Author: Tom Sunderland

UFC 205 Fight Card: PPV Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Alvarez vs. McGregor

Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor will headline the biggest card in UFC history on Saturday evening, when a blockbuster UFC 205 lineup makes its way to New York City. 
Madison Square Garden will bear witness to a pay-per-view schedule so jam-packed…

Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor will headline the biggest card in UFC history on Saturday evening, when a blockbuster UFC 205 lineup makes its way to New York City. 

Madison Square Garden will bear witness to a pay-per-view schedule so jam-packed with elite fighting talent that the aforementioned duo’s lightweight championship showdown is merely the icing on the cake of the event. 

Also in action, fans will see welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defend his belt against Stephen Thompson, while women’s strawweight titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk will defend her crown against Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Alvarez’s wrestling background and heavy-handed approach promises to throw a spanner in the works for McGregor, making the move up from featherweight, although The Notorious’ movement will be a major variable.

Read on for a full preview of the UFC 205 card, information on what time the fights are expected to start, odds and a prediction for the main event.

All odds come courtesy of Odds Shark and Oddschecker.

      

Preview

The UFC’s maiden card in New York City is packed to the rafters with quality fights, and audiences will want to tune into the action long before the main event if they’re to make the most of the evening’s entertainment.

Alvarez (28-4) may draw a home crowd due to his Philadelphia roots, but McGregor himself was happy to share the love he received from the Madison Square Garden fans at Friday’s fake weigh-in:

The UFC is on the verge of making attendance history at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, and MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani emphasised the magnitude of the occasion in anticipation of Saturday’s clash:

Although McGregor is the featherweight champion, the Irishman is technically coming down in weight for this duel after back-to-back meetings against Nate Diaz at welterweight, where he won at UFC 202 back in August.

Lightweight champion Alvarez promises to be another test altogether at what many would call McGregor‘s more natural weight class, however, with the main event expected to start at around 5 a.m. GMT (12 a.m. ET), per The Independent’s Jack de Menezes.

     

Mystic Mac’s Prediction Realised

Not for the first time in his career, McGregor has envisioned a quick finish against Alvarez, and it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see a stand-up brawl finish inside one round.

Speaking at the UFC 205 press conference back in September, when the fight was first announced, The Notorious shut Alvarez down with a first-round knockout prediction, per The Independent’s Jim Edwards:

Shut your f–king mouth. I run New York. I run this whole s–t. And Mystic Mac predicts I’m going to KO you inside of one round.

I’m very happy with the 155-pound weight limit. I feel like with all the divisions I ran around and ran through, 155 I feel will be the one where I take over the most.

Despite doubts over some of those claims, it could be true the Dubliner is at his most comfortable in the 155-pound division, considering his frame is so large compared to his peers at featherweight, with Alvarez his first test subject.

Artem Lobov has trained with McGregor and become accustomed to this kind of fortune-telling for years, and the Russian Hammer also backed up his friend’s vision of an early knockout, via The42.ie:

The odds have always rung in favour of McGregor since betting opened on the event, as explained by Smart Bets, and although Alvarez may look to assert his position on the mat, his opponent’s takedown defence has proved impressive in recent fights.

The Silent Assassin can take on a very primal punching stance, and while he finished Rafael Dos Anjos in impressive manner to clinch the lightweight belt, McGregor is sure to be a far more elusive customer.

Prediction: McGregor wins by first-round KO

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey vs. Amanda Nunes Fight Announced for UFC 207: Details and Reaction

Ronda Rousey will make her return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship against women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 on December 30, UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday, per MMA Fighting:

Rowdy hasn’t fought since suffering h…

Ronda Rousey will make her return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship against women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 on December 30, UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday, per MMA Fighting:

Rowdy hasn’t fought since suffering her first professional defeat to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015.

FloSports’ Jeremy Botter reported a long-awaited duel between Rousey and Cris “Cyborg” Santos is next on the agenda—provided the former bantamweight champion can defeat the woman who now holds her belt:

It will have been more than 12 months in December since one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts last graced the Octagon, but that hasn’t prevented the 29-year-old from getting an instant shot at her old belt upon her return.

MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani previously suggested UFC 207 would be the likely comeback date for Rousey, who has still gone past the first round in just two of her 13 professional fights:

This match will mark Nunes’ first defense of the women’s bantamweight crown since she defeated previous titleholder Miesha Tate via a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 200 in July.

The 28-year-old recently spoke to Brazilian outlet Combate (h/t MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz) regarding who she’d like to fight if given the choice, and Nunes didn’t mince her words when sending out an invitation to Rousey:

I don’t know anything yet, I’m waiting for the call. It’s highly likely, right? Those girls are crazy. Juliana Pena says I’m running from her, Valentina Shevchenko also said I’m running from her, and now she’s saying Juliana Pena is running from her, too. I don’t like to play games.

If they ask me who I want to fight, I’m going to say I want to fight Ronda. I’m not running from anyone, I’m the champion and I can choose who I’m going to fight. I will choose what’s best for me and Ronda would be ‘the’ main fight, that’s why it has to be against her, it has to be with Ronda.

Bleacher Report’s Patrick Wyman responded to Wednesday’s announcement with a question of which woman will steal the tactical advantage in their December meeting:

Meanwhile, Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting teased the prospect of seeing Rowdy fight before the year is out, while Conor McGregor is poised to fight Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November, and Georges St-Pierre is said to be aiming for a UFC comeback of his own:

It was rumoured MMA veteran Cyborg might finally get her opportunity to fight Rousey for her comeback bout, but after speculation of a clash with Nunes surfaced, the Brazilian shared her opinion on not getting the bout sooner.

Cyborg posted a lengthy explanation to her official Facebook page regarding why her highly anticipated match against Rousey “might never happen,” dubbing it ridiculous the American gets a UFC title fight after so long out:

It’s also a bold move from Rousey to accept Nunes’ challenge for her first fight back in the Octagon in more than a year, and this will be the fans’ first chance to see how she’s recovering from that shocking loss to Holm last year.

Nunes will be the first fighter to take The Arm Collector on since that disappointment, and the December showdown will decide if Rousey has lost her touch, or if she’s a fiercer contender than ever before.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Stipe Miocic vs. Alistair Overeem: Odds, Tickets and Predictions Before Weigh-In

Stipe Miocic will make his first defence of the UFC’s heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 on Saturday, and Friday’s weigh-in promises more buildup to a titanic duel.
The reigning champion is hoping home advantage will lead him to vict…

Stipe Miocic will make his first defence of the UFC’s heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 on Saturday, and Friday’s weigh-in promises more buildup to a titanic duel.

The reigning champion is hoping home advantage will lead him to victory in his hometown of Cleveland, and the Quickens Loans Arena is sure to hand Miocic a major edge in his first attempt at defending his belt.

Overeem, 36, steps into Miocic‘s territory, looking to finally clinch the UFC heavyweight belt, but the bookmakers’ odds run ever so slightly against the Dutchman.

Read on for a preview of Saturday’s title face-off, complete with ticket information and a fight prediction leading up to the UFC 203 main event.

Tickets can be purchased at ScoreBig.com.

        

Preview

It’s been just four months since Miocic surprised then-heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 to capture the belt with a first-round knockout in Brazil.

Now, the 34-year-old is far closer to home in his first opportunity to defend the championship, and he recently opened up on what it means to him for this occasion to unfold in Cleveland:

That being said, fighting in his native Brazil didn’t do Werdum much good in his attempt to retain the belt, although Miocic likely won’t buy into any bad omens or superstition before Saturday’s clash.

BT Sport UFC recently provided a reminder of how convincing Miocic was en route to capturing Werdum’s title, as he fired out of the blocks early to beat a mixed martial arts veteran:

Experience is a defining factor between him and Overeem, since the latter has more than three times the number of professional fights on his resume than Miocic has.

Overeem’s record sits at 41-14-1 after he beat Andrei Arlovski in May to secure his fourth successive win. MMA podcaster Sean Sheehan highlighted another pattern that goes against Miocic:

Miocic boasts a 15-2 record since making his professional debut just six years ago. He earned his way into the UFC following just 18 months on the elite circuit.

According to Overeem, complacency could lead to the defending champion’s downfall, per MMA Fighting’s Chuck Mindenhall:

Stipe was going to different parties. You could see that. You could see that on his clothes, he was wearing different clothes. He’s at different party events, he’s acting crazy, having a drink in his hand. He has been celebrating his victory. And you know what? Who can blame him?

He became the champion in record time. But while he was celebrating, I was working. I was training hard. And my life has been dedicated for the last two-and-a-half years. The last six months I have definitely put on a couple of notches more. We’re ready, we’re going to get that belt.

Overeem joined the UFC one year after Miocic and has suffered three defeats in the same time it has taken his foe to concede just two, but this could well be the Dutchman’s last—and best—chance at the heavyweight belt.

Despite that late run, though, Miocic has knocked out his last three opponents, while nine of Overeem’s 14 career defeats have come by way of TKO.

Prediction: Stipe Miocic wins via TKO.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem Odds, Tickets, Predictions and Pre-Weigh-In Hype

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will make its Cleveland debut this Saturday as Stipe Miocic prepares to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at the Quicken Loans Arena.
“Stone Cold Stipe” will defend his belt for the first time …

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will make its Cleveland debut this Saturday as Stipe Miocic prepares to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at the Quicken Loans Arena.

“Stone Cold Stipe” will defend his belt for the first time against a veteran opponent who has defeated no fewer than six UFC champions in his time, although Overeem remains a slim underdog with the bookmakers.

Miocic, 34, beat Fabricio Werdum in the first round of their clash at UFC 198 back in May, while Overeem will make his first bid for the belt since joining the promotion almost five years ago.

Here’s a look at how the two fighters compare, complete with odds courtesy of Odds Shark:

Read on for a pre-weigh-in preview of Saturday’s titanic bout between two brutes of the elite circuit, with everything to play for in the headline event of UFC 203.

Tickets can be purchased at ScoreBig.com.

 

Pre-Weigh-In Hype

While belt-holder Miocic may come into the Cleveland clash as the bookmakers’ favourite, the lines between the two combatants are so fine that Saturday’s bout could easily go either way.

MMA Junkie’s Ben Fowlkes elaborated upon just how tight the contest looks likely to be, per Bleacher Report’s Chad Dundas:

One major defining factor between the pair, however, is experience, and Overeem comes to the Quicken Loans Arena with a record of 41-14-1, more than three times as many professional fights as Miocic (15-2).

UFC commentators and hosts John Gooden and Dan Hardy analysed Saturday’s fight in finer detail prior to Friday’s weigh-in, where the latter examined Overeem’s taste for these occasions as a big advantage:

It’s true that Miocic isn’t as adept in these occasions as his opponent, but the progress the fireman and paramedic has made in recent years shows this could be his time to capitalise.

Of the six wins Miocic has scored in his last seven fights, “The Silencer” has notched early finishes in the last four, taking three Performance of the Night bonuses, claiming the heavyweight championship in his most recent.

At the very least, Overeem appeared relaxed in the build-up to Saturday’s make-or-break fixture, per MMA Junkie’s John Morgan:

Overeem may bring a more threatening submission presence to the Octagon, but Miocic has proved his knockout power sits up there with some of the best in the business.

The UFC even recently took the time to celebrate his knockout victory against Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195 in January:

At 36 years of age, Overeem may not get too many more opportunities to stake his claim on a UFC title belt, and his four-fight win streak suggests he’s also in the form of his career.

That being said, Miocic’s hands look capable of stopping anyone on their day, and considering nine of Overeem’s 14 career losses have come via knockout, that seems a plausible result come Saturday.

Prediction: Stipe Miocic wins via TKO

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

McGregor vs. Diaz 3: Dana White Comments on Potential Rematch in TMZ Interview

UFC President Dana White has said there will be no trilogy of fights between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz after noting he’s “moving on.” 
Both fighters expressed an interest in a third match after McGregor’s decision win against Diaz at UFC 202 on…

UFC President Dana White has said there will be no trilogy of fights between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz after noting he’s “moving on.” 

Both fighters expressed an interest in a third match after McGregor’s decision win against Diaz at UFC 202 on Saturday, but White told TMZ Sports: “The war was fun and super successful, but I’m movin’ on.”

Diaz famously handed The Notorious his first defeat in the promotion at UFC 196 back in March, but McGregor exacted revenge for that loss after sealing a majority-decision victory in Las Vegas last Saturday.

Furthermore, White reiterated to UFC host Megan Olivi that Diaz and McGregor would not get a third bite at the apple immediately, noting his desire to turn attention elsewhere, per Bloody Elbow:

Yeah, um… We’re definitely not doing this a third time right now. Um, I mean, I don’t think there’s anybody that doesn’t want to see this fight again, but um, Conor’s either gonna go defend his title or give his title up. Then we’ll figure out where we go from there.

[…]

They’re both really, they’re, It’s weird, they’re both like, giddy. They’re both pumped about the fight, they said it was awesome. They had a blast, and uh, they’re sick individuals, those two (laughs).

Many within the MMA community agree that a deciding bout will draw widespread attention, with each fighter now holding one win apiece in the bitter rivalry.

The UFC provided post-fight reaction from McGregor immediately after his triumph on Saturday, and he said a third match would have to happen at 155 pounds if it did materialise:

The Irishman has now fought Diaz on two occasions at the welterweight limit of 170 pounds, but it appears he’s keen to do business closer to his natural weight class if he were to chase a trilogy fight.

MMA Junkie reporter Chamatkar Sandhu is among those who agree a trilogy fight is all Diaz should be interested in, although McGregor now has options ahead of him once again:

TMZ Sports added that White wants McGregor to defend his UFC featherweight title against Jose Aldo or make the jump back down to lightweight and face current champion Eddie Alvarez.

Jeff Wagenheim of the Washington Post recently mused McGregor’s days as a 145-pound fighter could be behind him, however:

Come December 12, it will have been a full year since The Notorious last fought at featherweight, which means his dream of becoming a dual-weight champion in the UFC may depend on his next move in the promotion.

White has at least dismissed the notion of McGregor, 28, and Diaz, 31, meeting again anytime soon, but that’s not to say the pair couldn’t collide for a much-wanted third showdown in the future.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dan Henderson Announces He’ll Retire After Michael Bisping Fight at UFC 204

Former Pride middleweight champion Dan Henderson has confirmed he will retire from mixed martial arts after his scheduled fight against Michael Bisping at UFC 204 on November 12. 
The 45-year-old appeared on the Talking Brawls Podcast with&nb…

Former Pride middleweight champion Dan Henderson has confirmed he will retire from mixed martial arts after his scheduled fight against Michael Bisping at UFC 204 on November 12. 

The 45-year-old appeared on the Talking Brawls Podcast with Niall McGrath and Petesy Carroll of SevereMMA.com and said regardless of the Bisping result, he’ll be taking his leave of the Octagon:

That is my plan, win or lose I’m ready mentally to retire.

My body could still probably go another two, three years more. I’ve put it through enough. I’m ready to take it a little bit easier, but still be involved in MMA doing something a little bit different than fighting.

[…]

I’m pretty sure it will be a pay-per-view and I’d expect that it happens relatively soon, possibly in the next couple of days. We should be able to get it figured out. I’m waiting to hear the exact date, and where but I’m almost positive it will happen, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t at this point.

Henderson made his UFC debut at UFC 17 in May 1998 and has fought for several other promotions including Strikeforce and Pride.

He made his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a defeat to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in 2007 and has since fought 17 times for the promotion, including a knockout defeat of Hector Lombard at UFC 199 in June.

The MMA veteran stunned an Inglewood, California, crowd with his surprise second-round knockout of Lombard, which in turn led to the opportunity of a rematch opposite reigning middleweight champion Bisping.

The pair first clashed at UFC 100 in July 2009, when Henderson knocked the Brit out with a punch that earned multiple Knockout of the Year nominations and was recently celebrated by MMA Junkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu:

While the UFC 204 rematch isn’t yet official, Henderson also shared rumours the fixture could end up in Bisping’s hometown: “I think I’ve heard a number of things, but I believe it could be in a stadium over there in Manchester.”

There is the potential for Henderson to retire as the UFC middleweight champion if he does manage to score another victory over Bisping, and ESPN presenter Maximiliano Bretos ranks “Hollywood” as one of the greatest ever:

That being said, Bisping looks to be in the form of his life after notching a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 to capture the middleweight belt at last after years of trying.

In a tale of two UFC veterans, age may finally begin to play a factor with Henderson, who has lost six of his last nine fights, with four by early stoppage.

Henderson was a Pride champion at both welterweight and middleweight and became the first combatant ever to hold belts in multiple weight divisions for the promotion. He was also a light heavyweight champion in Strikeforce and beat combat legend Fedor Emelianenko in 2011.

Mixed martial arts fans will cherish Henderson’s next and last appearance all the more now because of what it represents: the departure of a fighting icon who helped grow the sport from its roots up.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com