UFC 144 QB: Part 3 Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” = short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weakne…
UFC 144 QB: Part 3
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” = short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this column will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.
Headlining the UFC’s return to Japan (UFC 144) is the lightweight championship. Frankie Edgar will be putting his belt on the line against top contender Benson Henderson, a former WEC champion himself. Topping off a very stacked card, the main event is slated to be one of the best fights of the night.
In the blue corner you have Benson Henderson, who is 15-2 and riding a three-fight winning streak, unbeaten since coming into the UFC. He brings an explosive power and submission game that poses a dangerous threat to anyone at lightweight, and Henderson certainly wants to get back to his WEC days of finishing his fights.
In the red corner stands current champ, Frankie Edgar. After dealing with grueling battles with Gray Maynard and his rise to fame against BJ Penn, Edgar is now ready to take on the pool of talent that is the rest of the lightweight division. Edgar is 14-1-1, or 14, Gray and Gray. He is on a six-fight winning streak, and brings a unique quickness and resilience to his fights.
The question will be if Henderson can get his hands on him. Edgar is known for getting in and out when he strikes, and has excellent footwork. Through being beaten down, twice, and then coming out alive and still the champ, he has shown the world what the heart of a warrior truly is.
Henderson is a great striker, and has a decent size advantage over the champ. He has a two-inch reach on Edgar, and has proven his own resilience in his fights. From watching his fights, it is clear that Henderson is not an easy guy to put away. Henderson’s ability to finish a fight is superior to anything Maynard has done recently, therefore he poses a significantly greater threat than Maynard. Henderson has great jiu-jitsu and is a black belt in TaeKwon Do, making him a threat wherever the fight goes.
This fight has the potential to win any of the “Of the Night” awards, and should prove to be a great climactic end to a great night of fights.
Prediction: Benson Henderson wins via TKO in the 1st round.
UFC 144 QB: Part 2Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses…
UFC 144 QB: Part 2
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “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 a prediction.
UFC 144 (Japan) is coming to us on Saturday, and promises a night of exciting matchups. The lightweight title is on the line, but is just the icing on the cake for this layered card. The co-main event of the evening, though, is one that Japanese fans are certainly looking forward to.
In the blue corner, you have Ryan Bader. A strong wrestler and overall well-rounded fighter, Bader is looking to get a win streak going again since losing two in a row. He is currently 13-2, and is coming off a knockout win. His confidence is up from that win, and he was humbled by his loss to Tito Ortiz before that.
While not having a history of them, his only blemishes on his record are from submission chokes. For the two chokes he has lost to, his only submission wins were from two chokes as well. However, the man he is slated to face is one to put his opponents to sleep in another fashion.
In the red corner you have Quinton Jackson. “Rampage,” as he is more commonly called, is a lethal striker and has vicious counter punches. His recent years have seen more decision wins, but that may be due to the fact none of these guys want to stand in close quarters with him.
Rampage is a legend in Pride, the premiere organization back in the day, which was held in the same arena as the UFC returns to this Saturday. Rampage might be popular in America, but he is truly a superstar in Japan.
Bader will want to take this fight to Jackson. Submissions are a little removed from Jackson’s game these days, with his last one in 2001; but since both Bader and himself are strong wrestlers, it may keep the fight standing.
Both men have raw power in their hands, and it will be interesting to see if one can score a knockout. Bader has never been knocked out, or TKO’d in his career, and Rampage hasn’t lost via KO/TKO since his Pride days.
A factor that might have a big effect on the fight is how motivated Rampage will be, since he will be in front of a big crowd who supports him. A full Saitama Arena of fans all cheering for Rampage might be enough push for him to really look for a highlight reel finish. Also, having the crowd rooting for Jackson might add more pressure to Bader, so how he handles it is also up for question.
This fight should be a great one to watch, and seeing Rampage fight on the Japanese stage is an exciting aspect already. Both men will be looking to put on a show, and fans will not want to miss this bout.
Prediction: Rampage Jackson wins via KO/TKO late in the first round.
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, th…
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “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.
Next Saturday, the UFC returns to the “Land of the Rising Sun” to put on a stacked card at UFC 144. Japan was the Mecca of MMA at one point in time, hosting Pride FC, which was the premiere organization in the world. Now, the UFC is going back to the Saitama Super Arena to put on one of the biggest shows of the year so far.
Headlined by the lightweight championship on the line, the rest of the main card is filled with exciting fights. But the one that may carries just as much importance as the title fight is the bout between Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama.
In the blue corner you have Jake Shields. An American jiu-jitsu fighter looking to bounce back from two losses, Shields now is at a point where he desperately needs a win. With his fame and popularity, it is not likely he will be cut if he loses against Akiyama, but having three losses in a row puts you very far away from attaining a title shot.
In the red corner you have Yoshihiro Akiyama. The Asian superstar will be making his welterweight debut after losing three in a row at middleweight. An excellent striker and Judo practitioner, Akiyama will be looking for success at the new weight, and will avoid a dangerous situation in his career as well.
It’s rare for a fighter not to be cut after three losses, so taking a fourth loss might send Akiyama on his way out of the UFC. On the other hand, he has a big draw in the Asian public, and keeping him around might be another Dan Hardy situation where his ethnicity helps keep him afloat.
This fight will be determined on whether they fight mostly standing or mostly on the ground. If it stays standing, Akiyama holds a distinct advantage in the striking game. His judo should help him in close quarters, especially if Shields decides to try to take him down from a clinch or cage position.
If this fight goes to the ground, Shields will have the upper hand. Akiyama is no slouch on the ground, but Shields’ skills are superior.
Shields’ fusion of wrestling and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu will be the biggest challenge for “Sexyama.” Having the ability to control his opponents on the ground and finish them in stunning technical fashion, Shields is one of the most dangerous guys once it hits the mat.
The question will be how both of these fighters bounce back from multiple losses and how Akiyama will fare at the new weight class. Both have the skills and technique to make this an exciting fight, and with so much on the line, it should live up to the hype.
Prediction: Jake Shields wins via submission late in the first round or midway through the second.
UFC Undisputed 3 has officially arrived, and it came as a nice box of chocolates to the MMA fans for Valentine’s Day.The game is the third installment of the new and popular “Undisputed” franchise by THQ, and ninth UFC video game ever…
UFC Undisputed 3 has officially arrived, and it came as a nice box of chocolates to the MMA fans for Valentine’s Day.
The game is the third installment of the new and popular “Undisputed” franchise by THQ, and ninth UFC video game ever made.
It started back on the Playstation/Dreamcast, and now has evolved into a truly enjoyable experience on today’s new generation of consoles.
The preliminary numbers for the game’s launch success are not out yet, but MMA fans should rest assured this is certainly a game worth buying. Simply, if you enjoyed Undisputed 2009 and 2010, you will love UFC U3 even more.
The most marketed aspect of the new installment is the introduction of Pride mode. After tasting the demo and now the full-fledged meal that is Pride Mode, it leaves fans quite satisfied.
The roster, including some of the old time greats and big names, are included to be used in both Pride and UFC modes. Who wouldn’t want to put Brock Lesnar against Bob Sapp? The arena, sounds, commentary, and overall presentation is a very refreshing change from the traditional UFC mode.
The roster is huge, and with other packs on the way, the list of fighters is greater than it has ever been. With all seven weight classes, there are more than enough fighters to try out and use. The only downside is that some of the big up-and-comers of 2011, and others are absent from the game.
This is due to the timing of the game presumably, among other factors, but will hopefully be remedied with some DLC. For example, Chan Sung Jung is not in the rosters, but Leonard Garcia is.
The great thing about the rosters is being able to do special matchups. Ever wish in the old games you could fight Anderson Silva vs. GSP or Jon Jones? Well, now you can. Also, you can do mirror matches and put Silva vs. Silva, or Jones vs. Jones, etc.
The big part people were curious about that wasn’t as clear in the marketing of the game before release, was the Career Mode. After one or two fights of tutorial-esque introduction, gamers will be treated to a Career mode that is much more streamlined and easier to manage.
In previous installments, the career mode seemed more like managing stats, than actual fighting. This time it is all about activities and preparation.
Another way you can approach career mode is to construct a new legacy for a roster fighter. Instead of creating a fighter and making him fight his way to the top, you can take real pro fighters from the Undisputed roster, and rewrite their careers.
The Ultimate Fights feature is still there, and has also become much more accessible. Instead of a task list that needed to be opened constantly, the new tasks come in a timed fashion that takes place live during the fight. Anything that you miss can be retried, without having to redo the other tasks you completed.
Online seems to run much cleaner, but other reviews have indicated that “losing connection to opponent” is still there, meaning either people have bad connections, or are bad losers.
The overall gameplay though is fun and enjoyable, especially with the new ground game system that was put in. Pro controls are still there for those pretzel-like movements, but you can set the controls to do simple gestures instead, like just hitting up or down on a stick.
The submission game is new, and is much more understandable and easier on the palms. Your controller will thank you as well, since the only time you will be rotating the stick is working for/defending a takedown.
New camera angles help make the game feel fresher, despite graphically it has not improved by leaps and bounds from 2010’s edition. It does look smoother and plays better with all the new mechanics however. Using feints to psych out your opponent and then hitting them with a hard shot is both satisfying and effective.
Getting rocked in the game is no longer an indication of almost certain death, and helps add much excitement during the match. When you get rocked, it still is a more dangerous situation, but it is more of a precautionary signal.
THQ and UFC had added quite a bit of extras to the game, especially in the “Shop” where you spend CRED earned from miscellaneous game modes. For instance, there are over 100 different ways for your fighter to move and act when Bruce Buffer is announcing you before the fight.
There are just as many “Victory,” walking out, and climbing into the cage motions to choose from, and then you can customize Pride mode-specific ones, too. You can even choose the color of spotlights that span the crowd as you walk out, along with your choice of “walkout music”.
UFC Undisputed took off a year, but being a sport that is not seasonal, it wasn’t something that would truly hurt the series. It took the time off to add and change things, and THQ and UFC certainly delivered.
Once again, the graphics themselves have not improved exponentially, but the amount of new features and tweaks, with a stellar roster makes UFC Undisputed 3 a game worth the wait.
UFC 144 (Japan) is approaching, setting the stage for a night of spectacular fights with the lightweight title on the line in the headliner. UFC will go to the “Land of the Rising Sun” and deliver one of the most stacked cards of this year….
UFC 144 (Japan) is approaching, setting the stage for a night of spectacular fights with the lightweight title on the line in the headliner. UFC will go to the “Land of the Rising Sun” and deliver one of the most stacked cards of this year. This will truly be a night of crucial nature in each of the fighters’ careers.
For Rampage Jackson, he is looking to bounce back from his recent loss. For his opponent, Ryan Bader, it is to reestablish himself in his division after a rough 2011. For Cheick Kongo and Mark Hunt, this is the fight that will determine who moves up into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division.
Similarly, for Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon, a win will help throw their name back into the list of talent-heavy contenders in the lightweight division. In the main event, Frankie Edgar wants to keep his belt, and Benson Henderson wants to make his own history as UFC champion.
But the most vital fight is a welterweight matchup between Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama. Both are in dangerous waters right now, having acquired a few losses in a row. Not necessarily to the point of getting cut, but either man taking on another loss would be devastating at this point. Akiyama is coming off three losses, and Shields two.
This is the debut of Akiyama as a welterweight, and Jake Shields is set to give him a welcome party like no other.
Gregory Chase spoke with Shields about his upcoming fight, his camp, his training partner Nick Diaz, and more:
GC: You have a big fight coming up at the end of February at UFC Japan, facing Yoshihiro Akiyama in his Welterweight debut. Is this a fight that sparked any particular interest to you when it was offered?
JS: Yeah, you know it kind of came unexpected with Akiyama being a 185 pounder, so I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m down for the fight. I lost a fight and thought it would be a good win, especially in Japan, so I took it right away.
GC: In what ways have you prepared for Akiyama, and is there anything new that went on in your camp for this particular fight?
JS: Mostly the same training. I am always trying to tweak things and make some little changes. I trained with [Michael] Bisping for a week, been out in Florida here training with the guys out here in Imperial. No big changes, but I really want to go out there and pressure him and fight and make him tap out.
GC: So you’re going to be looking for a submission?
JS: Yeah, of course. If something else comes, of course, I’ll take it. But I’m a submission fighter, so I would love to go out there and tap him.
GC: Now you describe that style as “American Jiu-Jitsu,” could you go into further detail as to why you call it that?
JS: Yeah, well I never train with a G.I., so my style is more of a mix between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and American wrestling. I took the two and kind of fused them. There are a lot of guys who have done both, but I have really mixed the two and turned it into one thing, which is kind of an American Jiu-Jitsu.
GC: Last year, you “upgraded” to vegan status, how do you think your diet helps you, or hinders you, in ways compared to other fighters who are not vegetarian or vegan?
JS: I think it gives me more energy and better cardio, and I feel really good. It is easy making weight right now. My weight’s down, so that’s good. I’m not a strict vegan; I’ll still eat a little bit of egg, not a lot, but occasionally. But yeah, I feel great right now.
GC: It was extremely unfortunate that your father passed last year as well, but even more admirable that you walked into the cage about two weeks after it had happened. Do you feel like the whole situation had an impact on your fight with Jake Ellenberger, and, if so, in what ways?
JS: You know, there was so much going on at the time. It was tough, but I felt like it was the right decision to go out and fight, and I made that decision to not make any excuse about the fight. I went out there and it wasn’t my night, so all I can do is move forward and try to bounce back with Akiyama.
GC: Now, you train with some top-level guys, the Diaz brothers, and, very notably, Gilbert Melendez. What are your views on the whole Strikeforce situation and what the future may hold for the organization, since many feel it is up in the air right now?
JS: Yeah, really what I hear is it is up the air, just from meeting other fighters. I don’t really have any information that you guys don’t have, but it definitely seems up in the air. They’re not pushing it that heavy…they don’t seem to be putting up many shows. It seems like they only have a couple of real fighters left.
You know, Gilbert I’m sure, is the biggest guy now. Luke Rockhold is a great up-and-comer, but they just don’t have big divisions. You know, send some talent over there and promote it more, or just kill it.
GC: A lot of controversy came out of your training partner, Nick Diaz’s fight with Carlos Condit. Since you train with him, I want to get your thoughts on how you think the fight went and if you agree with the decision made.
JS: No, I don’t agree with it at all. I was really surprised when they gave it to him. I thought Nick was chasing him all over the place, and I don’t know how you’re going to win running backwards, throwing leg kicks. I mean, you can argue Condit landed a few more strikes, but the majority of those were tiny little leg kicks.
I really don’t see how. I mean, I give Condit the fourth, but other than that, I thought Nick took all the rounds. I don’t know, I can’t imagine Condit really being too happy with himself right now.
GC: I think a lot of people are on the same page with you. Even Joe Rogan, for instance, went back and looked at it and agreed that he would give the fight to Diaz after a second thought and look at it.
JS: Yeah, and I would say at least half the people that think Condit won, probably picked that because Rogan picked it, because a lot of the fans don’t really know what’s going on and will just kind of pick whatever the commentator says.
You don’t realize how much sway that has. I think if Rogan would have picked Nick winning the fight, I think pretty much everyone, maybe like 10 percent would have picked Condit.
GC: The UFC Japan card is stacked and have some really exciting fights. I want to get some predictions from you for the main card. So first, Anthony Pettis versus Joe Lauzon?
JS: That’s a tough fight, I haven’t really watched either one of them fight enough to say.
GC: How about Cheick Kongo versus Mark Hunt?
JS: I would probably go with Kongo. It’s an interesting style matchup, but Mark Hunt hasn’t been that “on” in the past couple years.
GC: So how would Kongo win the fight?
JS: I think he would probably take him down and ground-and-pound him. He has showed it in the past, he’s one to take people down.
GC: How about Rampage Jackson versus Ryan Bader?
JS: It’ll be a good fight back and forth. I gotta favor Rampage by a little bit but it wouldn’t be a total shock if Bader pulled off an upset either.
GC: Do you think Bader will just be looking for the takedown, or do you think he’ll stand up and trade with him?
JS: I think he’s gonna do both. His hands have been improving. He’s a tough guy and he’s right in his prime. I think he’ll go out there and bang with him a little bit. But Rampage, you know, definitely has some advantages as well. So I have to give a slight favor to Rampage.
GC: And of course the main event, Frankie Edgar versus Benson Henderson?
JS: These are all good competitive fights. They’re tough to call. It’s a really tough one to call, I guess I would give a slight edge to Frankie just because he’s on such a good winning streak. He’s really evasive and hard to get your hands on, but I think Henderson holds the advantage in jiu-jitsu if he can get him down there.
GC: Last but not least, who wins between Jake Shields versus Yoshihiro Akiyama, and how does that fight end?
JS: Oh, that’s an easy pick…Jake Shields (laughs), by submission!
Mixed Martial Arts is fundamentally defined by its first word. The sport of MMA was built upon, and features athletes of mixed styles from many different disciplines of martial arts. This mixture has created a phenomenon in competition. MMA started off…
Mixed Martial Arts is fundamentally defined by its first word. The sport of MMA was built upon, and features athletes of mixed styles from many different disciplines of martial arts. This mixture has created a phenomenon in competition. MMA started off pitting two different styles against one another, but has now evolved into producing well-rounded fighters who study in many disciplines.
The game has changed, and athletes have adapted themselves in order to compete in the ever-changing sport. New competitors have come in, already training in many martial arts. The sport is truly MIXED with many fighters knowing many disciplines.
Still, there are those who stand out in a particular field. While being substantial at other styles, these fighters truly excel at one, and have had success using their foundational style.
This slideshow contains just eight of many styles, but these styles are very prevalent in MMA. These are all UFC fighters that are at the top of the heap in their respective discipline. This is not a conclusive list of all who are notable, but those who are both popular and who are arguably the best at their craft.
UFC 144 QB: Part 3