Tag: cub swanson

Fantasy Matchmaker: August 2013 Edition

There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with a natural ease, the majority of bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation where several aspects need to be evaluated on each side of the table before co…

There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.

While some fights come together with a natural ease, the majority of bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation where several aspects need to be evaluated on each side of the table before committing to the matchup.

Whether or not a fight makes sense in the greater scheme of the divisional picture, timing and making sure both fighters stand to gain similar rewards from the bout 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 the previously mentioned criteria are met and the fight fails to deliver. That being said, there are far more exciting tilts than flat fights these days under the UFC banner, which goes to show just how good Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are at their jobs.

With the UFC’s summer stretch well under way and an insanely stacked lineup already on the books for the rest of the year, 2013 is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s best. A handful of high profile championship fights are on the docket, and the majority of divisions have hotly contested title races in full swing.

That being said, there is still plenty of card space that needs to be filled before the year comes to an end, and here are a two scraps and one hypothetical the UFC should put together.

 

Cub Swanson vs. Frankie Edgar

Outside of Jose Aldo, who has ruled the 145-pound division for the past four years, there is no featherweight on a hotter roll right now than Cub Swanson. The Palm Springs native has been a monster as of late as the 29-year-old has collected victories in five consecutive showings.

“Killer Cub’s” most recent win came at the expense of surging contender Dennis Siver at UFC 162 as Swanson melted the German striker with a flurry to end their tilt in the middle of the final frame. The victory put Swanson on the doorstep for a title opportunity in the 145-pound division. With Aldo sidelined for the remainder of the year and the divisional hierarchy unclear at the present time, taking another fight before 2013 comes to an end would make perfect sense.

Another featherweight who is also pursuing another title opportunity is Frankie Edgar. The former lightweight champion picked up his first win at 145-pounds by defeating talented prospect Charles Oliveira in their tilt at UFC 162. Edgar’s boxing skills, relentless pressure and wrestling kept the Brazilian submission ace on his heels and played a large role in the Mark Henry-trained fighter picking up the win in Las Vegas.

After losing in his featherweight debut against Aldo and notching three consecutive losses, “The Answer’s” victory against Olilveira came at a crucial time for the former champion. By picking up the win at UFC 162, the Toms River-native immediately put himself back into the title hunt and will guarantee his next showing will come against a top-ranked contender.

With both Swanson and Edgar hovering around a title shot in a crowded upper-tier, a potential bout between the two would not only make sense on their respective trajectories, but it would also serve to thin out a crowded title race.

Not to mention a scrap between Swanson and Edgar would be guaranteed electricity. Swanson’s confidence in his abilities have never been higher—which have made an already dangerous skill set all the more so. The southern Californian possesses a unique blend of speed, power and unpredictability, which would make for an exciting stylistic matchup when paired against Edgar’s elusiveness and ability to push the pace of a fight.

Edgar has found success throughout his career by implementing an attack largely based on movement. The 30-year-old New Jerseyan gets in and out on his opposition, landing punches and kicks and circling out before the damage can be reciprocated. 

Nevertheless, there a few major variables that could have an impact on the potential matchup. Swanson has proven knockout ability in his hands, feet and knees, and with Edgar’s pension for taking heavy damage inside the cage, the former 155-pound champion could find himself in a world of trouble against Swanson. 

In recent showings against George Roop, Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver, the Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter has provided brutal examples of his power and solidified the notion that if he hits you clean, you are going down.

For Edgar, the X-factor in a potential bout with Swanson would be his ability to take the WEC veteran deep into the fight. Over the past three years, Edgar has shown a unique talent for turning up his output and intensity the longer the fight goes on. If the former featherweight title challenger could keep a high pace throughout the affair and pour it on late, the biggest opportunities to be found in the fight could very well open up for him. 

 

Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler

Since the dawning of the Zuffa era, the welterweight division has consistently remained as one of the most talent-rich collections under the UFC banner. And there are no signs of that status changing any time soon.

With a dominant champion the likes of 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre sitting atop the division and a pack of hungry contenders scrapping their way up the divisional ladder, the current state in the welterweight ranks is nothing short of electric.

GSP is set to put his title on the line in November when he squares-off with heavy-handed contender Johny Hendricks at UFC 167. With the championship picture locked up for the time being, the race for the next opportunity will heat up in the interim. Two fighters who are eager to reach the top of the mountain at 170-pounds are Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler.

The 24-year-old Canadian has been on a tear since entering the UFC fold back in January of 2010. “Ares” has steamrolled the opposition inside the Octagon as he’s collected victories in six of his seven showings on the sport’s biggest stage. His only setback during this run—and of his professional career—came against former interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 115 back in June of 2010.

Since his loss to Condit, MacDonald has put together five consecutive victories. Those wins have come over some of the division’s best, including his most recent outing where he picked up a unanimous decision victory over Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fox 8.

While his performance against Ellenberger may not have created a swell of momentum with the UFC fanbase, MacDonald’s track record alone has him within striking distance of a title shot.

Where the Tri-Star product is coming into his own as a mixed martial artist, Robbie Lawler is finding a second wind in his career. The 31-year-old Iowa native was once heralded as “the next big thing” in MMA as his professional career got smoking hot start. “Ruthless” amassed a highlight reel of brutal knockouts by winning his first seven showings before running into difficulty inside the Octagon.

Over a year stretch from 2003-2004, Lawler dropped three out of four showings inside the Octagon, and he lost his spot on the UFC roster. The heavy-handed veteran would go on to experience mixed results over the next eight years. He competed in numerous promotions around the globe, and while he picked up a title in the now-defunct Elite XC, his failure to find consistency under the Strikeforce banner gave the appearance Lawler was on the downturn of his career.

That naysaying would come to an abrupt halt when Lawler made his long-awaited return at UFC 157 in February. The former Strikeforce title challenger knocked out perennial contender Josh Koscheck in the first round of their tilt and made a thundering statement in the process.

Lawler made a bold re-introduction to the UFC fanbase against Koscheck in Anaheim. Then he turned up the volume even more in his next showing at UFC on Fox 8. After having two opponents pull out of the bout due to injury, the Power MMA-trained fighter stepped in to the cage to face short-notice replacement Bobby Voelker in Seattle. 

In what was perhaps the most dominant showing of his career, Lawler battered the scrappy veteran from pillar to post before knocking out Voelker with a vicious head kick in the second frame. The victory launched Lawler into the title conversation and will guarantee that his fight will come against a top-ranked opponent.

With similar circumstances on the line, a potential bout between MacDonald and Lawler would make for a great fit in the welterweight divisional race. MacDonald has proven to be a difficult riddle to solve inside of the cage as his wrestling and transitions are among the best in the weight class. The Montreal transplant is also showcasing a continuously improving striking game in his most recent outings, and that will only serve to strengthen the other areas of his game.

In a potential bout with Lawler, MacDonald’s jab and wrestling could make all the difference. Much like “The Juggernaut,” Lawler relies on his devastating power to put away the opposition, and if MacDonald could keep Lawler out of rhythm the way he did Ellenberger in Seattle, another notch in the victory column could be his for the taking.

For Lawler, a bout with MacDonald would carry tremendous upside. The Firas Zahabi-trained fighter is widely recognized to be at the forefront of the “next wave in MMA” and a Lawler victory would put his stock through the roof. In addition to the knockout power in his hands, Lawler‘s striking attack has become incredibly dangerous as his kicking game as evolved. 

Where Ellenberger wasn’t successful in putting leather on MacDonald’s chin, other fighters in the past have been able to put their hands on the prospect turned contender. If Lawler is able to put his power on MacDonald, he certainly has the capability to put the young Canadian to sleep.

 

Josh Koscheck vs. Ben Askren

While hypothetical matchups between fighters who compete in different organizations are typically useless fodder, there may be something to build off of where Ben Askren is concerned.

The former two-time NCAA Div. I National Champion wrestler recently completed the final bout on his Bellator contract and could possibly be heading into the UFC fold in the near future. While there is absolutely nothing concrete that would point to this being an option Askren is actively seeking, things could very well emerge in the free-agent market once he is free and clear from his contract with the Los Angeles-based promotion.

If the situation ultimately works where the former Olympian does end up joining the UFC roster, a potential matchup with Josh Koscheck would be a perfect introduction. Despite being a reigning and defending Bellator champion, the idea of “Funky” joining the UFC and skipping to the front of the crowded line in the welterweight division seems like a stretch.

The 29-year-old is only 12 fights into his professional career, and while he is currently undefeated, none of the opponents Askren has faced were ranked in the top 15. Where his accomplishments have been solid throughout the opening stage of his career, the Duke Roufus-trained fighter has been plagued with criticisms regarding his fighting style and the caliber of talent he has faced inside of the cage.

Competing in the UFC welterweight division would put Askren in a position where he would consistently face the best 170-pound fighters in the world, and a great introduction to the Octagon would be Josh Koscheck.

The former title challenger has been a staple in the upper tier of the welterweight division for the past five years. While “Kos” is currently on a two-fight skid and experiencing a rare rough patch in his career, there is no doubting that he’s earned his place as one of top 170-pound fighters on the planet.

The 35-year-old was originally slated to return to action against Demian Maia at UFC 163 before an injury forced him to withdraw from the bout. With no return date set, and the Brazilian submission ace verbally agreeing to face Jake Shields at a yet-to-be-named event later this year, Koscheck could very well be on the sidelines until the end of the year.

A potential matchup between the two fighters could be solid. Askren has put every opponent he’s faced on the canvas at will, and Koscheck would present some interesting problems in that category. The only fighter who has been able to put Koscheck on the mat in recent years is St-Pierre, and even then, it wasn’t a place the welterweight king could keep him for long.

If Koscheck was able to neutralize Askren‘s wrestling attack, it would be interesting to see how the Bellator champion would handle the TUF alum’s power and ability to keep a high pace into the later rounds of a fight. 

Then again, Askren could very well be out of action for a year or more as he deals with his contract situation at Bellator. He could re-sign with the organization and take any possibility of this matchup off the table.

But this is fantasy matchmaking, and Koscheck vs. Askren would be a suitable pairing if the UFC came to be the next place the Missouri University wrestling standout called home.

 

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Frankie Edgar vs. Cub Swanson Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson are two of the finest featherweights in the world, and it is quite possible that the two top-five-ranked fighters will square off sometime in the near future.
The bout almost happened at The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale, and…

Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson are two of the finest featherweights in the world, and it is quite possible that the two top-five-ranked fighters will square off sometime in the near future.

The bout almost happened at The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale, and Edgar knows Swanson may be next up for him.

Edgar picked up his first win since October of 2011 at UFC 162. He controlled the action against youngster Charles Oliveira and picked up the decision. Currently, Edgar sits at the No. 3 spot in the division. One more win should thrust him back in to a title fight.

Swanson is also eager for a title shot, and it makes sense after a five-fight win streak with four TKO/KO finishes. George Roop, Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier and Dennis Siver have all fallen to the rising featherweight, who comes in at No. 4 in the division. His last loss came at the hands of the No. 2-ranked Ricardo Lamas.

If Lamas is awarded the next title shot, Edgar vs. Swanson is the fight to make. It is a fan-friendly and divisionally important bout. This is how the potential title eliminator breaks down.

Begin Slideshow

7 Fighters Poised to Make a Run in the UFC’s Featherweight Division

The Featherweight division is something of a Wild West in the UFC. There is a stand-tall sheriff in Jose Aldo who is beginning to show signs of slowing down. Chan Sung Jung is the new man from out of state who wants his badge (or in this case the belt)…

The Featherweight division is something of a Wild West in the UFC. There is a stand-tall sheriff in Jose Aldo who is beginning to show signs of slowing down. Chan Sung Jung is the new man from out of state who wants his badge (or in this case the belt). Behind him are a pack of blood-thirsty outlaws and hired guns who are hellbent on taking what is his.

While well-known gun slingers like Cub Swanson, Frankie Edgar, Ricardo Lamas and Nick Lentz have their sights set on a short-term title shot, there is a brood of young guns hoping to build momentum for their respective run toward the title.

Each contender has the desire to make it to a top-contender bout. Each holds an array of fundamental tools to succeed. The question is, who can string together the right kind of victories and survive the murderers row that is the featherweight division?

Begin Slideshow

The UFC Featherweight Ladder: Ranking the Division’s Worthiest Challengers


(Pictured above: Barry “Sarge” Walters, the schizophrenic UFC fan who can often be seen running onstage during weigh-ins. / Photo via Getty)

By Alex Giardini

Unlike some weight-classes we won’t mention, the UFC featherweight division is currently loaded with dangerous contenders, any of whom could be a serious title threat in the future. At UFC 163 (August 3rd, Rio de Janeiro), divisional ruler Jose Aldo defends his belt against fan-favorite “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, and as long as an immediate rematch isn’t booked, there will be a feeding frenzy of 145-pounders trying to make their case as the true #1 contender. So who’s worthiest of the next title shot? Let’s put aside the phony UFC rankings and business-driven matchmaking and break down where each featherweight contender really stands in the pecking order.

Ricardo Lamas
(Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)

Lamas is the obvious frontrunner to be next in line but why is he being overlooked? The fact that Jung got the title shot over Lamas after their UFC 162 bout was canceled raised a few eyebrows in itself. Lamas, who hasn’t lost in over a year and a half, has blazed through his opposition in the UFC including men on this very list, and despite demolishing a highly-regarded prospect in Erik Koch back in January, his immediate future is unknown. Lamas has a devastating striking game — including some flashy and dangerous kicks — which gives him the ability to end a fight at any moment. He also has a quality wrestling pedigree, alongside a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, and his ground and pound is murderous; woe to anyone in the division who finds himself on the bottom of Lamas’s elbows and power strikes.

It’s relatively strange that Lamas was skipped in line for a title shot but maybe the UFC feels Aldo’s competition should come with a familiar face. Jung is no slouch, finishing all three opponents thus far in his UFC career, but Lamas also has an equally impressive track record in the company – undefeated in four bouts with previous stoppages over Cub Swanson, Matt Grice. The aforementioned brutalizing of Erik Koch was a major reason to include him in the mix, as Koch was a highly-touted prospect who was already paving his way to a title shot before he met “The Bully.” With Conor McGregor and Cub Swanson angling for fights with the Chicago-born fighter, his next move is up in the air, but maybe he’ll remain quiet until August 3rd to see how everything pans out.


(Pictured above: Barry “Sarge” Walters, the schizophrenic UFC fan who can often be seen running onstage during weigh-ins. / Photo via Getty)

By Alex Giardini

Unlike some weight-classes we won’t mention, the UFC featherweight division is currently loaded with dangerous contenders, any of whom could be a serious title threat in the future. At UFC 163 (August 3rd, Rio de Janeiro), divisional ruler Jose Aldo defends his belt against fan-favorite “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, and as long as an immediate rematch isn’t booked, there will be a feeding frenzy of 145-pounders trying to make their case as the true #1 contender. So who’s worthiest of the next title shot? Let’s put aside the phony UFC rankings and business-driven matchmaking and break down where each featherweight contender really stands in the pecking order.

Ricardo Lamas

(Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)

Lamas is the obvious frontrunner to be next in line but why is he being overlooked? The fact that Jung got the title shot over Lamas after their UFC 162 bout was canceled raised a few eyebrows in itself. Lamas, who hasn’t lost in over a year and a half, has blazed through his opposition in the UFC including men on this very list, and despite demolishing a highly-regarded prospect in Erik Koch back in January, his immediate future is unknown. Lamas has a devastating striking game — including some flashy and dangerous kicks — which gives him the ability to end a fight at any moment. He also has a quality wrestling pedigree, alongside a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, and his ground and pound is murderous; woe to anyone in the division who finds himself on the bottom of Lamas’s elbows and power strikes.

It’s relatively strange that Lamas was skipped in line for a title shot but maybe the UFC feels Aldo’s competition should come with a familiar face. Jung is no slouch, finishing all three opponents thus far in his UFC career, but Lamas also has an equally impressive track record in the company – undefeated in four bouts with previous stoppages over Cub Swanson, Matt Grice. The aforementioned brutalizing of Erik Koch was a major reason to include him in the mix, as Koch was a highly-touted prospect who was already paving his way to a title shot before he met “The Bully.” With Conor McGregor and Cub Swanson angling for fights with the Chicago-born fighter, his next move is up in the air, but maybe he’ll remain quiet until August 3rd to see how everything pans out.

Frankie Edgar

(Photo via Getty Images)

Maybe because Edgar is used to razor-thin decisions, it was fitting that the New Jersey native pushed Aldo as far as anyone did thus far in the Brazilian’s championship tenure. Physically incapable of having a boring fight, Edgar’s pace was a bad matchup for Aldo in the championship rounds – he was able to take the champion down and didn’t look as exhausted as his counterpart. With his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 162, Edgar looks posed to make a statement in the division, and it’s inevitable he will get another shot. His star power is unmatched for a non title-holder, and it would be a crime if Edgar is slotted anywhere under the co-main event for the rest of his career. Edgar’s drop to featherweight grants the division with an abundance of possibilities for his next bout – putting him against almost any other 145′er (especially the ones on this list) would create a compelling, main event-worthy fight.

Edgar’s gutsy first performance against “Scarface” has already earned him the right to a future rematch, and the thought of Edgar scrapping with Jung is salivating, to say the least. The dilemma that surrounds Edgar is that he may catch the ‘‘Urijah Faber title bug,’’ which means he constantly gets title shots no matter how the previous ones pan out. But Edgar was a champion not too long ago, and although Faber was the kingpin of the WEC in his time, Edgar was ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter when he was the champion, not only due to his skill but his immeasurable heart — plus, he actually won some of those UFC title fights.

Since Edgar is currently 1-1 in the featherweight division, he’ll need another fight to climb back up the ladder. With a victory, he can leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s title-bound yet again.

Cub Swanson

(Photo via MMAFighting)

The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based featherweight has had an inspiring comeback in the UFC — after going 5-3 in the WEC, he lost his UFC debut against Ricardo Lamas but has summoned a storm in the division with five straight victories including stoppages over Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver. Greg Jackson thinks Swanson did enough with his win two weeks ago to be granted the next title shot, and his dazzling displays of speed, intensity and work on the ground has proven he could hang with the best in the division. Swanson would like to get revenge from that bitter WEC 41 fight against Aldo back in 2009 when he got his eye socket obliterated by the current champion’s knees. He would be keen on showcasing his abilities against Aldo for real this time, since seven seconds was surely not enough.

Even if you’re a firm doubter of the MMA math, Swanson lost to three men in the past three years that are on this list — Ricardo Lamas, Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo — so it might be tough for the UFC brass to jump him ahead of any of those guys. But Swanson looks like a fighter reborn, and if it’s true that “everyone has a comeback,” Swanson’s previous efforts should not weigh so heavily on the possibility of a title fight. Out of six UFC appearances, he has earned two Knockout of the Night bonuses as well as a Fight of the Night honors two weeks ago. He could be the fan favorite for a title shot this very moment and if the UFC feels he has done enough to earn the shot, we’d have no problem with that.

Swanson’s name has been appearing besides the likes Ricardo Lamas, Frankie Edgar and the winner of Aldo/Jung when talking about his next fight. His recent track record has him at the forefront above anyone on this list in terms of accomplishments, but beating a fellow contender before a championship fight would really set his position in stone.

The winner of Clay Guida vs. Chad Mendes at UFC 164

(Photo via MMAWeekly)

The self-proclaimed ”Big Lebowski addict” has always been an exciting fighter to watch, but Guida’s recent performances against Anthony Pettis and Hatsui Hioki were tedious displays of lay and pray, and have turned him from crowd-favorite to UFC villain. Minus the highly entertaining war he had with Benson Henderson, we’ve seen Guida borrow a play off Kalib Starnes’ clipboard against Gray Maynard in a main event snoozer last summer, and play it extremely safe during Anthony Pettis’s Octagon debut in mid-2011.

Guida is still a recognizable figure among fans and is extremely likable, but the notion of him never being in a boring fight is somewhat gone. He has been in the UFC since 2006, and his 10-7 record sums it up if you’re wondering why he has never earned a title shot.

Meanwhile, Chad Mendes’s capability to finish fights and his constant title aspirations could have him on the top of anyone’s list. Mendes had some good moments against Jose Aldo during their title fight at UFC 142, but the way “Scarface” ended the fight left no doubt in anyone’s mind. Still, it was a learning experience that was necessary for his career, and Mendes has bounced back a better fighter because of it.

Mendes’s immense frame is an undeniable advantage at featherweight, since he is one of the stronger competitors in the division. If there is one criticism about Mendes, it’s that his past three fights were mismatches – against Cody McKenzie, Yaotzin Meza and Darren Elkins – even though that last one looked good on paper. Still, you can’t argue with the results: three first-round finishes in his last three fights, none of them exceeding two minutes.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if the winner of this fight waited until beating one more opponent before they are thrown in the Octagon against the champion. That is unless one of them scores a spectacular knockout. Unfortunately, this fight has “decision” written all over it.

Nik Lentz

(Photo via Getty Images)

It’s safe to say that Lentz had some forgettable performances in his UFC career. (It’s pretty hard to remember fights that you slept through.) Lentz has been in the UFC for a little under four years now, facing some stiff competition from the likes of Evan Dunham, Charles Oliveira and Mark Bocek. Although he dropped a decision to Bocek, suffered a doctor’s stoppage TKO against Dunham, and was illegally kneed in the head by Oliveira, which turned that original loss into a no contest, Lentz had won Fight of The Night honors for two of those fights and is currently riding a three-fight win streak. Lentz’s comfort with his striking game is increasing, and he’s slowly losing his reputation as the boring wrestler who grinds you against the cage for fifteen minutes. He has the style and will to have a good fight with almost anyone in the division. In terms of his popularity, that’s what needs work — in twelve fights, he’s never appeared on the main card…not even once. His fights have been televised, but it’s the boring ones really stuck out — his stinker with Andre Winner could have been the worst televised fight in the world since William Shatner against a demonic Ninja Turtle. But if Lentz can sneak onto a main card fight and secure another finish, that could have the UFC brass (and the fans) finally considering him as a worthy challenger.

Final Analysis…

The only reasonable decision that could be made is if Lamas gets a title shot against the winner of Aldo vs. “Zombie.” The lack of attention being paid to him as of late in terms of getting recognition and another fight is odd, but perhaps the UFC already has him penciled in to be the next challenger.

Edgar and Swanson should trade blows, not only because it would be one hell of an exciting clash, but it would also facilitate the next steps at the top of the division — have the winners of those respective fights meet, and why not have the losers meet as well? Either way, the UFC’s business model will probably decide this for us, and although they have let us down before, any of these three men would be worth considering. The champion has already beaten three out of these six men (ironically, those three men would probably be the managerial and fan favorites for Aldo’s hypothetical next title defense) but if Jung walks away with the upset in Rio de Janeiro in convincing fashion, the division is blown wide open with numerous possibilities. Whether or not Aldo retains his title or “Zombie” shocks the world, there won’t be boring or unimpressive matchmaking when it comes to title bouts for quite a while at one-forty-five.

Demetrious Johnson, Cub Swanson and the Stepping Right Hook

A principle which I have stressed numerous times before is that power punching is not about strength, fast twitch muscles or magic. It can be—there are certainly punchers who have become legendary and were known to be strong (George For…

A principle which I have stressed numerous times before is that power punching is not about strength, fast twitch muscles or magic. It can be—there are certainly punchers who have become legendary and were known to be strong (George Foreman) or explosive (Mike Tyson), but there is a third category of fighter about whom many commentators are reduced to saying “I just don’t know where the power comes from.”

Men like Alexis Arguello—”The Explosive Thin Man”—and to an extent gangly punchers like Anderson Silva and Tommy Hearns. What Arguello, Hearns and almost every other great puncher, regardless of his strength—including Mike Tyson and George Foreman—understands is that punching power is not about the power of the individual but rather about the relationship between the individual and his opponent.

Punching hard is not about swinging harder or gritting your teeth until they hurt; it is about creating collisions. Quick example? Lyoto Machida is joint fourth in the UFC for most knockdowns—but he rarely plants guys on their rears while they’re standing in front of him or running away from him. What Machida does is to move back, move back and move back until his opponent is frustrated and moves forward looking to catch up with him, only to find out that he’s now standing still and they are running straight onto a fist.

If an opponent is charging blindly, all a fighter needs to do is jam his arm out with his fist in front of his opponent’s face and he can count on him to do some damage to himself. Of course, some timing and anticipation is needed because most professional fighters know better than to run in wildly. Chris Leben vs. Anderson Silva is another great example of this principle in action; Silva convinced Leben to chase him, and by moving his head while punching, he caught Leben‘s head and was able to avoid his opponent hard coming forward.

To put it another way—someone crashing into the side of your car will mess you up, as will a head-to-head collision. Throwing straight punches as you chase an opponent or hooks as they move in the same direction as the hook is moving is the equivalent of chasing someone along the freeway, both cars going at top speed, and trying to rear-end them.

What does all this have to do with Demetrious Johnson, someone many folks would classify as a decided non-puncher? Well, Johnson has hurt opponents, and while he is far from a knockout artist (lack of weight and lack of commitment to punches often hurt him here), he certainly knows how to make collisions.

One of the neatest tricks in Johnson’s considerably deep bag is his stepping right. This was on full display against John Dodson. Johnson would move straight towards Dodson and Dodson would circle out towards Johnson’s right. Johnson would step forward with his right foot, changing into a southpaw stance, and throw a right hook or jab out at a 45 degree angle as Dodson walked into it.

The punch worked a treat for much of the fight and caused Dodson to bring his hand up to check his face several times throughout the bout. Even toughened pros get hurt when they don’t see a punch coming. 

Now, the stepping right hook is a pretty rare punch to see. A few fighters have been great at it and have used it wonderfully in conjunction with cutting off the ring, such as George Foreman against Ken Norton.

Another wonderful example was in one of Anderson Silva’s rare moments of boxing offense against the hapless Forrest Griffin. Pressuring Griffin back as soon as he circled out to Silva’s right, Silva stepped out into a southpaw stance more at 90 degrees than Johnson’s 45 and clocked Griffin as he moved toward the hook.

Gif of that here.

The punch sent Griffin to the mat and he never truly recovered, as Silva stood in front of him, baiting his slow punches and countering with impunity. Silva doesn’t go on offense with his boxing often—he’s a very cautious fighter in that regard—but this was a wonderful example of what he can do against an opponent with no hope of hurting him. 

At UFC 162, we were treated to another beautiful instance of this in action, as it was applied by the creative and always entertaining Cub Swanson. This time, it was not preceded by a forward attack to force the opponent into circling out as a defensive move. Rather, it occurred off of a lazy sidestep to the left, which then accelerated into a step into southpaw stance with a right hook as Dennis Siver circled around into it.

Gif of that here.

For more sublime examples of the stepping right hook, Ray Sefo is always a good bet. The so-called Balmoral Special that he pulled off against Jerome Le Banner was a switch-step right hook, but his knockout of Melvin Manhoef was a pure stepping hook, and a beaut at that.

So why don’t we see more fighters attempting this sort of stepping hook?

The danger comes if the opponent is not going to concede ground or circle out. Then a fighter has just collapsed his stance and stepped in with little to defend him as he squares up to the opponent. Because Mighty Mouse uses this so frequently, he was caught a couple of times by John Dodson as he stepped in, and one instance resulted in him being put on the seat of his pants.

Pick up Jack’s eBooks Advanced Striking and Elementary Striking at his blog, Fights Gone By.

Jack can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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UFC Featherweight Division Dealing with Positive Problems

When 2012 came to a close, the UFC featherweight division looked poised for a breakthrough. While other deep and talented divisions receive a greater share of the spotlight, the 145-pound ranks appeared ready to make their presence felt in 2013, and th…

When 2012 came to a close, the UFC featherweight division looked poised for a breakthrough.

While other deep and talented divisions receive a greater share of the spotlight, the 145-pound ranks appeared ready to make their presence felt in 2013, and through the first six months of the year, that is exactly what they’ve done.

Once an under-appreciated collection of talent brought over from the WEC, the featherweight division has become a can’t-miss attraction under the UFC banner, with standout performances being delivered on the regular.

In addition to champion Jose Aldo, Cub Swanson, Ricardo Lamas, Chad Mendes and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar have created a heated divisional race—one that is on pace with the heavy hitters the likes of the light heavyweight and welterweight divisions.

But with heavily contested title action, there are going to be bumps along the way, and while the featherweight division certainly has a few problems at hand, they are not necessary bad problems to have.

 

A Crowded Title Picture

In the aftermath of UFC on Fox 6 back in January, Ricardo Lamas appeared to be sitting on the front porch of a title shot. “The Bully” had just obliterated former No. 1 contender Erik Koch during their tilt in Chicago and the lane for Lamas to get a championship opportunity seemed wide open.

That was until top lightweight Anthony Pettis decided to make a play for Aldo’s title, and Lamas suddenly found himself skipped over and waiting on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, the 30-year-old Chicagoland native wasn’t looking to wait around for things to get more convoluted and decided to take a bout against Chan Sung Jung at UFC 162. The bout was slated as the co-main event on a stacked summer card and had the potential to determine the next contender to the featherweight crown.

But just as Pettis threw a wrench in the works in January, “Showtime” would ultimately create another wrinkle in Lamas’ plan in late June. After a knee injury forced Pettis out of the bout with Aldo at UFC 163, the UFC tapped Jung to replace the former WEC lightweight champion, leaving Lamas without a dance partner in Las Vegas.

This series of events is undoubtedly frustrating for Lamas, as he is once again pushed aside and without a clear road to contention in front of him. 

In the mean time, Cub Swanson has absolutely made the most of the disorder in the championship tier. While the Aldo/Pettis/Lamas shuffle has been going on, “Killer Cub” has picked up two impressive victories and boosted his running total to five straight.

The Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter has never looked better. The Palm Springs native has finished four out of the five opponents he has faced over this stretch, and the fashion in which he is putting people away has bolstered his momentum with the UFC’s passionate fanbase.

While his last defeat came at the hands of Lamas at UFC on Fox 1 back in November of 2011, the current version of machine Swanson is displaying, mixed with the time Lamas has been out of the picture, has the 29-year-old running neck and neck for title contention.

As far as title talk is concerned, it would be impossible to talk about top featherweights without mentioning Chad Mendes. The Team Alpha Male staple has been on a blistering tear since suffering a setback against Aldo at UFC 142 in January of 2012. “Money” has put away three consecutive opponents, all by way of brutal stoppage, and every one of them coming early in the opening frame.

The reignited momentum certainly has Mendes charging back towards the featherweight throne, but he is set to face a serious test in his next bout against Clay Guida at UFC 164. Should the former No. 1 contender defeat “The Carpenter” and pick up his fourth consecutive victory, he will join Swanson and Lamas as fighters who have a strong argument for a title opportunity.

The final position in the upper tier at the current time belongs to Frankie Edgar. The former lightweight champion recently put the brakes on a three-fight losing skid by edging out Charles Oliveira at UFC 162 in Las Vegas.

While “The Answer” was most certainly in a slump, the caliber of opponent he suffered losses to did minimal damage to his stock. Coming up short in two hard fought losses to Benson Henderson and coming out on the wrong end of a split-decision against Jose Aldo kept Edgar’s pulse alive in his new weight class.

Nevertheless, the Toms River native earning the victory over Oliveira thrust him directly back into the title picture at 145 pounds. The biggest downside where Edgar is concerned will come in his recent track record in comparison to his peers in the title race. Having one win in his last four outings will make it difficult for him to stick around on the title radar should he suffer another setback.

That being said, the four fighters waiting for a title shot will make things interesting in the second half of the year in the featherweight division. Any way the UFC decides to divvy up the matchups will work, because all carry tremendous weight and each fighter has heavy stakes on the line. 

 

The Variables

Having so much talent in the upper tier would be enough for the featherweight division to stand on, but what makes the weight class so interesting is the collection of fighters scrapping their way towards the top.

Former lightweight Nik Lentz has found new life in his career at 145 pounds and is quickly making his way up to elite status as a featherweight. “The Carny” has collected three consecutive victories since making the drop down to 145 pounds and has looked impressive in doing so. While Lentz has been shunned in the past for his grinding style and failure to produce exciting fights, every outing in the featherweight fold has been action packed. 

With increased confidence in his abilities and a bit of momentum at his back, Lentz is poised to make a strong run in his new weight class. 

Clay Guida is in a similar situation. He left the lightweight division after being pushed out of the title picture for the foreseeable future and attempted to start a new run at featherweight. Guida made good on his debut in the weight class by edging out Hatsu Hioki at UFC on Fox 6 and will have a huge opportunity to climb the ladder when he faces Chad Mendes at UFC 164.

If the Jackson’s MMA fighter can derail the Mendes train in Milwaukee, he will automatically cement himself in the upper tier at 145 pounds. Then again, if Guida doesn’t have the answer to what Mendes brings to the table, any hopes the veteran has for a potential title shot will vanish.

Finally, with all the focus put on the title in the featherweight division, champion Jose Aldo holds a substantial piece of the puzzle. The Brazilian phenom has been one of the UFC’s most dominant title-holders and will be looking to keep his reign alive when he faces Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163 on August 3.

While Aldo is the favorite going into the bout with the “Korean Zombie,” there are bigger questions lingering on the horizon. “Junior’s” wishes to jump up and compete for the lightweight title are no secret, and should he decide to make that move following UFC 163, that would throw an even crazier spin on the title picture at 145 pounds.

This situation could create a scenario where there is a vacated title, and the top four fighters in the division lock up in an unofficial tournament to determine who will compete for the gold. Then again, Aldo could put his plans to make the jump on hold for the time being, and a No. 1 contender would still have to be determined somewhere along the way.

There are plenty of interesting scenarios, potential matchups and possible paths for the division to take in the second half of the year, and this is what ultimately makes the UFC featherweight show the division to keep your eyes on in 2013.

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