Riley Kontek | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

UFC Fight Night 60: 3 Reasons to Watch Henderson vs. Thatch Fight Card

On Saturday night, the UFC returns from a week off with UFC Fight Night 60. Live on Fox Sports 1, the card is headlined by former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson going up to 170 pounds for a bout with Brandon Thatch on late notice.
The card f…

The card features a lot of up-and-coming talent and has not been heavily advertised. Injuries deteriorated a once-promising card.

It’s tough to justify watching this card other than the fact that it is on free TV. However, here are three reasons to watch this fight card come Saturday night.

Future Contender vs. Former Champion

Brandon Thatch is a future title contender; there is no doubt about that. Benson Henderson is a former UFC lightweight champion taking a fight at welterweight to save a headliner.

This should be an interesting fight.

Thatch burst onto the UFC scene with his violent finishes and exciting style. He has long been considered a top prospect at welterweight and has a chance to prove his hype against a proven vet.

Henderson is looking to end a losing streak here, which will be tough on short notice against a seemingly bigger opponent.

It’s a good preview of present versus future, which is a reason to tune in.

The Evolution of “Blessed”

Max Holloway has quietly and quickly become one of the hottest featherweights in the world. That’s why he earned a co-main event spot.

Since losing to Conor McGregor, Holloway has looked like a different fighter. He has rattled off four consecutive wins over the likes of Will Chope, Andre Fili, Clay Collard and Akira Corassani, all of which came via knockout or submission.

He earned Fight Night bonuses for his knockouts of Chope and Corassani. That shows the greatness of his recent performances.

He has a huge test in the form of Cole Miller right now. A win over Miller, especially an impressive one, could get Holloway into contention, which is impressive for a fighter as young as the 23-year-old Hawaiian.

Free TV

I am trying to give you reasons to watch this card, but the only reason I can give you that will have you tune in is the fact that it’s on free TV. That is, of course, if you get Fox Sports 1.

If you have it, this card will cost you nothing. In my experience, some of the most entertaining cards are the ones that lack star power and are on free television.

This could be one of those cards.

So grab a six pack, get a bag of pretzels and call some friends. It could be a fun night of fights for all who watch.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Silva vs. Diaz and Why ‘Superfights’ Need to Be Chosen More Carefully

Saturday night, UFC 183 went down from Las Vegas and featured a main event between a legend and a cult hero. I am, of course, talking about the bout between Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz.
The fight was heavily advertised by the return of the Anderson Si…

Saturday night, UFC 183 went down from Las Vegas and featured a main event between a legend and a cult hero. I am, of course, talking about the bout between Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz.

The fight was heavily advertised by the return of the Anderson Silva, and it was clear this was a showcase fight for his return from injury. Silva took his fight as his comeback, and Diaz took this as a payday.

However, when all things are considered, this was a “superfight” between former world champions in different weight classes. Silva is the former UFC Middleweight Champion, while Diaz is the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and a former UFC Welterweight Championship contender.

It was not advertised this way, but that’s really what this was. After years of fans calling for superfights in every weight division, this is what we were given. And although it was a serviceable fight, it showed that the UFC needs to choose these types of fights more carefully.

When you think about superfights that have been called for, fans oftentimes bring up Silva vs. George St-Pierre, Jon Jones vs. Cain Velasquez and a few others.

Most of the time, superfight ideas are on the money. They should be between the best fighters and champions who have cleared out their divisions. That’s why Silva-Diaz didn’t make much sense, other than it being the showcase fight it was for Silva.

Superfights are supposed to be fights between the best that fans have a hard time choosing who will win. A fight between UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis and UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo would make more sense, as they are the best and fans would have a hard time deciding the winner.

Most, if not all, expected Silva to win. Everyone knew Diaz was tough and would hang around, but Silva was generally the universal pick to win. That’s why it made basically no sense.

And even though we may have enjoyed the nostalgia of having both men in the cage, it didn’t do much of anything for either man. A superfight should establish the alpha male among the best, and that didn’t happen here.

For the most part, the superfight talks need to calm a bit, as they are once-in-a-while treats that should be picked more carefully. They should be special bouts that pit the best against the best and lead to classic showdowns.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 183 Results: 3 Fights for Tyron Woodley to Take Next

The co-main event of UFC 183 on Saturday night saw two top fighters square off, as Tyron Woodley looked to stop streaking prospect Kelvin Gastelum. It was considered a contender’s bout in the welterweight division, but it was changed to a catchweight b…

The fight was closely contested, as Gastelum continued to show improvement despite his poor weight cut and probably not being 100 percent.

However, that would not be enough, as Woodley eked out a split decision, earning another big win on his resume.

So, where does Woodley go from here? Let’s look at three guys he could fight next.

Rick Story

Woodley has proved that his wrestling is great and his striking is powerful. However, how would he fare against a wrestler who is more technical on the feet and can wrestle with him?

Enter Rick Story.

Right now, Story is streaking like a drunk fan at a soccer game. This is most evident in his derailment of Gunnar Nelson, a fighter who was on the fast track to the top.

Story also had a recent fight against Woodley‘s most recent adversary, Gastelum. Though Story lost, it was a close bout that could have gone either way.

His move to the MMA Lab has brought him back to attention at 170 pounds. A bout with Woodley would show if he is continuing to improve or cannot shake the gatekeeper status.

Carlos Condit

Woodley already owns a win over Carlos Condit. However, that fight was marred by a knee injury that Condit suffered, and he hasn’t fought since.

The best part of this matchup is that it would give closure to their first encounter, where Woodley dominated early before it looked as if his pace was slowing. Condit‘s injury left a lot of question marks, and a rematch could serve as a serviceable main event on Fox Sports or Fight Pass.

Condit is extremely difficult to fight on the ground because of his aggressive style off his back. He is also a superior technician on the feet, which would continue to test Woodley upright.

This is a fight I want to see.

Tarec Saffiedine

Former Strikeforce title challenger versus the final Strikeforce champion. I like the sound of that.

When we look back in history, Woodley fought for the vacant Strikeforce title in a losing effort to Nate Marquardt. Then, Marquardt lost the title to Tarec Saffiedine.

Both men have improved greatly since those fights.

Saffiedine is tough to take down and has stinging leg kicks in his arsenal. Those kicks could soften up Woodley‘s legs and affect his takedowns.

Oh yeah, and it’s a rematch from a time when Saffiedine had yet to reach the peak in his career. It’s a chance for both fighters to show improvement and for Woodley to knock off another Top 10 fighter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Anderson Silva: 3 Fights for Him Should He Decide to Fight Again

Saturday evening, UFC 183 saw a legend return from one of the most brutal injuries in the history of the company. Anderson Silva came home to the UFC Octagon to face Nick Diaz, a fan favorite with good toughness and the skills to land.
The fight was an…

The fight was an exciting five-round contest that showcased Silva’s world-class skill and Diaz‘s determination, grit and willingness to throw down. When it was all said and done, Silva took a five-round unanimous decision over Diaz, earning his first win since losing the UFC Middleweight Championship to Chris Weidman two fights ago.

We will see where Silva goes from here. He is almost 40, and one would not be surprised if there are not a lot of fights left in the gas tank.

Here are three fights Silva can take next in the aftermath of UFC 183.

Georges St-Pierre

It’s been talked about forever, and it’s almost at a point where you should be smacked with a leather glove and challenged to a duel if you mention the idea of Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre. However, it would actually be the perfect swan song if both guys want to walk away from the sport for good.

Now, I am not implying that Silva should retire; far from it. However, given his age and family, I don’t think he has much time left as an active mixed martial artist.

As for St-Pierre, he stepped away from the sport a while back, and we don’t know if he will ever fight again. If he did, it would have to be a marquee fight that’s worth his time and effort.

I say it actually is time for Silva-GSP to happen. St-Pierre can go back to retirement afterwards if he wants, and Silva can make his decision to go out fighting his greatest opponent of all time or continue his journey in the cage.

Vitor Belfort

Vitor Belfort was scheduled to main event UFC 184 opposite UFC middleweight champion Weidman, but Weidman got injured, and Belfort is down crap river without a paddle. Perhaps the most important rematch of his career would entice him to not sit out and wait for Weidman.

If you remember, which I am sure you do because of its notoriety, Silva and Belfort fought a few years ago when Silva was champion and Belfort was touted as a big threat to his title reign. However, the fight ended quickly with one of the best knockouts in the history of the sport, as Silva decapitated his foe with a gorgeous front kick.

It was a kick that has been played on highlight reels since. It is a kick that has changed the game and had fighters quickly learning the proper technique so they can include it in their repertoire.

I am certain Belfort would like a chance at redemption. Perhaps dangling this fight in the interim while Weidman heals up could force his hand to fight.

Thales Leites

This one is kind of a dark-horse candidate for Silva’s next match, but it could work given the circumstances.

Silva and Thales Leites met a long time ago during Silva’s reign of terror as the UFC middleweight champion. It wasn’t a close match, and Silva clowned his fellow Brazilian the entire fight.

Since then, Leites has greatly improved. This has been seen in his latest UFC run, a string of victories that culminated in a submission win over Tim Boetsch last night on the main card.

This fight makes sense just based off the fact that Leites has improved so much. It would be a shot at redemption against a man who thoroughly embarrassed him in their first encounter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The Beaten Path: 10 Female BWs and SWs the UFC Should Sign Now

The finish line has been crossed. The “Prospects the UFC Should Sign” series is coming to a close. We left off with the flyweights, but now it’s time for a whole new gender.
The women of MMA have attained more recognition recently due to…

The finish line has been crossed. The “Prospects the UFC Should Sign” series is coming to a close. We left off with the flyweights, but now it’s time for a whole new gender.

The women of MMA have attained more recognition recently due to their inclusion in the UFC. Stars like Ronda Rousey have carved a path for the 135ers, and the 115ers were quick to follow into the company thanks to The Ultimate Fighter 20.

The women’s roster of the UFC could use some extra faces at this point, as depth is the key to creating more interesting divisions. Plenty of women can fit the bill, despite WMMA being in sort of a post-embryonic stage.

So, we picked out five bantamweights and five strawweights whom the UFC needs to snag to cushion its new divisions. Here are those 10 ladies, with the prospect label being a little more lax in this countdown.

Below are the previous installments of this list:

Heavyweight

Light Heavyweight

Middleweight

Welterweight

Lightweight

Featherweight

Bantamweight

Flyweight

Begin Slideshow

UFC 183 Preliminary Card Predictions

The UFC continues its string of consecutive shows this weekend with UFC 183. Live on pay-per-view in Las Vegas, the card features a number of top fighters in their divisions, as well as some interesting prospects.
Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz mee…

Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz meet in what can be considered a superfight. Silva returns after a gruesome leg injury that could have ended his career against a popular, trash-talking boxer in Diaz. It should be entertaining.

Before that, we have the preliminary card. My record at UFC on Fox was .500, which put a damper on a strong start to the year. We look to get back to our winning ways here in the seven fights on the undercard.

Without further ado, here are the preliminary card predictions for UFC 183 on Saturday.

2015 Riley’s Record: 14-8

Last Event: UFC on Fox 14 (4-4)

Begin Slideshow