Author: Nathan McCarter

UFC 152 Fight Card: Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort Drinking Game

UFC 152 will come to your television screen live from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Saturday evening.The event kicks off with three fights for free on Facebook, and then moves to FX for four more preliminary fights. The five-fight PPV telecast wi…

UFC 152 will come to your television screen live from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Saturday evening.

The event kicks off with three fights for free on Facebook, and then moves to FX for four more preliminary fights. The five-fight PPV telecast will begin promptly at 10 p.m. ET and is headlined by two championship bouts.

Jon Jones defends his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Vitor Belfort, and Demetrious Johnson squares off against Joseph Benavidez in the first ever UFC Flyweight Championship fight.

After you make your predictions and settle in for the event, make sure to have a few cold ones ready for the fights and play along with the UFC 152 drinking game. That is, of course, if you are of legal drinking age.

 

Drink one…each time Mike Goldberg is not back to the mic in time after taking a bathroom break. This is a Joe Rogan-created rule. When Rogan takes over duties when a fighter is walking to the cage it means that Goldberg has not returned from the bathroom.

Drink one…for each knockout and submission on the card.

Drink one…when a fighter has brazenly put his own face on his banner. It is a disturbing trend that needs to end.

Drink one…every time you hear “he’s rocked”.

Drink one…each time Walel Watson’s height is discussed. At 5’11”, he is one of the tallest in the Bantamweight division, and they like to make sure the fans know that just in case they are blind.

Drink one…for the missing “m” in Jimy Hettes name. Seriously, where did it go?

Finish your drink…if Sean Sherk is mentioned during the Evan Dunham fight. Because we should all continue to try and forget the judging injustice that occurred at UFC 119.

Finish your drink before the pay-per-view broadcast begins…

Drink one…for Matt Hamill’s choice of entrance music.

Finish your drink…salute the Old Glory, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance if Brain Stann defeats Michael Bisping. It is the patriotic thing to do.

Drink one…and yell “Oil Can Harry!” every time they refer to Demetrious Johnson as Mighty Mouse.

Drink one…every time Team Alpha Male is referenced. Because you too are an alpha male (or female).

Drink one…for every mention of God between Jones and Belfort. You should probably start praying right now.

Pour one out…in remembrance of UFC 151. The show that Jon Jones and Greg Jackson killed.

Finish your drink…order another, finish it, and call a cab if Jones’ eyelid gets cut by Belfort‘s glove.

 

This is only a game. Please remember to drink responsibility and enjoy the fights.

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UFC 152 Fight Card: 3 Keys to Victory for Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson enters UFC 152 as the underdog in the UFC flyweight tournament finals against Joseph Benavidez.The former UFC bantamweight title contender brings a 15-2-1 overall record to the Octagon.Johnson battled to a draw against Ian McCall in …

Demetrious Johnson enters UFC 152 as the underdog in the UFC flyweight tournament finals against Joseph Benavidez.

The former UFC bantamweight title contender brings a 15-2-1 overall record to the Octagon.

Johnson battled to a draw against Ian McCall in March, but defeated him in a rematch in June to advance to the finals. It was a much more grueling path to the flyweight championship match than Benavidez had to endure.

The quick flyweight is one of the most well-rounded in mixed martial arts today. He brings a complete tool kit to the Octagon.

The co-main event will crown the UFC’s first ever 125-pound champion. Here are three keys to victory for Johnson.

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Vitor Belfort and 5 More Unlikely UFC Title Challengers

UFC 152 puts Vitor Belfort back in a title fight for the first time since being front kicked in the face by Anderson Silva. The middleweight contender will challenge for the light heavyweight gold due to contenders turning down fights and a string of i…

UFC 152 puts Vitor Belfort back in a title fight for the first time since being front kicked in the face by Anderson Silva. The middleweight contender will challenge for the light heavyweight gold due to contenders turning down fights and a string of injuries.

When Dan Henderson pulled out of UFC 151, Belfort’s name did not come up in the discussion of replacements. When the event was canceled, it was just assumed Lyoto Machida would then accept the fight against Jon Jones. That did not happen.

Now, Belfort takes advantage of an unlikely opportunity in Toronto.

Over the course of UFC history, there have been several other unlikely title challengers.

Here are five other unlikely title contenders that have challenged for UFC gold.

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UFC 152 Fight Card: Why Jon Jones Will Demolish Vitor Belfort

Jon Jones will continue to showcase why he is the most dominant UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in history when he demolishes Vitor Belfort at UFC 152. Belfort is outmatched and Jones will show it in dynamic fashion. In the wrestling department, Jones h…

Jon Jones will continue to showcase why he is the most dominant UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in history when he demolishes Vitor Belfort at UFC 152.

Belfort is outmatched and Jones will show it in dynamic fashion.

In the wrestling department, Jones has a significant advantage. The UFC Light Heavyweight Champion will be able to dictate where this fight takes place. That is a big advantage. Belfort has worked on his wrestling abilities over the years, but it does not come close to Jones’ abilities.

The former junior-college wrestler has been able to out-wrestle everyone he has faced to date. And that includes the likes of Matt Hamill and former All-American Ryan Bader. Belfort is no match for Jones in this department.

If he does hit the mat, Jones also has the advantage there. His ground and pound is brutal. His long limbs allow him to generate more power in tighter spaces. He has showcased his brutal ground-striking ability against most of his opponents, but none more impressive than breaking Brandon Vera’s orbital bone with a nasty elbow.

His length has also helped his submission attacks. He submitted Bader, Jake O’Brien and Lyoto Machida inside the Octagon. He put Machida to sleep in his second title defense and dropped him like sack of potatoes.

Defensively, it has also helped. Against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, he was able to use his length to keep Shogun from diving under and grabbing a leg. He avoided a potential leg lock and being swept. His control from on top is extraordinary. Belfort does not have the jiu-jitsu to threaten the champion.

Where Belfort could pull off an upset is on the feet. No one will deny his explosive power. However, against Jones it will be dealt with expertly.

The champion utilizes his reach better than any fighter in the world. It also allows him to be creative with his striking. With Greg Jackson in his corner, he has developed into one of the best strategic fighters as well.

Belfort has to get inside Jones’ reach in order to land his powerful punches. Jackson and Jones know that and will keep him on the outside and render him useless.

At every turn Jones will make Belfort look as if he does not belong inside the cage with him. It is not that Belfort is not a good fighter, but a testament to how good Jones truly is. He is the greatest 205-pound fighter in mixed martial arts history. And he is only 25 years old.

Jones will decimate the challenger.

He will chose where the fight takes place, how he wants to brutalize Belfort and when he wants to finish the fight. He can choose to be methodical and draw out the pain and suffering inflicted on Belfort, or end the title fight in the first five minutes.

Jones is a special talent. He will continue to show his dominance and begin to make a case for being the new pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet. Belfort has nothing to offer the champion, and it will be a miserable experience inside the cage for him.

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UFC 152 Fight Card: Is Charles Oliveira a Dark Horse Title Contender?

Charles Oliveira has made an explosive debut at 145 pounds in 2012—two fights and two submissions. At UFC 152 he will try to extend his featherweight record to 3-0 as he meets Cub Swanson inside the Octagon at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Sh…

Charles Oliveira has made an explosive debut at 145 pounds in 2012—two fights and two submissions.

At UFC 152 he will try to extend his featherweight record to 3-0 as he meets Cub Swanson inside the Octagon at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Should he get past Swanson he will undoubtedly be a potential contender for the UFC Featherweight Championship and Jose Aldo.

Why is Do Bronx able to leap up the rankings in less than a year? Because the featherweight talent pool is still quite shallow and he has been putting away his opposition in impressive fashion.

Oliveira made his debut at featherweight in January at UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis. In under two minutes he captured the submission of the night with a calf slicer. A rarely seen submission awed the crowd.

He would return to the cage on June 1 against Jonathan Brookins. The former Ultimate Fighter winner was coming off an impressive KO victory over Vagner Rocha, but Oliveira put him away with an anaconda choke in the second frame.

A victory over Cub Swanson, who is also seeking his third straight W, would put him in prime position to challenge for the strap.

Champion Jose Aldo is currently sidelined with a foot injury but is still expected to defend the title against Frankie Edgar later this year. Who else is in contention?

Erik Koch originally was slated to face off against Aldo before an injury put him on the shelf, Chad Mendes made quick work of Cody McKenzie in his last outing and Chan Sung Jung is still awaiting his next fight after dispatching of Dustin Poirier. Ricardo Lamas is often forgot about as well.

Mendes, having just been knocked out by Aldo earlier this year, is still likely another fight or two away from getting another shot at the gold. That leaves Chan Sung Jung and Ricardo Lamas as the only other two potential contenders in the mix.

A win would put Oliveira right there with both men who are also on three fight winning streaks.

Timing is everything. Should Oliveira escape without injury he will be in prime position to be on Joe Silva’s shortlist should another injury happen.

The keys to a title shot in the UFC are to win and be exciting. Oliveira has been accomplishing both. His victories have been featured on Fuel, FX, and now his bout with Swanson will open the PPV telecast of UFC 152.

Each exciting bout earns him more fans and more clout within the division.

Oliveira‘s drop to featherweight has proven to be the correct decision. His stature makes him one of the bigger fighters in the division with some of the best jiu-jitsu as well. With an ever improving striking game he is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.

Coming away with a victory at UFC 152 is up first. Swanson will certainly try to make his own case to be the next contender.

If he is able to stop Swanson, Do Bronx will definitely become a dark horse contender for Aldo’s featherweight crown.

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Chad Griggs vs. Cyrille Diabate Added to UFC 154

MMAJunkie.com reports that Chad Griggs (11-2) and Cyrille Diabaté (18-8-1) have been added to the UFC 154 card.The initial announcement was made via the UFC Canada Twitter account: 
Light Heavyweight’s Chad Griggs and Cyrille Diabate added …

MMAJunkie.com reports that Chad Griggs (11-2) and Cyrille Diabaté (18-8-1) have been added to the UFC 154 card.

The initial announcement was made via the UFC Canada Twitter account:

 

 

Griggs was a reserve member of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and won both of his reserve bouts. He made his UFC debut at UFC 145 and suffered a first-round submission loss to Travis Browne. This bout will mark Griggs‘ light-heavyweight debut.

He was first set to make his 205-pound debut at UFC on FOX 4 against Phil Davis, but an injury sidelined the 11-2 fighter.

Cyrille Diabaté returns to the Octagon for the first time since picking up a majority decision victory over Tom DeBlass at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva.

Diabaté was originally slated to face off against Fabio Maldonado, but Maldonado replaced Quinton Jackson on the UFC 153 card against Glover Teixeira.

The light-heavyweight scrap will likely be featured on the preliminary card.

UFC 154 will take place on November 17th from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. While not officially announced, the event is to be headlined by UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre fighting Interim Champion Carlos Condit. It will air live on pay-per-view.

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