Tag: Robbie Lawler

The analysis team for the UFC on Fuel TV and Fox broadcasts have been providing the best in-depth coverage mixed martial has seen in its 20 years of existence.

With a collection of seasoned fight veterans at the helm and a handful of well versed fight game minds in the mix, the cast working the pre- and post-fight shows for the UFC have consistently raised the bar.

The great news is that coverage is expanding and BR MMA will be the place where those analysts dig deeper into upcoming fight cards. Our first installment of “Dropping Knowledge” features Brian Stann as “The All-American” breaks down this weekend’s card at UFC on Fox 8.

The former WEC light heavyweight champion turned middleweight contender may be recently retired from his work inside the cage, but the Silver Star recipient has quickly become a powerhouse behind the analyst desk, and has done so in quick fashion. 

When breaking down fights, Stann takes a cerebral approach where both his calculated eye as an analyst and in the fire experience as a former top ranked mixed martial artist come into play.

In just a short amount of time working on the UFC broadcasts, Stann has risen to become the go-to-guy when explaining the ins and outs of what will take place when the cage door closes.

This is what Stann told Bleacher Report about this weekend’s card at UFC on Fox 8 in Seattle:

 

Let’s start with the co-main event between top welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald. What do you think are the key factors for each fighter going into this tilt?

“Wrestling is obviously going to be a big thing in this fight and I think they may neutralize each other there. I think Jake has more wrestling years under his belt. Even though he wasn’t a collegiate wrestler he was training at Team Quest and now has been training with Mark Munoz at Reign for so long, I believe he may have that option later in the fight if he wants to take it to the floor. 

“On the feet, Rory MacDonald tends to fight a little longer and a little more calculated. He looks to pick guys apart using his kicks and his reach. I think it’s going to be important for Ellenberger to really explode through space and use footwork to create angles to close the distance and not allow Rory to stay at his range, land shots and outpoint him over the course of the fight. 

“Obviously both guys are finishers. MacDonald is more of a wear-you-down type guy but Ellenberger has the ability to put your lights out at any moment.”

 

Both Ellenberger and MacDonald have proven to be extremely talented fighters, but who in your opinion has the edge in the intangible department?

“I’m going to have to go with Jake Ellenberger in that department. Now, I’m going to have to admit that I know him a little better having trained with him before. I don’t know Rory as well, but from what I can see on tape, Ellenberger seems to be the guy who is more scrappy and blue-collar in nature.

“He’s been doing this for a long time and he has a chip on his shoulder because he has seen other guys who have put in the same time as he’s invested and they’ve gotten those title shots, big money and all the things a fighter dreams about.

“Jake is right on the cusp and I think this is that fight that puts him over the edge and gets him all the things he’s been working so hard for.”

 

As you very well know, the welterweight division is easily one of the most competitive weight classes under the UFC banner. With Ellenberger and MacDonald being near the top of the division, do you think an impressive victory from either man could warrant a title shot? Or do you think there will still be at least one more fight needed before they get there?

“I think they are probably one more fight away. The reason I say that is because it’s not as much about depth as it is about timing. The UFC doesn’t like when guys try to wait it out for a title shot and sit on the sidelines for a year without taking fights.

“Too often they’ve seen guys wait that long, but then there is an injury and the title is not defended. They don’t like that. Because GSP is already set to fight Johny Hendricks later this year, I believe the timing is going to make it where the winner of this fight is probably going to have to fight again.

“If Robbie Lawler comes out and looks impressive again, he could be the guy they have to get through in order to earn a title shot. Or it could be one of a handful of welterweights, because like you said, that division is extremely competitive.

 

Moving on to the main event between flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga, how does Moraga offset “Mighty Mouse’s” speed and movement?

“It’s difficult but one of the keys is that ‘D.J.’ is really great at making guys chase him. There is a difference between stalking someone and cutting them off. If Moraga just tries to find him and follows him around, Johnson will cut angles and counter punch and use counter takedowns to put him on the mat all night long.

“Moraga has got to cut D.J. off and put D.J. where he can hit him. D.J. has been rocked in both of his last two fights and I think Moraga’s best chance to win this fight is getting a knockout in rounds one, two, or three.

“Once you start getting past the second round with Demetrious Johnson, most guys just can’t keep up with that pace. He wears them down and he dominates the fourth and fifth round.”

 

This fight seems to carry a tremendous upside for Moraga but let me ask your opinion about pressure. Do you believe Moraga going from the first fight on the Facebook prelims in his last showing to a title bout in the main event of his upcoming fight this weekend will be a ton of pressure for him to carry?

“It’s a ton of pressure to carry. Like I said before, timing is crucial in this sport and Moraga has great timing. He’s in a division that is thin and when D.J. is running through everyone else, he fought his way to get to the right place at the right time. Now he has to capitalize on it.

“I think there is a ton of upside in this fight for him. Even if he just has a really competitive fight, his stock is going to skyrocket and he’s still going to be one or two wins away from another title shot until this division really starts to get more depth.

 

Staying with the theme of pressure, there is an interesting matchup taking place in the lightweight division between Mac Danzig and Melvin Guillard. Both men have struggled to gain solid footing as of late but who do you believe has the most to lose on Saturday night?

“In the Danzig vs. Guillard fight, I think the pressure is more on Melvin. I think the pressure is on him because of his issues outside of the Octagon. Mac Danzig is a very mature, very bright young man, and while I imagine there is pressure on him to stay relevant, pressure on him for his career, he is the type of guy who strikes me to have multiple back-up plans after fighting is over. He’s a very well-rounded fighter but he has had some of the worst luck in UFC history.

“Melvin Guillard on the other hand, is more of a ticking time bomb. He can knock you out at any moment. In some fights he looks like a world beater, but in other fights, he has a huge mental breakdown that costs him the fight. I really think the more pressure is on him because he’s had so much going on outside the cage with switching teams, court cases, etc.

“He needs to win this fight. He needs to start getting consistent and get his personal life in order so that his professional life can be more successful. I think he’s trying to do that, but I haven’t been in contact with him so I don’t know that for sure.”

 

Bobby Voelker stepped up on two week’s notice to accept a dangerous fight with the heavy-handed knockout artist Robbie Lawler. While it seems to be a big disadvantage taking a fight on such short notice, are there any advantages for Voelker stepping in on such a quick turn in your opinion?

“There are huge advantages for Voelker. Robbie Lawler looked great in his last fight and has looked great in a couple of fights, but there have been fights where Lawler has looked disinterested.

“He’s looked like a guy who has fought for a number of years and has had trouble motivating himself to get into the gym everyday. I think he’s found a revitalization to his career with his last big win. He’s back in the UFC. He’s back to the title picture and that has the ability to revitalize you.

“But you can’t take away the amount of years Lawler has been in the Octagon. Guys who have been doing this for a long time, there is only so long your chin is going to hold up, and Voelker is the kind of guy who is going to test the chin and put himself in a brawl where either guy can go down.

“So who knows? Voelker has more than a puncher’s chance in this fight. When you come into a fight on two week’s notice and no one is picking you to win, the more entertaining of a fight you put on, the higher your stock goes up.

“The UFC always rewards guys who are willing to stay in shape year-round, who are ready to step in there on short notice and go out there and put on a great performance. I don’t think he has much to lose here unless he goes out there and fights not to lose and puts on a boring show. But that is not Bobby Voelker’s style.”

 

While the two big fights at the top of the card are getting the lion’s share of attention, what are a few of your personal gems you see on the fight card that fans should be paying attention to?

“I love watching Yves Edwards fight. Yves is a guy I used to watch when I first started out in this sport trying to pick up technique. I would watch a lot of tape on him and try to coach myself to learn what he was doing. He is fighting a younger Daron Cruickshank who has shown some really interesting skills inside the cage.

“This guy is really creative and he’s a very good athlete. Both guys are tough and like to pick their opponents apart with big kicks and punches. I think that fight could be a sleeper fight on this card that could be awesome.

“Another fighter I’m obviously going to be watching is Julie Kedzie. Any time she fights I’m interested. She is a knockdown, drag out, brutal type of fighter. I haven’t seen many women’s MMA bouts yet that haven’t been awesome. These women are bringing it and they are making people pay attention.

“Julie Kedzie is no different. She works so hard. I’ve trained with her for years and she is defined by her passion for this sport. She just can’t help herself but to put on great performances. I’m very interested to see how she does in her UFC debut.”

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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The Octagon will return to Seattle this weekend for UFC on Fox 8 and there are some heavy stakes on the line for several major players involved.

In the main event, inaugural flyweight champion Demetrius Johnson will look to make his second successful defense of the 125-pound strap when he squares off with No. 1 contender John Moraga. As one of the UFC’s newest weight classes, the flyweight division is looking to gain some serious traction in the minds of the MMA fanbase, and the pressure will be on Johnson and Moraga to put on an exciting and memorable tilt.

Lined up in the co-main event slot, a pair of surging welterweights who are eager to battle their way onto the title radar will mix it up when Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald step under the bright lights in the Key Arena to trade leather. The race for title contention at 170 pounds has never been more electric and neither fighter can afford to take a step back if they hope to keep their title dreams alive.

In addition to the action atop the card, there are several matchups taking place in Seattle which have the potential to carry major implications for the fighters involved. 

Let’s take a look at what is on the line for the major players at UFC on Fox 8.

 

Welterweight Ruckus

For the past seven years, the welterweight division has been one of the flagship weight classes under the UFC banner. From the early days of Matt Hughes’ championship reign to the current dominance of 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre, the welterweight division has consistently proved to be one of the most talent-rich and competitive collections in the UFC. And there are no signs of this action slowing down anytime soon.

With GSP and No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks officially slated to square off in November at UFC 167, the battle to earn the next title shot has shifted into overdrive. There are a handful of potential contenders stepping into action in the coming months, but none more important on the current landscape than the upcoming matchup between Ellenberger and MacDonald.

“The Juggernaut” has been a wrecking machine in the welterweight division since joining the UFC roster in 2009. After being edged out by former title challenger Carlos Condit in his promotional debut, the 28-year-old Team Reign staple has gone on to find victory in eight of his last nine showings. The only setback Ellenberger suffered in that run was to Martin Kampmann, but bounced back strong to collect wins over veterans Jay Hieron and Nate Marquardt, respectively.

In the fight with MacDonald, the Omaha native has the opportunity to take a strong step towards title contention. With Hendricks finally earning his championship bid, the lane is wide open for the former Marine to position himself as next in line for a title opportunity. Defeating MacDonald will be no easy task, but if Ellenberger can put his heavy hands on the talented, young Canadian’s chin, a huge victory in Seattle could certainly be accomplished.

While the stakes are equally high on MacDonald’s side of the table, the circumstances involved look a bit different. “Ares” has been a nightmare for welterweights on the UFC roster as he’s steamrolled the majority of the competition he’s faced inside the Octagon. The 24-year-old Tri-Star product’s only setback in his professional career came at the hands of Condit back at UFC 115 in June of 2010.

The loss to “The Natural Born Killer” was a turning point in MacDonald’s young career and he has looked like an absolute monster in the aftermath. The Montreal transplant has collected four consecutive lopsided victories with his most recent coming in the form of a three-round drubbing of legend and former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC on Fox 5 during the UFC’s last visit to the Emerald City.

In the fight with Ellenberger, MacDonald will face perhaps his toughest task to date. Where Penn was on the downturn of his career, Ellenberger is coming into his prime as a mixed martial artist. If MacDonald can defeat Ellenberger, and do so in impressive fashion, his hovering label as “the future of the welterweight division” will take on a different perspective.

Then again, a victory over Ellenberger this weekend in Seattle will put MacDonald one step closer to his training partner and mentor St-Pierre, which will undoubtedly make things a bit more uncomfortable around the Tri-Star gym in the coming months.

 

Flyweight Division Fighting for Respect

When Demetrius Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez to become the first flyweight champion in UFC history, in addition to a shiny new belt, “Mighty Mouse” also inherited the task of being the leading man in one of the promotion’s newest weight classes.

Building a division from the ground up is a dubious challenge, but thus far in his short reign, the 26-year-old Washington native has been up for the challenge. The AMC-trained fighter put on an exciting performance when he defeated TUF winner John Dodson in his first title defense at UFC on Fox 6 back in January, and the pressure will once again fall on his shoulders this weekend when he faces John Moraga at UFC on Fox 8 in Seattle.

The bout with Moraga will be the second consecutive showing where Johnson is slotted in the main event and those positions do not come without scrutiny. Where stepping into the cage with a capable fighter the likes of Moraga will be a challenge in itself, putting on an exciting performance that will resonate with a critical fanbase is another issue.

Throughout his time competing as a bantamweight in the WEC and then a flyweight under the UFC roster, Johnson has consistently shown the ability to put on high-paced, action-packed affairs, and on the caliber of stage Fox presents, he will have to add another exciting chapter to his career to keep flyweights on the radar.

As for Moraga, the bout with Johnson carries a tremendous amount of upside and very little where the downside is concerned. The MMA Lab product has been carving his way through the 125-pound ranks and used outstanding performances against Ulysses Gomez and Chris Cariaso to springboard himself into a championship opportunity against Johnson.

While the champion may carry the more established name in the pairing, Moraga will have the opportunity to make a thundering introduction to a larger chunk of the UFC’s fanbase in Seattle. The 29-year-old Arizona-based fighter is going from the opening bout on the Facebook prelims for UFC 155 in his last bout to the main event of a major Fox card in his next. That is huge ground to cover between fights where bout placement is concerned and Moraga will have the opportunity to take his career to the next level if he can defeat Johnson this weekend.

By defeating Johnson at UFC on Fox 8, Moraga will not only become a champion but also solidify his profile with UFC fans in the process.

 

Other Fighters Rolling the Dice in Seattle

With the two biggest fights on the card receiving the lion’s share of attention for UFC on Fox 8, there are a handful of matchups that are flying somewhat under the radar heading into action this weekend in Seattle.

Heavy-handed veteran Robbie Lawler earned one of the biggest victories of his career when he earned a first-round knockout over perennial contender Josh Koscheck at UFC 157 back in February. The win over Koscheck immediately launched “Ruthless” into the mix in the 170-pound division and made his next challenge all the more important for his future title hopes.

While he was originally slated to face the last man to hold the Strikeforce welterweight title in Tarec Saffiedine, the former champion suffered an injury and Siyar Bahadurzada stepped in to fill the void. Unfortunately for the Blackzilians fighter, the “injury bug” would also bite him, and the UFC tapped scrappy veteran Bobby Voelker to take the fight in Seattle.

Where Voelker will not carry the same amount of clout as a bout with Saffiedine would, that doesn’t change the stakes for Lawler at UFC on Fox 8. If he hopes to keep his footing in a competitive title race in the welterweight division, the former Elite XC champion cannot afford a back step. 

Two other fights where the stakes are considerably high—albeit for different reasons—will come when former women’s bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche faces Jessica Andrade and former lightweight title contender Melvin Guillard mixes it up with Mac Danzig.

The “Girl-Rilla” is coming fresh off her title shot against Ronda Rousey and will need a victory over Andrade to remain in the mix for another shot at the 135-pound strap. With a handful of potential title contenders stepping into action in the coming months, Carmouche will need a strong showing at UFC on Fox 8 to keep stride with the pack. 

While the Team Hurricane Awesome staple suffered a setback against Rousey at UFC 157, she had shinning moments throughout the fight and the loss to “Rowdy” didn’t hurt her stock in the bigger picture. Should Carmouche pick up the victory over Andrade this weekend, she will position herself as a solid option for the next shot at the women’s 135-pound title.

Where Carmouche is battling for title contention, Danzig and Guillard are fighting to remain relevant in the lightweight division. The 155-pound weight class is one of the most competitive divisions under the UFC banner and there are no signs of this changing anywhere in the near future. With a shark tank in the upper tier of the division and a batch of up-and-coming fighters making huge strides towards the top 10, the bout between Danzig and Guillard couldn’t come at a more crucial time for both fighters.

Less than two years ago, the “Young Assassin” was poised to earn a championship opportunity before being derailed by Joe Lauzon at UFC 136 in Houston. Guillard then went on to drop three of his next four showings including back-to-back losses to Donald Cerrone and Jamie Varner, respectively. Another loss for Guillard could very well serve to not only push him out of relevancy in the lightweight fold, but cost him his job with the UFC. Those circumstances make the bout with Danzig a pressure-filled affair and it will be interesting to see how the 30-year-old veteran handles the challenge.

Many of the same things apply for Danzig. The TUF winner has been battling to gain footing under the UFC banner for the past few years and has been locked in a “win one, lose one” cycle every step of the way. The 33-year-old California transplant appeared to be breaking that trend when he earned a solid victory over Efrain Escudero at UFC 145 in April of 2012, but then was edged out via split decision to former Pride champion Takanori Gomi at UFC on Fuel TV 6.

In order to keep his place in the UFC lightweight ranks, Danzig will need a strong showing against Guillard this weekend in Seattle. With a new focus and keeping his training camp contained to one location in Los Angeles, and a reignited passion for the sport, Danzig is fully aware of everything that will be on the line at UFC on Fox 8.

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