Alright, so here’s some late-night breaking news for you courtesy of USA Today’s John Morgan.After his split-decision win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 150, there was some curiosity as to when Benson Henderson would defend his belt against Nate Diaz. …
Alright, so here’s some late-night breaking news for you courtesy of USA Today’s John Morgan.
After his split-decision win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 150, there was some curiosity as to when Benson Henderson would defend his belt against Nate Diaz.
Well, it seems that everyone’s questions are answered. The final UFC on Fox card will be the home of the lightweight title defense. However, the card doesn’t end there. In the co-main event, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will face rising star Alexander Gustafsson in a light heavyweight bout.
The card will also feature BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald in welterweight action. Yes, the bout that was scrapped from UFC 152 due to a cut that MacDonald sustained in training. A fourth fight will be added to round out the main card.
The Henderson/Diaz bout will surely deliver, as both fighters are known for their exciting style and never-say-die attitude.
Diaz secured his shot at UFC on Fox 3 with a submission win over Jim Miller. Henderson’s two victories over Frankie Edgar have cemented him as the top fighter in the lightweight division.
The Rua/Gustafsson winner will likely be in line for a title shot sometime in 2013.
Many expect Gustafsson to present the biggest challenge to Jon Jones, as he has the physical gifts to match him and the boxing to keep him at bay.
“Shogun” was fighting for a No. 1 contendership at UFC on Fox 4, but he ultimately lost the opportunity to Lyoto Machida.
This card will likely be the most anticipated event on broadcast television since the UFC’s first foray on Fox which saw the heavyweight title change hands when Junior Dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez in the first round.
UFC on Fox 5 will take place on Dec. 8. The location is not yet known.
While it’s still pretty disappointing the fight isn’t happening at UFC 152, we’ll still get to see a bout between B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald.As MMAjunkie.com reported on Friday, the Penn-MacDonald matchup will take place on December 5th at …
While it’s still pretty disappointing the fight isn’t happening at UFC 152, we’ll still get to see a bout between B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald.
The major factor many are overlooking is that the report claims Penn and MacDonald will serve as the co-main event. Therefore, the UFC must have a major idea for a main event for the final UFC on Fox of 2012.
Initial reports were that Penn and MacDonald couldn’t agree on a fight date. Penn wanted to fight in Brazil at UFC 153 while MacDonald wanted to fight in Canada with teammate Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154, but it turns out neither will happen.
The best thing about this is that now the fight will be featured on national television and free for mostly everyone to see.
Also, one has to wonder what will headline UFC on Fox 5? Possibly the lightweight title fight between Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz or Lyoto Machida’s Light Heavyweight Championship shot?
December is still a long way off, but details will hopefully emerge soon. Either way, if healthy, we will get treated to B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald on December 5th.
When the UFC returned to Japan for the first time in a veritable lifetime back in February, they brought a solid card headlined by two of their elite lightweights. Then-champ Frankie Edgar, building a Rocky-calibre legacy with each surprise victory, ag…
When the UFC returned to Japan for the first time in a veritable lifetime back in February, they brought a solid card headlined by two of their elite lightweights. Then-champ Frankie Edgar, building a Rocky-calibre legacy with each surprise victory, against 155-pound man-mountain and top contender Benson Henderson.
The results didn’t disappoint.
The hulking Henderson stuck to his game plan of low kicks and trying to overpower the diminutive Edgar when it was practical, while Edgar worked on catching the kicks and returning fire. He occasionally broke things up with his (even now) underrated boxing from the outside, touching up the challenger whenever he could.
What ensued was a great five-round battle—one that pitted the raw power, athleticism and unpredictability of Henderson against the caginess, grit and gameness of an Edgar who many felt was just coming into his own.
At the end of the night it was Henderson who was declared the winner, though not without some controversy. Many felt Edgar had won (this writer included) and was mostly being victimized by the cuts and swelling that the sheer power of a man like Henderson often provides (this writer not included).
However Edgar’s championship legacy had been built on giving rematches, often to guys who didn’t deserve them.
He beat BJ Penn at UFC 112 and had to fight him again at UFC 118—a fight he won in one of the more underrated beatdowns of 2010.
He didn’t lose his title to Gray Maynard despite suffering through one of the worst rounds in combat sports history, but he had to fight him again anyway. He KO’d the burly challenger in the fourth round.
So, needless to say, he hadn’t been off the plane from Japan for long before he started campaigning for a rematch on the grounds of “what’s fair is fair.” He wasn’t wrong, and no matter how much Dana White wanted to turn him into the only relevant featherweight challenger left for his buzzsaw 145-pound champion, Edgar was having none of it.
The only thing left to see now is how the two will clash in the cage during their rematch. They’re a great stylistic matchup, with Edgar’s slick style and reliance on speed coming up against the wild strength and aggression of Henderson. When one factors in the subtle changes rematches often see, it’s hard to envision it not being a barnburner.
It’s unfortunate that Edgar lost the title just as his star was rising. He was winning fans over with his gutsy displays and incredible ability to survive the fight. Since being in the title picture, he’s never once been in a boring fight, and those are the guys that sell tickets when they’re on the marquee.
Benson Henderson will have a chance to cement himself as the next guy to do it with a win Saturday. He’s got the look, style and skill to draw eyes.
The intangibles of both men, coupled with the abilities each has in the cage, guarantees another epic clash. It’s only a matter of Monday morning quarterbacking as to whether or not it’s this one or the first one that was more epic.
B.J. Penn wanted to return to American Kickboxing Academy for a portion of his camp for his now-postponed fight against Rory MacDonald.
After getting the go-ahead from AKA coach Javier Mendez, Penn’s plans were quickly shot down when Jon Fitch told Men…
B.J. Penn wanted to return to American Kickboxing Academy for a portion of his camp for his now-postponed fight against Rory MacDonald.
After getting the go-ahead from AKA coach Javier Mendez, Penn’s plans were quickly shot down when Jon Fitch told Mendez he didn’t want any part of the idea. Fitch felt it was a bad idea because there was unfinished business between he and Penn after they fought to a controversial draw back at UFC 127.
Bleacher Report’s Rick Lee recently traveled to AKA to discuss the controversy with Mendez and Fitch.
“We didn’t see any value in it. We didn’t see any value in him coming to train here. If he comes here, he’s coming to have a training camp,” Fitch told Bleacher Report. “He’s not coming here to help anybody. He wouldn’t give back to us the way we would give back to him.”
Check out the exclusive comments in the above video. For more on the cast of characters that make up the American Kickboxing Academy, be sure to check out the new show Fight Factory, debuting August 15 on nuvoTV.
Be sure to sound off and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions.
“Did I stutter?! I said you’re a lay-and-pray artist who will NEVER beat Georges St. Pierre!”
It appears we weren’t the only ones surprised by Donald Cerrone’s recent comments for UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis. Anthony Pettis, who claims that he’s always been cordial with Cerrone in the past, recently attempted to make sense of the whole ordeal on “The MMA Hour.” Spoiler alert: He ain’t too keen on being told to “grab his purse and dance,” brother.
“It’s comedy. This is the first news to me that I have heard of Cerrone calling me out or that he has been calling me out or he wanted to fight me. I talked to my manager about it and I think it’s just him trying to get his name out there and trying to get to my spot, trying to get to that title shot, to try and get closer to a title shot. But, for him to do it the way it did, just pissed me of, so. If he gets passed with his fight with Melvin, and it makes sense for me to fight him and then fight for a title shot, then I will do it. If he is in my way, I will take him out. (I’m)100 -percent (pissed off). I am super pissed. I am not the guy to talk or the type of guy to be out there and talk shit about anyone, but for him to call me out and put it the way he put it, pretty much saying that I am afraid to fight somebody, that is never the case. I am never afraid to fight anybody. I want to be the best lightweight in the world and if he is in my way, then I will take him out too. He wanted to fight in August, I wasn’t going to be ready until October or November and I openly said it on Twitter and I openly said it everywhere, so it’s not a matter of me ducking him, if he wants to fight in November, let’s do it, I will gladly take that fight and I will be so motivated to whoop his ass.”
“Did I stutter?! I said you’re a lay-and-pray artist who will NEVER beat Georges St. Pierre!”
It appears we weren’t the only ones surprised by Donald Cerrone’s recent comments for UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis. Anthony Pettis, who claims that he’s always been cordial with Cerrone in the past, recently attempted to make sense of the whole ordeal on “The MMA Hour.” Spoiler alert: He ain’t too keen on being told to “grab his purse and dance,” brother.
“It’s comedy. This is the first news to me that I have heard of Cerrone calling me out or that he has been calling me out or he wanted to fight me. I talked to my manager about it and I think it’s just him trying to get his name out there and trying to get to my spot, trying to get to that title shot, to try and get closer to a title shot. But, for him to do it the way it did, just pissed me of, so. If he gets passed with his fight with Melvin, and it makes sense for me to fight him and then fight for a title shot, then I will do it. If he is in my way, I will take him out. (I’m)100 -percent (pissed off). I am super pissed. I am not the guy to talk or the type of guy to be out there and talk shit about anyone, but for him to call me out and put it the way he put it, pretty much saying that I am afraid to fight somebody, that is never the case. I am never afraid to fight anybody. I want to be the best lightweight in the world and if he is in my way, then I will take him out too. He wanted to fight in August, I wasn’t going to be ready until October or November and I openly said it on Twitter and I openly said it everywhere, so it’s not a matter of me ducking him, if he wants to fight in November, let’s do it, I will gladly take that fight and I will be so motivated to whoop his ass.”
I never understood the “What’d I do?” or “It’s not what was done but how it was done” responses to trash talk, which are essentially what we’re seeing here. What’d you do? You’re a professional fighter who is further up the totem pole than the other professional fighter below you. Cerrone wants a future title shot, and consecutive victories over Melvin Guillard and yourself can possibly give him one. He’s already booked to face Guillard, and is now trying to do whatever he needs to do to get a fight against you. If it offends you that much, maybe something can be arranged where you two can fight over it, possibly for some money, fame and a title shot against the …wait, never mind. Well played, Cerrone.
“Here at AKA, we’ve got fighters who come out to fight, fighters who will face anyone and don’t hide from any opponents. You’ve also got cowards out there like B.J. Penn who say they want to fight people, but then they run and hide.”
I guess that statement wasn’t direct enough for two, maybe three people on the planet, because Fitch was asked to clarify if he thought Penn was a coward. His response?
“Yes. He’s a coward. He wouldn’t be welcomed here.”
I bet Erick Silva finds your “running and hiding” comment hilarious, considering that’s exactly what you’re attempting to do with him. And not to create an MMA conspiracy theory on the spot, but if Fitch gets injured and has to pull out of his fight against Silva, I’m sure a lot of fans will think that the injury is “suspiciously convenient.” But who knows?
Does Fitch have a point about Penn waiting for Rory MacDonald instead of looking for another fight? Does anyone have any interest in watching Fitch and Penn do the man dance again? And how excited will you be about Cerrone vs. Pettis? Let us know, and keep it civil.
UFC 150 is fast approaching, headlined by a lightweight championship bout between Ben “Smooth” Henderson and Frankie “The Answer” Edgar with an assist from Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard. This big card has all eyes focused o…
UFC 150 is fast approaching, headlined by a lightweight championship bout between Ben “Smooth” Henderson and Frankie “The Answer” Edgar with an assist from Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard. This big card has all eyes focused on the UFC’s 155 lb. division.
If you are new to this whole MMA thing, though, hearing all these names get thrown around probably ranges from confusing to off-putting. That is where this article comes in.
Welcome to The Casual Fan’s Guide to the UFC’s Lightweight Division.
Here, you will get better acquainted with the rich history of what was, for a long time, the UFC’s smallest division. While it lacked size, it has traditionally made up for that with exciting fights and a wide variety of styles.
So ladies and gentlemen, get ready to have names named, things pointed out and references cited that will make you seem like a total smartypants around the water cooler.
Alright, so here’s some late-night breaking news for you courtesy of USA Today’s John Morgan.