For the past several days I’ve made it a mission of mine to bring a little positivity and excitement to an MMA landscape that seems to have a lot of negativity hovering around it lately.No matter what, I still think it’s an amazing time to …
For the past several days I’ve made it a mission of mine to bring a little positivity and excitement to an MMA landscape that seems to have a lot of negativity hovering around it lately.
No matter what, I still think it’s an amazing time to be an MMA fan. I love this sport very much, and I think that’s incredibly important to remember while we’re in the midst of another spat of fan flame wars.
So here’s my latest effort to sit back, relax and have some fun: these are the five “dream matches” I’d still love to see.
There’s a lot of negativity floating around the MMA landscape right now. Maybe it’s Nick Diaz getting busted for smoking pot, maybe it’s Carlos Condit’s very controversial actions that led him to beat Nick Diaz. Fighters are lea…
There’s a lot of negativity floating around the MMA landscape right now. Maybe it’s Nick Diaz getting busted for smoking pot, maybe it’s Carlos Condit’s very controversial actions that led him to beat Nick Diaz. Fighters are leaving their long-time managers and coaches as well.
Me, I’ve always been a positive person. So here’s a little positivity for you: I think the upcoming “UFC on Fuel TV” card is going to be a bona fide sleeper hit, both because it’s a smaller show on a smaller network and also because it features a wide range of excellent UFC talent.
Here’s five reasons why you shouldn’t sleep on UFC on FUEL TV 1:
Does anyone else feel strange?There’s not going to be a UFC show this weekend, and I feel strange. Does that mean I’m spoiled? Probably. There’ll be a UFC event Wednesday of next week, though. And then we’ll have another week of…
Does anyone else feel strange?
There’s not going to be a UFC show this weekend, and I feel strange. Does that mean I’m spoiled? Probably. There’ll be a UFC event Wednesday of next week, though. And then we’ll have another week of non-action until UFC 146 on Sunday, February 26. Should we be thinking that far ahead? I certainly am. In fact, I’m very excited about UFC 146. Here’s five reasons why.
5. Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo? Somebody’s getting KTFO’d.
Sometimes you just want to see two dudes punch each other in the face until one of them is no longer standing. That’s exactly what you’re in for in this fight. Hunt and Kongo are excellent kickboxers, they’re both headhunters and they’ve both got tough chins. This won’t end on a weak TKO stoppage, and it’s definitely not ending by submission. These two are going to come out swinging for the fences, and before long one of them is going to connect and add an unforgettable moment to his highlight reel.
4. Yoshihrio Akiyama vs. Jake Shields has plenty of potential.
Shields is a great wrestler with plenty of good submissions, and Akiyama is a good all-around fighter with plenty of judo knowledge. To be honest, I don’t see either man finishing this fight, but that absolutely does not mean that I think this will be a boring fight. Rather, I have a good feeling that this’ll be a great three-round war regardless of where it ends up.
3. Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader will be an interesting test for both men.
Jackson is coming off of his first submission loss since 2001, and only the second submission loss of his long and illustrious career. Ryan Bader, meanwhile, recently KO’d Jason Brilz for a nice rebound from a tough two-fight losing streak . Going 1-3 in your last four can still get most people fired, though, so expect Bader to have a “do or die” mentality in this fight. “Rampage” always comes to fight and is always looking for the knockout, too. A lot of people seem to think Bader isn’t on Jackson’s level, and even if that’s true I still think this’ll end up being one of the night’s most entertaining bouts.
2. It’s the UFC in Japan.
I’ll be honest fans and friends: I never really thought this would happen. The reality of the situation is this: The Japanese market for MMA has shriveled in the years since PRIDE FC’s collapse—you could make a serious argument that it’s reached the point of no return. But of course, Zuffa has made millions (even billions!) in their attempts to make something out of nothing. Who knows how (or even what) this show will end up being? The UFC in Japan should produce an atmosphere that’s totally different from any other place, and seeing just what a UFC show in Japan entails is one of the strongest reasons to watch this card.
1. Benson Henderson vs. Frank Edgar is “Fight of the Year” material, and I’m almost positive it’s going to live up to its hype.
I have never, ever, ever believed that Frank Edgar is a boring fighter. Even when people just considered him a “lay and pray” wrestler, I was always cheering for Edgar and supporting him as a “dark horse favorite” of mine. Now he’s coming off two “Fight of the Year” contenders against Gray Maynard, the last of which saw Edgar score an amazing knockout. From an unproven champion to the baddest man at 155, it’s been a joy to watch Frank Edgar perform.
But then there’s Benson Henderson, who’s been running through everybody in the UFC and ran through almost everybody in the WEC. Benson Henderson is a destroyer: Whether it’s with a submission or by sheer volume and tenacity of his strikes, Henderson fights to finish you and finish you quickly. This is a great match-up for both men, and I can’t wait to see their styles clash.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
We’re now only a day away from UFC 143. In the main event, Nick Diaz will face Carlos Condit for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup as top Strikeforce star Fabricio Werdum will fight R…
We’re now only a day away from UFC 143. In the main event, Nick Diaz will face Carlos Condit for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup as top Strikeforce star Fabricio Werdum will fight Roy Nelson in Werdum’s return bout.
As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post, covering who I think will win and why, now featuring UFC 143 “Diaz vs. Condit.”
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Herman has been looking all kinds of awesome lately, but Clifford Starks has been impressive as well. Starks is undefeated, but I do think Herman will be the one to give Starks his first loss.
It won’t be easy, though. Both of these fighters will push their opponent to their limit, Herman simply has more experience being pushed to his. Ed Herman wins by split decision.
Renan Barão vs. Scott Jorgensen
Renan Barão is going to put a lot of pressure on Scott Jorgensen, but Jorgensen has never wilted under pressure. I think both fighters will go tit-for-tat, and that Barão’s inability to overwhelm his opponent will sap at his confidence.
Eventually Barão will become too focused on putting away an opponent that just refuses to be put away, and Jorgensen will counter-punch his way to victory. Scott Jorgensen wins via unanimous decision.
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
As I stated in my “Complete Collection” post, Pierce is establishing a pattern of losing to top competition. He’s never been finished though, and I don’t think Koscheck will be the one to finish him.
Koscheck may strike for a while, but before long he’ll go back to his dominant wrestling. Pierce is going to spend a lot of time on his back in this bout. Josh Koscheck wins by unanimous decision.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Now this is one tough fight to pick. On the ground it’s a toss-up: Fabricio Werdum has fantastic submissions off his back, but Roy Nelson loves to smother people he’s on top of. Fabricio Werdum’s striking has been continuously improving for quite some time now, but he doesn’t have the kind of one-hit KO power of Nelson.
Here’s what I think is going to happen: I can’t say how or when, but I can’t shake the feeling that Werdum gets caught. Maybe it’s on the ground when he’s attempting a submission. Maybe it’s up against the cage when he’s fighting for position. Maybe he comes in a bit too over-zealous on a striking exchange.
But I’m predicting that somehow, some way Roy Nelson will be able to land that big bomb of his and put Werdum away. Roy Nelson wins by TKO in Round 2.
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit
If you’ve followed me for any extended length of time, you’ll know by now who I’m picking to win this fight. A lot of MMA fans have a long list of fighters they consider their favorites. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just not me. My list of favorite fighters can be counted on one hand.
Nick Diaz is one of those fighters.
I believe in Nick Diaz, I truly do. I believe that his striking, his ground game, his chin, his pacing and his cardio all combine to make a fighter that not only can survive, but thrive against any obstacle put before him.
I know Carlos Condit is one of the best welterweights in the world; I’ve known this since I first saw him compete in the WEC. This has been a long time coming for Condit, and if he wins I’d certainly be happy that he would finally get the recognition and respect he deserves.
But in the end, I believe in Nick Diaz. I think Nick Diaz is going to survive Condit’s early onslaughts and take him into deep waters where Diaz excels.
It’ll be five long rounds of pure mayhem, but by the end of the third, it’ll be clear that Condit will have faded while Diaz will have only just begun. Don’t be surprised if Round 5 is ruled a 10-8 round in favor of Diaz. My official prediction is that Nick Diaz wins by unanimous decision.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
On February 4, 2011, the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “Diaz vs. Condit” event, featuring Nick Diaz taking on Carlos Condit in a bout that will crown a UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. Also, Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC after…
On February 4, 2011, the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “Diaz vs. Condit” event, featuring Nick Diaz taking on Carlos Condit in a bout that will crown a UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. Also, Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC after a mostly-stellar stint in Strikeforce and takes on “Big Country” Roy Nelson. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: What are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: Five reasons to watch UFC 143.
5. Not only do you get six fights for free, this is one of the strongest UFC preliminary cards in months.
The last time a UFC event rolled around, some scheduling conflicts resulted in me only getting to watch one preliminary bout. For UFC 143, I’m specifically putting time aside to catch the prelims because they really are just that awesome. You’ve got great newcomers like Stephen Thompson and Michael Kuiper, you’ve got “Ultimate Fighter” stars like Matt Riddle, Matt Brown and Alex Caceres, you’ve got entertaining fighters like Edwin Figueroa and Dustin Poirier…the list goes on. To be honest, several of these prelim fights would be a perfect fit for the main card of a “Fight Night Live” event.
4. Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen is going to once again prove how entertaining and underrated lighter-weight fighters are.
Scott Jorgensen is one tough fighter. He’s fought some of the best in his division, and while he’s lost a couple, he’s never made it easy for anybody. Renan Barao has a lot of hype behind him right now, and most of it is rightfully deserved. Jorgensen may be the gatekeeper in this fight, but this is also undoubtedly the toughest fight of Barao’s career. Don’t be surprised if this is your “Fight of the Night”.
3. Either Mike Pierce is the next big Welterweight, or Josh Koscheck is still the best UFC Welterweight that’ll probably not get another title shot for quite some time.
So long as Georges St. Pierre remains champion, Josh Koscheck probably won’t be getting another title shot. So what’s left for him at Welterweight? I honestly don’t know, and I guess the only person who can really answer that question is Josh Koscheck himself. Here’s what I do know: Koscheck is still a Top Five Welterweight, and I don’t think Mike Pierce is ready for him. If he is, this’ll be as shocking as when Johny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch. If he’s not, Koscheck will remind us all that he’s here to stay whether we like it or not.
2. Both Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum have a lot to prove.
As I’ve said in the past, Nelson is the type of fighter that always seems to hover just below title contention before he’s dealt a tough loss that forces him to more or less start over. Fabricio Werdum may be coming off of a loss, but expect the whole “he beat Fedor” thing to be milked to death. The loss to Overeem aside, Werdum had a great run in Strikeforce and he’s coming into the UFC as one of Strikeforce’s biggest Heavyweights. It could be a grappling clinic, it could be a three-round brawl, but whichever way it goes I’d be surprised if this fight isn’t entertaining.
And the number-one reason to watch UFC 143 is…
1. Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit…hell yes.
You couldn’t ask for a better match-up. Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit are simply perfect for each other. Both of these fighters have one clear intention going into a fight: To separate their opponent from consciousness as quickly as possible. If it lives up to its potential, we’ll be talking about this fight for years. I’ve talked a whole lot about this one, so all I have left to say is this: Nothing will make me miss this fight.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
Hello once more, fans and friends, and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”—a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA …
Hello once more, fans and friends, and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”—a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event.
Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail.
So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit.
The Event
UFC 143, Diaz vs. Condit, is currently scheduled for Sat., Feb. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Two preliminary bouts can be seen on the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 7 p.m EST.
Four more prelims can be seen as part of a “UFC on FX” broadcast starting at 8 p.m. EST. The five-fight pay-per-view card is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. EST.
Why You Should Care
This event will see the crowning of a new champion, albeit an “interim” champion while current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is on the sideline due to a major injury.
Nevertheless, the main event of Condit vs. Diaz should be a tremendous matchup.
What to Look Forward to in the Main Event
Don’t blink. Fans and the media say that all the time when it comes to fights like these, but it’s never been more true.
Both fighters have made their careers off of getting into their opponent’s face, beating him to a pulp, and then, more often than not, dramatically finishing him.
This is going to be an all-out war from the first bell to the last, regardless of how long this fight goes.
What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event
Fabricio Werdum is returning to the UFC with an interesting mix of fan hype and fan nonchalance.
Werdum is still “the man who beat Fedor Emelianenko,” but he’s also the man who had a very boring fight with Alistair Overeem recently.
Roy Nelson, meanwhile, always seems to be right on the verge of title contention before being dealt a tough loss.
This is a big proving point for both fighters, and if they show up at their best, we’re in for a really fun fight.
Why You Should Watch This Card
The prelims (even the ones on Facebook) are stacked. The main PPV card is stacked.
In addition to the two big fights anchoring the event, you’ve also got a great lighter weight fight in Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen.
You’ve also got bad boy extraordinaire Josh Koscheck in action. This card simply screams “must watch.”
Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card
The only real problem I have with this card is that Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks doesn’t belong on a PPV of this caliber.
That’s not said to disrespect either fighter, but if that fight could’ve been replaced by another fight featuring one or two top-level UFC stars, then this could’ve easily taken Event of the Year.
That’s the only complaint I have; other than that, I absolutely cannot wait to see this show.
Closing Thoughts
No matter what happens, I have a good feeling that UFC 143 is going to be an Event of the Year contender. There are too many good fights and too many awesome fighters.
The UFC pretty much hit it out of the park when it comes to the matchmaking for this event.
So long as the fighters themselves deliver, this should be one event we’re all talking about for months to come.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
Does anyone else feel strange?