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UFC 187: Could the Winner of Browne vs. Arlovski Be Poised for a Title Shot?

Before Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson do battle for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 187, and before Vitor Belfort gets his long-awaited shot at Chris Weidman’s UFC middleweight title, two top-ranked heavyweights will square off in a fi…

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski will look to continue his unexpected resurgence when he faces Travis “Hapa” Browne on the UFC 187 main card. Given the current landscape in the UFC heavyweight division, the winner could be poised for a title shot.

Cain Velasquez, the current Baddest Man on the Planet, has been sidelined with a series of injuries for the better part of two years and will finally return to action at UFC 188 next month in Mexico City. He’s been gone for so long that Fabricio Werdum is also the heavyweight champion, albeit an interim champion.

Stipe Miocic made his case for the next title shot with his thorough beatdown of Mark Hunt in Australia a few weeks ago, decimating Hunt for nearly five rounds before finishing him via TKO in the fifth frame. The output and cardio of Miocic might only be rivaled at heavyweight by the champ himself.

Even though Miocic dropped a narrow decision to Junior dos Santos prior to that, the fight was very close, and many thought he should have taken the decision.

Miocic has looked impressive throughout his nine fights in the UFC thus far and might be the guy the UFC goes with against the winner of Velasquez vs. Werdum. Browne and Arlovski have the opportunity on Saturday to stake their claim to the title shot, and an emphatic win for either guy could send them to the front of the line.

For Arlovski, it would be a second chance at glory. He’s been to the mountain top, and 10 years ago, he was the best heavyweight alive. Competing for the title a decade after holding it would be a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

Browne has been in this position before. He has made very few missteps in his MMA career and rebounded as good as one could have after his unanimous-decision loss to Werdum. He dominated Brendan Schaub and put him away in under a round, and a win over his former teammate should certainly put him in line for another title eliminator.

While Velasquez has been out, pretty much all of the other heavyweights at the top of the division have been at least somewhat derailed by a loss. Browne has his loss to Werdum, Josh Barnett lost to Browne, Alistair Overeem lost to Ben Rothwell and dos Santos hasn’t appeared to ever really recover from the third fight against Velasquez.

There isn’t a long line for the title, and there aren’t a lot of people ahead of Browne and Arlovski at the moment. With Velasquez vs. Werdum finally (hopefully) happening, the UFC needs to establish who will fight for the title next. Saturday night is when Brown and Arlovski get the opportunity to make their case.

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UFC 187: The Greatest UFC Card In the Past Few Years (And Possibly Ever)

Look at it. It’s glorious, isn’t it? In a UFC landscape currently being dominated by complaints of oversaturation, dwindling fan interest and rampant PED use, along comes a card to finally set us straight, or at least distract us from said oversaturation and rampant PED use for a little while.

Having already announced a complete overhaul to its drug testing program last night, the UFC dropped another bombshell later in the evening by announcing the epic lineup of its Memorial Day weekend card, UFC 187.

Details after the jump.

As confirmed by Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, UFC 187 will not only feature a main event light heavyweight title tilt between Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson, but a co-main event that will finally see Chris Weidman defend his middleweight title against Vitor Belfort.

Oh, and had I mentioned that Donald Cerrone will also be squaring off against Khabib Nurmagomedov in a meeting of top lightweights on that card as well? Or that Andrei Arlovski will be facing Travis Browne? Or that Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga? GOOD GOD, SOMEBODY STOP ME BEFORE I-

Despite lacking any semblance of an undercard, UFC 187 is already being hailed as the most stacked event since UFC 100, and rightfully so. Hell, it’s arguably the best lineup the UFC has ever had. Go ahead, challenge me on this. I’ll be here, grinding my teeth in anticipation for what is the most stacked UFC event ever ever.

Jon Jones, as you know, is fresh off a five-round shellacking of Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, while “Rumble” just finished disposing of the man many expected would be facing Jones next, Alexander Gustafsson.

Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort have been expected to face each other on no less than a dozen occasions, with TRT withdrawals and injuries (most recently, a rib injury on Weidman’s part) nixing the bout on multiple occasions.

As for Cerrone and Nurmagomedov, the former is currently riding career record-tying 7-fight win streak, having most recently eeked out a decision over rival/buddy Ben Henderson in January. The Russian Sambo specialist, on the other hand, was briefly linked to a fight with Cerrone at UFC 178 before a knee injury sidelined him indefinitely.

And finally, to the only guys whose careers you might not be completely up to date on. Since being knocked out by Demetrious Johnson in their UFC on FOX 9 rematch, Team Alpha Male’s Joe Benavidez has scored back-to-back wins over Tim Elliott and Dustin Ortiz. His opponent Moraga has similarly bounced back after tasting defeat against Johnson, having gone 3-1 in his past 4 fights and riding a two fight win streak into his fight with Benavidez.

Got. Damn. This card is incredible. Pray with me, Nation. Pray that this thing actually makes it to fruition.

UFC on Fox 13 Results: 3 Fights for Stipe Miocic to Take Next

It’s rare to see a fighter’s stock rise after a loss, but that is precisely what appears to have happened to Stipe Miocic after his career-shortening slugfest with Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Fox 13.
Few gave the part-time firefighter much …

Few gave the part-time firefighter much of a chance leading up to the bout, reasoning that the former UFC heavyweight champion’s considerable strengths would likely prove to be a stylistic nightmare.

However, the opening two rounds for the 32-year-old Miocic were less a nightmare and more a dream of the damp variety, as he dictated the pace of the bout and landed a number of crunching shots that soon had his Brazilian foe resembling Sloth from The Goonies. I half-expected Dos Santos to scream, “Hey you guys!” to his corner in between rounds.

Miocic appeared to be leaning heavily on the strategy successfully employed by heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in his second and third bouts with Dos Santos. Unfortunately, such a lung-bursting approach would likely challenge the cardio of Kenyan distance runners, never mind a UFC heavyweight.

By the third frame, Miocic had slowed down considerably, and the former champion wasted no time in taking advantage, punishing his foe with heavy shots to the body and head.

The pair went back and forth through the championship rounds, producing one of those rare occasions when the audience would feel satisfied by almost any outcome.

Dos Santos was given the nod by the judges, but few would have complained had the decision gone the other way. There were a couple of inexplicable 49-46 scorecards, but that’s almost par for the course at this point.

Having come away from a narrow defeat smelling like roses, what’s next for Miocic once his bruises have healed? Feel free to read on and indulge my speculation.

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UFC 181 Video Highlights: Josh Samman’s Devastating KO of Eddie Gordon, Urijah Faber’s Eye-Poke Submission of Francisco Rivera…Oh, And the Title Fights Too

FOX Sports released some highlight videos from Saturday’s UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 event, and as usual, the clips from the main card fights are woefully incomplete, showing everything but the actual finishes. So eff ’em — we’ve buried those after the jump. Luckily, the highlight clips from the FOX Sports 1 prelim fights actually showed the money shots.

The video above shows Josh Samman‘s devastating second-round head-kick knockout of TUF 19 winner Eddie Gordon. It was an incredibly cathartic moment for Samman — coming after an extended injury layoff and the car accident death of his girlfriend — and also earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night check.

Below, Urijah Faber picks up yet another submission victory in a non-title fight, though this one came with some controversy. In the slow-motion replay at the 0:30 mark, you can see Faber basically fish-hook Francisco Rivera’s eye-socket. (Two fouls in one!) Rivera goes down in agony, and Faber bulldog chokes him. But referee Mario Yamasaki didn’t see the foul, and it goes down as a legitimate win for Faber. Rivera plans to appeal the result.

After the jump: Highlights from four UFC 181 main card fights. They left out Todd Duffee‘s KO of Anthony Hamilton because the fight was so short they’d pretty much have to show the finish, and God knows we can’t have that.

FOX Sports released some highlight videos from Saturday’s UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 event, and as usual, the clips from the main card fights are woefully incomplete, showing everything but the actual finishes. So eff ‘em — we’ve buried those after the jump. Luckily, the highlight clips from the FOX Sports 1 prelim fights actually showed the money shots.

(Robbie Lawler vs. Johny Hendricks video highlights)

(Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez video highlights)

(Travis Browne vs. Brendan Schaub video highlights)

(Tony Ferguson vs. Abel Trujillo video highlights)

Browne vs. Schaub: What We Learned from the UFC 181 Heavyweight Tilt

Travis “Hapa” Browne took care of Brendan “Big Brown” Schaub at UFC 181 Saturday evening, and it didn’t even look difficult for him.
After a feeling-out process early, Browne uncorked a right uppercut as Schaub lunged forward, catching his foe on…

Travis “Hapa” Browne took care of Brendan “Big Brown” Schaub at UFC 181 Saturday evening, and it didn’t even look difficult for him.

After a feeling-out process early, Browne uncorked a right uppercut as Schaub lunged forward, catching his foe on the chin and sending the fighter hurtling to the canvas.

From there, Browne continued to land shots, scoring with heavy ground-and-pound before eventually securing mount and, later, back mount. Once in that position, Schaub had no answers, and referee Mario Yamasaki mercifully called the fight off with just seconds left in Round 1.

Browne’s ground-and-pound was too much, and Schaub could not escape or intelligently defend himself.

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Browne’s uppercut was the most significant strike of the fight, but his control of Schaub on the ground was more impressive.

Schaub could not move or prevent Browne from doing exactly what he wanted on the canvas, and Browne easily advanced positions one by one until he had Schaub flattened out on his face.

Never thought to be a ground expert by any stretch, Browne showcased his developing skill set at UFC 181, and the results were impressive.

What We Learned About Browne

Browne is a student of the game, and he’s still getting better.

His ground game looked solid, and he tooled the Ryron Gracie-trained Schaub in this fight. After a big shot (something we’ve seen plenty of from Browne in the past), Browne relied on steady positional advancements and vicious ground-and-pound to seal the deal.

It didn’t even look difficult for him, and I’m still not sure it was. This was a blowout.

What We Learned About Schaub

Coming into this fight, Schaub was unranked in the UFC’s heavyweight division, yet he earned a fight with the No. 3 Browne.

Why?

Potential.

Schaub’s ground game is ever-evolving (or so we thought), his hands are powerful, and his athleticism is bonkers for a man of his size. He looked and talked the part of a UFC heavyweight superstar, yet we just never really saw it.

Nothing changed at UFC 181. Schaub is gonna Schaub, and he got clipped early and put away in short order.

Unfortunately, his potential remains unfulfilled, and at this point, I think it’s time to question whether the hype was ever warranted at all.

At 6-5 as a UFC heavyweight, it’s becoming clear that the numbers don’t lie: Schaub is just average.

What’s Next for Browne?

Browne was already ranked third in the division, so there’s not much higher he can climb before he reaches gold.

However, No. 2-ranked Junior dos Santos fights No. 4-ranked Stipe Miocic Dec. 13 at UFC on Fox 13, and the winner of that bout would make a fine opponent for Hapa in a No. 1 contender’s bout.

The UFC is currently targeting a June 2015 showdown between heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and interim champion Fabricio Werdum, so the winner of Browne vs. Dos Santos/Miocic could realistically take on the winner of Velasquez vs. Werdum later in 2015.

That sounds good to me.

What’s Next for Schaub?

Schaub needs to head home, think about his career and decide where he wants to go from here.

Is the goal to claim UFC gold? Is the goal to continue fighting for a few years, make some money and retire peacefully?

Does he want to spend more time on his podcast, The Fighter and the Kid?

Whichever he decides, Schaub first needs to focus and dedicate himself and then make his return to the Octagon.

When he does, Jared Rosholt or Walt Harris would make a nice opponent.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II — Main Card Results & Commentary

(Props: Gian Galang. Click for full-size images.)

Kwanzaa — which is traditionally observed from December 26th to January 1st — has come early, my friends. Tonight’s UFC 181 pay-per-view card is headlined by Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler, in a rematch of one of the greatest fights of 2014. Plus: Anthony Pettis‘s first lightweight title defense after winning the belt over 15 months ago, a heavyweight scrap between Travis Browne vs. Brendan Schaub, and the first appearance of the Duffman in two years. Should be pretty okay.

Our old friend Aaron Mandel will be sticking live “Hendricks vs. Lawler” results after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and let us know how you feel in the comments section or on twitter @cagepotatomma. Let’s do this…

(Props: Gian Galang. Click for full-size images.)

UFC 181 Preliminary Card Results
– Urijah Faber def. Francisco Rivera via submission (rear naked choke), 1:34 of round 2
– Josh Samman def. Eddie Gordon via KO (head kick), 3:08 of round 2 — BAH GAWD HE KILLED HIM.
– Corey Anderson def. Justin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)
– Raquel Pennington def. Ashlee Evans-Smith via technical submission (bulldog choke), 4:59 of round 1 — BAH GAWD SHE KILLED HER.
– Sergio Pettis def. Matt Hobar via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
– Clay Collard def. Alex White via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Hello PotatoHeads, we’ve got a great card for UFC 181 tonight, welterweight and lightweight titles on the line and some fun heavyweight fights, stay tuned right here and refresh frequently for live round-by-round updates.