Author: Jeff Chase

UFC 144: Tim Boetsch Continues Strong Route to UFC Glory

The Americans took Japan by storm at UFC 144, and one American who looked incredibly good was Tim Boetsch as he took down Yushin Okami in a third-round knockout.This was Boetsch’s fifth fight with the UFC since his return, as well as his first defeat b…

The Americans took Japan by storm at UFC 144, and one American who looked incredibly good was Tim Boetsch as he took down Yushin Okami in a third-round knockout.

This was Boetsch’s fifth fight with the UFC since his return, as well as his first defeat by knockout. He is looking better and better with each fight he has gone into.

This was a convincing statement for Boetsch with the UFC, and he is becoming quite an exciting fighter to watch.

It will remain to be seen how he will fair against better competition, but the former light heavyweight definitely packs a punch that can take these middleweight fighters out early.

Boetsch looks much better than he did his first time around in the UFC, but he was fighting in the light heavyweight division. He did win two of his four fights, but was later released after he fell to Jason Brilz at UFC 96.

Now, he is looking much better fighting at this lower weight class, and he could perhaps take it by storm rather soon.

He is on the older side at 31 years of age, but with three consecutive wins under his belt, Boetsch is definitely in line to get a big-time fight rather soon.

With his three-round victory over the UFC veteran, it is becoming quite clear that Boetsch deserves his shot at a better ranked fighter in the middleweight division.

If he can get that opportunity, expect him to take advantage of the opportunity and make some serious noise in his new weight class.

 

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase

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UFC 144 Results: Steve Cantwell Has Run out of Time in the UFC

After losing his fifth straight fight in the UFC, American fighter Steve Cantwell has officially run out of time fighting after his three-round loss to Riki Fukuda at UFC 144.While Cantwell came in with a lot of promise, as he only had one loss over hi…

After losing his fifth straight fight in the UFC, American fighter Steve Cantwell has officially run out of time fighting after his three-round loss to Riki Fukuda at UFC 144.

While Cantwell came in with a lot of promise, as he only had one loss over his MMA career, he has only managed to win once since joining the UFC.

That was his first fight, which came against Razak Al-Hassan at UFC: Fight for the Troops. Since then, he has just been unable to close out any matches, and his departure from the prestigious division seems inevitable.

Cantwell’s loss to Fukuda is his fifth straight unanimous decision loss, and it is becoming quite clear that he is not able to make things happen amongst these stronger fighters.

His overall MMA record stands at 7-6 now, and he is quickly approaching .500. If he even gets one more fight with the UFC, he is destined to all to 7-7, which will kill any chance at any future bouts—that’s if this fight hasn’t already done so.

It is becoming quite clear that the UFC isn’t for Cantwell, and he honestly may be best fit to return to the lower levels of fighting where he saw much more success.

Sure, the UFC provides a better chance at making it big, but for now, Cantwell is proving that he isn’t able to do that given all the opportunities he has had.

 

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.

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UFC 144: Win over Ryan Bader Will Mean Nothing for Rampage Jackson’s Career

Entering the UFC Octagon for the first time since falling to the champion in Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 135 in September of last year, Rampage Jackson has been given another fight—one that will mean nothing for his career.Jackson will be pitted aga…

Entering the UFC Octagon for the first time since falling to the champion in Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 135 in September of last year, Rampage Jackson has been given another fight—one that will mean nothing for his career.

Jackson will be pitted against Ryan Bader, who has been a fine fighter, but he is nothing compared to what Jackson deserves to fight. Bader won his last fight against against Jason Brilz in a first-round TKO, but that doesn’t really pop off the page as impressive.

He lost his previous fight to an aging Tito Ortiz in a first-round submission, as well a Round 2 loss by submission at the hands of Jones before he took the title spot.

A fighter like Bader is just a gimme for a fighter like Jackson, who is the former light-heavyweight champion. Considering this is the first fight he has been given since his title shot—one he took to four rounds against Jones—one would think that the 33-year-old deserves a better opponent at this point in his career.

Who knows how much more time Jackson will have in the Octagon, and when you are going to give him the second-to-top fight on the card, the UFC should have respected him by giving him a fighter who will at least propel him into the right direction towards the end of his career, or a fighter that he would at least look respectable losing to.

This fight is like the Super Bowl to Bader, as he has a chance to knock off one of the strongest fighters in the division, as well as pushing his name to the front of the light-heavyweight division.

 

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
 

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UFC 143 Results: Dustin Poirier Making a Convincing Argument for Title Shot

Dustin Poirier’s dominance at the UFC continued in Las Vegas, as the Louisiana native moved to 5-0 with a victory over Max Holloway at UFC 143.The Diamond looked strong once again in the Octagon, submitting his opponent in the first round to take the m…

Dustin Poirier’s dominance at the UFC continued in Las Vegas, as the Louisiana native moved to 5-0 with a victory over Max Holloway at UFC 143.

The Diamond looked strong once again in the Octagon, submitting his opponent in the first round to take the match with rather ease.

Holloway is a pretty raw fighter, but he put up a good bout in this one. 

While Poirier still needs to get a few more convincing victories under his belt, he looks poised to make a run at potentially get a title shot in the near future.

Of his five wins with the UFC, four have been by submission while one was by TKO. He’s certainly improving with each fight, as this was his earlier victory by submission.

He looked dominant from the start of the match, as it was clear that he outmatched Holloway. He will need to continue to get that early start in his next matches, which should give him a clear shot to take the fight as early as possible.

His last match came in November, as he took down Pablo Garza on the big stage set at UFC on Fox. This was another opportunity for him to build his resume, and he made a huge statement in this fight.

It will remain to be seen who he is dealt next, but it’s clear that he’s on his way up at the UFC and could start demanding some serious competition.

If he can continue his success and defeat his next few opponents, it will be hard for the UFC to ignore this young up-and-comer for a title shot.

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UFC 140 Results: Jon ‘Bones’ Jones Needs a True Challenge

If we learned anything at UFC 140, it is that reigning light heavyweight champ Jon “Bones” Jones needs a true challenge. And he proved that once again with his second-round submission win over Lyoto Machida.In Jones’ history, he has only been take…

If we learned anything at UFC 140, it is that reigning light heavyweight champ Jon “Bones” Jones needs a true challenge. And he proved that once again with his second-round submission win over Lyoto Machida.

In Jones’ history, he has only been taken to the max amount of rounds three times. And while he is 15-1, that only loss came because he was disqualified for illegal use of elbows. There is no doubt that Jones is the most dangerous fighter right now in the light heavyweight class.

In his previous match, Jones was taken to four rounds. Quinton Jackson did put up a fight, but in the end Jones was able to submit him for a victory.

Jones has claimed eight of his victories by knockout, and another five by submission. He hasn’t gone to a decision since 2009, and it is just proof that Jones is becoming a greater fighter with each fight.

Who knows who will be able to take him down? At this point, it doesn’t seem that anyone can. Jones’ success has been incredible, and one has to wonder if anyone will be able to challenge him for the light heavyweight title anytime soon.

At 24 years old, Jones is only going to get better and stronger. If he can only keep getting better, who knows how far he can take this streak and title reign?

At this rate, it is hard to go against Jones.

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