Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir met at UFC 169 in a bout that may have been a loser leaves town bout.
Overeem was the victor, and now Mir may be forced to leave town.
It was a solid 15 minutes of work from The Reem. He was in total control of the action…
Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir met at UFC 169 in a bout that may have been a loser leaves town bout.
Overeem was the victor, and now Mir may be forced to leave town.
It was a solid 15 minutes of work from The Reem. He was in total control of the action over all three rounds, and the former UFC Heavyweight Champion did not have enough offense to muster against Overeem.
In a division that is still lacking contenders, Overeem is not far off from being one. Who should the UFC put him against next? Here are three men the organization should take a gander at for The Reem.
Junior dos Santos
The No. 1-ranked heavyweight will not be getting another crack at the UFC Heavyweight Championship anytime soon. That is the danger of being brutalized in two bouts against the champion, Cain Velasquez.
There is one fight that has always had a lot of buzz around it, and now may be the best time to schedule it: Dos Santos vs. Overeem.
The two hard-hitting heavyweights are known for their striking. Dos Santos is one of the top boxers in the division, and Overeem is a former K-1 Grand Prix World Champion. The fight sells on paper, and it would be a fight that would excite the fans.
There are plenty of reasons to make the fight, but with Overeem just getting his first win since 2011 it may not be the best choice for Overeem to take.
“Bigfoot” Silva is coming off a no-contest to Mark Hunt. It was originally a majority draw, but after post-fight tests came back positive for elevated levels of testosterone it was changed. Silva was suspended for nine months.
Silva’s suspension will be up in the fall, and a rematch with Overeem makes a lot of sense.
Overeem dominated the early portions of their fight, but was unable to put Silva away. Bigfoot then mounted a comeback and knocked Overeem out. It was what put Silva into a title fight against Velasquez.
It is a rematch that could sell for two heavyweights outside the title picture. The UFC could put it as a co-main event on any card they wish. It is good business, and the winner would be in a position to challenge one of the higher ranked heavyweights later in 2014 or early 2015.
Brendan Schaub
If the UFC wants to build Overeem back up then this is the fight to make.
Schaub is ranked No. 15 in the heavyweight division, and he is riding back-to-back victories for the first time since 2011. Schaub has been honing his skills, game-planning better and working on becoming a threat in the division.
However, he still has a questionable chin. This would be a fight to test both fighters and elevate the winner into contendership status.
Overeem will test the striking defense and chin of Schaub. Schaub will push Overeem over the course of the fight testing his takedown defense and cardio. It is a perfect fight to see where both heavyweights are before giving them premier bouts.
That is why this is the fight to make.
There is no reason to rush Overeem into a fight against the No. 1-ranked fighter in the division. He and Schaub are still working on their fight game as they try to make a bid for being contenders. This fight would help the fighters and the division move forward in the right direction.
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the match…
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the matchup.
Whether or not a fight makes sense in the divisional scheme, timing and making sure both fighters stand to gain similar rewards are the most pressing issues that come to mind. Then, of course, there is the most important aspect of a potential fight: Will both competitors be willing to mix it up and put on a show?
The unfortunate part of the process comes when all of these criteria are met and the fight fails to deliver. That said, the UFC showcases far more exciting tilts than flat fights these days, which goes to show just how good Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are at their jobs.
The year that has passed gave the fighting faithful many memorable scraps and a cluster of potential “Fight of the Year” candidates. With the bar raised high and a break-neck schedule on deck for 2014, the action inside the Octagon will be rolling at a furious pace.
Title chases across multiple divisions are in full swing, and a host of hungry potential contenders are looking to find championship opportunities in the new year. In addition to things of golden implications, some fighters on the verge of breaking through will have opportunities to realize their potential in 2014.
In this Fantasy Matchmaker column, we start each month by delivering a small serving of potential bouts that make sense in the bigger picture. I’m also happy to report our 2013 run resulted in solid accuracy, as at least one of the three matchups offered in each month were actually booked.
Here is the first offering of 2014, and please continue to share your thoughts in the comments section and on Twitter.
Junior dos Santos vs. Brendan Schaub
Junior dos Santos’ career is in a strange position. The former heavyweight champion is one of the best fighters in the world at his weight class, but two prolonged drubbings at the hands of Cain Velasquez in less than a year have “Cigano” floating in limbo.
The Brazilian knockout machine is still hovering at the top of the divisional hierarchy, but with Velasquez holding the title, another shot at championship gold won’t materialize in the near future. Nevertheless, he is still going to need to get his career back on track and will need an opponent who makes sense in the bigger picture.
Enter Brendan Schaub.
While “The Hybrid” still has some legwork to do to be considered one of the division’s best, he has put together a solid winning streak and has looked impressive in doing so. His last outing resulted in a first-round submission victory over Matt Mitrione at UFC 165 in September, and that made the former NFL player successful in three of his last four showings.
While Schaub would likely need another notable win to break through into the next level of the division, such is the state of the heavyweight fold that a bout between the former titleholder andTUFalumnus makes good sense. While Schaub has earned back-to-back wins and “JDS” is coming off a loss, the difference in their recognized profiles would make for a reasonable swap.
The Colorado native is eager to reach the top of the heavyweight heap and dos Santos is intent on getting back in the win column following his loss to Velasquez at UFC 166 in October. Both fighters like to throw leather, and Schaub’s improved jiu-jitsu could serve to test the ground game we hear about but never see from dos Santos.
This potential bout would serve a solid purpose for both fighters and would be an interesting addition to a heavyweight division on the verge of going stale. The champion is sidelined with an injury for an undetermined amount of time, and Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne will most likely have to settle out this No. 1 contender situation before it’s all said and done. That leaves a ton of room and need for other matches to be made, and dos Santos vs. Schaub is a solid option.
Jim Miller vs. Michael Johnson
The lightweight division has remained one of the most consistent battlegrounds under the UFC banner for the past several years. A veritable shark tank of top competition exists at the 155-pound mark, and Jim Miller has been a staple in the upper tier of the weight class for longer than many of the next wave of prospects have been in the UFC.
That said, the New Jersey native has experienced mixed results while attempting to earn a shot at the lightweight title. He had a six-fight winning streak snapped by future champion Benson Henderson in Milwaukee and has gone 3-1 with one no-content in the time since.
Pat Healy defeated the AMA-trained fighter at UFC 159 in April, but the loss was overturned to a no-contest when the Strikeforce veteran failed his post-fight drug test. With the division heating up around him, the pressure was on the gritty vet to get back into the win column, which he did with an impressive armbar submission of Fabricio Camoes at UFC 168 in December.
With his victory last month in Las Vegas, Miller will head into his 2014 campaign on the right foot, but he is still a few steps away from landing on the title radar. In order to get where he intends to go, he will have to knock off another fighter with solid momentum, and that is where one of the division’s hottest prospects comes into play.
Michael Johnson may have started 2013 on a rough note, but he finished it in proper fashion. A defeat to RezaMadadi at UFC on Fuel TV 9 in April was the Blackzilians fighter’s second consecutive loss, but he bounced back by defeating established veterans Joe Lauzon and GleisonTibau.
In addition to picking up the highest-profile victories of his career, “The Menace” showed improvement in his striking. Although he came to the UFC reliant on his wrestling skills, his growth has brought him to a place where he’s more than capable of holding his own on the feet.
Following his victory over Tibau at UFC 168, Johnson has been vocal about his quest for the lightweight title. If that is where Johnson is looking to travel in 2014, then a bout with Miller would be a perfect fit.
It is also worth mentioning they both competed at UFC 168, and a similar timeline is a great tool for pairing fighters in future matchups.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Matt Brown
While the lightweight division has kept its title race rolling along, the welterweight division has set the standard that all weight classes should follow.
The 170-pound collective is blessed with the deepest upper tier on the UFC roster. Even when recently retired champion Georges St-Pierre was sidelined with injury for a year, a handful of potential contenders kept the title hunt moving. Now with GSP out of the picture and Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler set to decide the next champion at UFC 171 in March, the race to become the next contender has taken an intense turn.
While both Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown were recently scheduled for high-profile tilts of their own, both fighters suffered injuries that pushed them to the sidelines. “The Immortal” was slated to face former interim champion Carlos Condit in a highly anticipated tilt at UFC on Fox 9 in December, but herniated discs in his back forced him to withdraw.
“The Juggernaut” was also set to return to action against top competition, as he was lined up to face TarecSaffiedine in the main event of UFC Fight Night 34 this weekend in Singapore. Unfortunately for the Omaha native, a damaged hamstring suffered during training forced him out of the fight and out of the immediate title race.
Nevertheless, both Brown and Ellenberger will be looking to get back to contention in quick fashion once they return to health, and a matchup between them is a suitable fit. Whereas the Ohio native will bring a six-fight winning streak into his next bout, the 32-year-old has yet to score a victory over one of the elite fighters in the division. That being said, his run has been impressive, as Brown has finished five of six opponents over this stretch.
Things are a bit different on Ellenberger‘s side of the table. While the Team Reign fighter is one of the division’s best, he’s coming off a loss in his most recent outing. Rory MacDonald defeated him at UFC on Fox 8 in July in a fight that media and fans alike panned.
Ellenberger recognized his performance against the talented young Canadian was not up to snuff and has vowed to turn things around in his next showing. This circumstance, in addition to being forced out of the Saffiedine fight, will have him hungry when he makes his return to the Octagon. And this is what makes a fight with Brown appealing.
Both fighters go after it inside the cage, and with the race for a seat at the contender’s table in full swing, the urgency to get down to business should be there. Ellenberger has the potential to end a fight in one shot, while Brown’s hard-charging, full-throttle style is overwhelming. A fight between them would not only make for an exciting stylistic matchup but also make sense in the welterweight picture.
(Photo of the Year. Hands Down. Via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.)
Like our esteemed colleague George Shunick, I have never been happier to admit that I was completely wrong in all but writing off Alexander Gustafsson in the weeks leading up to his battle with Jon Jones at UFC 165. And like most of you, I’m still reeling from what was one of the greatest light heavyweight title fights in MMA History and quite possibly the fight of the year, which makes this Armchair Matchmaker piece all the more difficult to construct.
Did Gustafsson get screwed, like Phil Davis would have you believe? Should an immediate rematch be booked between the Swede and the champ? Follow us below to find out what lies in store for Jon Jones and the rest of UFC 165’s biggest winners.
Jon Jones: I might be in the minority here, but I’m going to suggest that the UFC should hold off on booking an immediate Jones/Gustafsson rematch. Here’s why:
(Photo of the Year. Hands Down. Via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.)
Like our esteemed colleague George Shunick, I have never been happier to admit that I was completely wrong in all but writing off Alexander Gustafsson in the weeks leading up to his battle with Jon Jones at UFC 165. And like most of you, I’m still reeling from what was one of the greatest light heavyweight title fights in MMA History and quite possibly the fight of the year, which makes this Armchair Matchmaker piece all the more difficult to construct.
Did Gustafsson get screwed, like Phil Davis would have you believe? Should an immediate rematch be booked between the Swede and the champ? Follow us below to find out what lies in store for Jon Jones and the rest of UFC 165′s biggest winners.
Jon Jones: I might be in the minority here, but I’m going to suggest that the UFC should hold off on booking an immediate Jones/Gustafsson rematch.
Was Jones vs. Gustafsson an unexpectedly close fight with a razor-thin, controversial decision? It’s an opinion largely dependent on how you scored round 2 and whether or not you thought Bones’ spinning elbow in round 4 completely nullified the 4 minute ass-whooping Gustafsson was dishing out until that point.
In either case, we can’t have the UFC going all Frankie Edgar everytime there’s an arguably close title fight. For one, it clogs up a division where there is at least one other contender lying in wait. Secondly, it doesn’t give the UFC a ton of time to emphasize/promote just how great the first fight was and reel in casual audiences for the rematch. There’s a reason Sonnen vs. Silva 2 was the biggest UFC pay-per-view of all time, and it’s not just because Chael talks some good trash. Our ADD-riddled culture may resent the idea of being treated to a good old fashioned slow burn at first, but giving this potential rematch some time to stew will most certainly pay off in the long run.
As for the champ? Feed him Glover Teixeira next like we were promised. The Brazilian’s slow, plodding offensive style plays in direct contrast with that of the Swede’s and should make for an arguably easier fight for Bones to control. Arguably. Jones gets another victory under his belt and some added footage for his highlight reel, the UFC gets some more time to hype up the rematch and us fans get the opportunity to pass along (stolen) videos of Jones/Gustafsson 1 to everyone on our contact lists. To steal a catchphrase from what feels like decades ago: Winning.
Alexander Gustafsson: Obviously, the above scenario we just presented would not be complete without including what’s next for “The Mauler,” whose Twitter account has likely imploded with new follower requests by now. But with Jones taking on Teixeira next (in our falsely-constructed reality), what’s left for the Swede? The answer is simple: A tune-up fight of sorts against a highly-ranked competitor whom Gustafsson should be able to best without too much trouble. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira immediately comes to mind.
After suffering back-to-back defeats in 2010-11, the Brazilian has had a minor surge as of late, defeating former champions Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans in consecutive bouts. Lil’ Nog will be coming off an injury but is skilled enough, well known enough and dangerous enough to keep this fight from entering squash match territory. That being said, Gustafsson’s size, speed and newly-showcased grappling prowess should prove too much for Nogueira. As with Jones, Gustafsson would secure another victory and some potential highlight footage over a solid opponent, as well as solidify his status as the top challenger to Bones’ crown.
Renan Barao: We don’t care if Barao has to show up to one of Dominick Cruz‘s physical therapy sessions and kick “The Dominator’s” cane out from under him; make this fight happen or strip Cruz’s title. Simple.
It’s not that Schaub’s toe-twitching D’arce of Matt Mitrione wasn’t impressive…it was. It’s that Schaub has already fought a decent percentage of the UFC’s heavyweight division and has either failed spectacularly against the upper echelon or triumphed spectacularly against the mid-to-low level guys. There was also his “cerebral” win over Lavar Johnson, but let’s just do like everyone else and forget that that fight ever happened. Of the options we’ve presented, the Palelei/Barry winner probably makes the most sense.
Francis Carmont: It’s a good thing that Ben Askren hasn’t been defeated yet (WAIT), because the day he is will be the day that Francis Carmont secures the #1 spot on the “Most Unimpressive Win Streak in MMA” list. His decision victory over Costa Philippousucked and was rightfully panned by fans and UFC presidents alike — it might have been the first fight in MMA history to feature more battle cries than actual shots landed. Putting aside the fact that Carmont’s previous two victories were controversial snoozefests at best and outright screwjobs at worst, we say Carmont should face Thales Leites next. Both men are ground-fighting aficionados with styles that are anything but fan-friendly, so bury these two on an undercard somewhere and give fans an opportunity to refresh their drinks.
Khabib Nurmagomedov: In direct contrast to Carmont, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s impressive win streak was only validated by his dominant victory on Saturday night. Khabib was given the ultimate grinder in Pat Healy, yet he managed to outgrind (phrasing), outgrapple, outgun and out-Hughes Healy for three straight rounds. A title shot may still be a bit presumptuous for the Russian badass given Josh Thomson and T.J. Grant‘s places in the pecking order, but a fight with fellow top contender Rafael Dos Anjos?!
In case you didn’t get the message, we like that idea. Alot.
Are any of these matchups intriguing you in the slightest, Potato Nation? And who do you think Saturday night’s other winners (Jury, Thomson, Makdessi) should face next?
The lone heavyweight bout from the UFC 165 main card was a tussle between The Ultimate Fighter castmates Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione.
It took less than a round for Schaub to end the action, stopping Mitrione with a choke.
What we’…
The lone heavyweight bout from the UFC 165 main card was a tussle between The Ultimate Fighter castmates Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione.
It took less than a round for Schaub to end the action, stopping Mitrione with a choke.
What we’ll remember about this fight
The fight was pretty short, but it was sweet, with some nice exchanges before it came to a close. But more than anything else, we’ll remember the finish—it was a nice one.
What we learned about Schaub
He came into the UFC as a striker but discovered that his jaw wasn’t up to the task. Last time out, he outwrestledLavar Johnson, and now he submitted Mitrione.
It seems “The Hybrid” has reinvented himself.
We’ll see how far his new approach takes him in the heavyweight division.
What we learned about Mitrione
His late start in mixed martial arts may preclude the possibility of Mitrione developing an advanced, all-around game.
While he is a fantastic athlete and dangerous striker, other fighters have figured him out, which is bad news.
He may have already peaked.
What’s next for Schaub
I’m not sure the win should earn Schaub a top-ranked opponent. I’d like to see him get another win under his belt first.
Maybe Todd Duffee would be available?
What’s next for Mitrione
It’s possible that he is given his release. If not, he’ll likely receive an opponent without much of a following.
(Ugh. MMA fans can be so annoying. / Photo via Getty)
If you count the UFC interim bantamweight championship as a real title, then there are two belts on the line tonight at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Neither fight should be particularly competitive, but hey, blowouts can be fun too. On tonight’s menu: Jon Jones looks to clinch the longest title-defense streak in UFC light-heavyweight history against Swedish striker Alexander Gustafsson, and Renan Barao could put another footnote in the history books with a second interim belt defense against Eddie Wineland. Plus, Sir Smoke-A-Lot tries to put a dent in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s undefeated record, and Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub will slug each other into unconsciousness. Hopefully.
Round-by-round results from the UFC 165 pay-per-view broadcast will be accumulating after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, courtesy of your old pal BG. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, drop your thoughts into the comments section, and swing by our Twitter page tonight for additional observations and yuk-yuks from CagePotato staff writer Matt Saccaro. Now let’s have some fun.
(Ugh. MMA fans can be so annoying. / Photo via Getty)
If you count the UFC interim bantamweight championship as a real title, then there are two belts on the line tonight at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Neither fight should be particularly competitive, but hey, blowouts can be fun too. On tonight’s menu: Jon Jones looks to clinch the longest title-defense streak in UFC light-heavyweight history against Swedish striker Alexander Gustafsson, and Renan Barao could put another footnote in the history books with a second interim belt defense against Eddie Wineland. Plus, Sir Smoke-A-Lot tries to put a dent in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s undefeated record, and Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub will slug each other into unconsciousness. Hopefully.
Round-by-round results from the UFC 165 pay-per-view broadcast will be accumulating after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, courtesy of your old pal BG. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, drop your thoughts into the comments section, and swing by our Twitter page tonight for additional observations and yuk-yuks from CagePotato staff writer Matt Saccaro. Now let’s have some fun.
UFC 165 prelim results:
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– Myles Jury def. Mike Ricci via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
– Wilson Reis def. Ivan Menjivar via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Stephen Thompson def. Chris Clements via KO, 1:27 of round 2
– Mitch Gagnon def. Dustin Kimura via technical submission (guillotine choke), 4:05 of round 1
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– John Makdessi def. Renee Forte via KO, 2:01 of round 1
– Michel Prazeres def. Jesse Ronson via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
– Alex Caceres def. Roland Delorme via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
– Daniel Omielanczuk def. Nandor Guelmino via KO, 3:18 of round 3
Welcome, friends. I know you’re as tired as I am of hearing about Alexander Gustafsson’s incredible one-inch height advantage, so let’s just bury that shit right here, right now. From this point forward, I am not going to mention the UFC’s bullshit hype-line about how Gustafsson is a threat because he’s tall. That’s my promise to you.
Pat Healy vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
…and if you think I’ll be spelling out Nurmy’s full name dozens of times in this liveblog, you’re out of your damn mind. He will be referred to here as KN. Joe Rogan is still baffled by KN’s wacky wig. Mike Goldberg calmly explains that it is a traditional Russian sheepskin hat, worn to pay tribute to KN’s heritage. This marks the first time that Goldberg has ever passed along useful information. I am savoring this moment.
Round 1: Healy opens with a long lead hook. And again, as KN backpedals. KN rushes in lands a couple punches and exits. Healy still chasing with that hook. He tries a straight right to the body. Healy shoots, KN brushes him off. KN throws a hook and tries to roll out but Healy follows him, pushing him against the fence. Healy is coming forward relentlessly, and KN is playing a more elusive game. KN tries the ol’ flying knee as Healy wades in. Healy gets tagged with an uppercut walking in and he’s cut under his left eye. Healy takes a break from his march forward, then resumes throwing punches. The fight is briefly paused when KN loses his mouthpiece. Healy comes in like a zombie, swinging wide right hands. KN throws another flying knee to stop Healy’s forward progress. A punch combo from Healy lands. KN gets a takedown, but Healy is quickly up. KN drags Healy down again, but Healy gets up, and KN pops him twice as the bell rings.
Is Healy’s nose broken again, or does it seriously always look like that?
Round 2: KN lands a counter hook then an uppercut, but Healy staggers him with a punch of his own. KN ties up with Healy and drags him to the mat. Probably his best strategy, because Healy’s pressure is constant on the feet. Healy gets up. KN with a leg kick. KN lands a hook then fires a leg kick. KN is doing all of this while moving backwards. Healy lands a good shot and KN is on the run. KN throws a flying knee that doesn’t come anywhere close to landing. KN drags Healy down again, but as usual Healy is on his feet before KN can capitalize on it. Healy lands a straight right on the button. As he moves forward, KN drops and grabs onto a leg. KN lands an uppercut from the clinch, and one on the exit. Healy gets some distance and fires his own punches, KN shoots for a double and dumps Healy on his back. KN with a couple of sharp strikes from the top, and the round ends.
KN not taking his stool between rounds two and three. Crazy Russians.
Round 3: Healy coming out walking forward and throwing heat. KN drops and shoots, Healy breaks free. Another clinch, Healy works in a knee to the body. KN scores a takedown, fires a hard left hand from the top. KN grinding down on Healy, sneaking in punches where he can. KN hanging on tight as Healy tries to get to his feet. Healy’s up. KN picks him up and fireman-carries him across the cage for a Hughes/Trigg-style slam. That’ll make an impression with the judges, for sure. KN gets some distance and starts upping the intensity of his ground and pound. KN works the ribs and ear of Healy. KN on Healy like glue as Healy tries to make it to his feet before the last bell. It ain’t happening; Healy looks exhausted. KN transitions to back control as the last horn sounds. KN jumps up on the cage and calls for his funny hat, celebrating before the decision is actually read. Let’s hope the judges don’t mess it up, because he’d look like a real asshole.
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Pat healy via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3). Nurmagomedov puts his hat on Joe Rogan, reminds everybody of his 21-0 record (5-0 in the UFC), and asks for a title shot. “I am legend,” he says, I think.
Costa Philippou vs. Francis Carmont
Man, the Air Canada Centre doesn’t mess around with their security staff. Philippou comes out to the cage escorted by five 400-pound bald white guys who are all a head taller than him.
Round 1: Front kick Carmont. Carmont throws another kick to the body. Philippou tries to return a kick of his own, but Carmont rips one into Philippou’s leg, then scores a takedown. Carmont has Philippou against the fence, hanging off his legs. Philippou tries to work to his feet, Carmont takes his back and starts throwing in punches from behind. Philippou rolls to escape the position, and Carmont is on top of him in guard. Carmont throws down an elbow. Philippou looks for an armbar, but Carmont defends. Philippou stuck on bottom. Philippou working his guard, looking to attack. Carmont is stifling him. Carmont gets some space and fires down a punch. Philippou looks for the armbar again but time runs out in the round. 10-9 Carmont.
Round 2: Carmont pops the jab. Carmont ducks under a punch from Philippou, shoots and puts Philippou on his back again. Carmont pushes Philippou against the fence. Carmont with a knee to the body, a punch from the top. Philippou tries to roll out, Carmont stays on him. Big John stands them up. Carmont drops to his knees and muscles Philippou to the mat. Carmont sneaks in a few punches to Philippou’s face. Carmont gets some space and tees off, then returns to the grind. He briefly transitions to mount, but Philippou establishes half guard as the round ends. Philippou looks utterly defeated, taking a moment before getting to his feet and shame-walking back to his corner. 10-9 Carmont.
Round 3: Philippou tries the jab. Carmont brushes him back with a wide head kick. Carmont shoots for the takedown and scores. Carmont grunting like a female tennis player as he swings down punches from above. Carmont lands a knee to the body. Philippou tries a guillotine choke from half-guard, and Carmont slips out with ease. The crowd boos, Carmont grunts and punches. Carmont just bullying Philippou now. Philippou stuck on his back, eating punches and elbows. Carmont gets mount and fires down a hammer-fist, and a double-hammerfist. The round ends. Carmont won every round. It wasn’t a particularly entertaining fight, but Carmont’s utter dominance of Philippou on the mat was very unexpected, and quite impressive.
Francis Carmont def. Costa Philippou via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26). No time for an interview. The fans are restless.
Brendan Schaub vs. Matt Mitrione
Really hoping for a quick KO here to speed things along. Mitrione does some walk-out karaoke, singing along to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” Chris Lytle showing support in Mitrione’s corner. Always great to see that guy. Schaub rips off two cartwheels when he gets into the Octagon. This ain’t Ultimate Tumbling, son.
Round 1: Mitrione doesn’t feel like touching gloves. He pops a straight left. Schaub lands a right hand that gets Mitrione’s attention. They clash in a striking exchange. Very tense opening. Schaub dashes forward with a long-distance straight right. Big right hand from Schaub. Mitrione tries a kick. He’s cut near his left eye, and that thing is bleedin’. Inside leg kick from Mitrione. Lead hook from Schaub. Schaub storms forward with power punches. Mitrione eats them and smiles. Schaub body slams him and Mitrione isn’t smiling anymore. Schaub wraps up Mitrione’s neck as Mitrione tries to stand up, and drags him to the mat with a D’arce choke. Schaub squeezes. He shouts to the ref that Mitrione is out, but Mitrione gives the ref the thumbs-up. Schaub squeezes harder and…yep, Mitrione is out. The ref stops the fight, and Mitrione lays there, limp.
Brendan Schaub def. Matt Mitrione via submission (D’arce choke), 4:06 of round 1. Schaub is elated with the win, and shouts out all his training partners and instructors, including Rener Gracie. He also invites Joe Rogan onto his podcast, The Fighter and the Kid.
Alright, time for some title fights…
Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland
Round 1: Wineland runs out to the center of the cage and refuses the glove tap. Wineland flashing his hands, going for the body. He misses some punches but lands a straight to Barao’s face. He’s trying to set the pace early. They clinch briefly against the fence, the crowd immediately starts booing, and Yves Lavigne immediately separates them. Attaboy. Barao slips to the mat after an exchange but pops right back up. Barao fires a turning side kick but hits air. Wineland trying to find his distance, throwing from long range, not hitting much. Barao charges in with a pair of hooks. Wineland brushes off a takedown attempt. Barao lands a punch combo. Both men land heavy in a punching exchange. Barao swings over Wineland’s head, and the round ends. Pretty close, but Wineland was the aggressor for most of it.
Round 2: Wineland power-walks out to the center once again. Barao with a wide haymaker, Wineland returns fire. Barao tries the turning side kick again and it’s a direct hit to Wineland’s jaw. Wineland falls backwards to the mat, and Barao swarms with punches. The ref is on top of it and stops the action before Wineland can take too much additional abuse.
Renan Barao def. Eddie Wineland via TKO, 0:35 of round 2. Well, it was competitive while it lasted, but when a Brazilian starts throws spinning shit at you, duck. Barao calls out Dominick Cruz, of course. I guess that’s a fight that needs to happen, but with Cruz out of action so long, it almost doesn’t seem fair.
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Jones’s shorts sport the Nike swoosh and Gatorade ‘G’. Your move, Condom Depot. He slaps his body a few times, just to feel what that would be like.
Round 1: Gustafsson and Jones both using their range right away, throwing out some long kicks and punches. Jones fires a kick up top. Jones with those inside kicks to the knees. Jones throws a quick superman punch. Jones returns a nice leg kick, and lands a left hand. Body kick Jones. Leg kick Gustafsson. Jones lands a hard right hand, Gustafsson counters. Gus throws a pair of straight punches, and Jones is cut open. Jones with the knee kick. Gustafsson lands more punches. They trade low kicks. Gustafsson reaches for a superman punch over the top. And Gustafsson becomes the first man to take Jones to the mat! He lets Jones up. Point proven. Jones spins for an elbow. Gustafsson gets poked in the eye, and Big John warns both of them for letting their fingers hang out. Jones rushes forward and lands his spinning elbow, trying to steal the round with a final burst of aggression. They clinch against the fence as time expires. Gustafsson may have earned that opening round, 10-9.
Round 2: Inside leg kick Jones. Gustafsson catches his leg when Jones tries it again and shoves him to the mat. Jones bounces back up, Gustafsson dodges out of the way as Jones tries to make him pay. Jones lands a lead elbow. Gustafsson with a left hook. Hard body kick from Jones, Gustafsson returns a knee. Jones misses a turning side kick. And again. Then he lands a high roundhouse. Jones stuffs a takedown. Gustafsson whips some sharp punches. Jones lands a lead hook. He whiffs an overhand right. Gustafsson catches a kick from Jones and dumps him, Jones springs up and tries to put together a takedown of his own but can’t do it. Inside leg kick Jones. Jones scores dead-on with a head kick but Gustafsson walks through it. Gustafsson scores with punches. That’s the round. It’s another close one, though the champ did a little better this time.
Jones’s right eyebrow looks ragged.
Round 3: Leg kick Jones. Gustafsson pops Jones with an uppercut as the champ rushes in. They clash shins as Jones tries another leg kick. Gustafsson stuffs a takedown. He lands jabs to the body and head. Knee kick Jones. Gustafsson landing from different angles. Leg kick from Jones is checked. Front kick to the body from Jones. Jones isn’t really putting strikes together…it’s one kick at a time, for the most part. Gustafsson lands another solid uppercut in a flurry. Jones brushes him back with a head kick. Jones with a hook and a knee-kick. Jones fires an axe kick and Gustafsson dodges. Body kick from Jones, who’s getting some momentum back. Knee kick and jab from Jones. Gustafsson advancing with punches, jabbing low and high. Jones stuffs a takedown attempt. Gustafsson catches a kick from Jones, but fails to dump him down this time. Jones dashes forward and lands his spinning elbow.1-2 from Gus. Jones lands a hard jab at the bell. Another close one. Gustafsson was doing great in the first half, but Jones did his best to even things out.
Round 4: Time to see what Gustafsson’s made of. He’s never seen the championship rounds before. 1-2 from Gustafsson lands. Leg kick Gustafsson. Jones tries a front kick to the body, a knee kick, a head-kick. Jones fires a right hand. Gustafsson catches his leg and tries to push him down, but can’t. Gustafsson lands hard with his right cross. Hard inside leg kick from Jones. Gus pops the jab. More inside leg kicks from Jones. Gustafsson stuffs a takedown. Gustafsson lands punches and a body kick. Jones dumps down, clinches, and pushes Gustafsson against the fence. Gustafsson slips out. Blood pouring down the right side of Jones’s face. Gustafsson lands his 1-2 cleanly, and stuffs a takedown. A turning side kick from Jones glances of Gus’s shoulder, but he lands a head kick. Gustafsson shakes out of a clinch. Gustafsson avoids one spinning elbow but gets hit cleanly with another, and he’s on his heels as Jones throws in a knee and pours on punches. Jones attacking ferociously, trying to seize the moment. Gustafsson still manages to defend a takedown, but he’s getting lit up as the round ends. Jones might have stolen that round after being outgunned for the first four minutes of it. Gustafsson is now as bloody as Jones is.
Round 5: Gustafsson with a jab to the body, leg kick from Jones. Gustafsson lands a right hand. Another jab downstairs. Jones lands a body kick. Leg kick Jones. Gustafsson lands hard with his uppercut as Jones tries to clinch. Jones slams a led elbow into Gustafsson’s face. Jones lands a counter-right. He takes Gustafsson down, and Gustafsson scoots back to the cage and stands. Gustafsson circles out of Jones’s grasp. Jones lands a head-kick point blank. Gustafsson takes it. He takes *another* head kick. And *again*. Kid’s got a chin, but this isn’t looking good for him. Jones with a body kick. Gustafsson is exhausted but still game. Jones lands another head kick. My God, Gustafsson’s poor brain. Gustafsson dropping his hands out of fatigue, and Jones fires the head-kick upstairs. Jones lands an uppercut. Gustafsson stuffs a takedown and eats a knee, and the round ends. That was clearly a 10-9 for Jones, but it might have been the only round where the score was obvious. Scorecards might be all over the map, here. Prepare for heartbreak.
Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson via unanimous decision (48-47 x 2, 49-46). The crowd boos. Jones says he got that dog-fight he was looking for. Jones says he got to test his warrior spirit, and that means more than getting the win. Gustafsson says he’s just starting his career, and he’ll come back stronger. Gustafsson and Jones shake hands and bow to each other in the cage. Jones needs help walking out of the cage and back to the locker room.
Maybe the only thing we didn’t expect out of this fight was a brutal war of attrition. Gustafsson performed far beyond our expectations, but the champ started taking control in round 4. No matter how the rounds were scored, or how they could have been scored, Jones won that fight. Gustafsson was the walking dead in round five, held up only by heart and will.
Take care, Potato Nation. We’ll talk more tomorrow.
It doesn’t take much to get excited about a heavyweight fight, considering more than 50 percent end via knockout. But factor in a little extra trash talk, and the excitement amplifies.
That recipe has made Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub one of the mo…
It doesn’t take much to get excited about a heavyweight fight, considering more than 50 percent end via knockout. But factor in a little extra trash talk, and the excitement amplifies.
That recipe has made Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub one of the more highly anticipated fights at UFC 165, even if both men sit outside the division’s Top 10.
After months of trash talk and bad blood boiling, the two are finally set to meet on Saturday’s main card, and we’ve compiled three reasons why everyone should be excited about their clash.
These two competed on the same season of The Ultimate Fighter, and both attempted careers in the NFL. Up until they were finally matched up, they had no reason to dislike each other—at least there was no clear reason.
Now, after Mitrione promised to be Schaub’s “Daddy” on Saturday night and Schaub made a jab about Mitrione‘s wife, each fighter is ready to silence the other. The lead-up to this fight has been harsh, and the outcome should live up to the hype.
2. Who doesn’t love a knockout?
While no one can guarantee this fight will end via knockout, a decision is not expected, at least from an odds standpoint. With a minus-210 line for the fight to be stopped inside three rounds, a decision victory seems unlikely.
And their questionable chins (especially Schaub’s) also make a decision outcome improbable.
They have combined for five professional losses, and four of those losses came by knockout. Schaub has lost three times by KO, while Mitrione has one decision loss and one TKO loss.
But in 15 combined wins, they have earned victory via decision just three times.
This fight seems destined for a knockout, considering how these two win most of their fights and the bad blood between them. Look for an early knockout in this contest.
3. What a win means for the victor
While the trash talk and strong likelihood for a knockout are the two most obvious reasons to get excited for this fight, there is a sneakier reason.
Neither Schaub nor Mitrione has ever been able to catapult himself into contention, and as a result, each fighter has become something of a gatekeeper. If an up-and-comer can beat Schaub or Mitrione, he can expect gainful employment with the UFC with the possibility for a run at the title.
But the TUFveterans have yet to break out of mediocrity and into the Top 10.
Schaub has had his opportunities, having faced Roy Nelson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ben Rothwell, while Mitrione has fought bigger names such as Nelson and Cheick Kongo.
Whoever wins on Saturday will take a step toward facing a bigger name, while the loser will likely realize his career limitations. With each fighter having eight UFC fights under his belt, it’s do or die as far as a run to the title is concerned.
Final Thoughts
Mitrione and Schaub have long been middle-tier heavyweights, beating lower-level fighters and losing to top-15 guys. The only reasons that this fight has any relevance or hype are due to the bad blood and high chance for a knockout. Factor in how badly each fighter needs a win in order to gain momentum in the division, and this is definitely a fight to be excited for.
Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir met at UFC 169 in a bout that may have been a loser leaves town bout.
