have expressed that his style and abilities are a dangerous challenge to Silva, and his confidence in asking for this fight is unwavering. However, all of Silva’s opponents have been confident in pre-fight rituals—and even when walking out to the cage—but when the fight starts, a whole different story unfolds.
Silva has shown his “medusa-effect” on his opponents, and you see many great fighters look outclassed. This may be from nerves, paired with the level of talent from “The Spider” among other things, but whatever the case, Silva has been king of the hill for many years and has shown very little signs of any downslide.
Silva is a smart technical fighter, but so is Weidman.
Weidman is on a terrific streak; he is undefeated in his career, sitting at 9-0 with six of those wins coming before the judge’s verdict. He has shown an excellent wrestling forte, and if there is one area that Silva has shown vulnerability, it has been on the ground. You wouldn’t guess it from looking at his record and his opponents, but he has only been in trouble when he has been put on his back.
Weidman has the wrestling to be a strong presence on the ground, but it will be a matter of if he can even get the fight to the ground in the first place. Silva was dominated like never before in his first meeting with Sonnen, spending the majority of the 24-ish minutes on his back getting pummeled before finally catching Sonnen in a triangle and pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
However, his rematch with Sonnen went completely different. Silva’s work on his takedown defense showed, and knowing Weidman poses a similar threat, he will surely look to tighten up that facet of his game even more.
While wrestling seems to be the best chance at dethroning the Brazilian superstar, Weidman does have great striking as well. It may not be as technical and crisp as others, but he is a well-rounded fighter that is a dangerous opponent for anyone. His last victory over top-contender Mark Munoz showed that he could win definitively over another wrestler and still use his hands to dictate the fight. Weidman’s game plan is anyone’s guess, but he certainly feels comfortable on his feet or on the ground.
Silva will want to go out there and do what he does best, and possibly do so in a manner that will send a statement to the fans and the UFC—that Weidman does not belong in the cage with him.
It won’t necessarily be a matter of trying to embarrass him, but rather trying to outclass him. Silva must be wary to not go into this fight over-confident and take it easy, nor should he want to drag out a fight to make a point. Silva had been widely criticized for some of his previous performances, but since then has been sticking to his highlight-reel ways.
He is looking to cement his legacy and continue his undefeated streak in the UFC, so with an opponent that isn’t as big of a name as Georges St. Pierre or Jon Jones, he may want to put on a unique and dominant performance.
It’s always hard to bet against an undefeated fighter, but in this case they both have been undefeated in the UFC and on long winning-streaks. Someone will take their first loss in years, but it still is a stretch to bet against the champ in this particular case. Silva’s evasiveness, his unorthodox striking and presence, his accuracy and overall durability will cause new challenges for Weidman—the likes of which he has never faced in the UFC.
Then again, most people have never faced the caliber of opponent as Silva, until they actually fight Silva. Weidman has the tools to win this fight, but he may not have the carpenter skills to finish the job.
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables; this will analyze what could happen in the fight, and end with this writer’s prediction. After all the injuries…
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables; this will analyze what could happen in the fight, and end with this writer’s prediction.
After all the injuries, switching and no-showing; the epic welterweight showdown between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz is finally upon us. A fight that has been anticipated since Diaz was holding his own in Strikeforce, the two have finally lined up to find out who is the top welterweight in the UFC.
In the blue corner, you have Nick Diaz. A phenomenal jiu-jitsu practitioner, Diaz has shown his ferocity on the ground but is also known for his striking prowess.
He brings a well-rounded challenge to any opponent, as well as the mental fortitude and attitude to exude confidence in his fights. His trash-talking and brash ways are weapons themselves, and if there was any doubt of that, they have resulted in getting GSP fired up to a point we rarely see from the champ.
In the red corner, you have Georges St. Pierre. “Rush” has dominated the welterweight division for years, using his superior wrestling, technical skills and game planning to outclass many of his opponents.
GSP has a strong presence on the ground and a forte in takedowns, but this has built a double-edged sword in his reputation. He is highly criticized for his alleged lack of “Wanting to finish the fight” but has shown acknowledgment of that fact and the desire to capitalize on more opportunities.
This is a very interesting style matchup for both men.
GSP is a fighter you can count on to take it to the ground at some point, but the danger lies in the submission game of Diaz. With Diaz so strong on the ground, GSP may want to keep this standing; also giving him the better chance of finishing Diaz.
Diaz’s boxing is revered by others but is sloppy when compared to GSP’s. This could be a plus or a minus for Diaz.
Such an unorthodox style could cause GSP to be frustrated and throw him off his game due to the lack of technicality. To compare it, it is similar to when a novice video-gamer gets the best of a pro due to his drastically different style and lack of the typical style of competition the pro is used to.
At the end of the night, we will see a very technical fight, with GSP on the feet or Diaz on the ground. GSP’s technical and smart game planning will help him be prepared for this fight, but he will want to use his quick strikes to hurt Diaz and then look for opportunities to finish.
Even though GSP could walk away with a TKO, history favors another unanimous decision from the Canadian superstar.
At a historic event in UFC history, Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche headlined UFC 157 last Saturday, marking the first time women have fought inside the Octagon.Not only did they fight in the Octagon, but they were the main event for a major PPV event. …
At a historic event in UFC history, Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche headlined UFC 157 last Saturday, marking the first time women have fought inside the Octagon.
Not only did they fight in the Octagon, but they were the main event for a major PPV event. Rousey remained undefeated and established herself as a true competitor and champion in her division.
While it is a landmark event for women fighters to make their way into the UFC, it may have come at a cost due to the delay. Other organizations have already put on women’s MMA fights, as well as organizations such as Invicta, the all-female MMA promotion. The talent pool of female fighters is being tapped into already, and the UFC will want to look to get in on the action now and quickly.
Dana White and others expressed in the past that a women’s division just doesn’t have the pool of athletes to justify creating its own entity; but it seems White and the UFC are going to take their best shot. This is where the UFC could run into a problem because of the delay.
The UFC in the past years has added four new weight divisions, two of which came from the WEC merger—but this provided an already established and well-marketed group of athletes and champions.The flyweight division was the most recent creation prior to the women’s division following the merger.
What has happened is that there were a few names people already knew would be stars at 125, but beyond that, we are not so sure.
There are certainly a great number of flyweight MMA fighters out there, but most mainstream fans do not know more than a handful. Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson are the ones that stick out, but those few are all the UFC has as far as PPV or main-event-worthy matchups, it would seem.
The flyweights will grow, and more people will make names for themselves, but that weight class may have a little easier time gaining momentum than the new women’s bantamweight division.
The late Strikeforce and other organizations have hosted female MMA bouts. With the aforementioned Invicta promotion, the athletes have somewhere to call home if it is not the Octagon.
Because women in the UFC is such a new thing, we are not sure how often women’s matchups will be made. We also do not know how well the UFC will be able to market some of the women it has brought in.
Rousey was given huge support by White and the UFC, but how many others will live up to the hype like her? Lastly, with only one division and a limited roster, how will it be regulated as far as fighters getting cut? Will it be the same as the others, or more lenient?
The women’s division will probably grow and expand; but for now, it is hard to think it will remain exciting outside of Ronda Rousey in the here and now. Ronda can only fight so often, and unless Gina Carano returns or other women start marketing themselves the same way Rousey did, it will get a little stale in the near future.
There are surely some great female fights on the horizon in the Octagon, but for now, we will just have to wait and see how it is structured and developed.
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.