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UFC 210: What Can Chris Weidman Do To Get Back On Track Versus Gegard Mousasi?

UFC 210 is co-headlined by a pretty important middleweight affair as former champion Chris Weidman will look to get back on track against Gegard Mousasi. The fight is certainly high stakes to say the least as both men are at a crossroads in their career. For Gegard Mousasi it’s a chance to prove his worth to the masses as one of the greatest fighters in the game. For Chris Weidman, it’s potential a final chance to prove that he can hang with the best of the best in the division.

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Gegard Mousasi feels disrespected and he doesn’t care who knows it. These days he’s become more vocal in his opinions about the UFC and what the promotion stands for. He’s been vocal because, really, that’s the only way to generate buzz in this day and age (he has Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor to thank for that). Nevertheless, the one thing that has always been certain about Gegard Mousasi is his ability to fight. If anyone ever had any doubts, the man is truly one of the best middleweights on the UFC’s roster today.

His overall striking is strong, but what makes him so dangerous is his jab and the ability to play aggressor and counter fighter all at once. Mousasi likes to employ intelligent pressure and keep his opponents on the back foot with his jabs. When he does choose to counter, he leans his head over his leg to give the appearance of being there to be hit. He pop his head back and counter with straights and hooks as well as some powerful kicks. He’ll be smart to use the pressure game against Weidman, flicking jabs and forcing the former champion to shoot for takedowns. Anticipating the rush from Weidman is the biggest factor for Mousasi to overcome and if he can handle that, stringing off combinations of multiple combinations, and the occasional kick, will lead Mousasi to victory.

For the former middleweight king, being on a two fight skid is something pretty uncommon. Chris Weidman has the distinction of beating some of the best Brazilian mixed martial artists in the game, including arguable the greatest to have ever done it, Anderson Silva. It’s a sexy feather to have in his cap, but he can’t rest on his laurels. Getting back to title contention will mean busting up Mousasi badly to begin a new streak. Weidman has some deceptively intricate footwork that pushes his opponent’s backs to the fence and forces them to react to his strikes and feints. Weidman isn’t the most polished striker but he’s very effective in understanding range which has carried him far. He stays busy with strikes up top and down below, giving his opponent something to constantly think about.

Chris Weidman also has that dangerous wrestling to fall back on as he has taken down all of his UFC opponents. The problem he faced in his bout with Yoel Romero is giving the his opponent too much space to react to the shot. Weidman will want to mitigate this by giving Mousasi no space against the cage, firing off a combination, and getting in on the hips. While he’s effective at getting the takedown in space, giving Mousasi less real estate to work with will be essential to grasping victory in this fight.

It’s a battle between a middleweight who believes he deserves more respect and another chomping at the bit to once again be the man. Who will come out on top at UFC 210 this weekend, Chris Weidman or Gegard Mousasi?

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: Which Veteran Will Get The Pink Slip, Thiago Alves or Patrick Cote?

So UFC 210 is just days away and despite a card filled with many unfamiliar faces, there are two veterans of the game smack in the middle of the main card as former middleweight title challenger Patrick Cote faces off against former welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves. Both men have seen brighter days during their mixed martial arts careers and despite some tough losses in their recent outings, are still two dangerous welterweights.

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Patrick Cote has had a reputation for two things: being extremely durable and hitting like a mack truck. Both qualities can be supremely beneficial for a fighter, but when mixed together in one package can spell doom. Why do I say that? Well, if you consider the fact that you know you have a durable chin and bricks for hands, the likelihood that you’re willing to wade through the fire to land one good shot rises exponentially. It’s not a proven science, but all you need to do is to watch the fall of Chuck Liddell and understand how dangerous the combination can be. That said, Patrick Cote has chosen to round out his game as he’s gotten older. Rather than relying on power punches to win fights, Cote now utilizes his jab more often as a range finder as well as with some pop. He also uses his wrestling pretty effectively and will do well to use that tool in this fight. Sure, he could possibly win in a striking battle against Alves if he’s on his game, but why risk that when you can at least make the Brazilian striker hesitant on the feet. If a clean takedown isn’t available then Cote is better off pushing the smaller Alves against the fence and smothering his offense.

On the flip side, Thiago Alves may not be starching opponents as he once did, but he’s managed to keep the dream alive with some competitive performances against Jim Miller and Carlos Condit. Alves isn’t using his kicking game as much as he used to, but when he does, his opponents would do well to get out of dodge at all costs (just ask Jordan Mein). Alves’ game is no longer as aggressive as it once was, choosing rather to wait on counter opportunities more often. The days of flying knees and blindingly fast low kicks seem to be in the past. That said, Alves should be using his longest weapons in this fight. He’s the smaller man in this fight in general size and height. To get inside and rattle off striking combinations he’ll want to blast low kicks into his opponent’s thighs to land damage, take away power from Cote’s punches, and get the bigger man slowing down where Alves can use his superior speed to his advantage. His takedown defense has always been sharp, but if he isn’t mindful he could fall prey to Cote who could use a takedown attempt to push Alves against the cage.

This fight should be a pretty exciting one. I wonder if this is a win or go home kind of match, which is unfortunate as both fighters are still pretty highly skilled.

Who do you think wins at UFC 210?

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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Ronda Rousey Has Finally Reemerged…As A Coach?!

While Ronda Rousey may have been silent since her one sided loss to women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, she has since resurfaced. In a recent Instagram post, Ronda can be seen helping a young judoka, the caption of the post implies that she’s teaching the next generation.

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#NextGenJudo teaching @themaxston ashi waza

A post shared by rondarousey (@rondarousey) onApr 4, 2017 at 1:37pm PDT

What do you think of Ronda Rousey as a potential judo coach?

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Can Will Brooks Regain His Momentum?

It wasn’t too long ago that the acquisition of Will Brooks by the UFC was viewed as a pretty big deal. Two fights and one loss later, it seems that fans have quieted down a bit where the former Bellator lightweight champion is concerned. As he sets his sights on victory once more ahead of UFC 210, the question remains: can Will Brooks regain his status as a prospect to watch?

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I’ve been pretty high on Will Brooks for some time now simply because of the way he’s blended different arts into his game. Karate fanatic that I am, it’s been pleasing to see Brooks implement a bit of the footwork of the traditional arts and look impressive doing it. The footwork made him hard to hit and also made his entries during takedowns buttery smooth. It’s the kind of thing you want to see from an athlete the likes of Brooks who has such dangerous wrestling and striking.

After his fight with an overweight Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira, we learned a few things about Will Brooks. While many will simply choose to focus on the outcome of the match up, the reality is that Brooks acquitted himself well during the bout, especially when you consider that his ribs were busted up pretty good after the opening frame. The second round was probably even more impressive for that fact. But those kind of injuries wear on a fighter and it would prove to be Will Brooks’ undoing.

Despite the loss, Will Brooks still has a ton of upside and has the natural ability and technique to make a fierce comeback.

This weekend will see Will Brooks return to action against another Oliveira, Charles Oliveira to be exact. Oliveira makes a return back to lightweight after a stint at featherweight and is likely to be the smaller man when he enters the cage against Brooks this Saturday. While it isn’t a sure thing, Brooks should have some advantages in this match up, specificlally his wrestling ability. But I have a sixth sense that we’re going to see Brooks out strike Oliveira and once again announce himself as one of the top lightweight prospects in the world.

Oliveira is a submission threat and does have some good Muay Thai skills. But with so much riding on this fight, with the opportunities to potentially secure another belt in the biggest organization in MMA, this Saturday we’re likely to see the best version of Will Brooks to date. Until then, take a glimpse at some of the highlights that has made so many people jump on the Will Brooks hype train.

Do you think Will Brooks gets the win at UFC 210?

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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Gunnar Nelson vs Stephen Thompson: The Differences In Their Karate

Fresh off his impressive victory over Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 107, everyone who’s anyone is speculating as to what Gunnar Nelson’s next move should be. Many are calling for him to face off against someone in the top ten of the welterweight division. But with so many fighters booked or on the sidelines, options have been fairly slim. But one intriguing suggestion has gotten people talking. It’s gotten me salivating in fact over the possibilities. That proposed match up would see Gunnar Nelson face off against fellow karate master and recent title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.

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That kind of matchmaking would simply be a thing of beauty. Both men have styles that make for intriguing match ups no matter who they’re facing off against. The bring an element of the unknown and the spectacular. While Nelson looks to finish the fight in any way he can, standing up or on the ground, Thompson’s game is focused on winning by points through accurate strikes or getting a big knock out. But with this match up already being proposed, I thought it would be fun to see how these two fighters differ in terms of their karate skills.

Karate A Doesn’t Equal Karate B

Likely the first thing that everyone thinks of with a match between these two is the fact that both men are karate stylists. Sure, they both have skills outside of karate, especially Nelson, but it’s a common factor that is hard to avoid. That being said, both men have very different styles of karate. All karate isn’t created equal. Each style of karate is different.

You have Shotokan and Goju-Ryu, more traditional styles that work on in and out movement and precision striking. Lyoto Machida’s karate is an offshoot of Shotokan and we all know how he tends to fight. Nelson is in the Goju-Ryu camp that shares that bouncing in and out, straight punching, blitzing style with Shotokan. Nelson will hang out on the outside, feinting and shifting in and out, all the while bouncing on his toes awaiting the perfect time to move in and strike with a big burst of energy.

Then you have Thompson’s kempo karate which mixes in elements freestyle karate and kickboxing. While you’ll notice that Thompson does have that similar in and out, bouncing style of footwork, you also notice that he switches between bouncing footwork and simply walking down his opponent. Stephen Thompson also likes to employ longer strings of combinations than what you would see out of a more traditional karateka. He throws hand combinations sometimes in threes and fours, all of them with variety. He’ll throw jabs, straights, hooks, and uppercuts, all techniques you’re unlikely to see used with more traditional styles of karate.

Drawbacks To Each Style

Both fighters certainly have their strengths, but they’re not without their weaknesses as well. Often times when Nelson blitzes in a takedown follows soon afterward. This can create a pattern for his opponents to play off, especially if they have good wrestling defense.

The Differences

Both Nelson and Thompson can be susceptible to low kicks because of their wider stances, though it seems that Thompson has developed a bit of an ability to avoid those kind of attacks.

Thompson also is susceptible to counters from an adequate boxer if he over commits on his own blitzes, but he usually does a great job at entering and exiting the pocket, usually shifting out to an angle when doing so.

Similarities

Stephen Thompson and Gunnar Nelson have shown proficiency in blitzing as mentioned before. They both have a ton dexterity in their hips and legs allowing them to perform a wide variety of kicks.

But while Gunnar will throw an occasional side kick from time to time, Thompson offers a wide variety of different techniques. Simply put, Thompson has more tools in his kicking toolkit.

All in all, a battle between these two would be a very intriguing contest on the feet, one in which we can see the variety in different karate styles and approaches. As for what strategies these two would want to employ against each other, let’s leave that for a fight breakdown shall we.

Whose striking style do you prefer?

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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With Lack Of Adequate Pay And No Respect, More UFC Fighters Are Jumping Ship For Bellator

Things are starting to get interesting as Bellator begins to further prove their status as the clear cut number two MMA promotion in the world. Ever since WME-IMG acquiring the UFC last summer, it’s become very evident that things have changed within the organization. On the surface things have remained relatively similar to the shows we’ve seen in the past. But behind the scenes it seems that things have taken a major dip.

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Fighters have seen the four billion dollar price tag and have come to the conclusion that remaining with the promotion should equal more dollar signs. If they feel like contracts aren’t up to standard then they’re happy to pack their bags and head to other promotions, namely Bellator MMA. It reported that Lorenz Larkin signed a deal with Bellator in favor of the UFC. A recent interview reveals that even more than the money, respect was a major factor in his decision making. The UFC gave him an offer that was less than adequate. Larkin said as much in his interview on The MMA Hour.

“I didn’t even get an offer from [the UFC] until maybe two-and-a-half weeks ago, something like that, maybe a little bit more,” said Larkin.
“I felt like, personally, it was just kinda a take it or leave it (type of offer) and that’s it. To me, there was no welcoming. It was just like, it is what it is; if not, then okay. And that’s what I felt like. I’m not in this sport just to take whatever. I feel like I’ve fought my way to where I’m at now and it’s just one of those things where it can’t be like that. I can’t just be one superpower and that’s it. And luckily I’m in this sport at a time where it’s starting to not be like that anymore.”

It’s clear that at this point in the game the promotion can’t pull the wool over fighter’s eyes. These day are more savvy than they’ve ever been. On the heels of the Larkin’s signing, a fellow top flight UFC contender has followed suit and has signed on the dotted line to join the ranks of Bellator MMA. Ryan “Darth” Bader has joined the ranks of the defacto second best MMA promotion.

Bader explained that he signed a six-fight deal with the promotion which ensures a full fight purse rather than the show and win contract the UFC usually offers. “I think it’s one of the better contracts out there, outside of being a UFC champion with pay-per-view points and stuff like that,” said Bader. From the sounds of it, this is the kind of contract that puts a fighter first rather than making them one of a bunch of faceless employees.

I’ve highlighted the fact that the UFC needs to continue to treat all of their fighters with respect and grace or risk seeing the promotion eventually becoming a laughing stock. Sure, there are still plenty of amazingly talented fighters that are apart of the UFC roster, but when you consider that one of the promotions top welterweight and light heavyweight contenders have left for what they believe to be greener pastures, the top brass should definitely be worried.

Albert Tumenov has left, Nikita Krylov is no longer apart of the organization. Even top light heavyweight prospect Misha Cirkunov, undefeated in the UFC, had a difficult time coming to terms with the promotion after destroying every one of his opponents. These are all extremely negative signs that need to be taken under consideration. If things continue this way, then you can say goodbye to the UFC you’ve come to know and love.

Will Bellator become the new top promotion in MMA?

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

Sources:

http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/3/21/14986572/lorenz-larkin-says-respect-was-big-driving-factor-in-move-from-ufc-to-bellator

http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/3/20/14988202/ryan-bader-says-he-has-signed-with-bellator-explains-unique-contract-provisions

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