Tag: UFC 126

UFC 126 Fight Breakdown: Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveLAS VEGAS — It’s time to take the big step for either Jon Jones or Ryan Bader at UFC 126. They both can’t make it. One of them will move on and into the title picture, and the other will be left behind to pick up th…

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LAS VEGAS — It’s time to take the big step for either Jon Jones or Ryan Bader at UFC 126. They both can’t make it. One of them will move on and into the title picture, and the other will be left behind to pick up the pieces.

Until now it’s been smooth sailing for each. Bader — a former NCAA wrestling All-American — is a perfect 12-0 since turning pro in 2007, while Jones — also a collegiate wrestler — has only a minor blip on his 11-1 record, the only loss coming via disqualification for illegal elbows in a fight he was otherwise dominating. Each man also has a signature win. For Bader it was a unanimous decision over respected veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 119; for Jones it was a first-round thrashing of Brandon Vera.

For two fighters who have had fairly parallel careers, it’s notable that oddsmakers and bettors have Jones as a more than 3-to-1 favorite. For those who don’t follow gambling, that’s a significant number that means Jones is an overwhelming pick to win.

Give Episode 15 of The Bum Rush a Listen

 
 

Despite not having a special guest on this week’s episode, we still put out a well-rounded show featuring Ben, Mike and Chad’s thoughts on last weekend’s Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg show, breakdowns and predictions for Saturday night’…

 

Despite not having a special guest on this week’s episode, we still put out a well-rounded show featuring Ben, Mike and Chad’s thoughts on last weekend’s Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg show, breakdowns and predictions for Saturday night’s UFC 126 card and our take on the week’s top headlines.

As always, you can subscribe to the show on iTunes and you can send your show ideas to [email protected].

We are in the process of adding a fourth member to the The Bum Rush and we will be announcing a contest soon to that end.

UFC 126 Middleweight Title Breakdown: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveLAS VEGAS — For the first time in his UFC career, Anderson Silva showed real vulnerability during his fifth-round submission victory over Chael Sonnen last August. For four-and-a-half rounds, Sonnen controlled the a…

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LAS VEGAS — For the first time in his UFC career, Anderson Silva showed real vulnerability during his fifth-round submission victory over Chael Sonnen last August. For four-and-a-half rounds, Sonnen controlled the action with takedowns and groundwork. Given his wrestling pedigree, that development wasn’t necessarily a stunner. What was more surprising was the fact that Sonnen was able to use his standup so effectively, even hurting Silva with a solid left at one point in the first round.

For the longest time, it seemed that trading firepower with Silva was a sure way to seal defeat. No one’s ever outstruck him during his record 12-fight octagon win streak, and the man has always had an iron chin, but given the developments of Silva’s last fight as well as his advancing age (he’s three months shy of his 36th birthday), you have to wonder if it was a simple aberration or the beginning of a trend.

The man tasked with testing those possibilities at UFC 126 is Vitor Belfort, a 33-year-old Brazilian who is coming off a lengthy layoff from shoulder surgery following a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin. That win came way back in Sept. 2009, meaning Belfort will have to find a way to fight off ring rust and regain his past form in order to beat the longest-reigning champ in UFC history.

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort: Staredown of the Year Candidate

(Oh, I’d say it’s beyond ‘real’ at this point. Props: SurferKenTV3 and Biggie Smalls)
In case you missed it at Wednesday’s press conference, here’s video of the rather intense staredown between UFC 126 main eventers Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfor…

(Oh, I’d say it’s beyond ‘real’ at this point. Props: SurferKenTV3 and Biggie Smalls)

In case you missed it at Wednesday’s press conference, here’s video of the rather intense staredown between UFC 126 main eventers Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort. Silva claims there’s nothing personal about Saturday’s match with "The Phenom," although Silva was reportedly upset that Belfort accepted the fight in the first place, considering they were former training partners. Weigh-ins for UFC 126 go down tonight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, so brace yourself for more uncomfortable closeness between the two Brazilian stars.

After the jump: Belfort tells his hero Ariel Helwani that Anderson’s attitude is just giving him more motivation for the fight.

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Unbeaten Ryan Bader Likes Underdog Role Against Jon Jones

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS — Ryan Bader is the one with an undefeated record, but you wouldn’t know it listening to the pre-fight chatter.

The fans, the media, the oddsmakers, they’re all picking his UFC 126 opponent Jon Jones to continue his ma…

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LAS VEGAS — Ryan Bader is the one with an undefeated record, but you wouldn’t know it listening to the pre-fight chatter.

The fans, the media, the oddsmakers, they’re all picking his UFC 126 opponent Jon Jones to continue his march up the divisional ladder and put an end to Bader’s successful stretch. It’s not a role that’s bothersome to Bader, who understands the excitement that surrounds Jones. In fact, he says that he himself has enjoyed watching Jones’ star rise. But his own interest in Jones’ style takes a one-night sabbatical on Saturday, when Bader tries to prove that he is the light-heavyweight division’s chosen one.

“A lot of people, the media and fans have written me off in this fight,” he said. “He’s been rolling through people,” he said. “I’m undefeated but he’s been doing it in devastating fashion, knocking people out in the first round. He’s flashy, dynamic and people like to see it. We’re pretty much total opposite fighters. I’m more basic and he’s got his funky moves and all that. I relish the underdog role. People aren’t giving me the chance, and it’s going to feel good to prove a lot of people wrong.”