As MMA fans we’ve become accustomed to news of fights being canceled. The very nature of the sport means that injuries are an ever-present threat, while strict drug-testing procedures, weight-cutting issues, illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances are all potential pitfalls that can take a fighter out of action at a moments notice. With the benefit
As MMA fans we’ve become accustomed to news of fights being canceled.
The very nature of the sport means that injuries are an ever-present threat, while strict drug-testing procedures, weight-cutting issues, illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances are all potential pitfalls that can take a fighter out of action at a moments notice.
With the benefit of hindsight, some scrapped fights have more historical significance than others though, and that will be the focus of this article as we look back at dream fights that fell through the cracks and left us wondering what might have been, cancellations that unexpectedly shifted the course of a division, and others that would sound the death knell for entire organizations.
Michael Bisping vs. Gegard Mousasi
2016 has been a remarkable year for Michael Bisping, who achieved a long-time dream by winning the UFC’s middleweight title, and he owes at least part of his success to two fortuitous fight cancellations.
It all began December of 2015 when it was announced that UFC Fight Night 93 in the UK would be headlined by Bisping and Gegard Mousasi, only for the match-up to be unexpectedly canceled just weeks later.
In a break from the norm this wasn’t due to illness or injury, but rather because the UFC had decided to pair Bisping up with Anderson Silva instead.
That would prove to be a fateful decision as despite almost being KO’d at the end of the third round, Bisping would rally to defeat the aging Brazilian legend by unanimous decision.
That appeared to be a career-defining moment for the Brit, but it led to even bigger things just a few months later when the UFC were forced to scrap a middleweight title rematch between Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman at UFC 199 due to an injury.
On just 10 days notice Bisping stepped in to rematch Rockhold for the title, and again ‘The Count’ seized the opportunity with both hands, shocking the world by KO’ing his rival in the opening round to become the new champion.
Now Bisping also has a successful title defense under his belt and is looking ahead to his next fight, but you can’t help but wonder how things would have played out if the UFC had stuck with their original plan to match him up with Mousasi instead of Silva back in February.
(After three days of utter confusion, Arianny finally realizes what ‘Chocolate Al’ means. Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle. For more photos from this album, click here.)
As you make plans for your various drunken 4th of July celebrations, keep in mind that some of the men you see tonight may be too injured to grill burgers on Monday. Appreciate their sacrifice, ladies and gentlemen. Now then, who wants to see some dudes get kicked in the head and choked unconcious?
Manning the liveblog duties for this evening is CagePotato rising star Jason Moles, who will be providing round-by-round updates from the UFC 132 pay-per-view card beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Travel past the jump to join our little liveblog party, and refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Thanks for being here, and may God bless this great nation.
(After three days of utter confusion, Arianny finally realizes what ‘Chocolate Al’ means. Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle. For more photos from this album, click here.)
As you make plans for your various drunken 4th of July celebrations, keep in mind that some of the men you see tonight may be too injured to grill burgers on Monday. Appreciate their sacrifice, ladies and gentlemen. Now then, who wants to see some dudes get kicked in the head and choked unconscious?
Manning the liveblog duties for this evening is CagePotato rising star Jason Moles, who will be providing round-by-round updates from the UFC 132 pay-per-view card beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Travel past the jump to join our little liveblog party, and refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Thanks for being here, and may God bless this great nation.
Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Both guys walk toward the octagon with intensity burning in their eyes. Condit fist bumps at least half a dozen fans on his along the way. Standard bro hugs, mouth guard and cup check after that.
Round 1
Both men play ring around the posie as they feel each other out. Kim is first to strike with a nice head kick followed up by a takedown. Not that it mattered because Condit swept to mouth and immediately followed up with a guillotine attempt. Kim escapes and they stand back up. Condit tries for a head kick and a superman punch off the fence like he’s related to Anthony Pettis or something. Both men trade a fed push kicks and jabs. Then WHAM! Condit buries his flying knee right in Kim’s grill and “It’s all over”!
Winner: Carlos Condit KO 2:02 Round 1.
Ryan Bader vs. Tito Ortiz
Tito comes out to ‘Not Afraid’ by Eminem, Mexi-American flag in tow. Joe and Goldie’s man crush on Tito is in full effect.
Round 1
Bader wastes no time in initiating contact after they touch gloves. From the get-go he is in full attack mode throwing mean kicks and jabs mixed with a few hooks. Tito looking for his opening. Bader continues his pursuit and throws a few and misses a few. Crowd starts chanting “TITO! TITO! TITO!” and like Hulkamaniacs back in the day firing up Hulk Hogan, Tito comes to life. HOLY Firecrackers!!! Tito drops Bader with a solid right punch and jumps on him to finish him with a guillotine. Bader chokes and betters everywhere are cursing everything under the sun.
Love Tito’s Shirt: I’m not the next SOMEBODY – I’m the first TITO ORTIZ.
Winner: Tito Ortiz Sub 3:05 Round 1
Dennis Siver vs. Matt Wiman
Too busy picking my jaw up off the floor to pay attention to what happened as these two guys walked out. Please accept my sincerest apologies.
Round 1
Both throw kicks early. Wiman telegraphs haymakers but utilizes nice leg kicks. Wiman shoots in for a takedown to no avail. A missed headkick by Wiman leads into a frenzied back and forth boxing match for a brief period of time. The fans like this stuff. Wiman gets Siver up against the fence and dirty boxes him a little before the German attempts a guillotine (hey, it worked for the other guys, right?) They take the center of the cage and Siver throws punches in bunches and misses just as many. Wiman gets a takedown and ends the round on top.
Round 2
Wiman shoots in for a takedown – against the fence they go. After what seems like an eternity of minimal action (ok, I’m exaggerating) the crowd boos loud enough and they step it up. Silver stuffs a takedown but then Wiman drops down and rolls him over, winds up in Siver’s guard. Wiman takes the remaining time left in the round to show you how to properly use your elbows in a fight. Siver gets cut so bad and the blood flows so freely he looks like a firework accident victim. Round ends with bloody Siver under confident Wiman.
Round 3
Silver stuffs another Wiman takedown then finally throws his patented spinning back kick but fails to land it. They trade punches then Wiman shoots in again and Siver stuffs it. Against the cage they go, both men working hard. They get back to the center of the cage and Siver clips Wiman and the round ends with Siver trying to sub Wiman.
Winner by Unanimous (29-28) Decision: Dennis Siver.
WTF!!!! What ******* fight were those judges watching?!
Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben
Chris Leben comes out looking like dipped his head in Kool-Aid. Sandstorm hits the speakers filling the crowd with nostalgia. Wanderlei looks calm and ready. I really don’t want to see either of these guys lose.
Round 1
Wand strikes first but it doesn’t even matter. Leben proved all the media types right and placed his big right hand on Silva’s glass chin and he goes down. Leben follows up with several well placed left hands and finishes him off in the first minute of the the very first round. Damn. We still love you Wanderlei.
Main Event: Bantamweight Championship Fight
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
As always, ‘California Love’ plays as Faber walks his way to the cage. No braids. No headbands. Just a smile and a pair of black gloves. Cruz is booed before his music even hits. He doesn’t seem to mind, though, the pep in his step never fades.
Round 1
No touch of gloves. I know, you’re really surprised by that one. Right out of the gate Cruz comes out swinging and lands first punch. Faber responds with a kick and moves about. The crowd cheers for Faber minus the Hulkamania effect as he ties up with Cruz. Faber lands short elbow on exit while Cruz lands a switch kick. Faber lands a sold punch – Cruz remains unfazed. Both men go back and forth, neither doing more than the other. Just as the bell sounds, Cruz gets Faber to the ground.
Round 2
Urijah stuffs a couple more takedowns before the pace picks up. These two move so much that Mazagatti can hardly move out of their way . Faber nails a body kick as Cruz answers with a combination of punches. Faber lands big right hand, big pop from he crowd. Cruz attempts a few Superman punches but doesn’t dazzle until he gets Urijah to the ground. Sadly, it didn’t last long. End of round 1.
Round 3
Dominick Cruz is relentlessly attacking Urijah Faber, though it seems he’s choosing his shots wisely. Faber eats a few punches before taking Cruz to the mat who then scrambles to his feet – but not without getting cracked with Faber’s elbows on the way out. Cruz shoots another takedown but Faber catches him and makes him pay for going to the proverbial well one too many times.
The No Longer JUST Championship Rounds
Round 4
Cruz starts off landing a solid right hand followed by a hook and a high kick. Not to be outdone, Faber drops the champ with a big right hand. He pops right back up and they both connect. The idiot fans then start booing as two men continue to go at it with everything they’ve got throwing several combos. Cruz shoots in again with history repeating itself.
Round 5
Dominick Crus comes out with a flying knee, attacking like a rabbid animal. Cruz gets takedown but Faber gets right up. A flying knee by Faber misses but he continues to pursue his arch nemesis. Cruz gets multiple takedowns while Faber scrambles to his feet almost immediately. Then Cruz turns it on and completely dominates Faber the rest of the round.
Winner: Unanimous Descision: Dominick Cruz.
Lloyd Irving gives Cruz his blue belt.
That’s it for me guys. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I have. Please celebrate your independence responsibly and don’t lose any fingers.
Launched by our buds at Heavy.com, Fight Day is the only live UFC pre-show on the Internet, and will be broadcasting from the MGM Grand Garden Arena starting at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. Today’s “UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber” installment features preview coverage, fight analysis, and interviews from an all-star cast of fighters and reporters, including Brian Stann, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Hottest Women in MMA Grand Prix nominee Megan Olivi, and former CagePotato editor turned shrimp-boat captain Ben “Stumpy” Fowlkes. If you’re around this afternoon, watch the show in the embedded Ustream player above, and keep the dial on CagePotato.com this evening for our UFC 132 liveblog!
Launched by our buds at Heavy.com, Fight Day is the only live UFC pre-show on the Internet, and will be broadcasting from the MGM Grand Garden Arena starting at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. Today’s “UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber“ installment features preview coverage, fight analysis, and interviews from an all-star cast of fighters and reporters, including Brian Stann, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Hottest Women in MMA Grand Prix nominee Megan Olivi, and former CagePotato editor turned shrimp-boat captain Ben “Stumpy” Fowlkes. If you’re around this afternoon, watch the show in the embedded Ustream player above, and keep the dial on CagePotato.com this evening for our UFC 132 liveblog!
Michael Bisping vs. Gegard Mousasi
