Ahead of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 96 event in Portland, Oregon were the official weigh-ins featuring all of the fighters scheduled for tonight’s FS1 card.
Featured above is a complete video archive of the weigh-ins, …
https://youtu.be/RKCg32Oo_F0
Ahead of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 96 event in Portland, Oregon were the official weigh-ins featuring all of the fighters scheduled for tonight’s FS1 card.
Featured above is a complete video archive of the weigh-ins, which were held on Friday afternoon in Portland.
Check back at MMANews.com this evening for a complete UFN 96 report.
Main card (FOX Sports 1 at 11 p.m. ET)
John Lineker (136.5 *missed weight) vs. John Dodson (135)
Will Brooks (156) vs. Alex Oliveira (161.5 * missed weight)
Josh Burkman (171) vs. Zak Ottow (171)
Louis Smolka (146) vs. Brandon Moreno (126)
Undercard (FOX Sports 2 at 9 p.m. ET)
Luis Henrique da Silva (206) vs. Joachim Christensen (205)
Hacran Dias (148.5 * missed weight) vs. Andre Fili (146)
Shamil Abdurakhimov (256) vs. Walt Harris (254)
Keita Nakamura (170.5) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171)
Undercard (UFC Fight Pass at 7:15 p.m. ET)
Nate Marquardt (186) vs. Tamdan McCrory (185)
Jonathan Wilson (205) vs. Ion Cutelaba (206)
Cody East (251) vs. Curtis Blaydes (265.5)
Kelly Faszholz (134.5) vs. Ketlen Viera (136)
Most of the news in MMA this week has obviously been focused on Conor McGregor and his lightweight title bout against 155-pound champ Eddie Alvarez in the main event of November’s UFC 205 from New York, but the promotion still has a card scheduled for this weekend in the form of UFC Fight Night 96
Most of the news in MMA this week has obviously been focused on Conor McGregor and his lightweight title bout against 155-pound champ Eddie Alvarez in the main event of November’s UFC 205 from New York, but the promotion still has a card scheduled for this weekend in the form of UFC Fight Night 96 from Portland, Oregon.
In the main event, surging knockout puncher John Lineker will meet division returnee John Dodson for a chance a prime bantamweight positioning in the suddenly deep-stacked 135-pound class. Lineker has won five straight including two by knockout and one by submission, while Dodson recently ran through Manny Gamburyan and has only lost to pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson since late 2009. In the co-main event, former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks will continue his attempt to ruse up the UFC ranks against the exciting Alex Oliveira.
Will it be “Hands of Stone” or “The Magician” who puts on the best performance in Portland? Find out who we picked below:
John Lineker vs. John Dodson:
Mike Drahota:
This fight is flying under the radar, especially during a week where potentially the biggest card of all-time was announced. Still, this is one of the most explosive 135-pound bouts the UFC could have put on, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see either fighter win with a brutal KO
No. 3-ranked Lineker is actually a +101 underdog to No. 10 and -121 favorite Dodson according to BigOnSports.com, but that could be a bold prediction. “Hands of Stone” has shown a willingness to slug it out with any bantamweight as evident by his recent wins over Michael McDonald and Francisco Rivera, and he appears to have a chin to match his hands.
Dodson is always a dangerous out who can end a fight shockingly fast, and his wrestling is solid as well. I just think Lineker’s pressure will allow him to out-score Dodson, opening up the way for a finish in the middle rounds. Lineker by round three TKO.
Rory Kernaghan:
Both John Lineker and his namesake Dodson have serious power in their hands, and both have carried it up from flyweight to bantamweight. The big difference between their styles is in the way they deliver this power. Dodson utilizes great footwork and speed, whereas Lineker is one of your stand-and-bang type strikers. Neither man has ever been finished by strikes, in fact ‘The Magician’ has never been stopped. In this fight I can’t see Dodson overcoming that scary power of ‘Hands of Stone,’ the match up reminds me too much of Lineker vs. McCall. I don’t think we’ll see a finish, but I predict a decision win for John Lineker.
Will Brooks vs. Alex Oliveira:
Mike Drahota:
Brooks was impressive as Bellator champ but looked a bit flat in his UFC debut win over Ross Pearson, something that could be attributed to the “Octagon jitters” we often see from hyped competitors.
“Ill” now needs to prove he belongs amongst the top 155-pound fighters in the world, and I think Oregon will be the perfect place for him to do so. Brazilian “Cowboy” Oliveira is a tough, unique fighter who brings a strong submission game, but he’s not one that Brooks, who rates as a -280 favorite according to BigOnSports, should be unable to outclass on the feet. I do not think it will end with a stoppage, however. Brooks by unanimous decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks is perhaps the brightest prospect in the division. That said, Alex Oliveira is going to be huge at lightweight, if he can make the limit that is. It’s been a few years since ‘Cowboy’ fought at 155 pounds, and now there’s no IV rehydration to help either. The Brazilian has some nice hands and ground game, but I feel the wrestling base and hard hands of Brooks will be too much. I’m predicting a second round KO for Will Brooks.
UFC 205 has had everyone in a bit of a frenzy this week. Since the announcement of Conor McGregor’s bid to challenge Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title, there has been nonstop talk from every media source, including this one, about how enjoyable and historic the event will be. So when the revelation that John Lineker versus John Dodson was occurring this weekend, you can understand that I was a bit surprised. It’s an event that not many are talking about and that’s a huge mistakes as two of the hardest hitting bantamweights under 5’6″ tall will be trying to take each other’s heads off.
UFC 205 has had everyone in a bit of a frenzy this week. Since the announcement of Conor McGregor’s bid to challenge Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title, there has been nonstop talk from every media source, including this one, about how enjoyable and historic the event will be. So when the revelation that John Lineker versus John Dodson was occurring this weekend, you can understand that I was a bit surprised. It’s an event that not many are talking about and that’s a huge mistakes as two of the hardest hitting bantamweights under 5’6″ tall will be trying to take each other’s heads off.
John Lineker has officially become a dark horse at bantamweight. Ever since giving up on his flyweight title aspirations due to weight cutting issues, Lineker has moved up a weight class with devastating results. He’s been knocking out bantamweights left and right with the same tactics ever time. His forward pressure, head movement and ability to cut off the cage while throwing hard hooks eventually pushes his opponents back to the fence. With their backs against the cage opponents usually feel compelled to come forward with strikes, which usually never works out well for them. Either you’re forced to move to the left where a Lineker right hook will be waiting or to your right where the left hook is also sure to call problems. Much like every other bout, Lineker should use his high pressure style to give Dodson few escape routes. Dodson’s speed will give Lineker problems, so targeting the legs with hard kicks should definitely be an option.
John Dodson has also failed to capture gold at flyweight, but unlike Lineker was able to challenge the champion Demetrius Johnson. Unfortunately for Dodson, Johnson had too many different tools at his disposal causing Dodson to fall flat at his second title challenge. Dodson is still extremely dangerous and talented with a number of striking tools that should give Lineker trouble. Firstly, Dodson has a great deal of speed in his strikes as well as in his footwork, abilities that he must use to secure victory. While lateral movement is something to focus on when fighting a wrestler or grappler, Dodson needs to do the same to avoid Lineker’s nasty power strikes. When he does decide to commit to his strikes, throwing two or three at the most is ideal as well as exiting off on an angle. Staying too long in the pocket with Lineker is a dangerous gamble and Dodson has the speed to land shots and get out of harms way with the quickness. A pot shorting game will suit Dodson best in this fight, following up with kicks after probing with the hands.
This fight is sure to be an insane display of movement with both men landing their fair share of shots. If Dodson decides to get into a brawl with Lineker than it will surely prove to be his undoing. If Dodson instead chooses to play the outside game then victory can be in sight. Look for John Dodson to play the long game as he defeats John Lineker by unanimous decision.
Rashad Evans has accomplished a great deal in his UFC career, picking up the light heavyweight strap in the course of 20 fights with the promotion.
The soon-to-be middleweight contender takes on Tim Kennedy at UFC 205 in November in his first bout at 1…
Rashad Evans has accomplished a great deal in his UFC career, picking up the light heavyweight strap in the course of 20 fights with the promotion.
The soon-to-be middleweight contender takes on Tim Kennedy at UFC 205 in November in his first bout at 185 pounds, but before he steps into the cage again, Evans will be working the analyst desk for Fox Sports 1 this weekend as the Octagon heads to Portland, Oregon.
Bleacher Report caught up with Evans to get his thoughts on the main event, which pits former two-time flyweight challenger John Dodson against brick-fisted Brazilian John Lineker in a strong matchup of 135-pound contenders.
Bleacher Report: We have a pretty awesome matchup this weekend with Lineker and Dodson, two knockout artists with much different approaches to putting leather on their opponents. What do you see as the big things to watch for here?
Rashad Evans: The big things with Dodson are going to be his speed and his transitions. One thing that gets away from him is falling in love with that power a little bit too much. But if he can stay with that and just be able to create alternatives, being able to take him [Lineker] down, mix that in with his good movement and his power, then this should be his fight.
But Lineker is really good at getting someone to wade inside that pocket, to brawl in the style that he likes really well. He hits really hard from there. If he catches you one time, his recoil back with his left and his right hand is so blisteringly fast that he catches a lot of people off guard. That power puts everybody to sleep.
B/R: Given that both guys hit really hard, do you think Dodson will be able to resist the urge to exchange with Lineker? Especially because Lineker is a guy who leaves his chin out there, if Dodson tags him with a good left hand, can he stop himself from continuing to throw and causing an exchange that favors Lineker?
Evans: No, I don’t think Dodson’s going to be able to resist. He’ll be able to resist after he catches one of those [Lineker] punches and feels the sting of his power, then he’ll be able to resist. He’ll be able to say, “OK, this guy hits hard.”
He [Dodson] wants to be impressive, he wants to hit the reset button on his career in the 135-pound weight class, so he’s going to go out there and try to put on a show. He’s going to try to go inside where Lineker feels safe, but when he feels that power, he’s going to be smarter.
B/R: So you think takedowns will be a big part of that for Dodson, mixing it up, avoiding the brawl?
Evans: Even if he [Dodson] doesn’t take him down, when you’re trying to work for the takedown you end up closing the distance and putting a lot of pressure on the person. It’s still a threat, and you can get him to lower his level. It brings that threat to his mind so he can’t open up with his striking.
In order for the takedown to work at all, you have to at least land one. If you don’t land one, the opponent will feel like there’s really no threat.
B/R: He has to establish it as a credible threat for Lineker to worry about.
Evans: Correct.
B/R: When Dodson was fighting at 125 pounds, the only person he lost to was Demetrious Johnson, but he slowed down badly in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Given that Lineker also pushes a fast pace, do you think Dodson’s at risk of gassing, or is that less of a problem with a smaller weight cut?
Evans: I think Demetrious Johnson brings out a different element and a different kind of pace than anybody is used to handling. His transitions from standup to the ground are like nobody’s in all of MMA. I’d put him up there as pound-for-pound the best in that position.
He brings a really good pace, and Dodson tried to match his pace. He tried to keep it exciting; that’s his style. Whenever you do big moves, big combinations, big techniques, it zaps your energy. Johnson was more consistent with that pace and was able to carry it throughout the fight because he doesn’t open up with big techniques or big fancy moves.
When Dodson was going against a guy like that, he found himself fading as the rounds went on, but with Lineker, I don’t think he’ll have that problem. Lineker isn’t as smooth as Johnson, so some of the things that Little John [Dodson] likes to do will catch and stun Lineker, and keep him on cue a bit more.
B/R: That makes a lot of sense, especially because it’s not just the physical pressure that Johnson puts on you, it’s also a kind of a mental pressure. It’s exhausting to have to think through what he’s doing.
Evans: Exactly. And that mental pressure is really draining. Sometimes, when you do a big technique and it doesn’t work, you think, “OK, let me get my breath back again.” You keep your hands up and you move, but when a guy doesn’t look fazed by it and looks like he’s creating something, now you have to get in defensive mode and that really tires you out.
B/R: Both Dodson and Lineker are just ungodly tough guys with crazy chins, but both have huge power. Do you think either can knock the other out or will this go to a decision?
Evans: I think both can knock the other out. Honestly, I think it’s whoever lands that solid shot. Little John [Dodson] has to be really, really careful exchanging inside the pocket, because like I was saying before, Lineker throws that left hand and right hand faster than anybody I’ve ever seen. He throws that left hook, right hook, left hook again at blazing speed.
It comes from his hips, too. If you ever watch an old-school boxer like Sugar Ray Robinson, it comes from his hips, so he can get a lot of torque on his punches. A lot of fighters just don’t see it coming. Once the hands are low like that, it leaves your view when it goes past your hips, and then you don’t see it when it comes back. That’s why Lineker is so effective in the pocket.
It looks like he’s leaving his chin open, but if you don’t catch him, you’ve got problems, you know?
B/R: That’s a really good point about the combination punching, because if we’re comparing the two fighters, Dodson is a burst-fighter. He’ll go 30 seconds, 45 seconds without doing much, trying to pick his spots to throw the right shot.
By contrast, Lineker has that hair trigger. If you leave any sort of opening or opportunity, he’ll exploit it, and that’s especially dangerous in exchanges. If you’re Dodson, how do you exchange with Lineker responsibly?
Evans: Whenever you exchange with Lineker, you’ve got to make sure you’re not in the areas of the cage where he’s really good at letting go with a barrage of punches. That’s on that black line, where you’re five or six feet before you get to the cage, where he’s most dangerous.
As long as Little John [Dodson] can keep it in the center of the cage, Lineker‘s not as dangerous, because even if he does start throwing combinations of punches, then Little John can get out of the way. But if he [Lineker] can get to the cage, there’s nowhere for Dodson to go, and Lineker‘s going to land punches, where he goes left and right.
B/R: That’s a really interesting point, that Dodson’s evasiveness is going to be an issue for Lineker.
Evans: Yeah. In general, he needs to go after Little John [Dodson]. Part of what makes Little John so effective is that he feels good, he’s happy, he’s having fun. You’ve got to make it a miserable fight for him. You’ve got to make him frustrated and mad, you’ve got to make him fight outside of his fight; giving him room is the wrong thing for Lineker to do.
Get him against the cage, wrestle him, just gum up his technique and he’s going to get frustrated. That’s when Lineker can open up a bit. I think the more space you give a fighter like Little John, the more creative he can get, the more free he can be, he’s going to catch you with something really hard because he’s good at that in and out range.
As Evans presents it, the basic dynamics of the fight will be spacing within the cage and whether Dodson can fight a smart, disciplined fight.
Can Lineker force Dodson to the fence, where he’s most effective with his punching combinations, or will Dodson be able to maintain distance and space?
This is a great bantamweight matchup, and we’ll learn how it plays out on Saturday, October 1, in Portland on Fox Sports 1.
Ahead of his fight in the main event against John Dodson at the UFC Fight Night 96 event in Portland, Oregon next weekend, John Lineker is featured in the latest “Fight Night Portland Free Fight” video.
Featured above…
https://youtu.be/oFgZms1ZCvI
Ahead of his fight in the main event against John Dodson at the UFC Fight Night 96 event in Portland, Oregon next weekend, John Lineker is featured in the latest “Fight Night Portland Free Fight” video.
Featured above is the complete UFC 191 bout between Lineker and Francisco Rivera.
John Lineker boasts an impressive 9-2 record in the UFC including this first-round submission victory over Francisco Rivera last year. Lineker faces John Dodson in the main event of Fight Night Portland on Saturday, October 1 on FS1.
