Injury and opportunity are two things that have been plentiful in the UFC over the past year or so.Those two things are what will bring Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione into the Octagon on Saturday, December 15 when they headline the season 16 finale of Th…
Injury and opportunity are two things that have been plentiful in the UFC over the past year or so.
Those two things are what will bring Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione into the Octagon on Saturday, December 15 when they headline the season 16 finale of The Ultimate Fighter.
Nelson has been an ever-present figure during the 16th season of TUF, coaching opposite Shane Carwin, the man he was originally booked to fight on Saturday night. An injury to Carwin opened up a spot in the main event and Mitrione, who had been scheduled to face Philip De Fries at UFC 155, threw his name in the hat.
The UFC must have liked the matchup between Nelson and Mitrione and they took him up on his offer.
Mitrione and Nelson are no strangers to TUF. Both fighters competed on the 10th season of the show, a season that Nelson won. Mitrione, on the other hand, was dispatched in the quarterfinal round, falling to James McSweeney via guillotine choke.
Despite the fact that they could have met in the semifinal round of the show, Mitrioneisn’t looking at this fight as some sort of chance at redemption or as a way to show that he would have defeated Nelson had they fought back in 2009. He knows that was a different time and place for both fighters, “Roy won The Ultimate Fighter, good job for Roy,” Mitirione said. “He’s had three-and-a-half years to develop since then and so have I.”
While that much is true, both fighters have had the same amount of time to develop since filming season 10 of TUF in 2009, but Nelson has been the more active of the two.
Nelson has two fights under his belt since UFC 137, the last time Mitrione fought in the UFC. As far as how the 14 months off will treat him, Mitrione was unsure and seemingly unconcerned, “I’ll tell you after the fight,” he answered when asked if he thought the time off would affect him.
Mitrione, a fighter who has all six of his professional bouts as a UFC fighter then continued, “It’s like riding a bike. I never had a fight before the UFC and I went in there and kind of went off the cuff and made it happen, so I’m sure it’ll be like the same way.”
Riding a bike, punching guys in the face, you do it once, you never forget, or so Matt Mitrione would like to believe.
We’ll find out if Mitrione is right on Saturday night.
Although BJ Penn has steered clear of the media since he was shellacked by the unnervingly glacial Rory MacDonald at UFC on Fox 5, Saturday night’s postmortem has centred on the possibility that “The Prodigy” is on his way to permanen…
Although BJ Penn has steered clear of the media since he was shellacked by the unnervingly glacial Rory MacDonald at UFC on Fox 5, Saturday night’s postmortem has centred on the possibility that “The Prodigy” is on his way to permanent retirement.
The debate as to whether the former two-division champion should go down this route has been mostly one-sided, yet it remains unresolved largely due to a vocal minority.
On the MMA Hour, earlier tonight, Ariel Helwani and Eric Jackman suggested that they would like to see Penn drop back down to lightweight—with the latter even stating that he wouldn’t be opposed to the Hawaiian sticking around at welterweight.
While I can’t defend the notion that Penn should hang around as a gatekeeper at 170 pounds, one can understand the desire to see him once again compete at his natural weight.
At the age of 33, it will be a while before “The Prodigy” picks up his pension, and while he may be past his prime, he is hardly in the same boat as the Ken Shamrocks of this world.
It was only last year that he fought to a draw with the then No. 2 welterweight on the planet, Jon Fitch. He was perhaps on his way to winning that contest until, not unexpectedly, he gassed out in the final frame.
So, the argument that Penn could compete at the top of the lightweight division is not without merit.
However, I suspect that the proponents of the aforementioned argument would be quickly disabused of this notion if Penn were to drop down to 155 pounds and face a top contender.
The reason for this is simple.
BJ Penn’s last two fights have shown that the size difference played only a minor role in the beatings handed out to him by Nick Diaz and MacDonald.
Despite what the Hawaiian’s more rabid fans might think, he was not out-muscled or worn down by his much larger foes.
One could even argue that neither Diaz nor MacDonald took full advantage of the physical handicap, since both bouts were fought almost exclusively at striking range.
The second point is that, at least on Saturday, Penn looked to have a lot more in the tank towards the end of the fight than anyone could have anticipated.
He almost sprinted to the centre of the cage at the start of all three rounds, and generally looked much fresher than he had against Diaz or Fitch.
No, it wasn’t size nor cardio that slayed him. It was indeed beauty that felled “The Prodigy,” albeit in the form of MacDonald’s violent, visually poetic combinations.
Put more simply, BJ Penn was outclassed by a much better mixed martial artist. The result would have been the same had Rory been four inches shorter and three inches narrower.
In a qualitative, if not quantitative, sense, the sport has reached new heights over the last couple of years. The calibre of mixed martial artist that now competes inside the Octagon is on a different level than anything we have seen before.
Freddie Roach once described BJ Penn as the best boxer in MMA, but “The Prodigy’s” recent outings have served to demonstrate the limitations of a purely boxing-centred approach.
Similarly, his once-peerless ground game no longer appears novel when compared to the submission artistry of Demian Maia or RousimarPalhares.
In addition to the sport’s continued evolution, Penn’s skills have undoubtedly declined to a degree.
While I don’t subscribe to the view that they have dropped off the figurative cliff, it seems clear that he is slower, less explosive and his reflexes have been blunted to the point of debilitation.
I remain open to the possibility that I am wrong about BJ Penn’s prospects in the modern MMA world, but current evidence suggests that it is time for him to hang up the gloves and preserve the legacy he has fought so hard to build.
Rory MacDonald put his money where his mouth is and defeated B.J. Penn in their bout on UFC on Fox 5.While talking to Joe Rogan after the fight, MacDonald took the microphone and called out a former opponent of his.That man is the only one to hand him …
Rory MacDonald put his money where his mouth is and defeated B.J. Penn in their bout on UFC on Fox 5.
While talking to Joe Rogan after the fight, MacDonald took the microphone and called out a former opponent of his.
That man is the only one to hand him a loss so far in his UFC career. That man, if you haven’t already guessed, is former interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit.
Both men are elite fighters right now in the UFC. Let’s take a closer look at three reasons the UFC should match them up for the second time.
It seems like it was just yesterday we were watching Benson Henderson completely dominate Nate Diaz and now in just five days we get to see the Ultimate Fighter Season sixteen finale. In what was set to be the exciting return of Shane Carwin and facing…
It seems like it was just yesterday we were watching Benson Henderson completely dominate Nate Diaz and now in just five days we get to see the Ultimate Fighter Season sixteen finale. In what was set to be the exciting return of Shane Carwin and facing off against Roy Nelson has now been hit with the injury bug. Shane Carwin blew his knee out, only to be replaced by Matt Mitrione. Both Nelson and Mitrione are no strangers to each other having both been contestants on The Ultimate Fighter Season ten heavyweights. Also, facing off this Saturday will be the finalist from this year’s TUS season sixteen, Colton Smith and Mike Ricci.
The ever so colorful Pat Barry stops by to sit down with the Ultimate Show and gives us his thoughts on everything from fighting Shane Del Rosario to how Denver has no air. If you are a Pat Barry fan, this is a segment not to be missed. We also sat down with Shane Del Rosario to get his side of things.
Be sure to sound off and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions.
The event billed as “the best free TV fight card in MMA history” is in the books, and it more than lived up to its billing.From the main event shellacking administered to Nate Diaz by Benson Henderson all the way to a preliminary card chock full of thr…
The event billed as “the best free TV fight card in MMA history” is in the books, and it more than lived up to its billing.
From the main event shellacking administered to Nate Diaz by Benson Henderson all the way to a preliminary card chock full of thrilling fights and finishes, UFC on Fox 5 was one of the best UFC cards of the year.
But now, it’s time to put on our matchmaker hats and take a look at what might be next for some of the winners and losers. Let’s get this thing rolling, shall we?
Going into his bout with Nate Diaz this past Saturday night at UFC on Fox 5, champion Benson Henderson seemingly had much to prove. Despite having earned and defended the lightweight title, there was a sense that the 155-pound strap didn’t rightfully b…
Going into his bout with Nate Diaz this past Saturday night at UFC on Fox 5, champion Benson Henderson seemingly had much to prove. Despite having earned and defended the lightweight title, there was a sense that the 155-pound strap didn’t rightfully belong to him—this due, in large part, to his two victories over former champion Frankie Edgar coming in razor-thin and controversial fashion.
In facing a brash opponent the likes of Diaz, “Smooth” finally had an opportunity to silence the critics. The Stockton native had battered and smashed his way to a title opportunity and made no secret that he was bringing the scrap directly to Henderson’s doorstep.
Questions lingered as to how the MMA Lab product would react to Diaz‘s unique methods, but as soon as the action got underway in the night’s main event, Henderson wasted zero time in showing the world why he is the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
For five rounds, the 28-year-old imposed his will on the Season Five TUF winner as he slammed, dropped and hammered the younger of the Diaz brothers. Henderson’s pressure was relentless, and he overwhelmed Diaz from start to finish. In moments where Diaz attempted his classic posturing, Henderson made him pay for it in grand fashion, as he dropped the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter shortly after Diaz dropped his hands and extended his chin.
When the final bell sounded, the night belonged to Henderson, and he made his second successful title defense in unquestionable fashion. To most it looked like another night of a champion doing his thing. But to this writer, it was a clear statement made to the rest of the super-competitive lightweight division that Henderson has no plans of going back down the ladder.
Line Them Up
Post-fight press conferences have been known to present their fair share of awkward moments, but when Henderson was continuously questioned about who he would like to fight next, the champion attempted to mask his annoyance while still addressing the question. In a weight class rich with potential contenders, there is no shortage of exciting matchups waiting just around the corner.
At the current time there are a handful of fighters within striking distance of a title opportunity. At next month’s UFC on Fox 6 card, there is a showdown between Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis, which could easily determine who gets the next crack at Henderson’s belt.
While the current champion has already defeated Cerrone on two occasions under the WEC banner, since “Cowboy” has transitioned to the Octagon, he has been a force to be reckoned with. His only setback since leaving the “little blue cage” of the WEC has come at the hands of Diaz, but the Colorado native bounced back strong with victories over Jeremy Stephens and Melvin Guillard.
Things have been slightly different for Pettis. After defeating Henderson to earn the WEC lightweight championship in 2010, “Showtime” has fallen into a pattern where momentum has been difficult to build. He was originally slated to face the winner of Edgar vs. Maynard at UFC 125, but after that fight ended in a draw and an immediate rematch was scheduled, Pettis was pushed to the sidelines.
Rather than wait things out, the Duke Roufus-trained fighter agreed to a bout with Clay Guida, where he was ultimately defeated via unanimous decision. The loss pushed Pettis out of the immediate picture, but after earning victories over Stephens and Joe Lauzon at UFC 144, the 25-year-old has once again positioned himself in title contention range.
The winner of their bout on January 26th in Chicago could be granted the next shot at the UFC lightweight strap, but there is another name floating around that could put a nix on both fighters’ title hopes.
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has been battling to be recognized as one of the top 155-pound fighters in the world for years. Fighting outside the UFC banner has made this task all the more difficult, but after building a six-fight win streak and holding the title for more than four years, Melendez has been a staple atop the lightweight rankings.
The biggest issue in this scenario comes with Melendez’s current situation with Strikeforce. All signs point to the San Jose-based organization being on its deathbed. But until his contract situation is sorted out and the UFC brings the 30-year-old into the fold, it appears Melendez will remain in limbo. Should Zuffa be able to get this done in somewhat quick fashion, the time line would be perfect for a Henderson vs. Melendez battle of champions.
By earning the lightweight crown and defending the strap on two occasions, there is little doubt Henderson has made the most of his 2012. Since coming into the UFC, he has consistently faced top competition and made the most of every opportunity that has come his way. In becoming champion of an ultra-competitive division, a target has been firmly placed on his back. From listening to Henderson speak, it is a situation he not only enjoys, but also prefers.
He wants to face the best in the world, and he is in the perfect weight class for those tests to come fast and furious. Over the next 12 months, Henderson could be matched up with the likes of Pettis, Cerrone, Melendez, Maynard or even former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez. This guarantees that the title fights in the lightweight division are going to bring challenges of the highest caliber.
In the past, Henderson has been vocal about his intentions to eclipse Anderson Silva’s record of title defenses, a point he reiterated this weekend in Seattle. Should he be able to work his way through the onslaught of talent coming his way, we could finally see B.J. Penn dethroned as the greatest lightweight champion of all time.
Will this ultimately come to pass?
It is too early to answer that question at this time. But I guarantee it is going to be exciting finding out just how far Henderson’s talent can take him.
Although