Tag: Flagship

UFC 159: Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

The man who seamlessly blends WWE-level mic work with formidable grappling technique gets a shot at the gold on Saturday night. Chael Sonnen’s personality may rub some the wrong way, but ultimately he’s good for the sport.Just being a solid fighter is …

The man who seamlessly blends WWE-level mic work with formidable grappling technique gets a shot at the gold on Saturday night. Chael Sonnen‘s personality may rub some the wrong way, but ultimately he’s good for the sport.

Just being a solid fighter is nice, but Sonnen‘s ability to flip the switch when the cameras are on has helped him attain a few opportunities.

While most could argue Jon Jones should be defending his light heavyweight title against fighters like Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson or Alexander Gustafsson, he will instead take on the man he competed against as a coach during The Ultimate Fighter 17.

Why? Because Sonnen‘s wolf tickets sell arena tickets and secure pay-per-view buys.

He aspires to make every one of his on-air appearances must-see TV, and he usually succeeds. We’ll see if he can take down one of the sport’s great champions.

All the talking is over, and it’s time to fight. Here’s how you can watch UFC 159.

 

Date: April 27, 2013

Time: 10 p.m ET for Main card; Preliminaries begin at 6:35 p.m ET on Facebook and 8 p.m ET on FX

Location: Prudential Center, Newark, N.j.

TV: Pay-per-view

Live Stream: UFC.com and Facebook for prelims

 

Fight Card and Predictions

(Asterisks in predictions means there is a more detailed analysis below)

Matchup Weight Coverage My Pick
Johnny Bedford (19-10-1) vs. Bryan Caraway (17-7) 135 FX Caraway by decision
Kurt Holobaugh (8-1) vs Steven Siler (21-10) 145 Facebook Holobaugh by decision

Leonard Garcia (15-10-1) vs Cody McKenzie (13-3)

 145 Facebook McKenzie by submission
Sheila Gaff (10-4-1) vs Sara McMann (6-0) 135 FX McMann by submission
Ovince St. Preux (12-5) vs Gian Villante (10-3) 205 FX St. Preux by KO
Rustam Khabilov (15-1) vs Yancy Medeiros (9-0) 155 FX Khabilov by decision
Nick Catone (9-4) vs James Head (9-3) 170 Facebook Head by decision
Alan Belcher (18-7) vs Michael Bisping (23-5) 185 Main Card Belcher by KO*
Pat Healy (31-15) vs Jim Miller (22-4) 155 Main Card Miller by decision*
Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) vs Roy Nelson (18-7) 265 Main Card Nelson by TKO*
Phil Davis (10-1-1) vs Vinny Magalhaes (10-5) 205 Main Card Davis by submission*
Jon Jones (17-1-0) vs Chael Sonnen (28-12-1) 205 Main Card Jones by KO*

 

Belcher Will Win Battle of Second-Tier Middleweights

Both Alan Belcher and Michael Bisping have had their opportunities to earn title shots over the last three years. But both of them have slipped up along the way.

As usual,, Bisping has been busy insulting his opponent. These barbs would be far more entertaining if he actually beat some of the guys he trash talked.

Bisping told Jeff Cain of MMA Weekly: “It’s in the bag.”

I think he’s wrong. Belcher is a better striker and Bisping doesn’t have a big enough advantage as a wrestler to eliminate that edge. Look for Belcher to stuff Bisping‘s takedown attempts and stop him in the second round.

 

Jim Miller Will Delight Hometown Fans With Win

Miller should feel right at home at the Prudential Center. He hails from Sparta, N.J., and the fans should be in his corner. He is such a tough, stocky and strong 155-pounder. 

He has tremendous explosion on the inside. Miller is dangerous as a striker with short chopping punches and powerful single and double-leg takedowns.

Healy is extremely experienced, but Miller’s power should be the difference.

He’ll win by decision.

 

Big Country Will Stop Kongo

Someone is going to get knocked out in this fight; that’s almost a certainty. Both men are large, powerful and not built to go the distance.

Nelson has looked more fit of late, but he’ll never be a physical specimen.

Kongo comes to the Octagon with one plan and that is to finish his opponent. I’ve been unimpressed with his development in takedown defense and submissions, though.

Ultimately those deficiencies will cost him. Nelson will get Kongo to the ground and pound him out for the victory.

 

Phil Davis Is Back on the Rise

Mr. Wonderful’s ascension was halted in January 2012 when he lost to Rashad Evans, but fans shouldn’t forget he holds wins over Gustafsson, Brian Stann, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Tim Boetsch.

After Saturday night, you’ll be able to add Magalhaes‘ name to that list. The 28-year-old Brazilian is on a six-fight winning streak, but Davis is so good on the ground, Magalhaes will spend the majority of this fight on his back.

Davis finished his last bout with Wagner Prado by spectacular Anaconda Choke. Look for another impressive submission win in this one.

 

Jones Will Do His Talking With His Fists, Elbows, Knees and Feet

It is difficult to include all the body parts Bones uses to attack his opponents. What’s even more perilous for his foes is that you never know what appendage will be the weapon of choice on a given night.

In any case, Jones is too diverse, balanced and big for Sonnen.

The challenger is coming up in weight to face Jones and he is armed only with his tremendous wrestling skill. That won’t be enough.

Sonnen‘s wrestling is great, but it isn’t superior to Rashad Evans’ ability on the ground. Suga’s skills weren’t enough to derail Jones so it stands to reason Sonnen will fall short as well.

The show was entertaining while it lasted, but Jones is going to punish Sonnen to force the stoppage.

 

Follow me, because Royce Gracie started me on this MMA path, and now I’m out of control.

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UFC 157: Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More for Rousey vs. Carmouche

It is rare in today’s sports world where something can happen that is truly historic, but UFC 157 will feature a main event that will make history. Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche will be the first women to fight on a UFC card w…

It is rare in today’s sports world where something can happen that is truly historic, but UFC 157 will feature a main event that will make history. Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche will be the first women to fight on a UFC card when they battle for Rousey’s bantamweight championship. 

For a long time, Dana White has said that women weren’t going to be fighting in UFC. But every so often a star comes along with the talent and mainstream appeal to change even the most stubborn minds, and Rousey has done exactly that. 

Rousey has been on a meteoric rise over the last 15 months, going from a lower-card act who was finishing people in less than a minute to one of the most recognizable fighters in this country. 

Carmouche has gotten largely dismissed as the first UFC opponent for Rousey because she lost her last two Strikeforce fights, but she has defied the odds before.

In her Strikeforce main show debut as a late replacement against champion Marloes Coenen, she won the first three rounds of the fight before getting caught in a triangle choke late in the fourth round. 

 

Where: Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

When: Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Facebook Preliminary card starts at 6:30 p.m.; FX Preliminary Card starts at 8 p.m.; Main Card starts at 10 p.m.

 

MAIN CARD
 Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Liz Carmouche
 Light Heavyweight Bout: Lyoto Machida vs. Dan Henderson
 Bantamweight Bout: Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
 Welterweight Bout: Court McGee vs. Josh Neer
 Welterweight Bout: Josh Koscheck vs. Robbie Lawler

 

FX PRELIMINARY CARD
 Heavyweight Bout: Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson
 Lightweight Bout: Michael Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen
 Featherweight Bout: Dennis Bermudez vs. Matt Grice
 Lightweight Bout: Sam Stout vs. Caros Fodor

 

FACEBOOK PRELIMINARY CARD
 Welterweight Bout: Kenny Robertson vs. Brock Jardine
 Welterweight Bout: Jon Manley vs. Neil Magny
 Welterweight Bout: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Yuri Villefort

 

What Rousey Must Do to Win

Judo is your ally; Exploit the submission game; Don’t stand unless you have to

Rousey is a judo expert, even winning an Olympic medal in the sport at the 2008 Games in Beijing. She has made a smooth transition to mixed martial arts using that skill and shredding her opponents’ arms with the armbar. 

Carmouche is weak on the ground, which doesn’t bode well for her against a fighter like Rousey. If this fight ends up on the mat, as it is almost guaranteed to at some point, it could be over in the blink of an eye. 

While her stand-up game is improving, Rousey is still not someone who wants trade punches with an opponent. Her expertise is working the body and using her strength to get an opponent to the ground, where she can try to lock in the armbar. 

 

What Carmouche Must Do to Win

Don’t get into a power struggle; Strike quickly and move out; Get to the later rounds

Rousey is the most powerful female fighter in the sport today. Carmouche has power behind her strikes, but she is not nearly as strong as the champion. Staying away from a battle of muscles is paramount for Carmouche. 

Since Carmouche’s specialty is standing and punching, she has to be able to strike quickly with accuracy and power then move back to set up her next attack. You can’t stay in Rousey’s face very long, because she will wrap you up. 

Carmouche has to challenge Rousey. What I mean by that is Carmouche has to do everything in her power to get this fight past the first round. We have never seen Rousey go longer than 4 minutes, 27 seconds in a fight. 

We have seen in the past what happens to fighters who have never gone past the first round. Their stamina is gone and they have no power or energy to keep going. It won’t be easy, but Carmouche has to do all she can to see this fight past the first five minutes. 

 

What They Are Saying

If you want to know just how big a figure Rousey is in the world of women’s mixed martial arts, just ask Chael Sonnen. 

Granted, Sonnen has never been shy from using hyperbole to sell his own fights, but he is throwing all his chips on the table when discussing what Rousey can be for the sport. 

Here is what Sonnen said during a recent episode UFC Tonight (via MMAWeekly.com):

Ronda Rousey reminds me of an old-school baseball player where she comes out to the mound and points to where she wants to put the ball and that’s what she does with the armbar. She doesn’t hide her strategy. She doesn’t lock cameras out of her training sessions. She says come and look at it, I’m going for the armbar, I’m going to get it, and (nine) straight times she has.

There is a lot riding on Rousey right now. She is being tasked with carrying the women’s division in UFC on her own, especially since Cris Cyborg, who would have been the biggest money opponent for Rousey, asked for and was granted a release from UFC last week. 

However, for all the talk about Rousey breaking barriers, there have to be other female fighters who can step up and give the division depth. Having a star at the top is great, but if no one challenges her, it is not going to last. 

 

Undercard Fight to Watch: Michael Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen

This will be the first main show that Chiesa will be competing on. He won The Ultimate Fighter 15 in impressive fashion by submitting Al Iaquinta in the first round with a rear naked choke. 

Even though he has yet to prove himself on the UFC stage, Chiesa has made that rear naked choke his go-to finishing move. He has won his last four fights with that hold, and six of his eight career wins have come by submission. 

Kuivanen is still relatively new to UFC, making just his third appearance with the promotion. He spent years fighting with the Cage and Fight Festival promotions before getting his shot at a UFC on Fuel event in February 2012. 

Even though he does have a better stand-up style than Chiesa, Kuivanen also likes to work the fight on the ground. This could turn into a great battle of wills and whoever blinks first will find themselves locked in a submission hold. 

 

Main Event Prediction

Rousey looks like the most unstoppable force in mixed martial arts outside of Anderson Silva. She has a long way to go before building that kind of legacy, but until someone proves they can hang with her, you can’t bet against the Rowdy one. 

Ronda Rousey wins via first-round submission

 


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UFC 155: Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More for Dos Santos vs. Velasquez

The UFC did not disappoint with its first-ever championship fight on FOX. In the November 2011 bout, then-champion Cain Velasquez fell victim to a knockout punch and suffered his first career mixed martial arts loss to the heavyweight challenger, …

The UFC did not disappoint with its first-ever championship fight on FOX. In the November 2011 bout, then-champion Cain Velasquez fell victim to a knockout punch and suffered his first career mixed martial arts loss to the heavyweight challenger, Junior dos Santos.

This holiday season, the pair is being re-gifted on pay-per-view live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. UFC 155 will be headlined by the heavyweight pair, as dos Santos will try to successfully defend his title for the second time while Velasquez looks to rebound against the only opponent that has ever taken him out.

Elsewhere on the main card, a clash of lightweight contenders and a trifecta of middleweight matchups will help take us into the the new year. 

Heavy-hitter Chris Leben is set to lead off the card following a one-year drug suspension, while 185-pound contenders Alan Belcher and Tim Boestch will also enter the Octagon in separate bouts. Veteran 155-pounder Jim Miller will be in action as well, looking to reverse his fortunes coming off a loss to former No. 1 contender Nate Diaz. 

It’s set to be a great Saturday night in Vegas, but then again, there aren’t many boring nights spent in the Sin City. 

 

When: Saturday, Dec. 29

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Watch: PPV starting at 10 p.m. ET through your local provider. FX and Facebook preliminary fights starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

 

Fight Card

Main Card (PPV at 10 p.m. ET)

Heavyweight Championship: Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez

Lightweight: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Middleweight: Tim Boetsch vs. Costa Philippou

Middleweight: Yushin Okami vs. Alan Belcher

Middleweight: Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson

 

Preliminary Card (FX at 8 p.m. ET)

Bantamweight: Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland

Bantamweight: Erik Perez vs. Byron Bloodworth

Lightweight: Melvin Guillard vs. Jamie Varner

Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury

 

Preliminary Card (Facebook at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Heavyweight: Phil De Fries vs. Todd Duffee

Featherweight: Chris Cariaso vs. John Moraga

Flyweight: Max Holloway vs. Leonard Garcia

 

Dos Santos’ Keys to Victory

Dos Santos executed an intelligent game plan when he won the title back in November of 2011—attack quickly before Velasquez can get on his game. 

Just a minute and four seconds into the title fight, dos Santos dropped Velasquez for the first time in the former champion’s career. Sticking to that trend, only four of his sixteen career fights have lasted past the first round.

JDS needs to press Velasquez early, but he should be worried about the counterpunch as well. I don’t think this fight gets out of the second round, and it could even be decided in the first if things match up the way they did in their first go-around.

Dos Santos must avoid the takedowns and ground-and-pound of Velasquez while also making an early statement. The longer the fight goes, the more it favors the Mexican-American challenger.

Velasquez’s Keys to Victory

Pride will certainly be a big factor in Velasquez’s attempt to reclaim a title he never successfully defended.

Reportedly fighting with a torn ACL, Cain still took his first fight against dos Santos and looked uncharacteristically timid before getting knocked out. One could also speculate that the former champion underestimated the up-and-coming Brazilian, but if that was indeed the case, that mistake won’t be made again.

There’s a lot on the line for Velasquez, especially with a rematch coming so quickly and a handful of other top heavyweights waiting in the wings. 

JDS has the advantage in reach, but don’t underestimate the striking ability of Velasquez. He doesn’t lead the UFC in significant strikes per minute for nothing. Cain will likely need to withstand a first-round barrage from dos Santos to claim the title yet again.

 

What They Are Saying

MMAJunkie.com informed us that fan-favorite referee Herb Dean will grace the Octagon with his presence for the title fight—good news for fans of the long-time fight overseer.

Rumors of Velasquez’s ACL injury were no joke—even before the UFC on FOX bout between the two champions. Now, more videos have surfaced to legitimize the claim that Velasquez was well below 100 percent at the time, and that he could be a completely different fighter come Saturday night.

ESPN’s Ryan Grace and Andrew Davis examined this marquee matchup by the numbers, and one of the big ones is 7.5—Velasquez’s significant punches landed per minute in his time with the company.

Cain Velasquez ranks 1st all-time in UFC history in significant strikes landed per minute at 7.5. In their first matchup last November, Velasquez landed seven significant strikes in 14 attempts over the span of their 64 second contest. Velasquez is 2nd all-time in significant strike accuracy (60.2 percent) behind UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

But while Velasquez is the company’s highest-volume striker, dos Santos is no slouch.

“Cigano” is 2nd all-time in significant strikes per minute with 6.9, topping that average by three significant strikes in his victories against Velasquez and first title defense against Frank Mir at UFC 146.

The fireworks that these two can produce makes this championship bout a virtual toss-up. 

 

Undercard Fight to Watch: Yushin Okami vs. Alan Belcher

Due in large part to a serious eye injury that left him sidelined for over a year, Alan Belcher has flown under the radar as a top-10 middleweight. Going up against former No. 1 contender Yushin Okami, a win help would give Belcher the recognition he needs to ascend the 185-pound ladder.

These fighters’ differing styles will make for an interesting stylistic matchup. Okami typically grinds his opponents out in 15-minute decisions, while Belcher likes to end fights with strikes or submissions. 

Belcher is on a four-fight win streak, while Okami rebounded with a win in his last bout after suffering consecutive losses to Anderson Silva and Tim Boetsch. Throw in their history at UFC 62, where these two men fought to an Okami unanimous decision, and this matchup has undeniable intrigue.

 

Main Event Prediction

Fight fans love sequels. After Saturday night, they will also love trilogies.

Since we aren’t used to seeing either of these men exit the first round, it will be odd seeing this fight head to Round 2. But when it does, look for Velasquez to land one solid right before finishing this fight on the ground.

A healthy Velasquez rebounds from his loss to dos Santos to re-claim the championship and set up a third match in 2013.  

Velasquez wins by second-round TKO

 

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Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez: Preview, Odds and Prediction for UFC 155

Just because Christmas has come and gone doesn’t mean that all of the best gifts in 2012 have been delivered. On Saturday night, UFC 155 will provide fans with a battle for the most prestigious prize in all of mixed martial arts: the UFC heavyweight ch…

Just because Christmas has come and gone doesn’t mean that all of the best gifts in 2012 have been delivered. On Saturday night, UFC 155 will provide fans with a battle for the most prestigious prize in all of mixed martial arts: the UFC heavyweight championship.

Headlining the card is a championship bout between reigning champion Junior dos Santos and former kingpin Cain Velasquez. The two met previously at the inaugural UFC on FOX event last November in a fight that saw JDS strap the belt around his waist following a first-round knockout.

In the co-main event, fans will be treated to a lightweight showcase of jiu-jitsu specialists when Joe Lauzon takes on Jim Miller. Miller takes this fight on short notice after a training injury forced Gray Maynard from the contest.

A trio of middleweight battles rounds up the main card as the surging Tim Boetsch meets Costa Philippou, Alan Belcher looks to win a rematch against Yushin Okami and a returning Chris Leben welcomes Strikeforce veteran Derek Brunson into the Octagon. 

The following is an in-depth look at UFC 155, including preview, odds and predictions.

Author’s Note: For previous events, the best betting odds have been given only for the statistical favorite. Beginning with UFC 155, we will offer underdogs the same courtesy. After all, anything can happen in MMA.

All betting odds are courtesy of BestFightOdds.com. 

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UFC 154: Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More for St-Pierre vs. Condit

After 19 months away from the octagon, Georges St-Pierre makes his much-anticipated return at UFC 154 in a match with Carlos Condit to determine who is the undisputed welterweight champion. St-Pierre and Condit’s journey to this moment has been lo…

After 19 months away from the octagon, Georges St-Pierre makes his much-anticipated return at UFC 154 in a match with Carlos Condit to determine who is the undisputed welterweight champion. 

St-Pierre and Condit‘s journey to this moment has been long and quite strange, almost like something out of an M. Night Shyamalan movie because of all the twists and turns. 

But all that is in the past. St-Pierre and Condit have been building to this moment ever since Condit defeated Nick Diaz in February to win the interim welterweight championship. All that is left is deciding who is the better man. 

 

 

Where: Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

When: Saturday, November 17 

Watch: Main Card Fights start at 10:00 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View; Preliminary Card Fights start at 8:00 p.m. ET on FX at 8:00 p.m. ET; Facebook Preliminary Fights start at 6:00 p.m. ET

 

 

MAIN CARD FIGHTS
 Welterweight Championship: Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit
 Welterweight Bout: Martin Kampmann vs. Johny Hendricks
 Middleweight Bout: Francis Carmont vs. Tom Lawlor
 Middleweight Bout: Nick Ring vs. Costa Philippou
 Featherweight Bout: Mark Hominick vs. Pablo Garza

 

FX PRELIMINARY FIGHTS
 Middleweight Bout: Patrick Cote vs. Alessio Sakara
 Light Heavyweight Bout: Cyrille Diabate vs. Chad Griggs
 Lightweight Bout: Mark Bocek vs. Rafael dos Anjos
 Lightweight Bout: Sam Stout vs. John Makdessi

 

FACEBOOK PRELIMINARY FIGHTS
 Featherweight Bout: Antonio Carvalho vs. Rodrigo Damm
 Welterweight Bout: Matthew Riddle vs. John Maguire
 Bantamweight Bout: Ivan Menjivar vs. Azamat Gashimov
 Featherweight Bout: Steven Siler vs. Darren Elkins

 

 

St-Pierre’s Keys to Victory


Don’t try to make a statement early; Control the ground and get the mount

Even for an athlete as disciplined as St-Pierre, there could be a temptation to come storming out of the gate and prove that the injury that kept him on the shelf for so long is very much a thing of the past. 

Condit has the speed, power and movement to make St-Pierre pay if he gets sloppy, so it is imperative that St-Pierre doesn’t try to show the world that he is still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport right away. 

St-Pierre’s biggest asset is his ability to adjust on the fly. He can let Condit show him what kind of fight this is going to be, then fight that way and make it work for him. 

 

 

Condit‘s Keys to Victory


Test St-Pierre’s stamina; Make like a chameleon

We have no idea what kind of fighting shape St-Pierre will be in for this fight. It is easy to say he will be at the same level he was when he last fought, but 19 months away can wreak havoc on stamina and conditioning in the cage. 

Condit needs to keep this fight moving along at a fast pace to make St-Pierre prove he can handle a five-round fight. 

In addition to the pace, Condit is good at mixing styles. He can stand up or work on the ground. St-Pierre is at his best when an opponent tries to work a singular style to beat him, so it is on Condit to keep changing the way he attacks and keep St-Pierre off guard. 

 

 

What They Are Saying


While most fighters would be thrilled for the opportunity to hold a title, even if it has the dreaded “interim” tag attached to it, Carlos Condit had some interesting things to say about the welterweight championship that both he and St-Pierre currently hold. 

Via Yahoo Sports:

This is Georges’ title. He’s the undisputed champion, no doubt about it. Georges has been so dominant for so long. To be the champion, you have to do one thing: You have to beat Georges St-Pierre. I haven’t done that yet.

Give Condit credit for not sugarcoating how he feels. St-Pierre, as long as he is healthy, has earned that level of respect inside the octagon. 

Condit is not a joke, though. This fight is the greatest test that St-Pierre has had since going on this five-year run of domination. 

 

 

Undercard Fight To Watch: Mark Bocek vs. Rafael dos Anjos


Admittedly, I am a sucker for fights between submission specialists. Bocek used to be one of the better submission artists in UFC, scoring three straight from 2008-09, but as the competition has gotten better, his style isn’t working that well and he is settling for decisions. 

Dos Anjos has had four of his last six fights stopped, either via submission or knockout. He won four of those bouts, including two by submission. 

This fight could easily turn into a dud as Bocek and dos Anjos jockey for position on the ground or in the clinch, but it could also feature one of the best submissions of the night. 

 

 

Main Event Prediction


St-Pierre vs. Condit is one of the most difficult main events to offer a prediction on because they are a lot closer than fans might realize, and a Condit win would not be a shocker.

However, St-Pierre has reached that Anderson Silva territory though, where you have to see them lose in order to believe it will happen. 

St-Pierre wins via split decision


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UFC 154 Fight Card: Info and Predictions for St-Pierre vs. Condit

Georges St-Pierre is back, but things have changed in his absence. No longer is the Canadian the only titleholder in the welterweight division. Carlos Condit also has a belt around his waist, having earned the interim title with a decision win ove…

Georges St-Pierre is back, but things have changed in his absence. 

No longer is the Canadian the only titleholder in the welterweight division. Carlos Condit also has a belt around his waist, having earned the interim title with a decision win over Nick Diaz.

At UFC 154, St-Pierre will attempt to reclaim his position as undisputed 170-pound champion by beating Condit in his home country of Canada.

The event will feature more important matchups, including a fight between Martin Kampmann and Johny Hendricks to determine the top contender in the welterweight division.

As we await St-Pierre’s much-anticipated return to the Octagon, let’s take a look at each and every matchup on the UFC 154 fight card.

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