Saturday night was UFC 175, the biggest event of the year for the world’s largest MMA promotion. In the main event, Lyoto Machida challenged Chris Weidman for his UFC Middleweight Championship in an attempt to be just the third fighter to hold belts in…
Saturday night was UFC 175, the biggest event of the year for the world’s largest MMA promotion. In the main event, LyotoMachida challenged Chris Weidman for his UFC Middleweight Championship in an attempt to be just the third fighter to hold belts in multiple weight classes.
Machida came up short in his effort to become champion, dropping a unanimous decision to Weidman. It was a fight that was largely contested on the feet and excited the fans throughout.
In examining Machida‘s performance, it’s easy to see where things went wrong for the Japanese-Brazilian karate master. His slow start and defensive style did him no favors early on, which got him behind on the scorecards.
First, it must be noted that Machida‘s takedown defense and ability to get off his back when he was taken down was on point as usual Saturday night. Weidman tried many times to plant Machida on the mat, but Machida would either fend that attack off or get up incredibly fast.
Also, it should be stated Machida finished the fight well. Despite his slow start, he picked up steam down the stretch, though, that could be viewed as a weakness in this fight.
Weidman‘s Octagon control was at the detriment of Machida in this bout. Weidman controlled the cage and was able to dictate the striking game. It made it tough for Machida to get off and blitz like he usually does in his fight.
Machida‘s defensive style also hurt him. He was waiting on Weidman too much, but because Weidman is athletic and quick, he was able to escape many of Machida‘s counters. He was able to land some, but not like he normally does in fights.
His slow start also did him no favors. He didn’t really look like the Machida of past until the late fourth round and entire fifth round. That’s where he finally started to get going, though, it was a little too late.
If there’s something to take from that, it’s that we now know that the weight cut doesn’t affect Machida‘s cardio. He was fresh throughout the fight and never really looked too gassed.
Most of the times that Machida hasn’t won fights was because he was too timid and not aggressive enough. That could easily be to blame here as well.
Machida is still a high-level middleweight and will stick around the title picture despite the loss. Seeing his recent performances against Mark Munoz and GegardMousasi show that he is going to be a tough out for any top-level 185-pounder that the UFC possesses.
At UFC 175 on Saturday night, Chris Weidman retained the UFC Middleweight Championship in impressive fashion, taking a unanimous-decision win over challenger Lyoto Machida. It was a great performance for Weidman, who continues to build himself up as a …
At UFC 175 on Saturday night, Chris Weidman retained the UFC Middleweight Championship in impressive fashion, taking a unanimous-decision win over challenger Lyoto Machida. It was a great performance for Weidman, who continues to build himself up as a star in the UFC.
Weidman, known for his impressive wrestling and grappling prowess, spent a majority of his time on the feet with Machida, where many people thought he’d be at a disadvantage. However, he won three or four rounds on all the judges’ scorecards, showing he was able to handle himself against the karate master.
In examining Weidman’s performance, it’s easy to see what went right for the champion. His ability to mix it up, be aggressive and keep Machida on his heels was the key to victory.
The biggest thing was that Weidman established control early. While he slowed a bit down the stretch, he was able to set the tone early to earn points on the scorecards.
He also mixed up his attacks well. Though it was tough for him to get takedowns and keep Machida on his back, the fact that he threatened with them kept Machida guessing throughout the bout.
Also, Weidman’s aggression earned him points. Machida is known as a defensive fighter, which should come as no surprise to fans. Weidman took the center of the cage, imposed his will with strikes and takedown attempts and made sure he was winning the rounds from the Brazilian.
His striking was also on point. Not long ago, Weidman was basically a submission wrestler. Now, under the tutelage of Ray Longo, the champion has developed amazing boxing with some solid kicks to mix things up.
Down the stretch, he started to slip a bit. However, that was because Machida got more aggressive and took the center of the cage from him.
Had Machida come out more aggressive like he did late in the fight, would the fight have gone the same way? The biggest thing that went right for Weidman was that he was aggressive and keeping Machida with his back to the cage.
Also, did Weidman slow as a result of his big weight cut? He is a mammoth at middleweight that has to cut a significant amount, which could affect his cardio.
Those points stated, they had a minimal effect on Weidman during the fight. They were a small crack in an otherwise polished armor.
All in all, Weidman put on a great performance that will continue to skyrocket his stock. He has beaten arguably the two best men at middleweight right now in Anderson Silva and Machida, and done so in impressive fashion.
Everything was on point Saturday night, as Weidman proved why he is the UFC champ. He is hard working, skilled and has the heart of a gladiator.
UFC 175 is in the books, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship should be pleased with their latest offering. Two champions further solidified their claims on the pound-for-pound list, while a number of other competitors had strong showings of their ow…
UFC 175 is in the books, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship should be pleased with their latest offering. Two champions further solidified their claims on the pound-for-pound list, while a number of other competitors had strong showings of their own. Now that the event is over, these are some interesting story lines that should follow the fighters and promotion going forward.
Chris Weidman as the Face of the Promotion
Chris Weidman and LyotoMachida put on a stellar showcase for the middleweight title. Weidman walked away from the contest with the belt in tow and the opportunity to establish himself as the face of the UFC.
Weidman has already become the darling of the MMA community as he’s been featured on a number of different media outlets. Platforms such as ESPN, Fox Sports and other organizations have become Weidman‘s new playground as he promoted UFC 175. His potential to become the next big star of this sport is widely recognized at this point.
“He has the potential to be the next star,” Jay Glazer told MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn. “He’s a good-looking guy, and he’s as down to Earth as you’re every going to get. … He’s the future, and he’s legitimately one of the sweetest human beings you’ll ever meet in your life.”
Stars such as Chuck Liddell and Georges St. Pierre helped push mixed martial arts to its current level of popularity. Weidman‘s victory proved he has the skill to be the next man to carry that baton. The challengers that await him at middleweight are just what he needs to build his name. Timing could not be any more perfect as the UFC is in need of stars to build upon.
Ronda Rousey‘s Dominance
Sixteen seconds was all Ronda Rousey needed to dismantle the newest challenger to her bantamweight title. Alexis Davis was a true underdog coming into this fight, but this quick finish outcome wasn’t expected by most. That leaves the UFC in a tough predicament with what to do with the fighter that is presented as their biggest star on the roster.
Rousey has already defeated six of the women ranked in the top 10 of this weight class. Cat Zingano was forced to the sideline due to her knee injury, but placing her in an immediate bout against Rousey would leave her at a disadvantage.
Rousey has shown interest in facing Bethe Correia, who has seemed to make it a point to take out the champion’s training partners. That potential fight is still a long ways off before the UFC can justify that booking. The same goes with a rematch against Sara McMann. The options are truly limited with what the company can do with the “Rowdy” one.
Holly Holm and Cristiane Justino sit on the outside looking in as the UFC has struggled to get either of them signed to the promotion. While both of these competitors could be booked as potential threats to Ronda’s reign, the MMA community is still far away from seeing either contest.
The UFC is at a point where it needs Rousey more than ever. Unfortunately, a lack of compelling matchups will make it difficult to properly book their champion.
How the UFC will follow up
UFC 175 was set to be a major test for the promotion. 2014 had been less than stellar when it came to pay-per-view buys for the company. This card was stacked with two title bouts in hopes that their defenses would catch the eyes of the viewing public. General response to the event has been widely positive. Now the question turns to how the UFC can follow up for the fans.
UFC 176 was set to go on Aug. 2 and feature the rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes. Unfortunately the injury bug has hit Aldo once again and puts that card in serious jeopardy. Outside of Jon Jones, the company has struggled to garner much attention for their champions.
The current model of flooding the market with fights haven’t had the best results at this time. Yet the leaders of the UFC seem undaunted in changing their model.
It will be interesting to see how the promotion follows up to such a strong event. Momentum is vital in the sports promotion industry, so the UFC will best benefit by creating cards that immediately capture the attention of mainstream fans. That has already been difficult for much of 2014, but the organization has to find a way to answer the call.
UFC 175 was a very bright spot for a 2014 that has been filled with challenges for the organization. These are just three of the story lines that now follow key fighters and the organization as a whole.
In perhaps the most gutsy performance of his storied career, Lyoto Machida fell to middleweight champ Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 175 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Despite the fact that Weidman beat him at his own game, the former UFC light heav…
In perhaps the most gutsy performance of his storied career, Lyoto Machida fell to middleweight champ Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 175 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Despite the fact that Weidman beat him at his own game, the former UFC light heavyweight champ could hold his battered face high at night’s end, knowing that he didn’t regress in defeat.
The UFC’s brass will surely pit The Dragon, who hasn’t faced an unranked opponent since 2007, with yet another top-flight foe in his next bout.
Here are four fights for the 36-year-old Brazilian to take next.
Oversaturation. Lack of stars. Declining interest. Record-low numbers. An ephemeral casual fanbase. A hardcore fanbase that doesn’t care anymore. A resurgent competitor with a new, well-liked, adept president backed by a financial titan.
Those topics have all been under substantial discussion in the past few months–as they should be. Those are the very real, very pressing problems the UFC faces as we enter the second half of 2014.
But last night at UFC 175, the MMA world was able to forget all that–specifically because of the PPV’s main and co-main events.
The co-main event featured UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey taking on challenger Alexis Davis. As Rousey headed to the cage, I took to CagePotato’s Twitter and presciently stated Rousey-Davis would be the most one-sided fight we see all year. That’s exactly what it turned out to be. Rousey vs. Davis made Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie seem well-booked and competitive.
I know what you’re saying, “Why is the UFC-sponsored cash cow Ronda Rousey winning a squash match something to get pumped up about?”
(Two of the best fighters on earth about to enter unarmed combat. / Photo via Getty)
Oversaturation. Lack of stars. Declining interest. Record-low numbers. An ephemeral casual fanbase. A hardcore fanbase that doesn’t care anymore. A resurgent competitor with a new, well-liked, adept president backed by a financial titan.
Those topics have all been under substantial discussion in the past few months–as they should be. Those are the very real, very pressing problems the UFC faces as we enter the second half of 2014.
But last night at UFC 175, the MMA world was able to forget all that–specifically because of the PPV’s main and co-main events.
The co-main event featured UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey taking on challenger Alexis Davis. As Rousey headed to the cage, I took to CagePotato’s Twitter and presciently stated Rousey-Davis would be the most one-sided fight we see all year. That’s exactly what it turned out to be. Rousey vs. Davis made Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie seem well-booked and competitive.
I know what you’re saying, “Why is the UFC-sponsored cash cow Ronda Rousey winning a squash match something to get pumped up about?”
If you paid any attention to the NFL in the late 90s/early 2000s, you might remember “The Greatest Show on Turf.” That’s what everyone called the record-breaking offense for the St.Louis Rams. At the time, there was nothing like it. Watching their games, even the one-sided blowouts, was incredible because you had the sense that watching such artistry was a privilege. You didn’t care about the 48-3 score, you cared about witnessing the spectacle, the athleticism, and the talent.
If the St.Louis Rams were the Greatest Show on Turf, Ronda Rousey is the Greatest Show on Canvas (or the Greatest Show in a Cage or whatever gimmicky honorific you’d like to use). There is quite literally nothing in MMA like watching Ronda Rousey fight–the legendary scowl she sports while “Bad Reputation” blasts in the background, her in-cage dominance, her justifiably matter-of-fact air of superiority, and the deluge of discussions that pours over the MMA community after she wins a fight.
Ronda Rousey is…unique, gifted, special, or any other similar term you prefer to use. There is not a second Ronda Rousey in MMA right now in terms of the interest–whether due to adoration or loathing–she’s capable of generating. As long as the UFC has her, they have something the fans will care about, something that’ll make the promotion worth following.
There was more to UFC 175 than just Ronda Rousey.
UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman defended his title against Lyoto Machida in the card’s main event. While Weidman dominated the first three rounds, the last two were ferociously contested. Machida almost pulled off a Gregor Clegane-level comeback as Weidman tired and opened himself up to numerous flurries. Just as it seemed Weidman might be running on empty, the Long Island native met Machida’s whirlwind of offense with his own.
The last two rounds of Weidman-Machida were everything an MMA competition should be–contested in several areas of fighting, dramatic, enjoyable, competitive, and fought between two highly skilled fighters who are among the elite of the elite. It’s this last bit that’s most important.
Any two fighters can throw their fists and dramatic have reversals of fortune. Too many fans are content with just that–random regional-level fighters closing their eyes, sticking their chins out, and throwing hooks from their waists–”banging.” While fans accept such a product because it’s branded “UFC,” it’s not something the UFC has a monopoly on. Any MMA promotion on the planet can offer that. However, top fighters like Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida in a brutal struggle for the only title in the MMA world that matters is something unique to the UFC.
Bellator, even with Scott Coker and Viacom’s apparent renewed interest, can’t create a card like UFC 175–nor a spectacle like Ronda Rousey, nor a fantastic fight where the MMA world hangs in the balance like Weidman-Machida. None of the UFC’s competitors can.
UFC 175 was an example of what makes the UFC special, what makes it the “Super Bowl of MMA.” The UFC would do well to remember that, lest it continues lowering its own standard and falls into ruin.
Perennial UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort feels he’s been waiting on the sidelines for too long and is ready for another crack at UFC gold.
Following 185-pound champ Chris Weidman’s hard-fought win by decision over Lyoto Machida at UFC 1…
Perennial UFC middleweight contender VitorBelfort feels he’s been waiting on the sidelines for too long and is ready for another crack at UFC gold.
Following 185-pound champ Chris Weidman‘s hard-fought win by decision over LyotoMachida at UFC 175 Saturday night, “The Phenom” was quick to make it known on Twitter that he wants the next shot at “The All-American”:
Now I want what I deserve, MY TITIE SHOT!!! Don’t run away!! No excuses!! Agoraeuquero o q eu… http://t.co/wZYj8OBVAT
Belfort was originally set to headline UFC 173 against Weidman in May, but was replaced by Machida shortly after the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced a ban on testosterone replacement therapy in February, per FOX Sports.
The Phenom was later pitted against ChaelSonnen in a light heavyweight contest at UFC 175, but “Uncle Chael” was removed from the card after failing a pre-fight drug test for anti-estrogenic drugs, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com.
The Brazilian slugger was again removed from the card when no suitable replacement could be found on short notice.
Whether or not Belfort was actually going to get his fighter’s license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission remains a topic of discussion, since—by his own admission—he failed a random drug test in February for elevated testosterone levels.
Belfort was one of the most well-known users of testosterone replacement therapy prior to the controversial treatment banned by the NSAC.
The legitimacy of the 37-year-old’s usage was a hot topic in the fight community due to his winning ways and muscular physique—not to mention that the former UFC light heavyweight champ failed a drug test for an anabolic steroid in October 2006, per MMA Weekly.
For the record, Belfort hasn’t fought on American soil since August of 2011 and had a TRT usage exemption for his five fights contested after that date, a fact that isn’t lost on fellow middleweight contender Tim Kennedy:
Leave @vitorbelfort out of title contender discussions. He hasn’t fought clean in a decade or in the US in 3 years. #PED#TRT#UFC175
Is Belfort the most deserving of the next UFC title shot at 185 pounds, or will he be passed up again for someone like Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Kennedy, Luke Rockhold or GegardMousasi?
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
Saturday night was UFC 175, the biggest event of the year for the world’s largest MMA promotion. In the main event, Lyoto Machida challenged Chris Weidman for his UFC Middleweight Championship in an attempt to be just the third fighter to hold belts in multiple weight classes.