In a video released Thursday, veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Michael Bisping said that the news of Anderson Silva’s test failure for performance-enhancing drugs has tarnished his entire legacy.
Silva, 39, failed a random January 9 …
In a video released Thursday, veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Michael Bisping said that the news of Anderson Silva’s test failure for performance-enhancing drugs has tarnished his entire legacy.
Silva, 39, failed a random January 9 test for the substances drostanolone and androsterone. The news was announced by the promotion on Tuesday evening. In a statement provided to Damon Martin of FoxSports.com from Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, the fighter proclaimed his innocence and said he will contest the test failure. It was the first positive test of Silva’s career.
But Bisping said that Silva being nabbed on his first out-of-competition test could lead him to believe the former middleweight champion has been using PEDs for the entirety of his career.
“My initial reaction was sadness, disappointment. I was disappointed in Anderson, but then I thought about it and was like, ‘Hold on a minute—this doesn’t surprise me at all,'” Bisping said. “I believe this was the first time he was tested out of competition. So who’s to say that he hasn’t been doing this his entire career? That’s the question that is always going to be asked.
“His legacy is ruined.”
Bisping, long a vocal critic of the usage of performance-enhancing drugs in sport, has a unique history with PEDs. His five previous opponents were either prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (before its usage was banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission last year) or were involved in drug-related scandals after Bisping faced them.
The former Ultimate Fighter winner said the test failure of not just Silva but his opponent, Nick Diaz, further tarnishes the already-damaged reputation of mixed martial arts around the world.
“Both guys in the main event failed their drug tests. It leaves a black mark in the sport. I can only imagine how pissed off Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta] would be,” Bisping said. “They worked so hard to promote a fantastic sport. But the individuals involved in it are looking for an easy way out.”
Patrick Cote vs. Joe Riggs: Cote hasn’t competed since a unanimous decision loss to Stephen Thompson snapped his three-fight win streak back in September. Riggs will try to rebound from his unsuccessful UFC return at UFC on FOX 13 in December, when his neck immediately gave out on him during a fight against Ben Saunders.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. David Michaud: This is not an MMA fight, but the finals of Top Chef Montreal. Can Aubin-Mercier’s innovative molecular gastronomy defeat the impeccable French traditionalism of Michaud? (Ed. note: Okay fine, this is a lightweight fight between two guys without Wikipedia pages. Both are 1-1 in the UFC. Thanks, Sherdog.)
Jessica Rakoczy vs. Valerie Letourneau: Rakoczy was TKO’d by Julianna Pena at the TUF 18 Finale in November, and currently holds the worst professional record of any UFC fighter (1-4 with one no-contest). Letourneau was choked out by Roxanne Modafferi during her elimination fight to get into the TUF 18 house, but was given a UFC contract anyway and won a tough split-decision against Elizabeth Phillips last June.
On Jan. 17, 2005, Spike TV aired a new show titled The Ultimate Fighter, which featured 16 combat sports athletes living under one roof in Las Vegas, competing for a six-figure contract with the UFC. What we didn’t know, however, was this exhaustive program was going to last over 20 seasons, complete with the FOX treatment, and plenty of drunken debauchery in between.
Long story short, the Zuffa brass was in serious trouble since their big gamble to buy the struggling Ultimate Fighting Championship wasn’t paying off. Simply put, that Fertitta money was being blown fast, with no real profit or indication of improvement. Spike TV founder Albie Hecht wanted a program that brought in a lot of viewers from all over, presumably because there are only so many reruns of the hyper masculine shows a person could watch.
On Jan. 17, 2005, Spike TV aired a new show titled The Ultimate Fighter, which featured 16 combat sports athletes living under one roof in Las Vegas, competing for a six-figure contract with the UFC. What we didn’t know, however, was this exhaustive program was going to last over 20 seasons, complete with the FOX treatment, and plenty of drunken debauchery in between.
Long story short, the Zuffa brass was in serious trouble since their big gamble to buy the struggling Ultimate Fighting Championship wasn’t paying off. Simply put, that Fertitta money was being blown fast, with no real profit or indication of improvement. Spike TV founder Albie Hecht wanted a program that brought in a lot of viewers from all over, presumably because there are only so many reruns of the hyper masculine shows a person could watch.
With one last ditch to bring this beautiful but often-problematic sport into the mainstream, both Fertitta brothers (Lorenzo and Frank III) were dealt an ace when Hecht flew over to Japan and insulted a gangster running K-1. It resulted in talks falling through with the officials running the kickboxing promotion, and TUF had a home. The show would air directly after WWE Raw (and they say MMA and pro wrestling are only distant cousins).
Anyhow, the show actually ended up being pretty damn good. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the very first episode, led by coaches Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture (who would fight in a rematch for the light heavyweight strap later on that year at UFC 52), Willa Ford, and 16 fighters that became major stars as the sport progressed (most of them, anyway).
The season finale pretty much saved the purchase, as Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar engaged in warfare for three rounds, in a bout widely perceived as the greatest fight of all-time (it got its fair share of competition over the years, for what it’s worth).
More importantly, people started to tune in by the hundred thousands, and the first-ever live MMA event on free television amassed approximately 1,900,000 viewers. The fight was so epic that Spike TV renewed the show for another season, and UFC President Dana White gave both men six-figure contracts for their efforts. Or, maybe he was onto something, seeing how judging would become atrocious in Nevada, and thought maybe Bonnar won (it’s not the boldest of claims if you rewatch the fight).
Sure, 2005 had a lot of big stars throughout the full year, including Liddell, Couture, Rich Franklin, Tito Ortiz, and Andrei Arlovski, but the sport was still pretty freaking niche for it to generate widespread appeal. To be honest, TUF really did save the UFC, and introduces many new fans to the sport known as “TUF Noobs.” If it weren’t for TUF, who knows … maybe Pride would still be around and putting on the best events fight fans would ever see.
As for the first episode titled “The Quest Begins,” this approach seemed refreshing. Later on, we also witnessed Dana White’s epic “Do You Want To Be A F*cking Fighter” rant, Chris Leben extremely drunk and pissing in people’s beds, Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth hosing “The Crippler” and calling him “a fatherless bastard,” Southworth killing himself cutting weight and almost getting killed by White when he mouthed off to him, a thief in the house, Bonnar and Diego Sanchez arguing over spilled bathwater, and some pretty good scraps.
Then, it all sort of went downhill from there.
Barring seasons two to four, which were all mildly entertaining, everything from season five onwards felt a little forced. We definitely appreciated the influx of lightweights that emerged from the fifth installment, yet did we really need a season six?
It all came full circle by season seven, and it was then made official that TUF was simply a reality show devoted to drunken mayhem and drama, just like the rest of them. Junie Browning cemented his status as the throne holder of TUF douchbaggery, starting fights with everyone and their mother. Season eight and nine were both snorefests, minus the fact that the Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping-led season was the United States vs. England. The show returned with a vengeance in season 10, due to the bitter quarrel between Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans, and the presence of Internet sensation Kimbo Slice. The brawler, who was mocked by White and then chosen as a participant, was matched up against jiu-jitsu black belt Roy Nelson, which turned out to be his demise. Still, it seemed like the first few episodes were good, and it became boring towards the end.
TUF moved to FX a year later after the relationship between UFC and Spike TV turned sour, implementing a live format. It ran simultaneously with TUF: Brazil, and we’ve been depressed ever since. The show is so stale, they’ve ventured off to places like China and Latin America, turning it into a proving ground for fighters with a two-fight record. With that said, we even got seasons like TUF: Smashes (U.K. vs. Australia), TUF: Canada vs. Australia, and they’ve had multiple seasons in Brazil that only South Americans care about.
I guess that’s the point, since it’s not really designed for us to watch; yet, there’s a reason why good things must come to an end before the plot becomes lost. Can you imagine if Touched By An Angel was still running?
For the past few seasons, the brass teases how the show will be different, and how it’s going to blow you away, and so on. TUF 18 was the first co-ed season, and everyone tuned in because they thought they were getting Big Brother-style sex scenes. Instead, Jessamyn Duke vs. Raquel Pennington and Edmund Tarverdyan vs. Dennis Hallman was the best part of that garbage.
When White said TUF 19 was the worst season ever, you’d think he’d get a clue, however, they salvaged some interest with an all-womens TUF 20, with the inaugural women’s strawweight championship on the line. The problem is the promos were so sexist, and we got more shots of backsides than anything else. The rivalries were okay, however, nothing stood out to convince anyone to continue this putrid offering.
We’re now being told that TUF 21: ATT vs. The Blackzilians is going to be completely different, even though we’re going to ditch it midway into episode two. On the flipside, a string of TUF winners have gone on to claim gold in the Octagon, including Griffin, Evans, Matt Serra, and Carla Esparza, with many blooming prospects like Dodson, Kelvin Gastelum, and Tony Ferguson breaking out as fighters to watch.
On the contrary, some TUF winners aren’t even employed by the UFC anymore, including Jonathan Brookins and Colton Smith, and before his third UFC stint, Efrain Escudero was given the boot, too. With the influx of signees overpopulating the roster, does winning the reality show mean anything anymore? Or, is it about promoting bouts involving the coaches, more than anything?
So, all this to say TUF has been pretty central to the UFC’s growth. Nevertheless, it’s hard to believe MMA fans still watch the damn thing, considering how boring and drawn out it is. Yes, there have been hilarious moments and superb fights (like Matt Riddle vs. Tim Credeur on season seven, Damarques Johnson vs. Nick Osipczak on season 9, among others), but the volume of unworthy footage doesn’t add up in the end.
The UFC has high hopes for brash Irishman Conor McGregor, who is just one win away from a shot at featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but before their most recent excursion into Western Europe, there was the United Kingdom’s Michael “The Count” Bisping.&…
The UFC has high hopes for brash Irishman ConorMcGregor, who is just one win away from a shot at featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but before their most recent excursion into Western Europe, there was the United Kingdom’s Michael “The Count” Bisping.
Bisping has been on the cusp of a title shot multiple times in his career but never made it over the hump. The 35-year-old has fought at the top of the 185-pound division for over six years and compiled an impressive 11-6 record. Throughout those years, he’s made waves by calling out various fighters, and coaching two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.
The Count and McGregor both ascended into the upper echelon of their respective divisions early in their careers. Both men have also conducted a fair amount of business, and captivated the mixed martial arts masses, more so through their use of camera time and a microphone, as opposed to the Octagon. They even share some unique ties dating back to their pre-UFC days.
Before he was a coach, Bisping was a student. On the third installment of TUF, a then-26-year-old Bisping began his career under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz.
Prior to his start on the show, the Brit had a run of 10 straight wins, and had captured two separate championships at 205 pounds in his native UK. Bispingwas a well-rounded fighter, and is still to this day, but he did the majority of his damage with his hands.
That makes two in that regard, as McGregor—a former amateur boxer—bullied opponents to the tune of 11 knockouts before his stint in the UFC. McGregor, like Bisping, fought in the famed British Cage Warriors promotion and captured not one, but two titles in the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Bisping, however, didn’t become a recognizable face, and a household name, by simply talking a good game. The Count finished each of his opponents on TUF. After defeating Kristian Rothaermel by TKO, he met familiar foe Ross Pointon, and bested him again in the semi-final round after landing a flying knee in the first frame.
In the show’s finale, Bisping defeated Josh Haynes in a hard-fought battle to become the second light-heavyweight winner in TUF history. He was also the first non-American winner in the program’s history, and subsequently began to carve out a niche for Western European fighters to one day grace the Octagon.
Bisping then set out to make good on a gamble he took back in his early 20s and fulfill the contract given to him by UFC President Dana White. He began his UFC career at 205 pounds stacking knockout wins over Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic, with a contested decision victory over former TUF 3 rival Matt Hamill.
A close split-decision loss to TUF 2 winner Rashad Evans altered his course to middleweight, a place Bisping would call home for the next six years. He became a top-10 middleweight very quickly, reaching the top 5 on two occasions, stumbling in each case and losing title eliminator bouts against Dan Henderson and ChaelSonnen.
It was his time spent coaching against Henderson on TUF: United States vs. United Kingdom, that was his coming out party. On TUF 9, Bisping carefully poked and prodded the former Pride middleweight and welterweight champion.
The trash talk that became synonymous with Bisping would follow him, 18 months later, into his co-main event spot of UFC 127 against Jorge Rivera in February 2011. The build-up to the fight was nothing short of testy, and included several videos released by Rivera mocking The Count. By the time their fight was over, albeit not without much controversy, a number of fighters were upset at Bisping‘s conduct during the fight and after it.
Now, as he sits at No. 9 in the middleweight division, having not put together back-to-back wins since 2011, the ship may have sailed on Bisping‘s opportunity at UFC gold. There are a bevvy of candidates, like Luke Rockhold, JacareSouza, Yoel Romero and former 185-champion Anderson Silva, who are all hoping to make their case for a title shot in 2015.
Bisping, who will turn 36 in February, is nowhere near retirement and still has something to give to the sport but faces an uphill climb against the blistering power-punchers and jiu-jitsu aces atop the middleweight ladder. If Bisping retired today, with a 15-7 record in the Octagon, he would go out as one of most successful fighters never to challenge for a belt.
And where one fighter prepares to write, what might be the closing chapter of his UFC career, one begins to own the spotlight. While a win isn’t certain, the 26-year-old McGregor can challenge for a belt in his second year in the UFC with a win over German/Russian kickboxer Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night: Boston.
McGregor has the opportunity to supplant Bisping as the best fighter to ever come out of his region, and he very well could. His style certainly has shown to be the weakness of Siver‘s, who has crumbled when blitzed by Donald Cerrone and Melvin Guillard.
Dublin’s own earned the right, through his uncanny use of self promotion, shock value and striking prowess, to be in this position. But if you listen closely, there’s a distinct difference in how McGregor and Bisping talk up a fight.
Where McGregor brings an air of sophisticated elegance, Bisping is just plain rude. Bisping would appear to be the kind of person who would cut in front of an elderly person at the deli counter.
The Irishman knows he is good and wants to tell you all about it. He knows his time is now, which makes his messages seem a little bit more real.
Where some have made bold statements, McGregor is adept at convincing the public they’re facts, not just hearsay.
“He is a good fighter, though we aren’t entirely sure how good. He might be great. He might not,” Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Bottersaid about The Notorious. “Where he shines, however, is promoting fights. He is brash and confident and says things that makes the media smile because we know he has made our job easy.”
And shine he does. The UFC sold out the O2 arena in Dublin, Ireland with the strength of a McGregor headliner and it became the second most successful non-pay-per-view event in the promotion’s history.
When McGregor isn’t reminding you about his custom suits, or his escapades with UFC brass, he is inserting himself into future opponent’s psyches, making them crumble before a fight even takes place. His belief, and confidence in himself, are incomparable to any other fighter on the roster.
McGregor didn’t have a television show—although at this point it seems likely he’ll be considered as a potential TUF coach down the road—to showcase his skill, both in the cage and on camera. He doesn’t owe Bisping anything in regards to his instant success but perhaps, if the Brit wasn’t as successful as he initially was, then maybe UFC President Dana White begins looking elsewhere for global UFC talent.
The UFC invades Las Vegas on Dec. 6 with UFC 181, a stacked card featuring a lightweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez and a welterweight title fight between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler at the top.
While the one-tw…
The UFC invades Las Vegas on Dec. 6 with UFC 181, a stacked card featuring a lightweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez and a welterweight title fight between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler at the top.
While the one-two punch of the co-main and main event is impressive, the card is equally intriguing all the way down to the Fight Pass preliminary portion, where Alex “The Spartan” White battles Clay Collard and the younger Pettis, Sergio, faces Matt “The Crowbar” Hobar.
To help us break down the action, Fox Sports analyst and UFC middleweight superstar Michael “The Count” Bisping picked up the phone, dialed in and chatted about what we can expect Saturday night from the evening’s combatants.
This is “Journalist vs. Analyst: UFC 181 Edition.” Let’s see what The Count thinks of this event.
Bleacher Report: Hey, Michael, thanks for taking the time to chat.
We have an incredible card Saturday evening, stacked at the top with two title fights. In the main event, we’re looking at a welterweight title fight rematch between the champ, Johny Hendricks, and the challenger, Robbie Lawler. Their first fight was an instant classic. Will it be as good this time around?
Michael Bisping: I think so, absolutely. Both guys came so close to winning that first fight. Obviously, Johny Hendricks walked away with the title, but Robbie Lawler is going to be so determined and just on a mission to win that title, because he’s been involved in this sport for so long, but he’s never been UFC champion. He feels like it’s in his destiny to be the champion one day, and he almost got it after that fight. It got away, but he beat Matt Brown, he beat Jake Ellenberger, and he reasserted himself again as the No. 1 contender.
While that was happening, Johny Hendricks sat on the sideline recovering from a torn bicep. He doesn’t want to lose his title to the person he won it from. He wants to prove that he’s a worthy champion and build a legacy of his own.
So both of these guys, and especially when it’s a rematch, when you’ve been in there with someone before and you’re fighting them again, you push yourself in training because you know what this guy’s capable of. So the first one was great, and I think the second one is going to be even better!
B/R: And for Robbie Lawler, you look at a guy who, usually if somebody loses two title fights, the UFC isn’t too excited about giving them a third chance. Is this kind of his last chance? If he doesn’t win it, is that going to be it for Lawler’s title hopes?
MB: You know, never say never. That’s the way I live my life. That’s my attitude. I think it applies to Robbie Lawler in this case and this title fight, because there’s no doubt that Robbie Lawler, this resurgence he’s had in his career has been incredible. Since he came back to the UFC from Strikeforce, he’s looked unstoppable. It really was only Johny Hendricks who was able to beat him.
And as I said, perhaps Matt Brown would’ve gotten the next title fight. But Johny Hendricks had to recover. In the meantime, Robbie Lawler was hungry. He kept fighting. He kept winning, and the UFC had no choice but to give him the title fight. Now, let’s say he doesn’t win (the rematch). If he goes in, does the same thing and beats two, three, four people, then that speaks for itself. So never say never.
B/R: Speaking of that layoff for Hendricks while Lawler stayed active, as a fighter yourself, how hard is that to come off a layoff like this while the other guy has been active? Is that going to play a big part in the fight, do you think?
MB: I do believe that is an advantage for Lawler. Every time you’re in a fight camp, you get better. You learn things about yourself. You make improvements. You learn about the mistakes you were making, and your skills just generally get better and better. This will be the third camp he’s had—one with Ellenberger, one with Matt Brown and now this third one for Johny Hendricks again.
In the meantime, Johny Hendricks has sat on the sidelines. I’m not saying that is an indication of who’s going to win the fight, but I am saying it’s got to be an advantage for Robbie Lawler.
B/R: And then on the flip side, in the co-main event, you have Anthony Pettis, who also hasn’t fought in a long time, and it seems like the fans aren’t too happy about that. But Gilbert Melendez hasn’t fought since October 2013 either, and it seems like that’s kind of getting swept under the rug. So how is ring rust going to play a factor when both guys are probably a little rusty?
MB: I don’t think ring rust is going to be a factor with either of these guys, to be honest. I know they’re both professionals, they both look out for themselves outside of the ring, and they are lifelong martial artists. And they’re both young, but they’re both very successful. So I don’t see ring rust being an issue.
Obviously, Pettis, he did have a legitimate injury. He kind of tore his PCL a little bit, and then he tore it completely, and that was very unfortunate. But the fact is, they just coached The Ultimate Fighter and gauged each other. And when you do that, when you’re around your opponent for all that time, that really fires up the competitive streak in an individual. So I expect both of these guys to be in the best shape of their lives and really bring it.
B/R: So taking that all into account, how does the fight play out?
MB: Regarding the matchup, I’m a fan of the way Anthony Pettis fights, but if you look at his fight with Clay Guida, I think that’s the way that Gilbert Melendez is going to approach this fight. Clay Guida was able to take Pettis down repeatedly, control him on the floor, avoid his submissions and land some ground-and-pound, and by doing that, he was able to take the decision away from Anthony Pettis.
I think Gilbert Melendez is a little bit bigger, he’s a better wrestler, he hits harder, and he’s more aggressive. So I see Melendez trying to replicate the same game plan that Clay Guida did, and if I had to pick a winner, I’m going to go with Gilbert Melendez by ground-and-pound stoppage in the fourth round.
B/R: Look at that! Michael Bisping with the hot take, going with the challenger against Pettis. I like it, man. I like it.
MB: There you go.
B/R: Before they even take the cage though, we’ve got a killer heavyweight scrap too, with Travis Browne and Brendan Schaub. How important is this fight for each guy? In the heavyweight division, it only takes one or two big wins to launch yourself into title talks, so how important is this fight?
MB: You know, every fight is important, but certainly when you’re both coming off losses, that’s huge, and both guys are, so they’re both looking to re-establish themselves. Travis Browne is ahead of Brendan Schaub in the rankings and certainly in name recognition, if you will, so Brendan Schaub has more to gain from this matchup.
But Brendan Schaub is a tireless worker, and I know he’s the underdog in this fight, but I’ve had the pleasure of training with him, and like I said, he’s a tireless worker, he’s surrounding himself with the right people, he’s wrestling on a daily basis with Patrick Cummins, and he’s an absolute beast. He does his jiu-jitsu with Ryron Gracie, and he’s got fantastic boxing coaches as well. So all the ingredients, with the right attitude and the athleticism that he has, he’s certainly a tough fight for anyone.
Of course, Travis Browne, on the flip side, that guy is an animal. He’s absolutely huge, he’s only lost two fights in his entire career—one to Fabricio Werdum and one to Antonio Silva—so there’s no shame in that. I’m just looking forward to the fight.
You do have to favor Travis Browne in this fight simply because of level of competition and some of the wins that he’s had against guys like Josh Barnett, for example. But, as I said, do not sleep on Brendan Schaub.
B/R: And both of them have legitimate one-shot knockout power, and Schaub, as you said, has that Gracie-trained ground game that’s only getting better and better. Is there any chance that this fight goes to a decision?
MB: Yeah, there’s no way I see that this fight is going to a decision. As you said, most guys at heavyweight, they all have that one-shot power. It’s just about connecting on the chin, and if you do that, somebody’s going to sleep.
I guarantee it right now. I’ll put my name on the line that this fight is not going the distance.
B/R: There we go. We got you on the record with that one. It’s making the article for sure so that people can blow you up if you’re wrong!
MB: There you go.
B/R: We turn away from Browne and Schaub, and we have another great heavyweight fight with Todd Duffee and Anthony Hamilton. Is this Duffee’s time? I feel like he’s been around, then he disappeared, then he came back, then he disappeared again. Is he finally here to stay? What are we going to see from him?
MB: You’re going to see from Todd Duffee what you always see, and whether that’s wins or losses, you always see a knockout. Every win that he’s got on his record is by knockout, and the two losses he’s had, he got knocked out there as well. So one thing’s for sure, you’re getting an entertaining fight when Todd Duffee steps in there. Because as fight fans, we like to see knockouts, and that’s what he brings.
He has had some personal problems, apparently he has a bit of an attitude problem as well. He’s addressed that, and apparently the injuries he’s had have cleared up, and I’m hoping we see the start of a long, lengthy run in the UFC, but of course Anthony Hamilton, on the other side, he’s hoping to come in and play spoiler. He’s not here to let that happen.
Anthony Hamilton, he’s no pushover himself, so I’m very much looking forward to that fight.
B/R: I’m going to make some predictions, and I want you to tell me if I’m right or wrong and why. Sound good?
MB: Go ahead.
B/R: Raquel Pennington and Ashlee Evans-Smith are going to win Fight of the Night.
MB: No, I think you’re absolutely wrong. While I think it will be a good fight—Raquel Pennington always brings it—I think Fight of the Night is going to go to Tony Ferguson and Abel Trujillo.
B/R: OK, you’re kind of reading my mind here, because my next one is: Tony Ferguson and Abel Trujillo are supposed to be in a rock ’em, sock ’em crazy fight, but both guys are going to look a little tentative, and it’s going to go to a disappointing decision. Why am I wrong there?
MB: You’re wrong because Tony Ferguson is just mean. And not only is he mean, he has the skills to back it up. He has a very impressive ground game, he goes for crazy submissions, he’s not afraid to give up positions to get the submission, and of course he has knockout power in both hands.
And Abel Trujillo is just a super aggressive fighter himself. He swings for the fences every time, he’s an accomplished wrestler, he’s got aggressive takedowns and nasty ground-and-pound, so I see that being Fight of the Night, and I don’t think that’s going to be a decision, either.
B/R: So I’m 0-2 with The Count, but how about this one: Urijah Faber completely outclasses Francisco Rivera and submits him early.
MB: Yeah, to be honest, I mean, I don’t want to be negative toward Rivera, but he’s really up against it in this one.
Urijah Faber, outside of Renan Barao and Dominick Cruz, those are really the only guys who have beaten him. I see a guillotine submission for Urijah Faber, maybe in Round 2.
Do you agree with Bisping’s analysis? Sound off below, and we’ll discuss The Count’s picks.
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the match…
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the matchup.
Whether or not a fight makes sense in the divisional scheme, timing and making sure both fighters stand to gain similar rewards are the most pressing issues that come to mind. Then, of course, there is the most important aspect of a potential fight: Will both competitors be willing to mix it up and put on a show?
The unfortunate part of the process comes when all of these criteria are met, and the fight fails to deliver. That said, the UFC showcases far more exciting tilts than flat fights these days, which goes to show just how good Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are at their jobs.
Even though the dreaded “injury bug” surfaced with solid frequency in 2014 and stole a handful of highly anticipated bouts, there were still plenty of interesting scraps that actually did happen this year. A good portion of those fights had some level of impact on the divisions in which they took place and when divisional pictures are moving at a steady rate, then things are moving in the right directions.
Prospects rose and fell in the quest to reach their potential. Perennial contenders and fighters who had carried elite-level certification lost their places in divisional upper tier while a batch of fresh talent battled to break through to elevate their statuses and profiles. All of which are necessary elements for divisions to remain competitive, and if there is one aspect of 2014 where the UFC scored solid points, it was their ability to keep several talent-stacked weight classes moving.
Some divisions even managed to do so without their champion competing or defending their title, and this is just further proof that important fights are happening at all ends of the promotional spectrum. For this month’s offering to our “UFC Fantasy Matchmaker” column, we highlighted three bouts that all carry significance for much different reasons. Whether it be status, title contention or relevance on the line, these three potential dust-ups would would all be worthwhile affairs.
Roy Nelson vs. Josh Barnett
It doesn’t take much to get fight fans excited when two high-profile heavyweights step into the Octagon to do battle. This is especially true when said behemoths each have spent years crafting their respective resumes against the best fighters in the world, and they have amassed quality highlight reels filled with one brutal finish after the next. Both Roy Nelson and Josh Barnett have spent their entire careers settling the opposition with great frequency and have developed their own signature brands of violence in the process.
“Big Country” rose to the upper echelon of the heavyweight ranks by slinging his brick-heavy right hand with reckless abandon and established himself as one of the fight game’s premier knockout artists in the process. While The Ultimate Fighter season-10 winner has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under legend Renzo Gracie, the Las Vegas native hasn’t needed to dip into that area of his skill set much over the past several years as the former IFL champion has shown a willingness to stand and trade leather with every fighter who has stepped in to fight him.
And while that approach has allowed Nelson to string together multiple winning streaks since his arrival to the UFC back in 2009, the 38-year-old Nevadian has hit a rough patch as of late. Nelson has lost three of his last four showings with the sole victory in that stretch coming in a devastating fashion as he scored a walk-away knockout victory over former interim champion and MMA legend Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira in the first round of their tilt back in April.
Yet, while his win over the former Pride champion bumped Nelson closer to the top of the heavyweight ranks, a lopsided loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 166 in October of 2013, and a knockout suffered at the hands of would-be title challenger Mark Hunt in his most recent outing back in September have the bearded powerhouse in jeopardy of losing his place among the divisional best. He will need to score a victory over a big-named opponent to get back into the mix, and Josh Barnett certainly fits that description.
Furthermore, “The Warmaster” is in a similar position as well.
While the former UFC heavyweight champion picked up plenty of proverbial heat when he trucked fellow former champion Frank Mir in his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 164 back in August of 2013, the fighter formerly known as “The Baby Faced Assassin” had that momentum put on ice in violent fashion when Travis Browne brutalized him with a flurry of elbows in the first round of their tilt at UFC 168 last December.
Coming into the bout with “Hapa,” Barnett appeared to be the resurgent veteran on a quest to reclaim championship gold, but after the rangy Hawaiian left him slumped against the cage via knockout, any steam Barnett had pushing him to the top evaporated.
Yet, while Barnett hasn’t competed inside the Octagon since the loss to Browne, that doesn’t mean the 37-year-old Californian has been out of the spotlight. The Catch wrestling representative became the first man in 16 years to submit Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Dean Lister when the two men locked up in the co-main event at Metamoris 4 to become the grappling promotion’s inaugural heavyweight champion. And while Barnett’s performance in the match proved he’s still one of the best submission fighters in the world, winning 10 of his past 12 fights over the last six years goes a long ways to prove he’s still a top-level talent inside the cage.
That said, he’s going to need a big victory to keep that argument alive, and Nelson’s popularity with the fighting faithful would make the former TUF winner the ideal target. Furthermore, Barnett would most likely force Nelson to dust off his BJJ game and that aspect alone would make a fight between the two established veterans worth watching.
Every few years an invisible tide will sweep through divisions under the UFC banner and wash former contenders and previously elite-level fighters out to a place where championship opportunities are no longer visible on the horizon. The tide also marks the arrival of fresh talent looking to establish themselves in title contention. It’s the natural ebb and flow of such things in the fight business and for the better part of a decade, Michael Bisping has been rock to all approaching storms.
While there have been setbacks and missteps during his time in the upper tier of the middleweight division, “The Count” has never been more than two big victories away from being dead in the mix for a title shot. The brash-talking Brit has been the very definition of a divisional staple during his time in the 185-pound ranks, but lately it appears the approaching tide has started to chip away at his historically sturdy foundation.
Where The Ultimate Fighter season-three winner has been prone to rolling off victory after victory inside the cage, the past two years have told somewhat of a different story, as the scrappy Englishman has only found success in two of his past five bouts. Furthermore, the adversity Bisping has faced has not come inside the Octagon alone, as the Los Angeles transplant also suffered a detached retina and a lengthy recovery process from the injury. Simply put: It’s been a rough run for Bisping as of late, but he’s still shown flashes of what made him a contender in the first place.
Although his win over Alan Belcher at UFC 159 back in April of 2013 was a lackluster showing, the Manchester native’s absolute drubbing of heralded striker Cung Le back in August proved there’s still plenty of go in Bisping‘s tank. That said, the three losses he’s suffered in this current stretch and the fashion in which they happened may have finally pushed the British kickboxer out of the elite realm once and for all.
It seems that perhaps the swirling tide he once represented and fended off for so long may finally be pushing him further out on the horizon and that’s why it’s the perfect time to put that exact notion to the test against Elias Theodorou.
While “The Spartan” is still in the early stages of his UFC run and is in the process of parlaying the momentum he built from winning The Ultimate Fighter: Canada vs Australia into legitimate recognition, the circumstances are perfect for Theodorou to draw a a high-caliber opponent the likes of Bisping. Five years ago, a TUF winner like Theodorou would be spoon fed favorable matchups in order to solidify his status as a legit fighter. Coming off a loss, Bisping would draw a slipping veteran with a recognizable name in order to get him back into the win column, the current environment of the middleweight division is much different than it was just a short time ago.
Where pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva once ruled the 185-pound fold with an iron fist and everyone outside of the champion himself seemed to mill about the division until they were tapped to become “The Spider’s” next victim, that’s no longer the case in the middleweight division. The Brazilian phenom was bested in back-to-back showings by current champion Chris Weidman, and a weight class once thought to be cleaned out is now thriving with potential title contenders.
In addition to the “All American” being a dominant champion, fighters like VitorBelfort, Luke Rockhold, “Jacare” Souza, Yoel Romero, LyotoMachida and a handful of others are all two big victories away from getting a shot at championship gold.
Due to his recent losses, Bisping is no longer in this equation and facing a talented young upstart like Theodorou serves several purposes. Pairing an established name against a rising prospect eager to raise his stock is common practice in combat sports and one that makes solid sense if the veteran is still in his physical prime, which Bisping appears to be. He would undoubtedly be the biggest test Theodorou had ever faced and a potential bout between the two would provide a proper gauge for both men.
Fighting the 26-year-old Canadian would give Bisping the chance to prove he has the moxie to turn back a rising talent, while Theodorou would have the opportunity to knock off one of the biggest names in the division. Furthermore, should Bisping defeat Theodorou, he’s still young enough in his career where the experience alone would be enough to make the potential bout worthwhile. That said, a Bisping wouldn’t enjoy the same type of levity if he were to lose to the undefeated Toronto-based fighter.
On the flip—and pushing all additional elements aside—the stylistic matchup between Bisping and Theodorou alone would be high-paced fun. Both have full throttle attacks and no matter how the results eventually shook out, it would be difficult to imagine a fight between the former perennial contender and the surging prospect not delivering.
The final matter to consider would be the tremendous amount of upside that would come with a Theodorou victory. The former model and self-proclaimed owner of the “best hair in MMA” has the makings to be a star in the UFC fold, but he needs the resume and heavy names on said resume if that is ever going to happen. In his short time under the UFC banner, Theodorou has proven to be as game as they come inside the Octagon, and it would be interesting to see if he could rise to the challenge and seize a moment as big as what defeating Bisping would present.
Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
If the UFC’s flyweight division were a person, it would just now be moving out of diapers and into pull-ups as the 125-pound collective rolls into its third year of existence. And while that isn’t a tremendous amount of time for a full-fledged divisional shootout to take form, the combatants in the flyweight ranks have wasted no time establishing the divisional hierarchy.
Demetrious Johnson has not only clearly solidified his place as the best 125-pound fighter in the world, he’s done it over and over again in a more definitive fashion than he did the last time. “Mighty Mouse” is still the only man to ever hold UFC flyweight gold, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been competitors who have given their proverbial all to pry that gold out of the Washington native’s hands. Of that group, Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga are both card-carrying members.
Where the MMA Lab representative failed in his one and only attempt to dethrone Johnson, the Team Alpha Male standout has fumbled both of his opportunities to become champion. And while their initial meeting to determine the inaugural divisional title at UFC 152 in Sept. of 2012 was a closely contested affair with Johnson edging out Benavidez on the judges’ scorecards, their rematch at UFC on Fox 9 last December was the exact opposite as “D.J.” scored a first-round knockout victory.
Yet, while Benavidez has fallen short in his efforts to become the flyweight champion, the Sacramento-based scrapper has brutalized every opponent he’s faced without a title being on the line. Save for his bout with Ian McCall being a unanimous decision at UFC 156 in February of 2013, Benavidez‘s four other victories within the division have been starchings. Granted, talented prospect Dustin Ortiz took the LasCruces native the distance in his most recent showing, but the fight itself was Benavidez putting on a 15-minute striking clinic at Fight Night 57 as he picked up his fifth win in his past six outings.
Nevertheless, Benavidez will not get anywhere near a title shot while Johnson still holds the crown, and Moraga is currently sitting in similar waters. The Phoenix native has proven to be one of the best the division has to offer, but a submission loss to Johnson in his sole title opportunity back in July of 2013, and a TKO via doctor stoppage against John Dodson back in June have Moraga sitting in title-shot limbo at the current time.
Even with his impressive victory over Justin Scoggins back in September Moraga didn’t put himself much closer to another title shot, and that’s where Benavidez comes in.
Of the group of fighters currently residing in the upper tier of the flyweight fold, Benavidez and Moraga is the one fight that somehow has not yet been made. They are both ranked at the top of the division and the matchup will certainly happen sooner or later so why not make it sooner? With both fighters being former title challengers, the winner of the potential bout between Benavidez and Moraga would certainly benefit greatly. They’ve both already defeated several lesser ranked opponents and been forced to sit in relative silence in the aftermath time and time again.
And all signs point to that condition lasting awhile longer. Moraga was slated to face JussierFormiga at UFC on Fox 13 in Phoenix on Dec. 13, but the Brazilian veteran pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Willie Gates. Now, Moraga will face an even lower ranked opponent, and should he defeat Gates next month, it will do little to nothing for his hopes of getting another title opportunity. No disrespect to Gates of course—the bout is a huge opportunity for him—but Moraga has legitimately proved to be one of the best in the weight class and the upcoming bout against Gates feels like he’s treading water and waiting for a much bigger opportunity to come around.
That opportunity is a bout with Benavidez and it needs to happen for both men.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
The UFC has high hopes for brash Irishman 