Tag: Rankings/List

UFC 131 Results: Ranking the Top 10 Featherweights in the UFC

Kenny Florian was not the only featherweight to walk away from UFC 131 with a victory. However, he certainly gained more from his win than any other 145-pound fighter, as he likely earned a title shot with his win over Diego Nunes.Dustin Poirier also p…

Kenny Florian was not the only featherweight to walk away from UFC 131 with a victory. However, he certainly gained more from his win than any other 145-pound fighter, as he likely earned a title shot with his win over Diego Nunes.

Dustin Poirier also picked up a victory over Jason Young, but not in the dominant fashion that many were expecting from him. Also, Darren Elkins earned an extremely controversial decision over Michihiro Omigawa.

Let’s take a look at where, if at all, these fighters fit into the top 10 of the featherweight division.

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UFC 131 Dos Santos vs. Carwin: Who Impressed and Who Disappointed

Despite the fact that three fighters made their UFC debuts on the main card of UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin, there were still a lot of important fights. A few fighters really raise their stock through impressive performances, while others disappointe…

Despite the fact that three fighters made their UFC debuts on the main card of UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin, there were still a lot of important fights. A few fighters really raise their stock through impressive performances, while others disappointed.

While this doesn’t necessarily reflect just who won or who lost, some victories are resulting in title shots while some losses are a cause for concern.

Whether it was an unexpected finish or a display of heart, let’s see who really won and lost at UFC 131.

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UFC 131 Results: Ranking the Top 10 Heavyweights in the UFC

Saturday’s UFC 131 was a big event for the heavyweight division, as the main event between Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin produced a new No.1 contender to meet UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez.Meanwhile, the UFC added two more exciting heavy…

Saturday’s UFC 131 was a big event for the heavyweight division, as the main event between Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin produced a new No.1 contender to meet UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez.

Meanwhile, the UFC added two more exciting heavyweights to the mix in the Fight of the Night between Dave Herman and Jon Olav Einemo. Herman was able to finish Einemo, but not before Einemo delivered some punishment.

Let’s takes a look at where dos Santos and Carwin now stand in the UFC’s heavyweight ladder.

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Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, and the 10 Biggest Wins of Overeem’s MMA Career

Saturday night, June 18, 2011, Strikeforce will be concluding the first round matchups of the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Brett Rogers will take on Josh Barnett in what appears to be a lopsided bout, but it’s MMA and anything can happen.Alistair Overeem vs…

Saturday night, June 18, 2011, Strikeforce will be concluding the first round matchups of the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Brett Rogers will take on Josh Barnett in what appears to be a lopsided bout, but it’s MMA and anything can happen.

Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum is a fight that Overeem has wanted for a while. The first meeting, it was an overall close fight. Both were pretty much even through the fight, with Overeem edging the first.

The second it went to the ground and what does Werdum do best? Submit people and 3:43 in the second he caught Overeem with a Kimura and Overeem tapped.

Many people will state that this fight was years ago, so it doesn’t matter. Well, the fight happened so it is very relevant. Since that fight, what have both men accomplished? 

Alistair Overeem: 11-4 1 NC (1-3 against top 10)

Fabricio Werdum: 6-3 (5-3 against top 10)

The level of competition favors Werdum, yes Overeem has fought more guys, but he isn’t fighting guys who help him in a way to move his stock up. Nine of the 15 opponents Overeem has faced in that span were coming off of a loss, of the six others four of those had lost in their last two-three fights.

Many people hype up Overeem and claim he is the best, and that is wonderful, except the fact that there is not a single argument “MMA” related that states he is a top five or even top seven Heavyweight. To be the man, you have to beat the man. 

Fabricio Werdum, has had nine fights since the bout, most notably defeating the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko. In the span he defeated both Emelianenko’s (both were top 10 at the time of the fights). He defeated Antonio Silva; the only man who was not a top 10 fighter going into their fight with Werdum was Mike Kyle. 

Werdum is a hard person to rank. Yes, he has beat top contenders, but 6-3 over the past three years as well as being inactive since the Fedor fight doesn’t help him. Lucky for him, the heavyweight division isn’t very deep at the moment, so his top 5 status is secure.

 

Who has the advantage in this fight? Who will win?

Alistair Overeem has the clear advantage in this fight. In the past year he has been active while Werdum was nursing injuries. That being said, that isn’t a reason to count Werdum out or anything, but the layoff may have some effect. 

Werdum has been working extensively on his stand up, and as we all know his BJJ is some of the best in the game. Overeem clearly has the striking advantage, but Werdum has the cardio and speed advantage.

If Werdum can keep Overeem moving and not get trapped in his clinch, he can cause Overeem to gas out. If Overeem gets in tight, then odds are it is lights out for Werdum. 

Werdum has been working hard on his wrestling, and when was the last time you saw Overeem fight anyone with wrestling? Exactly, you have never seen it.

If Werdum can set up takedowns, then he can really mess with Overeem’s mind. Can he hold him down? Not at first, but after a while he could truly tire Overeem and capitalize.

In this fight, it is truly a fight for Overeem to prove his standing in the heavyweight division. In a lot of eyes, if Werdum wins, it is a huge upset when in all truths it should be the opposite.

If a smart pace is pushed and he can pick his shots correctly, then Overeem will win. If he can use his speed and set up solid takedowns and tire out Overeem, then Werdum will win.

My call: Fabricio Werdum via third-round submission.

Now we will look at the 10 biggest wins in Alistair Overeem’s career.  

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UFC 131: Memorable Moments from the Junior Dos Santos vs Shane Carwin Fight Card

UFC 131 is in the books and  there were some important takeaways from the event:Even with monitors, the judges can really make some terrible decisions.Being a one-trick pony doesn’t cut it these days in the UFC.Kenny Florian cuts weight a lot bett…

UFC 131 is in the books and  there were some important takeaways from the event:

Even with monitors, the judges can really make some terrible decisions.

Being a one-trick pony doesn’t cut it these days in the UFC.

Kenny Florian cuts weight a lot better than, say, Jake Shields.

Sam Stout is not a bad guy.

Entering the cage to a Culture Club song doesn’t mean you can’t knock someone out.

Be ready for anything from any opponent.

Herb Dean is among, if not, the best referees in the game.

Shane Carwin can take a punch.

Intrigued?  Hope so, read on for more details.

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UFC 131 Results: 3 Fights Dustin Poirier Should Take Next

After his huge win over Josh Grispi, Dustin Poirier might have taken a step in the wrong direction in his narrow decision victory over UFC newcomer Jason Young.At this point, Poirier is a talented prospect who is barely outside the discussion for a tit…

After his huge win over Josh Grispi, Dustin Poirier might have taken a step in the wrong direction in his narrow decision victory over UFC newcomer Jason Young.

At this point, Poirier is a talented prospect who is barely outside the discussion for a title shot. The next logical step for Poirier would be to take a fight with a big-name opponent in a fight where a win would put him one more bout away from a title shot.

Here are some possible fights that fit that description.

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