In the UFC there is no offseason. Fight fans can still get their fix in 2012 with some very exciting events remaining.2012 has been far from uneventful so far, as we’ve witnessed some big fights and even bigger changes in the UFC. Longtime champion Geo…
In the UFC there is no offseason. Fight fans can still get their fix in 2012 with some very exciting events remaining.
2012 has been far from uneventful so far, as we’ve witnessed some big fights and even bigger changes in the UFC. Longtime champion Georges St-Pierre is no longer the sole welterweight belt holder after suffering a severe knee injury. No. 1 contender Carlos Condit is the interim champion after going to war with Nick Diaz in a five-round bout last February.
Just as surprising this year was the changing of the tides in the lightweight division in February. Former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson took the belt from Frankie Edgar in a unanimous decision. So begins a new era.
Expect even more action and changes to come with big cards left in 2012. Here are the year’s 10 best remaining UFC events.
UFC on FOX 2 is just a day away and fight fans are gearing up for what is sure to be a night of action-packed fights and pure entertainment.The fact that this event is free on prime-time television is unbelievable considering some of the matchups that …
UFC on FOX 2 is just a day away and fight fans are gearing up for what is sure to be a night of action-packed fights and pure entertainment.
The fact that this event is free on prime-time television is unbelievable considering some of the matchups that will be featured in Saturday’s main card and prelims.
Among those scheduled fights there are four very intriguing matchups that no fan should miss.
Invincible is a term rarely used in the UFC. Only a handful of fighters in the world are even considered to posses invincibility but even fewer men are able to prove themselves worthy of the title.Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones moved one step clo…
Invincible is a term rarely used in the UFC. Only a handful of fighters in the world are even considered to posses invincibility but even fewer men are able to prove themselves worthy of the title.
Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones moved one step closer to invincibility on Saturday in his second title defense against former champion Lyoto Machida. After just two rounds Jones managed to put Machida to sleep with a nasty standing guillotine choke thus improving his record to 9-1 in the UFC. In his last six fights, Jones has run through top flight opponents including three former champions in Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida.
Jones’ next opponent will likely come out of a Jan. 28 matchup between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis that is scheduled for UFC on FOX 2. Both men are talented wrestlers and would pose a realistic threat to Jones’ throne, but there is only one true challenger capable of ending Jones’ reign with skills almost identical to the champion.
Long before Jones was even competing in the sport, middleweight king Anderson Silva was already creating his legacy in the UFC. The pound-for-pound best fighter in the world has long been considered invincible in his five-year reign over the middleweight division. In 2009 Silva showcased his dominance with a stunning first-round knockout of Forrest Griffin in his first appearance at light-heavyweight. Since then Silva has not attempted to fight again at light-heavyweight, but a showdown with Jones would certainly be considered a mega-fight for the UFC.
Silva and Jones are almost mirror images of each other. Both men are flashy strikers with long arms and legs. Silva’s Muay Thai is second to none and some of the moves he’s pulled off in the cage look like they came from a scene in The Matrix or a Kung Fu film. Jones’ striking style is similar in the sense that he uses his long reach and wild striking to surprise opponents while still maintaining a safe distance. Jones also possesses outstanding wrestling ability. If I had to guess who would win this fight right now I wouldn’t be able to give a confident answer. I do know however that Silva would present the biggest challenge to Jones, and fans would be able to witness one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Until Dana White and the UFC make this fight happen I can’t see Jones losing to anyone in the near future.
With the countdown to UFC 140 winding down to just a few days, the television promo for Saturday’s championship fight runs more frequently to build up an event that is centered around the motto of “Art comes alive.”There’s no denying that both Lyoto Ma…
With the countdown to UFC 140 winding down to just a few days, the television promo for Saturday’s championship fight runs more frequently to build up an event that is centered around the motto of “Art comes alive.”
There’s no denying that both Lyoto Machida and Jon Jones are two of the most technically sound fighters in the Light Heavyweight division; but sometimes technique can make for boring fights. Only true MMA fans will appreciate the type of precise striking and defensive maneuvers that will take place between Machida and Jones. However, if you’re the type of fan that enjoys an all-out brawl with a big knockout ending, then you may want to hold off on forking over those $65 to watch it at home.
Flying knees, spinning back-elbows and wild kicks are just a few of the mind-blowing moves Jones possesses in his arsenal. But until now, he’s faced opponents who enjoy standing toe-to-toe and banging out victories. The concept of beating Jones to the punch is an unimaginable feat considering he has the longest reach in the UFC at 84.5 inches. Which is why all of his opponents have failed miserably with their aggressive nature.
Machida presents a completely different game plan that no other fighter is capable of mimicking. For years many fighters were unable to find a way to defeat Machida when he was on his way to winning the Light Heavyweight championship. Like Jones, Machida’s masterful technique and quickness present a number of problems for aggressive opponents.
So why do these two skillful fighters make for a dull fight?
A lot of defense is going to be played here on the part of Machida. The karate fighter’s style employs swift in-and-out attacks and lots of moving around the cage. This is no knock to Machida as a fighter; but that evasive style will make Jones just look average in the cage.
Jones will probably do a lot striking from the outside and use leg kicks to wear down Machida’s movement. Also, Jones may be a little more reserved when it comes to unleashing his wild kicks and aerial attacks, because Machida thrives on missed opportunities. One mistake by Jones and he may be on the other end of a flurry.
I truly hope I’m wrong and that Saturday’s championship fight will be filled with fast-paced action and a possible finish. But history has shown that the majority of Machida’s fights go the distance; and on the four occasions he’s finished fights, it’s because his opponents either made a mistake or were too aggressive with their attacks thus subjecting them to his style of fighting.
Invincible is a term rarely used in the UFC. Only a handful of fighters in the world are even considered to posses invincibility but even fewer men are able to prove themselves worthy of the title.