Author: Jesse Reed

UFC 157: Bold Predictions for Biggest Fights On the Card

Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche headline a loaded card at UFC 157, and the landmark event is certain to attract a high level of public interest. It’s the first time the UFC has featured a fight between two women, and Rousey is one of MMA’s biggest …

Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche headline a loaded card at UFC 157, and the landmark event is certain to attract a high level of public interest. It’s the first time the UFC has featured a fight between two women, and Rousey is one of MMA‘s biggest stars.

Rousey vs. Carmouche isn’t the only fight that will generate buzz, though. 

Lyoto Machida will take on Dan Henderson in a matchup between two of UFC’s most popular fighters, and Ivan Menjivar will fight Urijah Faber in a rematch from 2006—a fight that saw Menjivar get disqualified for an illegal upkick. 

All three fights will certainly be worth the price of admission.

 

Menjivar vs. Faber

Faber used to be the main man in the featherweight division, but he’s fallen on hard times of late, losing two of his last three matches.

Menjivar has been on a tear since joining the UFC, winning four of his five matches.

My heart wants to believe Faber can pull out of his slump and beat Menjivar on Saturday, but my mind won’t let my heart rule the day.

Menjivar rebounded from his loss to Mike Easton with a sick submission victory over Azamat Gashimov in UFC 154—an impressive arm bar that earned him his second “Submission of the Night” in his last three fights.

Bold Prediction: Menjivar will defeat Faber in Round 2 with another big-time submission.

 

Machida vs. Henderson

“The Dragon” takes on “Hendo” in a matchup between two of the biggest stars the UFC has to offer.

Since it’s not a title fight, these two warriors won’t have to conserve their strength for a five-round bout, which should mean more excitement for fans.

Henderson is coming off a 15-month layoff after a knee injury kept him away from competition. He’ll be as fresh as ever, and I hardly expect him to look old out there. 

Machida has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, losing four of his last six matches, though he did show up in style against Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 4, knocking him out in the second round.

Bold Prediction: Hendo will knock Machida out in Round 3.

 

Rousey vs. Carmouche

Rousey hasn’t hardly broken a sweat since becoming a pro, winning all six of her matches by arm-bar submission early in Round 1. 

Every time someone steps up to the plate to take her on, they get squashed like a bug on a windshield.

Carmouche is a stand-up fighter who brings a level of unpredictability to every fight, and she has been highly successful in her career, winning eight of her 10 fights.

Rousey is used to getting her way, and she’s determined to make a huge statement in her first-ever UFC title fight.

Bold Prediction: Rousey wins by arm bar…in Round 2. 

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

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Ronda Rousey: MMA Star Will Undoubtedly ‘Earn’ UFC Title vs. Liz Carmouche

Ronda Rousey is uncomfortable being dubbed the women’s bantamweight champion of the UFC, but it won’t be long before she earns the title against Liz Carmouche.Via ESPN’s Franklin McNeil:“When they (UFC) brought in the guys from WEC they gav…

Ronda Rousey is uncomfortable being dubbed the women’s bantamweight champion of the UFC, but it won’t be long before she earns the title against Liz Carmouche.

Via ESPN’s Franklin McNeil:

“When they (UFC) brought in the guys from WEC they gave (featherweight champion) Jose Aldo and (bantamweight champion) Dominick Cruz their belts,” Rousey told ESPN.com. “They did that to me as well when they brought the women’s division over. But I don’t feel like I’ve really earned it.”

On the one hand, you’ve got to love Rousey‘s need to “earn” the title. Her refusal to let herself get entrapped by her own excellence and commitment to take each and every match as it comes are two qualities that make her great. 

On the other hand, Dana White was right to give her the inaugural title, since no other woman in MMA can hold a candle to the arm-bar specialist. 

And I’m guessing it won’t take long for Rousey to prove she’s worthy of the title once she and Carmouche step into the Octagon at UFC 157. After all, Rousey has dispatched every single opponent she’s ever faced in MMA events early in Round 1.  

Carmouche isn’t like other female opponents Rousey has faced in the past, though. She’s unpredictable and dangerous, but Rousey is well aware of her opponent’s abilities and isn’t going into the fight unprepared. 

Per McNeil’s report, she said:

(Carmouche) is a very dangerous fighter…there are fights when she comes out with flying knees, or fights when she comes in with spinning back fists, or fights when she comes in throwing a right kick followed by a right hook right away. She’s very unorthodox and very unpredictable. 

The former Olympic judo star isn’t just a one-trick pony, and if she gets involved into a stand-up battle with Carmouche, she has more than enough game to throw down. Better still is her relentless belief that she’s always the underdog, no matter how much others heap praise on her shoulders. 

Rousey is the best woman fighter in MMA, and she’ll prove it to herself, Carmouche and all her adoring fans on February 23 at UFC 157. 

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

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Chael Sonnen: Is Trash-Talking Fighter Good for the UFC?

It’s hard to tell truth from fiction these days where Chael Sonnen is concerned.UFC’s resident trash-talker hasn’t stopped flapping his gums since Jon Jones refused to fight him on short notice for UFC 151 after Dan Henderson went down with a knee inju…

It’s hard to tell truth from fiction these days where Chael Sonnen is concerned.

UFC’s resident trash-talker hasn’t stopped flapping his gums since Jon Jones refused to fight him on short notice for UFC 151 after Dan Henderson went down with a knee injury. 

Only hours after this message from the UFC, announcing the stoppage of UFC 151, Sonnen gave an exclusive interview to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden, whereupon he lambasted Jones in every conceivable way, ending with this:

Jon Jones is a delusional brat. He talks of being a businessman?! What?! What risks did he take? What capital did he raise? Where exactly is his office located? How many people does he employ? Hey JJ, put me on the phone with your secretary… Oh wait, what?

He then followed that up with a message from his Facebook page only hours later:

I am no longer permitted to speak ill of the former champion Jon Jones as we have come to an agreement. I will stop tearing him down verbally and in exchange he has relinquished his belt to me. I would like to read a prepared statement from the former Champion.

Mr Sonnen, In every mans life a choice must eventually be made. Run or fight. I said I wouldn’t duck any man as champion. But you are no ordinary man. You’ve spoken nothing but truth in your attempt to gain a title fight with me. My last act of cowardness is to hand over what you would have beaten out of me 8 days from today. The UFC LHW Title. Now I must refocus my life. Good luck Champ.

Signed, Jon Bones Jones

Color me skeptical, but I’m not buying this for a second. There’s no flipping way that Jones had any part of this. 

Everyone knows that Sonnen can’t keep his mouth shut, and this is professional fighting we’re talking about. Trash talking has been going on like this since the dawn of mankind.

But is this a good thing for the UFC?

Back when Muhammad Ali was on top of the world, he perfected the art of trash-talking. What he did both in and out of the ring was great for the sport of boxing. 

From my perspective, Mixed Martial Arts needs guys like Sonnen. There’s nothing more appealing for fans of the sport than when trash-talkers like him get beat down and shut up for a minute, and there’s nothing more irritating than when they win.

The power of emotions is a strong aphrodisiac to advertising companies, and as the sport of MMA continues to grow in popularity, the UFC can only benefit from keeping Sonnen and others like him around to stir the pot. 

People either love him or hate him. There is no in between. 

As long as us media types continue to talk about Sonnen, he’s good for the UFC. 

The reason us media types continue to talk about Sonnen is because the masses can’t get enough of his pot-stirring words. 

Long live the power of emotions. Keep flapping those gums, Sonnen. 

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed

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Jon Jones: Why Bones Is Entering Lose-Lose Situation vs. Lyoto Machida

Jon Jones has put himself in a no-win situation.After refusing to fight Chael Sonnen—a move that forced Dana White to cancel UFC 151 and shuffle the cards for the next venue in Toronto, Canada—Jones has drawn the ire of White, not to mentio…

Jon Jones has put himself in a no-win situation.

After refusing to fight Chael Sonnen—a move that forced Dana White to cancel UFC 151 and shuffle the cards for the next venue in Toronto, Canada—Jones has drawn the ire of White, not to mention a host of UFC fans.

According to the UFC:

 

White can’t just strip Jones of his title, though I’m betting the thought has crossed his mind a few times. Instead, he has moved the Jones vs. Machida 2 fight into UFC 152 (now 151). If Machida wins, though, White may just have the leverage he needs to pop what has become an irritating pimple on his behind. 

If Jones wins, he’ll become a true heel for the UFC, to borrow a term from the wrestling world. The only problem with that is that Nike—Jones’ newest sponsor—hasn’t traditionally been down with athletes who have a negative image. 

Jones had nothing to lose by fighting Sonnen, who is just coming off a loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 148. He is stronger and faster than Sonnen, but taking the fight would have allowed White and the UFC to cut their losses after Dan Henderson went down with a knee injury. 

Instead, Jones spurned the UFC when it needed him the most. 

Nike hasn’t yet spoken on the subject, but I don’t see how there’s any positive way to spin this story. The company’s image has always been about champions, winners and athletes that persevere. Jones’ decision to turn down a fight goes against that image, as far as I’m concerned. 

Jones has gotten himself into a lose-lose scenario. If he wins the fight, he’s even more under the skin of White and will become a demonized champ. If he loses the fight, his image will take an even bigger hit than it would’ve if he’d fought and lost to Sonnen. 

Machida needs to figure out a way to stay aggressive with his strikes while simultaneously avoiding Jones’ clutches for a decisive victory over the man that took his title back in December of 2011 at UFC 140. 

That would be sweet justice, as Jones would finally get what he deserves. 

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

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UFC 147: Hacran Dias Impressive in Easy Victory over Yuri Alcantara

Hacran Dias easily defeated Yuri Alcantara in the first fight of the main card at UFC 147 on Saturday, winning a unanimous decision from the judges, who scored the fight 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.It wasn’t close at all. Dias had one scary moment, though…

Hacran Dias easily defeated Yuri Alcantara in the first fight of the main card at UFC 147 on Saturday, winning a unanimous decision from the judges, who scored the fight 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.

It wasn’t close at all. Dias had one scary moment, though, when he managed to avoid getting beaten in the second round. Alcantara managed to catch him in an arm bar, but he wiggled out of it in the nick of time.

From the get-go, Dias had control of the action. He used his superior strength and leverage to drag Alcantara to the mat several times throughout the match, where most of the action took place. It wasn’t until late in the third round that Alcantara really did anything to score, and by that time the match was already over.

To be honest, Dias had so much control over the fight that it was rather boring towards the end, unless you enjoy the nuances of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He landed some heavy punches and a ton of rabbit punches, but for the most part he never hurt Alcantara.

It was a methodical, surgical assault on an inferior opponent. Nothing more. Nothing less. What it does for Dias, though, is continue to vault him up the UFC featherweight ranks. He has proven to be a highly-skilled fighter over the course of his young career, and he deserves to continue working his way towards a possible title fight in the near future.

Dias will get his chances. He has only lost one fight in his career, and his nine straight victories since that single loss were all impressive. Look for Dias to continue showing up on main cards in UFC events as time goes on.

 

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UFC on Fox 3: Picking Winners for the Night’s 3 Biggest Fights

The upcoming UFC on Fox 3 event is going to be full of exciting action, with the biggest fights resulting in title shots.Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks will both be hoping to win their respective matches against Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck to earn the …

The upcoming UFC on Fox 3 event is going to be full of exciting action, with the biggest fights resulting in title shots.

Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks will both be hoping to win their respective matches against Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck to earn the chance at a title fight.

There are 11 matches on the docket, but I’m going to focus on the top three fights and determine the winners for each of them.

 

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller

There was some speculation that both fighters would have a shot at a title fight with a win, but Dana White has squashed the notion that Miller is ready for such an honor (h/t Yahoo! Sports).

It’s a shame, too, because Miller has a much better record (21-3) compared to Diaz (15-7). Miller just isn’t a flashy guy; he wins, but his wins aren’t that interesting to watch.

Diaz has only won five out his last nine fights, making this decision even more questionable in my eyes. That being said, it is what it is, and the two men will duke it out to the max no matter what’s at stake.

Diaz will try and keep himself from ending up on the ground. He will attempt to make it a striking match, but Miller will be focused on taking him down from the get-go.

I have to go with Miller in this one. He is going to get Diaz on the ground and will go to work early and often.

Prediction: Miller wins by submission in the third round.

 

Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks

These two fighters won’t spend much time on their feet. Both of them are top-notch wrestlers, and if watching two men grapple for 15 minutes is your idea of a good time, then you’re going to love this fight.

Koscheck is a long-standing member of the UFC. He’s had his ups and downs, but in the end, he’s always hanging around. Most people either love him or hate him for his brash nature, but nobody can argue the fact that he’s a dangerous fighter.

Hendricks is more of a newcomer, but he’s taken the UFC by storm by compiling a record of 12-1. He was an elite college wrestler at Oklahoma State, winning the 2005 and 2006 Division I wrestling title at 165 pounds.

In the end, this match will be about Hendricks’ power vs. Koscheck’s athleticism. Hendricks has a chance to earn a title fight with a victory, as I already mentioned, and he has momentum after winning his last three fights.

Prediction: Hendricks wins via unanimous decision.

 

Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher

Palhares is an interesting fellow. His nickname is “Toquinho,” which means “little tree stump” in Portuguese. He seemingly always tries to break his opponents’ legs by utilizing his vast array of leg locks and is known for his erratic behavior during fights (h/t mixedmartialarts.com).

Belcher, on the other hand, doesn’t rock the boat in any way, shape or form. He’s just a silent assassin who knows how to win in any number of ways.

Both men are coming off three-fight winning streaks and look to be in peak condition for their upcoming duel.

Prediction: Palhares wins by leg lock in the second round.

 

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