Tag: UFC 147

UFC 147: How Would a Junior Dos Santos vs. Fabricio Werdum Rematch End

Since being dropped in just one minute and 21 seconds to current UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos at UFC 90, Fabricio Werdum has been on a fast-track for a rematch. It all happened so fast that Werdum couldn’t even blink. He was dropped…

Since being dropped in just one minute and 21 seconds to current UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos at UFC 90, Fabricio Werdum has been on a fast-track for a rematch.

It all happened so fast that Werdum couldn’t even blink. He was dropped by a raging punch that ultimately ended his night by a then, fairly unknown dos Santos. Nonetheless, Werdum continued to put the hours in the gym, and he saw his hand raised in five of his next six fights, with his only loss coming to the suspended Alistair Overeem.

Since his loss to dos Santos, Werdum has shown us a different side. We’ve seen a man who is determined and willing to do anything to succeed.

We saw him pick apart Roy “Big Country” Nelson at UFC 143 in a blood bath and we saw him make quick work of Mike Russow last evening.

The only question that remains: How would a rematch between Werdum and dos Santos end?

Well, we’re not entirely sure, but we do know this—it would be longer than one minute and 21 seconds.

If Werdum were granted an opportunity to fight for the UFC’s most exciting title, he’d enter with caution and maturity. Unlike many fighters in the heavyweight division, Werdum would approach his opponent with a well-established game plan. Instead of swinging for the fences from the get-go, he’d more than likely test dos Santos’ unseen wrestling game.

It’s obvious Werdum will hold the edge in the submission game as he’s submitted eight opponents in 16 of his wins. While dos Santos certainly holds the advantage in the stand-up, he’s never seen a more vicious clinch than that of Werdum’s.

The longer this bout plays out, the more comfortable Werdum will become.

However, with that being said, dos Santos is still the heavyweight champion for a reason.

 

Advantage: dos Santos

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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UFC 147 Results: Fabricio Werdum’s Win Highlights Weak Card

Fabricio Werdum was not on my list of favorite fighters coming into last night—he still isn’t, but I like him a little more now than I did yesterday. His win over Mike Russow last night at UFC 147 was the most meaningful result to come out of a w…

Fabricio Werdum was not on my list of favorite fighters coming into last night—he still isn’t, but I like him a little more now than I did yesterday. His win over Mike Russow last night at UFC 147 was the most meaningful result to come out of a whack card.

Werdum is the man I watched lie on his back every time he got in close quarters against Alistair Overeem in Strikeforce. He wanted to invite the Reem to the ground, but his methods were terrible.

He lost that fight because he did nothing, and rightfully so. Check out these ridiculous highlights:

His career has been up-and-down in the past two years. He was the man that gave legendary Fedor Emelianenko his first loss in 10 years, and then he was the guy that literally laid down against Overeem.

Last night in Brazil, Werdum did something in front of his countrymen. He scored only the fifth KO of his MMA career by stopping Russow’s 11-fight win streak.

Russow had not tasted defeat in four UFC bouts, and seven MMA clashes in other organizations before last night.  

It didn’t take Werdum long to make his statement.

In a striking contrast to the man we saw fight like a protester against Overeem, Werdum was on the attack from the beginning. He launched a good variety of knees and punches, and the activity may have caught Russow off-guard.

Just under two-and-a-half minutes into the fight, Werdum landed a solid uppercut and Russow went down. Werdum pounded him out and referee Herb Dean moved in for the stoppage.

That’s the type of performance that will have UFC fans wanting to see Werdum again. He is a skilled fighter, but his approach against Overeem left me sour on him.

Now Werdum is in the heavyweight title picture, but the question is, will he go back to his old mat-laying ways against big strikers like Junior dos Santos if he gets the opportunity?

We’ll have to see, but for now, he has some redemption in my eyes.

 

Follow Brian Mazique and Franchiseplay.net for reactions, analysis and news from the world of sports and sports video games.

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Silva vs. Franklin Results: Looking at the Legacy of Rich Franklin

Rich Franklin is the ultimate company man. Franklin continued to help the UFC out by stepping in as a late replacement for an injured Vitor Belfor to battle Wanderlei Silva for a second time. Although a former champion, Franklin is best known for helpi…

Rich Franklin is the ultimate company man. Franklin continued to help the UFC out by stepping in as a late replacement for an injured Vitor Belfor to battle Wanderlei Silva for a second time.

Although a former champion, Franklin is best known for helping the UFC out wherever and whenever the promotion needs him. Even if the fights make little sense or won’t help his own personal goals, Franklin can be counted on to save the day.

This will perhaps be how the legacy of Franklin is remembered by MMA fans down the road. Franklin’s career got off to a hot start as he won 19 of his first 20 fights—the only loss coming against future UFC champion Lyoto Machida.

Franklin won the UFC middleweight title against the durable veteran Evan Tanner all the way back at UFC 53. He then made two title defenses, including a highlight-reel KO of Nathan Quarry at UFC 56.

However, it would be Franklin’s third title defense that would become burned into the memory of MMA fans around the world.

Anderson Silva entered UFC 64 as a relative unknown. The Brazilian had won only once inside the Octagon—a destruction of Chris Leben—but Silva didn’t have the hype one would think a title challenger would.

Following that devastating loss to Silva, after taking some time off, he bounced back with back-to-back victories. Another rematch with Silva was set up and although Franklin fared better, “The Spider” still emerged victorious.

 

 

The losses to Silva sent Franklin’s career into a sort of whirlwind. Franklin won his next fight at middleweight and then chose to return to the land of the light heavyweights. Fights at 205 pounds and catchweight bouts would ensue.

Other than fighting at multiple weight limits, Franklin would struggle to put back-to-back wins together. While most fight fans would immediately discredit a fighter’s talent based on that sentence, a glance at Franklin’s opponents would show he’s faced high-level competition for years.

Bouts against Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva (twice), Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin are all opponents who have been world champions. Anyone would’ve struggled to put a winning streak together against those fighters and fans shouldn’t fault Franklin for going .500 through that time frame.

Although Franklin’s Octagon career will be remembered most by being the ultimate company man, I believe it will be Franklin’s actions outside the cage that will help endear him to fans the most.

A math teacher prior to beginning an MMA career, Franklin is not like most other high-level fighters. It seems Mike Goldberg needs to remind fans of Franklin’s educational past in every one of his fights.

Being well educated, Franklin can also be the perfect guy to put in front of a microphone for newer audiences. He doesn’t look the part of a meathead, simple-minded fighter and he carries himself well.

With a career spanning 13 years, Franklin has been in the game a while. His losses are all to former world champions and he’s done numerous things to help the UFC and MMA as a whole grow into what it has become.

He won’t have the historic legacy of some of the other members in the UFC Hall of Fame, but there’s no doubt he belongs there when he retires.

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UFC 147: Is Fabricio Werdum a Serious Title Threat at Heavyweight?

UFC 147 wasn’t a big hit in many homes, as the fight card was filled with mysterious names that the average fan was unfamiliar with. In addition, the main card saw just one finish, as four of the five bouts made their way to the judges’ scorecards for …

UFC 147 wasn’t a big hit in many homes, as the fight card was filled with mysterious names that the average fan was unfamiliar with. In addition, the main card saw just one finish, as four of the five bouts made their way to the judges’ scorecards for a decision.

The only bout that didn’t?

A heavyweight clash between Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow.

Once again, it was Werdum who proved the critics wrong, as he finished the rising star in Russow via punches at the mid-point of Round 1. An overweight Russow really had no chance heading into this bout, as he was about to take on the man who single-handedly dethroned the world’s greatest legend in Fedor Emelianenko.

Since defeating Emelianenko, Werdum has fallen short in competition just two times to current UFC heavyweight champion, Junior Dos Santos, and current suspended heavyweight, Alistair Overeem.

However, it wasn’t until UFC 143 when we recognized that Werdum’s career was far from over, as he manhandled an extremely tough Roy Nelson en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Werdum was able to use his vicious clinch and control Nelson via knees and strikes, much like he did against Russow last evening. In addition, if Werdum can submit a world-class martial artist in Emelianenko, there’s no telling who he can’t submit.

At 34 years of age, Werdum is only getting better. In fact, Werdum has reached the stage of title contention.

Werdum’s skill set is a danger for any opponent, including Dos Santos. It’s likely Werdum will square off once more before earning the chance at his highly-desired UFC gold. And, when that time comes, watch out.

In my opinion, Werdum is the No. 3 heavyweight in the world right now.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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UFC 147 Results: Matches to Make

UFC 147 delivered last night, despite the fact that many fans were unwilling to give the card a chance. From the first fight to the last, the fighters fought with the warrior spirit for which Brazil is known.In the aftermath UFC 147, what is next for e…

UFC 147 delivered last night, despite the fact that many fans were unwilling to give the card a chance. From the first fight to the last, the fighters fought with the warrior spirit for which Brazil is known.

In the aftermath UFC 147, what is next for each fighter? Let’s take a look at the matchups that need to be made.

Begin Slideshow

UFC 147 Results: Matches to Make

UFC 147 delivered last night, despite the fact that many fans were unwilling to give the card a chance. From the first fight to the last, the fighters fought with the warrior spirit for which Brazil is known.In the aftermath UFC 147, what is next for e…

UFC 147 delivered last night, despite the fact that many fans were unwilling to give the card a chance. From the first fight to the last, the fighters fought with the warrior spirit for which Brazil is known.

In the aftermath UFC 147, what is next for each fighter? Let’s take a look at the matchups that need to be made.

Begin Slideshow