Tag: UFC 149

UFC 149: Urijah Faber’s Historic Career Means He Isn’t Done with Title Shots

Saturday night marks an important moment in the career of Urijah Faber.Of course, his is a career full of important moments. He’s the first-ever true lighter-weight superstar—and by that I mean dudes under 155 pounds, of course—and is prett…

Saturday night marks an important moment in the career of Urijah Faber.

Of course, his is a career full of important moments. He’s the first-ever true lighter-weight superstar—and by that I mean dudes under 155 pounds, of course—and is pretty much single-handedly responsible for the success that fighters such as Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz are currently enjoying. 

Let’s be real for a second: If not for Faber, there would have still been guys like Cruz and Benavidez and Aldo making their way over to the UFC. Eventually.

But because of Faber, it happened much sooner than it would’ve. Faber’s run for the title at the first-ever WEC pay per view convinced the powers that be at Zuffa that smaller fighters could have success in main-eventing pay per view events. Because of Faber, they were a sellable commodity.

Those sellable commodities are starting to appear more and more frequently on top of UFC pay-per-views. In addition to the Faber vs. Renan Barao fight on Saturday’s UFC 149 card, we also now know that Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson will headline the UFC’s next foray into Toronto this September.

Those dudes are flyweights, the smallest of the small, and they’re on top of a PPV that features Brian Stann vs. Michael Bisping and Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn. That’s quite an accomplishment. And they owe it all to Faber.

MMAFighting’s Luke Thomas weighed in with his own take, and I wanted to include it here because it’s quite accurate:

But bantamweight is thin and the UFC needs all the stars it can get right now. A strong victory over Brian Bowles was all the UFC needed to put Faber and Cruz on The Ultimate Fighter. The reality is the Faber vs. Cruz rivalry is the UFC’s best chance at elevating bantamweight’s profile. If Dominick Cruz is to remain champion, it’s also his best hope for getting over on audiences.

To answer the question, then, I doubt this is Faber’s last shot. if this were lightweight or welterweight I’d say Faber’s window has closed. But as long as Faber is reasonably healthy, competitive and can string together consecutive victories, he’ll get another opportunity. I don’t think he’ll get an endless supply of opportunities, but is it really outlandish to think two more (Saturday’s included) title opportunities are unrealistic? I don’t see it.

This is the truth of the matter. Out of the three smallest weight classes in the UFC, Faber is the biggest star. Actually, Faber’s the biggest star of all of them even if you include lightweight. He’s more popular than Frankie Edgar, Ben Henderson, Nate Diaz or any other top lightweight.

Simply put, he’s the biggest smaller-weight draw they have and until fans start treating Aldo and Cruz and Benavidez as true draws—the kind they feel inclined to throw down $60 of their hard-earned money to see—Faber will continue to get as many title shots as he earns.

That means that all he’ll ever really need to do is string together 1-2 big wins, and he’ll always be in championship contention.

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UFC 149: Cheick Kongo Ready to Get Back on Track Against Shawn Jordan

Setbacks are a common occurrence in mixed martial arts. Whether it is injury or defeat, a fighter must learn how to bounce back from unfortunate circumstances. Failure to do so can be the nail in the coffin for a fizzled out career. But when a fighter …

Setbacks are a common occurrence in mixed martial arts. Whether it is injury or defeat, a fighter must learn how to bounce back from unfortunate circumstances. Failure to do so can be the nail in the coffin for a fizzled out career. But when a fighter makes the adjustments to come back stronger, longevity follows thereafter.

Cheick Kongo has been a staple of the UFC heavyweight division for the past six years.

Several times throughout this stretch he has fallen only to rebound in impressive fashion. After a loss to Mark Hunt in his last outing, Kongo once again finds himself in the position where he needs to make a statement.

He will have the opportunity to do so when he faces Shawn Jordan this Saturday night at UFC 149 in Calgary.

While he was originally slated to face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Big Nog’s slow recovery resulted in him being pulled from the card. Jordan was tapped to fill his spot and despite the change of opponent, Kongo is ready to give the fans what they want to see.

“I was preparing for Big Nog but he was hurt and now I fight Shawn Jordan,” Kongo told Bleacher Report. “I was ready for a good fight against Big Nog but that’s how it goes some times—that’s life. The UFC found a new opponent and everything is okay. It is important for the fan base to have a good fight. I’m here and I’m doing my thing.”

“In preparation for the fight with Jordan I didn’t really change anything in my camp. I worked with my coaches and on my sparring. I was obviously training my jiu-jitsu and that switched to wrestling after my opponent changed.”

“No fighter is the same and we have to be very smart and disciplined in how we attack. I’m very confident in my skills and it is going to be a great fight. I’m getting the victory and I’m going to get back on track.”

Throughout his time in the UFC heavyweight division, Kongo has witnessed plenty of change. For years, the weight class was thin on talent but now it has become one of the most competitive divisions in the organization. While Kongo hopes to eventually regain his contender status he is well aware fighters on the rise such as Jordan are looking to take his place.

“New fighters are coming into the division all the time and they are looking to replace the more established fighters,” Kongo said. “A fight like this is important for me because I need to stay in the rankings and get back to the top of the division.”

“There is a variety in the heavyweight division now and more guys are closer to my weight. I used to have to be careful about being taken down by bigger guys. Now there is a mixture of strikers, wrestlers, jiu-jitsu guys and I have to be prepared to handle that. The division right now is really good and I like that. It makes it a better challenge.”

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UFC 149 Preview: Free Fights from Urijah Faber and Renan Barao

After receiving a great response from posting free fights for UFC 148 combatants, the UFC is at it again! So far, the official UFC channel on YouTube has uploaded some of the best fights of UFC 149 main-event fighters Urijah Faber and Renan Barao.The B…

After receiving a great response from posting free fights for UFC 148 combatants, the UFC is at it again! So far, the official UFC channel on YouTube has uploaded some of the best fights of UFC 149 main-event fighters Urijah Faber and Renan Barao.

The Barao selection is a little lighter than you might like, but he still only has a few fights under the Zuffa banner.

Let’s enjoy some of the best fights from the two men battling for the UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship.

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Urijah Faber vs Renan Barao: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC 149

UFC 149 has been injury plagued from the outset, but it is now just around the corner with 11 fights scheduled. The main event of the evening will determine who is the UFC’s Interim Bantamweight Champion. Former WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber …

UFC 149 has been injury plagued from the outset, but it is now just around the corner with 11 fights scheduled.

The main event of the evening will determine who is the UFC’s Interim Bantamweight Champion. Former WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber will square off against Nova União’s Renan Barao.

The co-main event could feature the next exciting opponent for Anderson Silva. Hector Lombard will make his UFC debut against the always tough Tim Boetsch in middleweight action. An impressive performance by Lombard could send him to the front of the line for the next shot at the title.

The other main card fights should offer plenty of action. In the heavyweight division Cheick Kongo will face-off with Shawn Jordan. In welterweight action, Brian Ebersole will battle James Head, and Matt Riddle will thrown down with the lone Canadian on the main card, Chris Clements.

Here are the previews, odds and predictions for the UFC 149 main card.

Begin Slideshow

Tim Boetsch: ‘Michael Bisping Runs and Tries to Play the Point Game’

You can tell a lot about a fighter when his back is against the wall. Will he wilt or will he overcome the odds and win the fight?
Tim Boetsch faced that problem at UFC 144.
Boetsch was easily down two rounds when he fought Yushin Okami in February. Bu…

You can tell a lot about a fighter when his back is against the wall. Will he wilt or will he overcome the odds and win the fight?

Tim Boetsch faced that problem at UFC 144.

Boetsch was easily down two rounds when he fought Yushin Okami in February. But with his trainer, Matt Hume, telling him to finish the fight, Boetsch went back in and finished Okami 54 seconds into the third round.

Now Boetsch is one step closer to his dream of fighting for the middleweight championship of the world.

Boetsch (15-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) squares off against former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1NC, 0-0 UFC) in the co-main event this Saturday at UFC 149.

Boetsch took a lot away from his fight against Okami as he prepares for Saturday’s bout.

“The biggest thing for me is just realizing I can fight hard through three rounds,” Boetsch told Bleacher Report. “Just my confidence with competing with the top guys in the sport.

“Yushin Okami is a super tough guy and is coming off a title shot. He’s just all-around a good fighter and I was able to put him away, so it really boosted my confidence.”

Boetsch was originally supposed to face Michael Bisping at UFC 148 earlier this month, but due to a rash of injuries to the card the UFC moved it to Saturday’s card. Then Bisping suffered an injury early last month, so Lombard is now the opponent. Boetsch feels Lombard’s style of fighting excites him more than Bisping’s.

“Because Michael Bisping runs and tries to play the point game,” Boetsch said. “He’s just not that exciting to watch.

“The complete opposite of that is Hector Lombard. A guy who’s going to run straight at you and try to take your head off with huge punches. That’s going to be an exciting fight. It’s a fight the fans want to see.

“I don’t know too many fans that want to see somebody running around the cage trying to not get into a fight.”

A lot of fighters and critics have said Lombard hasn’t fought top competition in his 25-fight winning streak. Boetsch agrees with the assesment, but knows Lombard is still a very dangerous fighter.

“He hasn’t faced the level of competition he’ll face in the UFC, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a super tough guy or a top fighter,” Boetsch said. “He has really heavy hands and knockout ability.

“The guy’s a butt-kicking machine. I respect him and I expect him to come out and try to take my head off. I’m not taking him lightly by any means. I agree with [Mark] Munoz. He hasn’t fought the level of competition he’s going to get here in the UFC.”

The middleweight division has become one of the most stacked in the UFC. With Anderson Silva defeating Chael Sonnen almost two weeks ago and Chris Weidman beating Mark Munoz last week, Boetsch feels if he defeats Lombard he’s next in line to face Silva.

“Honestly, I think I’m next,” Boetsch said. “I think I just beat Okami, I’m going to beat up Hector and then I believe I’m next in line.”

UFC 149 takes place Saturday night from Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Boetsch vs Lombard fight is on the main that airs on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

You can listen to the entire interview with Tim Boetsch here.

You can follow me on Twitter @fightclubchi.

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UFC 149: Preview, Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More for Faber vs. Barao

Even though the match was changed due to injury and the date was delayed by two weeks, UFC 149 will feature the first bantamweight championship match since last October, as Urijah Faber and Renan Barao battle for the interim title. Faber was origi…

Even though the match was changed due to injury and the date was delayed by two weeks, UFC 149 will feature the first bantamweight championship match since last October, as Urijah Faber and Renan Barao battle for the interim title. 

Faber was originally supposed to take on Dominick Cruz at UFC 148. A knee injury to Cruz forced a change in the main event, but Faber still gets his shot at the gold. With a victory in this match, depending on when Cruz is able to return, Faber will get his rematch with the Bantamweight Champion. 

Meanwhile, Barao will have the chance of a lifetime. He was pushed into this spot sooner than expected. He has a perfect record in WEC and UFC combined (5-0), and only one loss in his 30 career fights, so it is not like he isn’t ready for this opportunity. 

 

Where: Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

When: Satuday, July 21 at 10:00 p.m. EST

Watch: Main Card starts at 10:00 p.m. EST on pay-per-view; FX Preliminary Card starts at 8:00 p.m. EST; Facebook Preliminary Card starts at 7:00 p.m. EST

 

Fight Card

Main Card (PPV)

Interim Bantamweight Championship: Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao

Middleweight Bout: Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch

Heavyweight Bout: Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan

Welterweight Bout: Brian Ebersole vs. James Head

Welterweight Bout: Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle

 

Preliminary Card (FX)

Middleweight Bout: Court McGee vs. Nick Ring

Bantamweight Bout: Roland Delorme vs. Francisco Rivera

Light Heavyweight Bout: Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh

Bantamweight Bout: Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon

 

Preliminary Card (Facebook)

Featherweight Bout: Antonio Carvalho vs. Daniel Pineda

Lightweight Bout: Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen

 

Faber’s Keys to Victory

Force Barao to stand early; use wrestling in the later rounds

Faber’s evolution as a fighter has been fascinating to watch. While I don’t believe him to be as good as he was in his peak years, he is still one of the handful of bantamweight fighters who can carry the division. 

Barao does present interesting challenges because they are stylistically similar. Both excel on the ground, but Faber’s stand up is better than Barao’s. I think we are going to see Faber pepper Barao with punches early to wear him out before taking things to the ground late. 

 

Barao’s Keys to Victory

Work the ground and submissions early; don’t give Faber any opening

Barao is not completely without power in his striking, it just isn’t his strong suit. Against a fighter like Faber, who has proven to have a strong chin, Barao needs to use his best assets to win this fight. 

Throughout his career, Barao has shown himself to be more adept at fighting on the ground. His submission game is very good, and he is one of the strongest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters in the sport. 

 

Undercard Fight To Watch: Roland Delorme vs. Francisco Rivera

I am not sure how much upside either fighter has, but Delorme vs. Rivera is going to be a great clash of styles that provides a lot of fireworks. 

Delorme has eight career victories, all finishes. He is a submission expert with a little bit of power in his striking. 

Rivera also has eight victories, five coming via knockout. He is an all-or-nothing type—he is either going to win via knockout, or go to a decision. He doesn’t like to fight on the ground, nor does he want to fight there. 

I give Delorme the advantage because he has more dimensions, but Rivera just needs that one shot to end it in the blink of an eye. 

 

What They Are Saying

Urijah Faber had to change his preparation for this fight, going from Cruz to Barao, but he is expecting to see something exciting happen when he gets in the cage on Saturday night. 

Here is what Faber said during a UFC 149 conference call last week (via Sports Illustrated):

This matchup is two guys that are finishers. We’re both big for the weight class. We both like to fight. I feel like Dominick tries to win more than he is trying to beat someone up. And Barão and I are the type of guys who like to beat each other up and try to win, so it’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out. And that’s what I like.

This seems like the stage for Faber to get the gold that he so covets. He wants to be the best fighter in the biggest organization. He will still have to deal with Cruz to prove he is the best, but at least he will get a taste of gold if he wins. 

 

Main Event Prediction

This just feels like Faber’s fight. Everything that Barao can do, Faber can match. Faber is a better, more well-rounded fighter. If this goes to the ground, things will get interesting, but I think Faber is going to win. 

Faber wins via unanimous decision


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