UFC 192 was almost a tale of two halves. The prelims were stellar, with five of the seven bouts being finished in violent fashion. The main card slowed things down as every fight went to the scorecards, but the main event clash for the light heavyweigh…
UFC 192 was almost a tale of two halves. The prelims were stellar, with five of the seven bouts being finished in violent fashion. The main card slowed things down as every fight went to the scorecards, but the main event clash for the light heavyweight title got everyone back on their feet.
Typically following an event, the suggestions for the next fights come in about 24 hours, but there was a lot to process with UFC 192 from Houston. How should the UFC handle the prospects that won? And how about the title contenders who sit on the outside looking in?
Oftentimes it is not just a matter of who wins and loses on a particular event, but rather how they win or lose. What they show us inside the cage directly affects the path they take up the ranks in their respective divisions. A UFC matchmaker’s job is complex; Joe Silva and Sean Shelby have a lot to take in after the results in Houston.
Well, the recommendations have arrived. Here is how the UFC should handle the next bouts for the winners and losers of UFC 192.
Entering UFC 192, all eyes were on the top of the card. That’s normal for combat sports. Main events and other featured contests are what we salivate to watch. After the conclusion of the events, we discuss the fallout and new championship landscapes, …
Entering UFC 192, all eyes were on the top of the card. That’s normal for combat sports. Main events and other featured contests are what we salivate to watch. After the conclusion of the events, we discuss the fallout and new championship landscapes, but UFC 192 on Saturday was different.
Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson put on a fantastic show in the main event, but with Jon Jones’ presence looming over the light heavyweight division, there is not a lot of buzz surrounding that championship. Cormier won. That’s it. We are moving forward. So what can we take away and be excited about following the show in Houston?
The future.
The future of the UFC is bright. We have seen a lot of prospects filter through the UFC over the years, but rarely—if ever—have we seen them come through with flying colors like the young guns did at UFC 192.
Five fighters aged 23 or younger won. Not only did they win, but they also did so impressively to offer a glimpse into the high ceiling they have. Who were these five blue-chippers, and why are we excited?
Sage Northcutt — Age 19
Northcutt debuted at UFC 192, and you could have counted me as one of his biggest critics. I wasn’t sold on the hype surrounding him. Sure, he has a good look and is athletic, but his record gave no indication of his true potential.
Northcutt got a favorable draw against Francisco Trevino, and he did what good fighters do against inferior competition. He destroyed Trevino. In just 57 seconds, Northcutt rocked Trevino, took him down and pummeled him until the referee stepped in.
Lightweight is a deep division, but this kid is just 19 years old. The future is bright with Northcutt both in and out of the cage.
Sergio Pettis — Age 22
When Pettis debuted in 2013, he entered with a lot of fanfare, in part because his brother is Anthony Pettis. Sergio was undefeated and had a similar skill set to that of his brother. Nevertheless, he got upset in his second UFC bout.
Pettis dropped to flyweight after back-to-back wins but was knocked out by Ryan Benoit in March. His fight against Chris Cariaso, the No. 10-ranked contender, was a big bout in his young career. And he passed. It was not the most beautiful performance, but he sailed through against a former title challenger.
We have to remind ourselves that Pettis is only 22 and has all the raw skills to be special. He just needs time to develop.
Yair Rodriguez — Age 22
The Mexican prodigy got one of the loudest pops of the evening, and for good reason. The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America winner is a special talent.
Rodriguez did not lose a single round against Daniel Hooker. He beat him up, and the only thing missing was the finish. Rodriguez got to showcase both style and substance. He blends his striking together beautifully, and eventually we will see a highlight-reel knockout.
Rodriguez has the benefit of being in a talent-rich division. There is no reason for the UFC to rush him up the ladder. He can certainly be tested against someone in the top 15, but there isn’t a dire need to jump the gun. The UFC can afford the opportunity to continue to allow the prospect to hone his skills.
Rose Namajunas — Age 23
If you were to believe the ridiculous hype fromThe Ultimate Fighter 20, you would have thought Namajunas was the second coming of Ronda Rousey. Those who followed her progression through Invicta FC knew that was a laughable notion—but not because Namajunas didn’t have talent.
Namajunas‘ athletic ability and frame make her a top-tier prospect at 115 pounds. She just needs to be refined. There are not many dynamic athletes like her in the division. If she adds the right tools, she will be a handful for anyone at the weight.
She is currently ranked at No. 4. That’s way too high, and competent voters know that. She is even ranked above undefeated Tecia Torres, who holds a victory over her. It’s a bit silly, but I understand the desire to believe in the marketable Namajunas. You can see the potential in her. She just has to live up to it.
Albert Tumenov — Age 23
Versace will want to wait before scheduling Alan Jouban‘s next photo shoot because the hard-hitting monster Albert Tumenov iced him in less than three minutes.
He is a Russian Master of Sport in boxing, and he showcased those hands. After hurting Jouban, Tumenov laced a left hand that made the model face-plant on the mat. Jouban was out like a light. When he came to, he tried to protest as he wobbled about the Octagon.
Of all the prospects who performed well at UFC 192, Tumenov seems most ready for a crack at someone in the top 15. He looks prepared for a test of his skills to see if he can put a number beside his name.
All five of these athletes shined, illustrating that the future of the UFC has several athletes ready to take the reins.
One of the most anticipated fights of UFC 192 and the co-main event of the card is now officially scrapped.
Friday morning, UFC president Dana White took to Twitter to announce that due to weight-cutting issues with former UFC welterweight champi…
One of the most anticipated fights of UFC 192 and the co-main event of the card is now officially scrapped.
Friday morning, UFC president Dana White took to Twitter to announce that due to weight-cutting issues with former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, the fight against Tyron Woodley would be off the event entirely.
Coming into the weekend, this fight between elite contenders looked to be a title eliminator at 170 pounds. Both Hendricks and Woodley were passed over in favor of the returning Carlos Condit. Hendricks told MMAJunkie.com that if he knocked Woodley out at UFC 192, he would be upset if a title shot didn’t come next.
That is now completely moot.
There is no official word from the UFC regarding what comes next. Do they reschedule this fight? Does Woodley get his show money? Is Woodley now next in line following Hendricks’ inability to make the contracted weight for this event? Those questions will be answered in due time.
For now, all we are left with is the empty feeling of having one of the better fights on the docket pulled from the card.
Hendrick’s manager, Ted Ehrhardt, gave a statement to Ariel Helwani regarding the situation citing a blockage in his intestine, in addition to a kidney stone. Hendricks was taken to the emergency room and given an IV.
UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler relayed information from the matchmakers, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby, that Ali Bagautinov vs. Joseph Benavidez would move up to the main card for UFC 192. The light heavyweight tilt between No. 4-ranked contender Ryan Bader and No. 5-ranked Rashad Evans will be the new co-main event in Houston.
UFC 192 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 3, and Bleacher Report will have continuing coverage of all the happenings surrounding the event.
Saturday night in Houston, there will be a light heavyweight title tilt between Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson. However, to make that official, they must first step on the scale to make weight.
The event features 13 fights in all with many int…
Saturday night in Houston, there will be a light heavyweight title tilt between Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson. However, to make that official, they must first step on the scale to make weight.
The event features 13 fights in all with many intriguing and meaningful contests. The main card also has Jessica Eye vs. Julianna Pena, Ryan Bader vs. Rashad Evans, and Johny Hendricks vs. TyronWoodley. The stacked fight card should deliver great action, if all fighters come in prepared and on weight.
The UFC 192 weigh-ins begin at 5 p.m. ET, and Bleacher Report will chronicle the proceedings as they happen. Come back for full coverage when the fighters tip the scale.
UFC 192 is right around the corner, and headlining the event will be a contest for the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Champion Daniel Cormier will meet No. 2-ranked contender Alexander Gustafsson in the main event. For the second straigh…
UFC 192 is right around the corner, and headlining the event will be a contest for the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Champion Daniel Cormier will meet No. 2-ranked contender Alexander Gustafsson in the main event. For the second straight event, a challenger to the crown will be coming off a loss. Cormier lost to then-champion Jon Jones, but when Jones was stripped of the title, Cormier returned at UFC 187 to defeat Anthony Johnson.
The commercials for this event have centered around the height discrepancy between the two combatants, but will that play a significant role in this fight?
That will be just one of the many things we look at in the head-to-toe breakdown for Saturday’s event. Let’s jump right into the analysis for this championship tilt that will take place this weekend in Houston, Texas.
UFC Fight Night 75 took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, and the heavyweights delivered a fun main event.
Josh Barnett defeated Roy Nelson by a lopsided unanimous decision, but the fight was very entertaining. The two heavyweights went toe-to…
UFC Fight Night 75 took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, and the heavyweights delivered a fun main event.
Josh Barnett defeated Roy Nelson by a lopsided unanimous decision, but the fight was very entertaining. The two heavyweights went toe-to-toe for the full 25 minutes with not a lot of inactivity. It was the kind of fight we expect from contenders.
The real highlight of the night came in the co-main event. Uriah Hall flashed brilliance on The Ultimate Fighter but failed to live up to those lofty expectations—that is, until Saturday. He landed a spinning back kick to the face of Gegard Mousasi and followed that up with more punishment until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
What else happened in Saitama?
Let’s check out the real winners and losers from Saturday’s action.
Entering