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Conor McGregor: It Would Be Hard to Commit to Another Fight with Dos Anjos

The UFC 196 pre-fight press conference lived up to the hype. UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and No. 5-ranked lightweight contender Nate Diaz traded barbs at the UFC Gym in Torrance, California.
One of the more interesting comments from …

One of the more interesting comments from McGregor came when Fox Sports host Karyn Bryant asked the champion about his plans for UFC 200. She wanted to know if he was looking to fight against lightweight title holder Rafael dos Anjos or even welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.

McGregor was non-committal and said it would be difficult to sign up for another fight against dos Anjos after he pulled out of their UFC 196 encounter.

The outspoken star repeatedly claimed that dos Anjos bowed out of the contest due to a bruised foot. The official prognosis from the champion and the UFC is that his foot is broken, but that didn’t stop McGregor from taking shots at the injured champion. He also hurled a gendered insult toward both dos Anjos and Frankie Edgar (warning: contains NSFW language).

McGregor said the UFC 196 bout was offered to Edgar, but he did not take the fight. UFC President Dana White told Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole that Edgar turned down the opportunity due to an injury.

If McGregor does defeat Diaz in the UFC 196 main event, it bears watching where he and the UFC go for his next bout. UFC 200 is the logical destination, but the choice for his opponent is certainly up for debate. Plenty of participants figure to be eager to stand opposite the cage against the Irishman.

Weight does not matter to McGregor. At the press conference, he exclaimed that the only weight he cares about is the weight of his checks, and his checks are “Super Heavyweight.” If he adds another win to his record, we shall see who McGregor and the UFC considers the biggest fight.

It may be dos Anjos and the lightweight championship as McGregor reaches for history, but based on his comments Wednesday, it won’t be easy to get him to commit to another bout with the Brazilian.

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Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Anderson Silva was the longtime champion at 185 pounds, and Michael Bisping was a longtime top contender. But the fight just never came to fruition.
Now, in 2016, we are merely days away from finally getting to witness these two clash inside …

Anderson Silva was the longtime champion at 185 pounds, and Michael Bisping was a longtime top contender. But the fight just never came to fruition.

Now, in 2016, we are merely days away from finally getting to witness these two clash inside the cage. It does not have the hype it would have received in the days of yore, and it is relegated to UFC Fight Pass, but it is still a meaningful fight at middleweight.

Silva makes his first return since his yearlong suspension. A big win will help to repair his legacy. As for Bisping, the Brit has never gotten the privilege of challenging for UFC gold. Defeating one of the greatest of all time may elevate him into prime position to finally have a shot at the ultimate prize.

The two Top 10 contenders can enter the discussion for a title shot with an impressive victory in London. Which begs the question—who has the edge on Saturday?

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Derek Brunson Makes Quick Work of Roan Carneiro at UFC Fight Night 83

Sunday’s co-main event in Pittsburgh pitted two Top 15 middleweights against each other. No. 13-ranked Derek Brunson (15-3) met No. 15-ranked Roan Carneiro (20-10) to see who would take the next step up the ladder.
It would be Brunson.
Brunson opened t…

It would be Brunson.

Brunson opened the action feinting with leg kicks, but Carneiro didn’t bite. While Brunson would pick his spots to explode forward, he could not land cleanly early in the fight.

Carneiro came forward, had a misstep and ended up on his back. Brunson pounced. The talented wrestler threw punch after punch after punch. Carneiro covered up well to keep the referee from stopping the fight. Unfortunately for Carneiro, he was not able to get separation.

Brunson continued to rain down heavy blows and eventually the fight had to be stopped.

The finish itself wasn’t highly impactful, but the result is for Brunson. He ousted a Top 15-ranked middleweight within the first five minutes. The official time of the stoppage would be two minutes and 38 seconds.

Three of his four consecutive wins have come in the first round. “I’m a straight animal,” he said in the televised post-fight interview. He is.

Carneiro was not able to show what he has to offer, but he is a quality middleweight. It would be a shame to see him hit the very back of the line considering his talents. No. 12-ranked Rafael Natal meets No. 8-ranked Robert Whittaker in April, and the loser of that fight would make for a great opponent.

Brunson deserves a Top 10 opponent next, but who?

Most fighters are booked at this point, and the situation at the top end of the division is in flux. No. 9-ranked Gegard Mousasi and No. 10-ranked Thales Leites meet next weekend in London, and the winner would seem to line up well with Brunson.

That is a fight that would propel the winner into serious contention, and the timing works out well as long as there are no serious injuries.

There are other options for Brunson, but they would require him to be ready as a late replacement for one of the many interesting middleweight contests in the works. That isn’t smart business for where he sits in the division today.

This was the performance Brunson needed. He got another stoppage over a good opponent. The middleweight division is on notice. He is for real and has all the tools to truly contend.

The over-35 crowd may be punched, kicked and tossed aside by Brunson himself as he climbs the ranks.

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UFC Fight Night 83: Dennis Bermudez Outpaces Tatsuya Kawajiri in Pittsburgh

No. 8-ranked featherweight contender Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez (15-5) walked out of Pittsburgh with a Top 15 featherweight victory. No. 12-ranked Tatsuya Kawajiri (35-9-2) was not able to do enough effective offense to win the fight on t…

Bermudez came out to pressure Kawajiri early on. He would not immediately throw strikes, but he forced Kawajiri to the outside. The Japanese star made use of his strikes to keep Bermudez at bay and nearly landed flush with a spinning backfist.

Bermudez would soon go to his wrestling, and take Kawajiri’s back. Bermudez went for an arm, but Kawajiri stayed patient and defended. The crowd grew restless as there was little action, but one small mistake would have ended the bout for Kawajiri. As a result of being patient, Kawajiri ended up on top and landed a couple of knees to Bermudez’s side.

The American worked to his feet, but Kawajiri completed another takedown. It was a close round that generated some booing, but the action was decidedly more technical than some of the night’s previous action.

The two clinched back up to start the second, working diligently to gain any advantage possible. Bermudez’s sprawl kept Kawajiri from completing another takedown, and The Crusher seemed to slow down. Bermudez was able to land multiple short shots to Kawajiri during his takedown attempts.

Bermudez eventually spun to the back of Kawajiri to finish the round in a favorable position.

Bermudez put Kawajiri on his back early in the round, but couldn’t keep him there. The No. 8-ranked featherweight kept the fight’s tempo high. Kawajiri was just a touch slower and was not able to mount much of a meaningful offensive effort. Bermudez excelled in the final frame.

Kawajiri is a tough veteran for anyone at 145 pounds. Bermudez’s inability to finish should not be seen as a negative. He got better as the fight went on, eventually picking up a much-needed victory.

Bermudez is undoubtedly a Top 10 featherweight, but his back-to-back losses make it hard to thrust him back into the upper echelon. Perhaps a meeting with No. 14-ranked Nik Lentz should be in order. If the UFC is set on putting him in another top-10-level contest, No. 7-ranked Charles Oliveira is the name that makes the most sense. Bermudez wants a rematch with Ricardo Lamas or to welcome BJ Penn back—but neither of those fights are right for him.

The loss stops Kawajiri from getting on a real win streak. He isn’t totally shot at this juncture, but it’s clear his best days are behind him. A fight against rising No. 13-ranked featherweight Brian Ortega would keep him in a relevant fight and potentially assist in moving Ortega into the division’s forefront.

Pittsburgh got to play host to a quality featherweight affair. It just wasn’t the “firefight” they were hoping for.

Bermudez did what he needed to do, and bigger things await as he tries to work himself back into contention. It will be a tough row to hoe, but he has the raw ability to get it done.

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Bellator 149: 3 Fights for Kimbo Slice to Take Next

Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (5-2) is not a champion, challenger, prospect or any other label we put on the average fighter under the spotlight. No, Kimbo is an attraction. And as such, booking options are more vast.
In an atrocious display…

In an atrocious display, Kimbo outlasted Dada 5000 for the win at Bellator 149 on Friday. By simply not falling down first, he managed to win as the two ill-prepared fighters quickly gassed and spent two of the fight’s three rounds merely surviving. Regardless of how it played out, Kimbo won and is still a name folks will tune in to see.

After his latest win, what comes next? Here are three names that jump off the page for Bellator.

Rampage Jackson

Quinton Jackson is probably the most appealing name to fans. Rampage is back in Bellator after coming to a mutual agreement with the promotion in mid-February, and a fight against Kimbo would likely do good ratings.

The two outspoken fighters would give Bellator plenty to work with following media appearances. Neither man is shy, and both know how to sell a fight with their mouths. The actual in-cage product could be more competitive, but the stylistic matchup should be fan-pleasing at the least.

Kimbo wouldn’t have to worry too much about Rampage’s wrestling as it’s just something he doesn’t prefer to do. Thus, the fight would be the stand-up battle most would like to see, with Kimbo and Rampage throwing haymakers.

A Kimbo-Rampage bout could be one of Bellator’s biggest drawing possibilities moving forward.

James Thompson

Kimbo has a win over James Thompson, but a rematch could be in order should he choose to accept.

There isn’t a lot of payoff for Kimbo other than avoiding some of the better fighters under Bellator’s umbrella. He’s already beaten Thompson, which could be reason to take the fight. He knows what he is preparing for, and has already proved victorious. He could protect himself by taking this contest.

It’s a matchup that doesn’t have too much risk, and following their bloody affair in 2008, there could be a little something to build upon.

Fedor Emelianenko

This would not be a smart fight to take in a competitive environment, but if Bellator (or Rizin Fighting Federation) wanted to pony up the cash, it would be a great business decision.

Kimbo vs. Fedor Emelianenko sells itself, and fans would flock to watch it.

Would Fedor win? Yes. Would Fedor win without issue? Yes. But this fight would just be about what’s on the marquee. Kimbo has value in that regard, and he could be worth the investment for both Bellator and Rizin. Kimbo would take a loss, but this is prizefighting, and if a lot of prize money were offered for this fight, he’d be smart to pad his bank account.

There are a few other options for Kimbo, but these three are the most enticing while still being realistic. Other fights don’t tickle our fancy as much despite for a variety of reasons (such as name value and competitiveness). If Bellator made any of these fights, we would all be sitting around the television set when they air.

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UFC Fight Night 83: Derek Brunson Is the UFC’s Secret Middleweight Contender

No. 13-ranked Derek Brunson (14-3) will take on No. 15-ranked Roan Carneiro (20-9) this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 83. On the surface, this top-15 encounter won’t have any immediate impact on the top-heavy division. However, a closer look shows th…

As I noted in the State of the Middleweight Division article, the group of 185-pound fighters is aging. The windows for the Vitor Belfort’s and Ronaldo Jacare’s and Anderson Silva’s are rapidly closing, and there can only be so many rematches between Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold. Eventually, the UFC will need a fresh face toward the top.

Brunson could be that man.

Since coming to the UFC, he is 5-1, with wins over Chris Leben, Lorenz Larkin and Ed Herman. He’s had a quality slate of opponents. His lone loss? To former top contender Yoel Romero in a closely contested battle until Romero finished the fight late in the third.

Often forgot in that fight against the Olympic wrestling standout is that Brunson scored three takedowns. The American has shown the ability to compete with the elite.

The focus of the middleweight division is on Rockhold’s rematch with Weidman, and his feud with Vitor Belfort. It is not on who is coming up. Brunson is overshadowed by those with name value, but who are quickly coming to the end of their line.

Brunson has quietly won three straight, and he finished his last two opponents by TKO. Brunson is also one of the more funny and engaging athletes on social media. He should be everything the UFC is looking for in a contender.

The other possible contenders who are under 35 are Robert Whittaker, Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall. That’s it. Those are the other fighters lurking on the outside waiting for the old guard to step aside. Brunson is every bit the equal, if not better, than his counterparts. Looking long-term at the division, he is in a great spot to be a consistent presence at 185-pounds for the next four to five years as long as he stays healthy.

The old lions of the division cloud the perception of who comes next. The focus is on today and not tomorrow. Brunson is that tomorrow.

Brunson has been flying under the radar while putting together a solid UFC record. It has been a double-edged sword. Brunson hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves, but he has also been given time to develop his craft without any of the pressure. Now is the time for him to step into that spotlight and make himself a known commodity.

A Brunson victory on Sunday may be the most important result the company can have in Pittsburgh. It will give the UFC another top-end middleweight contender’s bout in late 2016, and he is a marketable opponent for whomever the champion may be in 2017.

He is entering his prime as an athlete at the right time. The upper echelon are on the downside of their career, and Brunson can slide up to fill their roles as they fade away.

Defeating Carneiro alone won’t put Brunson on a rocket ship toward the top, but it will move him into position for a big-time clash against a true contender later this year. It sets him up, with wins, to be a title contender as we move into 2017. He may be the UFC’s best-kept secret.

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