UFC has moved an already booked fight into the main event slot of an upcoming show.
It was announced on Tuesday that the Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia fight that was originally booked for UFC 202 has been moved to the headline spot of the upcoming U…
UFC has moved an already booked fight into the main event slot of an upcoming show.
It was announced on Tuesday that the Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia fight that was originally booked for UFC 202 has been moved to the headline spot of the upcoming UFC On FOX 21 event.
UFC On FOX 21, now headlined by the highly-anticipated Condit-Maia fight, will take place on August 27th in Vancouver, B.C.
Carlos Condit-Demian Maia bout shifted from UFC 202 to main event of #UFCVancouver show Aug. 27.
The stark contrast between the two largest fight cards of the year is almost palpable. Just last weekend, fans witnessed the most marketed, expensive, and hyped billing that MMA has seen in its short history. Did it deliver? Most are saying no. Of course I’m referring to UFC 200, the mammoth-sized, stacked -to-the-brim event that
The stark contrast between the two largest fight cards of the year is almost palpable. Just last weekend, fans witnessed the most marketed, expensive, and hyped billing that MMA has seen in its short history. Did it deliver? Most are saying no.
Of course I’m referring to UFC 200, the mammoth-sized, stacked -to-the-brim event that had more lean mass than Brock Lesnar himself. Unfortunately, all that size didn’t transfer very effectively as the card fell flat on several fronts. Obviously the fights had star power and most turned out well, but for a card with expectations built through the roof, turning out ‘well’ just doesn’t cut it.
The second of the two aforementioned fight cards is UFC 202. The tip-top show is scheduled to touch down in Las Vegas this August, and recent promotional surges have been building the momentum on what looks to be one of the best fight cards ever made.
In this list, we dive into five critical reasons that UFC 202 will out-do it’s over-hyped sibling and steal the show with some of the most incredible and well-strategized matchmaking the fight game has ever seen.
There’s a superb streak of UFC events drawing ever closer, as the UFC 200 fight week featuring the Ultimate Fighter 23 finals and the UFC Fight Night 90 card is just over a week away. Following that crazy three day run of mixed martial arts action, we’ve got UFC 201 to look forward to, and
There’s a superb streak of UFC events drawing ever closer, as the UFC 200 fight week featuring the Ultimate Fighter 23 finals and the UFC Fight Night 90 card is just over a week away. Following that crazy three day run of mixed martial arts action, we’ve got UFC 201 to look forward to, and arguably the most exciting welterweight champion of all time will return on that card. Robbie Lawler takes on Tyron Woodley in the evening’s main event, topping off a stacked event from Atlanta, Georgia.
‘Ruthless’ is on a five fight streak and has been involved in two consecutive fights that could easily be called the greatest 170-pound title contests ever. A thrilling fight of the year against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 was followed by a five round was against Carlos Condit at UFC 195, both fights are widely regarded as the most entertaining in the division’s history. But at UFC 201 Lawler faces a very different kind of fighter.
Unlike MacDonald and Condit, ‘The Chosen One’ has explosive one punch power, but also not akin to those two, Woodley has never seen a fifth round. Although he’s come under some criticism for not being conservative enough with his energy in the past, ‘T-Wood’ has certainly shown he can get the job done early on in the fight. Speaking recently with FOX Sports, the next contender to the welterweight strap says he has many ways to win the fight:
“Even after I signed the bout agreement, it just didn’t seem real because you know how our sport is — crazy things happen,” he continued. But then when I got to training camp and I started watching film, I started breaking him down, it just got real, man.”
“I can take it to the ground and grapple, I can wrestle, I can obviously strike with creative strikes and get there really quickly, but in addition to that, I just feel I can brawl and bang as well so there’s multiple different ways I feel comfortable winning the fight.”
Although it’s become a trademark of sorts for Lawler to become embroiled in gruelling battles of attrition, Woodley says he is not averse to testing his mettle in that respect at UFC 201:
“I feel that Robbie has one way to be successful — get me to stand in front of him and go with a ‘who got the bigger balls contest?,’ “
“And even in that situation, I’ve got a pretty good chance of knocking him out.”
A first round TKO over Dong Hyun Kim in 2014 was followed by a narrow split decision against Kelvin Gastelum in early 2015. Woodley has been out for nearly 18 months now and has averaged one fight per year since his unanimous decision loss to ‘Red King’ at UFC 174. Perhaps a contest of testicular fortitude against a war torn veteran like Lawler is not the wisest idea?
I know it is easy to remember the latest “big fight” that went down and give it all the credit in the world, but this January encounter over the UFC wel…
Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit.
I know it is easy to remember the latest “big fight” that went down and give it all the credit in the world, but this January encounter over the UFC welterweight title was one to remember.
Lawler came out on top, earning a split decision vs. the former interim titleholder and WEC champion.
The fight was so close that many, including UFC president Dana White, felt Condit would leave with the title. When it was not to be, an immediate rematch was also heavily talked about.
UFC 195 took place January 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with 10,300 people packing the stands. The card generated at total gate of $2,003,986, with 300,000 pay-per-view buys.
Several other fights were worthy of consideration including T.J. Dillashaw-Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight belt, Anderson Silva-Michael Bisping and Holly Holm-Miesha Tate for the female bantamweight championship.
Carlos Condit will return to the cage after all.
After losing a thin decision to champion Robbie Lawler in January, the popular welterweight wondered aloud about his future in fighting.
“I’ve been at this for a long time; over 40 profession…
Carlos Condit will return to the cage after all.
After losing a thin decision to champion Robbie Lawler in January, the popular welterweight wondered aloud about his future in fighting.
“I’ve been at this for a long time; over 40 professional MMA fights,” Condit said after the fight, per TristenCritchfield of Sherdog. “I came up short tonight. I don’t know. Tonight was kind of a do-or-die moment for my career. I was all in. If I got that strap I was gonna keep fighting. If I didn’t, like I didn’t, I have to see if I can continue to do this. … I have to evaluate, but there’s a possibility that might be my last one. We’ll see.”
He never actually retired, but speculation arose over what, exactly, it might take to lure Condit (30-9) back to action. On Tuesday afternoon, per a report from MMA Junkie, fans got their answer when UFC officials announced Condit would face streaking jiu-jitsu hero Demian Maia (23-6). The two contenders will fight August 20 at UFC 202 in Las Vegas.
Condit hinted on his social media accounts Monday that an announcement might be coming.
Per usual, financial terms were not disclosed, but it’s a smart guess that the UFC showed Condit the proverbial money. The 32-year-old former interim welterweight champ is one of the most liked and respected MMA fighters in any weight class, thanks to a high-octane striking style, a proven track record of success and his relative ease in front of the lens or microphone.
More than that, though, you have to think they backed up the Brink’s truck to the Condit house because Maia is one heck of a risky matchup.
The 38-year-old Brazilian has won five consecutive matches over standouts like Matt Brown and Gunnar Nelson. While The Natural Born Killer appears to be on the outside looking into the current welterweight title picture—January’s fight, while epic, was his second loss to Lawler—Maia would almost certainly receive a title shot if he can get past Condit.
What’s more, Maia’s world-class jiu-jitsu—he is a fourth-degree black belt and boasts several international accolades—presents Condit with a stiff stylistic challenge. Although Condit is a strong and polished grappler, very few people in the world are on Maia’s level. Over the bout’s three scheduled rounds, it’s possible Maia could smother Condit for a decision.
This is not to say Condit has no shot; far from it. He will have a clear striking edge and is dangerous in all phases. And Condit certainly doesn’t appear to be the type to shy away from a challenge; quite the opposite.
But given his desire for big-time bouts, coupled with the implication that he can see the end of the line somewhere on the horizon, this date with Maia—occurring on a big pay-per-view but not in the main event—may pose more risk than reward.
Following his razor thin split-decision loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 195, it looked as if Carlos Condit might be hanging up his gloves for good. It was his second title fight loss in as many attempts (not counting his interim title win over Nick Diaz), the UFC didn’t appear to have any interest in booking an immediate rematch, and Condit himself had mentioned some concerns about the future of his mental well-being. When looking back on his illustrious 39-fight career, it just didn’t seem as if Condit had anything left to prove, which made his impending decision all the more sensible.
On the other hand, pride. If Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, and Fedor Emelianenko still believe that they have another title run left in them, then why shouldn’t Condit? A win over any top 10 opponent should put him right back in the running, so really, it’d be foolish for Condit *not* to put his health on the line for one last shot at glory, if you think about it.
Thankfully, it appears that this line of thinking is something that “The Natural Born Killer” can get behind, which is why he’s announced that he will in fact be returning to take on fellow top contender Demian Maia at UFC 202.
Following his razor thin split-decision loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 195, it looked as if Carlos Condit might be hanging up his gloves for good. It was his second title fight loss in as many attempts (not counting his interim title win over Nick Diaz), the UFC didn’t appear to have any interest in booking an immediate rematch, and Condit himself had mentioned some concerns about the future of his mental well-being. When looking back on his illustrious 39-fight career, it just didn’t seem as if Condit had anything left to prove, which made his impending decision all the more sensible.
On the other hand, pride. If Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, and Fedor Emelianenko still believe that they have another title run left in them, then why shouldn’t Condit? A win over any top 10 opponent should put him right back in the running, so really, it’d be foolish for Condit *not* to put his health on the line for one last shot at glory, if you think about it.
Thankfully, it appears that this line of thinking is something that “The Natural Born Killer” can get behind, which is why he’s announced that he will in fact be returning to take on fellow top contender Demian Maia at UFC 202.
Details after the jump.
At 38 years of age, Maia is basically living, breathing proof that the 32-year-old Condit may very well have his best years still ahead of him. The Brazilian grappling specialist is currently riding a six fight win streak including one-sided wins over Matt Brown, Gunnar Nelson, and Neil Magny and seems destined for a title shot himself, which makes a matchup with Condit damn near poetic if you ask me.
Prior to his loss at UFC 195, Condit put the whooping of a lifetime on Thiago Alves en route to a second round TKO finish and should make for a tough style matchup against Maia, with the winner undoubtedly being on the short list of challengers for the welterweight title. That is, unless the current crop of contenders (Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson) find themselves in a Hendricks-Lawler-MacDonald rematch love triangle like we’ve seen before. Which knowing our luck will almost certainly happen, for the MMA Gods are a cruel and unforgiving bunch.
In other welterweight fight booking news, Dong Hyun Kim has agreed to face Neil Magny at UFC 202 in a matchup that will likely earn the winner a chance to get slaughtered by the Condit-Maia winner, the Woodley-Lawler loser, or maybe Johny Hendricks. After seeing his 4-fight win streak halted by “T-Wood” (I’m sorry, “The Chosen One”) back in 2014, Kim bounced back last year with back-to-back wins over Josh Burkman and Dominic Waters. Magny is similarly enjoying a bit of a rebound streak, having scored three straight wins over Erick Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, and Hector Lombard since being dominated by Maia at UFC 190.
Fun fact: Magny has fought 11 times in the past 2 years, which is just two fights shy of what former P4P king Cain velasquez has fought in his entire UFC career.
UFC 202 goes down on August 20th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
![UFC-201[1]](http://cdn.lowkickmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/UFC-2011.jpg)
Carlos 