Author: Riley Kontek

UFC Fight Night 49 Preliminary-Card Predictions

The UFC returns with a double header this Saturday, as UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 comes to you in the morning and nighttime.
Following UFC Fight Night 48 will be UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, OK. The card is headlined by Benson Henderson and Rafael dos A…

The UFC returns with a double header this Saturday, as UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 comes to you in the morning and nighttime.

Following UFC Fight Night 48 will be UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, OK. The card is headlined by Benson Henderson and Rafael dos Anjos, who are both in the lightweight title picture and could get closer to a shot with a win…

The UFC’s inaugural trip to Maine only had four prelims, which saw me go 3-1. This weekend will see a total of 11 prelims, which will make an impact on the overall record going forward.

The card has some interesting prelims that precede the main card. Let’s take a look at those fights and make some predictions.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 109-71

Last Event: UFC Fight Night 47 (3-1)

Begin Slideshow

UFC Fight Night 48 Preliminary Card Predictions

The UFC returns with a doubleheader this Saturday, as UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 come to you in the morning and nighttime.
First up will be UFC Fight Night 48, which takes place in Macau, China. The card is headlined by middleweights Michael Bisping and…

The UFC returns with a doubleheader this Saturday, as UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 come to you in the morning and nighttime.

First up will be UFC Fight Night 48, which takes place in Macau, China. The card is headlined by middleweights Michael Bisping and Cung Le, who promise to make the main event a fight to see.

The UFC’s inaugural trip to Maine only had four prelims, which saw me go 3-1. This weekend will see a total of 11 prelims, which will make an impact on the overall record going forward.

The card, which airs entirely on Fight Pass, has some interesting prelims that precede the main card. Let’s take a look at those fights and make some predictions.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 109-71

Last Event: UFC Fight Night 47 (3-1)

Begin Slideshow

Eddie Alvarez Signs with UFC, Meets Donald Cerrone at UFC 178

It didn’t take long for released Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez to sign with the UFC. In fact, it was mere hours before the man signed on the dotted line.

After Bellator boss Scott Coker granted his release Tuesday morning, per Brett Okam…

It didn’t take long for released Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez to sign with the UFC. In fact, it was mere hours before the man signed on the dotted line.

After Bellator boss Scott Coker granted his release Tuesday morning, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Dana White and Co. signed the top-10 lightweight and immediately put him on the UFC 178 card. His opponent, Donald Cerrone, is a man charging toward the title picture in a fight that will likely draw great interest.

Cerrone, a WEC and UFC workhorse, was set to face Bobby Green at this event, but Green was shifted to a later date with an opponent that has yet to be named, as noted by Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com.

Cerrone has been on a tear lately, rediscovering the fire that made him a fan favorite. He is riding a four-fight surge, which has seen finishes over Evan Dunham, Adriano Martins, Edson Barboza and Jim Miller.

Alvarez has not been nearly as active, as he went through a public legal dispute with Bellator and former boss Bjorn Rebney. However, in his most recent outing, he won the Bellator lightweight championship in a rematch with Michael Chandler.

The matchup itself is fantastic. Cerrone is a kickboxer with excellent submission grappling, while Alvarez is a boxer with good wrestling ability. It should make for a fan-pleasing affair.

Not only is the matchup great, but it boosts a main card that lost great interest in the aftermath of the Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier postponement. Fans have been waiting for Alvarez to come to the UFC, and Cerrone is a draw in his own right.

Stay tuned with Bleacher Report for more information as it becomes available.

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Bellator Officially Releases Bellator Champ Eddie Alvarez

It was a long time coming, but according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Bellator has released Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez from his contract, making him a free agent.
Scott Coker confirmed the story with ESPN Tuesday afternoon, which is h…

It was a long time coming, but according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Bellator has released Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez from his contract, making him a free agent.

Scott Coker confirmed the story with ESPN Tuesday afternoon, which is huge for the free-agent market.

Alvarez, who famously had a huge legal battle with Bellator, returned to the company after a long litigation with former boss Bjorn Rebney and the company. He eventually returned to the company for a rematch with Michael Chandler, winning a decision to take the 155-pound belt.

He now becomes the hottest and most talented free agent on the market. Not only that, but also he leaves a company he has tried to get away from for well over a year in favor of the UFC, where he will likely end up.

The release seems to be a great move for three parties involved.

First off, it’s great for Alvarez, as he finally gets his wish to leave the company. His intentions were to leave Bellator for the UFC, and it now appears that he will get that wish.

It’s also great for the UFC, as it will likely end up with a top-10 lightweight in the world. He is a draw that can make an immediate impact at 155 pounds, which could use some fresh contenders in the division.

Finally, it is actually good for Bellator. The entire Alvarez court case was a black mark on Bellator as a company, as most fans wanted to let Rebney and company let him go. Instead, it looked like a tyrant keeping a fighter from going to greener pastures for more money.

Now Bellator has allowed Alvarez to follow his desires while saving some face for itself.

Alvarez currently holds a record of 25-3, as he has beaten the likes of Chandler, Patricky Freire, Shinya Aoki, Pat Curran and Roger Huerta. His last bout was in November of last year, when he defeated Chandler for the belt.

Obviously, the UFC has not signed Alvarez yet, but it’s because he was just released today. Expect the world’s largest MMA promotion to make a quick move on him and, in turn, put him on an upcoming card.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 48 and 49: Previewing the Newcomers

The UFC is rapidly expanding and putting on more and more shows, and the increased number of events means an increase in roster size.
On Saturday, the UFC puts on two shows. It starts off with UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau in the morning (for Americans),…

The UFC is rapidly expanding and putting on more and more shows, and the increased number of events means an increase in roster size.

On Saturday, the UFC puts on two shows. It starts off with UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau in the morning (for Americans), while the night offers up UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stars and prospects alike will grace both cards.

Apart from the big names, there are some fresh faces on the card. In fact, a handful of fighters are set to begin their journey with the UFC.

A dozen fighters are making their official UFC debuts this week. Let’s take a look at every new fighter. 

Begin Slideshow

UFC Fight Night 47 Preliminary Card Predictions

It seems like an eternity, but the UFC is back this week. UFC Fight Night 47, which marks the promotion’s first event in Maine, is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Ryan Bader and Ovince St. Preux.
Before the main event and main card, which air…

It seems like an eternity, but the UFC is back this week. UFC Fight Night 47, which marks the promotion’s first event in Maine, is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Ryan Bader and Ovince St. Preux.

Before the main event and main card, which air on Fox Sports 1, we have an interesting preliminary card. From newcomers like Frankie Saenz, Lauren Murphy and Sam Alvey to established vets like Zach Makovsky and Sara McMann, the prelims have a lot to offer considering there are only four bouts.

UFC on Fox 12 was the last card for the company, and my picks were pretty on point. Hopefully, the momentum continues here, as we are about three-quarters complete with 2014.

Without further ado, here are the UFC Fight Night 47 preliminary card picks.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 106-70

Last Event: UFC on Fox 12 (6-2)

Begin Slideshow