A deceptively important heavyweight fight went down at UFC on Fox 10 as Gabriel Gonzaga faced off with Stipe Miocic.
Gonzaga is an enduring gatekeeper but was on a strong 4-1 stretch of late with the lone loss coming via controversial knockout. He was …
A deceptively important heavyweight fight went down at UFC on Fox 10 as Gabriel Gonzaga faced off with StipeMiocic.
Gonzaga is an enduring gatekeeper but was on a strong 4-1 stretch of late with the lone loss coming via controversial knockout. He was actually in a position to jump up the rankings with a win. Miocic, meanwhile, suddenly found himself as a top-10 heavyweight by beating Roy Nelson in a what was expected to be a squash match, and had another entrenched stepping stone to climb on.
When they faced off, Miocic did just that, becoming the third person to beat both Nelson and Gonzaga. So what did we learn?
Gabriel Gonzaga has Terrible Cardio
That right there was the biggest lesson from this fight.
It hadn’t really come up in Gonzaga’s current run at heavyweight. The longest he had gone before Miocic was 1:01 of Round 2 against Ben Rothwell. Gonzaga ended up slowing down considerably in the second, and by the third, he was in full-on hyperventilation mode.
It wasn’t like the first two rounds were especially high-pace, either. That was just a really bad showing by Gonzaga.
StipeMiocic Still Isn’t a Top Heavyweight
Roy Nelson and Gabriel Gonzaga are two solid heavyweights who have carved out a strong niche as gatekeepers. Only two fighters have beaten both of them: former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and potential top contender Fabricio Werdum.
Miocic, though, just didn’t look to be up to that level—not even close, really. He did more than enough to win. A minute into the second round, it was clear that the fight was Miocic‘s to lose.
That said, the dos Santoses and the Werdums didn’t “do more than enough to win.” Neither did the Shane Carwins or the Randy Coutures or even the Frank Mirs. They slapped around guys like Gonzaga and Nelson.
Miocic didn’t do that.
StipeMiocic is Still Up for a Big Opponent
It wasn’t an emphatic win, but a win is a win, and in the relatively thin heavyweight division, that’s worth a lot.
The top 10 in the heavyweight division isn’t exactly elite, but I expect Miocic to get somebody like Josh Barnett or Alistair Overeem (if he beats Frank Mir) in his next fight. Keep an eye out for my full feature on Miocic in the immediate future.
Gabriel Gonzaga Isn’t Up to Snuff
So the thing is, as we saw with Shane Carwin, a first-round knockout is a great way to cover up obvious, glaring flaws in one’s game. Get enough of them in a row, and you get a shot at the belt.
Gonzaga, if he had gotten another big win over Miocic, might just have been in line to make a run for the belt. This fight, though, slammed the door shut on that notion. Not only is he irrevocably separated from a title shot, but he is so clearly not a top-10 heavyweight that he is almost certainly not going to fight somebody ranked above him again.
It’s tough to say, because it’s hard not to root for a guy like Gonzaga to make that final run toward the belt. Unfortunately, his window has closed.
A pair of heavyweights looking to sneak in the heavyweight title picture met in Chicago, as Stipe Miocic took on Gabriel Gonzaga in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 10. It promised to be a fight that wouldn’t reach the judges.
Gonzaga looked to throw he…
A pair of heavyweights looking to sneak in the heavyweight title picture met in Chicago, as Stipe Miocic took on Gabriel Gonzaga in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 10. It promised to be a fight that wouldn’t reach the judges.
Gonzaga looked to throw heat early on but tired quickly because of the pace in which he was throwing at. From there, he was outboxed by Miocic and unable to get a takedown.
Where does Gonzaga go from here? He lost a decision to Miocic in uninspiring fashion, where his cardio failed him massively.
Here are three fights Gonzaga can take next in an attempt to get back into the win column.
Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett is coming off a loss at UFC 168 to quickly rising star Travis Browne. Gonzaga is coming off a loss at UFC on Fox 10 to another quickly rising star, Miocic.
It’s a match made in heaven.
Both Barnett and Gonzaga are ground fighters, which could make for a fun grappling battle. Watching Barnett’s catch wrestling against Gonzaga’s BJJ would be a thing of beauty, especially when we find out whose ground game is superior.
The winner moves back into the title picture. The loser scrambles to pick up the pieces.
Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson was recently outworked by Miocic. Gonzaga was recently outworked by Miocic.
This could also be a match made in heaven.
Nelson and Gonzaga are both power punchers on the feet with good jiu-jitsu to rely on. Nelson could definitely turn out the lights on Gonzaga, but could Gonzaga knock out the concrete-chinned Nelson?
I don’t know. But, I’d like to find out.
Antonio Silva
Antonio Silva was recently busted on a failed drug test after a classic against Mark Hunt in Australia. He may be out for a bit, but when he returns, Gonzaga could be a good matchup.
Both men are Brazilian and could be a nice addition to any card in the South American country. Both men can slug it out or battle on the mat; either way, it could be entertaining.
Either way, one man needs to get back in the win column. This matchup could definitely make some sense.
Handling our liveblog of the UFC on FOX 10 main card broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be tossing round-by-round results after the jump beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and be sure to tell us how you feelin’ in the comments section. Thanks for coming.
Handling our liveblog of the UFC on FOX 10 main card broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be tossing round-by-round results after the jump beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and be sure to tell us how you feelin’ in the comments section. Thanks for coming.
Preliminary Card Results
– Alex Caceres def. Sergio Pettis via submission, 4:39 of round 3 (rear-naked choke)
– Eddie Wineland def. Yves Jabouin via TKO, 4:16 of round 2
– Chico Camus def. Yaotzin Meza via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
– Hugo Viana def. Ramiro Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Daron Cruickshank def. Mike Rio via TKO, 4:56 of round 2
– George Sullivan def. Mike Rhodes via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Nikita Krylov def. Walt Harris via TKO, 0:25 of round 1
Alright PotatoHeads, it’s time for the main card, refresh early and often for round by round commentary and results, and if you were lucky enough to hear it on the prelims, perhaps Joe Rogan will repeat his hilarious critiques of the FOX robot.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Darren Elkins
Round 1- Low kick lands from Stephens. Body kick from Stephens. Shot by Elkins easily stuffed, which does not bode well for the wrestler. Uppercut lands from Stephens. Low kick from Stephens. Two huge punches miss from Stephens. Takedown from Elkins misses badly. Elkins slips and Stephens lands on top and hits an elbow as he works to half guard. Stephens stands up to put it back to striking. Good right-left from Stephens. Single from Elkins and Stephens fights it off by jumping three feet in the air trying to knee him while Elkins holds him aloft. They push against the cage and Stephens is able to fight Elkins off and separate back to striking range. Uppercut and a left from Stephens. Left from Elkins grazes Stephens who just took a deep breath. Huge punches from Stephens but not landing clean and he is putting everything behind them. Right lands for Stephens as does a knee. Good body kick by Stephens. Elkins comes forward with two strikes but they don’t land and the round ends, all Stephens. 10-9 Stephens.
Round 2- Elkins lands a right but Stephens cracks him right back and Elkins seems a little wobbled. Left high kick grazes Elkins. Takedown easily stuffed by Stephens. Right lands from Stephens. A left tags Stephens and Elkins shoots for a takedown against the cage, Stephens fighting it off. Stephens separates and starts winging punches again. Low kick by Stephens as Elkins shoots and it looked painful, although MMA in general looks painful to a wimp like me. Front kick partially lands by Elkins and he follows it with a left. Right kick by Elkins and Stephens cracks a right uppercut. Elkins shoots for a single leg takedown, stuffed again by Stephens. Head kick by Elkins partially blocked. Body kick by Elkins. Body kick by Stephens now. Left hand lands from Stephens and Elkins is cut under his right eye. 10-9 Stephens.
Round 3- Stephens is in control here, let’s see if he coasts or looks to finish. Low kick by Stephens. Body kick by Elkins is caught by Stephens who takes him down but lands in a guillotine. Stephens works out of the guillotine but it was close and Elkins rolls for the guillotine again, has it for a moment but Stephens rolls out and smartly stands up. Kick from Stephens caught and Elkins tries to take him down but Stephens throws him off. Right to the body, left to the head by Stephens. Another takedown stuffed by Stephens and his sprawl and brawl is really working. Headkicks miss by both fighters. Left hook lands from Stephens. Elkins may have clipped Stephens, he ran back and seemed tentative, Elkins charges in swinging and Stephens takes Elkins down, Elkins immediately goes for another guillotine and it is tight but the horn sounds and we are done, wow that was almost a last second hail mary but should be a comfortable decision for Stephens.
Jeremy Stephens defeats Darren Elkins by unanimous decison (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Donald Cerrone vs. Adriano Martins
Martins is sponsored by a sushi delivery company and an oil company, this guy has nothing to lose!
Round 1- Body kick by Martins and it may have hurt Cerrone ala his Pettis fight. Cerrone recovering and throwing kicks of his own. Good leg kick by Cerrone. Head kick misses by Cerrone who follows with a front kick and leg kick. Martins landing some shots in a good exchange. Another leg kick by Cerrone whose corner is urging him not to wait. Martins lands a good shot and Cerrone shoots for a takedown, goes right into full mount but Martins bounces back to the feet all in about 15 seconds. Body kick by Cerrone. Right jab lands for Cerrone along with another body kick. Right head kick lands on the button from Cerrone and Martins falls forward and is out. Good sportsmanship from Cerrone who avoids any unnecessary strikes.
Cerrone was looking rather pedestrian until the kick, but BOOM, that was all it took. It was well set up with the steady diet of body kicks and this could be KOTN and yet another bonus for Cerrone.
Donald Cerrone defeats Adriano Martins via KO, 4:40 round 1
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Stipe Miocic
This should be an interesting style matchup, Gonzaga is clearly more accomplished on the ground but can tend to fall in love with his striking, where Miocic has had his success. The winner of this will jump near the top 5 at heavyweight.
Round 1- Leg kick by Gonzaga thuds into Miocic to start and Miocic sends one of his own back. Right hand lands for Gonzaga but Miocic takes it and fires back. Another leg kick from each fighter and they are hard ones. Left jab by Gonzaga. Overhand right by Gonzaga and another low kick. Overhand right again by Gonzaga but Miocic is blocking and absorbing and firing back. Miocic slips on a kick and Gonzaga closes the distance and tries for a takedown but Miocic spins away. Big right hands lands from Gonzaga but Miocic seems fine. Gonzaga catches a Miocic leg kick and fires a few clean punches back. Gonzaga shoots a double leg and brings Miocic down but Miocic pops back up. Gonzaga breathing heavily now after that mostly failed takedown and it could be a factor as Miocic looks fresh despite eating lots of kicks and punches. 10-9 Gonzaga.
Round 2- Leg kick to start by Gonzaga. Stiff jab by Miocic and an inside leg kick. Gonzaga looks for a takedown but Miocic sprawls and defends, blocking a Gonzaga high kick on the way out. Left hook by Gonzaga and pawing jabs and a straight by Miocic. Gonzaga appears to be fading a bit with three minutes left. Miocic is picking his volume up. Gonzaga has thrown nothing in the last minute. Left head kick from Gonzaga blocked and he sends one low before going back into a largely defensive shell. Gonzaga falls forward for a takedown but it isn’t pretty and Miocic sprawls out with ease. Miocic has been teeing off for the last three minutes, Gonzaga blocked most of it but he just stopped throwing early in the round, this could get ugly in the third round. 10-9 Miocic.
Round 3- Leg kick from Gonzaga and a punch, he needs to finish in the early going here because he looks faded. Miocic working a high rate of punches but nothing landing clean. Leg kick by Miocic. Gonzaga shoots for a takedown which fails. Gonzaga tries some kicks and punches but nothing lands, Miocic keeping up a good work rate. Gonzaga slips and falls back to guard. Miocic stands over him landing punches. Gonzaga gets up but slips again and lays back in guard with Miocic standing over him. Gonzaga seems content to lay down and rest which is also my plan tonight. Miocic finally dives in with hammer fists sitting up in half guard. Gonzaga ties up from the bottom but he’s gassed. Miocic postures up and lands some big strikes. Gonzaga gets up with twenty seconds left and throws a few desperate strikes as the round ends. The Gonzaga from round 1 and round 3 don’t even seem like the same person, fatigue is a powerful beast. 10-9 Miocic.
Stipe Miocic defeats Gabriel Gonzaga via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
And as predicted at the beginning, Joe Rogan clowns on the FOX robot, “they should throw that thing in the garbage.”
Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thomson
They check Henderson for a toothpick at the prep point and it’s main event time! Winner of this may get a title shot and settle all of those WEC/Strikeforce debates that no one had, ever.
Round 1- Something tells me I might be furiously touch typing for 5 rounds here…and we’re set, touch of the gloves and high kick from Henderson to open but it’s blocked. Punches from Henderson as he flurries in on Thomson who ties up Henderson and throws him to the ground! Thomson takes Henderson’s back with a body triangle locked in. Henderson turtles up and Thomson flattens him out. Henderson rolls and Thomson still has his back but is pressed against the fence. Thomson wrenches the shoulder joint looking for an armbar or a choke. Henderson staying calm but not in a good place. Henderson stands up with Thomson still attached to his back. Henderson leans against the fence giving Thomson a free ride on his back. Henderson maneuvers out out into a clinch with over/under. Henderson puts Thomson against the cage in the clinch but Thomson reverses. Henderson works knees and then takes Thomson down. Thomson stands back up but Henderson applies a standing arm triangle! Henderson cranks it and then falls to his back with the arm triangle locked in. Thomson frees himself, stands back up and then picks up Henderson and slams him down as the round ends. Wild round, great grappling! 10-9 Thomson.
Round 2- Body punch from Henderson to start and then another. Stepping knee lands to the body for Henderson, Thomson catches the leg and tries to work a takedown but cannot. Henderson clinches again and looks for the standing arm triangle but it’s not there. They clinch along the fence trading knees and kicks. Big John McCarthy splits them up and Henderson comes in with a knee, they clinch and Thomson picks him up and slams Henderson down, takes his back again and puts on the body triangle! Henderson stands up with Thomson on his back, Thomson releases his hold and they separate. Running body punch from Henderson. Thomson seems content to wait for Henderson to come in and then try to grapple. The action heats up with an exchange and Henderson runs in with another body punch and kick to the left side of Thomson’s body. Thomson catches the kick and tries for a takedown but Henderson shows great balance and stays up. Close round, 10-9 Henderson?
Round 3- Henderson comes out flying with a superman punch and strikes and drives Thomson to the mat. Henderson on top in full guard but Thomson works back to the feet. Henderson takes Thomson’s back standing and Rogan thinks Thomson broke his right hand last round which might explain his lack of striking engagement. They separate back to the feet and Henderson works another strong right hook to the body, he’s thrown a lot of those and they appear to be landing effectively. They clinch along the cage and then spin out to the middle of the cage. Thomson throws a right elbow. Henderson with a body kick that Thomson tries to catch but can’t. Thomson goes for a takedown but cannot complete it and they clinch along the cage. Henderson cracks Thomson with an elbow. Good knee from Henderson, Thomson tries for a takedown but can’t get it. Thomson slips on a kick and Henderson lands on top in side control. North-south for Henderson and Josh spins out, grimacing noticeably as he pushes off the ground with his presumably broken hand. Thomson throws a cartwheel kick that misses and he is slowing down, maybe due to the hand. 10-9 Henderson.
Round 4- Powerful body kick by Henderson which Thomson catches. Another kick from Henderson. Low kick from Henderson. Thomson closes the distance and hits a trip takedown on Henderson, on top in half guard. Henderson uses rubber guard from the bottom and works strikes from the bottom as well as elbowing the shoulder of Thomson who is stuck. Thomson pulls his head out, briefly stands, dives back in with punches and rolls for top control. Henderson powers up and hits a takedown and elbows of his own. Henderson on top with Thomson against the cage. Thomson climbs to his feet as Henderson knees his thighs. Henderson front kicking Thomson’s calves against the cage, weird! They separate and Thomson clinches and gets another takedown and the body triangle. Never seen Henderson taken down this much. Henderson stands again, fixes his hair, and oh yea Thomson is still attached to his back. Thomson hypes the crowd from Henderson’s back and then falls back down to the mat, wild! 10-9 Henderson.
Round 5- By my very amateur scorecard it’s 3-1 in rounds for Henderson going into the 5th, Ariel Helwani has it exact opposite, 3-1 Thomson. Henderson misses with a right hook and lands one to the body. Another huge knee to the body for Henderson. Leg kick from Henderson. Thomson cracks Henderson with his right hand! Leg kick by Thomson drops Henderson but he pops right up. Three high kicks in a row from Henderson followed by a low kick and you know it’s hurting Thomson to block these. Rogan thinks Thomson is down and needs to go for broke, thanks for having my back! Josh catches Hendo’s kick and throws him violently to the ground, takes his back but Henderson stands. Thomson on Henderson’s back against the cage. Josh desperately trying to spin Henderson to the ground as they clinch with one minute left. Clinch grappling all the way here. They split with 20 seconds left and the horn sounds. 10-9 Henderson. I think it will be 49-46 Henderson but shit, who knows? The closest the fight came to being finished was in round 1 by Thomson but there were never any real fight changing moments, just a solid back and forth war.
(You’ll never go wrong betting on a guy who looks like a stunt-double for a low-budget Jamaican remake of ‘Indiana Jones.’ / Photo via MMAFighting.com)
Like many experts in our field do, we’re going to break down these UFC on FOX 10 main card fights in whichever way we damn please, spitting out our rapid-fire predictions by leaning heavily on pre-determined notions and gut feelings. Read on, and be sure to visit our “Henderson vs. Thomson” liveblog, which kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thomson
The biggest fight on this card could be the most entertaining as well — unless Benson Henderson decides to do the right thing and use his superior grappling skills to make this an ugly, dominant fight. But Thomson isn’t too shabby himself when it comes to laying and praying himself; his win over K.J. Noons before getting a title shot in Strikeforce was a prime example of what can happen when one partner is just not in the mood to cuddle.
So, maybe it’s going to come down to striking, and unless Thomson lands a game-changing head-kick like he did against Diaz, Bendo should prove to be the quicker striker who throws more when it comes to volume. Anthony Pettis will surely be watching with a close eye, because if Thomson outlasts Henderson, they have a date. And if Henderson wins and T.J. Grant is still concussed, he’s got his own third date against Pettis. And you know what they say about third dates…
Winner: Benson Henderson
Method: Unanimous Decision (5 Rounds)
(You’ll never go wrong betting on a guy who looks like a stunt-double for a low-budget Jamaican remake of ‘Indiana Jones.’ / Photo via MMAFighting.com)
Like many experts in our field do, we’re going to break down these UFC on FOX 10 main card fights in whichever way we damn please, spitting out our rapid-fire predictions by leaning heavily on pre-determined notions and gut feelings. Read on, and be sure to visit our “Henderson vs. Thomson” liveblog, which kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thomson
The biggest fight on this card could be the most entertaining as well — unless Benson Henderson decides to do the right thing and use his superior grappling skills to make this an ugly, dominant fight. But Thomson isn’t too shabby himself when it comes to laying and praying himself; his win over K.J. Noons before getting a title shot in Strikeforce was a prime example of what can happen when one partner is just not in the mood to cuddle.
So, maybe it’s going to come down to striking, and unless Thomson lands a game-changing head-kick like he did against Diaz, Bendo should prove to be the quicker striker who throws more when it comes to volume. Anthony Pettis will surely be watching with a close eye, because if Thomson outlasts Henderson, they have a date. And if Henderson wins and T.J. Grant is still concussed, he’s got his own third date against Pettis. And you know what they say about third dates…
Winner: Benson Henderson
Method: Unanimous Decision (5 Rounds)
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Stipe Miocic
Truth be told, we’re sort of in disbelief that the same guy who was shoveled out of the Octagon by Randy Couture in 2007 could be up for championship consideration in the year 2014. On the other hand, we also don’t think that Stipe Miocic is quite ready to stand out in the heavyweight title picture at the moment.
This one’s a tough draw. On one hand, you’ve got this savage Brazilian caveman ready to eat the camera before getting into his opponent’s face, against a too-quick-for-his-size potential freak athlete heavyweight with better movement.
Gonzaga does have the ability to end a fight with one shot, and he’s been looking good doing it. (The guys he’s been beating lately haven’t been total cans, either.) We might as well put our cash on the comeback kid…or in this case, the fighter that would most resemble a Street Fighter character with a perm.
Martins did make Daron Cruickshank look like an AXS TV Fights Preliminary Card curtain-jerker in his last fight, and he’s undefeated in six. Still, if Cerrone channels his inner Millennium-circa Jerome Le Banner properly, the jiu-jitsu specialist is probably toast.
Oh, yes…these types of fights. Whenever we get a grappler vs. striker clash of styles, things end up turning out one way or the other — grappler takes down striker, drubbing him on the mat for 15 minutes, or striker is somehow puzzled as to why wrestler thinks he can stand with him, hence the brutal knockout finish for the former. And that’s how much this match deserves in terms of our thought-provoking analysis.
But since we have to pick one side or the other (and since we clearly have a soft-spot for the old-schoolers), we’ll predict that grizzled vet Stephens will continue his unlikely rebirth at featherweight streak, and put Elkins down for a nice nap.
Winner: Jeremy Stephens
Method: KO/TKO (Round 1)
See any of these fights differently? Shoot us your own predictions in the comments section. Just remember, you’re not allowed to think before making your picks. It’s the CagePotato way.
All twenty-two fighters competing at tomorrow’s UFC on Fox 10: Here You Go, I Guess are set to hit the scales live from the Chicago Theater starting at 5 p.m. EST, so swing by CagePotato to check out the weigh-ins for a card that has been almost unanimously heralded by journalists like Chuck Mindenhall as “It is what it is.” Not since The Guilt Trip reviews have I seen such apathy, yet such disdain!
In the main event if the evening, Ben Henderson will fight for his right to party and not much else. Elsewhere, Gabriel Gonzaga will think he’s a better boxer than Stipe Miocic and break my heart again, not to mention my parlay, as a result. But it’s like my father said right before he was beaten to death by a bookie, “Go big or go-.” The bookie hit him with a crowbar before he could finish.
Live results for the UFC on FOX 10 weigh-ins are after the jump, and make sure to swing by CagePotato tomorrow starting at 8 p.m. to catch our liveblog of the event.
All twenty-two fighters competing at tomorrow’s UFC on Fox 10: Here You Go, I Guess are set to hit the scales live from the Chicago Theater starting at 5 p.m. EST, so swing by CagePotato to check out the weigh-ins for a card that has been almost unanimously heralded by journalists like Chuck Mindenhall as “It is what it is.” Not since The Guilt Trip reviews have I seen such apathy, yet such disdain!
In the main event if the evening, Ben Henderson will fight for his right to party and not much else. Elsewhere, Gabriel Gonzaga will think he’s a better boxer than Stipe Miocic and break my heart again, not to mention my parlay, as a result. But it’s like my father said right before he was beaten to death by a bookie, “Go big or go-.” The bookie hit him with a crowbar before he could finish.
Live results for the UFC on FOX 10 weigh-ins are after the jump, and make sure to swing by CagePotato tomorrow starting at 8 p.m. to catch our liveblog of the event.
UFC on Fox 10 Main Card (8 p.m. EST on Fox)
Benson Henderson (155) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Stipe Miocic (245) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (258)
Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Adriano Martins (155)
Darren Elkins (145) vs. Jeremy Stephens (146)
UFC on Fox 10 Prelims (5 p.m EST on Fox Sports 1)
Alex Caceres (135) vs. Sergio Pettis (135)
Eddie Wineland (135) vs. Yves Jabouin (135)
Chico Camus (135) vs. Yaotzin Meza (135)
Junior Hernandez (136) vs. Hugo Viana (136)
Daron Cruickshank (155) vs. Mike Rio (155)
George Sullivan (170) vs. Mike Rhodes (171)
UFC on Fox 10 Online Prelims (4:30 p.m EST on UFC Fight Pass)
Gabriel Gonzaga is no stranger to the deeper waters of the UFC heavyweight division.
Over a span of the past eight years, “Napao” has experienced all facets of the fight game while competing under the most visible banner in mixed martial arts. The 34-y…
Gabriel Gonzaga is no stranger to the deeper waters of the UFC heavyweight division.
Over a span of the past eight years, “Napao” has experienced all facets of the fight game while competing under the most visible banner in mixed martial arts. The 34-year-old has seen the fruits of his success materialize into title contention and later a championship opportunity, but the Brazilian grappling ace has also experienced the rapid fall that comes with a nasty backslide.
After losing back-to-back fights against former champion Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in 2010, Gonzaga was released from the organization. While he started his time inside the Octagon with a four-fight winning streak and earned a title fight against future Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 74 in 2007, once he came out on the business end of his bout with “The Natural,” things began to come apart at the seams.
While there was no doubting his versatile talents, elements of his game appeared to vanish against high-profile competition. He easily defeated relative unknowns like Josh Hendricks and Chris Tuchscherer but struggled to perform against Shane Carwin and Fabricio Werdum.
By the time the UFC released Gonzaga, he had lost five of his last eight, and the next wave of rising talent had seemingly passed him by. That said, he believed he had much more than he was showing and set about earning his way back to the sport’s biggest stage. Fortunately for the jiu-jitsu black belt, it only took one win outside of the promotion for him to rejoin the UFC, and he vowed to make the most of the second chance.
And he has by all measurable standards.
Since returning to the UFC in 2012, Gonzaga has found victory in four of his five showings, finishing every opponent but one along the way. The only setback came at the hands (and elbows) of current contender Travis Browne when the two heavyweights squared off at The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale last April.
While the loss stunted some of the momentum he had built, Gonzaga picked up what he had lost and then some by scoring back-to-back first-round knockouts over Dave Herman and Shawn Jordan. With the Brazilian dishing out punishment against top-level competition, the UFC tapped him to face another rising talent in Stipe Miocic.
The former Cleveland State University standout has quickly risen through the ranks of the division and will face a stern test in Gonzaga next Saturday night at UFC on Fox 10 in Chicago. The Ohio native has built an impressive resume during his short time in the UFC and has shown a versatile game that revolves around striking, footwork and a solid wrestling base.
Gonzaga knows Miocic will present some interesting challenges, but he’s planning on stopping the Croatian-American’s momentum at the United Center.
“I think it’s an interesting matchup,” Gonzaga told Bleacher Report. “[Miocic] is tall and fast and has long arms. He likes to exchange, but I like to exchange too. I will bring my striking and my ground game and let’s see where this fight goes. Wherever it goes, I will be prepared. When a guy moves, it’s very important that you move together. If you make the mistake of following him, then you are always going to be a step behind and right where he wants you. But I feel confident in my stand-up game and I have prepared to handle his movement.
“I’ve put a lot of work into my striking. I’ve been training my boxing since 1999 and I’ve put a lot of time into developing those skills. I’m getting better in that part of my game and I will look to keep improving those skills.”
While both fighters have a proven ability to level the opposition with a single clean shot, one area that separates them is the ground game. Gonzaga has ended several fights by submission, while Miocic has yet to test his jiu-jitsu under the UFC banner. That of course is a credit to Miocic’s defensive wrestling, but Gonzaga believes he’ll have a clear advantage if the fight hits the mat.
“I definitely believe the ground game is a place where my skills are ahead of his,” Gonzaga said. “But he has shown he is not easy to get on the ground, so I have to be ready with my striking and my wrestling. When a guy moves well, it is hard to put him down. But I don’t care if I’m able to put him on the ground or not because I’m ready for anything.”
This fight will impact the landscape of the heavyweight division. Coveted spots in the upper tier are up for grabs, and Gonzaga is eager to get back into title contention.
That said, his motivation comes from more of a personal perspective, which outweighs what ambition brings to the table. He is confident he will get where he’s looking to go as long as he puts in the hard work.
“When I go there to the fight, I go there to finish my opponent and win my fight,” he said. “I do that for myself, my family and my fans.
“I think I’m getting close,” he added in regard to a future title shot. “But if I keep putting in the hard work and winning my fights, I’m going to get another opportunity to fight for the title.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
