Tag: Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee

Seven Most Pointless Interim Title Bouts In UFC History

Interim belts are designed to keep a division moving while the champion sits out due to injury. There have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion. Throughout UFC history there have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim […]

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Interim belts are designed to keep a division moving while the champion sits out due to injury. There have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion.

Throughout UFC history there have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion.

However, during a down year for pay-per-view (PPV) sales in 2017, the concept of an interim belt has also been needlessly applied to boost lagging PPVs, or to move on from an uninjured yet still inactive title holder.

We broke down the seven most pointless title bouts in UFC history, and the results may surprise you. Check them out:

7. Tony Ferguson vs Kevin Lee – UFC 216

If Conor McGregor weren’t holding up the otherwise supremely talented UFC lightweight arena, no one would complain about this main event fight at next week’s (Sat., October 7, 2017) UFC 216 being for the lightweight belt.

However, the fact that this weight class even needs an interim belt is a joke. McGregor left the division in a complete logjam while pursuing and eventually earning a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. That sabbatical did no one any favors except McGregor himself, who hasn’t defended the belt since winning it from Eddie Alvarez back at UFC 205 last November.

The worst part is, there’s zero guarantee that the winner of this interim belt will actually face McGregor upon his return. With talks of a Nate Diaz trilogy gaining traction, the interim titleholder could be stuck not fighting for the actual strap for quite some time.

Not to mention, the real interim title fight probably should have been Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov, the two rightful heirs to the lightweight throne, but Nurmagomedov’s spotty track record and inactivity forced the UFC’s hand into finding a capable dance partner.

The post Seven Most Pointless Interim Title Bouts In UFC History appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Seven Most Pointless Interim Title Bouts In UFC History

Interim belts are designed to keep a division moving while the champion sits out due to injury. There have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion. Throughout UFC history there have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim […]

The post Seven Most Pointless Interim Title Bouts In UFC History appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Interim belts are designed to keep a division moving while the champion sits out due to injury. There have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion.

Throughout UFC history there have been plenty of legitimate cases where an interim title was necessary in order to keep things moving in the absence of a champion.

However, during a down year for pay-per-view (PPV) sales in 2017, the concept of an interim belt has also been needlessly applied to boost lagging PPVs, or to move on from an uninjured yet still inactive title holder.

We broke down the seven most pointless title bouts in UFC history, and the results may surprise you. Check them out:

7. Tony Ferguson vs Kevin Lee – UFC 216

If Conor McGregor weren’t holding up the otherwise supremely talented UFC lightweight arena, no one would complain about this main event fight at next week’s (Sat., October 7, 2017) UFC 216 being for the lightweight belt.

However, the fact that this weight class even needs an interim belt is a joke. McGregor left the division in a complete logjam while pursuing and eventually earning a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. That sabbatical did no one any favors except McGregor himself, who hasn’t defended the belt since winning it from Eddie Alvarez back at UFC 205 last November.

The worst part is, there’s zero guarantee that the winner of this interim belt will actually face McGregor upon his return. With talks of a Nate Diaz trilogy gaining traction, the interim titleholder could be stuck not fighting for the actual strap for quite some time.

Not to mention, the real interim title fight probably should have been Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov, the two rightful heirs to the lightweight throne, but Nurmagomedov’s spotty track record and inactivity forced the UFC’s hand into finding a capable dance partner.

The post Seven Most Pointless Interim Title Bouts In UFC History appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Fabricio Werdum Issues Apology For Homophobic Slurs Towards Ferguson

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum made headlines yesterday (Thurs., September 28, 2017) when he got into a highly-publicized spat with interim lightweight contender Tony Ferguson at the UFC 216 media lunch. Werdum appeared to talk over Ferguson in his native Portuguese as the two were interviewed in very close proximity, something that made “El […]

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum made headlines yesterday (Thurs., September 28, 2017) when he got into a highly-publicized spat with interim lightweight contender Tony Ferguson at the UFC 216 media lunch.

Werdum appeared to talk over Ferguson in his native Portuguese as the two were interviewed in very close proximity, something that made “El Cucuy” demand his chance to speak clearly, which then incited “Vai Cavao” to unhinge with an expletive-filled tirade where he repeatedly used the offensive-to-some insult of ‘maricon’. The scene evolved into a testosterone-fueled standoff, with a UFC PR exec coming in to separate the two fighters.

Werdum explained his side of the story shortly after the heated back-and-forth, but apparently, that wasn’t enough in his eyes. After what was most likely a fervent backlash due to ‘maricon’ being perceived as a clear homophobic slur, Werdum decided to issue an apology to anyone he offended in the LGBT community:

Werdum insisted ‘maricon’ was a common term in the Spanish culture, in which he grew up after being born in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

He speaks Portuguese and Spanish fluently and has even served a member of the UFC commentary team. He also chose to insult Ferguson in both languages yesterday, and said he only stopped short of assaulting Ferguson because he knew he had a title fight coming up at UFC 216, where Werdum will take on Derrick Lewis:

“I just don’t punch him because I know he’s got a fight coming up and Chris is a very nice guy with me all the time. I don’t want to break everything. I almost, maybe just like one second, I snap his head — 100 percent. Like PRIDE rules.”

Even if the slur he used is a common occurrence in his language as he insists it is, he was always going to get a heavy amount of criticism for using the world so freely in a public setting, and overall it’s just not a good look for a sport that is still truly trying to burst into the mainstream outside of megastar lightweight champion Conor McGregor.

And in a year like 2017 where pay-per-view (PPV) buys have languished in record-low numbers at times, Werdum’s use of perceived homophobic slurs, whether he meant them or not, just isn’t going to help the UFC’s new owners repay the massive loans they took out to buy the promotion in 2016.

What do you think about the situation? Did Werdum do enough to remedy the damage, or did he make too big of a scene to apologize his way out of?

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UFC 216 – Demetrious Johnson Vs. Ray Borg Predictions

Demetrious Johnson Vs. Ray Borg should have happened in UFC 215 and was drafted on the fight card as one of the two title fights for UFC 215, but Borg fell ill and was forced to call it off. However, the fight is now rescheduled and will add to the excitement at UFC 216 come […]

Demetrious Johnson Vs. Ray Borg should have happened in UFC 215 and was drafted on the fight card as one of the two title fights for UFC 215, but Borg fell ill and was forced to call it off. However, the fight is now rescheduled and will add to the excitement at UFC 216 come October 7th. Had it not been for the rescheduling, there is no doubt that this would have been the highlight of the evening, but promoters had already gotten behind the Tony Ferguson Vs. Kevin Lee fight for UFC 216 and so they are going to keep it that way.

From the standpoint of the fans, however, watching Johnson take on Borg may just be selling point for UFC 216. Borg is a solid fighter who certainly hasn’t received the spotlight and respect he deserves from the UFC. The UFC and Dana White wanted to pit Champ Demetrious Johnson against TJ Dilshaw instead of against Borg despite the fact that Borg was higher in terms of rankings that Dilshaw.

Borg has evolved as a fighter over the years and has really made himself a force to be reckoned with. While his record may not seem all that impressive on paper, the reality is rather different. The ease and domination with which he won against reputable fighters is what has been really eye catching about Borg.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg Rescheduled For UFC 216

As expected, Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg has been re-booked. MMA Fighting has confirmed that the flyweight title fight will go down at October 7’s UFC 216 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was set for last weekend’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, but a viral illness for Borg […]

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As expected, Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg has been re-booked.

MMA Fighting has confirmed that the flyweight title fight will go down at October 7’s UFC 216 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight was set for last weekend’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, but a viral illness for Borg caused a last-minute cancellation. UFC 216 as tabbed as a potential replacement venue, and “Mighty Mouse” issued Borg an ultimatum that it was sort of there or never for the fight in 2017.

The top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, Johnson will attempt to break his tie with Anderson Silva for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history with 10, but he’s going to need Borg, who has a long and disappointing history of missing weight and pulling out of fights, to show up first.

The anticipated interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee was originally set to headline UFC 216, but it now stands unknown if the bout will remain in the headliner spot or be moved to the co-main event for Johnson vs. Borg.

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Kevin Lee Enlists MMA Legend To Help Prepare For Tony Ferguson

The MMA world may be (sort of) fixated on tonight’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, Alberta, but surging lightweight Kevin Lee is understandably focused on his interim lightweight title bout with Tony Ferguson at October 7’s UFC 216. “The Motown Phenom” parlayed a controversial submission win over Michael Chiesa into his interim […]

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The MMA world may be (sort of) fixated on tonight’s (Sat., September 9, 2017) UFC 215 from Edmonton, Alberta, but surging lightweight Kevin Lee is understandably focused on his interim lightweight title bout with Tony Ferguson at October 7’s UFC 216.

“The Motown Phenom” parlayed a controversial submission win over Michael Chiesa into his interim title shot, and he knows he’s going to need some outside help to help him snap “El Cucuy’s” nine-fight win streak, so he’s done just that.

On an impressive five-fight run of his own, Lee recently revealed that he’s trying to keep that streak alive by enlisting longtime former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who takes on Michael Bisping for the middleweight title at November 4’s UFC 217, on Instagram (via Bloody Elbow).

In doing so, he also set an incredibly high bar for UFC 216 when he called himself a “legend” whom was about to become the “person people look up to. Check it out:

While “The Motown Phenom” may definitely be one of the deep lightweight division’s best talents, putting himself up on a pedestal with St-Pierre, who is regarded as the best welterweight in MMA history and one of the best fighters overall period, may seem a bit premature, even for Lee’s normally over-the-top and brash trash talk.

The gold belt he’ll face Ferguson for is unfortunately one that most fans will deem to be “fake” in a time where interim belts are thrown around like gifts on Oprah, and this one could be even worse considering the winner most likely won’t even get to face UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor for the real title in their next bout.

By comparison, St-Pierre is facing Bisping for the ‘real’ middleweight belt, and he’ll potentially become the fourth two-division champion in UFC history if wins. While many MMA fans have cooled regarding the all-time legends return, it’s extremely difficult to envision Lee becoming the”one they all look up to” with an interim title win – especially if St-Pierre can win the second belt Lee referred to in his post.

What do you think?

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