Cheick Kongo will look to continue his climb up the heavyweight ladder when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 144.A win over Hunt would put Kongo on a five-fight unbeaten streak, not having been defeated since his 2009 loss to Frank Mir.This is a very winna…
Cheick Kongo will look to continue his climb up the heavyweight ladder when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 144.
A win over Hunt would put Kongo on a five-fight unbeaten streak, not having been defeated since his 2009 loss to Frank Mir.
This is a very winnable fight for Kongo, as Hunt has always been a mid-level fighter at best and boasts a mediocre record of 7-7. However, Kongo will need to be cautious of Hunt’s striking game, which is dangerous to say the least.
Kongo himself is also a dangerous and skilled striker, but it would be wise of him to use his grappling skills to win this fight, as opposed to standing and trading with Hunt.
A win over Hunt, singularly, will mean little for Kongo, but when combined with his recent success in the heavyweight division, it should garner him a top-10 opponent for his next outing.
It’s clear that Kongo’s back-to-back losses to Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez back in ’09 convinced the UFC that he doesn’t belong among the elite of the division, but enough wins will get anyone back to the top.
Where exactly Kongo will rank with a win at UFC 144 is difficult to determine because of the impending amalgamation of the UFC and Strikeforce’s heavyweight divisions—but one thing is for sure, his opponent will at least be high-profile.
A win at UFC 144 should move Kongo into the division’s upper echelon—two or three wins away from a title shot.
Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8
The UFC is making it’s first trip to Japan since UFC 29, and what a better way to celebrate it than by having this website’s most beloved weekend contributer liveblog the prelims on FX? Unfortunately for you, Chris Colemon is busy- so instead Seth Falvo will be handling the liveblogging duties for the prelims this evening. Oh well, at least it’s something. Can Takeya Mizugaki make it two in a row against Chris Cariaso? Will former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Steve Cantwell stop his four fight losing streak against Riki Fukuda? And what does fate have in store for aging JMMA legends Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Takanori Gomi? Tune in here to find out as it unfolds.
The UFC is making it’s first trip to Japan since UFC 29, and what a better way to celebrate it than by having this website’s most beloved weekend contributer liveblog the prelims on FX? Unfortunately for you, Chris Colemon is busy- so instead Seth Falvo will be handling the liveblogging duties for the prelims this evening. Oh well, at least it’s something. Can Takeya Mizugaki make it two in a row against Chris Cariaso? Will former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Steve Cantwell stop his four fight losing streak against Riki Fukuda? And what does fate have in store for aging JMMA legends Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Takanori Gomi? Tune in here to find out as it unfolds.
We are live from Japan and…wait- Did they really just do a “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chant? Those sarcastic bastards. I love this crowd already. The fact that they’re this enthusiastic well before noon is just the icing on the cake.
Oh, and martial arts were born in Japan. Suck it, Pankration.
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso
Round One: Cariaso comes out with a head kick that barely misses. He tries another, and Mizugaki counters with some nice punches. Mizugaki working his jab early. He attempts a takedown, but Cariaso easily stuffs it. Both guys are remaining active, but neither is landing anything significant. They clinch against the cage, and Mizugaki gets a takedown. Cariaso keeps Mizugaki in his guard and attempts an armbar, but Mizugaki escapes. He’s back in Cariaso’s guard, and Chris Cariaso is doing a good job controlling Mizugaki’s posture and throwing elbows from the bottom. Mizugaki breaks free and lands a few elbows, but Chris Cariaso did a great job keeping Takeya in his guard as the round ends.
Tough round to score.
Round Two: Mizugaki blitzes early, and pushes Cariaso against the cage to attempt a takedown. Cariaso breaks free, and we’re back in the center of the cage. Cariaso attempts a head kick, but it lands around Mizugaki’s armpit. Mizugaki pushes Cariaso into the cage and attempts a takedown. Cariaso avoids the initial attempt and tries for one himself, but Mizugaki tries again and gets it. Mizugaki is trying to pass Cariaso’s guard, but he’s having no success. He stands and lands a few punches on Mizugaki, but he’s back in Cariaso’s guard. Cariaso lands a nice sweep, but Mizugaki immediately gets back to his fight. The round ends with both fighters clinching against the cage.
Round Three: Cariaso lands a head kick, and Mizugaki immediately rushes in and presses Cariaso into the cage. A few knees, and Cariaso now gets Mizugaki against the cage. He briefly looks for a takedown, but Mizugaki stuffs it and both fighters are back in the center of the cage. Straight left from Cariaso, and they’re back against the cage with Cariaso landing knees. Cariaso misses with a hook. He attempts another head kick, but Mizugaki counters and ends up in Cariaso’s guard. Cariaso is really neutralizing Mizugaki’s attack with his surprisingly dynamic guard, but he’s doing nothing of significance in return. They get back to their feet, and Cariaso lands a punch as this one comes to an end. Close fight, but Mizugaki should have this one locked up.
I stand corrected. Chris Cariaso def. Takeya Mizugaki by unanimous decision. This crowd is not happy about the decision, but it was a close fight. No complaints from me.
Riki Fukuda vs. Steve Cantwell
Round One: Cantwell works his jab early, but Fukuda gets in andearns a quick takedown. Cantwell works for an armbar, but Fukuda escapes and lands some heavy ground and pound. This crowd is loving it, punctuating every blow from Fukuda with an enthusiastic cheer. Cantwell escapes, and both guys are back on their feet. Cantwell lands a nice kick. Fukuda attempts another takedown, but Cantwell stuffs it. Fukuda with a leg kick, and another takedown attempt. Cantwell stuffs that one as well. Cantwell with a nice cross, and lands a knee in the clinch. Fukuda with a 1-2. Cantwell attempts a Superman punch, but let’s just say we’ve seen better today. Cantwell stays aggressive, moving forward and landing a kick as this round ends.
Round Two: Cantwell works his jab early again, but Fukuda lands some leg kicks. Cantwell answers back with one of his own. Fukuda gets a takedown, but Cantwell locks up a guillotine. Even though Cantwell only has him in half guard, it looks tight. He doesn’t have it, so he lets go and we’re back on the feet. Some leg kicks and uppercuts from Fukuda, as he shoots for another takedown. Cantwell stuffs it, and lands a nice left hook. Cantwell already looks tired, as he’s now just freezing up when he’s getting hit instead of trying to move away from the punches. Fukuda now has Cantwell covering up against the cage. Cantwell lands a counter punch and escapes, but he’s not faring much better in the center of the cage. A nice 1-2 from Fukuda gets Cantwell back against the cage, but Fukuda misses with an inside leg kick and catches Cantwell low. We’ve got a quick break in the action, and it appears that Fukuda tripped while he was throwing the kick that caught Cantwell. Cantwell comes out after the break and earns a takedown. Cantwell takes Fukuda’s back as this round comes to an end.
Round Three: Nice leg kicks from Fukuda. Cantwell doesn’t have an answer for them. Cantwell spins and attempts a head kick, but Fukuda has this fight under control. Cantwell’s left leg is visibly Fukuda earns a takedown, and ends up in Cantwell’s guard. Cantwell attempts an armbar and a gogoplata (?!), but Fukuda avoids them both and takes Cantwell’s back. Fukuda moves to side control, but Cantwell manages to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should have tried to get Fukuda back in his guard, because Cantwell is getting picked apart with leg kicks and uppercuts, as he has been all fight. Some hard body kicks from Fukuda have Cantwell covering up, just trying to survive the round. Cantwell is done and both fighters realize it. With ten seconds left, Fukuda is content to land a final body kick and let this one go to the judges.
No surprises here. RikiFukuda def. Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision. Later, Steve. It’s hard to see the UFC keeping him around after a performance like this, especially considering he’s now lost five straight.
Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Vaughan Lee
Round One: Both guys start out throwing heavy shots, but neither guy landing anything. Yamamoto with a nice body kick. Yamamoto lands with a right hook, but trips as he moves away. Lee pins Yamamoto against the cage and attempts to drag him down after the trip, to no prevail. Yamamoto catches Lee and blitzes him, looking for the finish. This crowd is excited, but Lee escapes. Lee rocks Yamamoto with a huge knee, but seems content to just keep Yamamoto against the cage. Yamamoto escapes and lands an uppercut, but is blatantly still hurt from that knee earlier. Lee rushes Yamamoto again, and gets “Kid” on the ground. Lee attempts a triangle, but he doesn’t have it so he switches to an armbar. He’s got the armbar locked up, and Yamamoto taps.
Vaughan Lee def. Norifumi Yamamoto via submission (armbar), 4:29 of Round One. Great showing from Vaughan Lee tonight with this victory, much to the disappointment of this crowd. You can hear a pin drop while Kid Yamamoto addresses the fans after the loss.
Now for our final (preliminary) bout of the evening.
Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
Round One: Gomi working his jab early, but Mitsuoka is managing to slip inside and land punches. Mitsuoka clinches with Gomi against the cage, but Gomi lands some big knees and Mitsuoka abandons the clinch. Gomi switching stances often, pawing out his lead hand trying to set up the cross. Mitsuoka lands an uppercut, but is picking his spots carefully. Gomi lands a leg kick, and works his jab some more. Mitsuoka lands a huge counter right, and mounts Gomi. Mitsuoka locks in a mounted triangle, but there might not be enough time left. Gomi thinks about tapping, but decides to wait out the round. Turns out to be a good decision, as this round comes to a close with Gomi still awake, albeit barely.
Round Two: Gomi lands some kicks, but Mitsuoka is doing a surprisingly good job at countering Gomi’s unorthodox attack. Gomi blitzes Mitsuoka, but Mitsuoka survives and circles away. Gomi blitzes again, sensing that Mitsuoka is tired. Mitsuoka attempts a single leg, which Gomi avoids by grabbing the cage. Mitsuoka is too tired to do anything, and Gomi takes his back and begins to rain down punches. Mitsuoka covers up, but punches are landing and Mitsuoka is doing nothing to escape as this one gets called off.
What a wild fight. Takanori Gomi def. Eiji Mitsuoka via TKO (punches) at 2:21 of Round Two. It’s hard to believe that the same Takanori Gomi who almost tapped at the end of the first round would come back to dominate Mitsuoka like this.
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given th…
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.
Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given that Edgar’s previous two opponents were BJ Penn and Gray Maynard. Both Penn and Maynard were considered top 10 pound-for-pound fighters when Edgar beat them.
It is debatable whether or not Henderson will be Edgar’s toughest test, but most would agree that he has the best style to get the job done. He is a much larger lightweight than the champion, with a strong wrestling base, diverse striking and surprising durability.
There’s no denying it—Henderson has the tools to win this fight. But, will he win it?
I don’t see it happening.
For the most part, Edgar has already dealt with better versions of what Henderson brings to the table.
The champ has bested Gray Maynard, who is a more decorated wrestler than Henderson, and he has also bested BJ Penn (twice), who is a more effective striker than Henderson.
Henderson does have a more well-rounded striking game than Edgar is used to dealing with, and is known for his kicking attacks. However, I believe that Henderson will have more to adjust to than Edgar.
Edgar has not dealt with someone who uses their kicks as effectively as Henderson, granted, but Henderson has never fought anyone as fast as Edgar, or with the boxing and cardio of Edgar.
Expect to see Edgar use his speed and footwork to pop in and out of Henderson’s range throughout the night, peppering him with quick combos. Henderson will look to neutralize Edgar’s speed with kicks, but the champ will use those kicks to bring the fight to the ground.
History has shown that Henderson is a tough man to finish, and Edgar, who is not particularly known for his finishing ability, will not likely be able to do it.
That said, the champ will walk away from UFC 144 with a decisive decision victory.
Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8
Entering the UFC Octagon for the first time since falling to the champion in Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 135 in September of last year, Rampage Jackson has been given another fight—one that will mean nothing for his career.Jackson will be pitted aga…
Entering the UFC Octagon for the first time since falling to the champion in Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 135 in September of last year, Rampage Jackson has been given another fight—one that will mean nothing for his career.
Jackson will be pitted against Ryan Bader, who has been a fine fighter, but he is nothing compared to what Jackson deserves to fight. Bader won his last fight against against Jason Brilz in a first-round TKO, but that doesn’t really pop off the page as impressive.
He lost his previous fight to an aging Tito Ortiz in a first-round submission, as well a Round 2 loss by submission at the hands of Jones before he took the title spot.
A fighter like Bader is just a gimme for a fighter like Jackson, who is the former light-heavyweight champion. Considering this is the first fight he has been given since his title shot—one he took to four rounds against Jones—one would think that the 33-year-old deserves a better opponent at this point in his career.
Who knows how much more time Jackson will have in the Octagon, and when you are going to give him the second-to-top fight on the card, the UFC should have respected him by giving him a fighter who will at least propel him into the right direction towards the end of his career, or a fighter that he would at least look respectable losing to.
This fight is like the Super Bowl to Bader, as he has a chance to knock off one of the strongest fighters in the division, as well as pushing his name to the front of the light-heavyweight division.
In April of 2010, Frankie Edgar earned a unanimous decision victory over B.J. Penn, to capture the UFC lightweight crown. However, his victory was not without controversy.
Many MMA fans and pundits argued that B.J. was the true victor, having landed cl…
In April of 2010, Frankie Edgar earned a unanimous decision victory over B.J. Penn, to capture the UFC lightweight crown. However, his victory was not without controversy.
Many MMA fans and pundits argued that B.J. was the true victor, having landed cleaner and more effective counter-strikes during the exchanges. Frankie Edgar was slated to face B.J. in a rematch.
In their second meeting, Frankie silenced his critics, earning a resounding unanimous decision victory over Penn. Frankie dominated Penn, but his lightweight reign was anything but undisputed.
A former opponent of Frankie’s waited in the wings for a second chance to prove himself the better fighter. Gray Maynard wanted to prove that his victory over Edgar in 2008 was not a fluke. Edgar welcomed the rematch as a chance to erase the lone blemish on his professional record.
Frankie and Gray went to war, but after five rounds their bout was scored a draw. Frankie was to face Gray again, in yet another rematch.
In their third meeting, Frankie put all doubts to rest, stopping Maynard with strikes at 3:54 in the fourth round.
Edgar is finally considered the favorite, and the truly undisputed champion. With his fifth championship fight only hours away, we must consider three vital questions as he prepares to face Benson Henderson.
To compete at an event as monumental as UFC 144, there are certainly a few fighters feeling nervous prior to their respective bouts, but no other fighter is in a worse position than Jake Shields.The former Strikeforce middleweight champion has gone 1-2…
To compete at an event as monumental as UFC 144, there are certainly a few fighters feeling nervous prior to their respective bouts, but no other fighter is in a worse position than Jake Shields.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion has gone 1-2 since his UFC debut last year and could be on the verge of being released if he is to come up short against Yoshihiro Akiyama.
It would be disappointing to see a talented fighter such as Shields be cut from the promotion when he boasts more than enough qualities to still make him a formidable threat in either the welterweight division or middleweight division.
Shields was widely regarded as one of the best 170-pound fighters after gathering wins over fighters like Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit and Paul Daley. In addition, he owned a 15-fight winning streak and was undefeated for nearly five years.
His fight against Akiyama will prove whether he can still remain a contender in the stacked 170-pound division while still competing against the likes of Jake Ellenberger, Jonny Hendricks and current champion Georges St-Pierre.
Shields’ intention should be to get the bout to the ground as soon as possible to keep it to his advantage.
While his services could be more well-suited to the middleweight division, if Shields is unable to get the win at UFC 144, his status as a top contender will be in question, and certainly so will his future in the sport altogether.
Cheick Kongo will look to continue his climb up the heavyweight ladder when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 144.