Author: Mike Hodges

UFC 143 Results: Carlos Condit Should Have Received a Title Shot All Along

When it was all said and done, Carlos Condit triumphed over Nick Diaz in a competitive bout that will now see him matched up against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre later this year.Throughout five rounds, Condit battled with Diaz and neutra…

When it was all said and done, Carlos Condit triumphed over Nick Diaz in a competitive bout that will now see him matched up against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre later this year.

Throughout five rounds, Condit battled with Diaz and neutralized his walk-and-stalk boxing style with effective counterstriking and the implementation of good footwork with angles and movement. 

Condit approached the bout with a very good strategy that seemed to mentally affect Diaz heading into the championship rounds—a different approach from Condit’s usual style of an aggressive attack. 

With the win, it sets up an intriguing title bout with St-Pierre, but it was the one bout that most fans ignored in favour of a more marketable matchup with Diaz. The UFC invested a lot of time and money in the former Strikeforce welterweight titleholder in order to bring in a formidable challenger for the dominant champion.

The former WEC welterweight champion showed that Diaz’s high-volume attack and superior cardio could be beaten, and also proved that his style was rather one-dimensional and easy to figure out. As for Condit, he is more well-versed on the feet and throws different combinations with a variety of strikes—something Diaz seldom does.

Condit was the better fighter than Diaz and will be a challenge for St-Pierre, bringing a more well-rounded skill set into the bout.

Condit will now enter the biggest bout of his career against arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

Some fans may not be satisfied with the result, but Condit deserved the victory and is capable of hanging with the welterweight division’s elite fighters. 

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UFC 143 Fight Card: What Roy Nelson Needs to do to Defeat Fabricio Werdum

After picking up a much-needed win over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137, Roy Nelson finds himself back in the Octagon at UFC 143 against another heavyweight veteran in Fabricio Werdum.If Nelson can get another big win over an experienced competitor like Werdu…

After picking up a much-needed win over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137, Roy Nelson finds himself back in the Octagon at UFC 143 against another heavyweight veteran in Fabricio Werdum.

If Nelson can get another big win over an experienced competitor like Werdum, “Big Country” could be elevated up the rankings, put into possible title contention. 

In order to be successful against the Brazilian, Nelson is going to have to get inside of his opponent early to eliminate distance and try to land strikes inside the pocket. In doing so, Nelson would be able to prevent Werdum from having any advantage with his height and reach.

Although he should be aware of not getting too close, Nelson’s clinch and grappling are often an underrated aspect of his game that not many fans are familiar seeing. Therefore he won’t be hesitant to clinch with Werdum and use his weight to wear out some of his cardio. Nelson does need to be careful of Werdum landing elbows or uppercuts from the clinch, or possibly pulling guard for a submission attempt. 

Nelson’s submission skills have also been underutilized since coming to the UFC, as he owns nine career victories by submission, but against a specialist like Werdum, Nelson should avoid the canvas at all costs.

Mainly, Nelson will want to keep this bout on the feet for as long as he can. Werdum has shown to have progressed in his striking, but he has succumbed to some of the sport’s elite strikers.

If Nelson can get inside of his opponent, cutting of the distance, and land some combinations, it is more than likely he can catch Werdum on the chin and force a stoppage.

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UFC 143 Predictions: Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce

Josh Koscheck will look to remain in contention at 170 pounds as he faces off against welterweight prospect Mike Pierce at UFC 143.Coming off a recent knockout victory over Matt Hughes at UFC 135, Koscheck will try to establish his dominance against Pi…

Josh Koscheck will look to remain in contention at 170 pounds as he faces off against welterweight prospect Mike Pierce at UFC 143.

Coming off a recent knockout victory over Matt Hughes at UFC 135, Koscheck will try to establish his dominance against Pierce as he attempts to earn another chance at challenging for the UFC welterweight title. The former NCAA Division I wrestler has fallen short on two separate occasions to Georges St-Pierre, but he will hope to embark on a new path if he can gain momentum and get his second straight win.

Pierce is as tough as they come, however. Despite losing to elite wrestlers in Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks, has steadily climbed up the rankings, but has yet to make an immediate impact and convince fans that he can contend for a future title shot. If he is able to get the win over Koscheck, he’ll have a better opportunity at making that claim.

Koscheck is one of the division’s world-class wrestlers and he also holds knockout power in his right hand. While not necessarily the most technical striker, “Kos” can impose his will on his opponents and put them in danger with a single shot. 

Pierce is also not the most gifted striker, technically, and relies on his one-punch knockout power as well. 

Historically, Pierce has not fared well against elite grapplers and it will show once again in a bout with Koscheck. He might win some of the exchanges on the feet, but Koscheck’s wrestling is difficult to defend against and will constantly apply pressure on the 30-year-old Pierce, taking him down and controlling him, and he will pick up the victory via unanimous decision.

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Dan Henderson Is Content on Waiting for a UFC Light Heavyweight Title Shot

A current owner of four consecutive victories, Dan Henderson finds himself in title contention, but he isn’t in a hurry to get back into the Octagon just yet.After turning down a proposed bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on FUEL 2, Henderson h…

A current owner of four consecutive victories, Dan Henderson finds himself in title contention, but he isn’t in a hurry to get back into the Octagon just yet.

After turning down a proposed bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on FUEL 2, Henderson has decided to sit and wait for a shot at the light heavyweight title.

Henderson defended himself in an interview on Clinch Gear Radio, saying he felt it wasn’t a bout fans would be interested in. More importantly, Henderson said he was unsure as to who would receive the next shot between him and Rashad Evans. However, after Evans got past Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2, it was clear that Henderson would remain on the sidelines.

But after making his decision, UFC President Dana White announced that the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion would meet the winner of Jon Jones and Rashad Evans.

“Dan Henderson’s in a position right now where it looks like he wants to wait for Jon Jones,” White told MMAJunkie.com.

Having collected three straight wins in Strikeforce, Henderson returned to the UFC to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139. Henderson would triumph over the Brazilian and earn the victory via unanimous decision in a competitive five-round bout.

With Jones and Evans expected to square off in April, it is likely that Henderson makes a summer or fall return. 

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Dana White Says Jon Jones’ Move to Heavyweight Division Will "Happen Eventually"

Jon Jones’ aspirations of competing in the heavyweight division are not likely to occur in the immediate future.The 205-pound champion has recently expressed an interest in moving up a weight class following his next few title defenses, but UFC Preside…

Jon Jones’ aspirations of competing in the heavyweight division are not likely to occur in the immediate future.

The 205-pound champion has recently expressed an interest in moving up a weight class following his next few title defenses, but UFC President Dana White shot down the notion of a potential move during UFC 143 press conference.

“It’s going to happen eventually, but I don’t think it’ll be happening this year,” White told MMAJunkie.com.

Jones’ unprecedented run throughout the light heavyweight division has seen him defeat the likes of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida in the span of one year.

Jones’ next title defense will come against Rashad Evans, when the former teammates headline UFC 145 in April. 

Having already dispatched three former champions so far, the possibility of seeing the 24-year-old transition to the heavyweight division is highly likely, as “Bones” has yet to enter his prime years as a fighter and continues to fill out his frame.

Until then, White said Jones still have plenty of challengers aiming for a title shot before he cleans out the light heavyweight division.

“There are still guys there to fight him,” he said. “He’s still young … so I’m not interested in him fighting at heavyweight this year.”

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Nick Diaz: "Maybe Georges (St-Pierre) Isn’t Really Hurt"

Nick Diaz still isn’t buying Georges St-Pierre’s knee injury.
Diaz is obviously a man of few words, feeling the need to express himself inside the Octagon rather than in front of the media. However, during a pre-fight interview, Diaz brought up the cha…

Nick Diaz still isn’t buying Georges St-Pierre’s knee injury.

Diaz is obviously a man of few words, feeling the need to express himself inside the Octagon rather than in front of the media. However, during a pre-fight interview, Diaz brought up the champion’s current rehabilitation and questioned the legitimacy of his injury.

“Maybe Georges isn’t really hurt,” Diaz said. “I’ve had friends who have had surgery on their knee. I’ll let you chop my knee open, I’ll guarantee you I won’t be fighting for the next year.”

It’s the same question Diaz pondered during his UFC 137 post-fight interview, which infuriated St-Pierre and forced him to demand a title bout with the Strikeforce welterweight champion.

The champion will be paying close attention to the main event this weekend, as he is hoping Diaz can emerge victorious so he can get his long-awaited title bout with the Stockton, California native. 

With St-Pierre sidelined until November, Diaz said he would be open to taking another bout, but he would prefer to not fight all the time.

“I don’t like to fight a lot because I do fight a lot so I don’t have much choice in this,” he said. “If you ask me, in my opinion, it’s like they’re trying to beat me down and take me out. I don’t get a break.”

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