The fifth installment of UFC on Fox takes place at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night.While the event has a number of exciting bouts on the main card, the preliminary card features some intriguing fights as well.Some of the preliminary…
The fifth installment of UFC on Fox takes place at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night.
While the event has a number of exciting bouts on the main card, the preliminary card features some intriguing fights as well.
Some of the preliminary action includes Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan in a featherweight scrap, Raphael Assuncao taking on Mike Easton at 135 pounds and the long-awaited bout between Yves Edwards and Jeremy Stephens.
Bleacher Report MMA Featured Columnists Matt Juul, Dwight Wakabayashi and myself, John Heinis, will predict the action this time around. Take a look inside for predictions on all seven of the preliminary fights.
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like…
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like to get the job done the way every fighter should. There will be an epic battle of brutal strikes that has “fight of the year” written all over it on December 8th, but it won’t be between Henderson and Diaz.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson will be responsible for a display of the highest-quality entertainment an MMA fight can possibly offer, which is why it is the true headliner of UFC on FOX 5. This showdown is a crowd-pleaser guaranteed to deliver, and unfortunately this is not the case with the lightweight title fight at the end of the night.
There are few competitors who have had more memorable fights than Shogun Rua. The man puts it all on the line to win, and judging by the vast amount of appreciation he gets from an ever-expanding fan base, every fight that has Rua’s name on it is a win-win situation for anyone watching.
Many other fighters might develop a less dangerous strategy than going toe to toe with opponents like Dan Henderson, Chuck Liddell, Jon Jones or Lyoto Machida. But Shogun does not hesitate to use the versatility, intensity and expertise of his striking to bring down whomever opposes him, regardless of the harm this mentality has brought him.
The most legendary fights that Shogun participated in gained such notoriety because they were against opponents of similar style and skill. Like Rua, Alexander Gustafsson is an extremely versatile and powerful kickboxer whose best moments consist of a brilliant use of punches, kicks, elbows and knees. He likes knocking guys out with his laser-like accuracy, and thrives off the thrill of trying to beat his opponent in the race to connect with a solid hit.
In other words, Gustafsson is the perfect adversary for Shogun and a necessary component for yet another back and forth clash. It will showcase the incomparable heart and technique that goes into winning a battle of elite MMA striking.
Aside from the fighting style of Rua and Gustafsson, what solidifies the notion that this will be a great fight is the reward a dominant or hard-earned performance will grant each participant. A win for either fighter will prove that he is as a top contender in the stacked light heavyweight division, in addition to moving the winner extremely close to title contention.
Shogun Rua wants to prove that he isn’t too slow or out of shape to compete with his younger, more athletic opponent, and Gustafsson wants to prove that he can indeed knock out a seasoned veteran and pose a legitimate threat to the rest of the mixed martial artists in his division.
The actual main event of Henderson versus Diaz just doesn’t measure up in terms of excitement and suspense for one primary reason: the newly preferred fighting methods of Benson Henderson.
Yes, Nate Diaz does possess dazzling boxing abilities, but it’s safe to say that Benson Henderson has no intention of fighting back with a similar technique. In a media conference call, the lightweight champion expressed his lack of desire to strike with Diaz for fear of losing his title. We also saw how reluctant Henderson was to exchange with Frankie Edgar, let alone get close enough to even touch him (especially in their last fight). Henderson’s new focus is to minimize the risk of getting hurt by purposely avoiding the fists of his opponents.
Benson Henderson is a proficient martial arts expert who can punch and kick with crisp accuracy and power, yet he has apparently lost the urge to put these skills on display now that the lightweight belt is in his possession. His fight with Clay Guida was loaded with wild kicks and aggressive grappling, but since he won the belt Henderson has taken on a more conservative style.
While Henderson’s incomparable agility is truly a thing of beauty, most fans would rather watch two people trade blows than one person fail to hit a much faster opponent over and over again. There is a title on the line, and a chance for Nate Diaz to finally attain the success he deserves. But the probability of Diaz forcing Henderson to try to best him in a ruthless battle of strikes is slim to none. Henderson vs Diaz simply cannot compare to the general entertainment quality and likelihood of a crowd-pleasing outcome of Rua vs Gustafsson.
Benson Henderson stated (in the aforementioned conference call) that he would be fine if his upcoming fight went to a decision. A statement like this will never come from Rua or Gustafsson, regardless of what was on the line or who they were fighting. When they get hurt, it only makes them want to crack back even harder. Henderson prefers to eliminate the possibility of getting knocked out altogether.
Rua vs Gustafsson will feature two men trying to take each other’s head off. Henderson vs Diaz will probably feature Diaz trying to take Henderson’s head off, but only hitting thin air instead. To the fans, a match like this is much more annoying than it is interesting to watch.
The true headliner, on the other hand, will contain a highlight-reel finish and/or an epic series of violent exchanges, both of which are characteristics of the most entertaining type of fight. If this bout does go the distance, fans will have witnessed both fighters dish out and absorb a large amount of damage, and the spectacle of two men surviving such a fight will be just as much of a wonder to observe than the almighty KO.
Regardless who comes out on top, this is unquestionably the most exciting fight of UFC on FOX 5, as it has much more of a probability for a stunning result than the actual main event. We will be treated to a breath-taking display of a truly lethal form of martial arts in addition to being informed as to who has all the tools worthy of a prospective title shot.
This is the fight every UFC enthusiast is most pumped to see this Saturday night. Mauricio Rua versus Alexander Gustafsson will drop jaws worldwide while simultaneously reminding us why the UFC has the massive amount of spectators it does today.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been alternating wins and losses since he defeated Chuck Liddell in April 2009.He will look for his first two-fight win streak since then when he faces a tough Swede in Alexander Gustafsson.It has been a tough road for Shogun …
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been alternating wins and losses since he defeated Chuck Liddell in April 2009.
He will look for his first two-fight win streak since then when he faces a tough Swede in Alexander Gustafsson.
It has been a tough road for Shogun in the UFC. After sporting a 12-1 record in PRIDE and winning the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix, he has gone 5-4, but it hasn’t been all bad, considering his reign as UFC Light-heavyweight champion.
Gustafsson isn’t one to back down from, as he is on a five-fight win streak and has only lost once in his 15 professional MMA bouts to date.
Gustafsson has a chance to make a name for himself by defeating a legend and a top-five light-heavyweight, moving him much closer to a future title opportunity.
It could be the end for two mixed martial arts legends this weekend at UFC on Fox 5 from Seattle.Hawaiian fighting legend BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, and longtime Brazilian light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua are both in action, trying to main…
It could be the end for two mixed martial arts legends this weekend at UFC on Fox 5from Seattle.
Hawaiian fighting legend BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, and longtime Brazilian light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua are both in action, trying to maintain their status in the pecking order of the UFC.
Penn has been near or at the top of two different divisions for a span of 11 years starting in 2001, and is still considered by many a top-ten fighter at both 155 and 170 pounds. He is clearly nearing the end of his time in the fight game, but will have one last shot at staying in the welterweight title picture by beating new-breed star and rising Canadian young gun Rory MacDonald.
MacDonald is a monster of a man for welterweight, and once again Penn gives up a large size advantage and will need every ounce of his experience, skill and cardio to stand a chance against him.
This fight has the makings of a classic, or it could be a very ugly end for the Hawaiian legend. Can Penn stop MacDonald’s meteoric rise, or will this really be the last time we see BJ Penn in the Octagon?
The fall of MMA legends may not stop there on Saturday night, as immediately following Penn vs. MacDonald, former Pride and UFC champion Brazilian superstar Mauricio Rua will face rising light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson.
Rua has been a champion in both the Pride Fighting organization and the UFC in his ten-year career, and has beaten the best-of-the-best in the world like Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Alistair Overeem (twice), Forrest Griffin and LyotoMachida. Rua lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Jon Jones in March of 2011 and is looking for one final shot to reclaim the gold.
Like Penn-MacDonald, the Rua-Gustafsson fight is another classic case of a possible changing-of-the-guard scenario. Jones aside, established MMA stars like Rua have been ruling the roost of many of the divisions in the UFC for years now, with fighters like Gustafsson waiting in the wings.
If Gustafsson is able to dominate Rua like many believe he will, it may be the end of Rua‘s brilliant MMA career on Saturday night.
Two legends looking to send the youngsters back to the training room. Two rising stars looking to put an end to two brilliant careers.
These two fights are not even the main event on Saturday night, and my Christmas comes on December 8th this year.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC.
UFC on FOX 5, set for Saturday, December 8, will play host to a notable light heavyweight showdown between Alexander Gustafsson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.For Gustafsson, the fight is an opportunity to break into the division’s upper-echelon and as…
UFC on FOX 5, set for Saturday, December 8, will play host to a notable light heavyweight showdown between Alexander Gustafsson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
For Gustafsson, the fight is an opportunity to break into the division’s upper-echelon and assert himself ever nearer to a title shot.
For Rua, the bout is another blank canvass to add to an already-storied career.
In anticipation of the event, let us look back at the highlights of Rua‘s career and recall the moments that put him on the path to his upcoming UFC on FOX 5 contest.
The recent news of Nick Denis’ decision to retire from mixed martial arts might not move the figurative needle in quite the same way as the never-ending tide of Anderson Silva vs. GSP superfight coverage. However, it has at least kick-started a f…
The recent news of Nick Denis’ decision to retire from mixed martial arts might not move the figurative needle in quite the same way as the never-ending tide of Anderson Silva vs. GSPsuperfight coverage.
However, it has at least kick-started a fresh discussion on fighter safety, particularly as it relates to the long-term effects of treating one’s skull like a piñata.
It also makes one wonder why so many fans have taken to arbitrarily defining a “real fighter” as someone who shows no regard for their own well-being.
Perhaps more importantly, it raises the question of whether such a barbarous mentality is healthy for the sport going forward.
It is a collective mindset that has been perpetuated not just by the sport’s fans, but also by its leading figures.
We have an intuitive appreciation for fighters who are willing to put their bodies, or even their lives, on the line in the quest for glory.
It is a seemingly paradoxical disposition, celebrating that which goes against our nature.
The desire to willingly sacrifice one’s body is not something that has been hardwired into us. Rather, it is a maladaptive contradiction that has been instilled in us largely through cultural transmission.
In modern culture, it is in many ways a product of the countless theatrical depictions of heroes battling adversity in the face of overwhelming odds.
Whether it’s Sylvester Stallone overcoming a juiced-up Russian or Jean-Claude Van Damme wheel-kicking a psychopathic Chinese hulk into submission, our minds have been trained to revere even the most inconsequential of courageous acts—those awesome 80s action flicks have a lot to answer for.
That isn’t to say it’s wrong to admire those who go above and beyond in the pursuit of greatness. Fighters who routinely sacrifice their bodies inside the cage, and who are willing to scrap at a moment’s notice, deserve all the praise they get.
I’m no less prone to marking out during a career-shortening fight than the next person.
That being said, this mentality has certain undesirable consequences, such as the unfair pressure it places upon the sport’s athletes to take fights that do not best serve their interests, physically or monetarily.
What we see now is, for all intents and purposes, a shaming culture within the sport. If a fighter does not meet our lofty expectations, he or she is immediately dismissed as not being a “real fighter.”
Dana White is as indispensable a figure as we have in mixed martial arts, but he shoulders much of the blame for the rise of this odious attitude towards athletes who view fighting as a job, rather than as a purely defining characteristic.
The UFC President can often be heard praising fighters who are willing to suspend their natural instinct for self-preservation, while criticising those who take a more pragmatic approach to both their careers and their health.
His recent attitude towards Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is arguably his most egregious transgression of this sort.
Despite habitually participating in the kind of contests that warrant a preceding declaration from Congress, “Shogun” has been targeted by White in his frequent diatribes against those who do not immediately bend to his will.
Just think about that for a moment.
To even imply that the man who battled Dan Henderson for five rounds at UFC 139, in one of the most brutal fights you are ever likely to witness, is anything less than a “real fighter” is borderline offensive—and I don’t offend easily.
The problem seems to be that Dana White has a zero-sum conception of the relationship between fighting and pragmatism.
As he sees it, fighters are meant to fight, not think. Real fighters do not turn down fights, no matter how bulletproof their reasoning might be for doing so.
It’s unfortunate that this attitude is so pervasive within mixed martial arts. It has gotten to the point that even some fighters have adopted White’s “fight first, think later” attitude towards the sport.
Only a few days ago, BJ Penncould be heard implying that he is a real fighter because he would take on Anderson Silva without hesitation, whereas Georges St-Pierre has been less enthusiastic about the prospect.
Is this how the fighter mindset should be defined, as a dichotomy between the impulsive and the pragmatic?
In reality, there is no conflict between fighting and the judicious management of one’s career. On the contrary, evidence suggests that it might be the most efficient path towards longevity in the sport.
But don’t take my word for it. Instead, just ask the recently unemployedDaMarques Johnson if living up to Dana White’s definition of a “real fighter” leads to career prosperity.
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like to get the job done the way every fighter should. There will be an epic battle of brutal strikes that has “fight of the year” written all over it on December 8th, but it won’t be between Henderson and Diaz.