The UFC continues to work toward filling out the August 31 UFC 164 fight card. On Wednesday evening the promotion announced that the event picked up a heavyweight bout between two former UFC champions, as Frank Mir will meet Josh Barnett:Mir (16-7) is …
The UFC continues to work toward filling out the August 31 UFC 164 fight card. On Wednesday evening the promotion announced that the event picked up a heavyweight bout between two former UFC champions, as Frank Mir will meet Josh Barnett:
Mir (16-7) is on a two-fight losing streak, dropping bouts to Junior dos Santos and Daniel Cormier. Prior to those two consecutive losses Mir had won three straight defeating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop.
Barnett (32-6) is 9-1 in his last 10 fights. Barnett’s only loss during that run was a unanimous decision defeat to Cormier in the final of the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Barnett became a free agent after defeating Nandor Guelmino on the final Strikeforce card in January of this year. Barnett shopped his services around before deciding to re-sign with the UFC.
Barnett was 4-1 during his first stint with the UFC. He defeated Randy Couture for the heavyweight title at UFC 36, earning a second-round TKO victory. Barnett was stripped of that title after testing positive for banned substances.
After leaving the UFC Barnett spent most of his time fighting in Japan before signing with Strikeforce for the Grand Prix Tournament.
UFC will take place at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis. Three other fights have been booked for the event at this point including a featherweight bout between Clay Guida and Chad Mendes.
The fight card will coincide with the 110th anniversary of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which is headquartered in Milwaukee.
If at first you don’t succeed, the UFC will try to book the fight again. Featherweights Chad Mendes and Clay Guida will finally meet this August as part of the upcoming UFC 164 card from Milwaukee after their original bout at UFC on Fox 7 had to be scr…
If at first you don’t succeed, the UFC will try to book the fight again.
Featherweights Chad Mendes and Clay Guida will finally meet this August as part of the upcoming UFC 164 card from Milwaukee after their original bout at UFC on Fox 7 had to be scrapped.
Guida suffered a training injury at the time, and it forced him to the sidelines where he sat waiting until this week when the UFC gave him the chance to return to action against the exact same opponent he was supposed to face the last time.
The fight at UFC 164 will be Guida‘s second at 145 pounds after the Chicago native spent most of his MMA career fighting in the lightweight division.In his first bout at featherweight, Guida upset former title contender HatsuHioki by split decision in a closely contested bout.
Right from the frying pan and into the fire for Guida, who will get another step up in competition for his next trip to the Octagon when he faces another top featherweight at UFC 164.
Since losing his bid to become UFC featherweight champion in 2011, Chad Mendes has been an absolute wrecking machine, as he’s bowled through every fighter he’s faced in his last three bouts.
Mendes has not only won his last three fights in a row, but he’s done so by finishing all of his fights inside of two minutes of the first round.
In his last bout where he was supposed to face Guida, Mendes instead drew late-notice replacement Darren Elkins.Mendes blasted the Indiana native with punches, finishing the fight at just over one minute into the round.
Now Mendes faces another top challenger with Guida standing in his way at UFC 164 in Milwaukee.
The upcoming UFC 164 card will be part of the Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown event as part of the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary being held in Milwaukee that weekend.
No main event has been named for the event yet, but it’s expected that UFC officials will look to make an announcement in the coming days with tickets going on sale soon.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
(Guida engages the UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodsonaudience in the ancient Native American dance known as the “Iwannanothadrinka.” Photo via Combat Lifestyle.)
We’ve thrown the word “curse” around a lot here at CagePotato in the past year or so (as in “injury curse,” “cursed from birth,” and “curse you Dana for setting this up!”), but featherweight contender Chad Mendes is one of the few fighters who might actually be able to stake a claim to that title. In his past three scheduled fights, all of his original opponents have pulled out due to a last minute injury, leaving Mendes to face off against late replacement opponents on two occasions and cancelling his fight altogether in the third. Then again, any curse that ends in you collecting two quick knockouts and upwards of eighty thousand dollars is a hell of a lot better than the festering boils and dead first born I’ve been stuck with.
Anyway, the last man to pull out of a fight with Mendes was none other than recently-converted featherweight Clay “N-Pray” [*rimshot*] Guida, who was replaced by Darren Elkins just as quickly as Darren Elkins was defeated by Chad Mendes when the two eventually met at UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Diaz. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is considering rebooking Mendes vs. Guida for the August 31st-scheduled UFC 164 card, which will also feature the beginning of Brandon Vera’ssecond attempt to become the UFC’s first two-division champ when he returns to the heavyweight division to face…Ben Rothwell. Baby steps, folks.
(Guida engages the UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodsonaudience in the ancient Native American dance known as the “Iwannanothadrinka.” Photo via Combat Lifestyle.)
We’ve thrown the word “curse” around a lot here at CagePotato in the past year or so (as in “injury curse,” “cursed from birth,” and “curse you Dana for setting this up!”), but featherweight contender Chad Mendes is one of the few fighters who might actually be able to stake a claim to that title. In his past three scheduled fights, all of his original opponents have pulled out due to a last minute injury, leaving Mendes to face off against late replacement opponents on two occasions and cancelling his fight altogether in the third. Then again, any curse that ends in you collecting two quick knockouts and upwards of eighty thousand dollars is a hell of a lot better than the festering boils and dead first born I’ve been stuck with.
Anyway, the last man to pull out of a fight with Mendes was none other than recently-converted featherweight Clay “N-Pray” [*rimshot*] Guida, who was replaced by Darren Elkins just as quickly as Darren Elkins was defeated by Chad Mendes when the two eventually met at UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Diaz. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is considering rebooking Mendes vs. Guida for the August 31st-scheduled UFC 164 card, which will also feature the beginning of Brandon Vera’ssecond attempt to become the UFC’s first two-division champ when he returns to the heavyweight division to face…Ben Rothwell. Baby steps, folks.
Although the booking “isn’t 100% yet,” it’s hard to deny that this fight makes just as much sense as it did previously, if not more. Mendes wiped the floor with Elkins — who was on an impressive five-fight streak of his own — in his last contest, and Guida is on the heels of a featherweight debut victory over the highly-ranked Hatsu Hioki. An impressive victory for either man could put them in a prime position for a shot at Jose Aldo (or in Mendes’ case, another lesson in humility shot).
Following a bad stint at 205 pounds, Brandon Vera is returning to the Octagon at UFC 164 for a heavyweight division battle with Ben Rothwell.MMA Junkie initially reported on Tuesday that the rumored bout was targeted for the upcoming August 31 car…
Following a bad stint at 205 pounds, Brandon Vera is returning to the Octagon at UFC 164 for a heavyweight division battle with Ben Rothwell.
MMA Junkie initially reported on Tuesday that the rumored bout was targeted for the upcoming August 31 card at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but it wasn’t yet known if the match would be made official by UFC brass.
Both fighters have seen some setbacks in their respective MMA careers, but Vera carries the heavy distinction of notching only one win in five fights since November 2009.
Most recently, Vera lost an action-packed brawl against former light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua at UFC on Fox 4, succumbing to punches in the fourth round of their main-event bout.
That sealed a lackluster 1-3-0-1 stretch for Vera, including a single win over retired The Ultimate Fighter alumnus Eliot Marshall, losses to Jon Jones and Randy Couture and another defeat to Thiago Silva—which was later overturned to a “no contest” after Silva failed his urine sample test.
Rothwell‘s record has looked much better by comparison, but he’s also had his fair share of losses.
Despite entering the UFC on a 13-fight winning streak, Rothwell hasn’t put together back-to-back wins since July 2008, with his UFC record standing at 2-3 going into this next match.
It’s also possible that the loser of this bout could be on the cut list, if the UFC’s recent roster trimmings are any indication.
According to Bloody Elbow, Vera made a disclosed $70,000 for his loss to Rua, befitting of a seven-year UFC veteran and former headliner.
Rothwell‘s last reported salary came from UFC 145 (via MMA Fighting), where he made $104,000 in his victory over Brendan Schaub—$52,000 for his base pay and an extra $52,000 for his win bonus, not including an extra $65,000 for his “Knockout of the Night” award.
McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.
The UFC will return to Milwaukee on August 31, and Diego Sanchez is looking for a partner to tangle with.After a two-year hiatus, the Octagon will once again roll through the BMO Harris Bradley Center for UFC 164. The event is part of the Harley-Davids…
The UFC will return to Milwaukee on August 31, and Diego Sanchez is looking for a partner to tangle with.
After a two-year hiatus, the Octagon will once again roll through the BMO Harris Bradley Center for UFC 164. The event is part of the Harley-Davidson “Hometown Throwdown” that will help to mark the company’s 110th anniversary celebration.
While Sanchez is attached to the card, he is currently without a scheduled opponent, and “The Dream” is taking matters into his own hands.
As announced on Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight, the 31-year-old has selected three fighters he would like to square off with in the “Brew City.” There has been no word so far about them accepting the fight, but with Sanchez campaigning for the matchups, it is worthwhile to keep an eye on the developing situation.
Here is a look at Sanchez’s wish list for UFC 164.
Josh Thomson
After making a successful return to the lightweight division against TakanoriGomi at UFC on Fuel TV 8 in March, Sanchez is looking for a path toward a title shot. That being said, the 155-pound division is one of the most competitive under the UFC banner. There is no easy route to take when traveling north, and a bout with Josh Thomson would make for a sensible next step.
“The Punk” recently made a huge statement in his return to the Octagon, when the AKA staple scored a TKO victory over Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 7 in April.
It was the former Strikeforce champion’s first victory in the UFC fold since 2004, and by defeating the brash Stocktonian, Thomson put himself within striking distance of a title shot. The only issue with said title shot is that traffic in that area appears to be congested for the time being.
With the No. 1 contender slot set to be determined by Gray Maynard and T.J. Grant at UFC 160, it will be several months before champion Benson Henderson will put his belt on the line. As a result, Thomson will have to take another fight to keep himself in a position to contend, and with most of the top fighters in the weight class coming off losses, a date with Sanchez could be the perfect option.
Both fighters like to push the pace when the cage door closes, and a scrap between Sanchez and Thomson could deliver 15 minutes of goodness.
The biggest stylistic difference between the two fighters is that Sanchez prefers to close the distance, whereas Thomson likes to use his footwork and attack from the outside. Nevertheless, neither fighter has a problem with getting down to business, and this fight would deliver for the Milwaukee fighting faithful in attendance.
Nate Diaz
Following Sanchez’s victory over Gomi in Japan, the TUF 1 winner told Fuel TV in his post-fight interview that he would like to be the first person to defeat both Diaz brothers.
Back in 2005—during Nick Diaz‘s first stint in the UFC—Sanchez wrestled his way to a unanimous-decision victory over the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter. The Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter would go on to greater glory under the UFC banner, while Diaz would continue to have trouble with wrestlers—as shown in his recent loss to Georges St-Pierre.
Fast forward eight years, and Sanchez is now targeting the younger Diaz brother. After a tough run in the welterweight division, theTUF 5 winner returned to the lightweight division and scrapped his way to the top of the weight class. Victories over TakanoriGomi, Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller earned Diaz the opportunity to compete for Henderson’s 155-pound strap.
Unfortunately for Diaz, the task was too steep, and the 28-year-old suffered a lopsided defeat at the hands of the current champion. And the problems didn’t stop there. After suggesting he might return to the welterweight division in the future, Diaz squared off with Thomson at UFC on Fox 7 and was stopped for the first time in more than six years.
Six months ago, he was a title contender, and now Diaz is facing back-to-back losses and an uncertain road for his future. While the bout does nothing for Sanchez’s title hopes, the fight makes sense in terms of entertainment value. The former title challenger is notorious for his pre-fight intensity, and when matched against Diaz‘s natural disdain for the opposition, the pre-fight buildup could produce fireworks.
If Diaz does decide to return to welterweight, that is no problem for Sanchez. He told UFC Tonight that he would be willing to fight Diaz at either weight, if the bout with Thomson couldn’t be made.
Gilbert Melendez
The third opponent on Sanchez’s wish list is former Strikeforce champion and recent UFC lightweight title contender Gilbert Melendez.
In the eyes of some MMA fans and media pundits around the sport, “El Nino” should be wearing the 155-pound strap. After a five-round back-and-forth dustup with Henderson, the “Skrap Pack” leader came out on the losing end of a controversial split decision. Nevertheless, the defeat means Melendez will have to earn his way back to the top, and Sanchez is looking to bar his path.
Melendez recently told Bleacher Report’sDamon Martin that he wants his next fight to carry title implications. And while Sanchez’s controversial split-decision victory over Gomi didn’t catapult him to the top of the rankings, the current situation in the lightweight division could lead to Sanchez being the best option for Melendez.
Melendez is in a unique position. After losing a razor-thin decision to Henderson, he is most likely just one win from having another title shot. But with the rest of the top fighters in the division either being booked up or having been knocked out of contention with a loss, the options are few and far between. The 30-year-old Santa Ana-native has ruled out a possible fourth fight with Thomson, which leaves a tussle with Sanchez as a possibility.
Matching a fighter coming off a win against one coming off a loss is typically strange business for the UFC, but when considering the current positions of Melendez and Sanchez , a bout between them makes sense—maybe not perfect sense in the greater picture, but it is far from crazy.
(Look on the bright side — things can’t get much worse for him, right?)
Though we know him best these days as a light-heavyweight can-crusher with only a single victory to his credit in the last three years, Brandon Vera started his career as a devastating force at heavyweight, racking up an 8-0 record including four nasty stoppages in the UFC. But after back-to-back losses to Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum, Vera decided to cut some weight and drop to the 205-pound division in 2008. It hasn’t exactly gone well. For every win over low-level talent like Reese Andy, Mike Patt, and Eliot Marshall, he’s eaten losses against superstars like Jon Jones, Randy Couture, and (most recently) Mauricio Rua.
Now, it looks like Brandon Vera is looking to bring back his old self. MMAJunkie reports that Vera is heading back to heavyweight for a meeting with Ben Rothwell at UFC 164, August 31st at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Rothwell has compiled a 2-3 record during his time in the Octagon, and last competed in January when he was choked out by Gabriel Gonzaga. Though neither fighter is riding a long losing streak, their lack of consistent success in the UFC makes this one a must-win fight for both men. Can “The Truth” re-energize his career at his original weight class, or will Rothwell be stealin’ that soul?
(Look on the bright side — things can’t get much worse for him, right?)
Though we know him best these days as a light-heavyweight can-crusher with only a single victory to his credit in the last three years, Brandon Vera started his career as a devastating force at heavyweight, racking up an 8-0 record including four nasty stoppages in the UFC. But after back-to-back losses to Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum, Vera decided to cut some weight and drop to the 205-pound division in 2008. It hasn’t exactly gone well. For every win over low-level talent like Reese Andy, Mike Patt, and Eliot Marshall, he’s eaten losses against superstars like Jon Jones, Randy Couture, and (most recently) Mauricio Rua.
Now, it looks like Brandon Vera is looking to bring back his old self. MMAJunkie reports that Vera is heading back to heavyweight for a meeting with Ben Rothwell at UFC 164, August 31st at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Rothwell has compiled a 2-3 record during his time in the Octagon, and last competed in January when he was choked out by Gabriel Gonzaga. Though neither fighter is riding a long losing streak, their lack of consistent success in the UFC makes this one a must-win fight for both men. Can “The Truth” re-energize his career at his original weight class, or will Rothwell be stealin’ that soul?
The UFC continues to work toward filling out the August 31 UFC 164 fight card. On Wednesday evening the promotion announced that the event picked up a heavyweight bout between two former UFC champions, as Frank Mir will meet Josh Barnett:
