Author: Nathan McCarter

UFC 159: 5 Fights for Roy Nelson to Take Next

Roy Nelson took out Cheick Kongo at UFC 159 with a swift overhand right. “Big Country’s” power claimed another victim in the first round.That makes three straight TKO or KO victories for Nelson. The No. 6 heavyweight could possibly move up another notc…

Roy Nelson took out Cheick Kongo at UFC 159 with a swift overhand right. “Big Country’s” power claimed another victim in the first round.

That makes three straight TKO or KO victories for Nelson. The No. 6 heavyweight could possibly move up another notch or two in the organizational rankings.

It is clear that Nelson will have a premier bout in his next Octagon appearance, but is unclear whom he will meet. Several top fighters are already booked, and timing may be the biggest factor in selecting Nelson’s next opponent.

Here are five fights that Nelson could take for his next appearance inside the Octagon.

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Will the UFC 159 Fight Card Be a Letdown in the Wake of UFC on Fox 7?

UFC 159 has a tough act to follow. UFC on Fox 7 surprised many by being one of the best cards, top to bottom, of the year. Eight fights were finished by T/KO. That tied a UFC record. And nearly every other fight delivered as well. Can UFC 159 compete w…

UFC 159 has a tough act to follow.

UFC on Fox 7 surprised many by being one of the best cards, top to bottom, of the year. Eight fights were finished by T/KO. That tied a UFC record. And nearly every other fight delivered as well.

Can UFC 159 compete with that, or will fans view it as a letdown? That’s a tough question, but I don’t think they will. I don’t think fans will directly compare the two events.

They have had a week to come back down from the high of last week, and the focus is on Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen. The focus is not on the complete card. Everyone is anticipating the main event, and not much else. That actually gives this card a chance to surprise many with competitive, fun bouts.

If these fights cards were held on back-to-back evenings there may be a chance that no matter what happens everyone would view it as a letdown. The consistent and violent finishes would still be fresh in our brains to condition us what to expect from UFC 159.

However, I think most recognize that UFC on Fox 7 was an event out of the norm. We understand that  the excitement witnessed last week does not happen on every card.

UFC 159 has a chance to be impressive on its own merit, and not be considered a letdown after the seventh installment of UFC on Fox.

The Facebook prelim has two fights that could get things started off on the right track. Steven Siler and Kurt Holobaugh will kick off the night, and Leonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzie make up the final Facebook prelim. Both featherweight scraps have the chance to be really exciting.

When the event hits FX, all four bouts should provide quality action. There are no guarantees of a finish, but they are seemingly good bouts on paper.

Bryan Caraway vs. Johnny Bedford is a dark horse candidate for Fight of the Night, the women have continually brought quality action to our television screens, Gian Villante and Ovince St. Preux should showcase their skills and Rustam Khabilov vs. Yancy Medeiros will be a fun lightweight tilt.

Those four fights should deliver.

The pay-per-view features some of the top talent in the company.

Jim Miller and Pat Healy may not jump off the page as a Fight of the Night contender, but these gritty lightweights can surprise. Vinny Magalhaes and Phil Davis will try and make a statement for their aspirations in the light heavyweight division.

The three key bouts of the evening should have significant interest behind them. And that helps play in to the psyche of the fans. Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo will try to knock each other out, Michael Bisping vs. Alan Belcher will determine another contender in the middleweight division and then it will be time for the highly anticipated main event.

Will UFC 159 be a letdown? I don’t think so. I give the fans more credit than that. They understand this is a separate event with its own merits. UFC on Fox 7 was the aberration. UFC 159 will continue the excitement that the UFC gives us with nearly every event.

That will be good enough to keep the naysayers away.

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UFC 159: 5 Things to Watch for During Jones vs Sonnen Fight Card

UFC 159 will cap off April’s MMA action with a light heavyweight title match between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.Top to bottom the UFC delivers another card with a mixture of exciting scraps and meaningful divisional bouts.The New Jersey crowd was…

UFC 159 will cap off April’s MMA action with a light heavyweight title match between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.

Top to bottom the UFC delivers another card with a mixture of exciting scraps and meaningful divisional bouts.

The New Jersey crowd was vocal at the weigh-ins. Expect the noise to be turned up even more on fight night. Polarizing figures like Jon Jones and Michael Bisping will bring out the best, or worst, in the live crowd and make it a memorable evening.

Here are five things to watch for at UFC 159.

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UFC 159: 5 Reasons Jon Jones Is a Lock to Defeat Chael Sonnen at UFC 159

UFC 159 will see Jon Jones defend his UFC light heavyweight crown for the fifth time. A win will tie him with Tito Ortiz for the most defenses of that particular title.And he will win. Most likely, he will do so in devastating fashion.As much as fans a…

UFC 159 will see Jon Jones defend his UFC light heavyweight crown for the fifth time. A win will tie him with Tito Ortiz for the most defenses of that particular title.

And he will win. Most likely, he will do so in devastating fashion.

As much as fans and media love Chael Sonnen‘s pre-fight hype game, it does not make him a credible contender for Jones. Jones is one of the best in the world regardless of weight and the absolute best in this weight class. He is head and shoulders above everyone else.

Jones is not going to lose this fight.

Here are five reasons Jones will run through Sonnen this Saturday.

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UFC 159: Which Fighter Has the Most to Lose?

UFC 159’s main card has several interesting fights with a lot on the line. The undercard features fighters outside the title picture in their respective divisions. Wins will naturally help their case, but it won’t thrust any of them significantly up th…

UFC 159‘s main card has several interesting fights with a lot on the line.

The undercard features fighters outside the title picture in their respective divisions. Wins will naturally help their case, but it won’t thrust any of them significantly up the ladder. A loss won’t hurt their chances dramatically.

The main card is different.

It opens with a big fight in the lightweight division. Jim Miller is coming off a fight-of-the-year candidate against Joe Lauzon at UFC 155, and he is trying to get back into title contention. His opponent, Pat Healy, is trying to do the same.

In the light heavyweight division, Phil Davis will try to ruin Vinny Magalhaes‘ return to the UFC and assert himself back into the thick of things alongside Alexander Gustafsson. Davis was at one time right by Jon Jones as the new blood in the division, but Rashad Evans set him back.

Heavyweights Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo will try and knock each other out. A loss for either man will hurt their chances for a contender’s bout in the near future. Nelson has won two in a row, and Kongo is coming off a lackluster win against Shawn Jordan.

Those men all have plenty to lose on Saturday, but a loss won’t dramatically alter each man’s current trajectory. It will simply send them back to the drawing board.

The man who has the most to immediately lose at UFC 159 is Michael Bisping.

Bisping may have lost by TKO to Vitor Belfort in his last fight, but Bisping remains one of the best middleweights in the world. Also, he remains one of the fan favorites. Fans still want to see him get a shot at the championship.

Back-to-back losses would likely remove Bisping from title contention for the rest of his career. He is no longer a spring chicken.

A win would put him right back at the top of the division and could even lead to a title shot depending on how everything works out ahead of him. At the very least, he would probably have a contender’s fight in his next outing. He is fighting for big things on Saturday.

Alan Belcher will have something to say about that.

Belcher is coming off a loss to Yushin Okami just as he was making his way up the list of contenders. He has a lot to fight for in this bout, too, but Bisping‘s drawing power is what sets them a part. It gives Bisping an edge in earning meaningful fights, which could lead to gold.

With the possibility of a title shot looming, and at the very least a contender’s bout, Bisping has the most to lose on Saturday. It could be his last chance to make a run at the championship.

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Why Bryan Caraway vs. Johnny Bedford Will Win Fight of the Night at UFC 159

UFC 159 features 12 fights on its card, but many do not jump off the page as potential Fight of the Night contenders for one reason or another. One key condition to winning the Fight of the Night bonus is that it must be competitive. That eliminates se…

UFC 159 features 12 fights on its card, but many do not jump off the page as potential Fight of the Night contenders for one reason or another.

One key condition to winning the Fight of the Night bonus is that it must be competitive. That eliminates several bouts on the card including the main event. Anything can happen in MMA, but playing the odds would eliminate those fights from contention.

After you single out the competitive fights it comes down to stylistic matchups. While Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy is an anticipated fight for purists, it is not a stylistic matchup that will consistently give you the Fight of the Night. They are two smart fighters who will not brawl for the fans’ pleasure. They both have too much to lose.

The women of the UFC have come through in the first two fights, but aren’t likely to do the same the third time around. Sheila Gaff and Sara McMann are exceptional talents, but Gaff is fighting a weight class above where she normally fights. McMann should control this fight with her wrestling. It won’t be as exciting as the previous two bantamweight scraps.

So, who will step up for the bonus money?

Anytime Leonard Garcia is involved in a fight, he has to be noticed in regards to the post-fight awards. He and Cody McKenzie can provide a brawl that many of the members of the audience will enjoy. But that’s not going to win the cash.

A sleeper pick for Fight of the Night, and the one I think walks away with the bonus money, is Bryan Caraway vs. Johnny Bedford: two young fighters who are hungry to make an impression.

Caraway and Bedford have diverse arsenals, and the bantamweights will be willing to exchange in a barnburner. It will be the first fight on the FX prelims, and it will get the crowd pumped up for the night’s action. It will set the tone.

Caraway has nabbed a bonus before. At UFC 149 he took Fight of the Night honors for a submission win over Mitch Gagnon. Bedford has been exciting to watch in his outings, but Caraway will give him a different look that will make the fight more dynamic and exciting.

Neither of these bantamweights are on the contender’s radar: they both have something to prove. Throwing caution to the wind and getting to business inside the Octagon will increase their stock to fans and other fighters in the division.

When these two enter the cage you will want to have your televisions tuned to FX. They will set the bar for the rest of the night with an exciting, fast-paced bout. It is a tight matchup where either man can win, and they will likely split the first two rounds.

Bedford and Caraway will leave it all out in the cage, and they will be rewarded with a little extra on their paychecks.

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