Even in a professional landscape where rocky roads are the norm, Frankie Edgar’s path stands out. It hasn’t been easy, straight or particularly well-lighted, but some how, some way, he’s smelling sweeter with every click of the odometer.By comparison, …
Even in a professional landscape where rocky roads are the norm, Frankie Edgar‘s path stands out. It hasn’t been easy, straight or particularly well-lighted, but some how, some way, he’s smelling sweeter with every click of the odometer.
By comparison, Benson Henderson reached the promised land in no time flat. That’s not to say his road to the title shot was strewn with rose petals—or that he didn’t earn his way there—because it wasn’t, and he did. It’s just been a while since a relative UFC newcomer (in any weight class) forced themselves into the promotion’s title mix the way Henderson did with his recent performances.
This tortoise/hare matchup should be a great one at UFC 144. But as you know, these roads never seem to end. The next face in the line is always the most important, and new challenges always loom. That’s especially true in a bracket as deep as the lightweight division.
Here are 10 fighters who most deserve to be that next face in line, no matter who emerges from the scrum.
There is nothing quite like watching superstars come into their own. It’s thrilling to see them revel in their abilities, usually at the expense of their opponents. They push the envelope of their own preconceptions about their limitations, and t…
There is nothing quite like watching superstars come into their own.
It’s thrilling to see them revel in their abilities, usually at the expense of their opponents. They push the envelope of their own preconceptions about their limitations, and the really great ones surprise even themselves with their daring and execution.
They make hay while the sun shines, and in the case of fighters, that means they fight often, taking on whoever is in front of them, destroying them with an ease that almost seems scripted.
They leave the viewing public, and even their opponents, in awe of their skills and abilities.
Jon Jones has done all of this, and in the last year, he has been the candle that burns twice as bright as any other in the UFC stable.
But as he continues to impress in excess, the powers that be in the UFC would do well to remember that candles that burn so brightly can sometimes burn half as long.
In short, there is a difference between making a wish upon a shooting star and hitching your wagon to it.
The fight game is more like Algebra than simple math. Dana White is always talking about how something unexpected and bad happens every day in his line of work. This is because in a sport full of variables that explode like landmines between the gym and the cage, there is no such thing as a sure thing.
Frankie Edgar has been in four UFC lightweight title bouts, and fans have doubted his ability to win each and every one of them. Whether it was because his stand up wasn’t good enough to hang with BJ Penn’s, or his wrestling was inferior to…
Frankie Edgar has been in four UFC lightweight title bouts, and fans have doubted his ability to win each and every one of them.
Whether it was because his stand up wasn’t good enough to hang with BJ Penn’s, or his wrestling was inferior to Gray Maynard’s—there has always been some reason for fans to count out “The Answer.” And going into this Saturday’s main event-title fight against Benson Henderson, he is being overlooked once again.
This time fans are pointing to Henderson’s pure size and athleticism, saying Edgar will be physically unable to hang with the former WEC champion—and it’s up to Edgar to prove them wrong for what feels like the thousandth time.
Henderson is bigger, stronger and has been on an unbelievable roll as of late, taking out top contenders Jim Miller and Clay Guida in his last two fights—and perhaps even more impressive is that he out-wrestled two of the best wrestlers in the division.
Watching Henderson steamroll through a couple of strong contenders has given him a ton of credibility in the eyes of fans, but these same people seemed to have forgotten just how good Frankie Edgar is.
After hearing how good Penn’s boxing and takedown defense were for months, Edgar went out and stole a close decision over “The Prodigy” at UFC 112. A few months later, he was forced to give Penn an immediate rematch.
The second bout at UFC 118 was Edgar’s coming-out party, as he proved he was the real deal—out-boxing Penn for a solid-five rounds and seemingly dragging the Hawaiian native to the mat at will—something no one had ever done at lightweight.
Still, after defeating the most dominant fighter in the history of the 155-pound division on two-consecutive occasions, Edgar was looked upon as the weakest of the UFC’s champions. Many picked Gray Maynard to smash him in their rematch at UFC 125.
Maynard had won the first bout between these two, and he seemed well on his way to doubling up on his victory as he demolished Edgar in the first round—knocking “The Answer” down on numerous occasions and almost certainly sealing the victory.
However, as the fight wore on—Edgar got stronger. After coming back and winning the latter half of the fight, he ended up doing enough to have the fight scored as a draw.
Edgar was able to keep his belt, but a rematch was once again on the horizon.
Just seconds after touching gloves in their UFC 136-trilogy bout, it seemed like déjà vu had reared its ugly head as Maynard sent Edgar sprawling onto the canvas with a big punch—once again he had seemed to damage the champion beyond all repair.
But Edgar showed the same fighting spirit that had kept him alive during the first bout, and this time it worked to his advantage as he hurt Maynard in the fourth round. And he was able to secure a TKO victory.
After defeating the man that most proclaimed was the greatest in the history of his division and avenging his only loss in his last four bouts, Edgar should be mentioned among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. But just like he has been his entire career—he is being overlooked.
A win this weekend over Benson Henderson won’t come easy, and Edgar will likely—once again—have to dig deep in order to achieve victory over the much bigger and stronger fighter.
However, if the bout is in the latter rounds and a frustrated Henderson starts looking at the undersized, indestructible champion across from him like he has two heads—that’s where Edgar has the fight won.
And if Edgar ends up with his hand raised after another five-round war, well, maybe then he’ll finally get treated like a champion.
Everybody knows that fighters have music playing when they make their walk to the Octagon.Some fighters use the music to get amped up for the battle they’re about to have. Others use the music as a chance to be funny, like Dave Herman or Tom Lawlor lik…
Everybody knows that fighters have music playing when they make their walk to the Octagon.
Some fighters use the music to get amped up for the battle they’re about to have. Others use the music as a chance to be funny, like Dave Herman or Tom Lawlor like to do.
Some simply use the music as an intimidation factor, because it has become synonymous with them, like Anderson Silva walking out to “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
If every fighter wanted to be funny, ironic or punny, here’s 25 UFC fighters and the entrance songs they could use.
On May 5, 2012 Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will clash at UFC on Fox 3. The bout has massive implications in the lightweight division. They are so severe that the winner may be awarded a title shot against the winner of this weekend’s battle between …
On May 5, 2012 Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will clash at UFC on Fox 3. The bout has massive implications in the lightweight division. They are so severe that the winner may be awarded a title shot against the winner of this weekend’s battle between current champion, Frankie Edgar and challenger, Benson Henderson.
Regardless of whether or not a title shot is given, this fight will cement the winner’s place among the top five lightweights in the UFC. This fight should be highly competitive—two fiery combatants are facing off. It is almost a perfect fight. The only problem? It is the night’s main event.
The fight between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz is the wrong choice for a UFC on Fox main event. The fight will be great. It is an excellent match up against very like opponents. Both Miller and Diaz have won their fights by submission the majority of the time. Miller has submitted 12 of his opponents, winning 21 total; Diaz has submitted nine of his opponents, with 15 total victories. Combined, they have been finished by an opponent on one occasion (Diaz has been submitted).
So, it is highly probable this fight will go all five rounds. Also, both of these competitors constantly pressure their opponent, setting a fast pace and have impressive cardio. This fight could very well stay active, even into the fifth round. Still, this fight is underwhelming as Fox’s main event.
The “UFC on Fox” events are major events. There are only four every year. Rarity creates value. The events are also the only events presented on a big four network. The potential audience of a UFC on Fox event is greater than any other event. Also, having the event on a big four network allows new potential fans to view the fights easily, freely. Due to the rarity, accessibility and large platform, the UFC on Fox events are the most important events of the year. As such, they deserve the greatest main events.
The main event for the UFC on Fox should, at the very least, be on an equal level as a pay-per-view main event. For 2012 the pay-per-view main events have been and will be: Aldo/Mendes (a championship fight), Diaz/Condit (an interim championship fight), Edgar/Henderson (a championship fight), Jones/Evans (a championship fight). Overeem/Dos Santos (a championship fight), etc. Jim Miller versus Nick Diaz is not of this caliber and is certainly not a championship fight.
The future UFC on Fox 3 main event is comparable to past UFC on FX and Fuel main events. Last week’s UFC on Fuel event is a perfect example. Diego Sanchez fought Jake Ellenberger as two top ten welterweights fought in a title eliminator match. Miller and Diaz will also top ten in their division and are fighter in a title eliminator (not necessarily a number one contender bout). The comparisons continue as Sanchez and Diaz are both former The Ultimate Fighter champions. Miller versus Diaz is much more comparable to future fights on FX: Martin Kampman vs. Thiago Alves and Fuel: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira than the previously listed main events of pay-per-views.
A similar fight to the Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller match is this weekend’s bout between Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon. The bouts are nearly identical. Both are title eliminators between top 10 lightweights. All four feature fan-friendly styles. They all push the pace of the fight. They all have similar levels of notoriety. Some may argue Diaz is the most famous, or infamous, due to his brother Nick and his winning stint on The Ultimate Fighter. However, Pettis is just as well known. He is the last WEC lightweight champion and became a viral sensation following his “showtime kick.” While the Miller/Diaz fight is slated for the main event of a Fox event, the identical Pettis/Lauzon fight will be just another main card bout on a pay-per-view. According to the UFC 144 poster, Rampage Jackson’s fight with Ryan Bader and Jake Shield’s fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama are more intriguing than the lightweight tilt. If the Diaz/Miller fight were to take place on a pay-per-view it would also not receive much promotion. How then can it be fit to headline a Fox card?
The UFC on Fox 3 main event should have been the light heavyweight title fight between bitter rivals: Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. That fight is taking place just two weeks prior. It would have been no problem at all to postpone it till the Fox event. That fight would have been perfect. It even would have offered continuity. Casual fans and prospective new fans would have seen Evans battle on the previous Fox card and been attracted to his name on the following one. There would have been an investment developed creating a desire for the next fight on Fox. Instead, this title fight was relegated to a pay-per-view and Fox was given a fight that would have merely been an also-ran on any pay-per-view.
This event deserves more. The fans deserve more. Even Fox deserves more. The UFC needs to treat UFC on Fox events like the biggest events of the year. Casual fans and prospective new fans will not tune in for just any main event. They will only be stirred away from their lives with a monumental fight worthy of their attention. That kind of event will have them wiping saliva from the corner of their lips and leave them yearning for more, willing to seek out more.
The fight between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz will be a great fight. It would be capable of winning the fight of the night award on any card. However, in relation to the event, this headliner…is underwhelming.
When something bothers Dana F. White, we all hear about it. The UFC President isn’t shy about telling us his thoughts on the matter and will gladly tell whatever microphone is in front of him what he thinks. It’s one of the reasons people love him and,…
When something bothers Dana F. White, we all hear about it. The UFC President isn’t shy about telling us his thoughts on the matter and will gladly tell whatever microphone is in front of him what he thinks.
It’s one of the reasons people love him and, for some, one of the reasons people hate him. If he’s annoyed with something, we get dragged into the mess.
Sometimes his headaches are comical for fans, while other times the drama sessions can get on our nerves. He’s had quite the list of problems since taking over the UFC, but these are the things that kept him from getting a good night’s sleep.
