The future looks grim for a match featuring Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC 146. Though Overeem’s failed drug test comes as no surprise to those who have followed him since his lanky K-1 days, the timing couldn’t be much worse. …
The future looks grim for a match featuring Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC 146. Though Overeem’s failed drug test comes as no surprise to those who have followed him since his lanky K-1 days, the timing couldn’t be much worse. Desperate fans have taken to lobbying via Twitter for journeyman Mark Hunt as a potential replacement to face Dos Santos (a rumor summarily quashed by UFC President Dana White.)
With the short list of suitable replacements looking very short indeed, a novel idea would be for White to sign Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko to challenge Dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title. Given White’s acrimonious history with Emelianenko’s management, the possibility seems as unlikely to ever become a reality as it is intriguing, but there is real logic behind it. Considering White’s promotional savvy and history of confounding expectations, one should never say never.
Here are five reasons why Dos Santos vs. Fedor actually makes a lot of sense.
With the UFC’s experimental FOX television debut safely behind us, commercial-free MMA action returns tonight headlined by one of the most anticipated main events of the year. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua faces off with S…
With the UFC’s experimental FOX television debut safely behind us, commercial-free MMA action returns tonight headlined by one of the most anticipated main events of the year. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua faces off with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson in a long-awaited meeting of the former PRIDE rivals.
What We Know
Mauricio Rua entered the UFC to high hopes, but his Octagon career has been an emotional roller coaster for fans. After dropping a closely contested title decision to former champion Lyoto Machida, Rua bounced back and won the belt in a rematch, only to be immediately sidelined with knee surgery.
Following a long recovery, Rua returned to defend his title only to have it summarily stripped away by Jon “Bones” Jones in a one-sided TKO loss which was not particularly competitive.
Rua’s most recent outing, a brilliant first-round knockout of Griffin which avenged that inauspicious UFC debut, showed a return to form the Brazilian must maintain to get back into contention. A dominant victory over Dan Henderson might fast-track Shogun to another title shot.
At 41 years of age, Henderson may not have time on his side but his dramatic victory over the legendary Fedor Emelianenko proved he can still get the job done against younger and more aggressive opponents.
Stung early and knocked down early by Fedor’s frenetic striking attack, the cagey veteran was able to reverse positions and deliver a blind-side uppercut that dropped Fedor and led to a first-round TKO.
Both Rua and Henderson have made names for themselves as strikers, though with markedly different styles. Rua uses speed, great boxing and devastating leg and body kicks to keep opponents on the defensive, while Henderson relies more on timing and power to land the big overhand right that has become his signature.
While Henderson’s superb ability to close the distance and connect will likely factor into Rua’s strategy entering this fight, he will probably be more focused on nullifying Henderson’s distinct advantage as a wrestler.By using superior quickness and landing the same vicious leg kicks he used to dismantle Lyoto Machida, Rua may be able to wear down the veteran wrestler and chip away at his ability to shoot.
What the Tapes Don’t Show
Superstitious fans will appreciate the fact that Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum, and Antonio Silva each fought Fedor Emelianenko and then immediately turned in dismal follow-up performances. Though it’s improbable Henderson will fall completely flat in his return to the Octagon, turning in a strong performance against Rua will mean breaking the “Fedor Curse.”
Had he decided to retire, Henderson’s win over Emelianenko would have provided a definitive conclusion to a long and illustrious MMA career.
Rua, on the other hand, is just one fight removed from a lopsided beat-down at the hands of Jon Jones, and at 29 years old is only reaching the prime of his fighting career.
Like most fights, this one may be about unfinished business. All things being equal (or a wash, anyway) the odds usually favor the fighter who has something left to prove.
UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill is a tribute to Zuffa’s talented marketing team, the result of clever last-minute matchmaking and some inspired promotion.Earlier this year, a potentially intriguing match-up between former light-heavyweight champion Quinton…
UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill is a tribute to Zuffa’s talented marketing team, the result of clever last-minute matchmaking and some inspired promotion.
Earlier this year, a potentially intriguing match-up between former light-heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and resurgent contender Thiago Silva was scrubbed.
Silva, back in the title picture after posting an impressive and dominating victory over Brandon “The Truth” Vera, was yanked from the schedule after his UFC 125 pre-fight urinalysis tested positive for banned substances.
If the absence of Jackson vs. Silva slowed down the UFC 130 hype machine, losing the highly-anticipated main event, a rubber match between 155-pound champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar and No. 1 contender Gray “Bully” Maynard, threatened to bring it to a grinding halt.
Edgar and Maynard, arguably the two most evenly-matched fighters in the division, were expected to give fans their money’s worth after thrilling fans on New Year’s Day in a five-round slobberknocker that ended in (what else) a majority draw.
Fortunately, the UFC’s roster is deep enough to furnish Saturday night’s main card with plenty of talented fighters. The match-up I find the most compelling is the heavyweight pairing of former champ Frank Mir vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
What We Know
Originally known for his jiu-jitsu skills, Mir has made a name for himself in recent years as one of the UFC’s more well-rounded big men.
He showcased ever-improving stand-up skills against Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo, but brutal stoppage losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin put his status as a bona fide contender in question.
Roy Nelson is in many ways the anti-Frank Mir; pudgy, irreverent and seemingly incapable of taking himself seriously.
While Nelson drew criticism on TUF for coasting through preliminary bouts, his stunning knock-out of Brendan Schaub in the season finale showcased the former IFL champion’s skill.
Even as Nelson’s egregious mullet and self-deprecating arena entrance (to the tune of Weird Al Yankovic’s “Fat”) provide comic relief, his stunning knock-outs of Schaub and Stefan Struve serve to remind fans and opponents that Nelson is an accomplished and dangerous veteran.
What Could Happen
There’s little question Frank Mir enters this fight with an advantage in nearly every department…at least on paper.
A cerebral, analytical fighter known for tailoring opponent-specific game plans, Mir expects to capitalize on both a discernible size advantage as well as what he believes is superior stand-up technique.
Where Nelson shines is in the intangibles department. Undersized at heavyweight and sporting a giant pot belly, Nelson uses graceful footwork, poise under pressure and deceptive athleticism to turn the tables on opponents, a quality not unlike Fedor Emelianenko.
Nelson’s most recent fight, a decisive loss to No. 1 contender Junior Dos Santos, was nonetheless a competitive brawl that not only showed Nelson’s skill but also his toughness.
Mir may be bigger and in better shape, and he may even have a sound game plan for Nelson, but unfortunately the element of surprise always seems to favor Mir’s opponents.
That trend doesn’t bode well against an opponent like Nelson, who since entering the UFC has only exceeded expectations.
If recent history is any indication, we shouldn’t be shocked to see Roy Nelson walk away with a “Knockout of the Night” bonus.
With the UFC’s experimental FOX television debut safely behind us, commercial-free MMA action returns tonight headlined by one of the most anticipated main events of the year. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua faces off with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson in a long-awaited meeting of the former PRIDE rivals.