Author: Riley Kontek

UFC on Fox 10: 5 Reasons to Watch

The UFC is back on Fox this weekend, as Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson headline a card live from Chicago. It is the UFC’s first trip back to Chicago since last year’s show that also aired on the premier network.
Henderson and Thomson lead the charge…

The UFC is back on Fox this weekend, as Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson headline a card live from Chicago. It is the UFC’s first trip back to Chicago since last year’s show that also aired on the premier network.

Henderson and Thomson lead the charge on a card full of potential title contenders. The winner of Henderson vs. Thomson has to be considered at the head of the line in the jam-packed 155-pound division, while guys like Stipe Miocic and Donald Cerrone could use wins here to get their names boosted into title contention.

So, here are five reasons you should be watching UFC on Fox this weekend.

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TUF Nations: Luke Harris Fighter Blog, Episode 1

Note: All quotes and material were obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report through a one-on-one between Luke Harris and Bleacher Report’s Riley Kontek.
 
First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Luke Harris, and I’m a Ca…

Note: All quotes and material were obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report through a one-on-one between Luke Harris and Bleacher Report’s Riley Kontek.

 

First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Luke Harris, and I’m a Canadian middleweight. I own and operate the Hayabusa Training Centre Ltd. in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. I’m also the founder of Hayabusa Fightwear and hold a master’s degree from Penn State.

My MMA record is 10-2 with all my wins coming by way of first-round submission. I’m a blackbelt in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I’d like to thank Bleacher Report and the UFC for giving me the opportunity to share my blog, and I thank you for reading. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it and find that I have a unique perspective on the show. It was an incredible opportunity and so far the pinnacle of my MMA career. Here’s how it played out…

I said bye to my wife and dog and flew off to Montreal for the start of the show. Before even getting to the house, I met my team and we headed off to the UFC gym. Walking into that gym was a dream come true. I’ve been working toward this goal for seven years and have had a long road, which hasn’t been a easy one, but I chose fighting because it’s the single most challenging thing I could think of doing.

I’ve been close to being on TUF several times, but it’s finally come to fruition.

From the get-go, I knew we had a very strong team. I knew most of the guys from the Canadian MMA scene, and I can assure you that we have lots of the top guys in the country.

Most of the guys were fighting up a weight class except for Elias Theodorou and myself. At the gym, we met up with Patrick Cote and our coaching staff. It was pretty awesome having Cote as a coach because he’s been fighting in the UFC for a decade. He made his debut against Tito Ortiz and has fought Anderson Silva for the MW strap, showing how accomplished he is. He was also on TUF and made it to the finale.

I’ve known Cote for years, and he even came to my gym for two weeks as part of his last fight camp. He knows my ability well. The other coaches are BJJ black belt Fabio Holanda, Olympic wrestler David Zilberman and muay thai Kru Ash. It was a very solid coaching staff.

All of us Canadians felt pretty good about our team and how we stacked up against the Aussies. I knew of Kyle Noke and had researched several of the other middleweights. I knew they had decent MMA records but hadn’t faced the same level of competition as I have. My last three fights were all UFC-caliber opponents (Edwin Dewees, Joseph Henle, Jason Zentgraf). I have no idea how Kyle Noke is as a coach, but he seems like a super nice guy.

We won the coin toss, which was a pretty huge advantage. Kajan Johnson was just itching to fight first. He had some injuries, but the kid is really talented. He has a lot of experience at 30 fights. His opponent only had five, albeit an undefeated record. Our coaches watched O’Reilly’s fights and thought it would be a good matchup.

I was personally a bit nervous. Kajan is a very well-rounded fighter and has all the talent in the world, but he was coming off a two-year layoff because of a serious orbital injury. I knew he wanted it; I just prayed that he doesn’t get injured. I always get more nervous when my teammates or students fight than when I fight myself. That being said, I predicted Kajan to win. He’s just too good and a beast on the ground.

Coming into the competition, I felt that the Canadian team was stronger. At this point, I predicted an all-Canadian middleweight final with myself vs. Nordine Taleb or Elias Theodorou. That being said, until we got through the Aussies in the quarterfinals, fighting a Canadian teammate was the furthest thing from my mind. We are a team, and that mentality gives us some great training sessions.

Moving into the house was pretty cool. We had it good compared to other seasons of TUF. The log cabin was incredible and overlooked a pristine forest. This is much more my style than being in the city. Having five guys in the same room and having cameras on you at all times was going to be strange. I’m a private person outside of the gym and fighting, so it took some time to adjust. 

It was pretty cool to hear Kajan say that he saw me as a favorite to win. He’s a good dude. We crossed paths several times over the years on the Canadian MMA scene. I wish for nothing but the best for him.

Talking to Dana also hit home. I think that’s the point where I really realized what we had all accomplished making it here. For many of us, it has taken years and we had to make many sacrifices along the way, but it’s all worth it now. We’re the fortunate ones who have been given this opportunity. Now, just need to do something with it.

The fight went as expected. Brendan was tough as nails, but in the end, Kajan caught him on the ground. I’m so proud of Kajan. He’s been through more adversity than most, and he’s still moving forward. I really admire that about him. He’s got a warrior spirit. Most fighters would have quit long before this point. He really deserves to be here.

The next fight pick was Elias vs. Zein Saliba. I was okay with not fighting first, as my weight wasn’t where I wanted it to be yet. I dieted down from 220 to 200 pounds in the last few weeks before the show, and I planned to get a bit lower before my final cut.

Elias was ready to go and considerably larger than Zein. That, coupled with Elias’ high-paced fighting style, led us to believe that Elias would get the victory. The coaches had scouted Brendan perfectly, and we all felt that they made a good decision putting Elias vs. Zein. My prediction was a dominant decision for Elias. He just needs to be mindful of Zein’s ground game.

 

**Tune in next week to hear Luke’s thoughts on the continued tension between teams, more in-depth stories from the house and his thoughts on the fight between Elias Theodorou and Zein Saliba.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 35: What We Learned from John Moraga vs. Dustin Ortiz

Former flyweight championship contender John Moraga returned for the first time since his failed title bid in Atlanta. In his way was a scrappy, full-of-heart flyweight in Dustin Ortiz who was certain to give him a run for his money.
It was a close bac…

Former flyweight championship contender John Moraga returned for the first time since his failed title bid in Atlanta. In his way was a scrappy, full-of-heart flyweight in Dustin Ortiz who was certain to give him a run for his money.

It was a close back-and-forth affair, with Moraga controlling the standup and Ortiz surprisingly controlling the wrestling portion of it. When the judges were called upon for this close decision, Moraga ended up taking the scorecards.

So, what did we learn from this fight? Let’s take a look.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

The back-and-forth nature of the fight. Many people, including myself, speculated that John Moraga would control the wrestling and standup during this fight. We were wrong.

Moraga was definitely the better fighter on the feet, but Ortiz surprisingly outgrappled the Arizona St. wrestling alum. It made the fight close, exciting and a contender for Fight of the Night. 

 

What We Learned About Ortiz

He definitely belongs in the UFC. Ortiz, a heavy underdog, gave Moraga, a former title challenger, everything he could handle. The fight could have gone either way, but this night did not belong to Ortiz.

He’s definitely a keeper in this growing 125-pound division. 

 

What We Learned About Moraga

He’s not as good of a wrestler as we thought he was. Boasting an impressive collegiate wrestling background, Moraga was promptly outwrestled and grappled by Ortiz.

Moraga is well-rounded and skilled, so he was able to pass through this fight with a win. However, a guy like Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez or Ali Bagautinov would exploit his takedown defense worse than Ortiz.

This win is definitely a learning experience for the Arizonan.

 

What’s Next for Ortiz?

This loss did not hurt his stock too much. In fact, in losing, Ortiz actually may have upped his stock.

Perhaps a bout with recent loser Ryan Benoit would be a good rebound test for both men. It would send one man back to the win column and another to the drawing board. 

 

What’s Next for Moraga?

This was his first fight since losing his title big to Johnson, so he’s still a few fights from contention. However, he has options.

The best option for Moraga is to fight the winner of Ian McCall-Brad Pickett. Otherwise, a fight with the winner of Bagautinov-John Lineker could also work. 

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Previewing the Favorites, Dark Horses of TUF Nations

Starting Wednesday after UFC Fight Night 35, The Ultimate Fight Nations is set to premiere. This season will feature Team Canada vs. Team Australia in a format that is more intriguing than the traditional format we’ve seen for so long.
The season will …

Starting Wednesday after UFC Fight Night 35, The Ultimate Fight Nations is set to premiere. This season will feature Team Canada vs. Team Australia in a format that is more intriguing than the traditional format we’ve seen for so long.

The season will be coached by TUF vets Patrick Cote (Canada) and Kyle Noke (Australia). Cote competed on the fourth season, which was the comebacks version of the show, while Noke competed on season 11 as a member of Team Liddell.

This is definitely a great format for the show, as fighters are representing two nations. Even if you are not a part of one of those nations, you will be interested to see who comes out on top.

The first version was season nine, which featured Team USA vs. Team UK. Then, we had a version that pitted Team UK against Team Australia.

With that, let’s take a look at the welterweights and middleweights featured on this season. From the cast, we will pick the favorites to win and the dark horses of the tournament and predict who will be in the finale.

 

Welterweight

Team Canada Team Australia
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (4-0) Chris Indich (5-1)
Matt Desroches (4-0) Jake Matthews (3-0)
Kajan Johnson (19-10-1) Brendan O’Reilly (5-0)
Chad Laprise (7-0) Richard Walsh (7-1)

Looking at the roster on paper, Team Canada has the deeper team. That is evident in normal lightweight Kajan Johnson, who is the most experienced fighter on the season. That being said, Australia will have some under-the-radar guys to watch.

There are five undefeated fighters on the show, but everybody outside of Chad Laprise with no losses has five or fewer pro fights. That shows that these fighters are legit prospects who lack experience. That’s why TUF will be a great tool for them.

So who are the favorites, and who are the dark horses?

 

Favorites

The three favorites of the show have to be Laprise, Johnson and Richard Walsh.

Laprise normally fights as a lightweight, but he is a big lightweight with a good ground game and experience under the bright lights of Bellator. He is a training partner of current UFC fighter Jesse Ronson and has only fought to decision twice, showing his power and technique.

Johnson, being the most experienced fighter, also has to be considered a favorite because he has 18 more fights than the next most experienced fighter on the show (Walsh). While Johnson may be “rusty” because he hasn’t fought since October of 2011, he has been working out the kinks with Tristar Gym, which is home to former UFC champ Georges St-Pierre, Rory MacDonald and the rest of that elite team.

Walsh has the be the best fighter on paper for Australia. He is the most experienced fighter and has stepped in the squared circle with TUF Smashes winner Robert Whittaker.

Walsh is a very big welterweight with good strength and nasty knockout power. Stand-up is his bread and butter, and he comes into this show on a five-fight surge.

 

Dark Horses

The two dark horses of the season come in the form Jake Matthews and Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Matthews is young in his career at 3-0, but he has finished all of his fights in two rounds, including a choke out of Luke Jumeau. He has been a pro for just over a year, but “The Celtic Kid” has a very promising future.

The other dark horse is Aubin-Mercier, a judoka with serious grappling chops that could make him the most dangerous ground fighter on the show. He is just 24 years old, making him a top prospect on the show. All four of his fights have been ended via rear-naked choke in the first round, showing his ability on the ground.

Also, don’t sleep on Chris Indich, as he could be the biggest surprise fighter of the season.

 

Welterweight Finale Prediction: Chad Laprise vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier

 

Middleweight

Team Canada Team Australia
Luke Harris (10-2) Vik Grujic (6-2)
Nordine Taleb (8-2) Daniel Kelly (5-0)
Elias Theodorou (8-0) Tyler Manawaroa (10-0)
Sheldon Westcott (8-1-1) Zein Saliba (4-0)

The middleweight bracket of the show definitely showcases more experienced fighters than the welterweight portion. The most experienced guy is Luke Harris with 12 pro bouts, while the least experienced is Zein Saliba with four.

Like the welterweights, there are a handful of middleweight guys with undefeated records. From Canada, Elias Theodorou has yet to lose, while Daniel Kelly, Tyler Manawaroa and Saliba are the Australians with perfect marks.

This is another set of exciting prospects, so let’s sort out the favorites and dark horses.

 

Favorites

The three favorites have to be Theodorou, Manawaroa and Sheldon Westcott.

Theodorou has become more relevant through his one fight with Bellator and bouts with Score Fighting Series. He is well-rounded and long, which will allow him to fight from a distance until he’s ready to use his good takedowns to punish his opponents on the ground.

Westcott, a normal welterweight, probably moved up to middleweight so he wouldn’t need to cut as much weight. He is another well-rounded guy who has faced some good competition in his career, scoring wins over longtime vet Thomas Denny and TUF vet Nic Herron-Webb.

The favorite coming out of the Australian camp is also the youngest fighter, 19-year-old Tyler Manawaroa. Though he is well-rounded, he is a great submission fighter on the ground and finished all but one of his opponents.

 

Dark Horses

The two dark horses in this bracket have to be Daniel Kelly and Luke Harris.

Harris is tied for oldest fighter on the season, possessing 36 years on this planet. He is also the most experienced, as the Canadian has spent time in Maximum Fighting Championship, one of the most respected promotions in Canada.

As for Kelly, the undefeated Aussie has finished all but one of his fights. He is also 36 years old but has an Olympic judo background that saw him compete in the games three times (2000, 2004, 2008). He is strong like a bull and is developing his skills well, which could bring him on a surprise run in this tournament.

 

Middleweight Finale Prediction: Elias Theodorou vs. Tyler Manawaroa

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 35: Preliminary Card Predictions

It’s a new year for the UFC and 2014 has already started out well, as UFC Fight Night 34 had some great fights. You had to wake up early for the Singapore card, but if you did, you were in for a treat.
There isn’t much rest in between events as UFC Fig…

It’s a new year for the UFC and 2014 has already started out well, as UFC Fight Night 34 had some great fights. You had to wake up early for the Singapore card, but if you did, you were in for a treat.

There isn’t much rest in between events as UFC Fight Night 35 comes your way from Atlanta. Headlined by middleweight contenders Luke Rockhold and Costa Philippou, a number of prospects and future contenders are set to hit the Octagon in hopes to crack the top end of their respective divisions.

Here are the preliminary card predictions for that card.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 5-1

Last Event: UFC Fight Night 34 (5-1)

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The Beaten Path: The Top 25 MMA Prospects for 2014, Part 1

Another year, another set of potential big-show prospects are ready to make a run in a sport that has a seemingly endless supply of up-and-comers who keep promotions strong and stacked with talent.
The Beaten Path is back in 2014 to bring you the top 2…

Another year, another set of potential big-show prospects are ready to make a run in a sport that has a seemingly endless supply of up-and-comers who keep promotions strong and stacked with talent.

The Beaten Path is back in 2014 to bring you the top 25 MMA prospects to look out for in 2014. These are fighters (male and female) who have yet to make the UFC or a Bellator tournament and are young either in age or in the sport (even though there may be an exception or two).

In evaluating these prospects, we looked for a combination of current ability and future potential that could carry them into the spotlight. Not only that, but we are using original prospects, so fighters who made last year’s list are not eligible for this one.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at Part 1 of this series. Counting down from 25, we will give you the first 13 fighters to make this year’s top prospects list. The second part, counting down the top 12, will come Tuesday.

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