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Bellator 154 will bring together several of the top fighters in the promotion, as Phil Davis meets Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Josh Thomson takes on former champion Michael Chandler.
In …
Bellator 154 will bring together several of the top fighters in the promotion, as Phil Davis meets Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Josh Thomson takes on former champion Michael Chandler.
In the video above, hear from “Mr. Wonderful” and his thoughts on Lawal, while Thomson discusses Chandler in the video below:
During Friday night’s Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie 3 event, which aired live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Spike TV, Bellator MMA announced and began the promotion for the two main events scheduled for their event in San Jose, Califo…
During Friday night’s Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie 3 event, which aired live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Spike TV, Bellator MMA announced and began the promotion for the two main events scheduled for their event in San Jose, California in May.
In what was a fight that had already been made but was delayed, former top-ranked UFC Light Heavyweight contender “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis takes on longtime MMA veteran and exciting 205-pound contender, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in what was announced as the main event for the 5/14 show.
Joining Davis-Lawal as the co-main event for the show, which will air live and free on Spike TV, will be former UFC Lightweight contender Josh “The Punk” Thomson taking on former Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler.
Bellator: Davis vs. Lawal takes place from the SAP Center on Saturday, May 14, 2016, and will air live and free exclusively on Spike TV.
Heading back to San Jose with @KingMoFH vs @PhilMrWonderful, & @THEREALPUNK vs @MikeChandlerMMA #Bellator154 pic.twitter.com/SIey5LNQcU
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 20, 2016
(“BY GAWD, HE KILLED HIM!”)
While Fight Night 71 may have been a bit of a comedown from the high that last weekend’s cards provided, with 9 of the 12 scheduled fights going the distance, it managed to deliver yet another “Knockout of the Year”-worthy finish in it’s main event, which was probably the craziest sub-one and a half minute fight since Cerrone vs. Guillard.
Both Frank Mir and Todd Duffee came out throwin’ them bungalows early, but it was evident from the start that Mir was enjoying a significant speed advantage over his much younger opponent. Duffee was quite literally lunging into his punches, leaving himself exposed for big counters, and found one just over a minute into the fight in the form of a VICIOUS left hand. Though Mir would declare that “his emotions got the best of him” in his post-fight interview, there’s no arguing with the results.
Mir is now 2-0 since dropping 4 straight between 2012 and 2014. Andrei Arlovski has won three straight in the UFC. Cro Cop just beat the sh*t out of Gabe Gonzaga. Fedor is returning, and oh yeah, Fabricio Werdum is the champ. I think it’s safe to declare 2015 as the year of, as one redditor put it, “The Old School Heavyweight.”
The post Fight Night 71 Highlights/Results: Mir Sleeps Duffee, El Cucuy Carves Up Thomson, Holm Underwhelms Again + More appeared first on Cagepotato.
(“BY GAWD, HE KILLED HIM!”)
While Fight Night 71 may have been a bit of a comedown from the high that last weekend’s cards provided, with 9 of the 12 scheduled fights going the distance, it managed to deliver yet another “Knockout of the Year”-worthy finish in it’s main event, which was probably the craziest sub-one and a half minute fight since Cerrone vs. Guillard.
Both Frank Mir and Todd Duffee came out throwin’ them bungalows early, but it was evident from the start that Mir was enjoying a significant speed advantage over his much younger opponent. Duffee was quite literally lunging into his punches, leaving himself exposed for big counters, and found one just over a minute into the fight in the form of a VICIOUS left hand. Though Mir would declare that “his emotions got the best of him” in his post-fight interview, there’s no arguing with the results.
Mir is now 2-0 since dropping 4 straight between 2012 and 2014. Andrei Arlovski has won three straight in the UFC. Cro Cop just beat the sh*t out of Gabe Gonzaga. Fedor is returning, and oh yeah, Fabricio Werdum is the champ. We think it’s safe to declare 2015 as the year of, as one redditor put it, “The Old School Heavyweight.”
In the co-main event of the evening, Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson did work on Josh Thom-son, son. The TUF 13 winner, who has now won six straight fights with 4 finishes, sliced and diced Thomson with elbows throughout the three round affair and nearly finished the former Strikeforce champ with a couple different submissions to boot. It’s a testament to Thomson’s grittiness that he was able to make it the distance, but this might have been the fight that signals his descent from the top of the pack.
Tough luck, Josh. At least there’s always that pizza place in Indiana to fall back on.
Holly Holm is not ready for Ronda Rousey, Nation, and I say that with all due respect. Matched up against Marion Reneau in her sophomore outing, Holm turned in yet another underwhelming performance, chock full of funky kicks that found mostly air and a lot of yelling. Holm is truly the Maria Sharapova of kicking and punching, but against an opponent who offered literally no offense outside of a couple guard pulls, she still couldn’t pull the trigger. I know the UFC wants to push this Holm vs. Rousey narrative like it’s the next big thing in WMMA, but the winner of Jessica Eye vs. Miesha Tate is a much more interesting matchup, which is saying something, because one of those people has already been beaten by Rousey twice.
The full list of Fight Night 71 results are below.
Main Card
-Frank Mir def. Todd Duffee via first-round KO (1:13)
-Tony Ferguson def. Josh Thomson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
-Holly Holm def. Marion Reneau via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
-Manny Gamburyan def. Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
-Kevin Lee def. James Moontasri via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 2:56)
-Alan Jouban def. Matt Dwyer via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Preliminary Card
-Sam Sicilia def. Yaotzin Meza via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
-Jessica Andrade (#13) def. Sarah Moras via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
-Rani Yahya def. Masanori Kanehara via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
-Sean Strickland def. Igor Araujo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
-Kevin Casey def. Ildemar Alcantara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
-Lyman Good def. Andrew Craig via second-round TKO (3:37)
The post Fight Night 71 Highlights/Results: Mir Sleeps Duffee, El Cucuy Carves Up Thomson, Holm Underwhelms Again + More appeared first on Cagepotato.
As someone who can finish his opponents on the feet and on the ground, lightweight rising contender Tony Ferguson may be one of the most overlooked names in the game today.
His ability to utilize his range and sink in his infamous chokes makes El Cucuy…
As someone who can finish his opponents on the feet and on the ground, lightweight rising contender Tony Ferguson may be one of the most overlooked names in the game today.
His ability to utilize his range and sink in his infamous chokes makes El Cucuy one of the most dangerous outs in the division.
But throughout his lengthy tenure with the UFC, Ferguson has never faced an animal like Josh Thomson before Wednesday night.
Since his arrival onto the promotional scene, The Punk has surely had his ups and downs at 155 pounds, but he remains one of the most well-rounded entities gracing the Top 10. MMA Fighting’s Marc Raimondi is clearly impressed by his work inside the Octagon:
But it was Ferguson who outlasted the veteran Wednesday night by pressuring with crisp strikes, scrambles, submission attempts and blistering front kicks en route to an impressive unanimous-decision victory.
Here is what we learned from the mid-week lightweight tilt:
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
There aren’t many lightweights in the world capable of withstanding the punishment that Thomson endured opposite Ferguson on Wednesday night.
With sensational footwork, angling, front kicks, defensive scrambles and rolls, penetrating elbows and dangerous submission attempts, Thomson was battered beyond comprehension.
His effort is a testament to his will to win and ability to absorb damage to still implement his own offensive outbursts, which included some third-round spinning back fists.
Needless to say, this is the outcome that many people would have pointed to.
Ferguson utilized his reach, timely pressure and scrappy demeanor to ward off a veteran in search of a big victory.
What We Learned About Thomson
It was a rough go for Thomson this time around, but he’s still one of the most game lightweights in the sport today.
After taking copious amounts of punishment in the first two rounds, The Punk still had the wherewithal to launch spinning back fists and lunging power shots.
Although he was accurate when needed and showcased elite submission defense, Thomson was unable to land in succession.
It prohibited him from hurting Ferguson and warding off the hungry contender’s pressure and persistence.
What We Learned About Ferguson
Ferguson has now racked off six Octagon victories in a row, which is a streak hard to come by nowadays.
At this point in time, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where El Cucuy is outmatched at every turn.
He incorporates one of the most well-rounded arsenals in the division, which is evident by his ability to overwhelm Thomson with crisp striking, elbows from guard, defensive scrambles and flying knees.
If we learned anything different about Ferguson in comparison to past performances, it would be his ability to implement his high-level game against Top 10 competition.
What’s Next for Thomson
As a fighter on the back end of his career and riding a three-fight losing streak, it would surprise many people to see Thomson retire.
But considering he’s not being put to sleep like many aging veterans unwilling to hang it up, it’s likely that we see him at least one more time.
He still carries a big name in this sport and can obviously weather any storm thrown his way.
A future matchup opposite rising lightweight contender and featherweight exile Dustin Poirier would be an odds-on favorite to win Fight of the Night.
What’s Next for Ferguson
Ferguson is finally starting to garner the respect and popularity he deserves.
As a guy who has compiled a 9-1 record inside the Octagon, it’s time he finally cracks the Top 10 and earns a fight against a true contender.
A few names come to mind, but the winner of Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder at UFC on Fox 16 later this month makes the most sense.
Of course, a guy like Eddie Alvarez is always a good choice.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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To say Josh Thomson is fired up heading into his bout with Tony Ferguson at Fight Night 71 on Wednesday would be an understatement. It would also be one that requires a bit of clarity as well.
The former Strikeforce lightweight champion turned UFC cont…
To say Josh Thomson is fired up heading into his bout with Tony Ferguson at Fight Night 71 on Wednesday would be an understatement. It would also be one that requires a bit of clarity as well.
The former Strikeforce lightweight champion turned UFC contender is coming off back-to-back split-decision losses that could have very well gone his way.
The Punk came out on the short side of a five-round scrap with Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 10 back in January 2014, only to follow it up with another razor-thin split on the judges’ scorecards against Bobby Green five months later at UFC on Fox 12 in San Jose, California.
That pair of losses served to push the 36-year-old veteran off the radar for a potential title opportunity—one he was originally slated to get until then-champion Anthony Pettis pulled out of their scheduled bout with an injury.
Nevertheless, the fight game is one where winning matters most, and a two-fight skid in what is arguably the most competitive division under the UFC banner was going to change a few things where his place in the lightweight hierarchy is concerned.
The No. 9-ranked Thomson would need to win a few fights in order to get back into striking distance of a title opportunity, and being a veteran of the sport, that is something the American Kickboxing Academy fighter says he completely understands.
But Thomson wants bigger fights to regain lost ground, and getting lined up against fighters who aren’t in the same ranking tier he exists in is something Thomson isn’t happy with.
“After the fight with Benson [Henderson], I was upset,” Thomson told Bleacher Report. “I lost the title fight I was supposed to get because of that. I was scheduled to fight Anthony Pettis for the title before that, but Pettis backed out. I ended up fighting Benson, which I had to lobby to get. Afterwards, they [the UFC] didn’t want to give me any top-ranked guys. They wanted to give me no-name guys I’d never heard of and who weren’t even ranked in the top 20. I only wanted to fight top guys and I was really upset—especially because I believe I won the fight, and did so with one hand.
“I still feel I did enough to win the fight, and losing the fight cost me a title shot. That for me was a hard one to get over. As far as the Bobby Green fight, I blame myself for that because I wasn’t happy about the situation,” Thomson, who was originally slated to face Michael Johnson, said.
“I get stuck with an opponent who was completely different than the one I was scheduled to fight just two weeks out and I was pretty upset about it,” he added. “I was already unhappy about having to fight Michael Johnson, then had to turn around and fight Bobby Green. It showed in my performance. I just wanted to get through it, get the win and get out of there. Obviously, the judges saw it a different way, so it cost me.”
Despite having lost close fights against Henderson and Green, the California native continued to set his sights on the upper echelon of competition in the lightweight ranks, but back-to-back losses don’t exactly get a fighter high-profile bouts against the division’s top five.
So the road back began.
Unsuccessful in landing the fights he was aiming for, Thomson was still ready to go back to work. He agreed to face jiu-jitsu ace Gilbert Burns at Fight Night 62 in Brazil but was eventually forced out of that bout after suffering an injury in his training camp.
The next challenge to come down the line was the 11th-ranked Ferguson, who has won eight of his nine showings inside the Octagon since winning The Ultimate Fighter 13.
In Thomson’s mind, a victory over Ferguson would do little to bolster his case for a future title shot, whereas Ferguson would have much to gain should he find success in San Diego. That isn’t a picture Thomson is content with, but he seems to have settled for it being the reality of his situation.
“I’ve kind of just moved on and it is what it is,” Thomson said. “I’ve come to the conclusion that they want to give me the Dan Henderson approach and have me fight their up-and-coming guys and take away any chance of me ever fighting for their title.”
Thomson’s comments have struck a nerve with Ferguson. According to MMAJunkie Radio (h/t MMAJunkie), Ferguson has been vocal about what he sees as a lack of motivation from the San Jose-based lightweight heading into their fight.
El Cucuy has dropped several pointed barbs in his direction, none of which seem to concern the veteran.
“It’s all talk to me,” Thomson said. “In the day and age of this sport, all these younger guys feel they have to talk trash to get recognition. The problem is they all try to talk trash like Conor McGregor and Chael Sonnen, and they all sound stupid. They all talk to try to put themselves in the spotlight and get name recognition, but they all sound dumb. Look, dude, at the end of the day we are going to fight, so there isn’t much that needs to be said.
“I’ve asked for [Donald] Cerrone. I’ve asked for [Rafael] dos Anjos. I’ve asked for Pettis. As soon as Pettis lost and was ready to fight again, saying he wanted to get back in there, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Same with Cerrone, but it was made clear I had no chance of getting those fights. Whether Tony Ferguson is upset over me trying to fight top-ranked guys doesn’t matter to me. Any smart businessman, any smart athlete, is going to try to step in there and seize the opportunity. I think he’s more upset he didn’t think of it first.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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Jorge Masvidal took a major risk on Sunday when he moved up to welterweight to compete against Cezar Ferreira. The risk paid off when he defeated the Brazilian in the first round via knockout. Now, he’s in a peculiar position as to whether he sho…
Jorge Masvidal took a major risk on Sunday when he moved up to welterweight to compete against Cezar Ferreira. The risk paid off when he defeated the Brazilian in the first round via knockout. Now, he’s in a peculiar position as to whether he should stay at 170 pounds or move back down to welterweight. With that question in mind, here are suggestions for five fights to further Masvidal’s career.