Tag: Rankings/List

The Beaten Path: 5 Top MMA Prospects to Watch in March

Life is a constant churn. There is a constant need to feed the machine. That’s just the way it is, and it explains in large part why a lot of the world and its characteristics, both good and bad, can be distilled through MMA. That’s what really makes M…

Life is a constant churn. There is a constant need to feed the machine. That’s just the way it is, and it explains in large part why a lot of the world and its characteristics, both good and bad, can be distilled through MMA. That’s what really makes MMA so cool.

This is why MMA has such a strong, sustained need to identify new prospects. You need the fresh blood, almost literally. And we here at The Beaten Path admire and salute our combative overlords. Not only do we do that, but we also pay tribute to them, with this, our monthly list of the top five prospects in action for a given calendar page. In this case: March.

No UFC. No Bellator. World Series of Fighting only in extenuating circumstances. Included are video clips, information capsules and details about the fights and where you can watch them. Let this grind your gears, and lubricate your fandom. Be a nourishment unto the machine.

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UFC Rankings: Good Calls and Bad Calls Following UFC 184

Ronda Rousey is well on her way toward becoming the most dominant current UFC champion.
On Saturday, Rousey defended her UFC belt in a fifth consecutive outing by submitting Cat Zingano. Though Zingano was widely considered to be the toughest challenge…

Ronda Rousey is well on her way toward becoming the most dominant current UFC champion.

On Saturday, Rousey defended her UFC belt in a fifth consecutive outing by submitting Cat Zingano. Though Zingano was widely considered to be the toughest challenger remaining for Rousey in the women’s bantamweight division, the champion locked up another armbar in only 14 seconds.

That gave Rousey the record for quickest win in a UFC championship bout.

Was the win enough to move Rousey into the Top Five in the pound-for-pound rankings? How much did Zingano’s loss hurt her standing in the 135-pound class?

Here are the latest official UFC rankings, via UFC.com, which are voted on by members of the MMA media.

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UFC 184 Results: 3 Fights for Cat Zingano to Take Next

It’s fair to say that Cat Zingano didn’t put on the performance of her career at UFC 184. Hurling herself at Ronda Rousey from the opening bell was a novel strategy, but it turned out to be as effective as all the rest. That is to say, not …

It’s fair to say that Cat Zingano didn’t put on the performance of her career at UFC 184. Hurling herself at Ronda Rousey from the opening bell was a novel strategy, but it turned out to be as effective as all the rest. That is to say, not remotely effective.

Within seconds, the challenger was tied up in the kind of knot that would have left a sailor confused.

Prior to the fight, I had the bizarre notion that Zingano possessed the kind of stubborn personality that would refuse to submit to joint locks. This notion was soon dispelled, of course. And while one couldn’t help but be in awe of Rousey, my eyes were drawn to the crestfallen challenger who had overcome so much adversity to get that opportunity.

Understandably, she was inconsolable. Being submitted in all of 14 seconds doesn’t exactly suggest potential for a rematch. However, the good news for Zingano is that the UFC is starved for options, which means the path to a rematch is much shorter than it could have been.

So let’s take a look at where Zingano’s path to a rematch might begin.

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The 10 Best MMA Fighters Who Never Stepped Inside the Octagon

MMA, non-UFC division, enjoyed a little bump this week.
First, heavyweight GOAT Fedor Emelianenko hit American soil (and the public eye) for the first time in quite a while. And it wasn’t just any American soil. It was Dave & Buster’s soil—a&…

MMA, non-UFC division, enjoyed a little bump this week.

First, heavyweight GOAT Fedor Emelianenko hit American soil (and the public eye) for the first time in quite a while. And it wasn’t just any American soil. It was Dave & Buster’s soil—a Dave & Buster’s in Connecticut’s soil.

He was there as part of a promotional thing for Bellator, designed to help drum up some buzz for Bellator 134, which takes place Friday night. So, mission accomplished on that front.

And then there was this little nugget, unearthed on Thursday. And non-UFC women’s MMA luminary Cris “Cyborg” Santos is fighting Friday night.

It all got us to thinking. Sure, in the MMA solar system the UFC is the sun. But there are still planets and asteroids and stuff. Not every great fighter is a UFC fighter (and vice versa, for that matter). So we gave it some thought and came up with the 10 best competitors to never set a formal foot in the Octagon.

Yes, Fedor is No. 1. Spoiler alert. But there are nine others as well, some of which may surprise or anger you. With that in mind, sit back and enjoy. A video is included for each fighter.

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8 Cross-Divisional Matchups We’d Love to See in the UFC

Ever wonder who would win a fight between John Rambo and John McClane?
Or Terminator and Hulk Hogan?
Sure you have.
And don’t worry—it’s perfectly normal for that undying curiosity to trickle over into the UFC’s Octagon.
As the ultimate battlegro…

Ever wonder who would win a fight between John Rambo and John McClane?

Or Terminator and Hulk Hogan?

Sure you have.

And don’t worry—it’s perfectly normal for that undying curiosity to trickle over into the UFC’s Octagon.

As the ultimate battleground for warriors of all shapes and sizes, the eight-sided death cage rewards the elite and spits out the feeble.

So it’s completely understandable to envision the UFC’s most prized fighters going toe-to-toe in a magical setting driven by fantasy and fandom.

It’s something we all think about.

Here are eight cross-divisional matchups we’d love to see inside the infamous Octagon.

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5 UFC Fighters Who Will Turn into Stars in 2015

The mixed martial arts night sky is littered with glowing entities of all shapes and sizes.
From perennial champions to fearless contenders, these burning giants ignite the cage whenever they fight.
But along the way, in accordance with life itself, so…

The mixed martial arts night sky is littered with glowing entities of all shapes and sizes.

From perennial champions to fearless contenders, these burning giants ignite the cage whenever they fight.

But along the way, in accordance with life itself, some of these masterful virtuosos fade away into MMA darkness.

Not to worry. The sport has a weird way of creating new famous fixtures right before our very own eyes.

2015 is the next stop along this cosmic combat timeline.

Here are five UFC fighters who will turn into bright stars over the next 10 months.

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