Yesterday, the UFC announced that top bantamweights Renan Barao and Ivan Menjivar are now scheduled to meet at UFC 148. Barao, who was initially scheduled to meet Jeff Hougland at the event, confirmed the switch on his Twitter account by saying “Menjivar is my new opponent at UFC 148. I know him.” Brevity is the soul of wit, people.
Don’t be surprised if the winner of this fight meets the winner of UFC 148’s (expected) main event clash between Urijah Faber and champion Dominick Cruz. Both fighters are 3-0 in the octagon, with Menjivar coming off of a wild, back and forth fight against John Albert at UFC on FUEL, which saw “The Pride of El Salvador” take home a first round rear-naked choke victory and Submission of the Night honors. Meanwhile, Barao has gone twenty nine straight fights without a loss. His most recent fight was a dominant performance against Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143, which saw him take home a unanimous decision victory.
Yesterday, the UFC announced that top bantamweights Renan Barao and Ivan Menjivar are now scheduled to meet at UFC 148. Barao, who was initially scheduled to meet Jeff Hougland at the event, confirmed the switch on his Twitter account by saying “Menjivar is my new opponent at UFC 148. I know him.” Brevity is the soul of wit, people.
Don’t be surprised if the winner of this fight meets the winner of UFC 148′s (expected) main event clash between Urijah Faber and champion Dominick Cruz. Both fighters are 3-0 in the octagon, with Menjivar coming off of a wild, back and forth fight against John Albert at UFC on FUEL, which saw “The Pride of El Salvador” take home a first round rear-naked choke victory and Submission of the Night honors. Meanwhile, Barao has gone twenty nine straight fights without a loss. His most recent fight was a dominant performance against Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143, which saw him take home a unanimous decision victory.
Following his monumental comeback win over Yushin Okami at UFC 144 — you know, the one that made Joe Rogan soak his seat? — Tim Boetsch respectfully called out Michael Bisping, telling MMA Junkie Radio: “I had wanted to fight [Bisping] even when we were both back at light heavyweight. I’ve had an eye on him…For some reason, I think Bisping rubs a lot of people the wrong way. That’s not the reason I want to fight him, though. I want to fight him because he’s ranked higher than me. I think I can take that from him…I like being the underdog. I like going into somebody else’s house and knowing everybody wants the other guy to win…That fires me up and gets me excited.”
At the time, we let this little tidbit pass us by without mention because come on, Bisping vs. Boetsch? It’s exactly the kind of fight that the Count would turn up his well-bred nose at. But according to the UFC, it’s actually happening. The fight is slated to be on the main card of UFC 148 (July 7th, Las Vegas), which already features Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, and a cruel bantamweight mismatch between Renan Barao and Jeff Hougland.
Following his monumental comeback win over Yushin Okami at UFC 144 — you know, the one that made Joe Rogan soak his seat? — Tim Boetsch respectfully called out Michael Bisping, telling MMA Junkie Radio: “I had wanted to fight [Bisping] even when we were both back at light heavyweight. I’ve had an eye on him…For some reason, I think Bisping rubs a lot of people the wrong way. That’s not the reason I want to fight him, though. I want to fight him because he’s ranked higher than me. I think I can take that from him…I like being the underdog. I like going into somebody else’s house and knowing everybody wants the other guy to win…That fires me up and gets me excited.”
At the time, we let this little tidbit pass us by without mention because come on, Bisping vs. Boetsch? It’s exactly the kind of fight that the Count would turn up his well-bred nose at. But according to the UFC, it’s actually happening. The fight is slated to be on the main card of UFC 148 (July 7th, Las Vegas), which already features Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, and a cruel bantamweight mismatch between Renan Barao and Jeff Hougland.
For Tim Boetsch (now 3-0 as a UFC middleweight), the July matchup is a chance to launch himself in the upper ranks of MMA competition for the first time in his five-year career. For Michael Bisping, it’s yet another opportunity to insult a surging veteran for not being on his level before inevitably kicking the snot out of him. (See also: Jason Miller, Jorge Rivera.) Bisping’s last performance, a unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2, snapped a four-fight win streak for the Count. He’s never lost two consecutive fights in his entire career. Let the colorfully-accented trash-talk begin…
(Apparently after this loss, Max Holloway decided to change his nickname from “Lil’ Evil” to “Blessed,” likely because taking Jens Pulver’s nickname REALLY lets opponents know where your weakness lies.)
Aside from bitterly dividing fans on what exactly constitutes a fight, UFC 143 left us with a lot of unanswered questions. Should Carlos Condit consider a nickname change?* Will Dustin Poirier get the next shot at Jose Aldo?** Is Nick Diaz really calling it quits?*** Though only time will truly calm our concerns, we’re going to make some bold predictions for Saturday’s winners and losers nonetheless, because that’s how we do things ’round here. Check out our matchmaking picks below, and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Nick Diaz: Perhaps the most impressive thing about Nick Diaz is that, despite his intellectual shortcomings, he maintains an ability to instill fear into whomever he fights. His cardio, striking attack, and Jiu Jitsu are second to none and just plain SCARY, but it is the man’s confidence, his willingness to relentlessly pursue and trade with anyone, that breaks even the strongest of competitors. Going into a fight with Diaz, you know you aren’t going to submit him, and you know it’s damn near impossible to knock the SOB out, so what the fuck are you supposed to do?
(Apparently after this loss, Max Holloway decided to change his nickname from “Lil’ Evil” to “Blessed,” likely because taking Jens Pulver’s nickname REALLY lets opponents know where your weakness lies.)
Aside from bitterly dividing fans on what exactly constitutes a fight, UFC 143 left us with a lot of unanswered questions. Should Carlos Condit consider a nickname change?* Will Dustin Poirier get the next shot at Jose Aldo?** Is Nick Diaz really calling it quits?*** Though only time will truly calm our concerns, we’re going to make some bold predictions for Saturday’s winners and losers nonetheless, because that’s how we do things ’round here. Check out our matchmaking picks below, and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Nick Diaz: Perhaps the most impressive thing about Nick Diaz is that, despite his intellectual shortcomings, he maintains an ability to instill fear into whomever he fights. His cardio, striking attack, and Jiu Jitsu are second to none and just plain SCARY, but it is the man’s confidence, his willingness to relentlessly pursue and trade with anyone, that breaks even the strongest of competitors. Going into a fight with Diaz, you know you aren’t going to submit him, and you know it’s damn near impossible to knock the SOB out, so what the fuck are you supposed to do?
Where Nick’s problem lies, however, is in his ability to adapt, to set a game plan. Nick Diaz wants to fight like Nick Diaz, against Nick Diaz, and it’s why many of us love the guy. But when anyone who won’t adhere to this type of fight is looked at as a bitch (at least in his eyes), why not start matching Diaz up against those who just want to throw down? Screw the championship aspirations; let’s just assign Diaz to barnburner only match-ups against willing brawlers from this day forward. If he doesn’t want to accept the fact that many people with a title shot in mind are going to avoid his kind of fight at all costs, he best just move on, or abandon title hopes altogether. I say give him Diego Sanchez, regardless of whether or not he beats Jake Ellenberger. Their first meeting was a classic, and the second will be no different.
Fabricio Werdum: Aside from lighting up Roy Nelson’s face like it was the 4th of July, Werdum proved last weekend that he deserved to be ranked amongst the heavyweight division’s elite, so it’s time to give him a legit contender. Matter of fact, why not an ex-champion? Cain Velasquez is coming off a disappointing first round KO loss to Junior Dos Santos, the same man responsible for KO’ing Werdum right out of the UFC back in 2008 (yes, it has been THAT LONG already). Cain will be looking to show the world that he can take a punch, and Werdum’s most recent performance shows that he is more than willing to dish them out.
Roy Nelson: Shane Carwin. If he can survive that man’s punches, then we may just have to look into whether or not Nelson’s chin is on PEDs. Otherwise, give Nelson some time off and let him attempt a cut to 205, because he doesn’t really have anywhere to go in the heavyweight division in terms of contendership. He’s simply too small to be fighting guys like Werdum, and would get absolutely mangled by the Alistair Overeems of the division.
Mike Pierce: Most people were too busy arguing over the Diaz/Condit decision to notice that Mike Pierce got the worst screw job of them all on Saturday night. Despite thoroughly out-striking Josh Koscheck, Pierce found himself on the wrong end of yet another close decision as a result of a couple takedowns that Kos did absolutely nothing with. It’s pretty evident at this point that Pierce is much better than most of us have given him credit for, and should get a good name for his next fight. We like Rick Story, who is coming off a decision loss to Martin Kampmann at UFC 139, for Pierce’s next opponent. A win wouldn’t propel either party to the top of the contender list, but would be a solid victory regardless.
Josh Koscheck: I don’t know…Jon Fitch maybe? Koscheck’s win did fuck all for him in terms of moving up those pointless rankings lists, and his one-dimensional striking attack surely isn’t going to win him a title anytime soon. His recent split with AKA opens up the Fitch fight, and I, for one, would just like to see two guys from that camp quit playing BFFs and fight. What’s Mike Swick doing these days?
Renan Barao: After dominating a former contender in Jorgensen the way Barao did, it’s safe to say the kid is ready for the ultimate step up. If wins over Eddie Wineland and Takeya Mizugaki can get Urijah Faber a shot at Dominick Cruz, then Barao has easily earned one with his wins over Jorgensen, Brad Pickett, and Cole Escovedo, after those two settle their beef, of course. If he doesn’t want to wait that long, give him the winner of Torres/McDonald, granted he is able to walk away injury free.
Dustin Poirier: He was originally set to face Erik Koch at this event, and the fight makes more sense than ever now. Winner gets a title shot. Make it happen, Sean.
Ed Herman: Herman has looked better in his most recent octagon run than he ever did after placing second in the TUF 3 finals. His striking is ever-improving (though a little reliant on the 6), he can take a hell of a shot, and he packs a slick submission game to boot. Pairing him off against the winner of the Brian Stann/Alessio Sakara match would be a great litmus test for the comeback kid.
(Don’t be a hero. Just throw your lunch money onto the stage with everybody else’s. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com For more photos from this set, click here.)
Tonight, the UFC is putting an interim welterweight belt on the line, to be decided by two gamebred sons-of-bitches who go out to take scalps, not win points. If Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit isn’t a thrilling fight, I’ll eat my hat. Plus: Roy Nelson welcomes Fabricio Werdum back to the Octagon, Josh Koscheck slugs it out with his evil twin Mike Pierce, and Scott Jorgenson does his best to snap the 27-fight win streak of Renan Barao.
Handling play-by-play for tonight’s action is interim liveblog champion Aaron Mandel. Follow us after the jump for live results from the UFC 143 pay-per-view card, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and please use the comments section to let us know how we can better serve you.
(Don’t be a hero. Just throw your lunch money onto the stage with everybody else’s. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com For more photos from this set, click here.)
Tonight, the UFC is putting an interim welterweight belt on the line, to be decided by two gamebred sons-of-bitches who go out to take scalps, not win points. If Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit isn’t a thrilling fight, I’ll eat my hat. Plus: Roy Nelson welcomes Fabricio Werdum back to the Octagon, Josh Koscheck slugs it out with his evil twin Mike Pierce, and Scott Jorgenson does his best to snap the 27-fight win streak of Renan Barao.
Handling play-by-play for tonight’s action is interim liveblog champion Aaron Mandel. Follow us after the jump for live results from the UFC 143 pay-per-view card, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and please use the comments section to let us know how we can better serve you.
Okay Potato Nation, it’s almost time for the pay-per view portion of UFC 143. If you haven’t been watching along already, here’s the results from the prelims:
Steven Thompson def. Dan Stittgen via knockout (kick) – Round 1, 4:13
Rafael Natal def. Michael Kuiper via unanimous decision
Matt Riddle def. via Henry Martinez via split decision
Matt Brown def. Chris Cope via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:19
Edwin Figueroa def. Alex Caceres via split decision
Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway via submission (mounted triangle-armbar) – Round 1, 3:23
Is anyone else excited for the new non-gladiator intro?
Well that intro was…interesting. On the plus side, I bet Heath Herring is stoked about the free publicity!
And here we go!
Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
Huge opportunity here for Starks, getting a pay-per view shot in his second fight against the veteran Herman.
Round 1– Fighters exchange right away. Good hands being thrown. Starks pushes Herman against the cage, working for the takedown, Herman defending well. Starks seems content to lean into Herman and work some dirty boxing. Fighters break and move back to the center. Goldberg notes that Starks is “physically strong”, when will he say “athletic” or “dynamic”? More exchanges into the middle and then Starks puts Herman back into the cage. Starks is landing more than Herman. Both guys jockeying for position against the cage. Herman bleeding from what appears to be his left ear. Action has stalled. They separate and Starks is landing at will on Herman’s face. Herman seems uninterested in blocking or slipping punches. Herman gets a takedown and works from half guard. Starks reverses position and lands strikes from Herman’s full guard. Round ends with Starks on top.
Round 2– Starks was the clear winner of the first round. Second round starts with Starks landing more punches. Starks again puts Herman against the cage in the clinch. Herman takes Starks down and lands in side control, quickly transitions into mount and takes his back. Herman working for the rear naked choke, it is deep. Herman adjusts and sinks it in, Starks taps and it is allll over.
Ed Herman defeats Clifford Starks, submission (rear naked choke), round 2
Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
Kim Winslow refereeing this one, someone’s gonna die. Barao is riding an incredible 27-fight win streak and comes out looking pumped up.
Round 1– Barao opens with a kick to the head. Barao throwing kicks, including the spinning variety. Barao fights off a takedown from Jorgensen and goes back to work on the feet. Jorgensen looks tentative and Barao is throwing fluidly. Jorgensen shoots for a takedown but Barao defends again. Back to the center, both fighters throwing punches. Apparently Barao has good jiu jitsu also, that’s scary. Good straight punches from Barao mixed with solid leg kicks. They go into the clinch, Jorgensen with his back against the cage, Barao working some knees and kicks. Round ends, I give that one to Barao.
Round 2– Gotta love the lighter weights, both fighters come out fresh, moving around well. Jorgensen working hard for a takedown but Barao’s defense is excellent and it remains on the feet. Barao is working the leg kicks well. Jorgensen’s left leg is going to feel like my friend who is “drinking for science” next to me tonight. Both fighters in the center throwing punches, Barao is getting the better of the exchanges. Jorgensen takes a hard kick to the body and winces. Jorgensen shoots in for a takedown but ends up on his back. Barao in half guard delivering some punches to the body. Barao back in Jorgensen’s full guard now. Jorgensen works back to his feet. Spinning back kick to Jorgensen’s body. Jorgensen misses a jumping kick. Round ends, Barao in charge two rounds to none now.
Round 3- Touch of the gloves and the final round begins. Jorgensen comes out more aggressive, he must know he’s down on the cards. Barao fires back, but Jorgensen is tough as hell and stays in the pocket, swinging. Flying knee from Barao misses but Jorgensen’s mouth is wide open and I think he’s tarting to fade. Spinning head kick from Barao glances off Jorgensen’s hands. Jorgensen is having no luck with his takedown attempts which is bad news for a guy who relies on his grinding wrestling. Ninety seconds left and both guy throwing strikes. Leg kicks from Barao really adding up now. Joe Rogan has said almost nothing this ride, very eerie. Round ends with Barao firmly in charge.
Renan Barao defeats Scott Jorgensen by unanimous decision
You’d think after five years as an avid MMA fan I’d understand Portugese by now, but I have no fucking clue what Barao is talking about, good win for him though!
Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
Watching Koscheck walk to the cage I can’t help think of the Koschek/Bob Ross thread from a few years ago. Pierce talked his way into this match and has everything to gain and almost nothing to lose.
Round 1– Pierce takes the center of the cage and shoots for a takedown early, Koscheck defends well but has his back against the cage. Pierce doing a good job making it ugly, holding Koscheck against the cage, landing some foot stomps, kicks and dirty boxing. Koscheck eats a few shots as they separate. Pierce gets put against the cage but they quickly separate. Both men throwing hard strikes and landing. Pierce is hanging in there at a level I did not expect. Pierce shoots in but Koscheck defends and the round ends with the fight remaining on the feet. Very close round, I’d give it to Pierce but I’m glad I’m not a judge!
Round 2– Pierce lands first with a right and shoots for a takedown. Koscheck defends and they clinch against the cage. Pierce lands as they separate. Koscheck looks tentative and a little stunned at how well Pierce is landing on him. Pierce bleeding from the head quite severely, makes me remember the old “head wound Harry” skits from SNL. Koscheck with a knee that misses. Pierce puts Koscheck back against the cage. Time is called as Koscheck pokes Pierce in the eye, punching with an open hand, measuring distance with his fingers out. Koscheck shoots for the first time and completes it with ease. Pierce gives up his back as he tries to use the cage to stand up. Pierce works back to his feet from a bad position and the round ends. Pierce is on the verge of a big upset.
Round 3– Pierce lands again but Koscheck answering back. Koscheck seems to be winking and wincing like in the GSP fight, I wonder if his eye is hurt again or it’s just become a tic of his now. Pierce gets a takedown but it is brief, Koscheck powers back up with ease. Koscheck has Pierce clinched against the cage. Koscheck is turning it up now but Pierce regains the clinch and is landing with dirty boxing and short strikes. Fighters break and face off in the center. Koscheck shoots for a takedown but Pierce defending well against the cage. Herb Dean is treating Koscheck like a misbehaving child, separates them and immediately warns Koscheck yet again for the fingers to Pierce’s face. It is extremely hard to like Koscheck. Both fighters striking, Koscheck shoots for a late takedown and holds Pierce to the canvas. Pierce ends with a spinning elbow as he works back to the feet. Very close fight, I have it for Pierce but this could either way.
Josh Koscheck defeats Mike Pierce by split decision
Koscheck getting showered with boos from the crowd and responds with a middle finger and some stuttering excuses for what will undoubtedly be a controversial win that won’t advance him much in the welterweight division.
Rogan describes the upcoming Rousey-Tate matchup as “the hottest title fight” in history.
Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
Nelson looks noticeably slimmer, sporting a massive graying beard and a braided mullet,control yourself, ladies.
Round 1– Werdum dwarfing Nelson in the staredown. Touch of gloves. Front kick from Werdum starts the action followed by a knee and a kick to the body. Nelson stalking, throws a right and slips to the ground. Werdum takes his back with astonishing speed and works to sink in a choke but Nelson fends it off and gets back to his feet. Werdum with the plum throwing knees at Nelson that are doing damage. Nelson breaks free and puts Werdum into the cage. Werdum regains the Thai clinch and unloads knees into Nelson who is starting to look and act like a drunken uncle outside the bar on a Tuesday night fighting a pack of angry skunks. Nelson is slowly bleeding his way down to light-heavyweight. Referee Josh Rosenthal stops to the action to have a doctor confirm what everyone can see on tv, that Nelson’s face is fucked up. Action restarts and Werdum goes back to work with kicks. Nelson drops Werdum and dives into guard ala Fedor and fights his way out of an armbar threat. Werdum gets back to his feet as the round ends and misses with a roundhouse.
Round 2– Werdum opens up with a leg kick and drops Nelson with a kick. Nelson back to his feet and throwing a kick of his own. I’m not sure if it’s possible to knock Nelson out, but Werdum is trying. Nelson is hanging in there throwing strikes but there’s not much on them. Roy Nelson is being described in my living room as an “un-dead viking” and a “zombie skeleton with a coonskin cap”. Action is slowing noticeably in the second round but Werdum is still winning the exchanges, when they happen. Body kick from Werdum but Nelson catches Werdum and flurries but Werdum survives, this is getting interesting. Nelson is sitting back waiting for a big shot as the round ends.
Round 3– Nelson has streaks of his own blood on his over-sized gut, I’m mesmerized. Werdum comes in and gets caught in a standing guillotine but survives and separates. Nelson puts Werdum into the cage as they tie up. Werdum landing knees and punches but Nelson must have a fast food bonus in his contract if he goes the distance because he is charging forward. Nelson tries a hilarious spinning back kick and Werdum catches and the round ends.
Fabricio Werdum defeats Roy Nelson by unanimous decision
Werdum managed to get into his interview with Rogan sans translator and ended up congratulating Nelson somehow.
Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz
It’s time for the main event, interim welterweight title on the line. A little touch of the foreheads on the staredown, no glove touch.
Round 1– Condit opens with a leg kick and then another. Condit working knees to the body, perhaps trying to drain the endless gas tank of Diaz. Diaz tees off with a few punches on Condit. Both fighters tentative. Condit just misses with a question mark kick. Condit really working the kicks. Spinning back first from Condit just misses and Diaz starts talking to Condit and looks to open up against the cage. Diaz works punches to the body against the cage, mixing them up with head strikes. Condit with a leg kick but Diaz is starting to pick up his patented flurries. Round ends with Diaz lowering his hands and throwing strikes. Very close round, I’d give it to Condit.
Round 2– Condit with more kicks to start the second round. Flying knee from Condit misses and Diaz catches it momentarily. Condit tries his fifth spinning back first of the night and finally lands but Diaz walks right through it. Diaz yelling in Condit’s face and open hand slaps him! Diaz is talking more in the octagon than he did on the entire primetime series. Diaz with a good combo on Condit. Condit seems tentative and Diaz is exploiting with combinations. Condit throwing big straight kicks but they are not landing. Condit lands a body shot. Diaz lands a flurry to the body. Back and forth striking action as the round ends. I’d give this round to Diaz.
Round 3- Third round and Condit again opens with a head kick that misses. Very even exchanges over and over, Diaz slightly getting the better of it. Diaz tagging Condit whenever he gets him against the cage. Very hard to live blog a fight like this! They are just striking over and over, nothing definitive landing, but Diaz’s strikes are adding up a little more. Condit missing a lot of kicks. Diaz not working at as fast a pace as we’re used to, perhaps he’s game planning for the five rounds. Condit is doing a good job circling off the cage when Diaz starts to come in with a flurry. Condit lands a knee and Diaz immediately starts talking shit. Diaz responds with a left hand but Condit is looking more active and more confident now. Round ends with Condit slipping on a kick. I think Condit took that round and is now up two rounds to one on my horribly unofficial card.
Round 4- Condit kicking away to start the championship rounds. Again lots of strikes being thrown, nothing significant yet. No ground fighting in the fight whatsoever, and no sign of it happening. Just as I type this Diaz shoots for a takedown but fails. Condit kicking and fighting smart. Condit gets Diaz on the feet with some hands and then kicks Diaz straight in the face, Diaz just stares him down. Diaz catches a kick but can’t complete the takedown. Condit is landing much more this round, Diaz seems slow and ineffective. Condit wins that round.
Round 5– I think this round needs to see Diaz end the fight to win. Condit looking much more confident. Diaz not moving very fast. I was just informed that Cecil Peoples is one of the judges tonight so none of what I’m writing or what you’re seeing matters at all. Diaz winging kicks at Condit without much success. Condit has thrown nearly ten spinning back fists at this point. Condit chops Diaz down with a leg kick and then goes up high. Diaz clinches him against the cage and attempts to take it to the ground but Condit separates with two minutes left. Diaz nails Condit with punches but Condit comes back with a knee. Diaz throwing combinations and starting to pick up the pace. Diaz drags Condit down and takes his back working furiously for a submission. Diaz trying desperately for a rear naked choke but Condit is defending well. The fight ends with Diaz trying for an armbar. I think Diaz got the fifth round but Condit will take it 48-47. Close fight.
Carlos Condit defeats Nick Diaz by unanimous decision.
Classy interview with Condit post-fight, it’ll be him against GSP toward the end of the year. Diaz apparently retires in the cage because he thought he won the fight and “don’t wanna play this game no more.”
Filed under: UFCEven in the frantic excitement of victory, Mark Munoz held true to his gentlemanly reputation. The rapidly improving middleweight who fights under the beastly nickname of “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” beat Chris Leben up at UFC 138, t…
Even in the frantic excitement of victory, Mark Munoz held true to his gentlemanly reputation. The rapidly improving middleweight who fights under the beastly nickname of “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” beat Chris Leben up at UFC 138, then toned things down with a polite request to cut the line and face champion Anderson Silva.
With a potential big-money Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch already in discussions, Munoz’s wish seems unlikely to be granted, but at least he’s planted the bug in people’s minds that he’s title-worthy. Munoz has won seven of his last eight, brings a go-for-broke style and has surrounded himself with an excellent team from which to learn. After some troubles during the early stages of his UFC fight career, things seem to have clicked for him.
Munoz certainly deserves credit for his improvement and his willingness to fight Silva, who is a former training partner. His “call-out” though, could use some work. Calling Silva “by far” the best pound-for-pound fighter alive, Munoz politely requested the honor of Silva’s presence at a title bout. The well-mannered plea was completely contradictory from the fighter who ran over Leben moments before. The saying is that nice guys finish last. Munoz certainly has the chance to prove that wrong.
Mark Munoz
It simply wouldn’t make sense for the UFC to scuttle the Silva-Sonnen rematch, particularly with all the buildup Sonnen’s already produced for it. Munoz and the rest of the division need to bide their time until that plays out. Unfortunately for Munoz, that means at least one more fight before he can compete for the belt.
On December 3, Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller are fighting. If Bisping wins, a Munoz-Bisping matchup should be signed as a No. 1 contenders fight. If he loses, well, then, we’re in a bit of a pickle.
Prediction: Munoz eventually faces Bisping with a title shot on the line.
Chris Leben
The loss had to sting for Leben, who sees himself as one of the UFC’s toughest fighters but could not survive Munoz’s offensive onslaught. Fighters can often reason away a knockout in their minds by rationalizing that they simply got caught; it’s not so easy when things go the way they did on Saturday, and you’re brought to admit you got beat up by a better fighter.
Given Leben’s exciting style, there is certainly still a place for him in the UFC, it’s just not among the top five, at least not right now. At 31 years old and with a series of wars behind him, that possibility is certainly beginning to fade. Regardless of that, he’ll certainly always be remembered as a warrior in the cage, and given his style, you almost wonder if that reputation is as welcome to him as the description of champion might be.
Prediction:Ed Herman has won two straight since returning. Leben might be a good test in determining what level he’s at.
Renan Barao
Barao’s performance should have served as an eye-opener for those who hadn’t seem him fight before. He looked aggressive on his feet, continued his reputation as a killer on the ground, and closed out the durable Brad Pickett inside of one round despite being on enemy territory.
That win was great news for the UFC, who needs someone, anyone to make a statement at bantamweight and present themselves as a fresh, credible challenge to champion Dominick Cruz. With his win, Barao fit that bill. Will he be immediately thrust into the title picture? It really wouldn’t be hard to sell him as a legitimate threat coming off this win and highlighting his 28-fight unbeaten streak. But my guess is that he’ll need one more victory before he gets to Cruz.
Prediction: He faces Scott Jorgensen
Thiago Alves
The former No. 1 welterweight contender faced a must-win against Papy Abedi, and delivered with a first-round rear naked choke submission, his first finish since a TKO victory against Matt Hughes in June 2008. Given the fact that he was facing a relatively unknown opponent and was one of the best-known fighters on the card, anything else would have been a major disaster for Alves.
He faces a lengthy climb to return to contention, but at 28 years old, it’s not an impossible mission. There are also plenty of good opponents to match him up against.
Anthony Perosh
It’s two straight wins for the Aussie since returning to his natural home at light-heavyweight. At 39 years old, though, it’s hard to believe Perosh has any realistic shot at climbing the ladder towards the top of an extremely deep division. Even worse for his future prospects is that division is cluttered by wrestlers. Given Perosh’s jiu-jitsu based style, those types of matchups will be tough to navigate.
That said, he deserves plenty of credit for these recent wins, as well as the chance to try his skills against an opponent with a different type of skill set next time out.
Terry Etim
Etim spent 19 months on the sidelines injured and then spent 17 seconds in the cage upon his return with a lightning-fast submission against the overmatched Eddie Faaloloto. While the speed of the victory was unexpected, Etim was the biggest favorite on the entire card, so it was a fight he was supposed to win impressively. Things shouldn’t be quite so easy for him next time around.
Prediction: Thiago Tavares is still waiting for a matchup after his August win over Spencer Fisher. That sounds interesting. The UFC though went a different route, matching him up with Edson Barboza at UFC 142.
Che Mills
Mills debuted to some high marks after knocking out Chris Cope in a 40-second clinic of standup violence. UFC commentator Joe Rogan quickly anointed Mills as a fresh new welterweight star and he certainly looked the part, but we’ll need to see more of him before we can put him on the must-watch prospect list. Until then, how about we match him up with another striking star?
Prediction: Mills vs. Duane Ludwig sounds like fireworks to me.
Filed under: UFCI don’t know if it was the tape-delay or the lack of big names on the card, but UFC 138 hardly felt like a genuine numbered event by the time it hit Spike TV on Saturday night.
It was more like a really good Fight Night event, complet…
I don’t know if it was the tape-delay or the lack of big names on the card, but UFC 138 hardly felt like a genuine numbered event by the time it hit Spike TV on Saturday night.
It was more like a really good Fight Night event, complete with the same few video game and credit report ads over and over and over again. At least now if I wake up in the middle of the night and realize I have sleepwalked to Wal-Mart to buy Assassin’s Creed, I’ll know who to blame.
But now that the paychecks and the concussions have been handed out and another one is in the books, let’s sort through the wreckage to find the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between.
Biggest Winner: Mark Munoz
It was the cut over Leben’s eye that stopped the fight, but it was Munoz’s pace and power that put it there. Every punch Munoz threw was a home run swing, and it’s hard not to wonder if his relentless pressure didn’t help to convince Leben that maybe it wasn’t a great idea to try and fight on through the mask of blood. If I had plasma obstructing my vision in one eye, I’m not sure I’d want to march back out into that hurricane again either. It’s a great victory for Munoz, but does he really think he’s ready for a title shot? He’s won four straight against an increasingly impressive list of victims, but it would be hard to put him ahead of guys like Chael Sonnen or the winner of the Michael Bisping-“Mayhem” Miller bout. At 33, I realize he doesn’t have years to wait around for his chance, but he needs at least one more high-profile win before he deserves a crack at the gold. If he continues to improve at his current pace, he might really be able to do something with the opportunity by then.
Biggest Loser: Chris Leben
Something about ending on a cut between rounds just doesn’t seem to fit with the Leben mystique. No matter how legitimate or necessary it was, that’s not how “The Crippler” is supposed to go out. He’s supposed to keep plodding forward, keep deflecting blows with his skull, keep tossing back haymakers of his own until someone is down and out. For him to get stopped by a cut and look almost grateful for it to be over, it just feels wrong. There were rumors of a disastrous weight cut for Leben, so maybe he was genuinely glad to get out of there. Whatever the cause, he’s now lost two of his last three, with the lone win coming against the guy who Dana White says should quit. When we talked last week and Leben expressed his belief that this was essentially a number one contender bout, I asked him how he’d feel if he never got a title shot in the UFC. What if he retired as the brawler who people loved to watch, but who never even got a close-up look at a belt? “You know what?” Leben said. “Actually I am fine with that. At this point in my career I want to fight epic fights and have great battles.” Saturday night in Birmingham was probably a battle he’d rather forget.
Just What the Little Guys Needed: Renan Barao and Brad Pickett
We hear plenty of griping about the lack of finishes in the lighter weight classes, but Barao and Pickett both showed up intent on damaging someone’s frontal lobe. When guys get into exchanging power shots like that, you know it will only be a matter of time until someone’s consciousness flickers. The beautiful knee from Barao turned out to be the difference-maker, and he did a great job of capitalizing on Pickett’s woozy state in order to sink in the choke. Before the bout, Pickett said he couldn’t tell just how good Barao was, since he hadn’t faced tough competition yet. That was a fair assessment at the time, but now we know: this kid is good. Pickett knows it too, just like he knows that maybe he should have been a little more worried about Barao’s stand-up game after all.
Most Overly Ambitious Debut: Papy Abedi
The story coming out of Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg during the broadcast was that Abedi had turned down lesser names in order to make his UFC debut against veteran welterweight Thiago Alves. If that’s true, it should serve as one more reminder that hubris comes with a price in this business. Abedi was game enough, and he certainly wasn’t afraid of Alves. At least, not until a couple well-placed hooks had him doing the stanky leg. If you’re going to fight in the UFC, I suppose you’d better think of yourself as someone who’s capable of hanging with the best and the toughest, but does that mean you have to do it right away? Your first time in the Octagon might be difficult enough without a guy like Alves standing across from you. Sooner or later, you’ll have to fight guys like him, but why not wait and do it when you’re getting paid like a veteran rather than a rookie? Abedi showed everyone that he’s got guts. Next time, maybe he should work on showing them that he’s got brains, too.
Most Ado About Nothing: Thiago Alves‘ weight
With his history, it’s understandable for people to freak out when he shows up on the scales a pound heavy. This is the same guy who got within a half-pound of making weight for his rematch with Jon Fitch, but ultimately decided to pay Fitch 20 percent of his purse rather than jump back in the sauna. But Mike Dolce, Alves’ nutritionist, swears they didn’t have any trouble stripping off that last pound while still keeping Alves in prime condition this time. As good as he looked against Abedi, I believe it. He was calm, patient, and violently efficient. Most importantly, he didn’t look like he’d left his best stuff on the scale this time. Alves once told me (while we were sitting down to a great big lunch, appetizers and all) that the thing he hated most about fighting was the diet. He talked about a post-MMA life where he could eat whatever, whenever in the same wistful tones that insurance agents talk about retiring to play golf all day. It’s no wonder that weight has been a struggle for him, but with Dolce he finally seems to have that part of his life under control. Next area of emphasis for “The Pitbull”? Takedown defense.
Most Resilient: Anthony Perosh
What’s a 39-year-old Australian with a 12-6 career record doing riding a two-fight win streak in the UFC’s light heavyweight division? Beats me, but Perosh just won’t go away quietly. He still seems uncomfortable on his feet, and it’s incredibly hard to imagine that he and Jon Jones are even in the same weight class, much less fighting for the same organization. Still, Perosh has legitimately dangerous ground game, even if he lacks the wrestling skills to reliably get the fight there. Diabate all but took himself down early in the second, and that was all the opening Perosh needed. He’s every bit as patient and methodical on the mat as he is awkward and tentative on the feet. That was good enough for a win over Diabate, but how far can this middle-aged “Hippo” go with this relatively limited skill set? I have no idea, though he seems intent on finding out.
Quickest Comeback: Terry Etim
After more than a year and a half out of the cage, Etim’s return was over in just 17 seconds. Not only is that not enough time to knock off the ring rust, it’s not even enough time to work up a sweat. It was obvious right away that Etim and Eddie Faaloloto were simply not operating on the same level, so maybe it’s good that it ended so quickly. Any longer and things might have gotten very ugly for Faaloloto, who simply can’t be long for the UFC after that performance. It’s good to have Etim back, but can we please get a translator in there for his post-fight remarks? I listened closely and tried my best to pick out a few familiar words, but it was like trying to read something in a dream. Whatever language he was speaking, it was just familiar enough to be frustrating.
Most Perfunctory Win: Michihiro Omigawa
His decision victory over Jason Young wasn’t the prettiest or the most exciting fight you’ll ever see, but Omigawa needed that one in a bad way. He snapped his two-fight losing streak in the UFC and learned that not all judges are as blind as the ones who handed him a loss against Darren Elkins, so perhaps it was more of a psychological boost than anything else. Now that Omigawa finally has a UFC win under his belt, he needs to prove that he can do more than just barely edge one out. It’s great that he’s halted his slide, but it means the opponents will only get tougher.
Even in the frantic excitement of victory, 
I don’t know if it was the tape-delay or the lack of big names on the card, but 