Bellator LXII comes to you live this Friday night on MTV 2 from Laredo, Texas. Featured on the night’s card was to be a rematch of last season’s heavyweight tournament final between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle. The match was a no contest, as Sa…
Bellator LXII comes to you live this Friday night on MTV 2 from Laredo, Texas.
Featured on the night’s card was to be a rematch of last season’s heavyweight tournament final between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle. The match was a no contest, as Santos kicked Prindle in the testicles, leaving him unable to continue. We now know that this will not be the main event, due to Thiago Santos missing weight.
Also on the night’s card is the quarterfinals of the lightweight tournament. The lightweight tournament contains tournament veterans, as well as newcomers, which should make it an interesting night of fights.
There are always fights that fans are dying to see; fights that need to be made, as they make so much sense and will be fan-friendly affairs.Fight fans have been calling for what they want, as Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin III and Anderson Silva vs. C…
There are always fights that fans are dying to see; fights that need to be made, as they make so much sense and will be fan-friendly affairs.
Fight fans have been calling for what they want, as Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin III and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II have been made, much to the delight of fans.
Let’s take a look at some fights that need to be made as soon as possible.
Bellator LXII is the host of this season’s lightweight tournament quarterfinal, and the question on most people’s mind is if Patricky “Pitbull” Freire can take home this season’s tournament championship.Last season, Freire looked as if he was going to …
Bellator LXII is the host of this season’s lightweight tournament quarterfinal, and the question on most people’s mind is if Patricky “Pitbull” Freire can take home this season’s tournament championship.
Last season, Freire looked as if he was going to run the table, rattling off huge victories over Rob McCullough and Toby Imada (both via knockout). He then ran into trouble in the championship bout, dropping a decision to current lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
Freire is definitely one of the most talented fighters in Bellator, with a great combination of striking and jiu-jitsu. He and his brother Patricio train with the Nogueira brothers, so you know they are getting good training.
Since losing to Chandler in the tournament, Freire has come back and defeated UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino in convincing fashion. That proved that Freire could come back from a tough loss and get better.
Freire’s first-round opponent is Lloyd Woodard. Make no mistake about it, this is not a gimme for Freire, as Woodard is a very solid lightweight. Woodard is a solid striker with a decent ground game. The key for Freire is to mix it up and keep Woodard guessing. Doing that could lead to another highlight-reel finish, as we saw when he knocked out Toby Imada.
Freire should be able to defeat Woodard, as he is far more skilled. Should he beat him, there are six other very solid opponents waiting to take on Freire.
Ricardo Tirloni and Thiago Michel are both in this season’s tournament, and to most people, they are unknown. Tirloni is a very well-rounded and dangerous fighter, but not nearly as well-rounded and dangerous as Freire.
Michel is a very vicious striker, but has problems on the ground with submission artists (Freire is a black belt in BJJ). Both these men are dangerous, but Freire should be able to defeat them.
JJ Ambrose is best remembered for being on The Ultimate Fighter but losing out in the entry round. He also will present a challenge to Freire, but Freire is better in all places.
Brent Weedman and Rene Nazare are veterans of the sport, but I just do not see either of them being able to deal with Freire. Nazare will not be able to stand with “Pitbull,” nor will Weedman.
The only big challenge I see this season for Freire is Rick Hawn. Hawn is dropping from welterweight, where he was a finalist in the welterweight tournament that Jay Hieron won. Hawn is an Olympic judo player with heavy hands. He has the all-around prowess to give Freire fits. Hawn is also bigger, which is an advantage.
All that said, I do believe Patricky Freire can win the lightweight tournament. He is experienced in the tournament format, extremely skilled and hungry to erase the memory of falling in the last tournament. If he sticks to a solid game plan, I believe he will walk away the season six lightweight tournament champion and earn his rematch with Michael Chandler.
With the UFC title pictures heating up already in the early going of 2012, a number of contenders have emerged, eager to get their shot at the title. This seems like a great time to separate the contenders from the pretenders.This piece must have slipp…
With the UFC title pictures heating up already in the early going of 2012, a number of contenders have emerged, eager to get their shot at the title. This seems like a great time to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
This piece must have slipped through my subconscious, as I just recently published an article on the biggest pretenders in each UFC division.
Let’s take a look at each division, and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
After being plagued with injury for much of his more recent career, Sean Sherk seems to be on track to making a return to the UFC. A former champion whose legacy was tarnished due to steroid use, Sherk looks to make a return to the Octagon soon and has…
After being plagued with injury for much of his more recent career, Sean Sherk seems to be on track to making a return to the UFC. A former champion whose legacy was tarnished due to steroid use, Sherk looks to make a return to the Octagon soon and has his sights on top talent.
Sherk has always been a talented fighter, using a great wrestling base in combination with solid boxing, great cardio and superior strength. Sherk returns to the most talent-laden division, lightweight, and looks to make a run at the belt.
Here are five opponents that Sherk could meet in his return.
The UFC has a number of fighters that claim they are the No. 1 contender for their respective division’s championship belt. Some of these claims are legitimate, while others are highly questionable.Others look like they are threats to the championship …
The UFC has a number of fighters that claim they are the No. 1 contender for their respective division’s championship belt. Some of these claims are legitimate, while others are highly questionable.
Others look like they are threats to the championship belt, but really are just pretenders. These are fighters who have been winning fights, but in reality are pretenders to win the belt.
Let’s take a look at each division’s top pretender.
Bellator LXII is the host of this season’s lightweight tournament quarterfinal, and the question on most people’s mind is if Patricky “Pitbull” Freire can take home this season’s tournament championship.