Tag: Breakdown

Fighting Words For UFC 205: Eddie Alvarez vs Conor McGregor

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Verbal Warfare

UFC 205 coverage is sponsored by MetroPCS

Fighting Words pits two of our Cage Potato writers against each other in a heated debate on big fight predictions.

Jonathan Salmon: It’s been a long time coming, but the UFC is finally in NYC. The biggest promotion in mixed martial arts is coming to Madison Square Garden and they’re bringing their biggest star in tow, the brash Conor McGregor. He’s set to face off against newly minted lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez in a battle that could be one of the best we’ve ever seen. As it stands, I’m thinking the Irishman gets the job done, but Lionel, you seem to have your own opinions on the match. Sounds like you’re ready to back the Philly kid in this one.

Lionel Harris-Spence: Philly all day! While this really is a pick’em fight, I’ve got a funny feeling Eddie Alvarez might be able to pull this one out. While Conor is definitely the more clean and pinpoint striker, I can’t help the feeling that if Eddie can just weather the storm he’ll end up grinding him out in victory. What do you think?

JS: Well while I think Eddie can certainly grind out a win here, Conor usually does extremely well with fighters of a similar height and build like Alvarez. Conor is the taller man with the longer reach and won’t have to work too hard to find Eddie’s chin. Couple that with some good body work and Conor has a great chance at picking up a victory here.

One thing I do want to touch on though is the cardio issue. Everyone is saying that Conor doesn’t have the cardio to go five hard rounds based on his performances against Nate Diaz. I think the fact that Conor was fighting a bigger opponent meant he was launching himself into a great deal of his strikes which means he was burning himself out. Diaz was also defensively slick causing Conor’s blows to either glance off of Diaz’s head or fall short completely. All of that is tiring. Couple that in with the fact that he didn’t have to do much road work to get his body weight down and you have a recipe for potentially suspect cardio. Because Alvarez is so easily hit, McGregor may not face the same cardio issues he had against Diaz.

 

LHS: Those are very good points but you have to remember that Eddie smothers you a lot more than Nate Diaz will. If Eddie gets Conor against the cage or on the ground then those cardio issues may start to show. Besides that you have to remember that Eddie hits hard. When he does clip Conor (which he will as Conor is hittable) or when he ground and pounds him, it won’t be like Chad Mendes, it will be worse.

You also have to remember that he just came off of fighting at 170 lbs. While 155 will definitely be a much more natural weight class for him, his body has been yo-yoing in weight and that could be a factor.

JS: Conor’s walk around weight is around 170 anyhow so it’s not like he packed on a tremendous amount of muscle anyhow. I see Conor playing things smart and fighting very long in this fight. The low line side kick to the knee, front snap kicks to the body, and long range punching will have Eddie reaching. Where Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez fell pray to Alvarez by either being too passive or overly aggressive, I see Conor using a more balanced game in this bout. One well placed left to the chin and we’ll likely see a new champion.

-The Pick: It won’t be easy, but expect Conor McGregor to shock Eddie Alvarez with his movement and power for a TKO victory in the second round.

LHS: Measured is fine but its harder in real life than theory. Alvarez is a gritty wrestler who’s tough as nails and use to fighting at the 155lb weight class. He seems look better and better since training back in philly, and with Mark Henry at the head, you’re going to see the best Eddie Alvarez yet.

-The pick: Eddie Alvarez by TKO: RD 3

What do you guys think? Who takes the lightweight title?

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UFC 205 Picks: Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson

Perhaps the most anticipated match on the UFC 205 fight card, besides the main event itself, is the showdown between welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and striking phenom Stephen Thompson. Both men are incredibly skilled with a number different methods of winning this fight. The style clash alone is worth the price of admission and it’s a fight that’s sure to be filled with a ton of strategy. Can Woodley impose his will on Thompson or will the karate expert utilize his slick striking to get the job done? Well, let’s dive in and look at the roads to victory for each man.

The post UFC 205 Picks: Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson appeared first on Cagepotato.

Perhaps the most anticipated match on the UFC 205 fight card, besides the main event itself, is the showdown between welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and striking phenom Stephen Thompson. Both men are incredibly skilled with a number different methods of winning this fight. The style clash alone is worth the price of admission and it’s a fight that’s sure to be filled with a ton of strategy. Can Woodley impose his will on Thompson or will the karate expert utilize his slick striking to get the job done? Well, let’s dive in and look at the roads to victory for each man.

After seizing the welterweight title in emphatic fashion against former champ Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley hasn’t exactly been given a warm reception. Whether that was due to the fact that Lawler was like the people’s champion or some of the comments made after his victory, Woodley is a man who deserves respect. His fight with Thompson is the first step to winning the fans over. In order to do that he’ll have to abandon an all out striking match. As of late Woodley has opted to contend most of his matches on the feet. While resorting to the heavy wrestling game he used in the past could seem a bit predictable, no one would argue about who the better wrestler is. Woodley has devastating striking to say the least but when his set ups and strikes aren’t landing he tends to go into a bit of a shell and only then resorts to wrestling. Rather than the calm explosive game that he’s used to, Woodley would be far better off getting right into Thompson’s face, punished the lead leg with kicks and always remain in a range where single and double leg takedowns are within reach. He’ll have to stalk Thompson and constantly threaten with quick strikes, feints, and level changes in order to corner the challenger.

Stephen Thompson should employ a game similar to that of his teammate Chris Weidman who faces a very similar opponent at UFC 205. Thompson should be judicious with his kicking game to begin with, utilizing his long jab in the outset. With the height advantage, Thompson can actually keep the champion on the end of his jab and utilize his counters and angle changes as needed. The cage could play both friend and foe to Thompson in this matchup. If Woodley decides to make this a grinding, grueling kind of match, a real possibility and smart game plan, Thompson could find himself up against the cage fending off takedowns and clinch strikes all night. Thompson could also use the fence to get back to his feet, but it’s better off that he remains in space and in the center of the cage. Thompson is going to want to apply pressure at range during this fight. Thompson has always been adept at throwing off his opponents rhythm with strikes made to irritate more than cause serious damage. If the champ decides to explode forward it’s a matter of Thompson conceding space and immediately moving back in to land a crushing counter. Keeping Woodley busy is key to winning this bout. If Thompson gives the champ time to think you can bet that Woodley will uncork a powerful right hand. Countering is Thompson’s bread and butter but it’s better for the challenger to provoke his prey, get him moving forward, then lunge in like a cobra.

There are so many ways this fight could play out. It’s in Woodley’s best interest to make this a slow and grinding kind of fight. Thompson will need to be in constant motion to better control range and stuff takedowns. Look for the challenger to use his striking acumen to keep Woodley guessing before landing fight ending punches in a thrilling match up. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by second round TKO.

Who will leave the welterweight champion at UFC 205?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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UFC 205 Picks: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz Will Be An Absolute War

Another fight on the undercard with main event potential, the battle between strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz is one that features a pretty interesting story line: who is the best strawweight in Poland?

The post UFC 205 Picks: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz Will Be An Absolute War appeared first on Cagepotato.

Another fight on the undercard with main event potential, the battle between strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz is one that features a pretty interesting story line: who is the best strawweight in Poland? According to UFC president Dana White, Jedrzejczyk specifically requested for Kowalkiewicz to be invited to the promotion to prove who is the better Polish fighter. If true it’s a great premise for a movie, but even without the intrigue the fight would be interesting enough to tune in for. Will Jedrzejczyk’s polished striking and camp switch make her look even more unbeatable or will Kowalkiewicz prove she’s the best in the world with her pressure and clinch game.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a competitor. She’s not one to shy away from a challenge, an attitude that has led her to UFC gold. But it wasn’t only her mental strength and will that got her to the top, but her sharp striking skills on the feet. Joanna doesn’t simply play counter striker or pressure fighter but a balanced game that works off her jab. She likes to enter with her jabs to understand and judge distance, but to also set up her combinations. Depending on how her opponent reacts she’ll either wait for a counter or pressure her opponent with a string of blistering strikes. Once her opponent is pressed up on the look for Joanna to continue to pressure while at the same time controlling her adversary’s movement with her own slick footwork.

But the champ has her hands full with challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz. While many may look at Joanna Jedrzejczyk as an unbeatable force, Karolina Kowalkiewicz has proven that she’s adept at creating chaos in her fights before choosing to enter the clinch and crush opponents with her inside game. Elbows, uppercuts, and knees come flying with no end in sight. Unlike some of the champ’s prior opponents, Kowalkiewicz has an insane gas tank and doesn’t appear to get discouraged if things aren’t going her way. In fact, she does seem to get stronger the longer the fight carries on. If she is able to put some doubt in the champ’s head and continues to work at a high pace in the championship rounds then we could be seeing the belt change hands.

This is a fun and closely contested match up featuring the best Polish MMA has to offer. While Karolina Kowalkiewcz may be a true threat to the champ, Jedrzejczyk’s use of footwork and angles may prove to be too much for Karolina to overcome. Look for Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win by decision.

Who will be strawweight champ after UFC 205?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

 

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UFC Fight Night 98 Prediction: Rafael dos Anjos vs Tony Ferguson

So the time has finally come. The biggest event of the year, in UFC history is just right around the corner. As in next weekend. This weekend however is a bit of a primer for what’s to come at UFC 205 on November 12. While it may not sport the craziest line up out there, […]

The post UFC Fight Night 98 Prediction: Rafael dos Anjos vs Tony Ferguson appeared first on Cagepotato.

So the time has finally come. The biggest event of the year, in UFC history is just right around the corner. As in next weekend. This weekend however is a bit of a primer for what’s to come at UFC 205 on November 12. While it may not sport the craziest line up out there, UFC Fight Night 98 features a compelling lightweight main event as former champion Rafael dos Anjos attempts to get back to his winning ways against the streaking Tony Ferguson.

Rafael dos Anjos was being touted as the most fearsome lightweight in the UFC when he was matched up against Eddie Alvarez this past July. Many picked Rafael to dominate, but was instead met with a vicious looping right hand that put him on roller skates and out of the fight. If Rafael wants to get back on track he’ll have to tangle with Tony Ferguson who is a difficult style match up for most everyone in the division. If Rafael dos Anjos hopes to get back to his winning ways he’ll have to employ a low kicking game as well as get the fight into the pocket. Ferguson’s come forward style will also leave him open for the takedown. When the fight hits the ground Rafael will have to deal with scrambles and will need to explode to stay on top. The best chance for victory would be for the former champion to pressure him up against the cage and beat up Ferguson’s legs and body.

On the other side of the equation, Tony Ferguson will want to keep his usually high paced style to confound dos Anjos. Ferguson utilizes his length well when he resorts to using his front kicks like a jab. As he pushes forward though he often finds himself with his back against the cage which could lead to a well timed takedown from the former champion. Ferguson’s ability to create chaos is a key factor in this match up as his high pace and funky techniques could force dos Anjos to get wild. The more wild the fight becomes, the more it favors Ferguson and it’ll be up to his opponent to either counter or suffer falling prey to a well timed cross or a scrambling submission.

All in all this is a pretty fun fight with no clear winner. Both are pressure fighters but employ their methods in different ways, dos Anjos being the patient stalker and Ferguson the wild ball of energy. Ultimately the wild pace that Ferguson puts on dos Anjos will prove to be the former champion’s undoing. Look for Tony Ferguson to secure a fight ending submission in the fourth round.

Who do you think will be victorious?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

 

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UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson

If you told me this time last year that Michael Bisping would be the UFC middleweight champion in 2016 I would have laughed in your face. Not that I thought Bisping was unskilled or not capable, simply that the odds weren’t in his favor. If you had said Dan Henderson would be contending for that same middleweight title in the same stretch of time I would have calmly taken a step back and, once at a safe enough distance, asked if you were off your meds. But that’s the beauty of MMA. There’s no script, nothing that is set in stone.

The post UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson appeared first on Cagepotato.

If you told me this time last year that Michael Bisping would be the UFC middleweight champion in 2016 I would have laughed in your face. Not that I thought Bisping was unskilled or not capable, simply that the odds weren’t in his favor. If you had said Dan Henderson would be contending for that same middleweight title in the same stretch of time I would have calmly taken a step back and, once at a safe enough distance, asked if you were off your meds. But that’s the beauty of MMA. There’s no script, nothing that is set in stone. Which is exactly why the match between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson at UFC 204 is intriguing despite the fact that both men are past their prime, or at least they’re supposed to be.

Michael Bisping has tasted the power in the right hand of Dan Henderson once before and the end result wasn’t a pretty sight. If the first British UFC champion once to remain king of the hill he’ll have to make some fundamental changes to his approach that wasn’t present in his first bout with Henderson. Firstly, Bisping is going to want to circle to his right away from the H-Bomb especially in those first five minutes. Bisping has a good jab that he can use both as a range finder and as a legitimate weapon. Once he finds the perfect distance, Bisping doesn’t hesitate to throw in combination and does so with damn good accuracy. Expect Bisping to dance on the outside and pick Henderson apart at distance.

Old man Dan Henderson is still in the thick of it despite being 46 years of age. But with age comes experience, something that Henderson has a ton of. But that won’t be enough to rely on in this battle against Bisping. Ideally Henderson is going to want to stay in Bisping’s face through the twenty-five minute bout in hopes of landing a big shot. The problem is that Henderson doesn’t have the chin that he used to and he’s going to have to wade through some fire to get to Bisping. In his most recent bouts there seems to be a lack of patience in Henderson’s game. He’s going to have to set up his strikes with a jab and should focus on throwing his heavy artillery to Bisping’s body rather than just head hunting the entire time. If Henderson can beat up Bisping to the body and put some doubt in the champ’s mind then he could likely uncork a devastating right hand up top to close the show.

Dan Henderson certainly has a chance to win in this fight, but it’s a puncher’s chance at best. Look For Michael Bisping to piece up Henderson on the feet before securing a second round TKO.

Do you think Dan Henderson has a shot at making history?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

The post UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson appeared first on Cagepotato.

UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson

If you told me this time last year that Michael Bisping would be the UFC middleweight champion in 2016 I would have laughed in your face. Not that I thought Bisping was unskilled or not capable, simply that the odds weren’t in his favor. If you had said Dan Henderson would be contending for that same middleweight title in the same stretch of time I would have calmly taken a step back and, once at a safe enough distance, asked if you were off your meds. But that’s the beauty of MMA. There’s no script, nothing that is set in stone.

The post UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson appeared first on Cagepotato.

If you told me this time last year that Michael Bisping would be the UFC middleweight champion in 2016 I would have laughed in your face. Not that I thought Bisping was unskilled or not capable, simply that the odds weren’t in his favor. If you had said Dan Henderson would be contending for that same middleweight title in the same stretch of time I would have calmly taken a step back and, once at a safe enough distance, asked if you were off your meds. But that’s the beauty of MMA. There’s no script, nothing that is set in stone. Which is exactly why the match between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson at UFC 204 is intriguing despite the fact that both men are past their prime, or at least they’re supposed to be.

Michael Bisping has tasted the power in the right hand of Dan Henderson once before and the end result wasn’t a pretty sight. If the first British UFC champion once to remain king of the hill he’ll have to make some fundamental changes to his approach that wasn’t present in his first bout with Henderson. Firstly, Bisping is going to want to circle to his right away from the H-Bomb especially in those first five minutes. Bisping has a good jab that he can use both as a range finder and as a legitimate weapon. Once he finds the perfect distance, Bisping doesn’t hesitate to throw in combination and does so with damn good accuracy. Expect Bisping to dance on the outside and pick Henderson apart at distance.

Old man Dan Henderson is still in the thick of it despite being 46 years of age. But with age comes experience, something that Henderson has a ton of. But that won’t be enough to rely on in this battle against Bisping. Ideally Henderson is going to want to stay in Bisping’s face through the twenty-five minute bout in hopes of landing a big shot. The problem is that Henderson doesn’t have the chin that he used to and he’s going to have to wade through some fire to get to Bisping. In his most recent bouts there seems to be a lack of patience in Henderson’s game. He’s going to have to set up his strikes with a jab and should focus on throwing his heavy artillery to Bisping’s body rather than just head hunting the entire time. If Henderson can beat up Bisping to the body and put some doubt in the champ’s mind then he could likely uncork a devastating right hand up top to close the show.

Dan Henderson certainly has a chance to win in this fight, but it’s a puncher’s chance at best. Look For Michael Bisping to piece up Henderson on the feet before securing a second round TKO.

Do you think Dan Henderson has a shot at making history?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

The post UFC 204 Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson appeared first on Cagepotato.