Author: Scott Carasik

Jon Jones Made the Right Decision by Giving Glover Teixeira a Title Fight

Jon “Bones” Jones chose to fight Glover Teixeira instead of giving an immediate rematch to Alexander Gustafsson. And all he did is prove that he’s a true fighting champion with this decision. 

Sure, everyone wants the rematch because of how close…

Jon “Bones” Jones chose to fight Glover Teixeira instead of giving an immediate rematch to Alexander Gustafsson. And all he did is prove that he’s a true fighting champion with this decision. 

Sure, everyone wants the rematch because of how close Gustafsson-Jones I was. And we’ll all get a rematch eventually. Especially since Jones and Gustafsson are the ripe old age of 26. They’ll have many fights with each other in true Chuck Liddell-Randy Couture fashion. 

But Teixeira deserved a chance to have a title fight. At 33 years old, he’s one of the top three light heavyweights in the sport. He also won a title-fight eliminator with Ryan Bader and deserves his shot at the top. Teixeira might be the best fighter in the division to have never seen a UFC title shot. 

He’s was finished only once and that was in his first professional fight. Teixeira’s 22-2 record includes a 20-fight win streak where his last defeat was over eight years ago to Ed Herman in just his fourth professional fight. It’s safe to say that Teixeira earned the right to fight Bones.

On the flip side of the coin, some could say that Jon Jones is trying to duck out of the immediate rematch to Gustafsson where he narrowly defeated his best competitor yet by a score of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 on the three score cards. 

But that doesn’t really seem to be the case here. This would be like people claiming that Muhammad Ali was ducking a Joe Frazier rematch when he took “The Rumble in the Jungle” fight with George Foreman in 1974. Teixeira is just as good as Gustafsson if not better.

There’s three great fighters sitting at the top of the 205 pound class. Why should Teixeira have to wait after winning a title eliminator? 

Why should Jon Jones be forced into a rematch with Gustafsson when he could have a fight that is just as good or even with Glover Teixeira? 

Most of all, why do people think that Jones is going to just steamroll Teixeira like he’s nothing? 

If anything, Jones took what looks to be a fight that is as tough or tougher than a rematch with Gustafsson would have been. He’s a fighting champion much like the great heavyweight boxers of the 70s, 80s and 90s were. 

Jon Jones has even said that he wants a rematch according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com: 

Jones, however, elected to pursue a seventh title defense against Teixeira, while promising a rematch with Gustafsson immediately after.

“I said before the [Gustafsson] fight my sights were set on breaking the record,” Jones said in a statement released by the UFC. “I want to crush the record. I want to beat the record so bad it can never be broken.

“I’m going to fight Glover and I will answer all the critics about the Gustafsson fight. I will fight Gustafsson after I fight Glover. I won the fight but I look at it as a blemish on my record because some people think I didn’t. I promise you, he will be next.”

So let’s not criticize the man or act like spoiled children because we didn’t get an immediate rematch. It’s not like the two men can’t fight again. And it’s not like Jon Jones isn’t open to a rematch eventually either.

Jones didn’t say the fight isn’t going to happen. He just said that it’s not going to happen right now. Why can’t we be just a little patient?

Because as they say, good things come to those who wait.

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 150 Results: Cowboy Cerrone Should Take on Benson Henderson

After his most recent knockout of Melvin Guillard, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone proved that he is deserving of a title match with Benson Henderson. By dominating Guillard, he proved that he is more than just a gatekeeper for guys to get through before they …

After his most recent knockout of Melvin Guillard, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone proved that he is deserving of a title match with Benson Henderson. By dominating Guillard, he proved that he is more than just a gatekeeper for guys to get through before they take on the champion.

Domination of Guillard was unexpected after the New Orleans native missed weight and had to fight the bout as a 157.5 catchweight. In the first part of the fight, it looked as if Guillard had a little bit of speed and power on Cowboy.

Then at the 1:16 mark, the fight had to be stopped. Cerrone had clipped Guillard with a kick and then had followed it up with a punch that won Knockout of the Night. Their fight also was deemed the Fight of the Night.

 

Cerrone Is the best Lightweight Left after Diaz

At lightweight, there is Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz and Cowboy Cerrone. After that, there looks to be a good bit of a drop-off starting with Melvin Guillard. Considering Bendo-Edgar II just gave everyone the same result as Bendo-Edgar I, it wouldn’t make sense for them to have a rubber match.

Yes, Nick Diaz gets a shot. However, whether or not Diaz is able to win against Bendo is another question. Diaz beat Cowboy, but that doesn’t mean Cowboy couldn’t beat Bendo. The UFC is a living breathing organism similar to the old days of boxing. Just because someone is winning now, doesn’t mean they will win forever. 

Gray Maynard is another name that will be thrown around and could be a stepping stone for Cerrone on his road back to a championship shot. However, he doesn’t deserve another shot at the title until he can prove that he is worthy of it against top competition especially after the egg that he and Clay Guida left at UFC on FX.

After Cerrone’s fight lasted all of a minute and 16 seconds, he should be ready to have another fight in December. Bendo looks like he should be ready as well to take on any and all comers. So why not give the shot to Cowboy for once?

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek, runs the NFL draft website ScarDraft.com and hosts Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Henderson vs. Edgar 2: Edgar Needs to Finish Bendo to Win UFC Lightweight Title

Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson square off in their UFC Lightweight title match at UFC 150. However, Edgar will have to finish Bendo in order to win this fight and repossess his Lightweight Championship from the current champion.Neither man knows ho…

Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson square off in their UFC Lightweight title match at UFC 150. However, Edgar will have to finish Bendo in order to win this fight and repossess his Lightweight Championship from the current champion.

Neither man knows how to finish fights when you look at their recent history. Henderson hasn’t finished anyone in his past five fights, winning unanimously on cards. Edgar has just one finish—a knockout of Gray Maynard—in his last five fights.

 

Bendo Dominated the First Fight

Benson Henderson just dominated the first fight. He was obviously the winner of at least three rounds and knows how to win the cards. He got Edgar into a guillotine in Rounds 4 and 5 and just had to keep his distance in order to win.

Frankie looked like a beaten pup at the end of the fight and had a swollen eye. Just by looking at the two fighters, it was obvious who had won. Bendo had just captured his first title, winning the cards unanimously 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. 

 

Edgar Can’t Let This Get to the Judges

Edgar has shown that he knows how to win a fight by getting it to the cards and winning rounds. However, he doesn’t have the ability to win a fight against Bendo if this goes to a decision. The New Jersey native doesn’t have the quickness to stick with Henderson the whole fight. 

Frankie also hasn’t been able to win the judges over in either of his last two decisions, gaining a draw against Gray Maynard and a loss against Bendo. He needs to knock Bendo out. That or he needs to submit the current champion.

 

Dana White Should Know Better

While watching two lightweights fight is great, Dana White knows this one will more than likely go to the judges and not be a finished fight.

Multiple champions have been crowned despite not earning the victory in the cage, as they’ve been handed the title by the judges. By making this the premier fight of UFC 150, Dana White left himself open to a result that no one may want.

Edgar needs to do the right thing here and finish the fight. Because if he doesn’t, there won’t be a Bendo-Edgar III and his title will stay on the current champion.

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek, runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and hosts Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fox 4 Results: Rua-Machida III Should Decide No. 1 Contender

Lyoto Machida is the new No. 1 contender for the light heavyweight title and will face the winner of the Jon Jones and Dan Henderson fight. He shouldn’t be, though. Shogun Rua fought well in a very close battle against a rejuvenated Brandon Vera and sh…

Lyoto Machida is the new No. 1 contender for the light heavyweight title and will face the winner of the Jon Jones and Dan Henderson fight. He shouldn’t be, though. Shogun Rua fought well in a very close battle against a rejuvenated Brandon Vera and should fight Machida a third time for the spot as the No. 1 contender.

Dana White loves to feel the pulse of the crowd before he names a new No. 1 contender, but Machida looked dominant, whereas Rua didn’t. He uses this as part of how he decides the title contenders. But in breaking down the two fights, Machida doesn’t deserve an automatic title shot, and Rua doesn’t either.

 

Machida Catches Bader Making a Mistake Early

Machida and Bader had a great, competitive first round of the fight. It looked very back and forth for the first half of Round 1, but as the fight wore on, Bader just looked completely overmatched. Machida was frustrating Bader with short, quick strikes.

Then the mistake came. Bader—using none of his brains—decided that it would be a good idea to charge a championship-caliber veteran fighter who is faster than him. He got knocked out on almost Friday-level proportions by Machida for making such a bad error, leaving Machida to look like a king.

 

Shogun Beats a Much-Improved Vera

Vera looked like a man on a mission against Rua. It was a very close fight that looked like Shogun would win the first and third rounds. However, Vera looked like he was going to win the second round. Vera had never gotten to a fourth round before.

Shogun realized this and used it to his advantage. He completely dominated a tired Vera in the fourth round and turned in a knockout victory 4:09 into the fourth round. Rua just didn’t impress enough compared to Machida‘s quick knockout of Bader to be handed a title shot.

 

Dana White should have these two men fight for the No. 1 contender spot instead of handing it to Machida. Especially since the current champion has already dispatched Shogun to win the title and defeated Machida to defend it.

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek, runs the NFL draft website ScarDraft.com and hosts Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Should Transition to a Completely Non Pay-Per-View Format

The UFC had its biggest pay-per-view of all time at UFC 148 on July 7; however, they should switch to a completely non pay-per-view format to become a more profitable and mainstream entity.They set records for both live attendance and are pro…

The UFC had its biggest pay-per-view of all time at UFC 148 on July 7; however, they should switch to a completely non pay-per-view format to become a more profitable and mainstream entity.

They set records for both live attendance and are projected to have the pay-per-view revenues to match it. There is still a feeling that they could do more. The UFC has turned into a household entity much like boxing was in the past. It’s gone from something that people would watch only at bars to something that people will watch the preliminary fights just to get even more amped up for the main events.

The main issues that Dana White would look at in making the UFC completely free for fans to access are the profitability, longevity and competition: three things that would be enhanced from making the call to switch to the non-PPV format.

When looking into profitability, there has to be research into the current format of events on Fox, F/X and pay-per-view. Let’s use general rough estimates here. Say the UFC currently averages 850,000 buys— shooting high—at an average of $54.95 for the High Definition feed; that means that the UFC is making $46.7 million on every pay-per-view. 

Take the $46.7 million and multiply that by the 26 events that they could put on every year through bi-weekly pay-per-views, and the UFC would make $1.2 billion. However, these are rough estimates on the high end of what the UFC could do. In a more realistic setting, the UFC is really only in the $900-950 million range for its PPV revenue every year.

The best option could be to have an exclusive deal to bill the events as “UFC on ESPN,” and sign a $1.5 billion-per-year contract over the next three years to have every bi-weekly event on ESPN. It would make more money than the brand currently is right now while also expanding the reach of their biggest events using cable television. 

Much like what boxing used to do with the “Friday Night Fights” series, the UFC could take a step into the right direction by moving some of its biggest fights from pay per view to cable. They would also be able to pay their fighters better with the bump in revenue. However, that leaves the question of longevity.

The UFC would switch from a buy-rate model to a ratings model. This would mean they would always have to put their best fights on the cards to keep people interested. It’s not an issue though, because the UFC has always been one of those promotions that tries to put the best against the best. They should be able to keep the interest up and longevity shouldn’t be an issue. 

The final issue of competition is a non-issue. Unlike Boxing with their 18 weight classes and four major boxing organizations, MMA has just the one primary organization in the UFC and a couple of minor ones like Strikeforce. By signing onto an ESPN deal, UFC would be putting their competition completely out of business and turn their organization into the NFL of fighting.

By virtually eliminating competition and increasing revenues, the non-PPV model would be extremely beneficial to the UFC. If they completely get rid of pay-per-views all together, they could spare their fate long term from being the same as boxing: dead.

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek and also runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and the host of Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 148: Cung Le vs. Patrick Cote Will Be Fight of the Night Winner

Cung Le and Patrick Cote are an excellent and equal matchup at UFC 148. It’s a classic striker-versus-striker match, as both have disciplines primarily in striking and this match could turn into an all-out brawl similar to the Forrest Griffin-Stephan B…

Cung Le and Patrick Cote are an excellent and equal matchup at UFC 148. It’s a classic striker-versus-striker match, as both have disciplines primarily in striking and this match could turn into an all-out brawl similar to the Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar match at the end of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Le’s best ability is his kickboxing, as he is completely undefeated in kickboxing matches. As part of his excellent mix in kickboxing, he takes elements of sando, tae kwon do and basic kickboxing to create one of the nastiest arsenals of kicks. MMA Weekly notes that:

Le has marked his MMA career with spectacular kicks that come from every direction and angle, and still stands as one of the most unique fighters in the sport when it comes to his style of fighting.

That matchup issue could lead to a quick fight.

However, Patrick Cote should be up for the challenge. Cote comes into this fight as a late addition due to Rich Franklin taking on Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147. It’s not the first time he has been a late replacement for someone, though.

Early in Cote’s career, he took on Tito Ortiz and proved that he belonged in the promotion with a close decision loss. This fight should be something similar to the Ortiz fight for Cote in that it should go the full three rounds. 

Unlike Le, Cote’s specialty comes from muay thai and boxing. But one thing that Cote has going for him that could lead to his victory: his heart. As Carlin Bardsley of SportsNet points out:

Cote knows he has to make the most of the opportunity he’s been given. Stepping up to fight a big name on short notice brings him back to the beginning of his UFC career and brings him full-circle. If he brings with him the same enthusiasm, the same grin, and the same punching power that he brought in his UFC debut against Ortiz, he may very well establish himself as a force once again in the world’s largest promotion.

Cote wants to win this fight as a way to re-establish himself in the UFC and eventually end up with a title shot in the light heavyweight division. Cung Le is trying to do the same as a fighter and this epic battle should be a way for both to have an excellent showing.

Both Cote and Le have amazing conditioning regimens and have the ability to punish their opponents and take punishment for 15 minutes easily. This should be an all-out war between two top strikers and the Fight of the Night.

 

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek and also runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and the host of Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com