Author: Nathan McCarter

UFC Fight Night 91: Tony Ferguson Taps Landon Vannata in Wild, Surprising Brawl

Tony Ferguson (21-3) entered as the No. 3-ranked contender per the UFC’s official rankings and was expected to blow through Landon Vannata (8-1), who came in as a late replacement for Michael Chiesa (h/t Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.com). That …

Tony Ferguson (21-3) entered as the No. 3-ranked contender per the UFC’s official rankings and was expected to blow through Landon Vannata (8-1), who came in as a late replacement for Michael Chiesa (h/t Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.com). That did not happen.

Vannata proved he was game.

Ferguson took the center of the cage right away, but Vannata was relaxed inside the cage. Vannata scored the first clean strike with a right hand. The two exchanged a bit more, but the bout was briefly halted due to a low blow on Ferguson. Once they got back to work, Ferguson struggled with the Vannata‘s movement.

Ferguson’s jab was a key to his offense in the first round. He sat Vannata down with a crisp jab, but Vannata would stun Ferguson with a beautiful spinning backfist shortly afterward. The right hand would continue to be there for the Jackson-Winkeljohn product throughout the round.

Ferguson wouldn’t go away, but Vannata nearly ruined his night with a head kick. It rocked Ferguson and sent him wobbling all over the cage. Vannata tried to pile on the ground-and-pound, but Ferguson did just enough to keep referee John McCarthy from stopping the fight. He got out of the round by threatening with an inside heel hook.

The title contender got back to using his jab in the second round. After throwing a kick that landed, Vannata asked him for one more and Ferguson obliged. Ferguson then landed a clean Superman punch, but Vannata didn’t seem fazed. The bloodied newcomer would soon meet his end. Ferguson grabbed his head and started to work a front choke, but once on the ground switched to a D’Arce choke. It was too deep, and Vannata tapped.

Vannata came from obscurity to nearly knock off one of the top contenders in the division. His performance will earn him a lot of new fans and put him right in the thick of the lightweight pack. He will be a name to watch moving forward.

As for Ferguson, he had everything to lose. Ferguson told Jon Anik in the post-fight interview in the cage that he was ready for his title shot. He is most certainly in position, but there are several options for Eddie Alvarez’s first defense.

This was a stellar fight between two exciting lightweights as Sioux Falls was treated to one of the best scraps in recent memory.

Ferguson settled down in the second to continue his winning ways and state his case for a lightweight title bid. Vannata’s performance could serve as a lesson to Ferguson and everyone else not to underestimate anyone who steps inside the Octagon.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 200 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

UFC 200 was the most stacked card in UFC history, and it came through with plenty to digest following the 12 scheduled bouts.
The fight-week drama stole the thunder of what was a fun event. There were still two title fights, the return of Brock Lesnar …

UFC 200 was the most stacked card in UFC history, and it came through with plenty to digest following the 12 scheduled bouts.

The fight-week drama stole the thunder of what was a fun event. There were still two title fights, the return of Brock Lesnar and a plethora of other exciting fighters rounding out the action.

Amanda Nunes ran through Miesha Tate to collect the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship, while Jose Aldo put together a vintage performance against Frankie Edgar for the interim UFC featherweight crown. Both title tilts were exciting while being different contests.

UFC 200 left us with a big job of figuring out what comes next, but it’s an exciting problem to tackle, given the names who competed at the event. Who will Nunes face in her first title defense? Will Lesnar return? What about Aldo, Gegard Mousasi and Joe Lauzon?

UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are sitting at a game board, ready to use some of the most fascinating pieces in an extraordinary way.

We attempt to guide them to the best options, as Bleacher Report determines the matches to make for each winner and loser after the fallout of UFC 200.

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UFC 200 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

UFC 200 was the most stacked card in UFC history, and it came through with plenty to digest following the 12 scheduled bouts.
The fight-week drama stole the thunder of what was a fun event. There were still two title fights, the return of Brock Lesnar …

UFC 200 was the most stacked card in UFC history, and it came through with plenty to digest following the 12 scheduled bouts.

The fight-week drama stole the thunder of what was a fun event. There were still two title fights, the return of Brock Lesnar and a plethora of other exciting fighters rounding out the action.

Amanda Nunes ran through Miesha Tate to collect the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship, while Jose Aldo put together a vintage performance against Frankie Edgar for the interim UFC featherweight crown. Both title tilts were exciting while being different contests.

UFC 200 left us with a big job of figuring out what comes next, but it’s an exciting problem to tackle, given the names who competed at the event. Who will Nunes face in her first title defense? Will Lesnar return? What about Aldo, Gegard Mousasi and Joe Lauzon?

UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are sitting at a game board, ready to use some of the most fascinating pieces in an extraordinary way.

We attempt to guide them to the best options, as Bleacher Report determines the matches to make for each winner and loser after the fallout of UFC 200.

Begin Slideshow

Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson II: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

It’s on. Michael Bisping will square off against Dan Henderson once again. This time for the middleweight championship of the world.
Dana White joined the Fox Sports booth following UFC 200 to make the announcement. The date and venue are yet to b…

It’s on. Michael Bisping will square off against Dan Henderson once again. This time for the middleweight championship of the world.

Dana White joined the Fox Sports booth following UFC 200 to make the announcement. The date and venue are yet to be announced, but White said they are eyeing Manchester, Bisping‘s hometown, as the city.

Their first meeting gave us one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history. Bisping got caught by an “H-bomb” and went stiff. Henderson followed it up with an unnecessary, but memorable, flying forearm. It became legend as it happened on the big stage of UFC 100.

More than 100 pay-per-view events later, the middleweight landscape has changed. Bisping stands atop the division after a stunning knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, and on the same card Henderson put Hector Lombard to sleep.

It seems fate had a plan.

Now in his first title defense, Bisping gets a shot at redemption. What has changed and who holds the edge? This is your early look at the head-to-toe breakdown for this vital middleweight encounter.

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Brock Lesnar on His Future: ‘Brock Lesnar Does What Brock Lesnar Wants to Do’

After beating Mark Hunt at UFC 200, the question of whether or not Brock Lesnar would return to the UFC was inevitable.
It was the very first question asked at the post-fight press conference. His response to the question? “Brock Lesnar does what…

After beating Mark Hunt at UFC 200, the question of whether or not Brock Lesnar would return to the UFC was inevitable.

It was the very first question asked at the post-fight press conference. His response to the question? “Brock Lesnar does what Brock Lesnar wants to do.”

Simple and straight-forward.

Lesnar is currently scheduled to take on Randy Orton at WWE’s SummerSlam on Aug. 20, but nothing is on his slate after that match. The fact still remains that Lesnar is under contract with the WWE regardless of what he wants to do following SummerSlam.

Veteran MMA and pro wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer was asked about Lesnar’s future on Twitter, and Meltzer stated matter-of-factly that Vince McMahon has to agree to terms for it to become a reality.

UFC President Dana White and McMahon agreed to terms for this encounter, and that should mean they are able to communicate and cut a deal in the future as well. Although the price will likely be steep.

But Brock Lesnar does do what Brock Lesnar wants to do. If Lesnar wants to fight in the UFC , there is great likelihood that he will fight again in the Octagon. After defeating Hunt, Lesnar is right back in the mix as a title contender. It is a gold-plated carrot dangling in front of the WWE’s “Beast Incarnate.”

Lesnar is an ultimate competitor who is willing to take the risks to challenge himself. As a true contender once again, it may be too tempting not to explore. The UFC should be preparing the canvas bags as we speak for the possibility of his next trip under the UFC banner.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao Results: Winner and Reaction from UFC 200

T.J. Dillashaw and Raphael Assuncao first met on October 9, 2013, when the Brazilian scored a split-decision victory in a closely contested battle. Fast forward less than three years to UFC 200, and the rematch went to Dillashaw, who swept the jud…

T.J. Dillashaw and Raphael Assuncao first met on October 9, 2013, when the Brazilian scored a split-decision victory in a closely contested battle. Fast forward less than three years to UFC 200, and the rematch went to Dillashaw, who swept the judges’ scorecards on Saturday.

All three rounds were close, but they went to Dillashaw, who capitalized on higher output to move past Assuncao.

In the first round, Dillashaw experienced varying success with his strikes. Assuncao was able to dodge a lot of the strikes, but Dillashaw’s high work rate allowed him to secure an edge. Both men showed solid takedown defense.

It was more of the same in the second round, but Dillashaw landed a bit more cleanly. He countered a leg kick with a straight right that landed flush. It was one of the first clean punches to connect during the bout. Assuncao scored with some left hands of his own and even scored a quick takedown.

Nevertheless, Dillashaw’s output was the difference.

The third and final round was the most decisive of the fight. Dillashaw landed a few clean punches and scored a takedown with less than 45 seconds left. Assuncao was never in danger of being finished, but he was also never a threat to the former champion.

The numbers from Michael Carroll of FightMetric show how the activity paid off for Dillashaw:

The result will be a significant setback for Assuncao. While he was never out of his depth against Dillashaw, he didn’t excite or look dangerous with his skills. Dillashaw’s movement made him ineffective.

After this win, Dillashaw should earn a rematch with Dominick Cruz. Dillashaw is, without debate or question, the top contender in the bantamweight division. Given how exciting and close the first fight was in January, it would be senseless not to book the rematch.

It’s a fight Dillashaw wants. Dillashaw stated that backstage after the fight per a UFC press release:

“I’m the champion in the bantamweight division. That’s my belt. Cruz knows I won that fight, I want my belt back. I’m coming for that title. He better not be trying out for Dancing With The Stars again because I’m coming for you, Dominick. A title fight is next. Nothing but a title fight.”

Dillashaw asserted his place as the rightful title contender, and now fight fans can anticipate a stellar rematch for the bantamweight gold.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com