Everyone can talk about Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann, but the real can’t-miss fight from the UFC 152 pay-per-view is the featherweight matchup between Cub Swanson and Charles O…
Everyone can talk about Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones vs. VitorBelfort and Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann, but the real can’t-miss fight from the UFC 152pay-per-view is the featherweight matchup between Cub Swanson and Charles Oliveira.
Both of these fighters are threats to finish the fight anywhere. Both are black belts in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and both have very solid striking.
Swanson’s last two fights have both been won by TKO, and both have been impressive victories over good competition. He beat George Roop with a huge punch that knocked out Roop‘s mouthpiece, and he followed that up with a TKO of former lightweight contender Ross Pearson.
Meanwhile, Oliveira‘s last two wins have been submissions, one of which was a rarely seen calf-slicer, which he scored against Eric Wisely. The other was an anaconda choke against Jonathan Brookins.
These two are going to have an absolute war with Swanson likely looking to knock out Oliveira, and Oliveira likely looking to submit Swanson.
Both have shown vulnerability to submission and TKO losses, so either of these two could win the fight anywhere it may go.
As featherweights, you know there will be non-stop action, and cardio will not be an issue.
Look for this fight to be a contender for “Fight of the Night,” and if the rest of the card weren’t so stacked, this probably would be the front-runner as the best fight of the night.
Tim McTiernan is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter.
Tonight, UFC 152 takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and two titles will be on the line as Jon “Bones” Jones will look to defend his title against Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, and Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson will battle for the first ev…
Tonight, UFC 152 takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and two titles will be on the line as Jon “Bones” Jones will look to defend his title against Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, and Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson will battle for the first ever UFC flyweight title.
Perhaps you’re looking to make a little money on this card, but you’re not sure what the odds are, and you don’t know who to bet on.
Well, we’ve got you covered, so let’s check out the final breakdown of the main card odds.
Main Bouts (on Pay-Per-View):Jon Jones vs. Vitor BelfortJoseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious JohnsonMichael Bisping vs. Brian StannMatt Hamill vs. Roger HollettCub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira Preliminary Bouts (on FX):Igor Pokrajac vs. Vinny…
Main Bouts (on Pay-Per-View):
Jon Jones vs. VitorBelfort Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira
Preliminary Bouts (on FX): Igor Pokrajac vs. Vinny Magalhaes TJ Grant vs. Evan Dunham Sean Pierson vs. Lance Benoist JimyHettes vs. Marcus Brimage
Preliminary Bouts (on Facebook): Seth Baczynski vs. Simeon Thoresen Mitch Gagnon vs. Walel Watson Kyle Noke vs. Charlie Brenneman
UFC 152 Start Times: Preliminary Bouts on Facebook: 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m PT Preliminary Bouts on FX: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m PT Main Card on Pay-Per-View: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m PT
Tonight at UFC 152, Vitor Belfort has the chance to completely reshape the landscape of the light heavyweight division. In taking on Jon Jones, Belfort has a mammoth task ahead, but there is always a chance for victory in MMA. Unfortunately …
Tonight at UFC 152, VitorBelfort has the chance to completely reshape the landscape of the light heavyweight division. In taking on Jon Jones, Belfort has a mammoth task ahead, but there is always a chance for victory in MMA.
Unfortunately for Belfort, that chance is somewhere around a million to one. While these odds may be favorable to Lloyd Christmas, Belfort should feel significantly less ecstatic about his likelihood of emerging victorious against “Bones.”
Normally, a “keys to victory” article is a slideshow, but there is really only one key for Belfort tonight against Jones.
He has to hit him.
Hard.
In the face.
Belfort has a puncher’s chance and nothing more tonight, so his key to victory is to get inside Jones’ reach and tag him with a knockout blow. He will not wear Jones out for a decision, he will not submit a fully-conscious Jones and he will not take him down and control the fight from the top.
Belfort‘s power is his saving grace in this fight. He has the type of hand speed and power to finish anybody, and although Jones has shown a pretty sturdy beard throughout his UFC career, you simply do not play with the fire that burns inside Belfort‘s knuckles.
For Belfort, victory lies on the inside, where he can neutralize Jones’ reach and land his fists of fury. Even this, though, is a potentially losing battle. If Belfort is in striking range, that means he is in range for Jones to clinch him, and this battle likely ends with Vitor on his back.
With that in mind, it is not enough to get inside Jones’ reach; Belfort must get inside and avoid the clinch game.
After watching UFC 151 get cancelled because of more main-event injuries, the already tough times for the company have only gotten tougher. Now Dana White and his business must look to UFC 152 and Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort for the light heavyweight t…
After watching UFC 151 get cancelled because of more main-event injuries, the already tough times for the company have only gotten tougher.
Now Dana White and his business must look to UFC 152 and Jon Jones vs. VitorBelfort for the light heavyweight title to bring the company back to the mainstream level it was at when Brock Lesnar was their biggest draw.
With Belfort stepping up to a weight class he hasn’t attempted in years, Jones will be facing a test unlike any other. As much as this should be an easy win, the UFC champion can’t underestimate his opponent’s skill.
This entire PPV will be amazing, but the main event puts it over the edge.
Where: Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada
When: Saturday, September 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET
Watch: Main Card starts at 10:00 p.m. ET on pay-per-view; FX Preliminary Card starts at 8:00 p.m. ET; Facebook Preliminary Card starts at 6:30 p.m. ET
Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (c) vs. VitorBelfort
Flyweight Championship: Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson
Middleweight Bout: Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann
Light Heavyweight Bout: Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett
Featherweight Bout: Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira
FX Preliminary Card
Light Heavyweight Bout: Igor Pokrajac vs. Vinny Magalhaes
Lightweight Bout: TJ Grant vs. Evan Dunham
Welterweight Bout: Sean Pierson vs. Lance Benoist
Featherweight Bout: JimyHettes vs. Marcus Brimage
Facebook Preliminary Card
Welterweight Bout: Seth Baczynski vs. Simeon Thoresen
Bantamweight Bout: Mitch Gagnon vs. Walel Watson
Welterweight Bout: Kyle Noke vs. Charlie Brenneman
Jon Jones’ Keys to a Victory
There has never been a fighter as young as Jon Jones that knows more about the sport, and that experience beyond his years is what makes him so dangerous.
Jones is a chameleon. No matter who his opponent is, Jones comes into his matchup ready for their style and what they offer. With VitorBelfort, the UFC light heavyweight champion will be looking to block most of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu Belfort attacks with.
If Jones can keep away from Belfort’s dangerous clinch and inside game, he will be able to keep his opponent at distance with his boxing and add in enough leg strikes to open Belfort up for the knock out.
VitorBelfort’s Keys to a Victory
With the knowledge that Jones is never the same fighter two fights in a row, Belfort knew that the preparation for this fight was less about his opponent and more about getting himself comfortable in the light heavyweight division.
Once in the octagon, Belfort will lean heavily on his Brazilian background and try to beat Jones any way he can. While the veteran will try to get inside and use his jiu-jitsu, he will also mix in a favorable amount of boxing to stun Jones.
If Belfort can weather Jones’ first-round storm and allow his corner to help him figure out the champion’s game plan, Belfort will be able to adapt and possibly shock the world with a win.
Main Event Prediction
No matter how much preparation VitorBelfort has had for this fight, he is still jumping up to a weight class he hasn’t fought at since 2007, and that will hurt him.
Jones could easily move to heavyweight if he wanted, and he will have the sizable advantage over Belfort when it comes to reach and height. While the experience goes to the veteran Belfort, Jones is too smart in the Octagon to discount his in-ring prowess.
While Belfort won’t go down without a fight, Jones will eventually send him to his back with a spinning back-fist, or another odd move that no one sees coming—especially Vitor, and win the fight via TKO.
If Jones does retain, the UFC truly has their next big star.
Vitor Belfort quite literally fell into the opportunity of a lifetime tonight at UFC 152. To put his predicament in perspective, just three months ago he was scheduled to face Wanderlei Silva, a hugely popular but definitely past-his-prime middle…
VitorBelfort quite literally fell into the opportunity of a lifetime tonight at UFC 152.
To put his predicament in perspective, just three months ago he was scheduled to face Wanderlei Silva, a hugely popular but definitely past-his-prime middleweight. Now, thanks to the fallout from UFC 151, Belfort is gifted a chance at light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones.
This fight will be Belfort‘s first at 205 pounds since 2007, and it will also mark what is arguably the toughest test of his career. For that, there are plenty of questions looming for the Brazilian as he enters the contest.
Start the slideshow to check out the three biggest questions we have about Vitor heading in to his light heavyweight title bout.
Tonight at