UFC on Fox 24 from Kansas City saw Demetrious Johnson do his thing.
That thing was styling all over another poor flyweight soul, Wilson Reis, and defending his title for a record-tying 10th time. It was another stellar performance from an all-time grea…
That thing was styling all over another poor flyweight soul, Wilson Reis, and defending his title for a record-tying 10th time. It was another stellar performance from an all-time great.
In the co-main event Saturday, Rose Namajunas knocked down and choked out Michelle Waterson. Entering the event, most of the media buzz was surrounding Waterson, who had signed with WME-IMG agents. Namajunas put a swift end to that ride for the UFC’s owners.
Those were just the two highlights at the top of the card. As always we wonder what’s next for the winners and losers.
Well, let’s find out. Here’s a look at the matches to make for each participant on the UFC on Fox 24 fight card.
When Bill Conti and Allee Willis wrote “You’re the Best” for Joe Esposito in the mid-’80s, they thought they were doing it for The Karate Kid. No, they were merely writing it well in advance for the greatest combat sports athlete in the world today: De…
When Bill Conti and Allee Willis wrote “You’re the Best” for Joe Esposito in the mid-’80s, they thought they were doing it for The Karate Kid. No, they were merely writing it well in advance for the greatest combat sports athlete in the world today: Demetrious Johnson.
Kidding aside, Johnson mowed through yet another top contender, Wilson Reis, in Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday to tie Anderson Silva for the most UFC title defenses (10). The Sprint Center has likely never seen such brilliance painted with the hands, elbows, knees and legs of an individual before.
Fox Sports: UFC and Champions MMA illustrated just how dominant the champ was:
Johnson got his offense started right away with an inside leg kick. He was active, as usual, while Reis tested the waters to get inside range. The early offense from the champion was kick-heavy. Reis caught a kick and took Johnson down but was not able to maintain it for even a half-second.
The kicks set a good distance for the champion that kept the heavy-handed Reis on the outside. Johnson attacked the body with each opportunity. The first round was a clean start, as Johnson sought the record-tying title defense.
The pressure remained in the second. The work rate Mighty Mouse puts into each fight is nothing short of extraordinary and makes his variety of offense all the more impressive. Johnson briefly slipped to Reis’ back and landed a high knee to the side of his head, which was unconventional.
The quickness of the champ and the pace of the fight looked to be wearing on the challenger in the second round, as Johnson’s combinations were masterful.
MMA writer Jeremy Botter was impressed:
Reis was desperate to get the fight to the mat in the third, but Johnson’s sprawl was far too quick. The champ read the takedown attempts quickly and stuffed them. Johnson flung in a body kick that landed as he continued picked apart Reis.
Johnson landed a quick right and took Reis to the canvas in the latter part of the third round. The champion missed a choke as Reis defended, but the challenger was just trying to avoid being finished. When Reis attempted to get back up, Johnson threw short, crisp elbows to the face.
Johnson mounted and found another armbar to finish the fight. Near perfection.
Reis remains a part of a litany of fighters who are simply not on Johnson’s level. The challenger will rejoin the ranks of the flyweight contenders in the hopes of working his way back to another title shot.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani provided post-fight comments from Mighty Mouse, while the UFC relayed footage of his interview with Fox Sports:
It’s hard to determine what’s next for Johnson. He’s made his title run look remarkably easy. Does Joseph Benavidez get another shot, or is Henry Cejudo nearing his rematch? Perhaps, but what should be on deck is a superfight with the winner of Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw. It’s all that remains. Johnson’s cleared out the flyweights.
Brian Stann asked about a potential superfight in the post-fight interview in the cage, but Johnson did not call anyone out. He said he needs seven figures. Who’s to argue? He deserves it.
Regardless of who steps into the cage opposite Johnson next, there is little doubt that as of April 15, 2017, he is the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet and arguably the greatest fighter in UFC history.
The UFC heads to Kansas City, Missouri, for the first time with one of their strongest Fox cards to date.
Headlining the action will be Demetrious Johnson. The UFC flyweight champion is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today and p…
The UFC heads to Kansas City, Missouri, for the first time with one of their strongest Fox cards to date.
Headlining the action will be Demetrious Johnson. The UFC flyweight champion is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today and possibly ever. He is top notch in every facet of the game. “Mighty Mouse” is closing in on Anderson Silva’s title defense record (10). A win will see Johnson tie the mark.
Perhaps the most compelling matchup on the card is the co-main event.
Strawweight contenders Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas meet for the first time inside the cage. They are two of the most marketable and promising strawweights on the roster, and a big win on Saturday could see them as the next challenger for the title.
Who does the B/R staff favor in the UFC on Fox 24 main card matchups?
Craig Amos, Steven Rondina, Scott Harris and, myself, Nathan McCarter are here once again to give you our thoughts. Pull up and chair and gander at who we picked to get their hand raised in each of the four main card tilts this Saturday.
UFC 210 was another strange UFC event.
Controversey in the middleweight co-main event, a Predator retires and a second surprise retirement at the end of the light heavyweight championship match. The wild world of MMA continues to turn.
Daniel Cormier g…
Controversey in the middleweight co-main event, a Predator retires and a second surprise retirement at the end of the light heavyweight championship match. The wild world of MMA continues to turn.
Daniel Cormier got Anthony Johnson to tap in just the second round of their main event meeting. Johnson’s odd game plan to wrestle with the former Olympian cost him. Cormier eventually put Johnson on his back and choked him out to retain.
GegardMousasi picked up a fifth straight win before heading to free agency thanks in part to an inept referee and the New York Athletic Commission. But, still, he got the TKO win over Chris Weidman. Also in action, strawweight prospect Cynthia Calvillo impressed with another dominant grappling showcase Saturday night in Buffalo, New York.
After these performances, the crystal ball must be put to use. Who’s next for the winners and losers?
Here is your look at what should be next for all the fighters from UFC 210.
Combat sports and professional wrestling have long been linked in one form or another for many decades. It makes sense. Both are forms are entertainment, and professional wrestling is at its best when it blends reality with its form of athletic enterta…
Combat sports and professional wrestling have long been linked in one form or another for many decades. It makes sense. Both are forms are entertainment, and professional wrestling is at its best when it blends reality with its form of athletic entertainment.
In today’s wrestling landscape, we are seeing those transitions be more prevalent than ever, and on WrestleMania weekend in Orlando, Florida, it was on full display.
If you have watched any professional wrestling show, small or large, in recent years you’ve seen an uptick in submissions and MMA-choreographed sequences. The Undertaker adopted the gogoplata, while Brock Lesnar utilized the kimura time and again. And those are just two high-profile figures adopting MMA into their move set.
Throughout WrestleMania week, the matches on independent cards have been littered with MMA techniques. One of the most promising stars is Zack Sabre Jr. He caught a diving opponent off the top rope in a triangle choke that put the fans on their feet at Evolve 80. Other works used armbars, ground transitions and a plethora of hard-hitting body kicks against their opponents.
Even more than the move set, it has always made sense for MMA athletes to make the transition into the squared circle. In modern times we have seen the likes of Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn enter the ropes into the WWE among many others.
Former UFC stars Matt Riddle and Shayna Baszler have adapted their fighting skills into professional wrestling and become two of the hottest independent talents today.
When Riddle walks out, the crowd becomes entranced and chants of “Bro” echo throughout the small venues. Riddle is now a multiple-organization champion. He holds titles in promotions such as Progress and won the inaugural World Wrestling Network title at their supershow on the Saturday before Mania.
One of the most talked about matches of the weekend was the main event of Joey Janela’s Spring Break, another event that aired on FloSlam during the week: Riddle vs. Severn. Logic would tell you that the 58-year-old couldn’t manage a captivating match in this day and age at 2:30 a.m. ET, but the two used their MMA backgrounds to tell a compelling story with elbows, punches, slams and submissions. Riddle came out on top via the Bromission.
Fans were out and about wearing Riddle’s merchandise all around Orlando.
On the women’s circuit, Baszler has come up as one of the top workers on the planet. She has taken her talents all around the nation and overseas to the hotbed of women’s wrestling: Japan. During the weekend of UFC 203 in Cleveland last September, Baszler defeated Heidi Lovelace (now Ruby Riot in NXT) to become the Absolute Intense Wrestling women’s champion. It’s a title she still holds.
In Shimmer, a leading all-women’s promotion, Baszler has aligned herself with Mercedes Martinez and Nicole Savoy to form The Trifecta. It’s a little different stable than The Four Horsewomen of MMA that included Ronda Rousey.
At the WrestleCon Women’s Supershow, Baszler defeated Joey Ryan to win the DDT Pro Ironman Heavymetalweight championship.
Riddle and Baszler have continued the tradition of adapting MMA skills to pro wrestling, and they are riding high on the independent scene as two of the talents fans most want to see. Both competed multiple times in the span of three days winning belts. And both Riddle and Baszler are on the uptick in their respective circles in the crazy world of sports entertainment.
The WWE always keeps its ear to the ground, and there is little doubt that Matt Riddle’s and Shayna Baszler’s have always been on its radar. Even still, the shockwaves on the independent trail surely will have reached the eardrums of the talent scouts. With a growing need for competitors, including a recently announced 32-women tournament, the sky’s the limit for their incredible talents.
WrestleMania week only helped their cause as they performed to their highest level in front of the most hardcore fans from around the world.
The UFC is featuring a run of champions with title defenses. In years past, the adage that it’s harder to defend a title than win one has held true. We’ve seen various fighters fail to defend their crown.
Currently, only three have yet to defend their …
The UFC is featuring a run of champions with title defenses. In years past, the adage that it’s harder to defend a title than win one has held true. We’ve seen various fighters fail to defend their crown.
Currently, only three have yet to defend their belt. Every other champion has at least one title defense to their credit.
With several of the champions looking or proving to be dominant, that begs the question of who can end their reigns. Who are the nightmare opponents that could strip them of the gold around their waist? Well, that’s where we’re here to examine.
Going through each division, from strawweight to heavyweight, we will identify the one fighter who looms for the titleholder—the one man or woman who has the best chance to wear gold next.
From scary strikers to grappling gods, these are the UFC champion’s most dangerous and feared contenders.
When Bill Conti and Allee Willis wrote “You’re the Best” for Joe Esposito in the mid-’80s, they thought they were doing it for The Karate Kid. No, they were merely writing it well in advance for the greatest combat sports athlete in the world today: Demetrious Johnson.