This Saturday, Junior dos Santos puts his heavyweight championship on the line against Frank Mir at UFC 146, going down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It’s a good matchup. No two ways about it. Best heavyweight MMA boxer on the plane…
This Saturday, Junior dos Santos puts his heavyweight championship on the line against Frank Mir at UFC 146, going down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
It’s a good matchup. No two ways about it. Best heavyweight MMA boxer on the planet? Check. That’s Dos Santos. Best heavyweight submission artist on the planet? That’s Mir.
The intrigue certainly comes to a head at the top of the card, but the entire lineup is thick with the stuff (despite some card shuffling that may have removed some of the event’s initial luster). So here are betting odds, predictions and pithy info caps for each and every contest at UFC 146.
But wait, you say. Isn’t gambling illegal? Yes, Jimmy, it is. I’m just passing along information here. Know what I’m saying? I’m just giving you some data points. Whatever you do with that data is beyond my scope and ability to discern. Consult local statutes for more information. For entertainment purposes only.
All betting odds retrieved from Bet on Fighting. Not that I’m into that kind of thing.
With the UFC taking a different path with its latest pay-per-view, UFC 146 will feature a main card consisting of only heavyweights. This is the first time this has happened in the long history of the company. For the fans that don’t know what th…
With the UFC taking a different path with its latest pay-per-view, UFC 146 will feature a main card consisting of only heavyweights. This is the first time this has happened in the long history of the company.
For the fans that don’t know what this means, there will be plenty of mouth breathing and knockouts to go around.
You can bet on that!
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Saturday, May 26, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET
Watch: Facebook undercard fights at 7:00 p.m. ET, preliminary fights at 8:00 p.m. ET on FX, main card fights at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view; online pay-per-view streaming (must pay $44.99) at UFC.tv, Yahoo! Sports, UStream, Android or iPhone.
Fight Card
Main Event: UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir
Main Card (pay-per-view)
265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman
265 lbs.: Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic
265 lbs.: Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve
Preliminary Card (FX Channel)
145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins
155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner
185 lbs.: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway
170 lbs.: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
155 lbs.: Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann
205 lbs.: Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury
145 lbs.: Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda
Junior dos Santos’ Keys to Victory
If Junior dos Santos walks out of UFC 146 as the heavyweight champion of the world, it will be because he used his superior striking to put a world of hurt on Frank Mir. As good as Mir’s defense is, dos Santos is a brutal striker who will pick Mir apart.
If Mir tries to stand and exchange shots with dos Santos, there is a chance this fight doesn’t make it out of the first round. Just ask Cain Velasquez.
Frank Mir’s Keys to Victory
There is no doubt that Frank Mir knows the striking ability of dos Santos and will try to avoid it like the plague. To do so, he will have to utilize his superior takedown skill and power to take away the power in the heavyweight champion’s hands.
Mir has to fight the perfect fight if he wants to win, but years of doing this at the highest level will not shake the man’s confidence. This will be an all-out war if this brawl goes to the ground like Mir wants.
Undercard Fight to Watch: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman
This may be personal bias, but there is no better fighter to watch than Roy Nelson. He will never flash stellar technique or outperform his opponent, but his chin is made of stone and the man can throw bombs.
If I were Dave Herman, I would be preparing to get knocked out clean by the much tougher man.
Main Event Prediction: Junior dos Santos by second-round TKO
While we love Roy Nelson because of his brute force, Junior dos Santos is by far the most talented all-around heavyweight I can remember. There is no weakness in his game, and he can adapt to any style thrown his way.
As good as Frank Mir is, his inability to get over the hump with the top fighters in the sport will have him TKO’d by dos Santos in the second round.
Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.
On Saturday, April 21st, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans finally meet to end their rivalry. The fight has been a year in the making and at this point both fighters are done with talking and just want to fight. Jones has been on an absolute tear since making…
On Saturday, April 21st, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans finally meet to end their rivalry. The fight has been a year in the making and at this point both fighters are done with talking and just want to fight. Jones has been on an absolute tear since making his UFC debut and many are already crowning him as the best light heavyweight of all time. Rashad looks to end the hype and regain his light heavyweight title.
The card is rounded out with some fantastic match ups between young fighters which will have long term affects on the UFC’s divisions.
One of the most intense, personal rivalries in mixed martial arts comes to a head at UFC 145, when Jon Jones puts the light heavyweight title on the line against Rashad Evans. Jones has yet to find anyone who can challenge him inside the octagon. …
One of the most intense, personal rivalries in mixed martial arts comes to a head at UFC 145, when Jon Jones puts the light heavyweight title on the line against Rashad Evans.
Jones has yet to find anyone who can challenge him inside the octagon. In 2011 alone he knocked off four of the best light heavyweight fighters in the world (Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida).
Evans has been waiting for a title shot since defeating Jackson at UFC 114 in May 2010. Injuries and timing have kept him from this moment, but now he has his chance to shine against the fighter he mentored while the two were in Greg Jackson’s camp.
Where: Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA
When: Saturday, April 21 at 10:00 p.m. EST
Watch: Facebook undercard fights at 7:00 p.m. EST, preliminary fights at 8:00 p.m. EST on FX, main card fights at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view; online pay-per-view streaming (must pay $44.99) at UFC.tv, Yahoo! Sports, UStream, Android or iPhone.
Fight Card
Main Card
Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (c) vs. Rashad Evans
Welterweight Bout: Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills
Heavyweight Bout: Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell
Bantamweight Bout: Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonald
Featherweight Bout: Mark Hominick vs. Eddie Yagin
Lightweight Bout: Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio
Preliminary Card (FX)
Heavyweight Bout: Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs
Welterweight Bout: Matt Brown vs. Stephen Thompson
Lightweight Bout: John Makdessi vs. Anthony Njokuani
Lightweight Bout: Mac Danzig vs. Efrain Escudero
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Welterweight Bout: Keith Wisniewski vs. Chris Clements
Featherweight Bout: Marcus Brimage vs. Maximo Blanco
Jones’ Keys to Victory
Use size and length to keep Evans down; don’t try to outwrestle Evans
Everyone knows about the amazing size and length of Jones. He uses his 84.5-inch reach to attack opponents who try to dance around him.
In addition to understanding the advantage Jones has with his size, he uses it to try moves and strikes that no one else can.
As long as Jones doesn’t try to prove himself as a wrestler against a superb wrestler like Evans, he is going to be difficult to beat.
Evans’ Keys to Victory
Use wrestling to frustrate Jones early; try to time strikes when Jones leaves himself open.
Evans is a smart fighter. He understands that he can’t compete with Jones from a pure athleticism standpoint.
His best chance to walk away with the light heavyweight championship is to bring back his wrestling, which he has put on the back burner lately to prove himself as a striker, in order to keep Jones at bay.
When Evans does try to punch, he has to be careful. If he comes out swinging, Jones is going to destroy him. Rashad needs to keep his ego in check.
What They Are Saying
Evans has been handling all the promotion and talking leading up to this fight, though you might not know there has been any since most of it is happening on the little-known Fuel TV network.
“I think Rashad took my interview — me saying I’d never want to have to fight him — and he used that to give himself a reason to challenge me for the belt. Our agreement was to not fight each other on any accord, by any means. The only thing I said was I would never want to fight my teammate, and the only way it was possible was if I was absolutely going to lose my job over it. That’s a pretty major extreme. But he took that and found a reason to challenge me for the belt, which totally disrespected everything we stood for, everything our team stood for, everything that me and Rashad agreed to.”
Undercard Fight to Watch: Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonald
While the bantamweight division is very top-heavy with Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, the division desperately needs depth to get legitimacy as a drawing card in UFC.
Torres and McDonald have a great chance to steal this particular show because of their styles and amazing speed inside the octagon.
Torres has a huge advantage in experience, with 44 professional fights. But McDonald has proven that he is not going to be intimidated by the stage and spectacle of UFC.
Whoever wins this fight could conceivably be in line for a title shot later on this summer.
Main Event Prediction
Evans needs to win this fight. He is doing a lot of talking leading up to it; he feels slighted by his former best friend, and this is his chance to prove he is still The Man.
Unfortunately, Jones has reached a point where you can’t predict him to lose. It is just something you have to see to believe.
UFC 144 marks the first event in the Zuffa era to take place live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and comes to the world live this Saturday night on PPV with prelims on FX and a Facebook-only bout between “The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zh…
UFC 144 marks the first event in the Zuffa era to take place live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and comes to the world live this Saturday night on PPV with prelims on FX and a Facebook-only bout between “The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zhang and Issei Tamura.
The card features Japanese talent such as Yoshihiro Akiyama, Yushin Okami, Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto, and Hatsu Hioki, among others, and also features a headliner of Benson Henderson vs. UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar with a co-headliner of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Ryan Bader.
As we begin the most anticipated fight week of 2012 so far, there are a few things you need to know about the card…
(All predictions are final except wherever otherwise noted)
UFC returns to FOX this Saturday night with a huge event that will set the stage for a lot of big pay-per-view shows later on this year. The card is headlined by Rashad Evans taking on Phil Davis in a match that will determine the No. 1 contender for J…
UFC returns to FOX this Saturday night with a huge event that will set the stage for a lot of big pay-per-view shows later on this year. The card is headlined by Rashad Evans taking on Phil Davis in a match that will determine the No. 1 contender for Jon Jones’ light heavyweight championship.
Evans has been the top contender for nearly two years, but injuries and timing have kept him from being able to cash in on the opportunity. He is putting up his title shot for the second time in four months against Davis.
Davis is in an interesting position coming into this fight. He is likely not in line for a title shot if he wins, but he can make a name for himself by defeating one of the top light heavyweight fighters in the world. This will be his second time headlining an event, after last March’s Fight Night in Seattle.
Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
When: Saturday, Jan. 28 at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Watch: Preliminary card starts at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Fuel TV, main card starts at 8:00 p.m. EDT on FOX
FIGHT CARD
Main Card
Light Heavyweight bout: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Middleweight bout: Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen
Middleweight bout: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Preliminary Card
Lightweight bout: Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz
Heavyweight bout: Mike Russow vs. John-Olav Einemo
Bantamweight bout: Johnny Bedford vs. Mitch Gagnon
Featherweight bout: Cub Swanson vs. George Roop
Featherweight bout: Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely
Lightweight bout: Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller
Heavyweight bout: Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson
Middleweight bout: Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby
Evans’ Keys To Victory
Don’t get caught in Davis’ guard and stay on top if the fight goes to the ground.
There is really only one way that Evans loses this fight: If Davis is able to work him to the ground and hold him there.
Evans is superior to him in every facet of the game, with the possible exception of wrestling. He has improved his striking dramatically over the last two years, and emerged as one of the most dynamic 205-pound fighters in the sport.
Davis’ Keys To Victory
Work the fight to the ground and use effective striking.
Davis’ wrestling has carried him to a 9-0 start to his career, but he has to start showing improvement in his stand-up ability if he wants to be a championship contender in UFC.
Evans is the biggest test Davis has faced as a mixed martial artist, and he will need every ounce of his wrestling ability to win this fight. This has the potential to be a star-making performance if he is able to win.
What They Are Saying
Rashad Evans and Phil Davis got into a heated argument during the UFC on FOX conference call last week because Davis actually had the nerve to suggest that he was going to beat Evans.
“Let’s get one thing straight, you aren’t beating me,” interjected Evans, who could be next in line for light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. “It can’t come fast enough. I’m going to smash you, dude. He isn’t ready and he knows he isn’t ready. When I look into his eyes, he isn’t ready. You’re just a boy.”
–snip–
“When you get hit in the mouth, things change. When you got hit by Li’l Nog (Antonio Rogerio Nogueira), you didn’t know what to do. When I hit you in the mouth, you’re going to feel it.”
The only person in the sport who can match Evans on the trash talk scale is Chael Sonnen, and he has been quiet, based on his standards, leading up to this show.
It’s a good thing that Evans is as good as he is, otherwise all that talk would make him look like a dork.
Undercard Fight To Watch: Johnny Beford vs. Mitch Gagnon
Being a bantamweight bout, you can expect these two fighters to come out fast and furious. Bedford is still trying to establish himself in the UFC. He was successful in his first fight at the Ultimate Fighter Finale last December with a third round TKO.
Gagnon is making his UFC debut after spending the last two years in Ringside MMA. He has an 8-1 career record with all his victories coming via submission, seven of them in the first round.
This fight should be a great technical battle between two up-and-coming 135-pound fighters.
Main Event Prediction
Evans will finally get his shot against Jon Jones by dismantling Davis.
With the UFC taking a different path with its latest pay-per-view,