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UFC 211: Eddie Alvarez Looks To Dominate Dustin Poirier

With so many great fights on UFC 211 there’s pretty much no choice but to start the break downs a bit earlier than I normally do. First order of business is one of the more underrated fights on the card pitting former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez against the hard hitting Dustin Poirier. It’s certainly a tough match up for both men. In one regard, it puts Eddie Alvarez in a bit of a lose lose situation. He either beats a fighter he’s expected to or gets a second loss in the row. That’s not to suggest that Dustin Poirier is a slouch or an easy win, but after being crushed by Conor McGregor, you’d expect Alvarez to fight a higher ranked opponent. But in the present day UFC you have to take what you can get.

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With so many great fights on UFC 211 there’s pretty much no choice but to start the break downs a bit earlier than I normally do. First order of business is one of the more underrated fights on the card pitting former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez against the hard hitting Dustin Poirier. It’s certainly a tough match up for both men. In one regard, it puts Eddie Alvarez in a bit of a lose lose situation. He either beats a fighter he’s expected to or gets a second loss in the row. That’s not to suggest that Dustin Poirier is a slouch or an easy win, but after being crushed by Conor McGregor, you’d expect Eddie Alvarez to fight a higher ranked opponent. But in the present day UFC you have to take what you can get.

As far as game plans go, Eddie Alvarez has all the tools needed to beat a dangerous striker like Poirier. This will be the former champ’s third southpaw opponent in a row and that just makes game planning for Poirier easier. When Alvarez bested Rafael dos Anjos, the inside low kick was a major tool as well as the right hand. He’ll want to execute a similar game plan against Poirier as the Louisiana native has a tendency to stand heavy on his front leg, much in the same manner as Eddie Alvarez himself.

Attacking that front right leg of Poirier early and often, as well as following up with a right hand will do two very important things. It will get Poirier looking for these two big strikes and it will also take his mind off of Alvarez’s considerable wrestling game. Bouncing in and out, landing the inside low kick, darting in with a right hand and initiating the clinch would be a great starting point for Alvarez. But he’ll need to transition to a double or single leg, perhaps even an inside trip before Poirier looks to start opening up with a barrage of different punches.

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Dustin Poirier has gotten back on track with a hard fought win over veteran Jim Miller at UFC 208. After suffering a disappointing loss at the hands of Michael Johnson, Poirier had to go back to the drawing board and reevaluate his striking attack. While still got into brawls with Jim Miller at times, he did show some decent head movement and counter strikes. What he’ll want to do in this fight against Eddie Alvarez is focus on moving laterally rather than standing square in front of the former champ. Standing in front of Alvarez at middle distance is exactly what got Rafael dos Anjos in trouble and Poirier will want to avoid doing the same. The key for Poirier besides lateral movement is using his jab to draw Alvarez forward. Poirier has a tendency to slug a bit and he’ll want to avoid that here unless he has Alvarez hurt.

A darting in and out jab will force Alvarez to either counter back with a left hook or right cross, shoot for a takedown, or back off. All scenarios can work in Poirier’s favor. If he Alavarez looks to counter with strikes then Poirier can slip them and return fire with his own counter, can land an uppercut or knee in case of a shot, or pressure the former champ against the cage if he backs away where he can potentially corner him.

It’s a bit of a pick ‘em fight, but it’s sure to be pretty damn interesting while it lasts. Who do you got: Eddie Alvarez or Dustin Poirier?

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 Fight Night: Why Is Cub Swanson Fighting Artem Lobov?

Well, of all the main events that have been scheduled for 2017, this booking was perhaps the most peculiar. Cub Swanson, a top ten featherweight in the world, will face a man who isn’t even top fifteen and is on a recent two fight winning streak in Artem Lobov. Not trying to insult ‘The Russian Hammer’ but this is a real uphill battle for the SBG Ireland product. In fact, this is really Cub Swanson’s fight to lose.

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Cub Swanson is one of the most dynamic strikers in the UFC featherweight division. He has proven to be the cream of the crop with his mix of boxing and kickboxing, as well as a strong grappling game. The biggest difference that I can see in this match certainly has to be the punching style of both men. Cub Swanson is not necessarily a textbook boxing technician, but he does utilize his jab far more frequently than Lobov. Off the jab, Swanson can either pressure forward with a follow up right hand, a left hook or kicking technique either low or high. He can also strike moving backwards, using the jab to keep his opponent off of him to blast back with a powerful right hand. As far as strategy goes, Swanson should definitely be using his jab to set up his left hook into a powerful right hand.

As said before, Artem Lobov really has his hands full with this one. While Lobov can fight from both stances which can give him a bit of an edge, he usually approaches things in the same way for each side. His lead hand is used to measure distance rather than be utilized as a legit weapon. The only time he does use his lead hand is when he throws a wide hook. Most strikes that Lobov throws are with power and conviction which can leave him open to counters. What he does to try and masks this is use a ton of feints. He’ll need to do a lot of faking here to throw off Swanson’s reads and land his powerful low kicks. He’ll want to use effective pressure and try to pin Swanson along the cage where Lobov will have the best chances of success for his powerful left or right hands.

Cub Swanson has some tremendous footwork which is likely to really throw off Lobov’s game. If Artem wants to win this he’ll have to turn this into a brawl and even then, Cub Swanson excels in that style of fight. Like I said, an uphill battle for Artem Lobov indeed.

Who do you think wins at UFC Fight Night: Cub Swanson vs Artem Lobov?

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: 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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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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