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Can Anthony Pettis Take the Lightweight Division to New Heights of Popularity?

When Anthony Pettis submitted Benson Henderson to claim the UFC lightweight title, it was done with an authority that the division hadn’t seen since BJ Penn destroyed Joe Stevenson at UFC 80.When it comes to the landscape on I-155, there hasn&rsq…

When Anthony Pettis submitted Benson Henderson to claim the UFC lightweight title, it was done with an authority that the division hadn’t seen since BJ Penn destroyed Joe Stevenson at UFC 80.

When it comes to the landscape on I-155, there hasn’t been an explosive, take-no-prisoners kind of champion since Penn. That isn’t to say that his predecessors (Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson) haven’t been great champions, because they have.

But neither of those two gentlemen ever managed to stop any of their opponents, save for the one time when Edgar defeated Gray Maynard via TKO in Round 4 their rubber match. Aside from that single time, all lightweight title fights have gone to a decision since Penn stopped Diego Sanchez at UFC 107.

All of that ended when Pettis defeated Henderson via submission in Round 1 of their title fight at UFC 164. The notoriously hard-to-submit Henderson tapped out quickly to a sudden armbar, and it was over before we knew it.

Now, with Pettis at the helm, the lightweight division has a bona fide killer wearing the belt. Like Penn, Pettis has a way of finishing elite competition and making it look far easier than it really is, and that is one of the key components for true drama.

This is great news because it restores to the division all the excitement that the lower weight classes have long been praised for.

And it looks to be just the beginning.

When studying past champions at 155, we find that there are many different species of greatness. In Edgar and Henderson, we had two champions who were notable for their determination, heart and desire.

Both men loved being the champ and both men fought hard to keep that belt. When looking at the fighters both men conquered, you see a who’s who in the division for their time: BJ Penn, Gray Maynard, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and, of course, for Henderson we can add the name of Edgar.

That’s a pretty impressive resume for any fighter at lightweight, belt or no belt.

But when you look at Pettis and compare him to former champions, you notice one thing right away: Pettis is a show-stopper. He’s the kind of fighter that has the desire, God-given gifts and a skill set that was made to end fights.

When you look at his last three bouts alone, you can see it plain as day. Against the tough-as-nails Joe Lauzon, Pettis blew him out of the water and looked fantastic doing so.

Then, he squared off against Donald Cerrone in a fight that had the fans salivating. Pettis walked out of the cage midway through Round 1 after overwhelming Cerrone with a barrage of kicks to the body that saw him fall to the floor, hurt and ready to be finished.

Finally, in the biggest fight of his career, he stepped in against reigning champion Benson Henderson and submitted him with almost no real effort at all.

Now, a division long noted for having a slew of dangerous contenders finally has a dangerous champion, and it’s long overdue.

When Penn was king, the UFC didn’t have the exposure and coverage it does now. The deal the UFC enjoys with Fox was nothing more than a pipe dream back then, and thus many great fighters of that time were unknown on a big scale.

With Pettis stepping in as the top man in 2013, it seems nothing less than serendipity. He’s at the right age (which means he’s young), and he truly wants to be great.

As a fighter, Pettis was already commanding a great deal of attention with his daring in the cage; as champion, the amount of attention is going to increase because all fighters are now gunning for him. Besides, shiny objects (like a title belt) have always drawn many an eye.

When people look at a great champion, the very next thing they look for is the next biggest threat to his crown; and in the lightweight division, these fans of great fights have many matchups to look forward to.

As it stands right now, there are several fights for Pettis that walk and talk a lot like a Fight of the Year: vs. Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, TJ Grant and Khabib Nurmagomedov—all seem like they’d be incredibly entertaining.

But we don’t really have to go that far into the future. Pettis’ next fight against Josh Thompson has all the makings of a classic. And of course, if he keeps winning, a superfight against Jose Aldo could be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.

If Pettis can continue in his winning ways (which means winning in spectacular fashion), more and more fans are going to tune in. Pettis fights in a way that is hard not to love; his submission game is top-notch and his striking is the best in the division, bar none.

Oddly enough, the fact that he has lost twice (by decision) makes him even more compelling because more people will tune in when true risk is involved. As great as he is, Pettis is not unbeatable—he’s just incredibly destructive. If you want to beat him, you should be willing to go through hell.

It’s that notion of a true fight, each time out, that is going to make people tune in. The same was true for fighters like Julio Cesar Chavez and other highly popular fighters from the smaller divisions. Nearly every big-name fighter has been hugely entertaining because they had one flaw that an opponent could exploit if they were willing to pay the price.

And the same is true for Pettis. As Clay Guida proved, he can be defeated, but it’s going to be damn hard to do. Thankfully, there are plenty of hungry fighters out there who won’t shy away from the task.

When fans see all these components in one division, with a champion who is going to have to be at his explosive, dynamic best in order to keep his title, all that is needed is a promotion equal to the possibilities.

And as we have seen with Pettis, running up the cage wall to deliver that head kick to Henderson, nearly anything is possible.

And that is why he is just the man to turn heads toward the lightweight division and keep them there for as long as his reign lasts.

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MMA: The 12 Greatest Individual Rounds in MMA History

It’s been theorized that the most dangerous round in any fight is the first round. So new is the moment, so unfamiliar, that a lapse in judgment (based on assumption) can see a fighter finished quickly. It doesn’t matter how much footage ha…

In doing research for this, it seemed like all rounds should be thought of the same way. Logic would suggest that the more familiar a fighter gets with his opponent, the more openings he can see and take advantage of.

And while all of this may or may not be true on a fight-by-fight basis, what becomes clear is that both men are in danger and risk of defeat. When two fighters are willing to risk all in any given round, their clash can be breathtaking.

Be it the first, second, third or any other round, when two fighters suddenly come to the realization that the time is now, they start something totally new; as if everything that came before was simply a prequel to the real fight; a fight that in many ways hadn’t started until that very moment.

Here are 12 such rounds, where the moment was realized by both, and seized.

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Jon Jones ‘Standing Guillotine’ and the 10 Coolest Submissions in MMA History

When Jon Jones faced Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, he found himself in a fight more difficult than most anticipated.
He adapted to the situation and managed to secure a fight-ending submission via a standing guillotine choke. It wasn’t the first time…

When Jon Jones faced Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, he found himself in a fight more difficult than most anticipated.

He adapted to the situation and managed to secure a fight-ending submission via a standing guillotine choke. It wasn’t the first time this submission has been used, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Jones proved that he could win by employing the conventional at unconventional times; something many take for granted as normal procedure in an MMA bout.

Granted, it wasn’t a “cool” submission because of the fact that Machida fell face-first to the floor, unconscious. It was “cool” because no one really expected a fighter as skilled as Machida to get caught with it.

Upon reflection, there have been other submissions that stack up just as well, if not better.

So just how high does that standing guillotine rank compared to other submissions that were both shocking and sublime?

Here are the top 10 submissions that define that rare species of “cool.”

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UFC: Charting Lyoto Machida’s Course to a Middleweight Title Fight

Although I’ve never been fond of fighters moving down a division, the idea of Lyoto Machida fighting at middleweight just seems right.
He’s an excellent fighter from a technical stand point, and he does go for the finish when it is availabl…

Although I’ve never been fond of fighters moving down a division, the idea of Lyoto Machida fighting at middleweight just seems right.

He’s an excellent fighter from a technical stand point, and he does go for the finish when it is available. His defensive skills are still among the best in the sport, and his counter strikes can be deadly.

In fact, sometimes I’m still a bit shocked that the “Machida era” came to a close so quickly in the light heavyweight division. When he won the title, it didn’t look like anyone would have the blueprint to defeat him.

Of course, thanks to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, we know differently.

Now, after four defeats (two of which are highly debatable), Machida is looking for UFC gold once again, and he’s heading south of the 205 border.

Of course it’s a tantalizing idea, but only for as long as there is some other champion other than Anderson Silva. Should Silva defeat current champion Chris Weidman, it’s highly unlikely Machida will move for the belt.

But for my money, I doubt Silva will reclaim the gold, which is a topic for another conversation.

When you look at the middleweight division, you see many great fighters, but it is hard to see a man with the style needed to defeat Machida. Out of the likes of Vitor Belfort, Ronaldo Souza, Michael Bisping, Mark Munoz and others, it’s hard to imagine any of them being able to overcome his elusiveness and his counter-fighting style.

Of course, anything can happen in a fight; we didn’t think Shogun could pull it off, but he did with a vengeance. Silva has the means to defeat him, but once again, that fight seems highly unlikely.

But theory is one thing, the act of doing is another.

So, how does Machida land a title fight at middleweight?

First of all, he needs to make a big splash while proving the weight cut isn’t going to diminish him. To that end, his fight with Tim Kennedy (at UFC Fight for the Troops 3) seems the perfect introduction. Kennedy is a game fighter who has proven to have good conditioning more often than not, and he fights well from the underdog position.

Also, Kennedy will be highly motivated for this fight; he’ll be fighting in front of his military brethren, which means everything for him.

Machida needs to best Kennedy by any means possible; a loss in his first fight at 185 would set him back greatly. Obviously, a stoppage victory would be best, but really, any victory will do for now.

This is his first fight at middleweight, so many expect that there may be some sluggishness and missteps. As long as he wins, these things are forgivable.

Next, he needs to take on a name in the top five, preferably against someone who knows how to sell a fight on one hand and fight it on the other. A bout against Bisping would do nicely.

Like Machida, Bisping used to fight at light heavyweight, and perhaps none in the division (save for Silva) are as elusive as The Count. If I had a dollar for all the times I heard some heavy-handed slugger talking about how he was going to go in and flatten Bisping, only to be unquestionably defeated by the brash Brit…well, I’d have about $10, but you get the point.

A fight with Bisping would be very interesting and very watchable, especially when you consider how good he is at talking up a fight. It wouldn’t take long for him to start poking at Machida in the press; given how many people love to watch Bisping fight (mainly to see him lose), Machida would find himself in the spotlight again.

Once again, this is a very winnable fight for Machida, especially since he is the one with one-strike, knockout power between them. Odds are he would outpoint Bisping or finish him with a counter strike and a flurry on the floor, but either way, he would be very close to a title shot.

The next fight would be one of fortune for the fans and one of necessity for the fighters; a bout pitting Machida against either Belfort or Souza, ideally in Brazil.

A fight against either of these men is a gateway fight to the title, not to mention a hazardous situation. Belfort has the ability to KO Machida if he lands, and Souza could submit him on the ground.

But there are hazards in any fight for both sides. Machida could also KO Belfort and Souza in the blink of an eye. Honestly, neither man has proven to be able to deal with a fighter as elusive and accurate as Machida, and they are both very hittable.

For Souza, as great as Jacare is becoming, his only real chance of defeating Machida is to get him to the mat, and that is highly unlikely. Machida would likely stuff the takedowns while taking him apart on the feet, eventually scoring a knockout or lopsided decision.

Against Belfort, Machida would be moving all night, circling and feinting and racking up points with his leg kicks. Machida’s style seems perfectly suited to keeping Belfort in a constant state of flux between setting up for an attack and then suddenly having to defend against those explosive long distance strikes that Machida does so well.

It’s highly probably that Machida would catch him in those moments of transition enough times to win a fight on points or knock him out.

Then, after three straight victories, a shot at the title would be nearly unavoidable, especially with the amount of hype that could be focused on Machida becoming one of the very few fighters in UFC history to win a belt in two weight classes.

That would be an accomplishment indeed…and perhaps the beginning of a new era.

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UFC: 10 Worst Title Fights in UFC History

So, what does it take for a UFC title fight to be labeled as “bad?”
Sometimes it is a lack in action; two men who simply won’t engage with the energy due the moment, and when the UFC title is on the line, then yes, there is a moment t…

So, what does it take for a UFC title fight to be labeled as “bad?”

Sometimes it is a lack in action; two men who simply won’t engage with the energy due the moment, and when the UFC title is on the line, then yes, there is a moment there due to all the energy two fighters can muster.

Other times it is nothing more than a bad clash of styles that sees both men doing their best, but like oil and water, they just don’t mix.

Whatever the reason, the results are mainly the same; a fight that is lacking that gravitas normally associated, and hoped for, in a title bout.

And this kind of situation can befall any fighter. All are human and thus destined to fail sometimes; it’s intrinsic to the mortal system.

But some system failures are greater than others. Here are 10 fights that prove that to be true.

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UFC: Has Conor McGregor Begun to Believe His Own Hype?

Perhaps one of the biggest prerequisites to succeed in MMA is confidence, and the way Conor McGregor has been fighting and talking, he has that in abundance.
But when confidence is gained through performance on the biggest stages, the expectation is th…

Perhaps one of the biggest prerequisites to succeed in MMA is confidence, and the way Conor McGregor has been fighting and talking, he has that in abundance.

But when confidence is gained through performance on the biggest stages, the expectation is that those winning ways will continue—that the hype afforded by fans and media was not amiss but a true reflection of things to come.

For McGregor, a fighter who has only been on the big stage for a short period of time, it would seem as if he is destined for the title and everything else is just academic.

Days after his last victory, a decision over Max Holloway, he tweeted that he could smell fear in the featherweight division. That is no small claim when you consider that fighters such as Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo could be future opponents. Each of those men boasts a resume of success against fighters far more established than McGregor.

And if that is not enough, he’s now in a war of words with Diego Sanchez, claiming he could move up to 170 and defeat the The Ultimate Fighter winner easily.

Granted, time for any fighter in the UFC can be short, so no one can fault McGregor for trying to ensure that people are speaking his name. Self-promotion is the how the fight business is done these days. One only need look at Chael Sonnen for proof of that.

But perception is a tool pointed at both ends—failure to live up to any kind of hype can hurt a fighter’s career. The most recent example of this is Uriah Hall, who annihilated his competition on The Ultimate Fighter only to falter in his last two outings.

Once hyped by Dana White and countless others as the next big thing, Hall is now said to lack what it takes. That’s a negative association that imposes a weight many cannot endure.

But McGregor continues on, unconcerned with the pressure he is putting on himself.

Now, the question is a simple one: Is McGregor believing his own hype?

He looked impressive against Holloway, dominating the fight everywhere it took place. Before that, he scored an early TKO over Marcus Brimage. He had an impressive 2011, fighting five times and winning all bouts via KO/TKO. In fact, out of all of his 14 victories, 12 have come by KO/TKO and one by submission.

But he’s relatively untested in UFC competition. Neither Brimage nor Holloway is a consistent finisher or has that much experience.

Does McGregor believe that he is so vastly superior to his 145-pound counterparts that victory is a foregone conclusion?

If so, then the talk does serve an end; he’s aggressively showing his willingness to fight anyone. That kind of attitude is exactly what the UFC brass wants out of its fighters. Combatants who show such willingness are usually pushed forward in their careers, which seems exactly what McGregor wants.

But until he beats a fighter in the Top 10, he should be careful for what he wishes for. It’s hard to imagine him being able to handle the likes of Mendes, Edgar, Chan Sung Jung or Ricardo Lamas at this stage in his career.

And forget about Aldo; if McGregor met the champ now, he’d be destroyed.

A better fit might be Nik Lentz or Dustin Poirier. Both men are not apt to be overwhelming with their knockout power but can test McGregor’s submission skills.

It’s always interesting when a fighter comes out bold, pointing fingers and raising eyebrows. But boldness should be what we want out of fighters, right?

And to be honest, I am already thinking about the possibilities of a bout between McGregor and Nate Diaz.

So let McGregor continue and the pieces fall where they may. In the end, it is up to the fighters, as it always has been.

And always should be.

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