Author: Nathan McCarter

Jorge Masvidal Is One of the Most Underappreciated Fighters in MMA Today

Mixed martial arts is filled with many great fighters from a wide variety of disciplines. It’s what makes the sport great. However, the downside is that we often overlook several of these fighters while focusing on a select few.
Jorge Masvidal is…

Mixed martial arts is filled with many great fighters from a wide variety of disciplines. It’s what makes the sport great. However, the downside is that we often overlook several of these fighters while focusing on a select few.

Jorge Masvidal is one of the overlooked.

To put it bluntly, he is one of the most underappreciated fighters in all of MMA.

Masvidal is a crafty veteran of 38 fights, 39 come Saturday in Korea. He has fought across multiple divisions and has never shied away from a stiff challenge. In fact, he jumped up on short notice to fight Benson Henderson this weekend. He’s a true fighter’s fighter.

“Gamebred” is also not a boring fighter. He is well-rounded and always brings the fight. He isn’t one to back down or point-fight, despite having won three of his last four by decision. That is more a reflection of his opponents and stylistic matchup than the type of fighter he is. When was the last time Masvidal was in a true boring fight? And was it his fault? Not likely.

Masvidal is not ranked in the UFC rankings, but ask any fighter if he is one of the best in the world and I’m sure the answer will be a resounding “yes.” He is a tough out for anyone in the lightweight or welterweight divisions.

From the backyard to the cage, Masvidal has given fight fans what they crave: a never-say-die spirit and consistent action.

When Masvidal steps inside the Octagon on Saturday morning, everyone should tune in. We are often so caught up in the hoopla of the most charismatic fighters that we miss out on true diamonds in the rough like Masvidal. And, to be honest, Masvidal is quite compelling a character himself.

At 31, he may be at his athletic peak, and there is no better time to watch him compete. Given his stature within the industry, he will almost always be in a highly competitive matchup while in the UFC. He’s a great test for any fighter and a threat to jump up in the rankings in either division he competes.

Henderson will have to put together another stellar, lights-out performance to topple Masvidal. Two elite fighters stepping in the cage should be cause enough to tune in, but the fight is flying under the radar. It’s a shame.

Win or lose, Masvidal will put on a show for fans this weekend. You won’t want to miss it, and you could be depriving yourself of one of the better fights remaining in 2015.

Masvidal is a dying breed in MMA. Appreciate him while he’s around.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Jorge Masvidal Is One of the Most Underappreciated Fighters in MMA Today

Mixed martial arts is filled with many great fighters from a wide variety of disciplines. It’s what makes the sport great. However, the downside is that we often overlook several of these fighters while focusing on a select few.
Jorge Masvidal is…

Mixed martial arts is filled with many great fighters from a wide variety of disciplines. It’s what makes the sport great. However, the downside is that we often overlook several of these fighters while focusing on a select few.

Jorge Masvidal is one of the overlooked.

To put it bluntly, he is one of the most underappreciated fighters in all of MMA.

Masvidal is a crafty veteran of 38 fights, 39 come Saturday in Korea. He has fought across multiple divisions and has never shied away from a stiff challenge. In fact, he jumped up on short notice to fight Benson Henderson this weekend. He’s a true fighter’s fighter.

“Gamebred” is also not a boring fighter. He is well-rounded and always brings the fight. He isn’t one to back down or point-fight, despite having won three of his last four by decision. That is more a reflection of his opponents and stylistic matchup than the type of fighter he is. When was the last time Masvidal was in a true boring fight? And was it his fault? Not likely.

Masvidal is not ranked in the UFC rankings, but ask any fighter if he is one of the best in the world and I’m sure the answer will be a resounding “yes.” He is a tough out for anyone in the lightweight or welterweight divisions.

From the backyard to the cage, Masvidal has given fight fans what they crave: a never-say-die spirit and consistent action.

When Masvidal steps inside the Octagon on Saturday morning, everyone should tune in. We are often so caught up in the hoopla of the most charismatic fighters that we miss out on true diamonds in the rough like Masvidal. And, to be honest, Masvidal is quite compelling a character himself.

At 31, he may be at his athletic peak, and there is no better time to watch him compete. Given his stature within the industry, he will almost always be in a highly competitive matchup while in the UFC. He’s a great test for any fighter and a threat to jump up in the rankings in either division he competes.

Henderson will have to put together another stellar, lights-out performance to topple Masvidal. Two elite fighters stepping in the cage should be cause enough to tune in, but the fight is flying under the radar. It’s a shame.

Win or lose, Masvidal will put on a show for fans this weekend. You won’t want to miss it, and you could be depriving yourself of one of the better fights remaining in 2015.

Masvidal is a dying breed in MMA. Appreciate him while he’s around.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey’s Family and Friends React to Loss vs. Holly Holm at UFC 193

There are two sides to every story, and UFC 193 was no different.
By now everyone has heard about Holly Holm’s brutal knockout of Ronda Rousey to capture the UFC bantamweight title, but what they have not seen is the reaction of friends and family in a…

There are two sides to every story, and UFC 193 was no different.

By now everyone has heard about Holly Holm’s brutal knockout of Ronda Rousey to capture the UFC bantamweight title, but what they have not seen is the reaction of friends and family in attendance from both parties.

The UFC released a YouTube preview of a special titled “The Thrill and the Agony” that shows how both sides reacted to the violent ending in Melbourne.

The leading MMA organization in the world had cameras pointed and rolling at the two fighters’ friends and family sections throughout the course of the bout. They caught the full response second-by-second. This is something new from the UFC and something that adds to the story of UFC 193’s growing lore.

Rousey‘s friends and family were obviously on the agony end of the evening. Rousey‘s beau, UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, can be seen slumping back in his chair when he realized she was out cold.

The thrill can be seen in each member of Holm’s family, including her father and husband. However, their jubilation is outdone by Israel Martinez, Holm’s wrestling coach. Martinez was perhaps the most excited out of everyone both in the cage and backstage. He jumped on the phone with Jon Jones, Holm’s teammate, who can be heard asking where Holly is at so that he, too, can speak to her.

Fights always bring out high emotion, but everything that surrounded this fight amplified the response: Rousey‘s star power, her dominance, a massive stadium-filled audience and a big underdog coming through in spectacular fashion. It was shock and awe in Melbourne.

Watch the video to see the contrasting reactions from the fighter’s friends and families at UFC 193.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

New UFC Champion Holly Holm Hangs out with Jamie Foxx, Meets Floyd Mayweather

It’s R̶o̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶R̶o̶u̶s̶e̶y̶ Holly Holm’s world and we’re just living in it.
The new UFC women’s bantamweight champion took to Los Angeles upon her return to the United States following her m…

It’s R̶o̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶R̶o̶u̶s̶e̶y̶ Holly Holm’s world and we’re just living in it.

The new UFC women’s bantamweight champion took to Los Angeles upon her return to the United States following her monumental upset KO of Rousey, and she was greeted warmly.

Holm first had to set off to do many media obligations as the new champion, but in the evening she got to revel in her newfound fame alongside A-lister Jamie Foxx.

Foxx and Holm briefly went on Foxx’s Periscope stream to connect with fans. Foxx was driving to an “undisclosed location” while talking with the champ. Holm discussed her first piano lesson with the multitalented star.

Foxx was impressed with how humble Holm was and asked if that had anything to do with being “The Preacher’s Daughter.” Holm replied, “Yeah, and I always said if anything ever does happen, smack me if I get too big for my britches.”

That’s a stark contrast to the now former champion.

Holm then made her way to the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors game where she received a loud ovation. The loudest, according to NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller. That was an impressive feat considering the A-list talent at the game including Jay Z, Derek Jeter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Billy Crystal.

Mayweather wanted to meet the new UFC champion and former boxing champion and took a photo with her at the game.

The response to Holm’s victory is a good sign for the UFC. She may not assume the level of fame that Rousey received, but she is still trending upward. That’s a positive sign for her drawing power for any future title defense that may not include Rousey.

Holms’ brush with celebrity may not be a one-shot deal. The uprising of support will put her among the most coveted UFC stars to watch, and that is a great thing for her, the UFC and the women’s bantamweight division. This is no longer a one-woman show.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 78: Main Card Staff Predictions

The UFC returns to Mexico for a six-fight main card Saturday. Monterrey will be the host city, and welterweights headline the action.
This event will also play host to the finale of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2.
Kelvin Gastelum, the No. 15-ran…

The UFC returns to Mexico for a six-fight main card Saturday. Monterrey will be the host city, and welterweights headline the action.

This event will also play host to the finale of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2.

Kelvin Gastelum, the No. 15-ranked welterweight contender, was originally slated to fight Matt Brown in the main event, but an injury sidelined the No. 5-ranked contender. In steps No. 13-ranked Neil Magny. This will be Magny‘s 10th fight since 2014.

Featherweights Ricardo Lamas and Diego Sanchez should provide the biggest fireworks of the night in the co-main event. Sanchez is looking for a big win at 145 pounds, and Lamas is trying to prove his stock as the No. 4-ranked contender in the division.

Here is the main card for UFC Fight Night 78:

  • Neil Magny vs. Kelvin Gastelum
  • Ricardo Lamas vs. Diego Sanchez
  • Jussier Formiga vs. Henry Cejudo
  • Erick Montano vs. Enrique Marin
  • Enrique Barzola vs. Horacio Gutierrez
  • Efrain Escudero vs. Leandro Silva

The Bleacher Report prediction team is here to pick the right winners. Or, at least, some of us are. Craig Amos, Scott Harris, Steven Rondina, Jonathan Snowden and Nathan McCarter are on the call.

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The Forgotten Fight: Henry Cejudo, Formiga Battle in Title Eliminator

Did you know there is a possible title eliminator taking place this weekend? If not, don’t feel bad because most folks do not. It was not until Monday, following the hustle and bustle of UFC 193, when I took a peek at the card and noticed it was happen…

Did you know there is a possible title eliminator taking place this weekend? If not, don’t feel bad because most folks do not. It was not until Monday, following the hustle and bustle of UFC 193, when I took a peek at the card and noticed it was happening myself.

It has been forgotten.

No. 3-ranked flyweight contender Jussier “Formiga” da Silva and No. 5-ranked contender Henry Cejudo will get locked inside the cage with a shot at Demetrious Johnson’s gold belt up for grabs.

It is easy to see why this fight falls through the cracks. It is sandwiched in the middle of a two-month span with six other events that included UFC 193 and 194—two of the biggest UFC events in history. Also, historically speaking, flyweights are not that popular. The focus of the MMA world can easily skip a high-level fight between Formiga and Cejudo regardless of its huge implications. And that’s disheartening.

This important battle will not even co-main event UFC Fight Night 78 in Monterrey, Mexico. It will be third on the main card. This fight is an afterthought.

Formiga is currently on a three-fight win streak, and all three wins have been over quality competition. Scott Jorgensen, Zach Makovsky and Wilson Reis have all fallen to the longtime top flyweight. Cejudo brings in an unblemished 9-0 record.

It is a clash of styles. Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and has crisp boxing to boot. Formiga is a jiu-jitsu specialist. Formiga is a steep underdog in this fight (currently as high as 4-1, courtesy of Odds Shark), but he is a live dog. All eyes are on Cejudo.

Cejudo is the “golden boy.” He even wears gold shorts to the cage for his fights. His high-level skills look to be an interesting match for the champion, and a win Saturday should elevate him to that spot.

It’s unfortunate this fight is buried among the myriad of other exciting fights in this two-month span, but it’s even more unfortunate it cannot get respect on what is a below-average fight card taking place this weekend. It is the only fight with any real immediate significance. The main event between Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum will elevate the winner, but it isn’t an important title eliminator.

There is always a chance the UFC brass changes its mind, but the flyweight division needs another fresh contender, and the only fight that will deliver it takes place Saturday. All signs point to the winner of this fight getting the next shot.

With its huge importance in the 125-pound division, this fight deserves more. It deserves more promotion and respect from the UFC and fans alike. It did not deserve to be buried and forgotten although it was and has been.

When the referee kicks off Round 1, you should be in your seat for what is one of the best fights in this incredible stretch of UFC action. Witness who becomes he next flyweight title challenger. This is the UFC at its sporting best.

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