UFC 191 plays host to the flyweight title match we have all been waiting to see. Demetrious Johnson defends the 125-pound title belt for the seventh time this weekend in Las Vegas against the man whom he beat in his first title defense—John Dodso…
UFC 191 plays host to the flyweight title match we have all been waiting to see. Demetrious Johnson defends the 125-pound title belt for the seventh time this weekend in Las Vegas against the man whom he beat in his first title defense—John Dodson.
Injuries have kept this rematch off the table for some time, but Dodson is healthy again and riding a three-fight win streak. After nearly a year away from the cage, Dodson returned in May to defeat the ever-tough Zach Makovsky in a grueling three-round fight.
Johnson, on the other hand, has been very active and very dominant. Since the 2013 fight against Dodson, Johnson has defended the crown five times with four finishes. John Moraga, Joseph Benavidez, Ali Bagautinov, Chris Cariaso and Kyoji Horiguchi have all come up on the losing end against “Mighty Mouse.”
The Johnson-Dodson is almost surefire fireworks.
Who holds the edge? Who walks out the champion? Let’s take a look at the head-to-toe breakdown for the Saturday, Sept. 5 championship bout.
The UFC had another busy week of fight announcements, and you may have missed a few that have come along. We will try to recap all the fights made over the past several days for you to get caught up on what the UFC has in store.
The UFC has added bouts…
The UFC had another busy week of fight announcements, and you may have missed a few that have come along. We will try to recap all the fights made over the past several days for you to get caught up on what the UFC has in store.
The UFC has added bouts to eight fight cards this week going through the end of the year. Let’s take a look at what action is coming your way.
UFC Fight Night 75, September 26
Uriah Hall vs. Gegard Mousasi
Roan Carneiro was supposed to be Gegard Mousasi’s opponent in the co-main event in Japan, but he will be unable to compete with an injury. Uriah Hall stepped in on short notice after his victory at UFC Fight Night 73 over Oluwale Bamgbose. The bout remains the co-main event of that fight card.
UFC Fight Night 76, October 24
Aisling Daly vs. Ericka Almeida
Aisling Daly will get to compete in front of her friends and family as the UFC has booked her opposite Ericka Almeida for their next Dublin trip. Both fighters are coming off losses. This fight will be placed on the prelims but should be a fun 115-pound scrap in Ireland.
UFC Fight Night 77, November 7
Alex Oliveira vs. Piotr Hallmann
This is a bit of curious matchmaking by the UFC. Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira has won back-to-back fights, but Piotr Hallmann is a loser in three of his last four. Regardless, this fight was booked for the November 7 card in Brazil, and “Cowboy” has quickly become a fan favorite on undercards. This will be Oliveira’s return to the 155-pound division.
UFC 193, November 15
Brendan O’Reilly vs. William Macario
Stefan Struve vs. Jared Rosholt
The news came from Australia when the UFC added Brendan O’Reilly to the Melbourne card opposite William Macario. O’Reilly is returning from a win over Vik Grujic, but Macario has lost two straight. His job could be on the line. On the other end, heavyweights Stefan Struve and Jared Rosholt look to state their case for a big time heavyweight matchup with a win. Rosholt has won back-to-back fights, and Struve is coming off a victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
UFC Fight Night 78, November 21
Hector Urbina vs. Bartosz Fabinski
Valmir Lazaro vs. Michel Prazeres
These two bouts were added to the Fight Night card this week but largely went under the radar with other big matches announced. Welterweights Hector Urbina and Bartosz Fabinski are both working their way up the ranks. Urbina has won two straight, and Fabinski is on a five-fight winning streak.
Lightweights Michel Prazeres and Valmir Lazaro should put on an exciting contest. Lazaro is coming off a split decision won over James Krause, and Prazeres returns after losing to Kevin Lee in February. This fight is not getting a lot of attention but could steal Fight of the Night on this fight card.
UFC Fight Night 79, November 28
Benson Henderson vs. Thiago Alves
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Anthony Hamilton
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Jorge Masvidal
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alberto Mina
The biggest news of the week came with four key bouts announced for the UFC’s debut in Seoul. First, the UFC announced Benson Henderson vs. Thiago Alves for the main event. Shortly after that dust settled, the UFC tacked on two more great fights: Cro Cop vs. Anthony Hamilton and Dong Hyun Kim vs. Jorge Masvidal. Also added was the return of Yoshihiro Akiyama.
This Fight Night card for Seoul is already shaping up to be a fantastic debut for the UFC in South Korea.
The Ultimate Fighter: 22 Finale, December 11
Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes
The most high-profile fight made this week could very well be the five-round main event between Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes. In what will likely turn out to be a title eliminator, Edgar and Mendes will put on a highly technical and exciting showcase in the main event.
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will tussle shortly after this fight card at UFC 194, and it will set up another big fight for the featherweight division. Edgar has been on the outside looking in after narrowly missing upsetting Aldo for the crown, and Mendes has come up short against both Aldo and McGregor. This is a magnificent fight scheduled to headline a TUF Finale.
UFC 194, December 12
Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev
The stacked UFC 194 added its eighth fight this week when the UFC booked Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev. The lightweights will be on the preliminary card of a phenomenal final pay-per-view of 2015. Proctor is coming off a victory in June over Justin Edwards, and Mustafaev is currently on an 11-fight win streak.
UFC on Fox 17, December 19
Nik Lentz vs. Danny Castillo
Nate Diaz vs. Michael Johnson
Alistair Overeem vs. Junior dos Santos
UFC on Fox 17 already had a strong start with a lightweight title tilt, but the UFC tacked on three more bouts this week. Nik Lentz comes back to 155 to take on Danny Castillo in a fight between two skilled wrestlers. Also in the lightweight division, Nate Diaz returns against Michael Johnson. Diaz was away for one year after beating Gray Maynard but lost to Rafael dos Anjos after coming in overweight. He left again for a year. It is unknown what Diaz will show up against the Blackzilian contender. Johnson is coming off a contentious decision loss to Beneil Dariush this summer.
The big fight that was made, however, was the long awaited battle between Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos. This has been a tilt many have wanted to see for years, and now, it is finally on the books. Both Overeem and dos Santos are angling for a future title shot, and a win at UFC on Fox 17 would put them right in the thick of things in a shallow heavyweight field.
More fights will be added continually, so stick around here at Bleacher Report for full coverage. The UFC will round out the fight cards with more exciting matchups, and we will be here to cover them all.
The UFC returns after a short break for a Fight Night in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Sunday. UFC Fight Night 74 features a six-fight main card.
In the main event, No. 5-ranked featherweight Max Holloway takes on No. 7-ranked Charles Oliveira. A wi…
The UFC returns after a short break for a Fight Night in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Sunday. UFC Fight Night 74 features a six-fight main card.
In the main event, No. 5-ranked featherweight Max Holloway takes on No. 7-ranked Charles Oliveira. A win would catapult the victor into true title contention at 145 pounds.
Neil Magny returns on short notice to take on Erick Silva in the co-main event. After Demian Maia throttled Magny at UFC 190, the American dropped one spot to No. 15 in the UFC rankings. This is another stiff test for Magny and a great opportunity for Silva to re-establish himself in the division.
UFC Fight Night 74 should provide more fun fights for fans, but who holds the value going into the event?
Let’s take a look at the betting odds for UFC Fight Night 74.
UFC Fight Night 74 is headlined by a stellar featherweight contest which is flying under the radar.
No. 5-ranked contender Max Holloway squares off against No. 7-ranked Charles Oliveira. The two 145-pound fighters have contrasting styles which should m…
UFC Fight Night 74 is headlined by a stellar featherweight contest which is flying under the radar.
No. 5-ranked contender Max Holloway squares off against No. 7-ranked Charles Oliveira. The two 145-pound fighters have contrasting styles which should make for an intriguing battle. The two fighters have looked spectacular in recent fights.
Oliveira is on a four-fight winning streak. He has defeated Andy Ogle, Hatsu Hioki, Jeremy Stephens and Nik Lentz. It’s an impressive run for the former lightweight prospect. Holloway has an even better streak going. Since losing to Conor McGregor by decision in 2013, Holloway has reeled off six consecutive victories to move himself into the Top Five.
This is a quality Fight Night main event.
How will it shake out? That is why we are here. Let’s take a look at the head-to-toe breakdown of the featherweight contest coming your way on August 23.
In the never-ending saga that is Ronda Rousey vs. Cris “Cyborg” Justino, or Dana White vs. Tito Ortiz for that matter, the UFC President came forward today that Cyborg was never offered the fight for December 5.
The story of this potential …
In the never-ending saga that is Ronda Rousey vs. Cris “Cyborg” Justino, or Dana White vs. Tito Ortiz for that matter, the UFC President came forward today that Cyborg was never offered the fight for December 5.
The story of this potential blockbuster fight has been growing rapidly this week. Cyborg’s manager George Prajin told Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com he had multiple conversations with the UFC about a fight with Rousey in December. This comes after the he said-he said between White and Ortiz over the past week.
To show you that Tito Ortiz has no idea what he’s talking about, we’re not even doing the fight in Dallas, Texas. The fight is going to be in Las Vegas at the MGM. Just to show you that Tito is absolutely talking out of his a–.
The party line for Cyborg’s title bid against Rousey has always been that she fight at 135 once prior to ensure that she can make the weight. White said he asked UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby to contact Cyborg about this process.
Rousey gave a Reddit AMA, Ask Me Anything, on Monday. Naturally, Cyborg came up. Rousey didn’t hold back on her feelings about Cyborg or that fight. Rousey said Cyborg is merely waiting to be offered enough money and that she consulted with Mike Dolce about making 135 pounds before he ever started working with Rousey. The champion also said she would like for this matchup to be her retirement bout.
Rousey made it known that Cyborg needs her:
Her shows that she headlines lose thousands of dollars, and the majority of the tickets are given away because no one will buy them. She needs me. So pretty much we’re waiting for her to realize that she needs to fight me before I retire or she’ll never have enough money to retire.
Cyborg’s last fight came at Invicta FC 13 in Las Vegas in July. She thrashed Faith Van Duin in under a minute to retain her 145-pound title. She was pressed in the post-fight interview as to if her next fight would be at 135 pounds. The champion balked at the question. Cyborg was completely non-committal and did not appear to have any current plans of making an attempt to reach 135 pounds.
Also interesting from Monday’s quote is the admission by White that put talks of a December 5 supershow at AT&T Stadium in Dallas to rest. Per Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor will take place in Las Vegas on December 12, but Rousey vs. Tate will not be on the same card.
The UFC has been adamant that Cyborg make 135 before facing off against Rousey for her championship belt, and nothing appears to be changing on that front. The Invicta FC featherweight champion will have to prove she can make 135 pounds before getting that opportunity.
The onus is fully on Cyborg from here on out. Make 135 and force the UFC to make the fight most fight fans want to see or come to grips that it will never happen.
The Rousey-Tate trilogy has yet to have a date attached to it, but UFC 194 heads toward the MGM Grand in December without the fight attached to it.
Beneil Dariush picked up a huge win over No. 5-ranked contender Michael Johnson, but to say the split decision was contentious may be understating it.
Dariush landed a plethora of jabs and kicks over the three rounds, but Johnson was very active with c…
BeneilDariush picked up a huge win over No. 5-ranked contender Michael Johnson, but to say the split decision was contentious may be understating it.
Dariush landed a plethora of jabs and kicks over the three rounds, but Johnson was very active with combinations. That includes nearly dropping Dariush in the opening round.
In the end, it goes down as a victory for the Iranian. It will undoubtedly move him into the top-10 of the division, and with that, comes potential opportunities for title eliminators. Johnson will not lose much ground after the questionable decision, but it is still a setback.
What was learned from the lightweight tilt? Let’s have a look.
What We’ll Remember About this Fight
The most memorable portion of this fight was when Johnson nearly knocked Dariush down. Dariush managed to stay upright ultimately, but it was the biggest strike of the fight.
Other than that, there wasn’t much to remember about this fight. It was technical and interesting, but not memorable. Dariush utilized a quick jab and leg kicks while Johnson’s continual combinations and pressure created most of the offense in the fight.
What We Learned About BeneilDariush
We learned he is not outmatched against the upper echelon of the division. He ascended into the top-15 and his reward was a fight against someone in the top-five. He performed well.
Dariush will learn a lot from this experience. Johnson was much faster than he was, and he couldn’t get in for a takedown. Even still, he held his own and picked up the win.
What We Learned About Michael Johnson
We learned that Johnson is a legitimate contender in this division. It will officially go down as a loss, but he shouldn’t be dropped too far in the lightweight rankings.
Johnson had been submitted by lesser opposition such as RezaMadadi but rebounded with four straight wins over credible opponents. It put him in the top-five, but there were definitely still questions regarding his legitimacy as a contender.
He put those to rest in this performance. His takedown defense was on point, and his combinations made it difficult for Dariush in each round. Johnson is a formidable foe for anyone at 155 pounds. His work with the Blackzilians has transformed him into an elite lightweight.
What’s Next for BeneilDariush
After beating the No. 5-ranked contender, Dariush will have to fight someone significant. Looking at the rankings, the name that pops right up is EdsonBarboza.
Barboza is someone whom Johnson previously defeated and offers similar problems for Dariush. It will be a good stylistic matchup to either right a wrong or prove Dariush can handle this type of fighter. It makes sense in the division and could possibly lead to a title tilt should the stars align.
What’s Next for Michael Johnson
After the disappointing loss, Johnson has to go back in the pecking order just a bit. He should fight the winner of RezaMadadi vs. Norman Parke.
If Madadi wins, Johnson has a chance to get vindication from a poor performance. Should he fight Parke, it’s a fun stylistic matchup that fans should enjoy. It’s a win-win for the UFC and a great way to give Johnson a favorable matchup.
Even still, the UFC has a deep roster of lightweights to pick from. It would be hard to miss having a good fight for Johnson in his return bout.
