It seems that most of the UFC’s weight divisions have a pretty knotty pack of contenders at the moment. In some cases, the logjam might loosen up with several title fights coming in the second half of 2011, and in others it might get a little tighter b…
It seems that most of the UFC’s weight divisions have a pretty knotty pack of contenders at the moment. In some cases, the logjam might loosen up with several title fights coming in the second half of 2011, and in others it might get a little tighter before it gets better.
So who are the top contenders in each division, and what are their chances of securing the belt? In this list, I’ve taken the top three contenders from each weight class and assigned the percentage chance I think each one has to dethrone the current champ.
These fighters are listed by weight class and are not necessarily “ranked” against one another. Also keep in mind that this is not meant to list every single contender and the percentages are obviously going to be arbitrary. Other than that, it should all be self-explanatory. Happy reading.
With five welterweight bouts having taken place in the past eight days, at UFC 133 and last night at UFC on Versus 5, now is a good time to examine the hierarchy at 170. Did any of the winners make the cut? Did any losers drop off? …
With five welterweight bouts having taken place in the past eight days, at UFC 133 and last night at UFC on Versus 5, now is a good time to examine the hierarchy at 170.
Did any of the winners make the cut? Did any losers drop off? Read on.
This list is expanded to include the top 15 welterweights, given that the very top of the division is somewhat static (at least for the moment). Please also note that this covers the UFC only.
UFC on Versus 5, held last night in Milwaukee, was an exciting and unexpectedly emotional event, due in large part to the surprise retirement of fan favorite Chris Lytle.
And though that was the main headline, and rightfully so, there was plenty of act…
UFC on Versus 5, held last night in Milwaukee, was an exciting and unexpectedly emotional event, due in large part to the surprise retirement of fan favorite Chris Lytle.
And though that was the main headline, and rightfully so, there was plenty of action across the card. Some of last night’s results might inject new blood into divisional rankings, while others may have signaled the end of the line for certain fighters.
So what’s next for all the winners and losers? Here’s a breakdown.
If you’re not acquainted with the little guys of MMA, now’s the time to get started. This Saturday at UFC 132, Urijah Faber will take on Dominick Cruz for Cruz’s spanking-new UFC bantamweight title. A major fight between UFC featherwe…
If you’re not acquainted with the little guys of MMA, now’s the time to get started.
This Saturday at UFC 132, Urijah Faber will take on Dominick Cruz for Cruz’s spanking-new UFC bantamweight title. A major fight between UFC featherweight champ and pound-for-pound all-worlder Jose Aldo and former UFC lightweight contender Kenny Florian seems all but assured for the fall.
With the UFC absorbing the WEC (which was well-known for its lighter-weight talents) and now adding a 125-pound flyweight division, the serious MMA fan already has a lot more faces to know, with a lot more on the way.
But the UFC isn’t alone here. This summer, Bellator FC is in the midst of its latest featherweight tournament, and just announced a bantamweight tournament to begin in September. If you’re a fan of the overseas action, you surely know the kind of tiny dynamos who have long fleshed out those promotions.
To get you primed and ready for UFC 132, Bellator and beyond, here’s a list of the 25 best featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight fighters doing it today.
(Door creaks open) Good eeeeevening. You know, there are plenty of guys in mixed martial arts who cut an intimidating profile. That’s no shock. More than a few are downright scary. Again, no big revelation. But to be creepy? Now that takes an extra-spe…
(Door creaks open)
Good eeeeevening.
You know, there are plenty of guys in mixed martial arts who cut an intimidating profile. That’s no shock. More than a few are downright scary. Again, no big revelation.
But to be creepy? Now that takes an extra-special gift.
Here are 15 of the creepiest fighters in the sport today. Though with the evolution of MMA and the departure of all-time creepy dudes like Hong Man Choi, Giant Silva and others, the sport may no longer be in its Golden Age of creepiness. Nevertheless, something tells me it’ll never go away entirely.
Keep in mind that records and championships are not big factors here, and that creepiness can come from personality and behavior as well as looks. That said, a lot of it comes from looks.
So with that, please enjoy…if you dare. Bwah ha ha ha!
Cheick Kongo to the rescue.In a single flash of leather, a fight card plagued with problems got a lot better Sunday night when a wounded and wobbly Kongo knocked out Pat Barry in the first round to put a sudden and surprising exclamation point on UFC o…
Cheick Kongo to the rescue.
In a single flash of leather, a fight card plagued with problems got a lot better Sunday night when a wounded and wobbly Kongo knocked out Pat Barry in the first round to put a sudden and surprising exclamation point on UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburgh.
You can tell a lot about the event by its name, which was originally UFC Live: Johnson vs. Marquardt, but after an injury to Anthony Johnson changed to UFC Live: Story vs. Marquardt. Then, just days before the event, Nate Marquardt mysteriously failed to gain medical clearance and was released from the UFC.
Matt Riddle and T.J. Grant also left the card due to injury and illness, respectively.
Nothing a stiff right uppercut can’t fix.
The actual card did provide plenty of excitement, but was marred somewhat by questionable officiating. Perhaps that backdrop made Kongo’s success all the sweeter, as alert referee Dan Miragliotta nearly stopped the fight on two occasions after Barry rocked Kongo and dropped him to the ground, but refrained after determining—correctly—that Kongo was still fighting and defending himself.
Barry pummeled Kongo with right hands, but as he worked to put his opponent away, Kongo threw an uppercut that seemed to take away Barry’s consciousness before he even hit the floor. It will probably lead to a new round of questions for Barry, who is now 3-3 in his UFC career.
Because of the outcome, the converted kickboxer’s eagerness to finish may in hindsight be deemed recklessness.
As for Kongo, he received a $50,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night and is now 9-4-1 in the UFC, and has not lost since Frank Mir choked him out in 2009. Still, Kongo has yet to prove himself as a true contender in the top-heavy heavyweight division.
Despite his winning record, Kongo has never beaten a consensus elite opponent, and as such will remain a gatekeeper in the UFC and may not get the bump up in competition one might expect after such a victory.
Nevertheless, this victory for the marble-cut Frenchman almost single-handedly salvaged an entire UFC event. Chances are UFC president Dana White and all the fans who watched and followed what appeared to be a star-crossed card will not forget it for a long time.
Cheick Kongo to the rescue.