Tag: Rankings/List

McGregor vs. Mendes: A Complete Guide to Full UFC 189 Fight Card

Is it possible for UFC fight cards to have a playoff atmosphere?
I mean, no. There’s no playoffs, so no. But if by “playoff atmosphere” what you really mean is that a certain sporting event has a special, extra-level kind of feel to it, then yes.
That …

Is it possible for UFC fight cards to have a playoff atmosphere?

I mean, no. There’s no playoffs, so no. But if by “playoff atmosphere” what you really mean is that a certain sporting event has a special, extra-level kind of feel to it, then yes.

That will happen when there are two titles on the line and 63 percent of your lineup has immediate divisional implications, as is the case with the bright and deep fight card that is UFC 189, which goes down this Saturday from Las Vegas.

Sure, the headliner lost some luster when Jose Aldo broke that rib. But it’s still plenty shiny thanks to Conor McGregor, probably the UFC’s biggest non-Ronda Rousey star at the moment, and the interim belt the UFC so graciously procured for the occasion in the absence of Aldo’s regular championship strap. And speaking of procuring things, how about Chad Mendes? That’s a pretty stiff test for the Irishman.

And we’ll get into that. But there’s also the matter of this other title fight, and there’s no interims about it. Champion Robbie Lawler will face a very compelling challenger in the young Canadian phenom, Mr. Rory MacDonald.

As alluded to previously, though, six of the evening’s 11 cards feature at least one immediate contender or someone who would become a contender with a win. That is pretty good. What follows is a complete guide to the card, including information capsules, predictions and viewing coordinates for each and every bout. Let’s get it on. 

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Rory MacDonald and the Most Unintentionally Funny Fighters in MMA History

There’s a ton of room for unintentional comedy in MMA. One might even argue that identifying this comedy and harnessing it to help you perform daily tasks like weeding your garden or dealing with the regular absurdity of MMA is a real tentpole of healt…

There’s a ton of room for unintentional comedy in MMA. One might even argue that identifying this comedy and harnessing it to help you perform daily tasks like weeding your garden or dealing with the regular absurdity of MMA is a real tentpole of healthy MMA fandom.

Among the emerging stars in this area is one Rory “Red King” MacDonald, who faces Robbie Lawler for the UFC welterweight title this Saturday at UFC 189.

That bout got us thinking. Who are the superstars who make it happen most? Who accidentally brings the hilarity? From the socially awkward to emcee of the brodown, these are the most unintentionally funny fighters across the history of this sport.

More or less, every fighter on this list happens to be (or has been) an elite fighter, which makes his accidental humor all the richer. There’s a certain, shall we say, single-mindedness accompanying that level that can often stunt development in other areas. 

I’m pretty sure you get it. Here goes the list.

 

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Bleacher Report Men’s MMA Rankings for July 2015

UFC titles continue being the hottest of potatoes, as Cain Velasquez joined Anthony Pettis, Carla Esparza and Jon Jones in the “former champion” club at UFC 188. As with Esparza and Pettis, that transition came in shockingly lopsided fashion, as the no…

UFC titles continue being the hottest of potatoes, as Cain Velasquez joined Anthony Pettis, Carla Esparza and Jon Jones in the “former champion” club at UFC 188. As with Esparza and Pettis, that transition came in shockingly lopsided fashion, as the now-undisputed heavyweight kingpin Fabricio Werdum scored an impressive Round 3 submission after some intense, back-and-forth exchanges.

On top of that, veteran stalwarts dropped fights to new names across multiple divisions. It’s a compelling time in MMA, with a swell of talent across all divisions. Here are the notes for this month:

  • The August edition of the rankings will come after WSOF 22 and UFC 190, which are scheduled for August 1. Look for them to arrive the following Tuesday.
  • UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett remains a par of the Bleacher Report rankings. While Barnett has been out of the cage for longer than 18 months, his scheduled fight with Roy Nelson keeps him eligible for rankings consideration. Should he withdraw without the fight being rescheduled, however, he will be taken out of the pool.

Flyweight

Henry Cejudo still has a blindingly bright future ahead of him, but he got something of a reality check from Chico Camus at UFC 188. The former Olympic gold medalist was largely unable to work his wrestling skills and was forced to tie up Camus in the clinch to get points from the judges. While it was a clear win for Cejudo, it put the brakes on the “he’s ready for a title shot” hype train.

Bantamweight

Alex Caceres‘ days as a fringe top-10 bantamweight are done, courtesy of a brutal, 21-second knockout delivered by Francisco Rivera. Rivera takes his place, and while he doesn’t quite pop into the top-10, one more win will likely do the trick.

Featherweight

It looked like Patricio “Pitbull” Freire‘s days as the Bellator featherweight champion were done. The largely unknown Dan Weichel nearly knocked him out in the first round but didn’t have the opportunity to seal the deal before the bell sounded. Freire was still clearly wounded entering the second but somehow mustered up a picture-perfect left hand that put Weichel out cold.

The Brazilian is quickly becoming one of the most exciting fighters in Bellator and has found a knack for Eddie Alvarez-like, come-from-behind wins. It will be interesting to see how long he can hold onto that belt, given how much trouble he keeps finding himself in.

Lightweight

Speaking of Eddie Alvarez-like, come-from-behind-wins, Eddie Alvarez posted a come-from-behind win at UFC 188 over Gilbert Melendez. After having his eye swell shut in the first round of their fight, the former Bellator champ battled back and eked out a razor-thin victory that shook up the bottom half of the lightweight top-10.

Welterweight

No welterweight bouts in June had a major effect on the top-10 rankings. However, July is absolutely packed with big fights. Expect this top-10 to look radically different come August.

Middleweight

The Machida Era is over. The Age of Romero has begun.

At UFC Fight Night 70, Lyoto Machida and Yoel Romero played cat-and-mouse for 10 minutes before Romero snapped Machida in half at the waist and called it a takedown. From there, the Olympic silver medalist smashed Machida unconscious with six short elbows, taking the win and Machida‘s spot in the rankings.

Light Heavyweight

As with 170 pounds, 205 was quiet in June. July, however, won’t be much different. Business is set to pick up in August, when Ovince Saint Preux takes on Glover Teixeira.

Heavyweight

Ben Rothwell is making it harder and harder to ignore him. The former IFL bruiser scored yet another impressive stoppage victory in June, this time a first-round submission of Matt Mitrione. 

While he is anything but elegant and while his technique is anything but crisp, Rothwell‘s iron chin and heavy hands are enough to beat almost any heavyweight in the game. While his resurgence couldn’t have come at a worse time (Andrei Arlovski, Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem are also on career upswings), he is still a fighter worth watching and, at long last, a clear-cut top-10 heavyweight.

Oh, and a certain heavyweight champion got dethroned. That’s a big deal too, I guess…

Top-5 Fighters Fighting in July

  • Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 189)
  • Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald (UFC 189)
  • TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao (UFC on Fox 16)

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The Beaten Path: 5 MMA Prospects to Watch in July

Another month of MMA, another month of high-end prospects plying their craft in hopes of grabbing the attention of a major MMA organization.
Between Titan FC, One Championship, Invicta and RFA, there is no shortage of great fighters who are looking to …

Another month of MMA, another month of high-end prospects plying their craft in hopes of grabbing the attention of a major MMA organization.

Between Titan FC, One Championship, Invicta and RFA, there is no shortage of great fighters who are looking to make a name for themselves. The month of July is filled with MMA action, which allows us to see some of the best prospects in the sport.

That’s where we come in. At The Beaten Path, our job is to point you in the direction of these future players so you can get a head start on seeing their handiwork.

So, here are the five prospects you should watch in the month of July.

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UFC Rankings: Good Calls and Bad Calls Following UFC Fight Night 70

Yoel Romero was at it again at UFC Fight Night 70, where he stopped Lyoto Machida and continued to prove he is one of the best and most entertaining competitors at 185 pounds.
Now 6-0 inside the Octagon, Romero is making a strong case for a shot at the…

Yoel Romero was at it again at UFC Fight Night 70, where he stopped Lyoto Machida and continued to prove he is one of the best and most entertaining competitors at 185 pounds.

Now 6-0 inside the Octagon, Romero is making a strong case for a shot at the middleweight championship. There are a few still ahead of him in line for a crack at Chris Weidman, but Romero shouldn’t be more than one win away.

Where did this past weekend’s win put Romero in the 185-pound rankings? How much did another stoppage loss hurt Machida’s positioning?

Here is a look at the good calls and bad calls made in the latest official UFC rankings.

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Forgotten UFC Title Threats for Each Division

The UFC is comprised of an incomparable amount of different talents.
Derived from all corners of the globe, these admirable athletes take to the cage in their own unique fashion.
But along the way, through hard-fought Octagon battles and divisional sha…

The UFC is comprised of an incomparable amount of different talents.

Derived from all corners of the globe, these admirable athletes take to the cage in their own unique fashion.

But along the way, through hard-fought Octagon battles and divisional shape-shifting, some names are lost in the sauce.

It is not a reflection of their skills, but more of the changing landscape around them that is often fueled by streaking opponents, popularity contests and media coverage.

However, the sport of mixed martial arts can serve as a catalyst in reminding the masses of one’s potential and promise.

Here are forgotten, yet unwavering, UFC title threats for each weight class.

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