This Saturday night, Siyar “The Great” Bahadurzada finally gets to make his UFC debut against Paulo Thiago when the UFC comes to the Ericsson Globe Arena in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden for UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva.Many have anticipated th…
This Saturday night, Siyar “The Great” Bahadurzada finally gets to make his UFC debut against Paulo Thiago when the UFC comes to the Ericsson Globe Arena in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden for UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva.
Many have anticipated the US debut of Siyar ever since he was signed under the Strikeforce banner, but for one reason or another, Siyar was never able to land a fight for the promotion. Nevertheless, Siyar will bring in an outstanding 16 finishes with just four decision victories inside the Octagon, including four wins by a form of choke, one win by a heel hook, a submission by strikes, seven TKO wins and three knockout wins.
Now, one might be willing to expend the energy looking up Siyar’s record, but Yours Truly would rather talk about Siyar’s greatest hits thus far because this man’s trail of blood, sweat, tears and hunger is one that needs to be shared with the world.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at just who Siyar Bahadurzada really is.
UFC on Fuel is live this weekend, but right around the corner is one of the biggest events of the year, UFC 145.Although the card is headlined by a Light Heavyweight Championship fight, a very intriguing heavyweight scrap is set to go down between Bren…
UFC on Fuel is live this weekend, but right around the corner is one of the biggest events of the year, UFC 145.
Although the card is headlined by a Light Heavyweight Championship fight, a very intriguing heavyweight scrap is set to go down between Brendan Schaub and Ben Rothwell. Obviously, this is a fight both men need to win, but Brendan Schaub must beat Ben Rothwell, and this is why.
Brendan Schaub was one of the hottest up-and-comers in mixed martial arts going into his UFC 134 battle with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He had lost The Ultimate Fighter to Roy Nelson in the finale, but had bounced back nicely.
Schaub knocked out Chase Gormely and Chris Tuchscherer, putting the entire heavyweight division on notice. Schaub was no longer the ex-football player who fought, but a legitimate mixed martial artist.
Schaub then received a big step up in competition, facing former title contender Gabriel Gonzaga at the historic UFC 121. Though seen as the underdog, Schaub continued to impress, earning a decision over the tough Brazilian. With the win, Schaub had options, most of which were in the upper end of the division.
After much speculation, Schaub had a date with the legendary Mirko Cro Cop. This would be a tough test for him, as Schaub likes to strike and Cro Cop is one of the most feared strikers in mixed martial arts history.
Schaub showed his toughness and determination, knocking out Cro Cop with a vicious hand to the chin, which sent Cro Cop to the floor like a sack of potatoes. This win over Cro Cop made him a serious contender who could challenge anybody in the top 10.
Schaub drew another legend, the aforementioned Nogueira, at UFC 134. Many fight fans had faith in the American, seeing his progression through the ranks of the heavyweight division. They thought he had better hands than Nogueira.
Boy, were they wrong.
The aged legend blasted Schaub with vicious combinations, sending Schaub to the floor unconscious. If anything, the loss, in combination with the loss to Roy Nelson on The Ultimate Fighter, exposed the chin of the former football player.
Now, fast-forward to present day. Schaub finds himself with a crafty, well-rounded veteran of the sport whose back is against the wall. A wounded animal is always the most dangerous one.
Schaub isn’t just fighting for a win here, but he is also fighting to stay relevant. If he cannot win this fight against Ben Rothwell, I don’t think he will ever recover to the level he has already been at.
The heavyweight division is already taking on all of Strikeforce’s heavyweight division, so a loss here could get Schaub lost in the mix.
This extremely talented fighter needs to bring his “A-game” to the Octagon next weekend or the repercussions of the loss will be felt for time to come. If there was ever a time for Schaub to win, it is this fight with Ben Rothwell.
It’s almost like a Twilight Zone episode, in that it’s win or sink into obscurity.
These are trying times for MMA fans, what with huge main events being potentially canceled due to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs.Thank goodness for men like Kenny Florian, then.Florian may not go into the UFC Hall of Fame, but few others can …
These are trying times for MMA fans, what with huge main events being potentially canceled due to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs.
Florian may not go into the UFC Hall of Fame, but few others can match his output at such high levels of competition. Did he ever win a UFC championship? No, but it doesn’t really matter. The fact remains that Florian has served as a championship contender while also being a flag-bearer for the actual sport.
In a time when a decent interview or a hulking physique can get you a title shot, Florian did things the right way. He never cheated and never became something he wasn’t. And now, he’s taking things one step further by calling out those who do cheat their way to the top on this week’s episode of UFC Tonight:
As a clean fighter, the whole issue of performance-enhancing drugs in MMA really pisses me off. This sport is about honor, technique and discipline. As a fighter, if you use PEDs, how does it feel good knowing that you won using them? Don’t do it, dummies!
I don’t know if Florian will ever fight again. I’d say the odds are pretty good that you’ll see him back in the lightweight division at some point this year, but it’s not a certainty.
What I can tell you, though, is that Kenny Florian should be respected for taking a hard stance against a very sensitive subject.
The highly anticipated UFC 145 is coming up on April 21 in Atlanta. It’s going to be headlined by a grudge match for the light heavyweight championship between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans.Also on the card will be rising welterweight prospects Rory MacDo…
The highly anticipated UFC 145 is coming up on April 21 in Atlanta. It’s going to be headlined by a grudge match for the light heavyweight championship between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans.
Also on the card will be rising welterweight prospects Rory MacDonald and Che Mills in the co-main event. Both men have gained a lot of momentum coming into this match, and both could be close to a title shot with a win.
The UFC employs some of the best fighters in the world.Some possess KO power, others look for submissions to end bouts early.But some of the most dangerous athletes in the sport are the ones who are overlooked. The ones who may not look the part …
The UFC employs some of the best fighters in the world.
Some possess KO power, others look for submissions to end bouts early.
But some of the most dangerous athletes in the sport are the ones who are overlooked. The ones who may not look the part but most definitely are.
These fighters have had success in the past by implementing their game plans to a T and catching their opponents off guard. Going into the future this tendency will continue to reign supreme.
Here are the most unassuming mixed martial artists in the UFC today.
How easy is it to win a UFC title?How many chances do fighters get in their often brief careers to challenge an opponent for Octagon greatness?To be honest, these type of opportunities come with little to no consistency and require some of the best ski…
How easy is it to win a UFC title?
How many chances do fighters get in their often brief careers to challenge an opponent for Octagon greatness?
To be honest, these type of opportunities come with little to no consistency and require some of the best skills in the game.
The seven current UFC champions that grace each of their respective divisions have no doubt earned their keep, securing their mark on the game forever.
But in some instances, the road to stardom is less traveled for one fighter compared to another. Sometimes a champion has to overcome more to captivate his weight class.
Here’s how each UFC champion stacks up against the others in their respective roads to a title.
UFC on Fuel is live this weekend, but right around the corner is one of the biggest events of the year,