2016 “Fight Of The First Half” In The UFC Goes To:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APw2P5qK7rA[/embed]

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 wel…

robbie-lawler-vs-carlos-condit-ufc-193-2

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.

Roy Nelson-Derrick Lewis Could Be Biggest Fireworks Of International Fight Week (Editorial)

I know, I know.

Trying to pump up heavyweights Roy Nelson and Derrick Lewis over the likes of Daniel Cormier-Jon Jones, Jose Aldo-Frankie Edgar, Rafael dos Anjos-Eddie Alvarez and the return of Brock Lesnar is likely to fall on deaf ears, but hear m…

roynelson1

I know, I know.

Trying to pump up heavyweights Roy Nelson and Derrick Lewis over the likes of Daniel Cormier-Jon Jones, Jose Aldo-Frankie Edgar, Rafael dos Anjos-Eddie Alvarez and the return of Brock Lesnar is likely to fall on deaf ears, but hear me out.

I am in no way saying Nelson-Lewis will be the best fight of International Fight Week.

But it sure as all the makings of an explosive and old-school battle.

Nelson, a 40-year-old former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, has faced off with some of the best heavyweights in the world. And to think, he might not have ever received a contract with the UFC had he not won the reality show.

“Big Country” is coming off a decision win over Jared Rosholt that snapped a three-fight losing skid to, get this, Josh Barnett, top contender Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt.

Prior to that stretch, the Las Vegas native had faced off with former UFC interim champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and current UFC heavyweight titleholder Stipe Miocic.

Nelson has also gone toe-to-toe with former champions Fabricio Werdum, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski, along with the likes of Mirko CroCop, Brendan Schaub, Stefan Struve and Brad Imes.

He’s 21-12 overall with 18 finishes among his wins with four “Knockout of the Night” honors among them. Of those 12 losses, 10 have been decisions.

On the flip-side is Lewis, who flat-out demolished Gabriel Gonzaga this past April. That came on the heels of a first round knockout over Damian Grabowski.

The 31-year-old sports a three-fight win streak and is 6-2 overall with the UFC, losing to Shawn Jordan and Matt Mitrione.

But this one is for all the marbles as far as Lewis is concerned.

He’s been calling out Nelson for several months and now gets the opportunity to derail the fan favorite in his hometown.

So, if you are looking for a technical battle or a meeting of future hall of famers, this one is not for you. But if the rock’em, sock’em robot ways of old are up your alley, make sure you do not miss Nelson vs. Lewis at UFC Fight Night 90 next week.

Bellator 157: Dynamite 2 – Old School Flare, New School Punch

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Tonight starts the second installment of Bellator Fighting Championships Dynamite series premieres live on Spike TV from St. Louis, Missouri. Combining the best of MMA and Kickboxing for an old school super show. The card is stocked with potential wars and one sided beatings alike. Cards like this can be intimidating if you don’t know what to look for. That’s where we step in.

 

The Diamond in the Rough: Justin Lawrence vs Isao Kobayashi

                Leading off the show, on multiple websites depending on your location, former UFC vet Justin Lawrence fights Japanese veteran Isao Kobayashi. Despite being the curtain jerker, these two have everything needed to steal the show. These two should cancel one another out in terms of wrestling and clinch game. When that happens, you are looking at a stand up war. This may not be getting a lot of attention but with 36 fights between the two, this is he surprise fight you will be reading about Saturday morning if you don’t make sure to watch it live.

 

The Career Changer: Matt Mitrione vs Carl Seumanutafa

                Regardless of what happens in this fight someone’s career is going change drastically. With an impressive win Matt Mitrione is going to receive a massive push. At 37 years old, now is the time for the former NFL player. On the other side you have a man in Carl Seumanutafa who is looking to make a name for himself. After derailing the hype train of prospect Javy Ayala last January, Seumanutafa is looking to show he is the real deal. Expect fireworks and expect them early in this Heavyweight battle for a future.

 

The Rematch for Title Recognition: Michael Chandler vs Patricky Freire

                With Will Brooks packing his bags and taking of for the UFC, the Bellator Lightweight title is wide open. Both men would like nothing more than to have that opportunity to fight for the vacated title. This rematch is going to be something special. Chandler and Patricky are both Bellator staples who are known for being tough as nails. On any other night this is a highly anticipated main event. Instead, we are going to see blood, sweat, tears, and an extreme amount of heart a little earlier. If there was one fight not to miss. This is it.

 

The Question Mark: Rampage Jackson vs Satoshi Ishii

                Rampage Jackson is on a 4 fight win streak, but after a legal battle the sidelined him for over a year, does anyone have any idea what to expect? Ishii is a former gold medalist who has lost 3 of his last 5, all by TKO/KO, poses many threats to Rampage. The biggest being tossing him to the ground and keeping him there. This is another roll of the dice by Bellator. This could very easily be a 5 round snoozer or a 1st round flash KO. Either way, this PRIDE esq. main event is must watch.

 

Bellator MMA is continuing to be exactly what the MMA world needs right now. Something different. Some people are confused by match making, while others are enthralled. Either way, the atmosphere is sure to be something special tonight in St. Louis. If Bellator is better than the UFC at anything, it’s keeping a secret. If the fights aren’t enough, be sure to tune in to see what tricks Bellator has up its sleeve.

bellator-157-dynamite-2

Tonight starts the second installment of Bellator Fighting Championships Dynamite series premieres live on Spike TV from St. Louis, Missouri. Combining the best of MMA and Kickboxing for an old school super show. The card is stocked with potential wars and one sided beatings alike. Cards like this can be intimidating if you don’t know what to look for. That’s where we step in.

 

The Diamond in the Rough: Justin Lawrence vs Isao Kobayashi

                Leading off the show, on multiple websites depending on your location, former UFC vet Justin Lawrence fights Japanese veteran Isao Kobayashi. Despite being the curtain jerker, these two have everything needed to steal the show. These two should cancel one another out in terms of wrestling and clinch game. When that happens, you are looking at a stand up war. This may not be getting a lot of attention but with 36 fights between the two, this is he surprise fight you will be reading about Saturday morning if you don’t make sure to watch it live.

 

The Career Changer: Matt Mitrione vs Carl Seumanutafa

                Regardless of what happens in this fight someone’s career is going change drastically. With an impressive win Matt Mitrione is going to receive a massive push. At 37 years old, now is the time for the former NFL player. On the other side you have a man in Carl Seumanutafa who is looking to make a name for himself. After derailing the hype train of prospect Javy Ayala last January, Seumanutafa is looking to show he is the real deal. Expect fireworks and expect them early in this Heavyweight battle for a future.

 

The Rematch for Title Recognition: Michael Chandler vs Patricky Freire

                With Will Brooks packing his bags and taking of for the UFC, the Bellator Lightweight title is wide open. Both men would like nothing more than to have that opportunity to fight for the vacated title. This rematch is going to be something special. Chandler and Patricky are both Bellator staples who are known for being tough as nails. On any other night this is a highly anticipated main event. Instead, we are going to see blood, sweat, tears, and an extreme amount of heart a little earlier. If there was one fight not to miss. This is it.

 

The Question Mark: Rampage Jackson vs Satoshi Ishii

                Rampage Jackson is on a 4 fight win streak, but after a legal battle the sidelined him for over a year, does anyone have any idea what to expect? Ishii is a former gold medalist who has lost 3 of his last 5, all by TKO/KO, poses many threats to Rampage. The biggest being tossing him to the ground and keeping him there. This is another roll of the dice by Bellator. This could very easily be a 5 round snoozer or a 1st round flash KO. Either way, this PRIDE esq. main event is must watch.

 

Bellator MMA is continuing to be exactly what the MMA world needs right now. Something different. Some people are confused by match making, while others are enthralled. Either way, the atmosphere is sure to be something special tonight in St. Louis. If Bellator is better than the UFC at anything, it’s keeping a secret. If the fights aren’t enough, be sure to tune in to see what tricks Bellator has up its sleeve.

Michael Chandler-Patricky Pitbull Will Steal The Show Under The Arch (Editorial)

Most of the hype around Friday night’s Bellator 157 event centers around Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Mitrione.

The two are in separate bouts, as Jackson headlines in his return to Bellator against Satoshi Ishii, while Mitrione makes his promo…

michael-chandler

Most of the hype around Friday night’s Bellator 157 event centers around Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Mitrione.

The two are in separate bouts, as Jackson headlines in his return to Bellator against Satoshi Ishii, while Mitrione makes his promotional debut against Carl Seumanutafa on Spike TV.

But the best fight on paper for the night is the co-main event.

Former Bellator champion Michael Chandler will try to wear the belt once more when he meets Patricky “Pitbull” Freire. The two have long been set to square off, but the fight took on more significance when the promotion released Will Brooks and put the belt up for grabs.

Chandler, a 30-year-old native of Missouri, has won two straight since a three-fight losing skid to Brooks (twice) and Eddie Alvarez. He has looked as his old self in demolishing David Rickels and Derek Campos.

Before his split decision defeat to Alvarez in 2013, Chandler (14-3) had won his first 12 pro bouts. That included wins over Alvarez, Rick Hawn and even Freire via decision five years ago.

A former University of Missouri wrestling standout, Chandler has scored 12 career finishes – six via knockout and six by submission.

Freire, the same age as Chandler, is on a two-fight win streak that includes a decision over Kevin Souza in April and a knockout of Ryan Couture to start the year. Overall, the Brazilian is 5-2 in his last seven, losing only via decision to Derek Anderson and Marcin Held.

This, though, marks his first five-round title fight, as he
twice reached the tournament finals in Bellator before falling.

Ten of his career wins have been knockouts, with one submission also to his credit.

Rampage and Mitrione will garner the headlines, but if you want to see a pure MMA fight between two of the top lightweights in the world, do not miss the co-main event.

Let Us Embrace What Urijah Faber, Dominick Cruz Have Given To MMA (Editorial)

Eight years ago today Urijah Faber successfully defended his WEC featherweight title with a decision win over Jens Pulver.

A few short months later, “The California Kid” dropped the title to Mike Brown and he has been chasing it ever since.

Faber…

urijah-faber

Eight years ago today Urijah Faber successfully defended his WEC featherweight title with a decision win over Jens Pulver.

A few short months later, “The California Kid” dropped the title to Mike Brown and he has been chasing it ever since.

Faber will get another crack – his fourth since the WEC merged with the UFC – this Saturday to become a champion, as he takes on long-time rival Dominick Cruz in the co-main event of UFC 199.

At 37 years of age and with the division quickly filling up with viable contenders behind him, this is likely the best – and last – opportunity for Faber to say he is a UFC champion.

He attempted to re-claim WEC gold in 2009, falling to Brown via decision. A year later, he lost to Jose Aldo for the belt.

In 2011, Faber and Cruz went toe-to-toe for 25 minutes before “The Dominator” was declared the winner, evening their series up at 1-all. The rubber match could ultimately decide who is the best lighter-weight fighter of this generation in terms of American-born competitors.

The bout with Cruz wasn’t the only time Faber’s been inside the Octagon with gold hanging in the balance. He dropped a 2012 decision to Renan Barao for the interim title and was knocked out two years ago vs. Barao once more.

After suffering his first non-title fight loss to Frankie Edgar in 2015, Faber bounced back by defeating Frankie Saenz in December.

Luck then turned the way of the Team Alpha Male leader, as Cruz returned and bested T.J. Dillashaw for the title. While an immediate rematch between Cruz and Dillashaw could have worked, the fire that comes with pairing the two Californians together was too much for the UFC to ignore.

So we get another installment of this rivalry.

Faber and Cruz love to talk, especially about the other. But more importantly, once the cage door closes, both men deliver.

Saturday could very well be the final time we see them lock horns, so we better enjoy it!

UFC 199 Fight Flying Under The Radar Pits Max Holloway Vs. Ricardo Lamas (Editorial)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDbSE8fdE98[/embed]

Lost in the hype centering around Saturday night’s UFC 199 main event and co-main event is an intriguing featherweight contest.

Yes, Luke Rockhold-Michael Bisping for the middleweight bel…

Max Holloway

Lost in the hype centering around Saturday night’s UFC 199 main event and co-main event is an intriguing featherweight contest.

Yes, Luke Rockhold-Michael Bisping for the middleweight belt and Dominick Cruz-Urijah Faber for the bantamweight strap are excellent fights and deserve the attention they are getting.

But Max Holloway and Ricardo Lamas just might steal the spotlight.

With the division on a bit of a stand-still at the moment, Holloway (15-3) comes in one of the sports hottest fighters. The 24-year-old has won eight straight since taking Conor McGregor – the UFC featherweight champion – to the scorecards back in 2013.

Included in his run are victories over Jeremy Stephens, Charles Oliveira, Cub Swanson and Cole Miller. Holloway has finished six of those eight opponents, including a third round submission of Swanson and a first round knockout of Akira Corassani.

It is likely that a ninth consecutive win will position him nicely behind McGregor and the UFC 200 winner of Jose Aldo-Frankie Edgar for the interim title.

Lamas, 10 years the elder of Holloway, is 16-4 and fought for the UFC belt vs. Aldo back in 2014. He took the Brazilian to the 25-minute mark, falling via decision.

Since that contest, Lamas has gone 3-1, losing only to perennial top contender Chad Mendes. He earned a recent decision over Diego Sanchez, submitted Dennis Bermudez two years ago and topped Hacran Dias after his defeat to Aldo.

Along with Holloway-Lamas, Dustin Poirier-Bobby Green, Beneil Dariush-James Vick and Jessica Penne-Jessica Andrade are all potential “Fight of the Night” candidates outside of the championship matches.