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Henderson vs. Pettis 2 Results: Showtime’s Injury Puts Damper on Impressive Win

After Anthony Pettis posted yet another landmark win against Benson Henderson on Saturday at UFC 164 in Milwaukee, UFC president Dana White broke some unfortunate news.
The UFC tweeted:
Pettis—who submitted Henderson via an armbar with 29 seconds…

After Anthony Pettis posted yet another landmark win against Benson Henderson on Saturday at UFC 164 in Milwaukee, UFC president Dana White broke some unfortunate news.

The UFC tweeted:

Pettis—who submitted Henderson via an armbar with 29 seconds left in the first round on Saturday—said it was his left knee that was bothering him at the post-fight press conference, via UFC.com.

What an unfortunate turn of events. Just after winning the UFC lightweight title belt, the 26-year-old has apparently suffered an injury that could delay his ascent into stardom.

Henderson had won seven straight fights since his loss to Pettis in December 2010, but “Showtime” once again was the 29-year-old’s Achilles’ heel.

After defeating Henderson in the WEC, Pettis had to fight back from a loss to Clay Guida, disposing of Jeremy Stephens, Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone before getting his big chance against Henderson. His action-packed style, evident when he unloaded with a historic kick against Henderson in 2010, has garnered him many fans across the globe, and he’s just the kind of money-maker that the UFC loves.

But his scintillating style also has its drawbacks. His aggressive moves can sometimes open him up to injury. We can only hope that his injury isn’t too serious.

Pettis‘ victory on Saturday was well-deserved, and he continues to soar up the rankings in the UFC. The last thing he needs is an injury holding him back just as he gets into a championship groove.

While he proved that he could defeat Henderson before Saturday’s fight, he nonetheless surprised many by not only submitting the former champ but making him tap so quickly. Henderson is known for his submission defense, and few saw Pettis beating “Smooth” via an armbar.

Pettis has shown what he can do and displayed how much talent he has. Now he just has to stay healthy so he can make the most of his abilities.

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UFC 164: Most Intriguing Storylines Heading into Showcase

We are just one day away from UFC 164, which features some top names like Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Josh Barnett and Frank Mir.
What are some of the most intriguing storylines of this showcase? Who will emerge victorious in Milwaukee, Wis.?
Fro…

We are just one day away from UFC 164, which features some top names like Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Josh Barnett and Frank Mir.

What are some of the most intriguing storylines of this showcase? Who will emerge victorious in Milwaukee, Wis.?

From the young to the old, here’s a look at some fighters to watch in an event that promises to be explosive and thrilling.

Will Benson Henderson Avenge His Prior Loss to Anthony Pettis?

The first time Benson Henderson faced Anthony Pettis in December 2010, the 29-year-old lost via unanimous decision in Glendale, Ariz.

Since then, Henderson has won his last seven fights.

Of course, Pettis has gone 3-1 in UFC since then, including capturing his last two fights by either KO (Joe Lauzon) or TKO (Donald Cerrone).

This should be an exciting close fight that could ultimately be decided by the judges after five rounds. Then again, there is also room for a KO, especially if Pettis loads up and connects with one of his well-known kicks.

If this fight doesn’t excite, it would be a surprise.

Josh Barnett’s Last Shot at a UFC Title?

Josh Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) won the UFC heavyweight belt in 2002, but a positive test for steroids essentially led to his move overseas.

Well, the 35-year-old is back after his TKO of Randy Couture more than a decade ago.

Barnett certainly has the ability to defeat some of the top heavyweights in the world, but his loss to Daniel Cormier last year under the Strikeforce banner may have been a sign of things to come.

Of course, his opponent this time, Frank Mir, is getting up there in age and just lost his last two fights to Junior Dos Santos and Cormier.

This may be Josh Barnett’s last gasp at a major title, while Mir will likely do everything in his power to stay relevant in the unforgiving world of the UFC. Expect to see two of the world’s best grapplers put on a show.

When Will Frank Mir Retire?

If Mir defeats Barnett, it could keep the 34-year-old around for a little longer.

If he loses to Barnett, however, it could be the last MMA fight of his career.

Mir (16-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) has given fans plenty of exciting fights over the years and it will be sad to see him ultimately retire, but no man is immune to Father Time, especially in the brutal world of mixed martial arts.

Hopefully Mir can provide a few more fireworks in the Octagon before he finally says goodbye. Many MMA fans want to see the veteran finish strong. He deserves a hero’s ovation after what he has given us throughout the years.

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UFC 163: What to Expect After Showcase in Rio de Janeiro

It was yet another exciting round of fights at UFC 163 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as some of the top fighters in the world clashed inside the Octagon.
Jose Aldo once again impressed, as expected, but there were also some surprises on the ni…

It was yet another exciting round of fights at UFC 163 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as some of the top fighters in the world clashed inside the Octagon.

Jose Aldo once again impressed, as expected, but there were also some surprises on the night. In fact, a couple of fighters who lost actually were praised when all was said and done.

Here’s a look at the developments from Saturday’s bouts in Brazil, as well as projections moving forward.

Phil Davis Won’t Get Jon Jones Just Yet

Phil Davis may have defeated Lyoto Machida via unanimous decision in Rio de Janeiro, but it’s unlikely that he will shoot straight to the top to fight Jon Jones at light heavyweight.

The reality is, many believed Machida deserved to win the fight on Saturday night, and some are calling it one of the biggest robberies of the year. Davis may have technically won the fight, but he certainly didn’t dominate, and some would question whether he even should have won.

It’s more likely that Glover Teixeira gets a title shot next against Jones after Jones fights Alexander Gustafsson in September.

In some respect, I feel that Davis’ controversial win over Machida took away from the significant progress that he has made as a fighter. On the other hand, I don’t believe he deserves an instant title shot with Jones based on that performance.

Jose Aldo Will Remain at 145 Pounds for Now

There’s been a lot of chatter about Jose Aldo potentially moving up to lightweight after disposing of Chan Sung Jung on Saturday, but he’s not adequately positioned to make the move just yet.

Not only are there plenty of intriguing rematches at 145 pounds that Aldo could take part in (Cub Swanson, Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes), the 26-year-old Brazilian also has been handed a 90-day medical suspension after fracturing his right foot, according to MMAJunkie.com.

Moving straight up to lightweight after such an injury wouldn’t be prudent. It’s looking like Aldo will hang around the featherweight division before eventually transitioning to a higher weight class.

Chan Sung Jung Will Bounce Back

Chan Sung Jung lived up to his nickname of “The Korean Zombie” against Aldo, even if he eventually lost via a fourth-round technical knockout.

At this point, Jung’s heart is unquestioned. He sustained a separated shoulder in the fourth round against Aldo, but he continued to fight before Aldo took advantage. For now, he has been handed an 180-day medical suspension by the MMA unless he’s cleared by a doctor first, via MMAJunkie.com, but don’t think the 26-year-old is just going away.

Jung had won his first three fights in the UFC before falling to Aldo on Saturday.

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UFC 162: Underdogs Who Proved Their Worth During Pay-Per-View

UFC 162 delivered on Saturday night, that’s for sure. The night featured one of the greatest upsets in UFC history, as well as a stunning comeback story.UFC 162 also reminded us that nobody is big enough to walk (and talk) his way through a fight. If y…

UFC 162 delivered on Saturday night, that’s for sure. The night featured one of the greatest upsets in UFC history, as well as a stunning comeback story.

UFC 162 also reminded us that nobody is big enough to walk (and talk) his way through a fight. If you don’t take an opponent seriously, especially a very talented one, you are in danger of falling hard and fast.

Here’s a look at the underdogs who proved their worth at UFC 162.

Chris Weidman

Chris Weidman stunned Anderson Silva on Saturday at UFC 162, scoring a knockout in the second round.

Silva was extremely cocky from the start, shouting at Weidman to fight and keeping his hands at his waist, even after Weidman‘s early takedown in the first round.

Weidman did not take kindly to that. He said after the knockout, via Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, “It pisses me off when someone does that to me and I knew sooner or later, I’d get him.”

Silva looked like the Silva we know up until the knockout actually. Several of Weidman‘s punches hit nothing but air. But all it took was one left hook to land cleanly and he was out.

Weidman became the first new UFC middleweight champion since Silva stopped Rich Franklin in October 2006. Silva had the belt for a ridiculous 2,458 days.

Weidman is now 10-0 in his MMA career (6-0 UFC).

Mark Munoz

After a knockout loss to Weidman in July 2012, Mark Munoz rebounded in tremendous fashion on Saturday night, putting forth one of the best performances in his MMA career.

Munoz, who went into depression and began eating lots of food as comfort after his loss to Weidman, defeated Tim Boetsch via unanimous decision.

“I am living proof of what you can do with determination, will and desire,” Munoz said after the fight, via Yahoo! Sports’ Iole.

It’s hard to argue with that.

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Evans vs. Henderson: Recapping All the Action in Evenly Contested Bout

Rashad Evans edged past Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, using a solid third round to help secure the close split-decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).Henderson won the first round easily, dropping Evans with a well-placed jab when Rashad moved in. …

Rashad Evans edged past Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, using a solid third round to help secure the close split-decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Henderson won the first round easily, dropping Evans with a well-placed jab when Rashad moved in. Henderson proceeded to knock his opponent around a little bit, but Evans was able to regain his composure and keep it from being a quick fight.

That’s when he turned the corner.

The second round was about as evenly played as possible. Evans hit Henderson hard with a right hand, but Henderson was able to connect with a solid knee later in the round. Both exchanged blows down the stretch, proving to be up for a battle.

While some believed Henderson could have won the second round, Evans was the aggressor, and that carried on into the third and final round. Evans’ aggressiveness also ended up determining the fight.

Henderson appeared gassed in the third, trying to counter Evans’ flurry of hits with a big shot, which he ultimately never landed.

Said Henderson after the fight, via Dann Stupp of USA Today:

There’s nobody to blame but myself. That third round, I slowed down. I should have gotten more active…I thought I hurt him bad in the first and second rounds, so I thought I got those.

Evans added, “After getting dropped in the first round, I knew I won the second, but I needed to come out strong in the third.”

This puts the 42-year-old Henderson in a dubious situation (29-10 MMA, 6-4 UFC). He’s lost his last two fights via split decision and clearly tailed off at the end of his fight with Evans.

As for Evans (18-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC), he likely stays in contention for a title bout with Jon Jones. This was a big and well-deserved win for the former champ, who was coming off back-to-back losses to Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Henderson was No. 3 in the UFC’s official light heavyweight rankings. Evans was ranked No. 6.

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Velasquez vs. Silva: UFC Champ Proves Junior Dos Santos Is Only Competition

What we knew would happen happened at UFC 160 on Saturday: Cain Velasquez made quick work of challenger Antonio Silva.It wasn’t much of a fight, if you can even call it a fight at all. Velasquez, who improved to 12-1, dropped Silva with a right hand. H…

What we knew would happen happened at UFC 160 on Saturday: Cain Velasquez made quick work of challenger Antonio Silva.

It wasn’t much of a fight, if you can even call it a fight at all. Velasquez, who improved to 12-1, dropped Silva with a right hand. He then proceeded to execute a chokehold, and finished the fight with his well-documented ground-and-pound game. The 30-year-old’s defense of his heavyweight title belt lasted a grand total of one minute, 21 seconds.

With the victory, Velasquez proved that the only challenger worth the effort is Junior Dos Santos, widely regarded as the No. 2 heavyweight in the world. While Velasquez scored a TKO against Silva, Dos Santos provided one of the most thrilling moments of Saturday’s action. The Brazilian landed a spinning kick to the side of Mark Hunt’s head in the third round of their fight, sending the “immovable” 265-pounder crashing to the canvas before knocking him out with a hard right hand.

Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report tweeted after the fight:

Velasquez’s rematch with Silva on Saturday was laughable. We already had a feeling that Velasquez would make it a tactical affair against Silva, based on his first-round TKO of the Brazilian in May 2012—we only hoped Silva would put up some kind of a fight.

Dos Santos remains the only fighter to defeat Velasquez in his MMA career. Both fights between the giants have been epic. Dos Santos knocked out Velasquez one minute, four seconds into their November 2011 encounter. Velasquez convincingly defeated Dos Santos via unanimous decision in December 2012. If you are looking for legitimate competition, there is only one fighter worthy of standing toe to toe with Velasquez, and his name is Junior Dos Santos.

Fortunately for MMA fans, we won’t have to wait very long for a third fight between the two.

When asked if Velasquez-Dos Santos III would be the next heavyweight title fight, UFC president Dana White said, via USA TODAY Sports:

No-brainer. If there was ever a trilogy, that’s it right there. If you look at the way both fights went – Junior destroys (Velasquez) in the first fight, Cain destroys (dos Santos) in the second fight – I can’t wait to see the third fight.

Relish this moment while you can, MMA fans. It’s rare that you see such electricity surrounding two fighters in a division. Not only are Velasquez and Dos Santos great fighters, but the rubber match could end up being legendary.

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