(What the hell? Why does Dana White look small next to a welterweight? I thought he was 7’4″, 560 pounds, and able to transform into a monster truck at will?? / Photo via Dana’s Instagram)
Coming in to replace Lombard will be Tyron Woodley, who now has a chance to redeem himself after stinkin’ up the joint at UFC 174, where he spent three rounds being outboxed and clowned by Rory MacDonald. To put it another way, Woodley is doing his required penance on Fight Pass, but an impressive victory against DHK could put him back in the mix. Any predictions for this one?
(What the hell? Why does Dana White look small next to a welterweight? I thought he was 7’4″, 560 pounds, and able to transform into a monster truck at will?? / Photo via Dana’s Instagram)
Coming in to replace Lombard will be Tyron Woodley, who now has a chance to redeem himself after stinkin’ up the joint at UFC 174, where he spent three rounds being outboxed and clowned by Rory MacDonald. To put it another way, Woodley is doing his required penance on Fight Pass, but an impressive victory against DHK could put him back in the mix. Any predictions for this one?
(We don’t regret choosing this image. / Photo via Getty)
Michael Bisping has been booked to fight Cung Le on August 23rd, in the main event of a Fight Night card that takes place at the Cotai Arena in Macau. This booking was announced at the UFC 173 post-fight presser.
Le won his last match with a sudden, dramatic KO victory over Rich Franklin. Despite such a win, the 42-year-old isn’t exactly a threat to Bisping, who’s coming off a disappointing decision loss to Tim Kennedy. Looks like the UFC wants its British meal ticket back in the win column as soon as possible.
Get the details on the co-main event, and where the fight card will air after the jump.
(We don’t regret choosing this image. / Photo via Getty)
Michael Bisping has been booked to fight Cung Le on August 23rd, in the main event of a Fight Night card that takes place at the Cotai Arena in Macau. This booking was announced at the UFC 173 post-fight presser.
Le won his last match with a sudden, dramatic KO victory over Rich Franklin. Despite such a win, the 42-year-old isn’t exactly a threat to Bisping, who’s coming off a disappointing decision loss to Tim Kennedy. Looks like the UFC wants its British meal ticket back in the win column as soon as possible.
The co-main event of this Fight Night card will feature a bout between Dong Hyun Kim and Hector Lombard. Kim is on a four-fight winning streak. Most recently, he knocked out John Hathaway with a gorgeous spinning back elbow. Lombard is only on a two-fight win streak but has looked equally if not more impressive. Since dropping to welterweight, he’s smashed Nate Marquardt and sent Jake Shields out of the UFC.
It’s a shame these matches will only air on Fight Pass.
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.
For the better part of the past decade, the UFC’s welterweight division has remained one of the most consistently stacked collectives under the organization’s banner. Long-time king Georges St-Pierre methodically steamrolled contender after contender during his record-setting seven-year run as the champion of the weight class. But as Bob Dylan once wrote, “Times they are a changing,” and the 170-pound is fitting to erupt into a shoot-out of Ok Coral proportions.
Recent title challenger Johny Hendricks will be looking to make good on his second attempt at championship gold when he squares off with Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 to determine who will lay claim to the vacant welterweight title. The co-main event of the March 15 card will feature another crucial tilt in the divisional title race as former interim champion Carlos Condit is set to step in against surging powerhouse TyronWoodley.
The high-profile tilts in Dallas will kick things off in proper fashion, but they are just the tip of the iceberg of what could play out and potentially make 2014 one of the most interesting years yet. With that in mind, I’ve picked two possible matchups from that weight class to highlight in this month’s installment in addition to one top-shelf flyweight collision that could have a solid impact on the 125-pound title hunt.
Let’s kick things off in the welterweight division.
On the current landscape of the welterweight fold, every fighter in the upper tier is calling for the next title shot.
While the “next” position is certainly up for grabs, a few things need to play out before anyone takes a definitive lead in the race for a title opportunity. Two fighters who have made public bids for title contention as of late are Rory MacDonald and Dong Hyun Kim. Both are coming off stellar showings and what better way to thin out the current picture than to match them up together?
The 24-year-old MacDonald rebounded from the second loss of his professional career by taking the action directly to Demian Maia in his most recent showing. Their bout at UFC 170 last month was a high-stakes affair with neither fighter being in a position to take a back step. While the Brazilian grappling ace took the opening frame by putting MacDonald on the mat, “Ares” stormed back with a vengeance to close out the final two frames and take the unanimous decision victory.
In the aftermath of his victory in Las Vegas, MacDonald made a play to get the winner of Hendricks vs. Lawler later in the year. While his ambition is certainly encouraging, the Tri-Star fighter is realistically at least one more solid win away from a shot at welterweight gold. And that is why a bout with the “Stun Gun” makes sense.
The South Korean has been on a tear as of late as he’s apparently switched gears in his offense inside the Octagon. Where the 32-year-old has drawn criticism in the past for a wrestling-heavy approach, his two most recent outings have been absolute game changers where Kim is concerned. He put down highly touted striker Erick Silva when the two met in October of last year, then became the talk of the MMA community when he slept John Hathaway with a beautifully vicious spinning elbow last week in Macao.
Those two finishes have Kim looking like a different monster and MacDonald swears the fire to compete is burning hotter than ever. Not only would the matchup be an interesting test for both men, but the winner of the proposed meeting would be in great position to earn a title shot.
Stephen Thompson vs. Brandon Thatch
There are plenty of high-profile bouts to keep the welterweight title picture moving for the foreseeable future. That said, there is also a need to put the spotlight on the next wave of talent looking to breakthrough.
While pitting two promising talents against one another in the early goings is typically a move to be avoided because it has the potential to knock the losing fighter off their trajectory, one potential collision that could be the exception is a bout between Stephen Thompson and Brandon Thatch. Both have put on the type of performances that have people excited to see them work, and putting them in the Octagon together could not only produce a fire fight, but the type of memorable scrap fans never forget.
“Wonderboy” has only been competing under the UFC banner for a short time, but he has certainly experienced the roller coaster ride that comes with expectation. The South Carolina native came to MMA with a world-class kickboxing resume and a flawless 57-0 record, and he exceeded the hype by leveling Dan Stittgen in the first round of his debut at UFC 143 back in 2012. Yet, while his KO pushed the buzz to a new level, a loss to Matt Brown in his next outing cooled things down considerably.
Thompson rebounded from the setback to collect victories in his next three outings, the most recent of which came at the expense of Robert Whittaker as he stopped The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes winner in the opening round of their fight at UFC 170. His win last month in Las Vegas has the Simpsonville-based fighter poised for bigger things, and a showdown with Thatch would be a perfect situation for both men.
Where Thompson garnered acclaim in his first showing under the UFC banner, Thatch certainly did the same. “Rukus” lived up to his nickname by storming Justin Edwards and finishing “Fast Eddie” with the quickness in Indianapolis. The Grudge-trained fighter was figured to have a much bigger test in his next outing against Paulo Thiago, but once again, Thatch settled the hard-nosed veteran in brutal fashion.
Steamrolling a guy like Thiago sent a loud message to the rest of the welterweight division that Thatch isn’t stepping into the Octagon for face time. He’s there to do as much damage as he can in the quickest manner possible, and he’s been successful on both fronts thus far. While a bout with Thompson wouldn’t serve to launch him up the divisional ladder, it has the potential for both men to put a huge stamp on their careers.
Styles make fights and with the caliber of weapons both Thompson and Thatch bring to the cage, it could make for an absolutely crazy tussle. That said, the Colorado native is currently on the mend, but a date with Thompson upon his return could create something for fans of welterweight action something to look forward to outside of the current title picture.
John Dodson vs. Zach Makovsky
No division needs title contenders at the current time like the flyweight collective. Champion Demeterious Johnson has run through the list of viable options and is waiting for his next challenge to be announced.
One fighter who would be high on that list is John Dodson, but “The Magician” is working his way back from a knee injury he suffered last November. Nevertheless, the former title challenger is eyeing a May return and is eager to resume his hunt for another shot at championship gold. Dodson recently told Bleacher Report he doesn’t care where he returns in the division, but would like at least one fight before stepping back in with “Mighty Mouse” for the 125-pound strap.
With that in mind, Zach Makovsky would make for the perfect opponent to welcome him back to the fold. “Fun Size” has looked great in the two showings he’s had under the banner as he stepped on short notice to dispatch Scott Jorgensen in his debut at UFC on Fox 9 in December, then defeated Josh Sampo two months later at UFC 170.
The former Bellator champion is quickly making a case for title consideration in the UFC, but he’ll have to defeat a top-ranked guy to get there. Dodson would be a crucial fit in that regard and likewise going the other way as well. While the Albuquerque native is positioned closer to a title opportunity on the current divisional hierarchy, he will need to face a solid name coming off an extended stay on the sidelines, and Makovsky should be that opponent.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report.
On Saturday, Dong Hyun Kim starched John Hathaway in Macau at The Ultimate Fighter: China finale. Landing a brutal spinning elbow as Hathaway came in, Kim recorded only the third finish by spinning arm strike in UFC history.
Some are impressed, s…
On Saturday, Dong Hyun Kim starched John Hathaway in Macau at The Ultimate Fighter: China finale. Landing a brutal spinning elbow as Hathaway came in, Kim recorded only the third finish by spinning arm strike in UFC history.
Some are impressed, some are saying he deserves a real contender, and some are calling for a title shot. Here’s what stood out to me about Kim vs. Hathaway.
The first thing to get out of the way is that this was as close to a gimme match as you are going to see in the UFC. Hathaway had been out for more than a year and wasn’t rated particularly highly before that. Kim had just knocked out Erick Silva and secured the No. 11 rank in the UFC’s welterweight division.
The idea was, quite obviously, to have a high-profile Asian star win in the main event as the UFC tries to cement itself in China.
Now props are due to both men. Hathaway put up a far better fight than expected after his lengthy time away from the cage. And Kim, who could probably have gotten away with his usual grinding clinch-and-top-control business, was clearly swinging for a knockout.
The problem with his stand-up, which I touched on last week, is that he will take a wild idea like, “Hey, not enough guys throw crane kicks” and then run it into the ground by throwing crane kicks over and over again with no setup whatsoever. He showed the same thing with his spinning backfists against Silva, and it was even more obvious against Hathaway.
That Kim actually landed his crane kick on Sean Pierson and his spinning back elbow on Hathaway is more a bad reflection on his opponents’ awareness than it is on any sign of improved striking from the Korean. Plenty of folks have commended him for taking more risks on the feet, but these are the kind of risks that stifle middling fighters but will exacerbate problems for Kim against elite competition.
If you’re throwing crane kicks (a back-leg feint into a front-leg jumping kick), and you haven’t thrown a meaningful back-leg kick all fight, why on earth would it work as a feint in the way it is intended to?
Similarly, if you throw spinning backfists constantly without moving the opponent toward the fence in order to take away the option to move back or trying to time him coming in, you’re effectively just swinging your arms and hoping that the opponent will get in the way.
Of course, eventually Hathaway did step in while Kim was spinning, and it provided an incredible highlight-reel knockout. But would that happen against any top-tier welterweight striker?
I find it best when evaluating Kim’s progress to ask: How would Carlos Condit deal with that?
Now for those of you who don’t remember, Condit pulverized Kim at UFC 132. The Korean did what he usually does; he moved in behind punches, with his chin out, and tried to get Condit into the clinch along the fence.
Each time Kim stepped in, Condit smacked him right on the chin. When Kim took a step back, Condit kicked him. When Kim got too close to the fence, Condit leaped in with a knee and knocked Kim unconscious.
That is an elite fighter: one who punishes mistakes and takes advantage of openings. Sure, it’s exciting to get wild and risk missing a swinging strike. But the best guys—and those are the guys whom Kim should be fighting from here on out—will not let a fighter get away with discarding minor advantages at every turn.
Taking more risks on the feet was never something that Kim needed to do; his sloppiness on the way in when he wasn’t going wild got him into trouble against Condit. The kind of display he put on against Hathaway would get him beaten up very quickly against Condit or Martin Kampmann.
Here’s the sort of thing I’m talking about. Kim swings long and wild, because that’s how he thinks he can best put power on a punch; he misses and allows Hathaway to push him against the fence.
From there, Condit or Kampmann would be working with elbows and knees or breaking free to attempt some crazy flying knee or front kick along the fence. Johny Hendricks or Robbie Lawler would be pushing off and flurrying with heavy punching combinations.
And of course, Nick Diaz eats people up against the fence.
Really, most of what Kim did was walk forward—with his head well forward of his hips—swing wild and eat punches. His ring craft also looked atrocious as he followed Hathaway around the cage, turning to chase Hathaway in whichever direction the Brit chose to lead.
Each time Kim ate a handful of punches, he would wave Hathaway on and go right back to eating more.
There seems to be confusion over the difference between a good fight and a good showing. Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez was a good fight, but it was a horrible showing by “El Nino.” Often when two mismatched fighters meet, it will be a good fight becausethe better fighter puts on a horrible performance.
Likewise, this was a good fight because it was wild and back-and-forth. It had a brilliant finish, but it was not a good showing by either man.
The lesson that Kim should have taken away from his bout with Silva was that his constant pressure and forcing his way to the clinch coaxed Silva into the knockout. The Brazilian was forced to drop his hands and was exhausted by constantly trying to fight off the clinch.
Yet even when Kim fought at an incredible pace, barely being in the striking zone between each clinch, he still almost got knocked out by Silva on the way in.
However, the lesson that Kim has decided to take away from that bout seems to be that he has great power and should try swinging at people’s heads more often.
There’s nothing sadder than a grappler who finds out he has power and then forgets everything else. That might be what is unfolding in front of our eyes.
Dong Hyun Kim has quietly crept up the UFC’s welterweight ranks, leaving a trail of unconscious victims along the way.
OK, so “trail” might be a bit of an exaggeration, but “Stun Gun” is riding a four-fight winning streak, with the last two coming in v…
Dong Hyun Kim has quietly crept up the UFC’s welterweight ranks, leaving a trail of unconscious victims along the way.
OK, so “trail” might be a bit of an exaggeration, but “Stun Gun” is riding a four-fight winning streak, with the last two coming in violent fashion.
First, the South Korean blasted highly touted Brazilian prospect Erick Silva with a wild haymaker of a left and promptly finished the deed with a Donkey Kong-inspired hammerfist from Hades. This knockout was ferocious, but it was nothing compared to what he would do next.
Against John Hathaway at UFC Fight Night 37: Macau (also known as The Ultimate Fighter: China finale; also known as UFC Paid Fight Pass Experience I: The Card You Didn’t Want to Wake up uo Watch), Kim unleashed a spinning elbow that landed on the button, flattening the Englishmen and sending him lifelessly to the canvas.
In a sport that is characterized by brutal finishes, this one still induced a cringe with its power and precision, and Kim enjoyed a nice spike in popularity and name recognition for his efforts.
Sound that elbow made at impact was sickeningly loud. Just brutal. Was legit worried for Hathaway. Was great to see him back up so quickly.
Unfortunately for Kim, the UFC’s welterweight division is stacked, and many contenders are tied up in engagements within the next few months, leaving him with few immediate options.
Have no fear, though. Fun fights await the Asian grappler-turned-knockout-artist.
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
