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Khabib Nurmagomedov: Who Makes the Most Sense for His Return to Action?

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the newest names in the ever-growing list of mixed martial arts fighters hampered by injuries.
Unfortunately for the athlete, the knee injury that has forced him out of competition came at a time when he was surging t…

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the newest names in the ever-growing list of mixed martial arts fighters hampered by injuries.

Unfortunately for the athlete, the knee injury that has forced him out of competition came at a time when he was surging toward the top of the lightweight division.

Even though he’s still months away from returning to the Octagon, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has a number of opponents waiting to welcome him back. However, one of the most interesting options isn’t on the UFC’s roster at this time.

That man is current Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.

Since joining the UFC back in 2012, “The Eagle” has run his undefeated streak to 22 victories. The Russian native has propelled himself to a point where he is one of the premier fighters at 155 pounds, and he’s currently the No. 3-ranked lightweight in the promotion behind Benson Henderson and Gilbert Melendez, per UFC.com.

In order to obtain the title shot that has eluded him to this point, Nurmagomedov should be placed against Alvarez, as it would be a challenging bout for both of them.

Alvarez is still under contract with Bellator, but that did not stop the UFC from attempting to bring him over to face Donald Cerrone at UFC 178, per Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog. That fight would eventually fall apart, as Cerrone is now scheduled to face Bobby Green. However, that doesn’t mean the UFC should end their pursuit of Alvarez.

Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie reported that at the time of Nurmagomedov‘s injury in July he would be out of action for at least six months. During this period the UFC could work on their negotiations with Bellator to reach an agreement to bring over their lightweight champion. The companies would have their work cut out for them, but earlier efforts show that they are willing to negotiate.

Scott Coker recently addressed the situation with Alvarez’s contract with Bellator. “Right now, where it’s at today is Eddie’s still a fighter under contract with Bellator.” Scott Coker told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I know that lawyers are involved, and that’s something that happened way before I came to this company. Right now, I don’t have an update for you on that.”

Alvarez would present an interesting challenge for Nurmagomedov if they were to actually meet in the Octagon. To this point, Nurmagomedov has been able to overwhelm his opponents within the UFC with effective grappling.

Alvarez uses an aggressive style of a different nature, where he stays on his opponents, looking to land boxing combinations and use his wrestling when possible. Nurmagomedov has yet to face an opponent in the UFC who uses such a style, so a fight against Alvarez would be a clear change of pace for him.

From a business perspective, this fight makes sense for the organization as well. Alvarez has never shied away from promoting himself or the fights that he’s involved in. He would have the ability to carry much of the needed media work for a fight against Nurmagomedov.

A win for either fighter would create enough credibility for them to be considered a No. 1 contender to fight the winner of the upcoming Anthony Pettis–Gilbert Melendez fight with the title. If the UFC were able to set this match up it would work as a co-main event for a pay-per-view card in 2015.

Khabib Nurmagomedov was very near to earning a shot at the UFC lightweight title before suffering a knee injury last month. As the promotion awaits his return, they can use this time to sign Eddie Alvarez and create the best fight possible to welcome Alvarez to the UFC and Nurmagomedov back from the injured list all at once.

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George Sotiropoulos Looking to Get Back on Track at Titan FC 29

Mixed martial arts is an unforgiving sport by its very nature. Tides turn quickly, momentum can be stopped in a flash and a fighter’s ascension up the rankings toward potential title-contender status can collapse into a free fall that is difficult to r…

Some stretches are so treacherous that a fighter never recovers, but George Sotiropoulos is determined to prove he has what it takes to get back up on his feet.

The Greek-Australian-bred fighter came to the UFC in 2007 as a cast member on the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter and immediately made a name for himself, as he finished the first two opponents he faced in post-TUF competition.

“Sots” then decided drop down into the lightweight division, where he proceeded to string together five more victories over top-notch competition, including the likes of Joe Stevenson and Joe Lauzon. With a seven-fight winning streak and a string of impressive performances, a potential title opportunity hovered in the distance, but in 2011, things would take a sharp turn south for the American Top Team Fighter.

He would go on to suffer setbacks in his next four outings and was released by the UFC as the result of the losing streak. In those moments, a fighter is faced with a decision to either pack it up and call it a day or light the fires of war to prove there is still more of the story to be written. Sotiropoulos chose the latter, and he’s determined to show the MMA world that it’s not yet seen the best of what he has to offer.

The 37-year-old Vancouver, Washington, transplant will attempt to ignite that comeback when he squares off with fellow UFC veteran Mike Ricci at Titan FC 29 this Friday night in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The lightweight tilt will serve as the main event on the card, and Sotiropoulos believes fans are going to see a show when the cage door closes.

Yet while there are plenty of labels and cliches that could be assigned to his next fight, Sotiropoulos is simply looking forward to getting back to work and testing his skills against Ricci.

“It might be a new chapter in my career,” Sotiropoulos told Bleacher Report. “I don’t want to use cliches, but it just might be. Really, there is no such thing as a new chapter because things just continue and go on. It just depends on how you look at it. This will be a fight in a different time and place, but life goes on, you know?

“I definitely have a fire in me and I would agree that I have something to prove. I don’t believe I fought my fight in my last four fights and I am not happy with the way things went in those bouts. Things are working much better for me now, and I get to showcase that on August 22. Fans are going to see a very eager, confident, aggressive and slick version of George Sotiropoulos.”

The matchup between Sotiropoulos and the Firas Zahabi-trained fighter will pit two versatile and well-rounded fighters together inside the cage. Throughout his career, Ricci has shown the ability to use his range and effectively grapple when he closes distances in order to control and dictate the action.

Sotiropoulos is no stranger to mixing things up on his feet, as the former Australian amateur boxing champion has spent years developing his striking game.

That said, Sotiropoulos has proven to be lights out when the action hits the canvas and is open to his upcoming tilt with Ricci playing out all over the cage.

“I just may take this fight to the ground, but I’ve worked very hard at all angles of my game,” Sotiropoulos said. “I’ve always worked hard on every part of the game, but every fight is different and you aren’t going to be able to showcase every aspect of your skills in ever fight.

“That’s just the nature of this sport and how the game goes. There have been big fights that I’ve been in where I’ve trained certain things, and those skills didn’t turn up in that fight. Then, on the other side, there have been fights where skills I didn’t really put a lot of focus on came up big.

“It just depends on how the fight goes, and there are so many variables. It’s not a single-dimensional sport. There are different styles of every discipline, so many variables, and that is what is going to make this fight so interesting.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC Fight Night 49: Rafael Dos Anjos Can Prove He’s an Elite Lightweight

Rafael dos Anjos returns to action this Saturday in the main event of the UFC’s second card of the day. The Brazilian is 6-1 in his last seven outings and is looking to put his name among the other title hopefuls with a win on Saturday.
UFC Fight Night…

UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, plays host to Dos Anjos’ bout against Benson Henderson. Dos Anjos comes in as the No. 5-ranked contender, while Henderson sits atop the contender’s list at No. 1.

A win would do wonders for Dos Anjos.

While he is currently ranked No. 5, you will not find too many people in the world of MMA talking about the Brazilian. Take from that what you will.

Is he just an uninteresting character? Or does nobody truly believe he has what it takes to seriously contend with the best at 155 pounds?

The bottom line is a win over Henderson will have everyone talking.

Aside from last year’s victory over Donald Cerrone, Dos Anjos has failed against the upper echelon of the division throughout his career. His last loss was to Khabib Nurmagomedov in April of this year, and it was not a close fight. Dos Anjos needs this win to show he is deserving of the No. 5 ranking.

One of the reasons Dos Anjos is not on everyone’s mind is his lack of flash. Quite simply put, he is a well-rounded mixed martial artist who does not excite in any one area. Yes, he has a jiu-jitsu black belt and knockout power. However, he is not the exceptional striker that Anthony Pettis is and lacks the exciting jiu-jitsu game that people pay to watch.

Dos Anjos is just plain good—”plain” being the key word.

Plain or not, wins are all that matter. And a win over Henderson would make Dos Anjos a viable title contender for the winner of Gilbert Melendez vs. Anthony Pettis.

Can he get it done? Does it even matter?

Henderson enters as a minus-325 favorite, per Odds Shark. The belief in Dos Anjos is low, but he is good enough in every area to win.

In order to defeat Henderson, he must be on point with his striking and takedown defense. Henderson is a capable striker with a variety of unique attacks. He even throws punches to the thigh. But his bread and butter is a strong wrestling game.

Dos Anjos cannot allow Henderson to dictate this fight. The Brazilian will need to throw caution to the wind at some point during the contest. While his back is not pressed against the wall, this is his shot to make a name for himself in the lightweight division.

The time is now.

Truthfully, a competitive fight with Henderson should be enough to prove he is among the elite. If he can battle with Henderson in a close encounter, there should be no doubt as to where he stands in the division. The former UFC lightweight champion is as good as they come.

However, Dos Anjos will want to be more than just competitive.

This is his chance.

Dos Anjos has worked his way up the ladder to get to No. 5 in the division, but few truly see him as elite. His performance on Saturday will answer that claim once and for all—win or lose.

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UFC Fight Night 48 and 49: Previewing the Newcomers

The UFC is rapidly expanding and putting on more and more shows, and the increased number of events means an increase in roster size.
On Saturday, the UFC puts on two shows. It starts off with UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau in the morning (for Americans),…

The UFC is rapidly expanding and putting on more and more shows, and the increased number of events means an increase in roster size.

On Saturday, the UFC puts on two shows. It starts off with UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau in the morning (for Americans), while the night offers up UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stars and prospects alike will grace both cards.

Apart from the big names, there are some fresh faces on the card. In fact, a handful of fighters are set to begin their journey with the UFC.

A dozen fighters are making their official UFC debuts this week. Let’s take a look at every new fighter.

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5 Reasons to Watch UFC Fight Night 48 and 49

What more can you ask for than two UFC events on the same day?
A Ferrari with a bag of cash and Joanna Krupa in the passenger’s seat?
Well, sure, but this isn’t Candyland, and you’re more likely to find an empty Snickers wrapper in your car than one of…

What more can you ask for than two UFC events on the same day?

A Ferrari with a bag of cash and Joanna Krupa in the passenger’s seat?

Well, sure, but this isn’t Candyland, and you’re more likely to find an empty Snickers wrapper in your car than one of the fliest chicks on the planet.

So for us regular, taxpaying schmoes who live for the big fights, this upcoming weekend should serve as a nice end to this blazing-fast summer.

Here are five reasons to put those dreams of fast cars and pretty women aside and spend your whole Saturday watching UFC Fight Night 48 (prelims start at 6:30 a.m. ET) and 49 (7:30 p.m.).

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Travis Browne: Who Should the Returning Heavyweight Fight Next?

Travis Browne’s last fight was his 10th inside the Octagon. He lost by unanimous decision to Fabricio Werdum in a fight where he broke his hand and his foot. That was April at UFC on Fox 11, and UFC Tonight reported that the Jackson-Winkeljo…

Werdum earned a heavyweight championship fight in Mexico City with the win over Browne, after finishing up a coaching stint on TUF: Latin America opposite Cain Velasquez. Browne now finds himself looking to avoid two losses in a row, and is three weeks into training for his next fight, which has yet to be announced.

Who should Browne fight after losing the title eliminator to Werdum?

UFC matchmaker Joe Silva is known to favor an approach of matching up winners with winners, and losers with losers. Whether you match Travis Browne up with someone coming off a win or a loss, there are a lot of viable options for his next fight.

Brendan Schaub is coming off a narrow decision loss to Andrei Arlovski at UFC 174, and Junior dos Santos hasn’t fought since his loss to Cain Velasquez. Either would be good opponents for Browne, but dos Santos has said recently to Tatame(transcribed by BloodyElbow.com) that he thinks the UFC will be matching up with Stipe Miocic, who is coming off of a 35-second TKO of Fabio Maldonado in May.

Winner of Mitrione vs. Lewis at Fight Night 50

Browne is in a position where he might need to beat back some of the middle of the pack in the heavyweight division to get back into title contention, and either of these fighters would be a good rebound fight for him.

Derrick Lewis has 10 wins by KO/TKO, and would provide a great toe-to-toe striking battle for Browne. A fight with Mitrione would also most likely be entertaining, as what Mitrione lacks in technical skill, he makes up for in athleticism and overall willingness to throw down. I would favor Browne to beat either fighter, but crazier things have happened, and heavyweights punch hard.

Junior dos Santos

Even though the UFC seems to be interested in trying to rebook dos Santos up against Stipe Miocic, I think “Cigano” would be a great next opponent for Travis Browne. This fight could easily main event a Fight Pass or Fox Sports 1 card. Dos Santos’ boxing and punching power could be a problem for Browne, but he would have a reach disadvantage.

He’d need to close the distance to land his shots while also having to worry about Browne up close, who finished both Gabriel Gonzaga and Josh Barnett with elbows to the side of the head. If Browne could beat a former UFC champion in dos Santos, its possible he could earn a No. 1 contender fight in early 2015.

Stipe Miocic

Miocic is the best option for Browne’s next opponent. Miocic’s boxing would provide a true test for Browne, who’s kicks and elbows have put away veterans like Josh Barnett and Alistair Overeem in recent fights. When Travis Browne doesn’t get injured in fights, he usually controls the pace of the action. Against Miocic, he’ll have to deal with constant movement and pressure, and one of the best boxers in the heavyweight division.

Miocic is getting close to title contention, and a win over Browne would solidify his place as one of the best fighters in the division. Though he’s targeted for a fight with dos Santos, Brown vs. Miocic would be a heck of a fight.

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