Author: Riley Kontek

4 Potential Breakout Stars from TUF 19

The Ultimate Fighter 19 is already under way, as we are two quarterfinal bouts into the season. Despite the fact that this installment of the show doesn’t come in with great hype, as much of the attention is on the all-female TUF 20 later this year, it…

The Ultimate Fighter 19 is already under way, as we are two quarterfinal bouts into the season. Despite the fact that this installment of the show doesn’t come in with great hype, as much of the attention is on the all-female TUF 20 later this year, it has the potential to be an explosive season.

The cast features middleweights and light heavyweights, with the latter weight class needing some depth in the UFC ranks. There are some good-looking scouts that could end up becoming stars if they take the Kelvin Gastelum-like approach to fighting.

With that, let’s now take a look at four potential stars that could come out of the show based on personality and handy work in the cage.

 

Cathal Pendred

Cathal Pendred had a considerable amount of hype coming into this season due to his time as champion in the Cage Warriors promotion and his association with current UFC rock star Conor McGregor. Not only that, but his intense, take-no-prisoners attitude has won him some respect from fans.

He didn’t have to fight to get into the house, as the opponents the UFC lined up for him all backed out of the fight. However, he finally got to show his stuff in the first middleweight quarterfinal when he used a grinding approach to wear out and beat Hector Urbina.

His resume speaks for itself. He owns wins over three UFC veterans in his time as a pro, including Che Mills and Nico Musoke.

His style isn’t going to get him confused with Edson Barboza anytime soon, but he is very effective. He has decent hands, good takedowns and smart instincts in the cage. He is already a hero in Europe, but he has a chance to be even bigger in the United States.

 

Ian Stephens

Ian Stephens is the least experienced pro in the house alongside Corey Anderson. He owns just two pro wins according to Sherdog.com, but that didn’t keep him from dominating his fight to get in the house.

Stephens used his impressive wrestling base to completely overwhelm former Bellator champion Lyman Good in the elimination round. He showed great explosiveness and wrestling in that bout, allowing him to take Good to the mat with ease.

His style isn’t what will make him a breakout star from the show. It’s his seemingly intense personality and exchange with Dana White in the first episode that had the boss himself impressed with the kid.

After disposing of Good, Stephens told White that, “Bellator champs don’t belong in the UFC.” That tickled White in the right way, replying that he, “liked this kid.”

I am sure there will be promoters and detractors of Stephens, but one thing is certain: He’s in the driver’s seat to stardom if he keeps up the intense attitude.

 

Dhiego Lima

Name recognition is everything when it comes to fanfare in certain sports. That is especially the case in MMA where you are a self-contracted businessman.

Dhiego Lima has that name recognition. He is the brother of Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima and Dhiego has earned a reputation as a top prospect in his own regard.

Lima is an exciting fighter just like his brother, utilizing power strikes and solid jiu-jitsu skills to win fights. He took out a tough fighter in Adam Stroup to get into the house, despite likely being at a size disadvantage to most of the field.

If Lima can be as exciting as he’s been in the regional promotions, he has the personality to put him over the top with MMA fans. His combo of name recognition, personality and skill are something that gets fighters far in their careers. 

 

Dan Spohn

Dan Spohn is a beast. There is no doubting that.

Spohn already has the knockout of the season in the bag after his one-punch, send-’em-face-first knockout of Tyler King, a man clearly larger than him.

In examining Spohn‘s record, he looks like a Bellator reject with three losses in that company. However, upon examination he was finished once and the other two bouts were split decisions that could have easily gone his way.

He is a beast in terms of power. Everything he throws has bad intentions on it, which is something fans can appreciate due to the fact all fans love finishes.

Spohn is a silent assassin. He’s not Julian Lane in terms of wild-and-out personality and he’s no Chael Sonnen in terms of self-promotion. He is just a guy with some gloves in a cage looking to punch your head into the nose-bleed section.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The Beaten Path: 5 Prospects to Watch in May

The month of May looks to be chock full of MMA action. From the UFC to Bellator to One FC to everything in between, MMA fans are going to find themselves with all sorts of entertainment should they choose to watch.
There are also a number of top MMA pr…

The month of May looks to be chock full of MMA action. From the UFC to Bellator to One FC to everything in between, MMA fans are going to find themselves with all sorts of entertainment should they choose to watch.

There are also a number of top MMA prospects competing in the cage with the intention of shooting their stocks through the roof. At “The Beaten Path,” our job is to identify some of the top prospects and point you in their direction so you can see their development and potentially watch them fight their way into the big time.

With that, let’s take a look at the five prospects you should watch this month.

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TUF 20 Tryouts: Projecting the Final 8 Women to Make the Cast

The talk of Twitter Monday morning and afternoon was definitely the tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter 20. That is because it is the first season that features all women and will crown a champion at the end of the season.
From the tryouts, MMA Junki…

The talk of Twitter Monday morning and afternoon was definitely the tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter 20. That is because it is the first season that features all women and will crown a champion at the end of the season.

From the tryouts, MMA Junkie confirmed that there were 36 women who showed up to the open tryouts in an attempt to make the cast of the show.

There are eight spots available on the show since Paige VanZant, Claudia Gadelha and Juliana Lima were all pulled from the program. The eight women were all brought over from Invicta, though there were Invicta fighters at the tryouts.

Here are the eight women on the cast now.

 

Confirmed Cast

Name Record Gym
Joanne Calderwood (UK) 8-0 Dinky Ninjas
Alex Chambers (AUS) 4-1 VT-1 Gym
Carla Esparza (USA) 9-2 Team Oyama
Felice Herrig (USA) 9-5 Team Curran
Emily Kagan (USA) 3-1 Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA
Rose Namajunas (USA) 2-1 The Academy
Bec Rawlings (AUS) 5-3 Gamebred Combat Club
Tecia Torres (USA) 4-0 American Top Team

 

Those eight women are all impressive, but since hearing the names of the women at the tryouts, all I can think about is who will make the show. Given the list of 36 women that were at the tryouts, let’s take a look at the eight women who should snag the final spots in the hopes of making this the most competitive season possible.

 

Riley’s Picks for Final 8 Spots

Name Record Gym
Nina Ansaroff (USA) 6-3 MMA Masters
Heather Clark (USA) 6-4 Xtreme Couture
Aisling Daly (IRE) 14-5 SBG Ireland
Lisa Ellis (USA) 15-8 United Training Center
Justine Kish (USA) 4-0 Blackhouse
Angela Magana (USA) 11-6 Team Four Corners
Michelle Ould (USA) 7-3 Team Quest
Jessica Penne (USA) 11-2 Reign MMA/Kings MMA

The UFC can have a tendency to pick looks over talent when looking at past signing decisions, but this show should literally be the cream of the crop. That being said, of the eight I chose, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good-looking women who can be marketable to the average caveman fan.

Three of the women who should be given a serious look are true veterans of the sport that have been doing this for a long time. Those three are Aisling Daly, Lisa Ellis and Angela Magana.

Daly is an obvious choice, not only because of her experience and skill, but because she is from Ireland. The UFC is making an obvious power play in the country thanks to Conor McGregor and as evidenced by Cathal Pendred and Chris Fields’ inclusion in TUF 19.

Ellis and Magana are experienced against high-level women due to their longevity in the sport. Ellis would complete the first-ever couple to be featured on TUF, as her husband Eddy was on the 16th season of the show. Magana is a crafty vet who has the personality to stir the pot in the house, as she has done in the past through social media and the MMA media.

Speaking of stirring the pot, that’s where Heather Clark comes in, as she has a beef with Felice Herrig. That is not the only reason she should be in, though, as she is tough as nails and has a well-rounded skill set. She would likely want a rematch with Herrig, as she lost a split decision despite a broken arm suffered in the first round.

Then there are a pair of current flyweights that are among the best in that division that would really add to this cast in Nina Ansaroff and Michelle Ould. They would be definite threats to make a serious run on the show.

Ould, who hasn’t competed in almost two years, is still known for knocking off some of the best at 125. If she can keep her weight down on the show, she has the well-rounded tool set to go far in the tournament. The same can be said for Ansaroff, though she has stayed much more busy in recent times than Ould.

The dark horse is Justine Kish. Assuming she had a tryout that matches her recent performances in the cage, she could be a lock for the cast. She is a muay thai champion with underrated grappling skills, and she could make a name for herself on this stage.

The woman who most fans are expecting to make the cast is Jessica Penne. The former Invicta Atomweight champion is a large 105-pounder and would not be at too big of a size disadvantage in the house. Not only that, but she would also be one of the most skilled women of the cast.

Those eight women are the most qualified and have the most intangibles to make this season’s cast. Of course, there were other talented ladies at the tryouts who could find their way into the cast.

Sound off in the comments section on who you think should grab the eight spots open to the cast or if you agree with my picks!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

What I Did on Spring Break: 3 MMA Events to Watch During UFC Hiatus

The UFC is going on a short break, as they hold their next event May 10. If you are an MMA addict like myself, you will be looking for some MMA to watch in the meantime.
Well, folks, you are in luck. There is plenty of MMA action going on between now a…

The UFC is going on a short break, as they hold their next event May 10. If you are an MMA addict like myself, you will be looking for some MMA to watch in the meantime.

Well, folks, you are in luck. There is plenty of MMA action going on between now and UFC Fight Night 40. It should all be great.

So, here are three events you can watch while you await the UFC’s return.

 

Bellator 118: Warren vs. Silva

Bellator has been putting on some solid shows lately. This weekend, they have another solid card that should entertain.

The card will see Joe Warren and Rafael Silva battle for the interim bantamweight championship in the headliner. Warren has been on a tear lately, while Silva has emerged as a legit threat to take the gold.

Also on the card is Russian sensation Andrey Koreshkov, who will look to get to the welterweight tournament finals when fighting Sam Oropeza. He has been an ace for Bellator thus far, entertaining fans with vicious knockouts and quick performances.

Plus, British sensation Liam McGeary will make an appearance on the main card, which should be great for the casual fan. If you don’t know him, you will get to know him and his violent brand of fighting.

Bellator is always a solid option if you stay in on a Friday.

 

One FC: Rise of Heroes

One FC has become the premiere MMA organization in Asia. This is evident with their signings of guys like Ben Askren and Bibiano Fernandes.

Fernandes is headlining their card this week opposite Masakatsu Ueda for the bantamweight strap. This means we will get another glimpse into the awesome game that Fernandes brings and why he is a top bantamweight in the world.

The card also has Chris Lokteff, Rob Lisita, Rey Docyogen, Eduard Folayang and other talented fighters. That’s why this card is a must-see come Friday.

 

Cage Warriors 68: Roberts vs. Wallhead

Cage Warriors is one of the most underrated MMA promotions in the world. Their quality online streams, awesome fight cards and developing talent make them a must-watch organization for the average MMA fan.

Their next card is headlined by Bellator tournament vet Jim Wallhead and rising prospect Danny Roberts. Wallhead is consistently in fun fights, as is Roberts. That is like a supernova when it comes to these two meeting and putting on a show.

Also on the card is Ronnie Mann, a guy I think could be UFC quality. He takes on the underrated Marcelo Costa, which could be a helluva fight.

UFC vet Che Mills and rising star Chris Fishgold are also on the card. MMAjunkie.com will be streaming the event, so tune in Saturday for great MMA action.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 172 Results: Power Ranking Jon Jones’ 3 Best Performances in the Octagon

Jon Jones has arguably become the best fighter in the world, and last Saturday at UFC 172, he continued to prove why people are singing his praises. Jones defended his belt in dominating fashion against Glover Teixeira.
On UFC 172’s telecast, Joe Rogan…

Jon Jones has arguably become the best fighter in the world, and last Saturday at UFC 172, he continued to prove why people are singing his praises. Jones defended his belt in dominating fashion against Glover Teixeira.

On UFC 172’s telecast, Joe Rogan said it was the best he had ever seen Jones, which had people talking. Was it really the best we’ve seen him, or was that an oversell?

Let’s take a look at the three best UFC outings Jones has had to this point.

 

3. Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira at UFC 172

Yes, Joe Rogan said that the Teixeira fight was the best Jon Jones he had seen. I don’t think that’s true, but it was definitely close.

Jones mixed up his striking and takedowns, which kept Teixeira guessing throughout the fight. He clearly won all five rounds against a tough guy with good all-around skills.

It was also a great rebound fight after Jones’ close title defense against Alexander Gustafsson not long ago. It showed that he could come back strong from a bout that really brought him back to human status.

 

2. Jon Jones vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128

When Jon Jones won the UFC light heavyweight title back at UFC 128, it was easily one of his best performances ever. He took a UFC champion and dominated him to a point that he looked like an amateur.

Jones decimated Rua wherever the fight went. He stung him on the feet with huge strikes and dominated him on the mat with good wrestling and ground-and-pound.

Just before Jones finished Rua, it looked like the Brazilian would check out soon anyways. He had nothing to offer Jones, and it is a testament to the skill of Jones that he could utterly decimate a legend like “Shogun.”

 

1. Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 140

Many fans thought Lyoto Machida would be the biggest threat to take the belt from Jones. That’s why his win over Machida was his best performance to date.

Not only did Jones win, but he showed he could handle fighting a pure striker with good wrestling defense. MMA fans were wondering if Jones could take a punch, and their question was answered when the champion took some shots to the chin and was unfazed.

The way in which he finished Machida was also amazing. He grabbed a standing guillotine, cranked like there was no tomorrow and dropped “The Dragon” into an unconscious heap.

UFC 140 was easily the best Jones we have seen to date, and I am sure there will be plenty of great performances going forward.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 172 Results: Power Ranking the Most Impressive Performances from Baltimore

UFC 172 was a memorable night for many reasons. Not only did Jon Jones retain his light heavyweight championship against Glover Teixeira, but Anthony Johnson made a triumphant return to the Octagon and Luke Rockhold threw his hat into Submission of the…

UFC 172 was a memorable night for many reasons. Not only did Jon Jones retain his light heavyweight championship against Glover Teixeira, but Anthony Johnson made a triumphant return to the Octagon and Luke Rockhold threw his hat into Submission of the Year talk.

The event was also great because of the electricity in the air and the awesome crowd. The crowd made the already-awesome event more exciting.

There were a lot of impressive performances on the card, but who was the best of the best? Let’s power rank the five more impressive showings of the night.

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