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This Saturday, UFC 144 goes down from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.This is one of the most stacked cards in recent memory, and perhaps one of the best cards ever put on in UFC history.While it features an insane number of top-tier fighters…
This Saturday, UFC 144 goes down from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
This is one of the most stacked cards in recent memory, and perhaps one of the best cards ever put on in UFC history.
While it features an insane number of top-tier fighters and title contenders, it also features men who could be fighting with their jobs on the line.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at fighters who may have to fight for their UFC livelihoods.
This Saturday, the UFC will travel to Japan for the first time under Zuffa ownership. Since the downfall of Pride, the popularity of MMA in Japan has declined significantly, a trend that UFC president Dana White hopes to end by bringing his product to …
This Saturday, the UFC will travel to Japan for the first time under Zuffa ownership. Since the downfall of Pride, the popularity of MMA in Japan has declined significantly, a trend that UFC president Dana White hopes to end by bringing his product to the country.
“We’re going to slowly try to build that market back up, and we’ll see what happens,” White told MMA Junkie. “There are no pro wrestlers, and you’re not going to see some 400-pound dude fighting a 100-pound dude. None of that stuff’s going to happen. The UFC is going to go in there, and we have fans there already. Those fans are going to show up.”
To promote the upcoming event, which will be held at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the UFC will hold a pre-fight press conference on Wednesday at 11 p.m. ET. Event headliners Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Ryan Bader and UFC president Dana White will all be on hand for the presser.
Video of the press conference will be streamed live on the below video player. After the presser, stay tuned to Bleacher Report MMA for all the latest on UFC 144 and the rest of your MMA needs.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, Follow Sean Smith on Twitter
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(The toothpick, the facial stubble, the long hair — I think it’s obvious what look Bendo is going for here.)
UFC 144‘s lightweight title headliner between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson smells like an instant classic — the kind of bell-to-bell, all-over-the-cage firefight that has made both men into stars. So who’s going home with the belt on Saturday night? Check out some of our favorite animated GIFs featuring both fighters, and let us know what you think…
(The toothpick, the facial stubble, the long hair — I think it’s obvious what look Bendo is going for here.)
UFC 144‘s lightweight title headliner between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson smells like an instant classic — the kind of bell-to-bell, all-over-the-cage firefight that has made both men into stars. So who’s going home with the belt on Saturday night? Check out some of our favorite animated GIFs featuring both fighters, and let us know what you think…
At any given time during UFC 144, any of the twelve fights on the card could be the showstopper.Now, we know Tiequan Zhang and Issei Tamura start the show off, so by default, that probably will not steal the show before it even starts.Any of the fights…
At any given time during UFC 144, any of the twelve fights on the card could be the showstopper.
Now, we know Tiequan Zhang and Issei Tamura start the show off, so by default, that probably will not steal the show before it even starts.
Any of the fights on the FX portion could steal the show, as some UFC cards have historically had the show stolen from the main card by way of a preliminary bout that was shockingly tough to top.
That means Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso could steal the show, as could any of the fights between the only Facebook prelim and the main event of Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson.
Edgar vs, Henderson is all but a lock-in favorite for the “Fight of The Night” bonus because of the ferocious pace both men set in the cage, but if one fight is stealing the show before the main event, it’d have to be Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon.
Now neither man sets the same pace that Edgar and Henderson do, but both men deliver on an aggressive offensive style that generally excites crowds regardless of where the fight goes.
For Pettis, the Roufusport pupil and final WEC lightweight champion, his style is creative enough to incorporating styles ranging from taekwondo—where Pettis is a third-degree black belt—to Muay Thai.
Blended in with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a budding wrestling game, Pettis presents a total package that is better than advertised once seen in action.
Pettis wants to prove he has the skill set to hang with the elite of the UFC lightweight division, as many had claimed he did before last June when Pettis fought Clay Guida, and perhaps that’s why it was a good thing that he called out Joe Lauzon.
Fresh off of a 47-second submission win over Melvin Guillard at UFC 136, Lauzon rides a two-fight win streak and looks better and better every time he fights.
Though Lauzon’s striking was once seen as a weak spot—and although it’s an area that Lauzon may elect to avoid against Pettis—his striking has gotten better from what it was before, but it’s still his grappling game and his constant efforts to finish that excite crowds.
His jiu-jitsu game is among the most active in the lightweight division, as is Pettis with his own jiu-jitsu and striking game, so fans of a good striker-vs-grappler clash will get more than their money’s worth in this fight alone.
While it’s not likely to overshadow the main event, this fight could potentially deliver main-event-quality action before the crowd at the Saitama Super Arena even sees the main event of the evening.
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We’re now only a few days away from UFC 144 “Edgar vs. Henderson.” In the main event, Frankie Edgar defends his UFC lightweight championship against former WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.The co-main event will also be an in…
We’re now only a few days away from UFC 144 “Edgar vs. Henderson.” In the main event, Frankie Edgar defends his UFC lightweight championship against former WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup, as former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader. As is customary, here are my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 144.
Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson
I don’t make this decision lightly, but I think Benson Henderson will be the next UFC lightweight champion. Henderson has looked amazing in the UFC, and he was amazing in the WEC.
Edgar is good at everything and great at making a game plan to beat his opponent, but Henderson is great at everything and pursues his opponents with the tenacity of a true champion. I think Henderson is going to wear down Edgar and eventually catch him, but knowing that Edgar’s chin is too good, Henderson is going to use the opportunity to get a submission.
It’s going to be a long, hard fight, but eventually Henderson is going to win it.
Henderson wins by submission in Round 4.
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader
Ryan Bader’s only chance of winning this fight is to grab Quinton Jackson and hold on for as long as possible. Coming off a stoppage loss (his first stoppage loss since 2005), Jackson is going to come in looking for Bader’s head.
My prediction: He’s going to find it. Bader simply won’t be able to keep up with Jackson, and he’ll crumble under the pressure of Jackson’s bombs.
Jackson wins by KO in Round 1.
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo
The first round of this fight is going to be all kinds of awesome. Both men are going to be throwing bombs, both in the form of punches and kicks, and neither man is going to give an inch.
Eventually though, some of the old problems Mark Hunt has shown in the past will catch up to him. His confidence will start to wane as Kongo keeps the pressure up, and his cardio will begin affecting Hunt since he threw so much in the first round. And finally, Kongo will catch Hunt and put him down for the count.
It won’t be as easy as it used to be, but my prediction is that Mark Hunt gets dropped and stopped.
Kongo wins by TKO in Round 2.
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields
This will be Akiyama’s last stand. He could turn in one of his best performances in the UFC, or he could get taken down for three rounds. My prediction is…he’s going down and staying down.
Jake Shields will come into this fight knowing he needs a dominant win, and that’s exactly what he’ll be fighting for. Akiyama won’t be able to avoid the takedown for long, and since he’s never been much of a puncher Shields can just absorb his shots until the takedown is complete.
Shields win by unanimous decision.
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch
This will be another fight where Yushin Okami shines. With a combination of precise and powerful punching, great cardio and the occasional takedown which leads to some well-timed ground and pound, Okami should be able to win this fight convincingly. I have nothing against Tim Boetsch, but he’s simply out of his element and Okami is out of his league.
Okami wins by unanimous decision.
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski
I think Palaszewski is too good and Hioki is too unready. Hioki had a lot of trouble against George Roop, and I personally felt that Roop should have won that fight.
And without any disrespect intended, I think Palaszewski is several levels above Roop. Palaszewski will put the pressure on Hioki, and Hioki will wilt under it.
Palaszewski wins by TKO in Round 2.
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon
As much as I like Joe Lauzon, I think this will be Anthony Pettis’ night. Faced with an opponent that wants to finish him just as badly as he wants to finish his opponent, Pettis will get the opportunity to shine in a way he’s never been able to so far in the UFC.
This will be a fight where afterwards I can finally say “Anthony Pettis has arrived.”
Anthony Pettis wins by unanimous decision.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
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While the thought of challenging for a world title might be unsettling for some fighters, Benson Henderson is fully prepared.Scheduled to face UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in the main event at UFC 144 this weekend, Henderson once held a …
While the thought of challenging for a world title might be unsettling for some fighters, Benson Henderson is fully prepared.
Scheduled to face UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in the main event at UFC 144 this weekend, Henderson once held a title of his own, as he reigned over the lightweight division in the now-defunct WEC.
He is no stranger to competition, as Henderson has faced formidable opponents in Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller. But in Edgar, who possesses strong boxing, quick footwork and heart, Henderson faces a fighter unlike any other.
Although he couldn’t necessarily point out many weaknesses in the champion, Henderson believes hard work and perseverance can neutralize Edgar’s boxing and angles.
“Keep throwing the kitchen sink at him,” Henderson told MMAFighting.com. “If you want me to beat you up for 25 minutes, let’s do that. I’m OK doing that.”
Henderson’s size and strength, combined with his wrestling and relentless pressure, has stifled many opponents’ game plans in the past, allowing him to capitalize on openings and pull off the win.
Although he wasn’t quick to point out many weaknesses, Henderson recalled the champion’s last few bouts were he saw potential areas he could exploit at UFC 144.
“He leaves openings,” he said. “Gray (Maynard) had him doing the funky chicken dance twice in both of the fights. So, because of that, we know he leaves openings.”
And Henderson believes he will be able to capitalize on those missed opportunities.
“If he lets me touch his chin, I will capitalize and finish off that,” he said.
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