Author: Nathan McCarter

UFC 190 Results: What We Learned from Shogun Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

The rematch of one of the best MMA fights in PRIDE history took place at UFC 190. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira went toe-to-toe.
There was a feeling out process early, but they were searching for homeruns. Both Shogun a…

The rematch of one of the best MMA fights in PRIDE history took place at UFC 190. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira went toe-to-toe.

There was a feeling out process early, but they were searching for homeruns. Both Shogun and Nogueira narrowly missed heavy punches as they wanted to end it early. They were not afraid to mix it up in the pocket.

Nogueira stunned Shogun, but the former champion covered up and responded. He was on wobbly legs for a long time, but he stayed right in the fight. Shogun then landed clean to stun Nogueira. A crazy end to the first round helped revitalize a crowd that had lost some of its enthusiasm prior to the contest.

Shogun opened the second round with a takedown. Eventually, Nogueira used his jiu-jitsu experience to work his way back to the feet. It was evident that Rua was less interested to have a pure striking exchange after being badly hurt in the first round.

Rua was looking for the takedowns again in the final round. He landed some strong leg kicks in the final two frames, but he was avoiding a wild exchange at all cost. He got more patient, and it paid off. His more methodical approach allowed him to score enough to win the fight on the scorecards.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

A crazy flurry in the final minute-plus of the first round was the most memorable portion of the fight.

They worked out their range and pacing early in the round, and when Nogueira clocked Shogun he went in for the finish. It didn’t prove to happen as Shogun covered up well and fired back, but that only made it more fun.

Shogun landed flush to back Nogueira off of him, but soon he returned. They threw heavy leather in the pocket. The horn sounded and the crowd rose to their feet.

 

What We Learned About Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Is it wrong to say that we learned nothing?

This was the same old Nogueira, and after he rocked Rua in the first round he didn’t turn up the tempo again. He didn’t try to make it ugly. That was where he had the most success, but then he abandoned it. It cost him the fight.

I think we have learned just about all we can from Nogueira. There’s nothing new to his tactics.

 

What We Learned About Shogun Rua

We learned that he can still fight smart.

His aggression has been a downfall for him in recent outings, and it was very nearly his downfall at UFC 190. However, he survived and fought much more smartly in the final two rounds. If he does that, he can still compete with many in this division.

Rua has quality striking and grappling, but he just doesn’t have the chin to use all-out aggression anymore.

 

What’s Next for Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Patrick Cummins.

Yes, Nogueira lost, but he still looked pretty good out there. The matchup against Cummins would be a good test for Cummins‘ evolution as a fighter. He loves to use his wrestling and grind, but Nogueira’s ground game would be a serious threat.

That would be a quality fight for a Fight Night event. It has a little value for both men with their ranking in the division.

 

What’s Next for Shogun Rua

Shogun is a top 10 fighter in a thin division. The ranking is misleading because he isn’t an upper echelon fighter anymore. The fight that makes the most sense is against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

It is another PRIDE rematch that hardcore fans can enjoy without having any big impact on the division.

If the UFC could make that happen for their return to Japan it would make even more sense, but that may be unlikely. Regardless, Shogun should not be involved in any top tier bout in the light heavyweight division. No value in that.

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UFC 190 Results: What We Learned from Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva defeated Soa Palelei in the second fight of UFC 190’s main card. After back-to-back losses, Bigfoot’s back was against the wall, and he performed well enough to move right back into the thick of things at heavyweight…

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva defeated Soa Palelei in the second fight of UFC 190‘s main card. After back-to-back losses, Bigfoot’s back was against the wall, and he performed well enough to move right back into the thick of things at heavyweight.

Bigfoot lost the opening round. He was doing well enough, but Palelei ended up in top position. “The Hulk” was not able to land too many clean blows to cause damage, but he did enough to secure the round. It was pretty even until the start of the second.

In less than a minute, Bigfoot won the fight. He wasted no time in finishing off Palelei and getting back in the win column. This is what we learned from the heavyweight battle.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Bigfoot Silva’s calculated work to end the fight.

Silva got Palelei against the cage and took his time. He landed several nice punches and a couple knees, but he didn’t go all-out opening up opportunities for Palelei to survive. He was measured in his approach to ensure he could finish the fight.

This was a much needed win for the Brazilian.

 

What We Learned About Soa Palelei

We learned he still has yet to develop any sensible cardio. The pace of the fight was not intense, but after just one round he was visibly slower. It is not a good look to get that tired that quickly.

If he did not gas as quickly, it is possible he would have been able to work off the cage, or at least clinch with the Brazilian to give himself time. Instead, he stood there and took a beating. Palelei hits hard, very hard, but he has never improved enough to become a legitimate threat to the top end of the division.

Very disappointing.

 

What We Learned About Bigfoot Silva

We learned that he is back to his old self. He looked quicker at UFC 190.

Silva was not as lumbering or slow in this fight. He also took a few clean punches, and he ate them well. It was a departure from his previous outings.

Is he going to contend for the title? Very unlikely. However, he can improve enough to work back into the discussion as an upper echelon heavyweight. He has solid ability standing and on the floor. He can be a gatekeeper to the elite.

 

What’s Next for Soa Palelei

There are limited options at heavyweight. Derrick Lewis seems like a good option.

Those two will sling until one or the other falls. It’ll be a good rebound for one of the two, and it will send the loser out of the UFC. Probably for the best.

 

What’s Next for Bigfoot Silva

Oleksiy Oliynyk.

Silva should not take on one of the top in the division right now, and a lot of the other fighters are coming off a loss. Also, this is a good test to see where Oliynyk is. Oliynyk is 2-0 in the UFC, and he needs a step up in competition.

This would serve as a quality main card tilt on just about any fight card. It serves a purpose.

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Bleacher Report’s UFC 190 Fight-Day Dossier

Ronda Rousey defends her title against Bethe Correia on Saturday, and Bleacher Report has had you covered wall-to-wall all week long for UFC 190. It has been another extraordinary fight week leading up to this seven-fight pay-per-view event.
With so mu…

Ronda Rousey defends her title against Bethe Correia on Saturday, and Bleacher Report has had you covered wall-to-wall all week long for UFC 190. It has been another extraordinary fight week leading up to this seven-fight pay-per-view event.

With so much content it is easy to miss a story here or there, but this is your one-stop-shop to catching up before tonight’s PPV.

 

Event Analysis, Opinions and Predictions

Six Reasons to Watch Rousey vs. Correia Fight Card by Dan Hiergesell

Tate vs. Rousey 3: Proof UFC Has a Women’s MMA Problem by Jonathan Snowden

According to Bleacher Report research, fewer than 10 percent of all UFC fights so far in 2015 have featured women, making both women’s bantamweight and the new strawweight division the least active divisions in the sport.

Who’s on the Hot Seat? by Sean Smith

Best DraftKings Fantasy Picks by Brian Mazique

Preliminary Card Predictions by Riley Kontek

A Complete Guide to UFC 190 by Scott Harris

Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions by Sean Smith

UFC 190 Fact or Fiction by Chad Dundas and Jonathan Snowden

I also can’t get on board with [Neil Magny] as a top-level fighter until I see him take on someone I’ve heard of before. But that’s just business, man—it’s not personal.

Main Card Staff Predictions by James MacDonald, Riley Kontek, Sean Smith, Craig Amos and Scott Harris

UFC 190 Weigh-In Live Blog by Nathan McCarter

 

Rousey vs. Correia Main Event Primer

Rousey vs. Correia: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown by Nathan McCarter

Rousey’s Mom Wants Her to End Fight Fast by Nathan McCarter

Rousey’s Plan: Beat Up Correia and Tate, Then Go Film a Movie by Duane Finley

While knocking out a list of lofty accomplishments of that caliber would be a career for some, just like everything else she has her hand in, Rousey makes it all seem like a foregone conclusion.

Correia Seeking ‘Justice’ Against Rousey by Jordy McElroy

What Cruel, Unusual Punishment Does Rousey Have Planned for Correia? by Chad Dundas

The Slow, Steady Evolution of Rousey’s Striking by Steven Rondina

Rousey’s ‘punch and clutch’ is not nearly as smooth as Fedor’s, of course, but she is wisely borrowing from the Last Emperor’s playbook, and it is paying dividends. This has been most obvious in the earliest stages of her recent bouts, in which she followed her game plan most strictly.

Rousey vs. Correia: Career Stats for Both Fighters by Brian Mazique

Rousey: “I’m Not a Do-Nothing B—h” by Brian Oswald

Whatever you think of Rousey and her moxie, she’s never been one to pull her punches. Some may even laud Rousey for setting a good example for other women to follow. She’ll certainly never be mistaken for a Stepford wife.

Correia’s Mom Offers Her Own Fight Advice: Break Rousey’s Jaw by Scott Harris

How Many More Fights Does Rousey Have Left? by Raphael Garcia

Kenny Florian: Correia Victory Would Be ‘Biggest Upset in UFC History’by Jordy McElroy

 

Jessica Aguilar vs. Claudia Gadelha Primer

Aguilar vs. Gadelha: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown by Nathan McCarter

Aguilar vs. Gadelha Should Have Been Co-Main Event by Nathan McCarter

This could be a female-led PPV. 2015 is a year of revolution for women’s athletics. The UFC could have continued that trend by showcasing these title contenders at UFC 190. Instead, they are nowhere to be seen in the UFC’s promotion of the event.

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UFC 190 Weigh-in Results: Rousey vs. Correia Fight Card

UFC 190 combatants take to the scale to make weight on Friday afternoon.
The bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey headlines against the undefeated challenger Bethe Correia, and the fight has gotten personal. The two already had an int…

UFC 190 combatants take to the scale to make weight on Friday afternoon.

The bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey headlines against the undefeated challenger Bethe Correia, and the fight has gotten personal. The two already had an intense staredown at the pre-fight press conference. Now they must hit the scale to make their fight official.

Both Nogueira brothers are on this card, as “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo will fight Stefan Struve and Antonio Rogerio will face off against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. The main card is a seven-fight event.

Bleacher Report will be here to cover all the weigh-in happenings Friday afternoon. The weigh-ins get underway at 5:00 p.m. ET. Check back for full coverage.

 

UFC 190 Fight Card

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia
  • Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
  • Glaico Franca vs. Fernando Bruno
  • Reginaldo Vieira vs. Dileno Lopes
  • Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
  • Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Jessica Aguilar
  • Demian Maia vs. Neil Magny
  • Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins
  • Warlley Alves vs. Nordine Taleb
  • Iuri Alcantara vs. Leandro Issa
  • Vitor Miranda vs. Clint Hester
  • Hugo Viana vs. Guido Cannetti

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 190 Weigh-in Results: Rousey vs. Correia Fight Card

UFC 190 combatants take to the scale to make weight on Friday afternoon.
Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey headlines against undefeated challenger Bethe Correia, and the fight has gotten personal. The two already had an intense staredown at the pre-fi…

UFC 190 combatants take to the scale to make weight on Friday afternoon.

Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey headlines against undefeated challenger Bethe Correia, and the fight has gotten personal. The two already had an intense staredown at the pre-fight press conference. Now they must tip the scale to make their fight official.

Both Nogueira brothers are on this card, as Antonio Rodrigo will fight Stefan Struve and Antonio Rogerio will face off against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. The main card is a seven-fight event.

Bleacher Report will be here to cover all the weigh-in happenings Friday afternoon. The weigh-ins get underway at 5:00 p.m. ET. Check back for full coverage.

 

UFC 190 Fight Card

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia
  • Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
  • Glaico França vs. Fernando Bruno
  • Reginaldo Vieira vs. Dileno Lopes
  • Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
  • Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Jessica Aguilar
  • Demian Maia vs. Neil Magny
  • Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins
  • Warlley Alves vs. Nordine Taleb
  • Iuri Alcantara vs. Leandro Issa
  • Vitor Miranda vs. Clint Hester
  • Hugo Viana vs. Guido Cannetti

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Jessica Aguilar vs. Claudia Gadelha Should Have Been UFC 190’s Co-Main Event

UFC 190 comes to you from Brazil this Saturday with a seven-fight main card. Opening the pay-per-view action will be a possible strawweight title eliminator between No. 1-ranked contender Claudia Gadelha and No. 15-ranked Jessica Aguilar.
This fight sh…

UFC 190 comes to you from Brazil this Saturday with a seven-fight main card. Opening the pay-per-view action will be a possible strawweight title eliminator between No. 1-ranked contender Claudia Gadelha and No. 15-ranked Jessica Aguilar.

This fight should have been the co-main event of the evening.

Outside of the main event title fight between Ronda Rousey and Bethe Correia, this is the only fight with any significance. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira would have had some significance two years ago, but in 2015, it is just two old veterans clinging to relevance. Heavyweights Stefan Struve and Minotauro Nogueira will square off as well, but they’re not viable top-tier fighters.

What two fights are after Aguilar-Gadelha? The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil finale fights. Like most, I’ll take a hard pass on that.

It isn’t surprising that this fight didn’t get the call to be a co-main event. The UFC has shown little interest in promoting its female divisions with any semblance of urgency outside of Rousey.

The first-ever strawweight fight, which involved Gadelha, was listed as the opening fight of a card via Fight Pass. As B/R’s Jonathan Snowden reported, there have only been 13 total strawweight fights in 2015, and only one more for the 135-pound weight class.

Of those rare fights, only two were co-main events (Esparza-Jedrzejczyk, Eye-Tate), and just two of the four PPV bouts were non-title.

Either Aguilar or Gadelha will quite possibly be the next contender at 115 pounds, and neither receives much promotion from the organization. They should be getting coverage as the co-main event, and they should have the platform to showcase their personalities. Both Aguilar and Gadelha have great personalities and are well-spoken.

Shogun and the Nogueiras are not PPV draws anymore, so that argument is null and void. Having them on the Brazilian card to help sell local tickets is fine, but they do not have to receive such high placement on the card to achieve that effect.

If this PPV card wasn’t seven fights deep, there is a good possibility the UFC would have chosen to have this fight on the preliminary card to begin with. They are fortunate enough just to be the curtain-jerking bout, but they deserve so much more.

Do any other top-ranked fighters get treated this way? Were Luke Rockhold or Johny Hendricks just lucky to get on a PPV event because they added more main card fights? Were they relegated as top contenders? No.

Aguilar is the former No. 1-ranked fighter in this weight class, and Gadelha is the top-ranked fighter in the UFC’s rankings. Their placement on this card would be justifiable if it were a stacked event like UFC 187 or UFC 189, but it’s not. It is a PPV being carried by Ronda Rousey.

There is no other fight on this card worthy of the co-main event over the strawweight title eliminator, and that is all the more reason to put Aguilar-Gadelha at the co-main event slot.

This could be a female-led PPV. 2015 is a year of revolution for women’s athletics. The UFC could have continued that trend by showcasing these title contenders at UFC 190. Instead, they are nowhere to be seen in the UFC’s promotion of the event.

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