Tag: Middleweight

Yoel Romero Continues Attack on Michael Bisping and UK Flag

The feud between Middleweight contender Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero and champion Michael “The Count” Bisping has spilled out of the Octagon and into social media. The Cuban and British citizens have now involved their national flags as means to insult each other. The first offense came at the hands of Bisping, who tore up […]

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The feud between Middleweight contender Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero and champion Michael “The Count” Bisping has spilled out of the Octagon and into social media. The Cuban and British citizens have now involved their national flags as means to insult each other.

The first offense came at the hands of Bisping, who tore up the Cuban flag and threw it at Romero after the Cuban’s UFC 213 loss against Robert Whittaker. See here via Twitter:

Needless to say, Romero did not take the disrespect lightly, and was swift to make a video burning a picture of Bisping with the UK flag. See here via Instagram:

Although the message of hostility was clear, Bisping laughed off on an Instagram post of his own, where he posted screenshots of the video with nothing but emojis as the caption. (Via Instagram):

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A post shared by Mikebisping (@mikebisping) on

The beef between the UK and Cuba seemed to be over after a lackluster response of three laughing face emojis, but “Sodier of God” was not done with Bisping or the Union Jack. In a profanity-filled, high-production value Instagram video, Romero called out Bisping and challenged him to fight in London or Manchester. See the video here (Via Instagram):

It seems that Romero is campaigning for a fight against Bisping, an unlikely reality since he just lost the Interim belt to Whittaker. For Romero, a lot of things need to happen for him to ever see “The Count” in the Octagon, including Bisping accepting a fight with him, something that has never happened.

The Middleweights has become the division to watch. The feud between Romero and Bisping, the new exciting, young Interim champion and a roster full of killers promises great match-ups. Romero took his first loss but he expressed that he is not done in the UFC, but Bisping’s future is uncertain.

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The ‘Bigg Rigg’ Is Running On Fumes

Former UFC welterweight champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks continues to disappoint everyone by not only missing weight, but losing fights in ways that are hard to watch. On Sunday’s (June 25, 2017) UFC Fight Night 112 from Okalhoma City, Oklahoma, Hendricks found out what it is like to be head-kicked by Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch, who […]

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Former UFC welterweight champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks continues to disappoint everyone by not only missing weight, but losing fights in ways that are hard to watch.

On Sunday’s (June 25, 2017) UFC Fight Night 112 from Okalhoma City, Oklahoma, Hendricks found out what it is like to be head-kicked by Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch, who then proceeded to uppercut “Bigg Rigg” into the nether realm.

The stoppage defeat was Hendrick’s fourth loss in five fights, and his only victory was a mediocre unanimous decision win over Hector Lombard. Not very impressive for the former welterweight champion and a man once ranked as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

However, Hendrick’s problems don’t stop at his performances in the octagon. He was forced out of the welterweight division for constantly missing weight, so the UFC let him be 15 pounds heavier and he’s still missing weight. He weighed in at 188 pounds against Boetsch. C’mon.

His once-inhumanly powerful left hand seems to have lost its touch, and his wrestling was as nonexistent as his cardio. He was never in the fight, and mentally, he seems to be out of focus and lacking confidence.

Regardless of Bigg Rigg’s issues, “The Barbarian’s” performance cannot be overlooked. His constant pressure and crisp kickboxing were impressive to say the least, and the way he set up that right high kick was nothing short of spectacular.

Photo by Sean Pokorny for USA TODAY Sports

That brings up the question – has Hendricks just become another bag of meat for fresher fighters to feast on? He certainly became the man to fight if you want to get an extra 20 percent in your paycheck, but not the man to watch for a good fight in recent years, which is both a shocking and disappointing reality considering where he was less than three years back.

There are few solutions to “Bigg Rigg’s” problems that haven’t already been applied. He went up a weight class and he has fought lower-ranked opponents. Perhaps it is time he switches gyms and coaches, and starts from scratch; that is, if his head is still in the fight game.

If he doesn’t improve, Hendricks will soon join the exclusive “cannon fodder” club along with flagship members Travis Browne, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva, Vítor Belfort, Anthony Pettis and Bethe Correia – former contenders that were once surging but are now just seemingly knocked out by more determined fighters on a regular basis.

The precipitous fall from grace has been a shockingly fast and disturbing one for “Bigg Rigg,” and it’s fair question if he’ll ever be able to fill up a tank that’s currently running on fumes – and has been for a while. A reinvention of his camp could certainly help, but Hendricks has to be brutally honest with himself at this point if he truly wants to continue fighting the best in mixed martial arts.

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UFC on Fox 24: Can Robert Whittaker Overcome The Beast That Is Jacare Souza?

So, a week removed from a disappointing middleweight clash, we’ll all have the distinct pleasure of letting the UFC make it up to the fans with an equally intriguing bout at 185 lbs that could have major implications for the division. Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza gets to attempt to solidify his spot as top contender against the young, hungry prospect Robert Whittaker. It’s a fight that any casual fan or avid purist can appreciate. Both men have a propensity for finishing fights which only means potential excitement.

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So, a week removed from a disappointing middleweight clash, we’ll all have the distinct pleasure of letting the UFC make it up to the fans with an equally intriguing bout at 185 lbs that could have major implications for the division. Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza gets to attempt to solidify his spot as top contender against the young, hungry prospect Robert Whittaker. It’s a fight that any casual fan or avid purist can appreciate. Both men have a propensity for finishing fights which only means potential excitement.

Jacare Souza is a beast. Describing him as anything less would be a true insult to one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practioners any fan has had the honor of watching. In recent years opponents have come to fear Jacare on the feet as much as he’s feared on the ground. In the striking realm he doesn’t use his jab as a stinging strike but rather a range fund for his powerful right hand and left hooks. It’s basic, but it’s his bread and better and he knows how to use those basics to enter into the clinch where he has crushing strength. He’ll be smart to use a similar game plan against the young Whittaker as the Australian-New Zealand fighter has a tendency to burst forward with a blitz from time to time.

If Jacare can get Whittaker to respect his punching power, then he’ll go a long way to implementing his game. Getting his opponent against the cage will be key in this fight, followed by the clinch and trips as he’s fond of. Once the fight hits the ground it could be all over for Whittaker.

The thing is, ‘The Reaper’ understands that fact very well. Robert Whittaker has some dangerous striking and great hand speed especially in the middleweight division. His movement and distancing allows him to get away with blitzing in and getting back out before his opponent can return fire *cough* karate tactics *cough*. Whittaker will do well to lean on his karate experience in order to leave enough of a gulf between him and Jacare. It will force Jacare to step forward into the middle space where Whittaker can blitz forward with blinding speed and power.

His jab as always should be used by Whittaker judiciously as Jacare can be explosive himself and leap into his strikes. If Whittaker’s jab is undisciplined, Souza can certainly clip him with a hard shot. Jabbing for distance and damage, keeping the center and having his back go nowhere near the cage are keys to victory that Whittaker must follow in order to not only survive but to keep Jacare on the end of his strikes. When Jacare does get aggressive, a left hook right straight combo would be a great option for Whittaker.

Here’s to hoping that this middleweight clash doesn’t end in some ludicrous controversy.

Who do you got, Jacare Souza or Robert Whittaker?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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UFC 210: What Can Chris Weidman Do To Get Back On Track Versus Gegard Mousasi?

UFC 210 is co-headlined by a pretty important middleweight affair as former champion Chris Weidman will look to get back on track against Gegard Mousasi. The fight is certainly high stakes to say the least as both men are at a crossroads in their career. For Gegard Mousasi it’s a chance to prove his worth to the masses as one of the greatest fighters in the game. For Chris Weidman, it’s potential a final chance to prove that he can hang with the best of the best in the division.

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UFC 210 is co-headlined by a pretty important middleweight affair as former champion Chris Weidman will look to get back on track against Gegard Mousasi. The fight is certainly high stakes to say the least as both men are at a crossroads in their career. For Gegard Mousasi it’s a chance to prove his worth to the masses as one of the greatest fighters in the game. For Chris Weidman, it’s potential a final chance to prove that he can hang with the best of the best in the division.

Gegard Mousasi feels disrespected and he doesn’t care who knows it. These days he’s become more vocal in his opinions about the UFC and what the promotion stands for. He’s been vocal because, really, that’s the only way to generate buzz in this day and age (he has Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor to thank for that). Nevertheless, the one thing that has always been certain about Gegard Mousasi is his ability to fight. If anyone ever had any doubts, the man is truly one of the best middleweights on the UFC’s roster today.

His overall striking is strong, but what makes him so dangerous is his jab and the ability to play aggressor and counter fighter all at once. Mousasi likes to employ intelligent pressure and keep his opponents on the back foot with his jabs. When he does choose to counter, he leans his head over his leg to give the appearance of being there to be hit. He pop his head back and counter with straights and hooks as well as some powerful kicks. He’ll be smart to use the pressure game against Weidman, flicking jabs and forcing the former champion to shoot for takedowns. Anticipating the rush from Weidman is the biggest factor for Mousasi to overcome and if he can handle that, stringing off combinations of multiple combinations, and the occasional kick, will lead Mousasi to victory.

For the former middleweight king, being on a two fight skid is something pretty uncommon. Chris Weidman has the distinction of beating some of the best Brazilian mixed martial artists in the game, including arguable the greatest to have ever done it, Anderson Silva. It’s a sexy feather to have in his cap, but he can’t rest on his laurels. Getting back to title contention will mean busting up Mousasi badly to begin a new streak. Weidman has some deceptively intricate footwork that pushes his opponent’s backs to the fence and forces them to react to his strikes and feints. Weidman isn’t the most polished striker but he’s very effective in understanding range which has carried him far. He stays busy with strikes up top and down below, giving his opponent something to constantly think about.

Chris Weidman also has that dangerous wrestling to fall back on as he has taken down all of his UFC opponents. The problem he faced in his bout with Yoel Romero is giving the his opponent too much space to react to the shot. Weidman will want to mitigate this by giving Mousasi no space against the cage, firing off a combination, and getting in on the hips. While he’s effective at getting the takedown in space, giving Mousasi less real estate to work with will be essential to grasping victory in this fight.

It’s a battle between a middleweight who believes he deserves more respect and another chomping at the bit to once again be the man. Who will come out on top at UFC 210 this weekend, Chris Weidman or Gegard Mousasi?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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“Jacare” Says He Will Retire If He Gets Tired Of Waiting For Title Shot

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is a patient man, but he’s only willing to wait for so long before the former Strikeforce middleweight champ and a UFC contender gets his title shot. The Brazilian submission specialist did not mince words when asked about his long road to a UFC title fight. “Jacare” carries an impressive 7-1 record

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Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is a patient man, but he’s only willing to wait for so long before the former Strikeforce middleweight champ and a UFC contender gets his title shot.

The Brazilian submission specialist did not mince words when asked about his long road to a UFC title fight. “Jacare” carries an impressive 7-1 record in the UFC, with his lone loss coming by way of close decision to fellow middleweight contender Yoel Romero.

“Oh, man, I’m motivated in fighting,” Souza said during a press event in Rio de Janeiro. “That doesn’t demotivate me at all. I’m motivated by the challenge that my opponent brings. The belt is the consequence. I’m a believer in God, everybody knows that,” he continued. “When I’m choosing my fight, I put a knee on the ground and ask for God to choose a fight for me, and it’s happening.”

“I’m happy to be fighting,” he continued. “But I have no problem stopping fighting. I stopped competing in jiu-jitsu in 2005 when I was at the top of my career, and if I think it’s too much for me, that I’m full of it, I can stop fighting. That’s it. I can open my own gym, make as much money as I make fighting, and be happy. I have this dream of having my own gym, so I have no problem stopping fighting.”

“Jacare” may only be on a modest two fight win streak, but has finished both those opponents in the first round, TKOing Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 and Tim Boesch at UFC 208.

The Jiu-Jitsu ace was the 185 pound champ back in Strikeforce and has been a contender in the UFC ever since he was signed back in 2013.

With current middleweight champion Michael Bisping making his second title defense against former welterweight kingpin Georges Saint Pierre sometime this summer, the rest of the weight class is left in flux. Both “Jacare” and Romero have already done enough to earn their title shots, but this superfight between Bisping and GSP means neither contender will have the chance to dethrone the champ until late 2017, all things considered.

“Jacare” will take on Robert Whittaker at UFC on FOX 24 on April 15, which could bolster his win streak to three in a row and an overall 8-1 UFC record with a victory. But at 37-years-old, time is of the essence for Souza, and he seems to know it.

Will we see “Jacare” get his title shot before he loses his patience and retires like he did from competitive BJJ back in 2005? Or will Romero

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Fallout: After Another Loss, Vitor Belfort Should Fight Anderson Silva For His Swan Song

So I’d be lying if I said “I didn’t see Kelvin Gastelum beating Vitor Belfort like that.” It would be an egregious lie. Yet still, it was pretty rough to watch Vitor go out like that. The days where TRT Vitor, the greatest fighter of all time, annihilate his opponents with vicious combo strings is over. In his place we have a Vitor Belfort who just isn’t quite what he used to be. He’s a shell of his former self and that’s no lie. At 39 years of age and with a ton of mileage on him, Vitor Belfort should be thinking on his exit strategy. With one more fight on his contract, I could think of only one opponent that would be appropriate.

Anderson Silva.

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So I’d be lying if I said “I didn’t see Kelvin Gastelum beating Vitor Belfort like that.” It would be an egregious lie. Yet still, it was pretty rough to watch Vitor go out like that. The days where TRT Vitor, the greatest fighter of all time, annihilate his opponents with vicious combo strings is over. In his place we have a Vitor Belfort who just isn’t quite what he used to be. He’s a shell of his former self and that’s no lie. At 39 years of age and with a ton of mileage on him, Vitor Belfort should be thinking on his exit strategy. With one more fight on his contract, I could think of only one opponent that would be appropriate.

Anderson Silva.

While Vitor Belfort may have seen brighter days, the same could be said for former middleweight God Anderson Silva. Gone are the days where Silva simply shrugged off opposition, knocking them out with general ease. Now we see a Silva who struggles against opposition that he would have surely overcome in his heyday. That’s no disrespect to his past several opponents, but Silva has clearly been off his game since being slept by Chris Weidman.

Now, Kelvin Gastelum called out Silva, and since the UFC likes to pair winners with winners, he’s most likely to get the fight over Belfort. But from a purely nostalgic sense, a battle between the two Brazilians could be a great send off for either fighter. Silva talks about fighting for an extended period but what better way to call it a career fighting one of the most popular Brazilian fighters of all time in Vitor Belfort? For ‘The Phenom’ having a chance to close the book on his career against the greatest to have ever done it is not only a chance at revenge, but a match up that has a tremendous amount of meaning for both fighters as well as their Brazilian fans. Making that fight happen in Rio would generate numbers and great deal of interest.

More than likely we’ll see Vitor battle it out with a lower tiered middleweight for his potential final showdown. Until then, let’s embrace the speculation and sate our appetite with a battle of legends, past their prime, but still thoroughly entertaining nonetheless.

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

 

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