(Holm’s most recent performance — a 5th round starching of Julianna Werner at Legacy FC 30)
At long last, Holly Holm‘s UFC debut has been made official, with an opponent and everything! According to a press release sent out by the UFC last night, Holm will in fact be making her promotional debut at UFC 181 on December 6th. As previously reported, it appears that Holm’s potential bout with Russian scrapper Milana Dudieva has been passed over in favor of a bout with TUF 18 semifinalist Raquel Pennington.
When I first started doing MMA, people asked me what my goal was in this, and my goal is to be the first female that has titles in both MMA and boxing because nobody’s done that. And it’s totally doable, and that’s my plan.
How do you see this one ending, Potato Nation? A body shot KO victory for Holm, or a head kick KO victory for Holm?
(Holm’s most recent performance — a 5th round starching of Julianna Werner at Legacy FC 30)
At long last, Holly Holm‘s UFC debut has been made official, with an opponent and everything! According to a press release sent out by the UFC last night, Holm will in fact be making her promotional debut at UFC 181 on December 6th. As previously reported, it appears that Holm’s potential bout with Russian scrapper Milana Dudieva has been passed over in favor of a bout with TUF 18 semifinalist Raquel Pennington.
When I first started doing MMA, people asked me what my goal was in this, and my goal is to be the first female that has titles in both MMA and boxing because nobody’s done that. And it’s totally doable, and that’s my plan.
How do you see this one ending, Potato Nation? A body shot KO victory for Holm, or a head kick KO victory for Holm?
However: Dudieva’s manager Anton Linder vaguely tweeted today that “other issues have occurred” which might prevent Holm vs. Dudieva from happening, and Dudieva herself clarified that the matchup is not official, so stop spreading rumors. We’ll update you when we know more.
Holm has been recovering from a broken arm that she sustained in her fifth-round TKO victory against Juliana Werner back in April. The win bumped Holm’s pro MMA record to 7-0 with six wins via KO/TKO. Dudieva most recently won her own UFC debut with an awfully controversial split-decision against Elizabeth Phillips at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau. Dudieva would be a great “barometer for Holm’s ability,” if the fight really takes place. If not, the UFC will have to find another sacrificial lamb for Holm to devour.
However: Dudieva’s manager Anton Linder vaguely tweeted today that “other issues have occurred” which might prevent Holm vs. Dudieva from happening, and Dudieva herself clarified that the matchup is not official, so stop spreading rumors. We’ll update you when we know more.
Holm has been recovering from a broken arm that she sustained in her fifth-round TKO victory against Juliana Werner back in April. The win bumped Holm’s pro MMA record to 7-0 with six wins via KO/TKO. Dudieva most recently won her own UFC debut with an awfully controversial split-decision against Elizabeth Phillips at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau. Dudieva would be a great “barometer for Holm’s ability,” if the fight really takes place. If not, the UFC will have to find another sacrificial lamb for Holm to devour.
It’s been quite a while since we first penned our list of “The Ten Greatest Finishing Moves in MMA” and a lot has changed in the time since. While some of our choices are even more relevant now than they were when the list was originally published in April of 2011, most of them seem either inaccurate or simply out of date in light of current circumstances. Knowing what we know now, we’ve decided to update our list to align with today’s MMA landscape. Enjoy.
Matt Mitrione has evolved into quite the knockout artist since his time on TUF 10, and it’s easy to see why: He’s incredibly light on his feet for a man his size and is easily one of the most purely violent punchers in the heavyweight division. All the man named “Meathead” needed was a little refinement, go figure. That being said, two of Meathead’s last three KO victories have come less by any sort of striking technique and more by a football-style collision of two giant dudes (phrasing). His 19-second finish of Philip De Fries at UFC on FUEL 9 was the first knockout to come by way of hip thrust in UFC History and his recent win over Derrick Lewis at Fight Night 50 looked like something between a forearm shiver and a
In any case, it’s obvious that Mitrione’s professional football past has largely aided his MMA present, and we hope to one day see him score the KO via Goldberg Spear he has been working towards for years now.
It’s been quite a while since we first penned our list of “The Ten Greatest Finishing Moves in MMA“ and a lot has changed in the time since. While some of our choices are even more relevant now than they were when the list was originally published in April of 2011, most of them seem either inaccurate or simply out of date in light of current circumstances. Knowing what we know now, we’ve decided to update our list to align with today’s MMA landscape. Enjoy.
Matt Mitrione has evolved into quite the knockout artist since his time on TUF 10, and it’s easy to see why: He’s incredibly light on his feet for a man his size and is easily one of the most purely violent punchers in the heavyweight division. All the man named “Meathead” needed was a little refinement, go figure. That being said, two of Meathead’s last three KO victories have come less by any sort of striking technique and more by a football-style collision of two giant dudes (phrasing). His 19-second finish of Philip De Fries at UFC on FUEL 9 was the first knockout to come by way of hip thrust in UFC History and his recent win over Derrick Lewis at Fight Night 50 looked like something between a forearm shiver and a
In any case, it’s obvious that Mitrione’s professional football past has largely aided his MMA present, and we hope to one day see him score the KO via Goldberg Spear he has been working towards for years now.
We know, right? Who could have possibly foreseen that Thales Leites — he of UFC 97 and butt-flopping fame — would become a legitimate knockout artist some five years removed from his ill-fated title fight with Anderson Silva? But that’s exactly what’s happened in his second UFC run, proving once and for all that you really can teach an old dog new tricks.
Following decision wins over Tom Watson and Ed Herman, the BJJ Black Belt has notched impressive KO wins over Trevor Smith and the once highly-touted Francis Carmont (aka Frankie Cars) via the classic overhand right. And we know what you’re thinking, “Anyone can throw any overhand right. Anyone.” And you’re right, it may not be the flashiest punch in the book, but if Big Country can make a career of it, why can’t Tally Leites?
While Cerrone may prefer the right and Holm the left, these two have gone on pretty unprecedented streaks in the head kick department as of late, with Holm collecting 2 of her past 4 wins by the technique (with 1 in that span also coming by body kick KO) and “Cowboy” picking up head kick KO wins in 2 out of his past 3 (over Adrian Martins and Jim Miller).
We legitimately feared for Daniel Cormier‘s life when Jon Jones started dropping them thangs during their brawl at the UFC 178 media day. When Bones isn’t training his ‘bows to slice up faces in the octagon, he’s more than likely using them to carve smuggled blood diamonds into precious gems (which are then sold by Chris Weidman), and his five round butchering of Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 merely confirmed this.
(Robin Black breaks down Saunders’ omoplata in typically awesome fashion.)
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Ben Saunders in his UFC return at Fight Night 49 last month. Taking on late replacement opponent Chris Heatherly, Saunders turned an early mistake into the first omoplata finish in UFC History, and boy oh boy was it nasty. When imagining what must have been going through Heatherley’s head as he was having his arm twisted into a pretzel, we can only recall the words of comedian and masochistic pain artist Jim Norton:
“I feel like I have to shit…That was the worst one ever.”
He might not have been looking that great against Joey Beltran in the moments leading up to it, but we’ll be damned if Emanuel Newton’s second spinning backfist knockout under the Bellator banner wasn’t even more vicious than the first, and the first one made King Mo go full Groot for Christ’s sake. You never go full Groot.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Newton’s backfist is the manner in which he throws it, which at best seems like an afterthought and at worst seems like a guy casually swatting a bee off his mailbox. Newton has simply run out of fucks to give when it comes to highlight reel knockouts, to the point that he doesn’t even care to look his opponents in the face while delivering them. It’s taking the concept of a walk-off knockout to a whole ‘notha level is what it is.
#4 — Hendo’s H-Bomb
A finishing move that truly needs no introduction, Dan Henderson‘s H-Bomb reintroduced itself to the world at Fight Night 38 regardless, pancaking Shogun Rua’s nose and closing the book on one of the most improbable comeback victories in UFC History. Did you know that he also used it to knock the piss out of Michael Bisping at UFC 100? We’ve mentioned it a time or two around here, but are just making sure.
#3 — Ronda Rousey‘s Armbar Judo Slam + Storm of Hammerfists
Screw the armbar, DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE JUST DID TO THAT POOR LADY?!
The hard truth is, there is no move on this list that has had more of an impact on a fighter’s career than Alistair Overeem’s patented nosedive and semi-conscious tumble to the mat. In the span of less than a year, the move was almost solely responsible for Overeem’s plummet from “Can-Crushing He-Man” to “Second Biggest Bust of All Time“, and was in no finer form than his most recent upset loss to Ben Rothwell. The best part: He’s already ready to show it off again! Not since the Flair Flop has a fall from grace been so graceful!
Of course, if Overeem’s nosedive ranks at #2, it means that only one move can logically rank above him…
If the final moments of his UFC 164 fight with Brandon Vera didn’t prove the effectiveness of Ben Rothwell’s celebratory jig (a.k.a The Hillbilly Seizure Attack), his massive upset of The Reem earlier this month surely did.
According to our local interpretive dance expert George Shunick, Rothwell’s jig can best be described as “a cross between a native Wisconsin mating dance and a mild stroke.” In any case, Rothwell has used the power of dance to overcome almost impossible odds on two separate occasions now — like a hairy, redneck Billy Elliot (Hill-Billy Elliot?) — and has easily earned the top spot on this list because of it. LALALALALA CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!!
Honorable mentions: Chris Beal’s flying knee, Tim Kennedy’s dry hump, BJ Penn’s hidden monk stance (lol!)
(Gina Carano prepares for a showdown with Ronda Rousey by developing the Rouseybuster Armor MK II. / Photo via Getty)
And no, Dana White is not talking about a Facebook relationship status. He’s referring to Zuffa’s current contract negotiations with Gina Carano, the former “Face of Women’s MMA.”
Not too long ago, White triumphantly announced that the UFC would sign Carano and book her in a fight against UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey. As the old saying goes, be wary of Dana White bearing promises. This boast, like almost every other thing Dana White has ever said since this fateful interview, turned out to be bullshit.
It turns out signing the fighter-turned-actress is harder than Uncle Dana anticipated.
(Gina Carano prepares for a showdown with Ronda Rousey by developing the Rouseybuster Armor MK II. / Photo via Getty)
And no, Dana White is not talking about a Facebook relationship status. He’s referring to Zuffa’s current contract negotiations with Gina Carano, the former “Face of Women’s MMA.”
Not too long ago, White triumphantly announced that the UFC would sign Carano and book her in a fight against UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey. As the old saying goes, be wary of Dana White bearing promises. This boast, like almost every other thing Dana White has ever said since this fateful interview, turned out to be bullshit.
It turns out signing the fighter-turned-actress is harder than Uncle Dana anticipated.
It appears we won’t be getting Rousey-Carano, after all–at least not in 2014. While such a fight is dubious in terms of legitimacy (a fighter who hasn’t fought since 2009 earning a title shot despite coming off a loss), there’s little doubt it’d generate some much-needed heat for the UFC.
To be honest, a little heat is kind of necessary, especially for the women’s bantamweight division. Rousey crushing over-matched contenders with no name value is getting old fast. While it’s our belief that she’d destroy Carano pretty easily, it’s highly probable that Carano would generate more buzz and excitement than the likes of Alexis Davis and Cat Zingano can generate.
Until the UFC signs Carano, Holly Holm will have to suffice as Rousey’s next biggest potential opponent.
“It’s always darkest before it’s totally black.”-Mao Zedong (supposedly).
This quote aptly described MMA’s immediate future, or at least it seemed to until very recently. Card quality, fan interest, and–most importantly–numbers were all declining; 2014’s PPV buy ceiling of 350,000 was 2009’s floor. MMA was headed for a perplexing time when it was simultaneously bigger than ever but smaller than ever, when the fighters were more talented than ever but less popular than ever.
A series of fortunate events and new found circumstances can change all that. To make a Back to the Future reference, the horrific, Biff Tannen-owned Hill Valley that represented MMA’s future may well become the nice, stable Hill Valley in which George McFly is a successful fiction author and Marty McFly bangs his girlfriend in the back of a pickup truck. That is to say, MMA might be approaching a level of popularity, constancy and quality that many (including myself) didn’t think it was capable of reaching in the current climate.
“It’s always darkest before it’s totally black.”-Mao Zedong (supposedly).
This quote aptly described MMA’s immediate future, or at least it seemed to until very recently. Card quality, fan interest, and–most importantly–numbers were all declining; 2014′s PPV buy ceiling of 350,000 was 2009′s floor. MMA was headed for a perplexing time when it was simultaneously bigger than ever but smaller than ever, when the fighters were more talented than ever but less popular than ever.
A series of fortunate events and new found circumstances can change all that. To make a Back to the Future reference, the horrific, Biff Tannen-owned Hill Valley that represented MMA’s future may well become the nice, stable Hill Valley in which George McFly is a successful fiction author and Marty McFly bangs his girlfriend in the back of a pickup truck. That is to say, MMA might be approaching a level of popularity, constancy and quality that many (including myself) didn’t think it was capable of reaching in the current climate.
What’s the reason for this cautious optimism?
The initial catalyst, for me at least, is MMA’s reaction to Conor McGregor. Interest for UFC Fight Night 46 was so high you’d have thought it was headlined by Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson II rather than Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao. And this was on a Fight Pass card, mind you. That level of excitement for a Fight Pass card is extremely rare–as was the web traffic he brought in for a Fight Pass card. Fight Pass cards are so lackluster we refused to cover one. UFC Fight Night 46, however, garnered more traffic than even some Fox Sports 1 cards.
Conor McGregor stepping into the Octagon is an event. People need to see it. It’s no wonder then UFC Fight Night 46 was reportedly the most-watched Fight Pass event of all time. Conor McGregor has the makings of a superstar. He’s charismatic, a magnet for attention, he’s talented, and has a fan-friendly fighting style. Though McGregor is further proof stars have to be found and built up rather than manufactured by stamping “UFC” on them, McGregor is a light in the dark.
Rousey, too, is another reason the future seems bright. As I’ve noted in the past, the UFC women’s bantamweight division is little more than a promotional vehicle for Ronda Rousey. If you doubt this, look at Ronda Rousey’s fights in the UFC. Was the UFC sponsoring her or her opponent? The UFC does not dissemble its abject love of Rousey; Dana White admitted Rousey is the only reason the division exists.
As inflammatory and ridiculous as it sounded when White said it, Rousey might actually be the UFC’s biggest star. This (somewhat) justifies the UFC’s treatment of her. But watching even the greatest of fighters crush glorified jobbers in under a minute can get boring–boring enough that people won’t pay $60 to see it. Currently, the UFC women’s bantamweight division is such that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the only person getting as much attention as Rousey. That’s changing now.
Rousey-Holm, Rousey-Carano, and Rousey-Justino are far more sell-able and will garner more interest than Rousey vs. any of the other overmatched contenders in the division.
The women’s MMA landscape as a whole is changing thanks to the UFC’s inclusion of the strawweight division via TUF 20. The UFC’s current strawweight roster possesses enough personalities (Rose Namajunas, Felice Herrig, etc.) to make the weight class interesting.
Then we come to UFC Fight Pass. We’ve panned the network on CagePotato multiple times, but Zuffa is finally starting to listen to our suggestions. To that end, they will now start showing Invicta fight cards. Deals with other MMA promotions might also be in the works. They also plan to to air events in judo, wrestling, and other martial arts. Fight Pass is changing for the better. What was once a cheap cash-grab is turning into a legitimate window into the mixed martial arts ecosystem.
And finally, Bellator. Bjorn Rebney is out. Scott Coker, a man with the proven capability to put on cards fans care about (and who’s not scummy and horrible), is in. With Scott Coker’s vision and Viacom’s financial backing, Bellator 2.0 (or Spikeforce, as we like to call it) can become serious competition to the UFC, which’ll force the UFC to step up its game and offer a better product. Look at UFC Fight Night 50. Is it a coincidence that it’s one of the more loaded Fight Night cards in recent memory? Did Zuffa just feel like throwing us a bone? Of course not. UFC Fight Night 50 is going head to head with Bellator 123 that night.
There are reasons for MMA fans to be hopeful. There is an emerging star on the horizon, the UFC’s biggest existing star has more credible, higher profile foes to dispatch, a new crop of feisty and fearsome women are entering the fold, Fight Pass is becoming something you wouldn’t be ashamed of subscribing to, and we’re fast approaching the spiritual resurrection of Strikeforce and the competitive nature in MMA it entails.
Are we approaching a Golden Age? Maybe not because the sport still has a few unsolved problems. But we’re certainly approaching an age in which things get better before they get worse. Be cautiously optimistic, MMA fans.
Due to her elite boxing pedigree — and her savagearsenalof kicks — “The Preacher’s Daughter” has often been name-checked as one of the two fighters (along with Cris Cyborg) who could hypothetically give UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey problems down the road. Still, an immediate meeting with Rousey doesn’t seem likely at this point. As FOX Sports puts it, “Holm creates a different kind of animal for Rousey to deal with if she can survive an early UFC schedule to earn the title shot.” Rousey herself is recovering from a broken hand, and is also expected to undergo “minor knee surgery” in the near future.
We’ll keep you posted as the UFC’s plans for Holm solidify.
Due to her elite boxing pedigree — and her savagearsenalof kicks — “The Preacher’s Daughter” has often been name-checked as one of the two fighters (along with Cris Cyborg) who could hypothetically give UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey problems down the road. Still, an immediate meeting with Rousey doesn’t seem likely at this point. As FOX Sports puts it, “Holm creates a different kind of animal for Rousey to deal with if she can survive an early UFC schedule to earn the title shot.” Rousey herself is recovering from a broken hand, and is also expected to undergo “minor knee surgery” in the near future.
We’ll keep you posted as the UFC’s plans for Holm solidify.
