This past weekend, UFC Fight Night 67 gave MMA fans the much anticipated return of “The Natural Born Killer.” If anyone had doubts as to whether or not Carlos Condit was still a top-shelf welterweight, they were put to bed by a bone-breaking elbow strike that flattened Thiago Alves‘ nose.
After that violent display, we move to another Fight Night card with potential for more of the same. The main event originally boasted a light heavyweight contender’s bout between now-light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and Ryan Bader. But Cormier filled in for the suspended Jon Jones at UFC 187, weathering an early storm from Anthony Johnson to capture gold.
UFC Fight Night 68’s headliner pits two hard-hitters against each other: Dan Henderson vs. Tim Boetsch. The pair are a combined 3-9 in their last 12 fights.
And the co-main event should provide us with a pummeling good time when bruising heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Ben Rothwell collide.
Like most UFC Fight Nights, this card is far from stacked.
But it should offer some measure of action from a handful of compelling-enough fighters. So without further ado, let’s highlight the reasons why you need to tune your TV to Fox Sports 1 on Saturday night.
The Heavyweights Are Always Worth Watching
Fans of combat sports—be it MMA or boxing—have always been drawn to the men that weigh in north of 205 pounds. As a whole, we’ve always had a special fondness for larger-than-life characters like Mike Tyson or Brock Lesnar, which just doesn’t exist in the smaller weight classes. It’s science actually, and Isaac Newton nailed it with his second law: force equals mass times acceleration.
When big dudes are throwing leather with bad intentions, the result is often violent. No doubt Newton would be tuning in to see Derrick Lewis vs. Shawn Jordan and Mitrione vs. Rothwell in the co-main event. All four men have dished out and been on the receiving end of some fight finishing force.
Rothwell vs. Mitrione is a meaningful fight. They are ranked 10th and 12th in the division, and the winner would be in a position to call out one of the bigger fishes.
Rothwell got everyone’s attention in a big way when he flattened Alistair Overeem back in the fall of 2014. Mitrione is riding a three-fight win streak that includes victories over Lewis and Jordan along with Gabriel Gonzaga.
The last time either of these brutes was involved in a fight that went to a decision was back in 2011. Hopefully their penchant for giving and receiving punishment continues; may the best man remain standing.
As for Lewis vs. Jordan, while it is not nearly as meaningful, it may offer an even higher rate of return as far as barbarity is concerned. If these two aren’t overthinking things, don’t be shocked if this fight is over within the first frame.
The Lighter Weight Fighters Should Provide Some Excitement
The main card of Fight Night 68 is top-heavy with lighter weight fighters who are usually in the mood to entertain.
Alex Caceres and Francisco Rivera both bring 10 career MMA wins into their fight, and of those 10 wins, both have seven finishes. If Rivera is beating you, it’s usually by way of TKO, while Caceres tends to prefer the submission route. Both are in need of a big win; they are coming into this bout with two-fight losing streaks.
And then there’s Yancy Medeiros vs. Dustin Poirier.
Medeiros interestingly started out his career at light heavyweight, while Poirier has spent most of his at featherweight. Meeting at lightweight, Medeiros and Poirier combined have 23 finishes in 27 career victories.
Poirier was a top-five featherweight before getting taken out by Conor McGregor. He realized the weight cut to 145 was taking too much out of him, so he moved back to lightweight where he’d experienced some success earlier in his career. Provided he gets through Medeiros this weekend, Poirier could be poised to make a run in the talent-rich 155-pound division.
Is This The End of the Road For an MMA legend?
Dan Henderson is a Hall of Famer. At 44 years old though, he’s nearing the end of his storied career. He’s lost five out of his last six bouts, and he’s had less bounce in his step each time out. Henderson was thrashed by Daniel Cormier last May, which convinced him to move back to middleweight one last time.
He didn’t have much luck in his return bout; Gegard Mousasi quickly proved he was not only the more agile and accurate fighter, but he also happened to be 15 years younger. Henderson has weathered the storm better than most men his age, but no man can shuck off the hands of time forever.
But he seems to refuse to go quietly into that good night. On one hand, you have to love the No Country For Old Men grit from a guy who has one of the most impressive resumes the sport has ever seen.
But at what point does Dana White have a conversation with him like he did with Chuck Liddell a few years back?
If Henderson gets lit up and put on his back by Tim Boetsch, it might be time for that conversation.
Boetsch is not a world-beater, but he sure as heck didn’t pick up the moniker “The Barbarian” by playing patty cake inside the cage. He put a hurting on a young and athletic Brad Tavares last August. He may have lost four of his past six fights, but he is still quite dangerous.
That said, Henderson could very well still have enough fight left in him to outgun Boetsch. It was only last year Henderson was getting carved up by Shogun Rua in their rematch before bouncing back and blasting the Brazilian. And it’s not like Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida blew him out of the water in their light heavyweight affairs back in 2013.
Perhaps Boetsch is the perfect foil for Henderson: A bear of a man who will likely go toe-to-toe with him, providing Hendo the opportunity for one more highlight-reel knockout. Or maybe Henderson will get his lights turned off, and find himself back in discussions that center on whether or not he should once and for all retire.
No matter how things play out for Henderson, the chance to see a pioneer who’s been competing professionally in mixed martial arts since Bill Clinton’s presidency is reason enough to tune in.
Add in the power-punching heavyweight tilts and the action-packed lighter-weight affairs, and UFC Fight Night 68 provides enough reason to plop down on the couch and settle in for a tasty night of fisticuffs from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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