Check back for a round-by-round recap and analysis of the UFC 164 co-main event between Frank Mir and Josh Barnett.
Barnett returns to the legendary Octagon on Saturday night after an 11-year absence in which he fought for Strikeforce, Pride, and…
Check back for a round-by-round recap and analysis of the UFC 164 co-main event between Frank Mir and Josh Barnett.
Barnett returns to the legendary Octagon on Saturday night after an 11-year absence in which he fought for Strikeforce, Pride, and Affliction, posting an impressive 19-4 record in the process.
Looking to spoil “The Warmaster’s” return is Frank Mir, owner of the most victories in UFC heavyweight history with 14.
Follow along here as these two veteran heavyweights look to re-establish themselves as title challengers inside the ever-deepening heavyweight division.
With the lightweight title at stake, UFC 164 on Saturday, Aug. 31, from Milwaukee should be a great show.
Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis will clash in the co-main bout, and the whole card is solid. Pettis earned a unanimous-decision victory over H…
With the lightweight title at stake, UFC 164 on Saturday, Aug. 31, from Milwaukee should be a great show.
Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis will clash in the co-main bout, and the whole card is solid. Pettis earned a unanimous-decision victory over Henderson the last time the two met, and Henderson is looking to turn the tables.
That fight was one of the best of 2010, and it’s custom made for highlight reels with Pettis’ “Showtime Kick.”
As enticing as that rematch is, there are more reasons to tune it. Check out how you can stream the action, and then I’ll take a further look at the more exciting bouts.
Clay Guida enters as the No. 9-ranked featherweight, but his controversial win over Hatsu Hioki has left him with a fair amount of skeptics.
He will be able to send a resounding answer to any skeptics by winning this bout over No. 1-ranked Chad Mendes.
The 28-year-old Mendes lost his title bid in January 2012, but he’s been impressive in his three bouts since. If he can pick up this win, another title shot will likely be just around the corner.
Both of these guys will be supremely motivated. I expect a long fight with Mendes using his superior attacks to earn a win.
Frank Mir vs. Josh Barnett
With two former heavyweight champs going toe-to-toe, this fight shouldn’t hurt for action or intrigue.
It’s surprising that Frank Mir and Josh Barnett have been around as long as they have and never met—especially considering this is such a fun matchup of styles.
We have the catch wrestling of Barnett against the jiu-jitsu of Mir. Both men are masters of their styles. Barnett will likely try to win this one with his top game by wearing down Mir. However, Mir is a cagey veteran with a good bottom game.
Of course, going for some ground-and-pound will not be without risk for Barnett. Mir is excellent on the mat and will be angling for a submission to put an end to this fight.
I’m leaning toward Mir emerging with the win, but this is truly anyone’s fight.
Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis
It’s hard to believe it has taken these two so long to get back into the Octagon together. However, it has been a long journey for both since Pettis’ Showtime Kick.
Pettis struggled with injuries following his bout with Henderson, losing to Guida in his next fight. He’s been on a roll since. He’s won three straight and will look to keep that streak going against this familiar opponent.
Meanwhile, Henderson has been in the Octagon seven times since his loss to Pettis and hasn’t done anything but win. That streak includes four title defenses. This should be his toughest challenge to that title yet.
Pettis is a Milwaukee native. He will have the crowd behind him and the confidence of his past victory. I believe he will take the title on Saturday.
UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson’s rematch with Anthony Pettis is going to be intense. Rarely will you see a main event with more electricity. If you combine the history between the two, the young age of the combatants and the combined skill l…
UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson’s rematch with Anthony Pettis is going to be intense. Rarely will you see a main event with more electricity. If you combine the history between the two, the young age of the combatants and the combined skill level, this fight has the potential to become one of the biggest fights in UFC history.
Pettis is fighting in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He owns a win over Henderson in their first bout, but the champion is hungry for revenge. It is almost as if Henderson needs to beat Pettis to validate his place among the greats of the sport.
A win over Pettis would avenge a bitter defeat after becoming the victim of one of the sport’s most famous kicks. It would also warrant a rise in the pound-for-pound standings in the sport for Henderson. He is currently fifth on Sherdog’com‘s list, but a win over his nemesis should vault him ahead of Anderson Silva.
Henderson’s power and defensive skills matched against Pettis‘ strong ground game and dynamic striking created one classic already. The rematch could ignite a trilogy.
There are so many story lines in this one and so much combined skill, it is hard to imagine it not being good.
The card in Milwaukee is one of the strongest of the year, because the other fights on the main card are compelling as well. Here’s a look at two other bouts that are must-see fights.
Clay Guida vs. Chad Mendes
Guida has built his reputation on participating in classic bouts. He’s been in five matches that won Fight of the Night honors in their respective events. Only Frankie Edgar (7), Chris Lytle and Sam Stout (6) have been in more.
Mendes hasn’t been in any Fight of the Night bouts; this is primarily due to the ease in which he’s handled his opponents. His only loss came at the hands of Jose Aldo at UFC 142 in Jan. 2012. Since then, Mendes has stopped three-straight opponents in the first round.
In 43 fights, Guida has lost 13 times, but he has never been stopped. Does Mendes possess the power and explosiveness to do the job?
Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirier
Contrasting styles sometimes make the best fights. Koch is similar to Pettis in that he’s an athletic and potentially lethal striker. The two train together and are teammates with Roufosport, so that is no surprise.
Poirier has a few facets to his game, but his base is in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This could turn into a classic example of striker vs. grappler with a twist. Koch is also quite accomplished on the ground in his young career. He has already scored seven submission victories.
Aside from the main event, this bout could have the most at stake. The two young fighters are both coming off a loss in their last bout.
Koch was the victim of a brutal TKO stoppage at the hands of Ricardo Llamas, while Poirier was bested by veteran Cub Swanson. Both men are 24 years old and viewed as up-and-coming prospects in the sport.
Neither wants to absorb a second-straight loss. At this point in their careers, moving to the back of the line would be a huge letdown. This is my pick for Fight of the Night.
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When Benson Henderson takes on Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, fans can only pray the bout is as good as their previous meeting. While Henderson is held as a slight favorite amongst oddsmakers, there…
When Benson Henderson takes on Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, fans can only pray the bout is as good as their previous meeting. While Henderson is held as a slight favorite amongst oddsmakers, there are reasons to believe Pettis can take the belt from the champion, just as he did in the WEC.
Henderson and Pettis made the final match of the farewell show for the WEC one of the greatest fights of all time. It was a back-and-forth war that had no clear winner until the judges rendered the final tally. Now the two have a chance to outdo themselves and put on an even better showcase for the fans.
Coming into the bout, both fighters possess the same capabilities they displayed in their last meeting.
Pettis still throws dynamic strikes and uses his creativity to break opponents down on the feet and on the canvas. Henderson is still a tireless grinder who uses his size and dexterity to outclass opponents.
The only true blemish in Henderson’s skill set is that he has lost his finishing touch. When speaking to Ben Fowlkes of MMAJunkie.com, Pettis stated he is aware of Henderson’s penchant for decisions.
I’m sure he’s expecting a five-round fight. He’s the champ, and he knows he needs to win five rounds to keep that belt. GSP does it the same way. These guys are intelligent fighters, and they know they have to win the rounds to keep their belt. I’m expecting him to do what he’s been doing. He’s going to come out, do just enough to win the rounds, and keep his belt. That’s his game plan, and that’s never my game plan. I’m always looking to finish.
Pettis knows his opponent, and the fact that he likes to finish is great; however, it can put him at a disadvantage against Henderson.
The champion will look to take Pettis down within the final minute of each round. But Pettis knows that, and Henderson likely knows that Pettis knows it.
For the champ, a takedown at the start of the round is just as good as near the end. And while Pettis will look to avoid last-minute takedowns, Henderson might jump on early takedown opportunities to secure the round off the bat. Judges score takedowns heavily, and Henderson will capitalize on that knowledge.
Looking for an early finish to the night might be key for Pettis. He knows Henderson is expecting five rounds. Because of that, he may expect the champ to pace himself early. If Pettis can take it to him quickly, he might be able to catch Henderson off guard and in a lower gear.
The challenge for Pettis will be staying aggressive and seeking the early kill while defending the champ’s takedowns. The answer is simple: Pettis has to use his improved wrestling more than he did in their first bout.
Following his loss to Clay Guida at the The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, Pettis returned to the drawing board to round out his ground game. He now mainly uses his wrestling in reverse, a la Chuck Liddell. By doing so, he can keep fights standing, which is his preference.
His better wrestling will play a large role against Henderson, who attempted 13 takedowns in the first bout and is likely to amass a similar tally at UFC 164.
A final variable has to be thrown into the prediction: Milwaukee is Pettis’ stomping ground. While Henderson will state that Pettis’ home-field advantage does not bother him, he was noticeably annoyed at the weigh-ins of his reception—although, to be fair, a weight cut makes everyone not named Yves Edwards cranky.
He will hear more boos than most champions as he enters the Octagon for his fourth title defense on Saturday. During the fight, he will hear the crowd jeer if he works for takedowns or measures out Pettis. That could cause the champion to overextend himself while looking for a finish that isn’t there.
At a minimum, it has to have some effect on Henderson’s psyche and could play a role in the outcome.
Odds: Henderson (-130) favorite over Pettis (Even)
UFC 164 is set to commence on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the main card are some of the top fighters in the world, with featherweights, lightweights and heavyweights competing for career advancement.
T…
UFC 164 is set to commence on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the main card are some of the top fighters in the world, with featherweights, lightweights and heavyweights competing for career advancement.
The question is, which fighters are under the most pressure to shine?
Mixed martial arts is unlike most other sport, as it only takes a string of defeats to render your career temporarily halted. In other instances, a fighter can go from title contention to the label of a bust within moments.
A group of fighters on the UFC 164 main card can be found in either one of those two predicaments.
“Winning cures everything” is a phrase used throughout the sports world, but never has it been more applicable than to professional fighting. If the following fighters are to pick up much-needed victories, they’ll not only improve their career trajectory, but potentially salvage their future with UFC.
Plain and simple, the pressure is on.
Benson Henderson
Opponent: Anthony Pettis
Class: Lightweight
Record: 19-2
Benson Henderson is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, owns a record of 19-2 and hasn’t lost since Dec. 16, 2010. Not only has he gone undefeated for close to three years, but he’s a perfect 7-0 during his UFC career.
Unfortunately, the last person he lost to is the fighter he’s facing at UFC 164. Fortunately, a win would do wonders for his legacy.
Henderson will clash with Anthony Pettis, who defeated Henderson for the WEC Lightweight Championship via unanimous decision. Pettis has since gone 3-1 in the UFC, winning all but his debut fight against Clay Guida.
There’s no question that Henderson is one of the best fighters in the world, but it’d be hard to defend an instant rematch if he were to lose a second consecutive fight to Pettis.
Henderson’s legacy wouldn’t take too much of a hit if he lost, but Pettis is his biggest rival and falling into an 0-2 hole against him would be devastating. With a win, however, Henderson would affirm his status as the best in the lightweight division.
He’s elite regardless, but Henderson needs a win over Pettis to avoid losing their rivalry.
Erik Koch
Opponent: Dustin Poirier
Class: Featherweight
Record: 13-2
Erik Koch is regarded as one of the better featherweight fighters in the world, and rightfully so. He’s compiled a record of 13-2, is 2-1 in the UFC and owns seven victories via submission and three via knockout.
With that being said, Koch hasn’t won a fight since Sep. 17, 2011.
Injuries have put up a road block on Koch’s career path, as both he and Jose Aldo suffered ailments that prevented their title fight in 2012. After a tumultuous year of missed opportunities, he took on Ricardo Lamas with the opportunity to rekindle his rivalry with Aldo, but lost via TKO in the second round.
A second consecutive loss would be nothing short of devastating.
Koch’s fight against Lamas was expected to be a prerequisite to a long-awaited clash against Aldo, but that wasn’t to be. Instead, he was sent out with a TKO loss and is now in need of a rebound performance to re-affirm his status as a fighter who deserves a title opportunity.
If Koch fails to win this fight, we may never see the battle between he and Aldo. If we do, it won’t be in the near future.
Frank Mir
Opponent: Josh Barnett
Class: Heavyweight
Record: 16-7
Frank Mir is one of the most respected technicians in all of mixed martial arts, pairing an elite ground game with a wide-array of submission maneuvers. During the course of his career, he’s forced fighters such as Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Tim Sylvia to submit.
Prior to those fights, Lesnar, Sylvia and Nogueira had never tapped out.
Unfortunately for Mir, his past success is irrelevant to his success today, as he’s lost two consecutive fights. He suffered a second round TKO defeat against Junior dos Santos and lost via unanimous decision against Daniel Cormier.
Up next is a critical fight against Josh Barnett.
Barnett hasn’t fought in the UFC since defeating Randy Couture on Mar. 22, 2002, mainly due to the positive test for steroids that had him stripped of the heavyweight title, per USA TODAY. Even still, Barnett is a revered submission artist who is just as likely to strike as Mir.
A win would do wonders for Mir’s career, but a loss would effectively eliminate his chances of contending for the title. His UFC future could come into question, as well.
Experts are split on the result of the main event of UFC 164 featuring UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and his nemesis, Anthony Pettis. Henderson is looking for revenge after losing to Pettis while both were in World Extreme Cagefighting in 2…
Experts are split on the result of the main event of UFC 164 featuring UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and his nemesis, Anthony Pettis. Henderson is looking for revenge after losing to Pettis while both were in World Extreme Cagefighting in 2010.
Henderson hasn’t lost since, but a good number of MMA enthusiasts—including me—believe Pettis just has Henderson’s number. Pettis’ athleticism, grappling ability and skill set from his back still make him a better overall fighter.
That the fight takes place in Pettis’ hometown of Milwaukee, Wis. only increases his chances to come away with the championship. Here are three MMA experts who agree.
People are wondering if the “Showtime Kick” from WEC days will break him mentally. Anthony Pettis’ fighting is its own entity and difficult to figure out. His kicks look like breakdancing turned into vicious shots. If Pettis is fully healthy, he gets the win but Henderson will make him work for every second of it. This should easily be Fight of the Night. Anthony Pettis via third round TKO.
Henderson must be wary of Pettis’ dynamic striking, especially considering he’s already been victimized by one of Pettis’ extraordinary strikes. This element will force Henderson to fight too passively.
Current UFC fighter Chael Sonnen and former fighter Kenny Florian also work as analysts for Fox Sports. They give their predictions on the main event as well as the Josh Barnett-Frank Mir heavyweight clash.
Sonnen was mixing DC Comics with biblical scripture, but he did settle on Pettis as his pick to win. Florian seemed a bit shocked that Sonnen went with Showtime as he favored the champion.
Here are two others who also see Henderson retaining his title and exacting his revenge.
Dana Becker of FightLine.com says:
Henderson’s matched up well with Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, but “Showtime” offers a different animal. Not only does this have a chance to be “Fight of the Night,” it might just steal “Fight of the Year” honors at the same time. Benson Henderson via unanimous decision
I disagree with the notion that Henderson matched up well with Melendez. The champion fought too safe and it nearly cost him. He won a very close decision. Don’t think for a minute Pettis didn’t take note and incorporate something from that bout.
Bleacher Report’s own Steven Rondina also sees Henderson winning a unanimous decision. He said:
Henderson grappled with Guida, while he chose to brawl with Pettis. Obviously, working in terms of “MMA math,” the champ should be able to take a decision by bullying Pettis around the cage. It will come down to whether or not the champ can be baited into a stand-up brawl again.
I, personally, don’t think that’s the case.
Rondina may be underestimating Pettis’ ability to hold his own if this fight goes to the mat. Pettis is wiry, slippery and skilled. While Henderson is physically stronger, Pettis can handle himself on the ground.
Soon, these two great fighters will take the guess work away from all of us. We may have another classic on our hands.
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With the lightweight title at stake,