On Saturday, MMA fans in Calgary, Alberta will get their first visit from the UFC when the promotion presents UFC 149 from the Scotiabank Saddledome.While injuries have caused the card to undergo some significant changes since it was first announced, f…
On Saturday, MMA fans in Calgary, Alberta will get their first visit from the UFC when the promotion presents UFC 149 from the Scotiabank Saddledome.
While injuries have caused the card to undergo some significant changes since it was first announced, fans will get to witness an interim bantamweight title bout between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao as the evening’s main event.
In the evening’s co-main event, two middleweight fighters will look to make a statement. Former Bellator champion Hector Lombard will make his UFC debut on Saturday when he faces Tim Boetsch.
At UFC 149, Urijah Faber and Renan Barao will go to battle for an interim bantamweight title in the absence of champion Dominick Cruz. Cruz was injured during filming of The Ultimate Fighter 15 and was forced out of a rematch with Faber, his opposing …
At UFC 149, Urijah Faber and Renan Barao will go to battle for an interim bantamweight title in the absence of champion Dominick Cruz. Cruz was injured during filming of The Ultimate Fighter 15 and was forced out of a rematch with Faber, his opposing coach on the reality series.
Heading into Saturday’s main event, Barao is undefeated in 28 straight fights and will be looking to fulfill the championship potential many see in him. Meanwhile, this fight could be the final chance for Faber, a formerly dominant WEC champion, to earn a UFC title.
The fight card will also feature a heavyweight clash between Cheick Kongo and former Strikeforce competitor Shawn Jordan. Kongo will be looking to get himself back on a winning track after suffering a knockout loss against Mark Hunt.
Additionally, Brian Ebersole will step into the Octagon for what could be his final welterweight bout against James Head, as the veteran appears to be readying himself for a move to 155 pounds.
Before Saturday’s event, which will take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada, the fighters will hit the scales on Friday at 6 p.m. EDT. Video of the weigh-ins will be streamed live on the above video player. After the weigh-ins, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the latest on UFC 149 and the rest of your MMA needs.
While UFC 149 may easily be the most injury-plagued card of all time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fights worth watching on Saturday night. The main event of the evening gives two elite bantamweights a chance to win the interim title wi…
While UFC 149 may easily be the most injury-plagued card of all time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fights worth watching on Saturday night.
The main event of the evening gives two elite bantamweights a chance to win the interim title with champion Dominick Cruz on the shelf with an ACL injury.
“The California Kid,” Urijah Faber could be looking at his last title shot in the UFC when he takes on the versatile Renan Barao.
Opening up the main card, welterweights Chris Clements and Matt Riddle are ready to throw down and put on a show.
Staying at 170 pounds, Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole has no issues fighting twice in one month when he steps up against James Head.
In a heavyweight clash, Cheick “The French Sensation” Kongo squares off against Shawn “The Savage” Jordan in what could be an entertaining slug fest.
In the co-main event of the evening, Hector “Lightning” Lombard makes his long-awaited Octagon debut against Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch.
Predicting the action this week are Bleacher Report MMA Featured Columnists Dan Hiergesell, Jeffrey McKinney, Matt Juul and myself, John Heinis.
Take a look inside to get an in-depth analysis of the action.
If we made a list of the top 5 scariest-looking dudes in the UFC, Cheick Kongo would be championship material. He’s actually one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but he’s certainly an imposing and intimidating athlete.Unfortunately for Kongo, terri…
If we made a list of the top 5 scariest-looking dudes in the UFC, Cheick Kongo would be championship material. He’s actually one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but he’s certainly an imposing and intimidating athlete.
Unfortunately for Kongo, terrifying looks don’t win you fights. He hasn’t been able to string together three consecutive wins since 2008-2009. His last fight was a loss to Mark Hunt, and let’s be honest: Hunt isn’t exactly top-tier UFC material, despite a nice little winning streak that he’s in the midst of putting together.
Does that make Kongo a gatekeeper? He was asked about that very topic during today’s UFC 149 press conference in Calgary, and gave this very curious answer:
That’s pretty weird. Gatekeeper reminds me of some activity in France like me used to do. I am not wearing suit when I’m fighting. I’m no gatekeeper. I try my best, sometimes I make mistakes, and I got too much ego to pull out of fight, and I’m so proud, so I say yes. I used to do the right things; I got enough strength to do it. Not just because I’m black, I’m supposed to be a gatekeeper. I have a dream like everyone, and I am going to get it.
Judging by this answer, I’m going to assume Kongo doesn’t actually know what a gatekeeper is. A gatekeeper, as I’m sure you know, is typically an aging fighter who has very little championship hopes remaining but can still provide a stern test for fighters looking to make their way into the title picture.
I don’t know what wearing a suit would have to do with being a gatekeeper, unless Kongo is referring to someone like a bellhop that opens doors at hotels.
But the larger point is this: Kongo is not a gatekeeper because he’s never gotten to the point where he could have been considered a title contender. Not even remotely. You have to be a contender, at least at some point along the way, to be considered a gatekeeper in the truest sense of the word.
That being said, a win over Kongo would do wonders for LSU alum Shawn Jordan. It won’t launch him into the title picture or even put him in the top 10, but the former Strikeforce heavyweight is making a case for himself as a guy to keep your eye on in the future.
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Pagado This headlining fight for UFC 149 was originally supposed to be a featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Eric Koch but after an injury to Aldo, the UFC decided.
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Pagado
This headlining fight for UFC 149 was originally supposed to be a featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Eric Koch but after an injury to Aldo, the UFC decided to manufacture a replacement title fight out of nothing by creating an interim bantamweight belt to be held while Dominic Cruz is sidelined. After an ill-conceived attempt to spark a buzz over who Urijah Faber would face for the interim title, the UFC announced that Renan Pagado would be the opponent as expected.
Faber is a known commodity. His looks and personality combined with his early dominance of the featherweight division have made him one of the more marketable stars in MMA and he deserves a huge portion of the credit for pushing the growth of the lighter weight classes. Not only has he aided that growth through his performance in and out of the cage but his Team Alpha Male gym has become the best gym on the world for small former wrestlers looking to make the transition to MMA. Faber has solid wrestling and an impressive arsenal of submissions to compliment that wrestling. At the height of his career, he earned his victories by taking his opponents down and finishing either via submission or occasionally ground and pound. Unfortunately for him, he seems to have already passed his peak at age thirty three and has struggled in recent years with hand injuries early in fights. He has not been able to deal with either Dominick Cruz or Jose Aldo losing by decisions in each of his last two title fights. In Pagado, he faces a fighter who is often compared to Aldo. If he wants to earn the victory, he will have to show the unpredictable yet technical game that he brought the cage in his prime. He will need to get Pagado off balance and bring the fight to the ground. From there, he will need to find a way to maintain control. A finish seems unlikely but if he can control Pagado, he could scramble his way to a victory.
Renan Pagado is the exciting up and comer in the bantamweight division. He is widely considered to be the biggest threat to Dominick Cruz and some would even consider him the favorite in that fight. But first, he’ll have to deal with Faber. Pagado lost the first fight of his career and has not lost since then compiling a twenty eight fight unbeaten streak and a seventeen fight win streak. His game seems to have no significant holes. He is a dangerous striker with a diverse arsenal of kicks and punches. His takedown defense in excellent but he isn’t afraid to go the ground because his jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the division. In this fight, he will likely have a slight advantage everywhere the fight goes except maybe in the scrambles and the transitions. He will probably settle in to a strategy of trying to defend the takedown to fight Faber on the feet the same way Cruz and Aldo have done in the past. If he does that, he should have a clear advantage and be able to earn the decision. Faber is incredibly durable so if Pagado can somehow earn the finish, that would be a serious statement.
The bookmakers have Pagado as a solid favorite at -190 with Faber at +165. Keeping it that close shows respect for the former champion and a certain amount of caution as Pagado has yet to face competition on Faber’s level. But in reality, that line could shift further in favor of Pagado and no one would argue. The most likely script for this fight is that Pagado will keep the fight on the feet and strike his way to victory. But if Faber can turn this into a scramble fest and keep Pagado off balance, he could pull off the upset and earn the right to face Cruz for a third time.
Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch
In the only fight to benefit positively from the injuries that infected UFC 149, Hector Lombard replaces Michael Bisping to face Tim Boetsch in a matchup of top middleweights. The winner of this fight is likely to jump to the front of the line along with Chris Weidman as the top contenders to challenge Anderson Silva for the title.
Since dropping to middleweight, Boetsch has looked great earning consecutive victories over Kendall Grove, Nick Ring and former title challenger Yushin Okami. The last victory in particular elevated his status in the division and a win over the highly regarded Lombard would put him in the foreground of the title picture. Boetsch has shown a well rounded ugly game that lives up to his nickname as the “Barbarian.” He has finishing power in both hands and his boxing is deceptively technical. He mixes wrestling with his boxing and has shown the ability to bring fighters to the mat and control position. Once on the ground, his ground and pound is some of the best in the division and he is a constant threat to end the fight. In this fight, he will likely want to avoid engaging with Lombard on the feet. He will need to use his boxing to set up a takedown and control Lombard on the ground. If he can do that, he will ground and pound his way to a decision victory. But if he can’t and is forced to stand with Lombard, he could be in serious trouble.
Lombard comes to UFC aboard one of the louder hype trains in recent memory. He has destroyed his competition in lesser organizations compiling a twenty five fight unbeaten streak and twenty fight win streak. Most recently, he has dominated fighters like Trevor Prangley, Jesse Taylor and Faleniko Vitale in Bellator. He has devastating power in his hands and finished six of his seven opponents in Bellator. His strategy will be simple. He will look to keep the fight standing and box with Boetsch. We should get an idea quickly as to how Lombard stacks up against UFC competition. This will be by far the biggest test of his career and we should know early in the fight how he will respond. We’ve seen a myriad of fighters move to the UFC from smaller organizations and immediately have the weaknesses in their games exposed. That is a real possibility in this fight. But if Lombard comes in and earns a victory, he will establish himself as a real contender at middleweight and will have to be included in the title discussion. And if he earns an impressive victory, the UFC will have a tough decision as to who deserves the next shot at Anderson Silva.
The line on this fight currently has Lombard as a huge favorite at -380 with Boetsch at +315. Obviously, the bookmakers are impressed with Lombard’s performance against lesser competition and expect him to bring that level of explosiveness to his UFC debut. Boetsch is in trouble every second that this fight stays on the feet and no one will be surprised if Lombard lands a huge combination to end his night. But if Boetsch can wrestle Lombard to the mat and keep him there for a few minutes at a time, he could steal this fight.
Okay, so the version of UFC 149 that we’re getting on Saturday night isn’t what we thought we were getting when the card was announced.It’s the most injury-decimated card in UFC history, at least in terms of name value. We thought we were going to see …
Okay, so the version of UFC 149 that we’re getting on Saturday night isn’t what we thought we were getting when the card was announced.
It’s the most injury-decimated card in UFC history, at least in terms of name value. We thought we were going to see Jose Aldo, Michael Bisping, Shogun Rua, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Thiago Alves.
Instead, we’re getting Urijah Faber, Hector Lombard and a bunch of dudes. And I’m OK with that, mostly because I’m a degenerate fight fan. I’ll watch anything. But I understand if your wallet is feeling the pinch and you choose to take a pass.
Just remember one thing: these UFC cards with a bunch of no-name fighters are usually the ones that deliver the most action. If you’re a true fight fan, like me, you don’t care how many pay-per-views the UFC will sell on Saturday night. You just want to see some fighting.
Let’s take a look at three questions I have regarding UFC 149 in Calgary.
1. Can Urijah Faber capture one more magic moment?
Time is running out on the “California Kid.” Or maybe it’s not.
History tells us that Faber is 0-4 in his last four title bouts. Two fights with Mike Brown, one with Jose Aldo and one with Dominick Cruz. This is all public record.
What folks don’t always consider—and what I tried to relay in a piece I wrote yesterday—is just what Faber has meant to the lighter weight classes in mixed martial arts. He’s been the standard-bearer for fighters that fall under 155 pounds, and he’s carried the torch admirably.
I realize it outrages a lot of fans, but that’s why he’s still getting title fights—because he’s the most popular guy in all three of the UFC’s lowest weight classes, and by a wide margin. And, like I noted yesterday, you could include lightweight in that description and be fairly accurate, too.
There’s also Faber’s overall record. He’s 25-5 over an extraordinary career. That’s nothing to scoff at, and there are times when he comes up big when you least expect him to. Remember his win over Brian Bowles? That was pure, utter domination, finished with a fury. It was a statement.
Will Faber have that kind of statement on Saturday night? It’s hard to say. Renan Barao, despite his unknown status amongst UFC fans, is a threat. He’s dangerous in every area, and he’s the favorite in the fight for a reason.
Can Faber win the fight and stay in the title picture? Absolutely. And I think he will. But it’s going to be a tough test.
2. Will Hector Lombard fare well under the bright lights of the UFC?
Hector Lombard is a good fighter. You have to be, in order to build up the kind of winning streak he has. Those wins may have come against sub-par competition, but mixed martial arts is a sport where one glancing punch behind the ear can send a big underdog hurtling to victory. What Lombard has accomplished takes skill.
But he’s going from Bellator to the UFC. Not only that, he’s going from Bellator into a pay-per-view spotlight bout where, if he beats Tim Boetsch, he’ll jump right into a title fight with Anderson Silva.
That’s what I’d call pressure.
But perhaps this kind of thing doesn’t really affect Lombard. He’s a bit on the crazy side, after all. He may not have even considered the fact that he’s jumping straight into the frying pan with a chance to move into the fire if he wins.
Lombard has one other thing going for him: he’s been competing his entire life. If he treats this like just another day at the office, well, things could get really bad for Boetsch. In a hurry, too.
3. Will Brian Ebersole go 5-0 at welterweight?
Remember that time when Brian Ebersole was going to finish up his UFC welterweight career at 4-0 and make the move down to lightweight? Ebersole wanted to be healthy and keep his body in shape to emulate guys like Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, so he planned on following their lead and dropping a weight class to finish out his career.
That didn’t last long. Four weeks, to be exact. Ebersole tossed the move to lightweight out the window in order to replace Claude Patrick at UFC 149, where he’ll face James Head.
Ebersole is one of my absolute favorite stories in MMA right now. Two years ago, he had very little chance of even getting in the UFC, much less ripping off a winning streak. But he took a chance as a late-notice injury replacement underdog and won his first fight, and he’s been going ever since.
He’s once again a late-notice injury replacement. But this time, he’s the favorite, and for good reason. Head hasn’t proven that he has the skills to compete with Ebersole, and this should be another solid win for the man with the Hairrow on his chest.
If we made a list of the top 5 scariest-looking dudes in the UFC, 
