Tag: UFC 172

UFC 172: Bold Predictions for Saturday’s Fight Card

The UFC 172 card set for Saturday in Baltimore isn’t exactly jam-packed with stellar bouts. The world’s best mixed martial arts fighter, Jon “Bones” Jones, will be in action, but his opponent, Glover Teixeira, probably won’t give him much of a problem….

The UFC 172 card set for Saturday in Baltimore isn’t exactly jam-packed with stellar bouts. The world’s best mixed martial arts fighter, Jon “Bones” Jones, will be in action, but his opponent, Glover Teixeira, probably won’t give him much of a problem.

Teixeira is a quality light heavyweight, but he’s not in Jones’ league.

He lacks the speed, length and explosiveness to threaten Bones’ reign as king of the 205-pounders.

The headline says “bold predictions,” so let’s get started.

Bones Will Stop with a Spectacular Strike

Known for his varied and unpredictable attacks, Jones could strike from any angle. By his own admittance, he has toned back some of his less-than-conventional attacks.

Recently, he told Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter:

“I think I fight a little more safe than I used to. I don’t do all the wild and crazy things I used to.”

There’s nothing too crazy about a well-placed head kick. 

Teixeira will be kept at bay by Bones’ elbows and front kicks, but at some point the challenger is going to expose the side of his head.

Jones will have the opportunity to do damage. Look for him to capitalize.

Luke Rockhold Will Destroy Tim Boetsch

Don’t be fooled into believing that Luke Rockhold isn’t a beast because of what Vitor Belfort did to him at UFC on FX 8 in May 2013.

The spinning heel kick that caught Rockhold flush was a freakish event.

Rockhold is a solid fighter who is now even more focused after the humbling loss. He proved that in his decimation of Costas Philippou.

Rockhold has said he wants another shot at Belfort, especially with the ban on testosterone replacement therapy in place.

But before that happens, Rockhold will use superior athleticism and conditioning to batter Boetsch on Saturday night.

Phil Davis Will Dominate Rumble on the Ground

Depending on who you ask, this might not be considered a bold prediction. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is making his return to the UFC, and though he’s known for his striking, he’s also a decent wrestler.

The problem for Johnson is that Davis is an elite wrestler. In fact, he may be the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the UFC.

He’ll get Johnson on the ground, and from there, it’ll be curtains for Rumble.

Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting agrees. He writes:

I’m a firm believer in Davis’ ability to manage a clock in a professional MMA bout and properly strategize an attack. He takes all the time he needs to get the job done right.

Davis is a strong, muscular guy, but he’s also very smart and tactical. He’ll get the fight he wants, and win it easily with his grappling.

Follow me. I dig combat sports

@BMaziqueFPBR

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UFC 172 Predictions: Projecting Biggest Winners at Marquee MMA Event

UFC 172 looks to be one of the most stacked cards in recent memory. Most of the focus will be on Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira, but there will be intriguing bouts throughout the night.
There is no question that UFC 172 will have a huge impact across se…

UFC 172 looks to be one of the most stacked cards in recent memory. Most of the focus will be on Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira, but there will be intriguing bouts throughout the night.

There is no question that UFC 172 will have a huge impact across several different weight classes moving forward. In addition to a major title fight in the main event, elite athletes will look to put themselves in position for future cracks at UFC’s top prizes.

With UFC 172 quickly approaching, here are predictions for which fighters will come through with the most meaningful victories of the night. 

 

Jon Jones

Although Jon “Bones” Jones is considered by most to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, the UFC light heavyweight champion has plenty to prove against Glover Teixeira. Jones was less than convincing in his most recent win over Alexander Gustafsson, and there is no doubt that Jones would like to reassert his dominance within the UFC.

Jones came away with a unanimous-decision victory over Gustafsson, but that doesn’t accurately describe how close the fight really was. Jones is used to outclassing his opponent, and he was unable to do that for one of the few times in his career. According to UFC on Fox, fellow light heavyweight star Phil Davis doesn’t believe that Jones deserved to win that fight:

Even Jones has acknowledged that he wasn’t at his best, and he blames himself for that more than anything. Per radio host Jim Rome, Jones didn’t put forth all of his effort against Gustafsson and let his guard down to some degree:

Now that Jones is fully aware of the fact that he needs to respect his opponents, it is hard to imagine him taking Teixeira lightly. Jones is a massive favorite, and everyone expects him to win, but it is unlikely that Jones will enter the fight with that mentality.

As long as he sticks to the game plan that has made him so successful over the years, he should be able to take care of his 34-year-old opponent.

 

Phil Davis

If Jones is able to defeat Teixeira at UFC 172, then there is a definite shortlist of fighters who deserve the next crack at him. Gustafsson may be first in line, but after that, there is no question that Phil Davis is someone who must be considered.

With a 12-1 record, along with impressive victories over the likes of Gustafsson and Lyoto Machida, Davis is certainly a worthy opponent. Jones has already run the gauntlet for the most part, but a dangerous all-around fighter like Davis could pose a true threat. It is a bout that many observers would love to see, including Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter:

In order for that fight to happen, though, Davis must take care of business on Saturday. Davis has a tough matchup on tap against Anthony Johnson, who makes his return to the UFC after two years with other promotions. Johnson is on a six-fight winning streak, and he has knocked out opponents left and right.

Davis has never been knocked out, though, and he is versatile enough to give Johnson major issues. He is capable of brawling if the situation calls for it, but Davis is also adept at mat wrestling and locking in submissions.

Due to the fact that Johnson is largely a one-dimensional fighter, Davis will come out on top.

 

Luke Rockhold

Luke Rockhold is one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC’s middleweight division, and he has a chance to bypass another rung on the ladder at UFC 172. Rockhold will take on a very credible opponent in the form of Tim Boetsch, but this is Rockhold‘s fight to win or lose.

While Boetsch has carved out a nice career for himself, he has generally struggled against elite competition as evidenced by losses to Davis and Costa Philippou. Rockhold is coming off an awesome knockout victory over Philippou, and that should give him an edge against Boetsch.

It would be very easy for Rockhold to look ahead to bigger and better challenges, but he is focused on Saturday, according to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports.

I fought a striker the last time (defeating Philippou) and people saw that side of me and now with this fight, Tim could help me to show a different aspect of my game. I’m not sleeping on Tim Boetsch. … I have to go out and perform is the bottom line, no matter who I fight. When you want to be the best in the world, you have to be ready and able to beat whoever they put in front of you, and I feel like I’m ready to do that.

If Rockhold stays true to his word, then there is no reason why he shouldn’t come out on top against Boetsch. He will definitely have to be cognizant of Boetsch‘s power, but Rockhold will prove at UFC 172 that he is the total package.

 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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Tim Elliott Embraces the Awkward, Credits Dominick Cruz, Joe Rogan for Style

BALTIMORE — You don’t hear most fighters admit to listening to the media. Evidently Tim Elliott doesn’t mind taking the road less traveled in that regard.
It’s not the only unorthodoxy about the flyweight, who takes on yet another contender Saturday a…

BALTIMORE — You don’t hear most fighters admit to listening to the media. Evidently Tim Elliott doesn’t mind taking the road less traveled in that regard.

It’s not the only unorthodoxy about the flyweight, who takes on yet another contender Saturday at UFC 172 when he faces Joseph Benavidez at the top of the undercard.

Elliott might have the most distinctive style in the division (or beyond), stalking down opponents from a Keith Jardine-style crouch, unbalancing them by switching stances frequently and initiating brawls with all manner of kicks and punches with little or no windup.

And that’s to say nothing of his hyper-aggressive wrestling game, heavy on the scramble phase and rife with the risk of a chokeout from the top or bottom.

“Awkward,” Elliott deadpanned when asked to describe his style at a UFC 172 media event attended by Bleacher Report.

The style isn’t an accident, either. It’s a taste Elliott acquired over the years in a deliberate attempt to stand out and gain a competitive edge.

“I try to do my own thing and bring something unique to the table that not everybody is doing,” he admits. “I feel like I bring something in that you can’t mimic. I can bring in guys who are fast and good strikers like Benavidez, but I don’t think he has anybody in his camp that can mimic the style of fighting I’m going to bring.”

The urge is understandable. Elliott (10-4-1, 2-2 UFC) is only 27 years old and four fights into his UFC career, but he has faced a 125-pound murderer’s row. Before Benavidez, there was Ali Bagautinov, who defeated Elliott and is now fighting for the title. Before that, there was Louis Gaudinot (a win), Jared Papazian (win) and constant contender John Dodson (a loss). 

Well before his UFC days, Elliott and his coaches made up their minds to do something different. The rightness of the decision, in Elliott’s mind, was upheld during his loss to Dodson by someone far outside his corner. 

“Joe Rogan said it perfect,” Elliott said. “That [Dodson] was faster and more athletic than me, and I just made up for it with awkward movement. It just kind of stuck with me.”

That’s the Rogan who handles color commentary for most UFC telecasts. But the style and Elliott’s decision to stick with it has even deeper roots which intertwine even further with the MMA media.

Several years ago, Elliott spent a month with Dominick Cruz, the former UFC bantamweight champion who relinquished the title after a protracted injury layoff. Cruz is now one of the best fight analysts in the business. When he fights, he’s also known as one of the sport’s most awkward fighters, employing a herky-jerky boxing style.

“I got to go out and train with Dominick Cruz when I was 0-2-1, I think, in my pro career,” Elliott said. “One day with him, I started trying to mimic his style as a joke, and it worked really well. I kept it from then on out.”

Elliott said he tried a more traditional game in his last contest. But after that loss, he’s back to stay. Saturday, Elliott said, it will be all awkward all the time.

“It’s something I can bring that’s all my own,” he said. “I got away from it in my Bagautinov fight, and it worked to my disadvantage, so we’re going back to my original style again.”

Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter if you feel so inclined.

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UFC 172: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions

Mixed martial arts fans have barely had time to take a breath over the past couple of weeks with the UFC’s relentless schedule picking up steam. Saturday night’s stacked UFC 172 card out of Baltimore is either a blessing or a curse, dependi…

Mixed martial arts fans have barely had time to take a breath over the past couple of weeks with the UFC’s relentless schedule picking up steam. Saturday night’s stacked UFC 172 card out of Baltimore is either a blessing or a curse, depending on one’s perspective.

For those of us who would gladly spend every hour of every day consuming MMA content, UFC 172 has plenty of treats in store. Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira, and Phil Davis takes on Anthony Johnson in a battle of top contenders at 205 pounds. Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Boetsch, Jim Miller vs. Yancy Medeiros and Max Holloway vs. Andre Fili round out the main card.

As always, Bleacher Report’s main card prediction team is on hand to offer our take on Saturday night’s entertainment. Read on for the thoughts of Scott Harris, Riley Kontek, Sean Smith, Craig Amos and me, James MacDonald.

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UFC 172: Preliminary Card Predictions

One of the biggest pay-per-views of 2014 is upon us this Saturday, as UFC 172 comes to you live from Baltimore. Headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, the card is stacked from top to bottom.
Before the main …

One of the biggest pay-per-views of 2014 is upon us this Saturday, as UFC 172 comes to you live from Baltimore. Headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, the card is stacked from top to bottom.

Before the main card and title fight, there is a stacked undercard that features stars and up-and-coming talent. From former title challenger Joseph Benavidez to Japanese legend Takanori Gomi, the prelims are bound to be great.

UFC on Fox 11 provided a nice night of predictions. Of the nine prelims predicted, six were correct, helping to improve this year’s win-loss record.

With that, let’s take a look at these prelims and make some predictions.

2014 Riley’s Record: 47-34

Last Event: UFC on Fox 11 (6-3)

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UFC 172 Card: Analyzing Most Anticipated Fights on Tap for Saturday

Is Glover Teixeira the one?
Jon Jones hasn’t lost a fight in a little over four years, and even that was the result of a disqualification rather than an outright defeat. Now, the 34-year-old Brazilian has the chance to do what the best light heavyweigh…

Is Glover Teixeira the one?

Jon Jones hasn’t lost a fight in a little over four years, and even that was the result of a disqualification rather than an outright defeat. Now, the 34-year-old Brazilian has the chance to do what the best light heavyweight fighters in the world haven’t done: beat Jones.

That fight is the main event of what promises to be an eventful UFC 172. Some of the company’s more recent pay-per-views have been a little underwhelming, so it’s important that Saturday night’s event delivers.

Looking at the entire card, these four matches should provide the most excitement.

 

Joseph Benavidez vs. Tim Elliott

This is a fight that could easily be featured on the PPV. Joseph Benavidez has run through just about every top fighter in the flyweight division not named Demetrious Johnson, while Tim Elliott is in need of a high-profile victory after his loss to Ali Bagautinov back in Nov. 2013.

Elliott has such an unorthodox, unpredictable style that he may be able to spring the upset. Benavidez will no doubt have a hard time devising a game plan because it can be quickly rendered useless.

The key will be whether Benavidez gets an opening on the inside. Although six of his wins have come via knockout, Benavidez will no doubt look for his patented guillotine choke to end the fight.

Prediction: Benavidez via submission in Round 2

 

Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Boetsch

This is what you always want to read before a fight, per FoxSports.com’s Marc Raimondi:

Luke Rockhold got a nice bounce-back win against Costas Philippou in January, but he could still use another statement victory to make everyone forget about that defeat to Vitor Belfort in his UFC debut.

While Tim Boetsch isn’t an elite contender in the middleweight division, he’s tough as nails and has enough power to end the fight if Rockhold gives him the chance.

The problem for Boetsch is that Rockhold‘s wise enough to keep his distance, and more importantly, talented enough to stay away and still earn enough points to win the judges’ scorecards. Rockhold will scientifically take Boetsch apart and coast to victory.

Prediction: Rockhold by unanimous decision

 

Phil Davis vs. Anthony Johnson

Phil Davis has a point to prove in this fight after Dana White publicly criticized his desire, per ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto.

“I like Phil and I don’t want to throw Phil under the bus, but Phil needs to get over that mental hump,” White said. I’ve got guys breathing down my neck for fights, like, ‘I want this fight. I want that fight.’ Phil Davis is like, ‘Eh. I’ll hang out around No. 4 here.’ He’s not that guy that comes across to me like, ‘I f—ing want it. I want to be the best in the world.'”

Davis responded in kind:

I try to let my fighting do the talking, but I’m going to have to let my talking do the talking for a little bit. If you want Phil Davis calling and your texting your phone every day, telling you he wants to fight Jon Jones, that’s fine. I thought that just winning would get that done, but that’s not necessarily true.

With Davis this motivated, he should come out and attack Anthony Johnson right from the opening bell. “Mr. Wonderful” won’t be too reckless, but he’ll stamp his authority in Rounds 1 and 2 before going in for the kill in the third.

One thing even White can recognize is Davis’ ability to control a fight and devise a game plan.

If Mr. Wonderful wants a title shot against Jones, he’ll need an emphatic victory over Johnson, and he knows it.

Prediction: Davis by submission in Round 3

 

Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira

How can you possibly bet against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and one of the best fighters of his generation?

Jones has shown no signs of slowing down, and Teixeira is too much of an unknown quantity to see how he wins this fight.

The Brazilian is no slouch, having won his last 20 fights—a fact not lost on Jones, per UFC on Fox:

Teixeira has a ton of power, and if Jones isn’t careful, he could find himself on his back. The challenger has no doubts about his ability to take the champion down with a few big blows, per UFC Tonight:

Looking at Teixeira’s resume, he’s never fought anyone close to the ability of Jones, and therein lies his biggest problem. What’s worked for him in the past likely won’t work on Jones. Nothing has fully prepared him for what he’s about to face on Saturday.

“Bones” knows that if he stays on the outside and out of the reach of Teixeira, the fight is all his. He’ll let Teixeira tire out as the fight goes on and end the proceedings in the third.

Prediction: Jones TKO in Round 3

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