Tag: UFC 141

Fitch vs. Hendricks In the Works for UFC 141 in December


(“You’re shitting me, I get to leapfrog the line to a fight with Fitch?”)

Jon Fitch wanted a title shot. Instead, the 23-3-1 (1 NC) UFC welterweight fighter will get another “lose-lose situation” bout against Johny Hendricks (11-1). The news of the bout, which is said to be verbally agreed to by both sides for UFC 141 on Friday December 30 in Las Vegas, was first reported by ESPN.

Should Fitch lose the bout, there’s a pretty good chance his long-awaited second title shot would likely be put on hold much longer than the two years he’s already waited thus far. If he beats Hendricks, who is 2-1 in his last three outings, he likely won’t move up in the rankings, but at least he’ll be keeping busy, I guess.


(“You’re shitting me, I get to leapfrog the line to a fight with Fitch?”)

Jon Fitch wanted a title shot. Instead, the 23-3-1 (1 NC) UFC welterweight fighter will get another “lose-lose situation” bout against Johny Hendricks (11-1). The news of the bout, which is said to be verbally agreed to by both sides for UFC 141 on Friday December 30 in Las Vegas, was first reported by ESPN.

Should Fitch lose the bout, there’s a pretty good chance his long-awaited second title shot would likely be put on hold much longer than the two years he’s already waited thus far. If he beats Hendricks, who is 2-1 in his last three outings, he likely won’t move up in the rankings, but at least he’ll be keeping busy, I guess.

UFC president Dana White has stated that the winner of the Carlos Condit-Georges St-Pierre match-up at UFC 137 will likely square off with the winner of the Nick Diaz-BJ Penn bout on that same card. Translation: Fitch will have to get in line and the line is getting longer by the day.

Also in the queue are guys like Jake Ellenberger, who takes on Jake Shields Saturday night in the main event of the aptly named UFC Live: Shields vs Ellenberger event at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. It might make more sense to have Fitch square off with another fighter in the mix like Diego Sanchez, Martin Kampmann, Brian Ebersole or Rory MacDonald, but then again, considering he’s widely ranked number two in the division, and has been for some time, it doesn’t make sense that guys ranked lower than him are getting title shots either, so it is what it is.

The main event for the card will be a title eliminator between former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar and former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem.

UFC 141: Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks Set to Meet in Las Vegas

UFC 141 is starting to take shape with the addition of Jon Fitch versus Johny Hendricks.Today, ESPN.com first reported that the matchup will take place and the UFC soon confirmed the news via twitter.Fitch (23-3-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC) has been out of actio…

UFC 141 is starting to take shape with the addition of Jon Fitch versus Johny Hendricks.

Today, ESPN.com first reported that the matchup will take place and the UFC soon confirmed the news via twitter.

Fitch (23-3-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC) has been out of action since a disappointing outing against BJ Penn earlier this year, but recently returned to training at American Kickboxing Academy in California.

Despite stating that he preferred to face champions or former champions going forward, UFC officials didn’t grant Fitch his wish.

Instead, he’ll be facing Hendricks (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) who wrestled at Oklahoma State University and is on a two-fight win streak.

Hendricks burst on the scene by knocking out Amir Sadollah in his organizational debut at UFC 101.

He followed up that performance with three consecutive victories until suffering his lone professional loss to Rick Story in late 2010.

Since then he’s rebounded nicely with back-to-back wins and now faces the toughest test of his career in Fitch.

Fitch and Hendricks join the previously announced blockbuster matchup of Brock Lesnar verus Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December, 30.

For additional information, follow Joshua Carey on Twitter

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 141: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Early Breakdown

We’re still 3 months away, but all the talk has already been about the impending heavyweight showdown between former champions Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.Overeem recently signed with the organization on the heels of his dismissal from his previo…

We’re still 3 months away, but all the talk has already been about the impending heavyweight showdown between former champions Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.

Overeem recently signed with the organization on the heels of his dismissal from his previous home in Strikeforce. Now, the former Dutch K-1 striker makes his way to the Octagon for the first time, taking on unarguably the biggest match of his career with Lesnar.

Brock has recently resumed training after he completed his second battle with diverticulitis and will have spent over a year away from the cage when he meets with his opponent on December 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 

Who will have the edge and who will come out on top?

Begin Slideshow

Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks Agreed to for UFC 141

Filed under: UFC, NewsAfter trying unsuccessfuly to lobby for a fight against BJ Penn or Nick Diaz last week, Jon Fitch finally has his next date to enter the octagon.

The UFC welterweight contender will return to action for the first time since Febru…

Filed under: ,

After trying unsuccessfuly to lobby for a fight against BJ Penn or Nick Diaz last week, Jon Fitch finally has his next date to enter the octagon.

The UFC welterweight contender will return to action for the first time since February when he takes on Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 on December 30.

The UFC confirmed to MMA Fighting that verbal agreements are in place for the bout, which was first reported by ESPN.

Fitch (23-3-1, 1 no contest) last fought Penn at UFC 127 and the two went to a three-round draw. Afterward, they were expected to face off in a UFC 132 rematch, but a shoulder injury derailed Fitch, and he’s been rehabbing ever since.

The draw was the first time Fitch hadn’t won since a UFC 87 championship fight loss to Georges St-Pierre. Since joining the UFC, Fitch is 13-1-1.

Hendricks (11-1) is coming off back-to-back wins over Mike Pierce and TJ Waldburger. He’s won six of his seven UFC bouts.

UFC 141 is set for the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and will feature a main event pitting former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar against newly signed former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Brock Lesnar: A Career Timeline Leading into UFC 141 War with Alistair Overeem

The stage has been set.  December 30, 2011.  Las Vegas, Nevada.  UFC 141.It is on this grand stage, the final UFC event of 2011, that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will make his long awaited return to the Octagon.  St…

The stage has been set.  December 30, 2011.  Las Vegas, Nevada.  UFC 141.

It is on this grand stage, the final UFC event of 2011, that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will make his long awaited return to the Octagon.  Standing in the opposite corner, making his long awaited Octagon debut, will be former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem.

The battle between these two heavyweight monsters was only announced a few short days ago and is already one of the most anticipated fights of the last few years.  Not only that, but thanks to the main event, UFC 141 is gearing up to be the biggest (or one of the biggest) pay per view draw in the history of mixed martial arts.  This clash simply has “money” written all over it.

Unsurprisingly, MMA‘s online community has already produced hundreds of opinion pieces regarding the fight.  Some have argued who will win or lose, some have presented betting odds and others have simply marveled at how huge of an event this is certain to be.

In addition to the already innumerable articles out there, we here at Bleacher Report have decided to take a break from the norm, and simply present to you the history of one half of this heavyweight clash, Brock Lesnar. 

Let’s start by taking a look at a few of his accomplishments, beginning with his NCAA wrestling career:

  • NCAA Division 1 Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
  • 3-Time WWE Champion
  • IWGP Heavyweight Champion
  • NFL Linebacker (Final roster cut of the 2004 Minnesota Vikings)
  • Highest paid mixed martial artist of all time.
  • Main draw for the highest grossing UFC pay per view of all time.
  • Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion

While that is certainly an impressive resume, Brock Lesnar’s list of career highlights is more unique than anything.  Let’s take a look back, shall we, at exactly how Lesnar would go from a regular child in the nowhere town of Webster, South Dakota, all the way up to main event attraction at the biggest events in MMA history!

Begin Slideshow

Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez: A Breakdown of Their Future Rematch

Brock Lesnar’s UFC heavyweight title reign came to a screeching halt in Anaheim, California on October 23, 2010.The challenger, Cain Velasquez, assaulted Lesnar with a myriad of indefensible strikes chopping the fortress of a man down to his foundation…

Brock Lesnar‘s UFC heavyweight title reign came to a screeching halt in Anaheim, California on October 23, 2010.

The challenger, Cain Velasquez, assaulted Lesnar with a myriad of indefensible strikes chopping the fortress of a man down to his foundation, ultimately leaving Lesnar in a pool of his own blood.

Bloodied, beaten, battered; Lesnar peered into the eyes of the man who had stripped him of his belt.

This memory of looking up to an elated Velasquez should be permanently imprinted into the psyche of Lesnar. A vision of championship dominance hovered proudly over Lesnar as the former champion attempted to gain his bearings and pick up his once dominant career.

Fast forward to UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30, and Lesnar will have his opportunity to reestablish himself as one of the top heavyweights in the UFC. The only one standing in his way is the former Strikeforce and K-1 champion, Alistair Overeem.

If Lesnar can defeat “The Reem,” he will position himself within clear title contention and should deserve a chance to fight for the belt.

Now, let us flip the script.

On November 12, current UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will defend his title against the hard-hitting Brazilian, Junior dos Santos.

If Velasquez is victorious in his first title defense and Lesnar earns a victory over Overeem, UFC president Dana White will surely align a rematch between these two men.

It is no secret that Lesnar epitomizes the term genetic freak. Tapping into his God-given strength, power and explosiveness, this 280-pound behemoth saunters around the Octagon displaying herculean feats of athleticism that only Lesnar can perform.

With that said, Lesnar has transitioned his talents into a successful wrestling pedigree, yet lacks the balance of a well-versed stand-up striking game.

Lesnar’s skill set is very one-dimensional. Without the ability to execute solid striking combinations on his feet, his stand-up game is a liability.

This liability was exposed in their first matchup in Anaheim, and unless Lesnar has elevated his deficiencies in his striking, this liability will once again be exposed in a rematch with Velasquez.

Velasquez is an excellent striker who utilizes a non-traditional mixture of punches and kicks to pick apart his opposition.

Fluid and graceful on his feet, Velasquez displays the footwork of a middleweight, yet he is more than 240 pounds.

Additionally, with six (T)KO victories within the UFC, the current champion possesses a reservoir of tremendous power and the ability to finish his fights.

The innate talent to stick and move while minimizing any residual damage is a skill that cannot be overlooked. And Cain Velasquez possesses this Muhammed Ali-esque talent.

He creates his own striking angles, yet gracefully avoids counter-strikes all while delivering vicious damage to his opposition.

Velasquez’s skill set is still superior to that of Lesnar’s. A rematch for the championship will result in the same fate for Lesnar. His liability on his feet will once again prove to be Lesnar’s Achilles heel.

I welcome your comments.

“Like” Todd Seyler on Facebook and Follow me on Twitter

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com