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UFC on Fox 24: Wilson Reis Is In For The Fight Of HIs Life Against Demetrious Johnson

The main event of UFC on Fox 24 pits Wilson Reis against the “God of Fighting” Demetrious Johnson. It’s a match up that Reis fought hard to earn, but that makes it no less easier by any stretch of the imagination. Demetrious Johnson is tough. Not just the “he takes a good shot” kind of tough, but made of different stuff as far as competition goes. Johnson hopes to crush his opponents by taking their strengths and making them null and void. So while Wilson Reis has certainly earned his spot opposite the champion, he has an uphill battle ahead of him.

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As far as performances go, Wilson Reis hasn’t looked like the ultimate world beater. He has good fundamentals as far as his striking goes, but where he really shines is the wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu department. Reis is a ground fighter through and through who uses a variety of different takedowns to get the job done. That said, if he hopes to pick up a victory here then he can’t rely solely on his grappling. In fact, as dangerous as it may sound, Reis should perhaps take a strike first, wrestle second approach to this fight.

Johnson is expecting the takedown in this fight, so using an alternative game plan will be key. But it’s not simply the execution of the strategy that should be considered. Reis’ mindset should be focused on fighting anywhere the fight takes him. If he relies too much on his wrestling and grappling, Johnson will chew him up. Playing the outside game with long range weapons is an ideal strategy to force Johnson to push forward. It’s during these moments that Reis can take advantage and score a reactive takedown. Firing off jabs and front kicks will keep Johnson at bay and when the champ does choose to rattle off combinations, that’s when Reis should look to level change. The gas tank of Reis will be tested in this one, so he’ll have to be smart with his energy systems.

The champion has a far more interesting case on his hands. For Demetrious Johnson, having a multitude of skills to choose from makes his strategy as complex as it is simple. Johnson has so many tools to choose from it’s a matter of being patient and seeing what threat Reis presents. Johnson can choose to be aggressive counter puncher if Reis is passive, hit reactive takedowns if his opponent is overly aggressive. He can box if Reis is looking to shoot in, kickbox if the challenger chooses to box.

For Johnson the sky’s the limit. Preferably the aggressive counter striking approach will likely work best. Touching Reis with jabs, forcing the challenger to shoot in, stuffing the takedown and countering immediately with power punches. As most other ‘Mighty Mouse’ fights, this is Johnson’s match to lose.

It’s a up hill battle for Wilson Reis. Can he get the job done against Demetrious Johnson?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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UFC on Fox 24: Will Rose Namajunas Crush Michelle Waterson’s Title Hopes?

The co-main event of UFC on Fox 24 features a battle between two top contenders in the strawweight division as Rose Namajunas looks to get back on track with the well rounded Michelle Waterson. Both of these women are the elite in the division and both possess a tremendous amount of athleticism.

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Rose Namajunas has a style all her own. She’s an aggressive fighter with the ability to thrive in chaos, yet it’s her fundamentals that have carried her far in her career. She uses great lateral movement with an in and out jab that causes opponents to either succumb to the snapping punch and attempt to push forward or slip the punch and counter back. Both instances is what Namajunas appears to want as she likes to play counter fighter as much as she enjoys playing aggressor.

When she’s at her most disciplined she doesn’t load up on her punches and frustrates the opposition with her rangy jab and variety of kicks. Her wrestling game has also improved immensely forcing her opponents to either stand and trade or taking them down herself. What she’ll want to do in this match is use her length against Waterson. If she does end up in the clinch, she has to let her elbows do the talking and time her knees just right. Waterson is a takedown threat and if Rose miscalculates her timing she can end up on her back. Jabbing to get her distance and waiting to throw her right hand as a counter should be her M.O. while on the feet.

On the other end of the equation we have Michelle Waterson who has established herself as a major strawweight threat. Her karate ability already makes me a fan, but it’s how she utilizes her skills that makes her so enjoyable to watch. It seems that Waterson has two modes of attack on the feet. In the orthodox position she has a mix of Muay Thai, kickboxing, and karate in her arsenal. In her southpaw stance she’s far more traditional in her approach, standing in a side stance and throwing powerful front leg side kicks following up with a straight right afterwards.

With Namajunas loving to use her jab, that southpaw stance is going to come in handy for Waterson. She has great timing on those side kicks and they’ll help her to both keep range and land good damage on her opponent. The funny thing is that if the two do tie up in a clinch or wrestling position, Waterson may have the advantage as she is w supremely underrated grappler. She’s submission hungry from top and bottom position but understands that while on the ground, position is key. Waterson should establish boxing combinations in her orthodox stance and, right when Namajunas feels comfortable, switch into southpaw stance to give her opponent a different look with her side kicking game.

It’s a toss up between these two women, but one thing is certain. As a traditional martial arts fan, I’m sure to get my money’s worth.

Who wins at UFC on Fox 24, Rose Namajunas or Michelle Waterson?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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UFC on Fox 24: Can Robert Whittaker Overcome The Beast That Is Jacare Souza?

So, a week removed from a disappointing middleweight clash, we’ll all have the distinct pleasure of letting the UFC make it up to the fans with an equally intriguing bout at 185 lbs that could have major implications for the division. Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza gets to attempt to solidify his spot as top contender against the young, hungry prospect Robert Whittaker. It’s a fight that any casual fan or avid purist can appreciate. Both men have a propensity for finishing fights which only means potential excitement.

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Jacare Souza is a beast. Describing him as anything less would be a true insult to one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practioners any fan has had the honor of watching. In recent years opponents have come to fear Jacare on the feet as much as he’s feared on the ground. In the striking realm he doesn’t use his jab as a stinging strike but rather a range fund for his powerful right hand and left hooks. It’s basic, but it’s his bread and better and he knows how to use those basics to enter into the clinch where he has crushing strength. He’ll be smart to use a similar game plan against the young Whittaker as the Australian-New Zealand fighter has a tendency to burst forward with a blitz from time to time.

If Jacare can get Whittaker to respect his punching power, then he’ll go a long way to implementing his game. Getting his opponent against the cage will be key in this fight, followed by the clinch and trips as he’s fond of. Once the fight hits the ground it could be all over for Whittaker.

The thing is, ‘The Reaper’ understands that fact very well. Robert Whittaker has some dangerous striking and great hand speed especially in the middleweight division. His movement and distancing allows him to get away with blitzing in and getting back out before his opponent can return fire *cough* karate tactics *cough*. Whittaker will do well to lean on his karate experience in order to leave enough of a gulf between him and Jacare. It will force Jacare to step forward into the middle space where Whittaker can blitz forward with blinding speed and power.

His jab as always should be used by Whittaker judiciously as Jacare can be explosive himself and leap into his strikes. If Whittaker’s jab is undisciplined, Souza can certainly clip him with a hard shot. Jabbing for distance and damage, keeping the center and having his back go nowhere near the cage are keys to victory that Whittaker must follow in order to not only survive but to keep Jacare on the end of his strikes. When Jacare does get aggressive, a left hook right straight combo would be a great option for Whittaker.

Here’s to hoping that this middleweight clash doesn’t end in some ludicrous controversy.

Who do you got, Jacare Souza or Robert Whittaker?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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The Technique Thief: Chris Weidman Should Steal Even More From Stephen Thompson

So the bitter taste of UFC 210 is surely out of our mouths by now right? Right? Ahem, well, yeah the event wasn’t the best ever, but it did offer a number of interesting story lines to be sure. And you all know me, I’m always looking out for talent who are utilizing traditional martial arts techniques to improve their game. Karate may not be the end all be all in terms of the striking arts, but there are certainly a ton of great tools that it offers. Apparently, Chris Weidman has grown to understand this as well.

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From what I’ve seen, many of the top fighters in the sport have been implementing more and more karate practices into their games, whether that be footwork or an unpredictable kicking game, karate does have its fair share to offer. For Chris Weidman it has become apparent that utilizing footwork and kicks is certainly improving his game. Say what you will about other facets of his game, ever since training with Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Weidman’s entries have improved. One second he’s in your face, the next he’s out, the next he’s dumping you on the floor with a single leg.

Clearly the footwork is working its magic. He was able to floor Gegard Mousasi a number of times before the match was unfortunately stopped in the second frame. One can only wonder what would have happened if the fight continued, but we’ll never really know the truth. What I do know however is that Chris Weidman needs to embrace his striking even more than he already has.

Hear me out. As far as wrestlers in the middleweight division, not many people can contend with Weidman takedown for takedown. For that reason a lone, I believe Weidman should adopt a kicking focused game while on the feet. Nothing fancy. Stealing his brother-in-laws patented side kick would do him a great deal of good. That and the low line side kick. Imagine it. If Weidman can manage to learn to fight in both stances, that side kick from open stance (opposite stances) would work wonders. An aggressive counter puncher like Gegard Mousasi would be kept at bay rather than rush in. A side kick to the stomach, side kick to the quad or shin and you can’t just bull rush forward. It’s a safe kick that will allow Weidman to get back out of range or control the range of need be. If an opponent does try to get in on his legs, he would have regained his stance and be able to go back to his bread and better.

The conditioning required for kicking can take a lot out of your gas tank, but train it long enough and it can become second nature. Now, this isn’t to suggest that Weidman is going to become some kind of kicking god. But any extra ammunition can never hurt a fighters game.

What tools do you think Chris Weidman could use?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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Fallout: UFC 210 AKA Retirements And Frustration

Well, who the hell saw that coming? In one of the more baffling performances I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson decided to implement an interesting game plan in his rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 210. Directly after losing in the exact same sequence of movements, Johnson did the unexpected and retired from the sport at the height of his powers. And he wasn’t the only fighter to call it a career. Let’s delve into the fallout of UFC 210.

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Patrick Cote decided to retire after giving a decent showing against Thiago Alves. Rather than focus on the performance itself, I thought I’d speak on what I believe Cote has left behind in his wake. Patrick Cote was one of those warriors from a bygone era where boxing and takedown defense made you an elite competitor. Along with Georges St-Pierre, David Loiseau and a handful of others, Cote put Canada on the map. Cote not only evolved with the sport when it was necessary, he proved himself to be a tough out even at the very end. While he may not get the kind of send off other more successful fighters will receive, I’m here to say that Patrick Cote was certainly one of the most entertaining fighters out there that always put on a show and put it on the line. Damn it, now I’m getting all misty.

Back to the violence…

The most entertaining fight on the main card was swiftly followed by the most disappointing. Pearl Gonzalez battled Cynthia Calvillo in a pretty entertaining scrap. Calvillo opened strong with a ton of offense, though Gonzalez did show some good defense with an interesting opened handed right shield which prevented some significant damage on the feet. Once the fight hit the ground however, Calvillo showed once again why she’s such a problem in the grappling arena. A rear naked choke would eventually materialize in the third round. Calvillo is now has two victories in as many appearances and for whatever reason people are already wanting to match her up with strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. No. Just, no. While Calvillo is certainly talented, she has a ways to go before she’s ready for the champ. Angela Hill should be a nice challenge to see exactly where she’s at.

Chris Weidman and Gegard Mousasi had a pretty entertaining match. That is until the middle of the second frame which saw Mousasi land a knee to Weidman’s head that was potentially illegal. The match would eventually end with Mousasi getting his hand raised but with no real definitive winner. Weidman’s approach of footwork, kicks, and feints masked his takedowns rather well (something I’ll definitely touch upon in another article). Mousasi was effective in the second round rattling off hand combinations that hurt the former champion. A rematch would be the fair thing to do, but during this new era of MMA it’s all about what sells, not necessarily what makes sense.

Last, but not least, Anthony Johnson decided that he’d rather wrestle with the superior wrestler rather than keep the fight at striking distance as he faced off against Daniel Cormier. It was an interesting approach that perhaps could have worked had he used the strategy to through off Cormier throughout the round. Instead, ‘Rumble’ stuck to his guns and kept being fought off. He did land some heat towards the end of the first frame which broke the champ’s nose. It was in the second frame that we saw Johnson wilt as he was taken down by the same single leg-inside trip that he succumbed to the first time he face Cormier. From there it was all de ja vu as Cormier secured the back and sunk in the rear naked choke.

Despite the performance, Anthony Johnson was still able to retire with a level of eloquence and dignity. His retirement was far more surprising than Patrick Cote’s own, especially when you consider that Johnson is still in his prime. Many are trying to suggest that we haven’t seen the last of Anthony Johnson, but in reality I hope it is. A fighter knows when they’re done and if ‘Rumble’ lacks the motivation then what’s the point of getting in their and potentially injuring himself. If his head isn’t in the game then he’s just putting himself in danger. Yeah, he puts himself in danger for a living, but it’s a whole different ball game when you just don’t want to be there anymore.

For my part, I’m thanking Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson for the memories. As far as competition goes, he will be missed.

Do you think Anthony Johnson should have retired?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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UFC 210: Anthony Johnson Has A Chance To Get Sweet Revenge Against Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier makes his return to the octagon at UFC 210 against a pretty familiar face. Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is no stranger to the UFC champion which means this rematch can take on a very interesting pace. It’s always interesting to see how two fighters have evolved since fighting once before. It’s a tough match to call with a number of different variables to keep in mind. Will it be the suffocating wrestling and grittiness of the champion or the powerful strikes of the challenger? Let’s analyze this ish.

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Now, Anthony Johnson did get off some good strikes against Cormier in their first bout. Johnson hits pretty damn hard so Cormier adopted a very controlled and balanced strategy. It turns out all that was good for was prolonging the inevitable ‘Rumble’ rush that saw Johnson land a clubbing overhand right that floored Cormier. The problem for Johnson was that Cormier recovered. Things devolved into a dog fight with plenty of clinching and wrestling and eventually Johnson fell prey to a rear naked choke.

There’s no shame in Johnson’s game however. He still has power in his punches and kicks and he was able to land some nice strikes on Cormier’s chin. The problem with ‘Rumble’ is that he’s always felt comfortable at closing the show early with one powerful strike, that and his overly aggressive forward pressure. What he’ll need to do differently in this match is pace himself. He should be no means be lathargic with his pacing as the champ will pressure in and use it to his advantage. Instead, Johnson should look to flick a jab or two into Cormier’s face, occasionally throwing his right sparingly. The idea is to get Cormier to duck in for a takedown where a powerful uppercut will greet him from a powerful Johnson. If he does get his man hurt, the challenger should definitely pick his shots. He has the power so it makes no sense to dive in with a barrage of punches if you’re not absolutely sure you’re going to close the show.

On the flip side, Daniel Cormier should look to push for a fast start. While Johnson is in some good shape, he can wilt if the pressure is poured on and that’s exactly what Cormier should keep in mind. The first time the champion was cautious of Johnson’s power and because of that we didn’t see him open up with his gritty clinch game and dirty boxing until he secured a takedown first.

Wrestling is Cormier’s comfort zone, but he can’t rely totally on that. He should engage Johnson on the feet even despite the threat of the knock out. But he can’t be stupid and rush Johnson out of the gate. It has to be a measured approach. He has to be either all the way in or all the way out. Hanging out in the middle distance with Johnson could spell doom for the champion. Instead he should employ his usual jab, mix in a front or low kick and pounce. Johnson will likely be looking to defend takedowns with lateral movement and a sprawl. Kicking low will get Johsnon to stop in place for the slightest moment which will open up the opportunity for Cormier to close the distance with a punch and transition to either the clinch for some dirty boxing or a straight wrasslin’ fest.

Ultimately, like I believe with most fights, it comes down to who can control the distance better than their opponent. If Cormier can close distance and avoid the bombs from bashing in his head, he will ultimately control the clinch positions and ultimately the fight. If Johnson can keep Cormier guessing and force the champion to move backwards or forwards based on his own pace, it’s likely that ‘Rumble’ will secure a devastating KO.

Will we see a new champion at UFC 210 or will the champion stand his ground?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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