Over the last half-decade the UFC roster has grown substantially to the point where there are simply so many fighters that some can get lost in the shuffle.
A parade of events have come through in the past five weeks, leaving many out of commissi…
Over the last half-decade the UFC roster has grown substantially to the point where there are simply so many fighters that some can get lost in the shuffle.
A parade of events have come through in the past five weeks, leaving many out of commission in the short term. Others have fallen to injury or suffered infections like “Staph” that kept them sidelined. Still, there are those who, for whatever reason, are simply without a fight.
Here is a list of six men who Joe Silva should sign with for a fight as quickly as possible.
The Syndicate Gym is an unassuming building when viewed from its entrance. It is nestled away behind business fronts and an open lot of rocks and dirt.
However, upon entering the gym’s open doors, one realizes what a mistake the first impression truly …
The Syndicate Gym is an unassuming building when viewed from its entrance. It is nestled away behind business fronts and an open lot of rocks and dirt.
However, upon entering the gym’s open doors, one realizes what a mistake the first impression truly was.
Inside the gym is much of what one would expect from a professional camp. There are amateurs and pros stretching, chatting and sparring in various groups across large mats and against cages. Some athletes utilize the many punching bags, while coaches discuss maneuvers with students in one-on-one sessions.
All is standard for a quality gym, but what one does not expect to see at the Syndicate MMA is TUF season 15 winner Michael Chiesa.
Chiesa is not a regular in the Las Vegas camp, but he decided to drop by to take part in some between-camp sparring with veterans Mike Pyle, John Alessio and others under the direction of coaches John Gunderson and John Wood.
Still pouring sweat after nearly an hour of light-contact sparring, the UFC lightweight contender answered questions regarding his visit, his upcoming fight at Fight for the Troops 3, as well as his recent loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC on Fox 8.
“I told Mike Pyle and John Wood I would stop in one of these days. So I’m here,” he said plainly.
As seen in the video, Chiesa spent time sparring with longtime MMA veteran Mike Pyle. When asked how working with the 14-year MMA veteran is, Chiesa responded:
I’ve always looked up to Mike as a fighter. He’s a very tall, lanky guy like myself, and he’s very crafty. I’d like to think that our styles are kind of related. We’re crafty grapplers and both long. There’s a lot of things I can learn from him just by getting into the gym with him. I’d like to think that’s who I can be when I get into my thirties.
Chiesa also talked about being submitted by Masvidal in the final second of the second round of their bout and how that experience is now motivating him.
Chiesa upset some fans by his post-fight reaction to his first loss—a move he himself described as “Forrest Griffin-esque” as he left the cage.
“First and foremost, it was unsportsmanlike of me to storm out of the cage. (I was) just frustrated. I trained really hard for the fight,” he said.
He admitted it was especially difficult losing a fight he was so close to winning a round prior.
I made a mental mistake. No disrespect to Jorge in any way, but I do not feel I was beat by a better fighter. I just feel like I started thinking too much. Usually I’m a very instinctive fighter. I black out, fight—and next thing I know, it’s over. I started thinking in that fight, and I felt like I was falling a step behind. That’s where him being such a veteran came into play—I think I gave him one of his toughest fights to date. I haven’t seen someone else drop him, so I think I gave him a good go.
Chiesa spoke about the sting of tapping with one second remaining in the round.
Can you blame somebody who lost his first fight for being that frustrated? I lost by a second. The first thing the ref said to me was “Man, you know you only had one second?” and I was like “Screw you, Dan Miragliotta!” Right after I heard that I just left.
It should be noted that the “screw you” comment was said with a smile.
The experience was not without a silver lining, as he felt prepared to take what he learned into his next bout. Chiesa is set to face Colton Smith at the UFC Fight for the Troops 3 Nov. 6 in Kentucky.
“My focus 110 percent is Colton Smith.” he said. “Coming off that loss—like everyone says, sometimes a loss is good for you. It has reignited my fire. I think that I needed that. I needed that loss to get me on track and get to that title.”
When asked how he saw the matchup playing out, Chiesa felt his experience at the division was his strongest asset before the match even began.
Colton is a tough guy, and he’s coming down (to 155 pounds). I think he is going to have the advantage being in front of all the troops since he served. It will be an honor (for us) to go out to perform for them, and I think Colton will be pretty pumped up from that. But the advantage I have is that I’m as big as Colton, and I’ve been fighting at 155 pounds my whole career. He hasn’t. I’ll have the advantage knowing that he will have to come to my division and fight me and know what its like to go into that fight not 100 percent because you can never recover fully from a weight cut.
Chiesa is still ranked well outside the top 10 in the UFC’s always-stacked 155-pound division. But a win at UFC Fight for the Troops 3 will garner Chiesa much needed momentum.
As he put it: “My road back starts with Colton Smith.”
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.
When Benson Henderson takes on Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, fans can only pray the bout is as good as their previous meeting. While Henderson is held as a slight favorite amongst oddsmakers, there…
When Benson Henderson takes on Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, fans can only pray the bout is as good as their previous meeting. While Henderson is held as a slight favorite amongst oddsmakers, there are reasons to believe Pettis can take the belt from the champion, just as he did in the WEC.
Henderson and Pettis made the final match of the farewell show for the WEC one of the greatest fights of all time. It was a back-and-forth war that had no clear winner until the judges rendered the final tally. Now the two have a chance to outdo themselves and put on an even better showcase for the fans.
Coming into the bout, both fighters possess the same capabilities they displayed in their last meeting.
Pettis still throws dynamic strikes and uses his creativity to break opponents down on the feet and on the canvas. Henderson is still a tireless grinder who uses his size and dexterity to outclass opponents.
The only true blemish in Henderson’s skill set is that he has lost his finishing touch. When speaking to Ben Fowlkes of MMAJunkie.com, Pettis stated he is aware of Henderson’s penchant for decisions.
I’m sure he’s expecting a five-round fight. He’s the champ, and he knows he needs to win five rounds to keep that belt. GSP does it the same way. These guys are intelligent fighters, and they know they have to win the rounds to keep their belt. I’m expecting him to do what he’s been doing. He’s going to come out, do just enough to win the rounds, and keep his belt. That’s his game plan, and that’s never my game plan. I’m always looking to finish.
Pettis knows his opponent, and the fact that he likes to finish is great; however, it can put him at a disadvantage against Henderson.
The champion will look to take Pettis down within the final minute of each round. But Pettis knows that, and Henderson likely knows that Pettis knows it.
For the champ, a takedown at the start of the round is just as good as near the end. And while Pettis will look to avoid last-minute takedowns, Henderson might jump on early takedown opportunities to secure the round off the bat. Judges score takedowns heavily, and Henderson will capitalize on that knowledge.
Looking for an early finish to the night might be key for Pettis. He knows Henderson is expecting five rounds. Because of that, he may expect the champ to pace himself early. If Pettis can take it to him quickly, he might be able to catch Henderson off guard and in a lower gear.
The challenge for Pettis will be staying aggressive and seeking the early kill while defending the champ’s takedowns. The answer is simple: Pettis has to use his improved wrestling more than he did in their first bout.
Following his loss to Clay Guida at the The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, Pettis returned to the drawing board to round out his ground game. He now mainly uses his wrestling in reverse, a la Chuck Liddell. By doing so, he can keep fights standing, which is his preference.
His better wrestling will play a large role against Henderson, who attempted 13 takedowns in the first bout and is likely to amass a similar tally at UFC 164.
A final variable has to be thrown into the prediction: Milwaukee is Pettis’ stomping ground. While Henderson will state that Pettis’ home-field advantage does not bother him, he was noticeably annoyed at the weigh-ins of his reception—although, to be fair, a weight cut makes everyone not named Yves Edwards cranky.
He will hear more boos than most champions as he enters the Octagon for his fourth title defense on Saturday. During the fight, he will hear the crowd jeer if he works for takedowns or measures out Pettis. That could cause the champion to overextend himself while looking for a finish that isn’t there.
At a minimum, it has to have some effect on Henderson’s psyche and could play a role in the outcome.
Odds: Henderson (-130) favorite over Pettis (Even)
Lots of statistics, a regaling of skills and endless hype will be thrown at all of us leading up to the bouts at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. But once we’re finally past the point of ever having to hear Benson Henderson talk a…
Lots of statistics, a regaling of skills and endless hype will be thrown at all of us leading up to the bouts at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. But once we’re finally past the point of ever having to hear Benson Henderson talk about getting that “Pettis stain off of my soul” in the hype commercial, there are some interesting tidbits to watch out for during the event.
Guida’s mosh fighting, the parade of fighters that we have seen practically grow up in the ring and cage and some straight-up world-class skill will be on display. And at UFC 164, it will be worth taking note of each so you can sound like an MMA guru in front of your friends or at the bar.
The main event at UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis in Milwaukee, held at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, will feature one of the most anticipated rematches in MMA history when Benson Henderson looks to avenge his loss to Anthony Pettis.
The co-main event p…
The main event at UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis in Milwaukee, held at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, will feature one of the most anticipated rematches in MMA history when Benson Henderson looks to avenge his loss to Anthony Pettis.
The co-main event provides a bout hardcore fans have been arguing about for nearly a decade. And from the main card down through the prelims, the fights hold a wide range of veterans who all are well aware that losses at UFC 164 will place their careers in jeopardy, while a win will launch them into final pushes for a belt.
With all that in mind, some rather surprising statistics underscore the already notable gravity of the event. UFC 164 holds the world’s only non-finishing champion, the two most experienced active veterans in the game and some of the most active fighters in the world at any weight class.
*All stats compiled from FightMetric.com and Sherdog.com’s Fight Finder
Dan Henderson’s jiu-jitsu coach has decided that if his fighter cannot use testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for his bout at Ultimate Fight Night 32, then neither can his pending opponent, Vitor Belfort.
Ricardo Feliciano made his feelings on the …
Dan Henderson’s jiu-jitsu coach has decided that if his fighter cannot use testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for his bout at Ultimate Fight Night 32, then neither can his pending opponent, Vitor Belfort.
Ricardo Feliciano made his feelings on the matter clear, stating Belfort is essentially hiding in Brazil to avoid testing (h/t Tatame.com):
If Dan [Henderson] can’t use [TRT], so won’t Vitor! Vitor has already been caught in a doping exam and Dan hasn’t! Dan has been using it for a long time and I think he won’t have problems. I am sure Vitor won’t come to [Las] Vegas because here he won’t be permitted to use TRT as he has been using in fights in Brazil. That’s why he only fights there.
Feliciano is the latest to take jabs at Belfort’s TRT usage. Fans across the various internet boards and particular media outlets have been vocal about the Brazilian’s apparent “hiding” in Brazil. Meanwhile, Dana White assures fans that there is no hiding going on and that Belfort can fight anywhere.
The statement from Feliciano is a tad ironic, given that Henderson himself was famously on the hormone therapy. However, Henderson has never failed a drug test and has discontinued his usage leading up to the UFC 161 bout versus Rashad Evans.
Belfort, on the other hand, failed his Pride Fighting Championship: The Real Deal drug test in 2006. The substance was 4-hydroxytestosterone, an anabolic steroid.
With the lines blurred regarding testosterone replacement therapy, Belfort has situated himself in a gray area when it comes to what is unfair supplementation. It is clear that the Henderson camp believes the advantage is unfair categorically and will thus begin lobbying for Belfort to be forced to fight in Vegas.
One thing to keep in mind, Belfort has to be aware that he only has so many chances with fans. First, Cage Potato reported he turned down a fight with Tim Kennedy in Brazil because he did not want to give up his top contender spot. Then, MMA Fighting reported that Rashad and Vitor were unwilling to fight one another, given that they are training partners at Blackzilian.
At some point, Vitor does have to fight if he wants to keep his contendership. A fight in Vegas against Henderson does make sense, but Belfort may be left wishing he took a bout that was much easier (on paper) in Kennedy in Brazil.
The Syndicate Gym is an unassuming building when viewed from its entrance. It is nestled away behind business fronts and an open lot of rocks and dirt.