It’s not the card it once was, but there’s still a lot to like on Saturday as two UFC titles are up for grabs. The fight card also features something of a number-one contender’s bout at lightweight as well as elite, ranked talent squaring of…
It’s not the card it once was, but there’s still a lot to like on Saturday as two UFC titles are up for grabs. The fight card also features something of a number-one contender’s bout at lightweight as well as elite, ranked talent squaring off for supremacy from flyweight all the way to heavyweight.
When: Saturday, the three-fight Fight Pass card starts at 6:30 p.m. ET, the four-fight Fox Sports 1 main card starts at 8 p.m. and the five-fight pay-per-view card kicks off 10 p.m.
I’ve struggled with this pick quite a bit. If you’re thinking Johnson stuffs takedowns and blasts out Cormier, I don’t see how anyone could possible argue that’s not a rational way to think about this fight. For me, however, I just keep finding myself coming back to Cormier’s patient if overwhelming offense. Johnson’s takedown liabilities are not from the outside where he forces far away doubles. It’s in the clinch, the very space where Cormier has a big bag of tricks. Does that mean the two-time Olympian will be able to get there? We’ll find out. My hunch, though, is that, yes, he will. And once there, ‘Rumble’ is going to be unable to use all of the weapons that make his reformation such a scary thing.
Stranger things have happened, but I’m expecting Weidman to cruise here. He’s going to apply heavy forward pressure, something just shy of reckless. That will help take away Belfort’s timing, range and other building blocks towards meaningful offense. But I don’t think he’ll finish it there. After getting the fight to the floor, I’m betting it’s a combination of brutal ground and pound from tough rides mixed with submission attempts that, one way or the other, force a stoppage before the end of the second round. Weidman’s ability to interweave strikes, sub attempts and punishing rides is too much for almost any middleweight, including Belfort.
This might be more competitive than is anticipated depending on how Cerrone chooses to fight. If he’s really diligent about staying out of punching range, it shouldn’t be too competitive. If he slacks there, however, Makdessi could very well tune him up. On the ground, Cerrone has all the advantages, but Makdessi’s takedown defense is actually pretty sturdy. In the end, I expect Cerrone to pick up the win, but it might go a lot longer than some suggest because of how careful ‘Cowboy’ has to be about opening up his offense.
I’m just not buying the ‘Arlovski is back’ argument. Maybe I’m wrong. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time. But I’m not convinced he beat Brendan Schaub and as we’ve seen, Antonio Silva’s ability to take a shot has been compromised as the years and tough fights have understandably worn on him. Browne, by contrast, is looking quite formidable. His setback against Fabricio Werdum aside, he’s firing on all cylinders. His takedowns are great (as is his defense there), he can punch from range and is totally proactive with pressure. Arlovski’s got the power to end any fight with one shot, but I’m not convinced he can do that against Hapa.
Here are two fighters I couldn’t possibly have more respect for, both for athleticism/technical prowess as well as their unrelenting style of competing. The problem for Moraga, though, is that he’s not quite as fast nor as craft as Benavidez. He is bigger and might be stronger, and that’s worth nothing. But against Benvidez’s ability to get in and out of range as well as transition both on top and underneath to – at a minimum – a neutral position will be too much for Moraga to manage over three rounds.
Former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Tito Ortiz have settled their long-standing legal dispute with former Jackson trainer Juanito Ibarra, according to a press release issued Thursday. In 2009, Ibarra filed suit in Los Angeles, California against both Jackson and Ortiz for various public statements alleging Ibarra had stolen from Jackson and otherwise used Jackson for personal aggrandizement in the course of his role as Jackson’s manager.
“In 2008, I gave an interview to Punch Drunk Gamer entitled ‘Wherever I may roam…..I want the Title.’ In that interview, I made several statements including the allegation that Juanito Ibarra was a thief who had mismanaged the finances and stolen from and taken advantage of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson,” Ortiz said in the release.
“I made these remarks based on what Rampage had told me. After several years in court and review of all the available records, I realize that Mr. Jackson and I were wrong. Juanito didn’t steal from or take advantage of Rampage and he didn’t mismanage Rampage’s money‑it was all accounted for. I regret the effect my words had on Juanito’s life. Juanito is a trainer and manager of superior skills and the fact is, he helped to make Rampage a champion. Anyone would be blessed to be taught by Juanito. So there is no confusion, and so the public and the MMA, boxing and sports community at large know, I retract all of the negative statements, inferences and accusations that I directed at Juanito and sincerely apologize to Juanito and his family. I am grateful to have ended my dispute with Juanito and look forward to refocusing on building a better MMA community with him.”
The release also states Ibarra filed a second, related lawsuit in October of 2012, also related to statements made by Jackson and Ortiz related to the ethics of Ibarra’s management of Jackson. Trial was set for June 22, 2015.
“Juanito Ibarra and I have resolved the lawsuits that have been pending for a number of years,” Jackson said in a released statement. “While we have had our differences in the past, it is all now behind us. Some things were said in the past, which I now retract and I am deeply sorry that they were said. I wish nothing but the best for Juanito in all of his future endeavors and know that he will continue to do the Lord’s work.”
“I’m glad our differences have been resolved,” Ibarra is quoted as saying. “I wish Rampage and Tito the best.”
Former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Tito Ortiz have settled their long-standing legal dispute with former Jackson trainer Juanito Ibarra, according to a press release issued Thursday. In 2009, Ibarra filed suit in Los Angeles, California against both Jackson and Ortiz for various public statements alleging Ibarra had stolen from Jackson and otherwise used Jackson for personal aggrandizement in the course of his role as Jackson’s manager.
“In 2008, I gave an interview to Punch Drunk Gamer entitled ‘Wherever I may roam…..I want the Title.’ In that interview, I made several statements including the allegation that Juanito Ibarra was a thief who had mismanaged the finances and stolen from and taken advantage of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson,” Ortiz said in the release.
“I made these remarks based on what Rampage had told me. After several years in court and review of all the available records, I realize that Mr. Jackson and I were wrong. Juanito didn’t steal from or take advantage of Rampage and he didn’t mismanage Rampage’s money?it was all accounted for. I regret the effect my words had on Juanito’s life. Juanito is a trainer and manager of superior skills and the fact is, he helped to make Rampage a champion. Anyone would be blessed to be taught by Juanito. So there is no confusion, and so the public and the MMA, boxing and sports community at large know, I retract all of the negative statements, inferences and accusations that I directed at Juanito and sincerely apologize to Juanito and his family. I am grateful to have ended my dispute with Juanito and look forward to refocusing on building a better MMA community with him.”
The release also states Ibarra filed a second, related lawsuit in October of 2012, also related to statements made by Jackson and Ortiz related to the ethics of Ibarra’s management of Jackson. Trial was set for June 22, 2015.
“Juanito Ibarra and I have resolved the lawsuits that have been pending for a number of years,” Jackson said in a released statement. “While we have had our differences in the past, it is all now behind us. Some things were said in the past, which I now retract and I am deeply sorry that they were said. I wish nothing but the best for Juanito in all of his future endeavors and know that he will continue to do the Lord’s work.”
“I’m glad our differences have been resolved,” Ibarra is quoted as saying. “I wish Rampage and Tito the best.”
This is episode 139 of the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
The big one is finally here. It’s in the state we’d like it to be thanks to Jon Jones’ shenanigans and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s injuries, but it’s still a great card with a lot to like. The…
This is episode 139 of the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
The big one is finally here. It’s in the state we’d like it to be thanks to Jon Jones‘ shenanigans and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s injuries, but it’s still a great card with a lot to like. There’s still two title fights to enjoy, two different types of redemption stories and a fight card filled with quality match-ups between elite fighters. We’ll take a look at the fights that are most important to you and help break them all down.
The story of UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub and his weird non-beef with UFC President Dana White over the Reebok sponsorship program continues. After Schaub stated publicly he made six figures with his sponsors in his fights, White essentially called…
UFC Fight Night 66 had a lot to like and a lot to dislike. There were decent fights on the main card, a unique start time that freed up one’s evening (for North Americans, anyway), and a feel good story with a retiring veteran. But there was…
UFC Fight Night 66 had a lot to like and a lot to dislike. There were decent fights on the main card, a unique start time that freed up one’s evening (for North Americans, anyway), and a feel good story with a retiring veteran. But there was also a slow broadcast, a somewhat boring main event and fighters on the preliminary card who don’t rate competing in the world’s most exclusive MMA organization.
It’s time to talk about the best and worst, the winners and the losers and the signal and the noise from Saturday’s fights.
It would’ve been nice for Munoz to have won a middleweight UFC title. It would’ve been nice for him to finish Luke Barnatt in his last fight. Many other things could’ve taken place in a world of fiction that would’ve made for a nicer story, but the world we live in is not that one. In our reality, Munoz had a highly respectable career, but one that never saw him get very close to UFC gold. It’s also one that saw his many highs met with humiliating lows.
Like virtually everyone else who exits this game, he was headed for a departure where he left the game on his hands and knees. This is a sport that kills off its elderly in almost artistic ways. There is no reverence for their past, only a need to feed off what’s left of their present.
The fact is, though, getting out before getting maimed is partly good timing from the fighter. Whatever else his shortcomings, Munoz is no fool. He knew the end was near and wanted to plan his exit as quickly, but appropriately as possible.
That it dovetailed with a full circle moment in the Philippines is almost magic. And while his post-fight speech was no Lou Gehrig’s ‘I consider myself…’ moment, it was something he earned. Munoz never carried UFC gold, but he invested enough in others and the organization to get a moment of reverence that not even former champions typically get. Maybe that’s not as good as having worn a championship belt, but it’s also not something that’s up for grabs very often.
Sport jiu-jitsu is great. The Miyao brothers are two of the best to do it. They’re not only dominant (and have been since blue belt), but somewhat technically innovative. They didn’t invent the berimbolo, but they’ve certainly done a lot to develop the attack.
That said, I don’t particularly find their way of competing enjoyable to watch. Against someone who knows their game, it creates long battles from 50-50 guard or outright stall positions. I’ll never challenge the fact of their dominance or technical development, but I’m hard pressed to say they’re entertaining given my preferences.
Being high level is a form of automatic preference, but one that’s very basic. Within high-level fighting, there are still some fighters who are more action oriented than others. There are fights that end up being more action oriented than others. It’s not wrong to say a fight was technical, high-level and in a general sense pleasing all while acknowledging it was a touch on the boring side.
A fight that’s high-level and somewhat boring isn’t another way of saying it’s bad. Far from it, but we don’t have to pretend to like something because it’s necessarily elite. We have to respect it, for sure. And with that baseline of respect comes genuine admiration. All of those things, however, are not the same as outright entertainment.
Every once in a while, we all find ourselves with cognitive blinders on. I clearly has as it relates to Neil Magny. He’s a fighter who has easily improved, but I failed to give him his proper due. In his fight on Saturday, he didn’t just show mettle to withstand an early barrage. He also showed technical savvy and perhaps most importantly, a little meanness in his offense. There was an edge missing to the things he was doing right. Whatever he’s done in the gym, however, has given him edge and then some. He’s surging through the UFC, deserves an opponent with legitimate name value and more recognition for his work, especially from persistent skeptics like me.
4. Least Desireable Aspect of the Event: Fox Sports 1 Pacing
Fox Sports 1 is a new station. It competes in a very tough space with other sports networks. It doesn’t have all the exclusive rights to air games from some of the top leagues. UFC – like NASCAR and MLB – has been a boon for them. Numbers relative to the general audience balloon when UFC events air. They have an incentive, therefore, to keep that audience on the network longer than one would where UFC did good if unspectacular ratings.
All of this results in main card broadcasts dragging. Look, we get it. There’s a reason this is happening, but that’s Fox Sports 1’s cross to bear. Whatever else the slow-moving broadcast is, it’s hard to argue the pacing is in the viewers’ interest. Sure, the analysts at the desk are great. Jon Anik and Brian Stann provide plenty of entertaining banter as well, but there’s a question of necessity and consumer preference here. Are those production elements really more favorable to the broadcast from the audience’s point of view? There’s ample reason to believe they’re not.
5. Most Unbelievable Fact: Royston Wee Fights in the UFC
I believe in international expansion. I believe the UFC is right when they say their product is more mobile than American football. I believe it’s the right call to want make efforts at generating revenue beyond the confines of North American pay-per-view buys. I also believe, however, that there’s a limit to what is possible before the product starts to suffer. The UFC has more of the top talent in one place now than ever, but they are spread amidst fighters who incontestably fall below the common standard of excellence set by the UFC itself. Whether the existing fan base will notice or care is an important if slightly separate debate, but it’s altogether real. Wee, and many other fighters like him, are simply not up to snuff, but have value being graded on a curve for the brand’s push into emergent markets. It’s not clear if this strategy will ultimately work, although one can see why UFC might try. Either way, however, a weird dynamic is created. We are at once treated to a product of surpassing greatness mixed with mundane non-necessity. If the UFC is going make a special effort to air the preliminary cards – something virtually everyone applauds – shouldn’t a requisite effort be made to ensure the aforementioned common standard is upheld?
This seems like a no-brainer, right? Mousasi is ranked above Bisping, but Bisping’s name value is still high. The British middleweight also will do the heavy lifting promotionally and fights in a fan-friendly style. It’s the kind of fight that could headline a Fight Night or serve as a valuable anchor on a pay-per-view card. And if you’re Bisping, you can be reasonably sure your opponent isn’t on any performance-enhancing drug, a relative rarity for him. This suggestion from Mousasi is daft. There’s not much to dislike about this potential pairing.
7. Least Plausible Argument: Overseas Fights Are for Overseas Audiences
It’s true UFC Fight Night 66 was for the Philippines. After all, it took place there. More to the point, it was staged in that country at a time more suited to their interests and calendars than ours. That it transpired at a time where it could also be aired in the U.S. was just a bonus.
What the entire situation underscores, however, is the event wasn’t merely for the Philippines and not by coincidence either. That’d be true even if it had aired on Fight Pass instead of Fox Sports 1. Any time ranked fighters are competing for potential title shots – and both are American – the idea of native sons competing mostly for native glory goes out the window. More than that, though, is the Fox Sports 1 element. They don’t have the rights to playoff hockey or basketball. They need content right now, even if it airs at inopportune time. So, here we have a situation where former American champions arguably in title contention are fighting live on American television networks, but we are lead to believe that any decline in overall card quality is above criticism because there’s a larger market growth effort in play. If fans don’t notice or care about sub-UFC threshold fighters competing on UFC, then so be it. But the argument that these cards aren’t just staged overseas, but built for them is demonstrably false. UFC Fight Night 66 took place in Manila, but it was purposefully built to pull in more than hardcore audiences.
Alright, it’s not Monday. It’s Tuesday. I get that. But hey, better late than never, I hope? I won’t bore you with my excuses because I can’t imagine you’re interested in them. By hook or by crook, the podcast is here and we’re talking UFC Fight Ni…
Alright, it’s not Monday. It’s Tuesday. I get that. But hey, better late than never, I hope? I won’t bore you with my excuses because I can’t imagine you’re interested in them. By hook or by crook, the podcast is here and we’re talking UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber as well as Bellator 137.
As is customary, more in the week from combat sports:
MMA pioneer, UFC Hall of Famer and Bellator heavyweight Ken Shamrock spoke to SB Nation/MMA Fighting in Las Vegas where he discussed his Bellator 138 bout opposite Kimbo Slice, training to avoid injuries, whether there should be a fighters’ union a…
MMA pioneer, UFC Hall of Famer and Bellator heavyweight Ken Shamrock spoke to SB Nation/MMA Fighting in Las Vegas where he discussed his Bellator 138 bout opposite Kimbo Slice, training to avoid injuries, whether there should be a fighters’ union and whether the critics who say he shouldn’t be fighting have a point.
