UFC 130 is in the books and while many were disappointed in the performances in the two headlining bouts, the preliminary card fights allowed some of the lesser known UFC talent to steal the spotlight from the big names.Rick Story showed that his…
UFC 130 is in the books and while many were disappointed in the performances in the two headlining bouts, the preliminary card fights allowed some of the lesser known UFC talent to steal the spotlight from the big names.
Rick Story showed that his calling out Thiago Alves was far from a mistake as he took a unanimous decsion victory from the highly ranked welterweight, setting himself up to make a charge up that division’s rankings.
Travis Browne remained unbeaten, advancing his record to 11-0-1, with a highlight reel Superman punch to the chin of Stefan Struve, dropping the ‘Skyscraper’ to the mat in the first round.
Brian Stann scored his second inpressive TKO victory in as many fights, overpowering the former Sengoku champion, Jorge Santiago.
Tim Boetsch looked impressive in his first bout since dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight, using his wrestling skills to neutralize Kendall Grove.
Miguel Torres and Demetrious Johnson delivered in their bantamweight battle, with Johnson getting the nod over Torres in a fight that could have very easily been scored the other way.
The UFC’s next numbered event will be UFC 131, which will take place from Vancouver, British Columbia’s, Rogers Arena on June 11.
What follows are 10 burning questions heading into UFC 131, which will be headlined by a main event bout between Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin.
Junior dos Santos is Skilled at BJJ: Will We Ever See Him Use it?Bleacher Report’s Dwight Wakabayashi:It is no secret heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos packs a devastatingly powerful punch. He has risen rapidly in the UFC, and on his c…
Junior dos Santos is Skilled at BJJ: Will We Ever See Him Use it?
Bleacher Report’s Dwight Wakabayashi:
It is no secret heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos packs a devastatingly powerful punch. He has risen rapidly in the UFC, and on his current streak, he has battered the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga.
Dos Santos learns and trains his MMA striking under the tutelage of such established notables as Rodrigo Nogueira, Rogerio Nogueira and Anderson Silva, whose credentials on the feet are well-established.
Dos Santos is the main attraction in his fight with Shane Carwin at UFC 131 in Vancouver. When the original card was made, I was extremely interested in seeing the headline fight. Brock Lesnar would have tested all aspects of Cigano’s game. With him out and Carwin in though, the question remains, will we finally see Junior Dos Santos’ ground game?
I doubt it, and I hope not.
I want to see Dos Santos and Carwin throw, and may the best chin win.
Lesnar would have tried to take Cigano down, and I believe he would have been successful. We would have also seen Junior have to fight off his back for the first time in a big fight—very intriguing.
I highly doubt Carwin will attempt any takedowns right out of the shoot on June 11, but if he starts to get the worst of the stand-up with Junior, he will go to his roots to try to muscle and bully Dos Santos for his blueprint to victory.
It’s that time once again to crown another Ultimate Fighter, as The Ultimate Finale 13 takes place this Saturday night in Las Vegas, live on Spike TV.Along with a solid prelim series of matches, the main card is stacked full with some high-profile name…
It’s that time once again to crown another Ultimate Fighter, as The Ultimate Finale 13 takes place this Saturday night in Las Vegas, live on Spike TV.
Along with a solid prelim series of matches, the main card is stacked full with some high-profile names.
Headlining the show will be a battle between Ramsey Nijem and Tony Ferguson that will crown The Ultimate Fighter. Nijem, of Team Junior Dos Santos, and Ferguson, from Team Brock Lesnar, battled their way through a series of matches to reach this point.
Also on the card matchup that is sure to be filled with offensive firepower, as Clay Guida meets Anthony Pettis.
Kyle Kingsbury and Fabio Maldonado also will do battle, while TUF alums Ed Herman and Tim Credeur step inside the cage after over a year away for each.
Chris Cope and Chuck O’Neil, who each reached the semifinals of this past season’s reality show, take part in the main card as well.
For as long as many can remember, Georges St-Pierre has been on top in the welterweight division. He is a three-time UFC welterweight champion (once was interim), and is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak. He has defeated everyone put in fron…
For as long as many can remember, Georges St-Pierre has been on top in the welterweight division. He is a three-time UFC welterweight champion (once was interim), and is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak. He has defeated everyone put in front of him and has literally cleaned out the entire UFC welterweight division.
There is one thing that GSP has not encountered, a man that will bring the fight to him. A fighter that has the ability to not only test his cardio, but also every aspect of the fight game.
On June 1, UFC president Dana White made the announcement that GSP’s next opponent would be Nick Diaz.
Diaz brings all of those problems to the table.
Diaz is the current Strikeforce welterweight champion and is on a 10-fight winning streak. He is overlooked by many and is truly an unappreciated fighter. Diaz is known for finding out what his opponent is best at and defeating them at their own game.
Has Diaz faced the level of fighters that GSP has faced? No. One thing is that most recently Diaz scored a TKO on Paul Daley, and though people say who cares, it has a significant meaning to it.
If people think back, Daley fought Josh Koscheck and if he won, he would face GSP for the welterweight title and also be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter. Daley has had one TKO loss in his career, and it was due to a thumb injury.
Daley is a power-puncher and is overall a very good striker and everyone remembers what he did to Martin Kampmann. Diaz beat Daley at his own game, and was the first man to win by the method of TKO.
Should Diaz have had to face a couple of guys in the UFC welterweight division before getting this fight? In all truths, yes, but this fight is such a marketable fight that at this moment putting this fight at risk at not taking place is not a smart business move.
The fans wanted this fight and the UFC delivered. That being said, is this the fight that opens the door to more crossover fights? It almost has to mean that.
There is virtually no reason to leave some of these bigger names in Strikeforce waiting on an opponent. Zuffa, LLC, in a whole, is in a great position at the moment because the fights and money that can be made is just literally a fantasy that can now come true.
Diaz vs. St-Pierre, is more of a marketed fight than a deserved fight, but how will it go?
St-Pierre is an extremely talented technical striker. His kicks are top notch, and his punches are spot on. His main problem is that he really doesn’t possess the one-punch knockout power, but good thing for him, neither does Diaz.
Diaz possesses very good boxing, he always pushes the pace in fights and his cardio is never in question. GSP has the advantage in the wrestling department, but does he really want to risk Diaz being on his back?
In the Shields fight, St-Pierre kept it standing, the only problem is that Diaz is a much better striker.
Every fight it is stated that this opponent is the guy that will dethrone GSP, but in this case, Diaz is truly the biggest threat. How will GSP be able to handle all of the vocal taunts that Diaz will throw his way?
This fight is just overall a great matchup and has many potential outcomes.
Anyone can call a winner for this fight, but let’s keep it real. Actions speak louder than words. Prepare for war everyone, because this fight will not disappoint.
One of the most care-free and beloved fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida is the last person to hold a grudge or any sort of resentment towards an opponent. However his opponent, Anthony Pettis, might just be an exception. The two lightweights will sq…
One of the most care-free and beloved fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida is the last person to hold a grudge or any sort of resentment towards an opponent. However his opponent, Anthony Pettis, might just be an exception.
The two lightweights will square off in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Finale this weekend, with the winner likely earning a title shot by the year’s end. Pettis, who was acquired by the UFC from the WEC merger, is one win away from possibly earning his title shot.
But Guida plans on ruining his chances.
“I’m going to make him pay [his UFC dues] June 4. It’s not out of any rivalry or anything like that, but he’s going to realize that it’s time to step it up,” Guida said in an interview with ESPN.com.
Guida said he respects Pettis and he acknowledges the fact he has fought tough, credible opponents, but he plans on showing the difference in competition.
“He has wins over Shane Roller and Ben Henderson — they are tough guys. But I’ve fought the best in the cage,” he said.
Guida has a valid point, and one that not many could argue against; plain and simple: the best competition resides in the UFC.
Pettis, however, is no slouch when it comes to competition. The former WEC lightweight champion brings a unorthodox style, along with a high amount of energy, that keeps the crowd entertained and on their feet. But Guida knows a thing or two about entertaining a crowd, and on June 4, he said he intends to get into his opponent’s face and welcome him to the UFC.
“I’m going out there guns blazing,” Guida said.
“I’m looking to finish this fight. It’s important to finish this and not leave it in the hands of judges. I don’t want there to be a big question mark at the end of this fight.”
Originally set to face former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 131, Junior Dos Santos will now face former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin in a heavyweight No. 1 contender tilt. The winner gets his shot at champ Cain Velasquez…
Originally set to face former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 131, Junior Dos Santos will now face former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin in a heavyweight No. 1 contender tilt. The winner gets his shot at champ Cain Velasquez.
Massive in size and coming from a high-level wrestling pedigree, Carwin shares some similarities with “Cigano’s” original opponent. The main difference between Carwin and Lesnar however lies in Carwin’s devastating punching power.
However, Carwin will be facing an opponent in Dos Santos with just as much, if not more, power in his hands. Add to that a few other key advantages on this list, and Carwin looks to be biting off more than he can chew. Here’s five reasons you’ll be seeing Junior Dos Santos with his hand raised instead of Shane Carwin.
