UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry marks the second mixed martial event this weekend after the latest installment of the Strikeforce Challengers series on Friday. It also caps the fifth consecutive weekend of action in a busy two-month slate of MMA.
What’s more, the frenzy isn’t over. Not with UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber cued up next weekend as the organization gets an early jump on the country’s 235th birthday.
Sure, the fourth edition of the UFC on Versus represents a bit of a lull in the all-you-can-eat (metaphorically) buffet of flying leather and straining joints, but who cares? You can’t have title fights and top contenders in the Octagon every weekend, at least not yet.
And as far as non-title, non-cusp-of-a-title fights go, this collection ain’t too shabby.
Or at least it wasn’t until Nate “The Great” Marquardt was a Saturday scratch from the main event.
Originally, Marquardt was supposed to tussle with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, but that bout had to be scrapped thanks to yet another injury suffered by Johnson. In related news, Rumble is apparently contemplating a nickname change to “Papier Mache.”
Weak jokes aside, the UFC scrambled its stable once Johnson’s rotator cuff proved to be a deal breaker and the contingency plan was a winner.
Rick “The Horror” Story is one of the most underrated yet dangerous fighters in the welterweight division. He doesn’t have the flashy appeal of Johnson, but he just might be a bigger challenge at 170 pounds. Alas, Story now faces Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman in a ho-hum confrontation.
However, all is not lost.
Pat “HD” Barry and Cheick Kongo now move their pairing of plus strikers to the main event. Additionally, Matt “Meathead” Mitrione is set to continue his assault on the heavyweight ranks and John “Doomsday” Howard takes his explosive act back to the cage in hopes of ending a two-fight losing streak.
As always, Bleacher Report will be cage-side and couch-side, bringing you live results and reactions every step of the way.
So join us on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT for the preliminary bouts on Facebook before the proceedings go live on Versus at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
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