UFC 172: Predicting the Fight Night Bonus Winners

UFC 172 is quickly approaching, as the card marks the UFC’s return to pay-per-view this month. Headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, the card is absolutely stacked from top to bottom.
The card also co…

UFC 172 is quickly approaching, as the card marks the UFC’s return to pay-per-view this month. Headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, the card is absolutely stacked from top to bottom.

The card also co-features another pair of top light heavyweights, as Phil Davis welcomes Anthony Johnson back to the company. The winner of this bout moves himself closer to a title bout, though one has to believe Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier are still ahead of either man.

With that, let’s take a look at the fights on the card and make some predictions on who will take home the bonuses of the night. The performance bonuses will be based on the knockout and submission of the night.

 

Performance of the Night No. 1: Jon Jones

Jon Jones is taking on a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in Glover Teixeira who loves to throw heat in the stand-up department. It sounds like fighters he has faced and beaten before.

Jones has submitted two good grapplers in Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida in recent memory. He has the wrestling and submission skills to compete with anybody in the light heavyweight division.

That’s why he will likely take home a bonus in the aftermath of UFC 172. He will ground Glover Teixeira, grab a submission and laugh all the way to the bank.

Also in the running: Phil Davis, Jim Miller

 

Performance of the Night No. 2: Luke Rockhold

Remember Luke Rockhold‘s latest performance? If you don’t, he basically outgunned a pure boxer in Costa Philippou in dominating fashion on the feet and put him down with extreme prejudice. 

Now, he has Tim Boetsch, who is not as good on the feet as Philippou and doesn’t have the wrestling pedigree to put the former Strikeforce champ on his back.

Boetsch has steaming punches, but Rockhold is technical and quick enough to stay away from a death blow. He will stay technical, light Boetsch up, get an impressive finish and be well-compensated for it.

Also in the running: Joe Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi

 

Fight of the Night: Max Holloway-Andre Fili

The minute Andre Fili-Max Holloway was announced, I was metaphorically salivating over how great this fight is on paper. When they turn this fight into reality, it has a chance to really dazzle fans.

Both Fili and Holloway are aggressive, hard-nosed strikers with a knack for being in fire fights. They are both rarely in boring fights, which allows them to warm up fans and gain respect in the aftermath.

These two are a perfect match for one another. They will punch and kick each other in the face a bunch of times, which will allow them to earn a little extra cash for their effort in Baltimore. 

Also in the running: Joseph Benavidez-Tim Elliott, Jessamyn Duke-Bethe Correia

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UFC 172: Joseph Benavidez out to Re-Establish His Footing in Flyweight Division

When examining the ranks of the UFC’s flyweight division, the position in which Joseph Benavidez currently finds himself is certainly a complex one. 
The former title challenger and Team Alpha Male staple is easily one of the elite in the 125-poun…

When examining the ranks of the UFC’s flyweight division, the position in which Joseph Benavidez currently finds himself is certainly a complex one. 

The former title challenger and Team Alpha Male staple is easily one of the elite in the 125-pound mix, but a pair of failed attempts to obtain championship gold—both coming at the hands of current belt holder Demetrious Johnson—have put the Sacramento, Calif., transplant in a curious place in the grander scheme of the divisional hierarchy. The argument could be made that he’s the best fighter in his weight class not nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” as Benavidez has crumpled or battered every other opponent outside of his two showings in title shots.

A fighter having the ability to put together dominant runs, especially on the sport’s biggest stage, is an admirable accomplishment by any measure. Yet with Benavidez, the usual standards do not necessarily apply. And it’s something he strangely understands. 

Benavidez knows his failure to make good on two attempts at the flyweight title have left him standing in a curious position in the divisional rankings. While the exact location of that place is difficult to pinpoint, for Benavidez, there are elements he recognizes from his time as a perennial contender in the bantamweight fold.

In a manner of speaking, those circumstances are just the way of things at the current time, and while Benavidez can’t change the more jagged parts of the past, he can certainly get back on the hunt, regain his footing and bring things back to center. The losses to Johnson are in the past. Nevertheless, a big part of personal growth is understanding the cause of setbacks. Benavidez has found whatever peace can be made with the situation and turned his focus to getting things back on track. 

“There was nothing easy about dealing with either of those losses to Johnson,” Benavidez told Bleacher Report. “Going into the first fight I put so much pressure and emphasis on winning the title that it actually became a distraction that took me out of my game. I built it up so much where it had to happen and it ultimately led to me not performing at my best that night. When you build something up so much, the letdown that follows is huge, but then I realized that things were only amplified as much as they were because I made them that way. 

“Yeah, I lost the fight, but nothing really changed in my life. I didn’t die, and my family and friends still loved me. I still had my health and all the great things that I’m surrounded by in my life, so it was just a matter of putting things into perspective and getting back on track after that first fight. I was pretty successful in doing so and put together a few solid wins and got back to another title shot. My mentality was much different heading into my second fight with D.J., and I didn’t allow myself to build up all this pressure about the title. But I went in there, got overaggressive and got caught.

“Getting caught and losing that fight the way I did sucked.” he added. “Everything about losing that way was difficult, and it definitely put me in a position that tested me. I had to make a decision whether I was going to allow this thing to break me or get back up and get back at it. I wasn’t going to allow it to break my confidence and got right back after it.”

In terms of returning to the grind and looking to get things back on track, the flyweight staple will attempt to do just that when he faces Tim Elliott this Saturday at UFC 172. Where Benavidez is one of the few established names in the 125-pound ranks, the GrindHouse MMA fighter has garnered attention for being one of the most promising prospects in the division.

While the 27-year-old was dealt a setback by Ali Bagautinov in his most recent outing, he’s shown a continued progression and a knack for putting on exciting fights in his other showings under the UFC banner. On Saturday night in Baltimore, both men will bring their high-paced styles into the Octagon, and Benavidez believes it has the makings for an action-packed scrap.

“Tim Elliott is a wild man,” Benavidez said. “I love the way that guy fights, and I’m excited to get in there with him. We both like to push the pace, and that is going to make for an exciting fight. He likes to keep things moving, switches his stances a lot and tries to stay in your face. Throughout my career I have done well with guys that try to pressure me, and I’m looking forward to getting in there with him.

“This fight is especially big for me,” he added. “It’s particularly important because I’m coming off a loss to D.J. in my last fight—the worst loss of my career—and I needed to bounce back strong. Every fight is important; there is obviously some emphasis on this one.”

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

 

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UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira Betting Odds and Predictions

For the first time ever, the UFC will bring its traveling circus to Baltimore on Saturday night, and the best fighter in the world is coming along for the ride.
Jon Jones has not competed since a narrow win over Alexander Gustafsson in September. This …

For the first time ever, the UFC will bring its traveling circus to Baltimore on Saturday night, and the best fighter in the world is coming along for the ride.

Jon Jones has not competed since a narrow win over Alexander Gustafsson in September. This time around, he defends his championship against a top light heavyweight with an entirely different skill set than any opponent he has faced thus far.

Glover Teixeira has long been lauded by hardcore fans as one of the best light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, but visa issues prevented him from making his Octagon debut until 2012.

He has not lost a fight since 2005. His 20-fight winning streak is impressive. But does he have what it takes to compete with one of the best talents the sport has ever seen? And, more importantly for our purposes, is he worth gambling on? We’ll take a look at the main event and the rest of the main card in the following pages.

As always, a disclaimer: Like any other sport, betting on mixed martial arts is about managing your money. It is fun to throw money on big underdogs in the hope they’ll pay off handsomely. But my goal with these previews is to help you make smart, informed decisions. If there is no value in a particular fight, I will tell you so.

But I also recognize that some of you just want to bet on fights. For you, I have included my standard Just for Fun and $5 Parlay at the end. It represents a chance for you to throw $5 down on five or more fights and hope it pays off big.

Let’s get started, shall we?

All odds provided by BestFightOdds.com.

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Jones vs. Teixeira: Predicting UFC 172 Main Event and Entire Fight Card

The excitement for the entire UFC 172 fight card is through the roof, but many mixed martial arts fans are most anticipating the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship match between defending champion Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira.
This will be Jones&rsquo…

The excitement for the entire UFC 172 fight card is through the roof, but many mixed martial arts fans are most anticipating the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship match between defending champion Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira.

This will be Jones’ first fight since the epic five-round war against Alexander Gustafsson in September of 2013, but the champion is riding a 10-fight winning streak. Teixeira is no slouch, though, as he has also won his last 20 fights in a row.

The resulting battle has all the earmarks of an instant classic.

Here is the entire card for Saturday’s pay-per-view, predictions for every fight and a preview of the main event.

 

Breaking Down and Predicting the Main Event

When UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (19-1) squares off against challenger Glover Teixeira (22-2) on Saturday night in the main event, the defending champion will be pushed to his limit by the hard-hitting style of his opponent.

Jones will have to be at his best to beat Teixeira.

Jones is one of the best wrestlers in the light heavyweight division, but it is his unique mix of striking a grappling ability as well that has made him such a dangerous champion. During his 10-fight winning streak, he has racked up four knockouts, four submissions and two decision victories.

Whether it’s with his lethal elbow strikes or his vicious kicks, Jones can hurt his challengers in so many different ways.

While Jones has the advantage on paper in the title fight, he spoke during the UFC on FOX 11 broadcast about Saturday’s opponent and his key to victory, via FightLine.com:

Glover is a phenomenal opponent with power in both hands, is a great wrestler and hasn’t lost in five years. I am totally up for this amazing challenge. I am confident. My versatility (is key). I have a very unpredictable game. Half the time I don’t know what I’m going to do.

The excitement is through the roof for this main event, and even UFC President Dana White took to Twitter to share his anticipation:

As well as Jones has fought during his run with the title, the epic battle between the champion and Gustafsson proved that there were weaknesses in his defense and offense. With Teixeira showing no fear in the Octagon, Jones will face a fighter coming at him harder than anyone else in the past.

Teixeira is confident in his ability in the ring and lets his hands do the talking. With an incredible mix of accuracy, timing, strength and power, there is no reason to believe Teixeira can’t stand toe to toe with Jones and do serious damage.

With 12 of his 20 consecutive wins coming via knockout, Jones has been put on upset alert.

Jones didn’t get to the top of the mountain without being smart, though, and he understands Teixeira’s advantages standing up. Expect the champion to utilize his elite wrestling skills and take this fight to the ground early and often.

After five rounds of grinding it out on the mat, Jones will walk away with the decision victory.

Predicted Winner: Jones via unanimous decision

 

*Stats via UFC.com.

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Classic Fight: Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson Put On a Fight of the Year at UFC 165

Ahead of what could very well be his seventh title defense against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 this weekend, we still can’t seem to stop talking about Jon Jonessixth title defense against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. It’s not without merit; the fight was an all-out war that earned Fight of the Year honors in 2013 and is sure to be listed among the greatest light heavyweight fights (not to mention title fights) of all time when the robots inevitably enslave humanity. While Jones’ grittiness and determination lead him to victory that night in September, it was Gustafsson’s dynamic performance that surprised and captivated most of us, especially considering how we had all but written him off in the weeks prior.

The fight remains the toughest test of Jones’ almost untouchable MMA career, and now, a Rocky montage-version of the fight has been made available on the UFC’s Youtube channel. Not only that, the promotion has introduced the fight as part of its Flashback! series, which includes “never-before-seen footage from state-of-the-art, specialty cameras, and exclusive new sound captured from all corners.”

Relive the epic fight above, then let us know how much you enjoyed watching “The Mauler” put them hot hands all over Jones’ forehead in the comments section.

J. Jones

Ahead of what could very well be his seventh title defense against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 this weekend, we still can’t seem to stop talking about Jon Jonessixth title defense against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. It’s not without merit; the fight was an all-out war that earned Fight of the Year honors in 2013 and is sure to be listed among the greatest light heavyweight fights (not to mention title fights) of all time when the robots inevitably enslave humanity. While Jones’ grittiness and determination lead him to victory that night in September, it was Gustafsson’s dynamic performance that surprised and captivated most of us, especially considering how we had all but written him off in the weeks prior.

The fight remains the toughest test of Jones’ almost untouchable MMA career, and now, a Rocky montage-version of the fight has been made available on the UFC’s Youtube channel. Not only that, the promotion has introduced the fight as part of its Flashback! series, which includes “never-before-seen footage from state-of-the-art, specialty cameras, and exclusive new sound captured from all corners.”

Relive the epic fight above, then let us know how much you enjoyed watching “The Mauler” put them hot hands all over Jones’ forehead in the comments section.

J. Jones

UFC 172: Complete Fight Card and Predictions for Saturday’s PPV

Headlined by the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship main event between defending champion Jon Jones and challenger Glover Teixeira, Saturday’s UFC 172 pay-per-view is shaping up to be one of the best shows of 2014.
The fight card is so much more …

Headlined by the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship main event between defending champion Jon Jones and challenger Glover Teixeira, Saturday’s UFC 172 pay-per-view is shaping up to be one of the best shows of 2014.

The fight card is so much more than the main event, though, as the company has bolstered this PPV in order to draw the fans in. With the battle between Phil Davis and Anthony Johnson co-headlining the show, this is a must-watch event.

Here is all the vital viewing information for UFC 172, a full fight card and a preview of the co-main event.

 

Where: Baltimore Arena, Baltimore

When: Saturday, April 26 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view (check local cable provider)

Live Stream: UFC.TV (subscription required)

 

 

Breaking Down the Co-Main Event: Phil Davis vs. Anthony Johnson

While the battle between Jones and Teixeira is stealing all the headlines, one of the most exciting fights of the night will be the light heavyweight bout between Phil Davis (12-1, 1 NC) and Anthony Johnson (16-4).

Both men are fighting for the right to be considered a legitimate championship contender.

For Davis, the road to this point has been tumultuous. After reaching a title eliminator against Rashad Evans, Davis was defeated via unanimous decision and went on to fight to a no-contest in his next bout against Wagner Prado.

Davis beat Prado in the return match and went on to add two victories against Vinny Magalhaes and Lyoto Machida. Despite the recent success, outspoken UFC president Dana White discounted the championship contender.

White told Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie about his perception of Davis and his lack of focus on long-term goals:

I like Phil, and I don’t want to throw Phil under the bus, but Phil needs to get over that mental hump, and he needs to get on the Internet and f–king check the rankings and see where he’s ranked. He’s one of the best light heavyweights in the world, but he doesn’t come off to me like I’ve got guys (who are) breathing down my f–king neck for fights: ‘I want this fight. I want this, I want that.’

With the odds stacked against him and even the owner of the company making comments, Saturday night’s battle against Johnson in the co-main event is Davis’ chance to prove his worth to the company.

Johnson was re-signed by the UFC in February, and he will be looking to capitalize on the success he found fighting in other promotions (six straight victories). A victory over Davis would be the perfect start to a second run with the company  and begin his ascent back into title contention.

As much as Johnson needs this victory, Davis has the wrestling skills and heavy hands to make his challenger pay and make his boss reconsider his words.

If White was trying to light a fire under Davis, how he reacts to the pressure on Saturday will be a huge test. The stage has been set for Davis to cement himself in the division.

Predicted Winner: Phil Davis via unanimous decision

 

Stats via UFC.com.

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