Author: Riley Kontek

UFC on Fuel 6 Results: What’s Next for Rich Franklin

For Rich Franklin, his fight with Cung Le on the first Chinese card was historic. Unfortunately, so was the knockout he suffered at the hands of Le in the first round.Franklin looked to be getting comfortable in the first round in his striking, finding…

For Rich Franklin, his fight with Cung Le on the first Chinese card was historic. Unfortunately, so was the knockout he suffered at the hands of Le in the first round.

Franklin looked to be getting comfortable in the first round in his striking, finding a rhythm on the unorthodox Vietnamese-American. But with only one punch, Le nailed Franklin right on the button to put his lights out before he hit the ground.

It was a devastating knockout loss for Franklin, who had recently been seeing a career resurgence.

As for what’s next for Franklin, it’s tough to tell at this point. One could argue retirement, but I still think he has gas left in the tank.

At this point in his career, Franklin is more a novelty fighter and will only fight big names. I would assume he’ll stay away from the middleweight division, as he will probably never get another title shot, and it is a tough weight cut for him.

If he did stay in the middleweight division, I think fights against Mark Munoz or Jake Shields would be good bouts for him to take. Both are big names on the rebound from recent setbacks. Munoz lost via knockout to Chris Weidman in his last bout, while Shields is currently suspended for using a banned substance at UFC 150.

Should he return to the light heavyweight or take special feature catchweight bouts, I would love to see him eventually square off with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira or Quinton Jackson down the road. Currently, Nogueira is tied to a fight with Rashad Evans for Super Bowl weekend of 2013, while Jackson is on the last fight of his UFC contract, fighting in January against Glover Teixeira.

The UFC should throw some money at Jackson to take a superfight with the former middleweight champion Franklin to see which veteran is the better man. It would be a fun fight that would draw much fan attention.

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UFC on Fuel 6 Results: What We Learned from Takanori Gomi vs. Mac Danzig

Pride legend Takanori Gomi met Ultimate Fighter winner Mac Danzig on the main card in an intriguing bout. In an exciting affair, Gomi would edge Danzig by a split decision.  Here’s what we learned from the bout. What we’ll remember about this…

Pride legend Takanori Gomi met Ultimate Fighter winner Mac Danzig on the main card in an intriguing bout. In an exciting affair, Gomi would edge Danzig by a split decision.  

Here’s what we learned from the bout.

 

What we’ll remember about this fight: 

A classic performance from Gomi. He did not gas, he looked good with his wrestling and striking and gave us a performance we haven’t seen from him since entering the UFC. He may not have gotten the finish, but it was good to see he still has some gas left in the tank.

 

What we learned about Mac Danzig:

Danzig is still the inconsistent fighter he has been since winning TUF. He fought well, but just cannot seem to make that transition to the next level. Every time he gets a good win on his resume, he takes a step back in another fight. He has the skills and potential, but just needs to utilize them 

 

What we learned about Takanori Gomi:

Gomi may still have some pep in his step. This was likely his best performance, even though he did not get a knockout. He has the potential to be an upper-level lightweight, but he needs to continue his resurgence and keep winning.

 

What’s next for Danzig:

Danzig needs to get back on track in his next fight. Another recent loser, Danny Castillo, could be a good matchup for both men and get one man back on the track to move up the lightweight ladder.

 

What’s next for Gomi:

Gomi is a marketable fighter, due to his Pride days and cult following. I would love to see him square off with Sean Sherk when he returns, pitting a former Pride champion against a former UFC champion. If that is not possible, put him in the cage with Diego Sanchez.

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UFC on Fuel 6 Results: What we Learned from Takeya Mizugaki vs. Jeff Hougland

The main card of UFC on Fuel in China kicked off in the bantamweight division, as Japan’s Takeya Mizugaki took on American Jeff Hougland. Mizugaki would earn a unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27) in impressive fashion.Here’s what we learned f…

The main card of UFC on Fuel in China kicked off in the bantamweight division, as Japan’s Takeya Mizugaki took on American Jeff Hougland. Mizugaki would earn a unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27) in impressive fashion.

Here’s what we learned from the bout.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Mizugaki‘s dominance in every aspect of the fight. He used great takedowns, takedown defense and ground-and-pound, which complimented his striking on the feet. We will remember a complete domination.

 

What We Learned About Jeff Hougland

Hougland is a tough dude for absorbing that much punishment, but he may not be UFC caliber. He has a good-looking submission game, but he was out-grappled by the underrated top game of Mizugaki. He needs to go back to the drawing board and work on his striking.

 

What We Learned About Takeya Mizugaki

Mizugaki is still a top bantamweight in the world. He has not really made his impact on the UFC yet, but after this fight, the 135-lb division should take notice. Mizugaki is well-rounded and a tough matchup for any opponent.

 

What’s Next for Hougland

I would assume that Hougland gets his walking papers after this fight, as he has dropped two straight. If he gets another shot, give him another recent loser in Vaughan Lee and have them fight for their spot on the roster.

 

What’s Next for Mizugaki

Raphael Assuncao is on the rise at 135 and will need a stiff test. Mizugaki provides that test and in exchange has his all-around game further tested. 

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UFC on Fuel 6: Favorites for the Fight Night Bonuses

Get ready, China. The UFC’s debut in your country is imminent. The UFC returns after a brief hiatus with an exciting card. It doesn’t carry the “star power” that attracts massive amounts of attention, but every fight has the potential to be great….

Get ready, China. The UFC’s debut in your country is imminent. 

The UFC returns after a brief hiatus with an exciting card. It doesn’t carry the “star power” that attracts massive amounts of attention, but every fight has the potential to be great.

Here are the favorites to win the fight night bonuses at UFC on Fuel 6 in China.

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Ronda Rousey to the UFC: Other Female Fighters the Promotion Must Sign ASAP

Well folks, it wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. Ronda Rousey is the first female to be signed by the UFC. Not only was it not supposed to happen, even though I figured it would, but it happened incredibly soon. With Ronda Rousey’s signing wi…

Well folks, it wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. Ronda Rousey is the first female to be signed by the UFC. 

Not only was it not supposed to happen, even though I figured it would, but it happened incredibly soon. With Ronda Rousey‘s signing with the UFC, she is going to need some opponents.

Much like the flyweight division, the women’s division of the UFC will come together slowly and carefully.

Here are some other females the UFC should sign as soon as possible to get their women’s division rolling.

Note: The fighters chosen will revolve around the women’s bantamweight division, as this addition must be done one weight class at a time.

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UFC on Fuel 6: Thiago Silva Puts American Top Team on Blast

This weekend, Thiago Silva steps back into the UFC cage, but this time he will be repping a different team.Silva, a longtime member of American Top Team, recently switched camp and is now part of the Blackzilian team. He joins such members as Rashad Ev…

This weekend, Thiago Silva steps back into the UFC cage, but this time he will be repping a different team.

Silva, a longtime member of American Top Team, recently switched camp and is now part of the Blackzilian team. He joins such members as Rashad Evans, Tyrone Spong and Anthony Johnson in the Florida-based camp.

According to mmajunkie.com, the three years Silva spent with American Top Team were “a waste.”

“Once I moved to American Top Team, my life started going the wrong way,” Silva said of the super camp, which has produced some of MMA‘s biggest names. “It wasn’t a good team. I think I lost three years of my life training the wrong way. Their coaches didn’t have much to teach the athletes. I’m glad I found a real team now and I now have the ability to get back on track.”

Silva has had storied troubles as of late. In his last five fights, the man formerly a fight away from a title shot has gone 1-3 with a no-contest.

He was knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 94, but recovered with a knockout win of his own against Keith Jardine at UFC 102. He was then defeated by Rashad Evans in the main event at UFC 108. 

He would come back and destroy Brandon Vera at UFC 125, but the decision was turned to a no-contest when he failed his drug test. He was subsequently suspended for a year. 

Upon his return, Silva would lose to Alexander Gustafsson on short notice, though he claims to have injured his ribs just days before the event.

He now faces Stanislav Nedkov in China this weekend in a must-win situation. Hopefully, his move to the Blackzilian camp has revitalized him.

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