Author: Will Angland

UFC 148 Results: Silva Is Unchallenged at Middleweight

Anderson Silva is a different kind of fighter. You hear it all the time, but occasionally it helps to be reminded.But even great fighters have weaknesses. We all knew what it was. His weakness is a powerful and relentless wrestler who does not allow Si…

Anderson Silva is a different kind of fighter. You hear it all the time, but occasionally it helps to be reminded.

But even great fighters have weaknesses. We all knew what it was. His weakness is a powerful and relentless wrestler who does not allow Silva to intimidate or captivate him with his pressure and movements in the cage. We all thought this was the style to beat Silva.

And then Silva destroyed Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen did well to secure a takedown in the opening seconds of the fight, but he would not succeed again. In the next round, he would attempt three different takedowns and all would fail.

After Sonnen was unable to bring the fight to his world, he was forced to fight on Silva’s terms. And not even Sonnen could avoid falling into Silva’s trap.

As best as I can describe it, Silva tripped Sonnen using his fight swagger and finished him with a lunging knee to the chest followed by powerful precision strikes.

And there went the last challenger. There’s actually, legitimately, no one left.

Mark Munoz’s ground-and-pound? Chris Weidman’s submission grappling? Silva has proven himself apt at avoiding damage and submissions in the last several years, and just tonight he has proven that neither fighter would be able to take him down.

Vitor Belfort? Silva would down him with a punch thrown from his waist and finish him on the ground. Michael Bisping? He’d be unable to connect with jabs and straights and would be countered and knocked senseless when he attempted to connect with something more forceful.

Perhaps Rashad Evans will drop down to middleweight and present some new problems for Silva. Or perhaps the gods of MMA will convince Silva or Georges St-Pierre to move up in weight and create one of the superfights that fans have been dying to see.

But as it stands right now, there is no one left in the middleweight division who can challenge Silva. 

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UFC 142 Results: Ranking Anderson Silva’s Biggest Threats

UFC 142 saw some exciting middleweight action.Vitor Belfort secured his first submission win since 1997 with a rear-naked choke over Anthony Johnson.Rousimar Palhares also secured a first-round submission against his opponent, Mike Massenzio, via leg l…

UFC 142 saw some exciting middleweight action.

Vitor Belfort secured his first submission win since 1997 with a rear-naked choke over Anthony Johnson.

Rousimar Palhares also secured a first-round submission against his opponent, Mike Massenzio, via leg lock.

Both middleweights ascended the rankings with their wins, and each will eventually be making a case to fight Anderson Silva.

Here is a ranking of Anderson Silva’s most dangerous title threats.

 

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UFC 142 Results: Ranking the Wrestling of the UFC Champions

Saturday, Jose Aldo returned to his WEC ways by knocking out Chad Mendes in the final second of the very first round.But what was perhaps even more impressive than the knee that ended the fight was the takedown defense that allowed Aldo to keep the fig…

Saturday, Jose Aldo returned to his WEC ways by knocking out Chad Mendes in the final second of the very first round.

But what was perhaps even more impressive than the knee that ended the fight was the takedown defense that allowed Aldo to keep the fight on his feet.

Against Mendes, Aldo was supposed to be face an opponent that could take him down and hold him down. But Mendes simply could not outwrestle the champ.

Here is a complete ranking of the wrestling abilities of the seven UFC champions.

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UFC 142 Results: Ranking the Wrestling of the UFC Champions

Saturday, Jose Aldo returned to his WEC ways by knocking out Chad Mendes in the final second of the very first round.But what was perhaps even more impressive than the knee that ended the fight was the takedown defense that allowed Aldo to keep the fig…

Saturday, Jose Aldo returned to his WEC ways by knocking out Chad Mendes in the final second of the very first round.

But what was perhaps even more impressive than the knee that ended the fight was the takedown defense that allowed Aldo to keep the fight on his feet.

Against Mendes, Aldo was supposed to be face an opponent that could take him down and hold him down. But Mendes simply could not outwrestle the champ.

Here is a complete ranking of the wrestling abilities of the seven UFC champions.

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UFC 142: Anthony Johnson Is Being Pushed Far Too Fast

UFC 142 will feature Anthony Johnson’s middleweight debut, where he will be taking on top 5 middleweight Vitor Belfort.Johnson’s move up to middleweight has been long anticipated.  Johnson walks around at well over 200 pounds between fights, and i…

UFC 142 will feature Anthony Johnson’s middleweight debut, where he will be taking on top 5 middleweight Vitor Belfort.

Johnson’s move up to middleweight has been long anticipated.  Johnson walks around at well over 200 pounds between fights, and it has been argued that his huge welterweight cut has hindered his performance.

At middleweight, Johnson can threaten the division with his diverse, explosive striking and huge knock out power.

Three of his six UFC knockouts have occurred less than one minute past the opening bell.  He is a threat to most fighters in the division.

But a fight against Belfort is too much, too soon.

I am not saying Johnson can’t beat Belfort.  I think it’s a good stylistic fight for him, and he can conceivably end up emerging victorious.

But there are too many unknowns.

We don’t know how fast or how strong Johnson is at middleweight.  Neither does the UFC.

The UFC should have given Johnson a warmup fight at middleweight over a borderline top 10 opponent.

The UFC could have gauged his skill, and if he won convincingly they could have hyped him up more easily.

But if Johnson loses to Belfort it will be hard for him to build back up again.  He’d be 0-1 at middleweight and have lost to the only two consistently top-10 opponents he has ever faced.

The UFC can guarantee an exciting fight by pitting Johnson against Belfort, but it is a dangerous fight for both Johnson and the UFC, and not the right fight to make.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 142: Ranking Aldo’s Most Dangerous Title Threats

At UFC 142, Jose Aldo will arguably face his most dangerous opponent to date in Chad “Money” Mendes, a high-level, undefeated wrestler.The rest of the division has also been active as of late.  Florian has decided to move up in division, Homi…

At UFC 142, Jose Aldo will arguably face his most dangerous opponent to date in Chad “Money” Mendes, a high-level, undefeated wrestler.

The rest of the division has also been active as of late.  Florian has decided to move up in division, Hominick has fallen in the rankings, Hioki has entered the UFC and prospects continue to impress.

Aldo will be tested by Mendes, but even if he emerges victorious he won’t catch much of a break.

Here are Aldo’s most dangerous contenders at featherweight.

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