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UFC 175 Video Highlights: Watch Chris Weidman Go 5 Rounds with Lyoto Machida

Chris Weidman battered challenger Lyoto Machida for his first defense of the UFC middleweight belt against a fighter not named Anderson Silva at UFC 175 on Saturday.
The fight began with Weidman’s trademark pressure and aggression. …

Chris Weidman battered challenger Lyoto Machida for his first defense of the UFC middleweight belt against a fighter not named Anderson Silva at UFC 175 on Saturday.

The fight began with Weidman‘s trademark pressure and aggression. Though Machida was too fast and smart to allow the champ to cut off the cage in earnest, he did find himself moving backward on a regular basis and thus unable to mount substantial offense beyond counterstriking.

As the action wore on, Weidman began to open up, landing right hands, body kicks and knees that damaged the challenger. Machida was gashed open on the forehead, and it was probably the biggest cut he’s suffered in the Octagon.

It went that way for three rounds, with Weidman stalking down Machida and doing some damage before Machida skittered out of harm’s way, possibly firing off a counter as a parting shot.

That all changed, however, in the fourth round. Machida stunned Weidman with a left hook and almost immediately became the aggressor. The momentum shifted emphatically for the challenger, and The Dragon clearly won the fourth round.

In the fifth, Weidman regained his composure, though the action was a back-and-forth affair throughout the final five minutes. A Hail Mary flurry from Machida in the fight’s closing seconds did plenty of damage but wasn’t enough to secure the finish.

The champ took the decision 49-45, 48-47 and 49-46 on the judges’ scorecards.

It is unclear what is next for both fighters. Weidman is now a perfect 12-0 as a pro and appears to have almost limitless potential as a 30-year-old with plenty of prime years remaining.

Machida will likely continue on in the middleweight division, where he is now 2-1. Though he was not the better man Saturday night at UFC 175, he is still a supremely talented and wildly popular fighter. The former light heavyweight champion is now 21-5 overall, though at age 36 it is difficult to tell how much longer he’ll remain at the sport’s most elite level.

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UFC 175 Results: Lingering Questions from Saturday Night’s Main Events

Some have dinged the UFC recently for what is perceived to be a watering down of the product. At UFC 175 on Saturday, the company gave fans a card that more than delivered.
The co-main events featured two title defenses, with Chris Weidman and Ronda Ro…

Some have dinged the UFC recently for what is perceived to be a watering down of the product. At UFC 175 on Saturday, the company gave fans a card that more than delivered.

The co-main events featured two title defenses, with Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey both retaining their championships.

That’s where the similarities ended, though, as Rousey knocked out Alexis Davis in 16 seconds, while Weidman relied on the judges to give him a unanimous victory.

Their victories presented some immediate questions for the future.

Does Chris Weidman Have Anything Left to Prove?

As wrong as they may have been, plenty of critics wondered whether Weidman’s wins over Anderson Silva were flukes. In the first bout, Silva didn’t really care. In the rematch, his leg no longer decided to remain in one piece.

The champ didn’t need to prove anything to the majority of UFC fans, but a small segment of viewers was unconvinced. UFC 175 was the time for Weidman to establish himself as the man, and that’s exactly what he did.

Both Kenny Florian and Fox Sports 1’s Jon Anik heaped praise upon the 30-year-old’s shoulders:

Weidman was excellent. He erased just about any doubt that remained as to his talent level.

You learn the most about a fighter when he or she is facing a moment of adversity. Machida was a more than game challenger, but Weidman answered the call and came out a better fighter because of it.

Where Does Weidman Go From Here?

The answer to that question would appear to be Vitor Belfort. Dana White said after UFC 175 that he’s planning on Weidman’s next title defense to be against the 37-year-old Brazilian, per Bleacher Report MMA:

Looking at the top challengers, Belfort makes the most sense. Silva is still ranked No. 2, but there’s no chance of Weidman vs. Silva 3 happening anytime soon. A rematch with Machida could happen down the line but not right now. Luke Rockhold lost to Belfort back in May 2013.

Belfort was supposed to fight Chael Sonnen on Saturday night, but everybody knows what happened there.

Despite that setback, Belfort remains firm in his resolve about getting a shot against Weidman.

“I’ve got my opponent already,” he said after UFC Fight Night on June 28, via FoxSports.com’s Marc Raimondi. “Everybody get in line. I have my belt fight.”

This all seems to settle it, then. Get ready for Weidman vs. Belfort.

When Can UFC Make Rousey vs. Zingano Happen?

Rousey needs something to break the mundane nature of her fights; otherwise, she and the UFC risk watching her pay-per-view appeal dwindle. Fans will only keep paying to watch for so long until they get tired of her challengers losing within a minute of the first round.

With Cat Zingano, UFC might have somebody who can at least take Rousey past the first—as Miesha Tate did at UFC 168—and possibly push the champ to the limit.

This fight would have happened already if not for Zingano’s knee injury. She went on record stating that she has a clean bill of health now.

“I’m not worried about it,” Zingano said, per Dann Stupp of MMAJunkie. “I got cleared a couple months ago to start training hard, and I’ve been doing just that since. So, I feel good. I’m strong. I’m really hitting it hard, and I’m having a good time doing it.”

The only snag now is Rousey’s possibly broken hand, per SportsCenter:

That wouldn’t be a massive delay. It all but eliminates UFC 176 as an option for their fight, though.

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Dana White Changes Tone on Signing Cyborg After Another Dominant Rousey Win

Ronda Rousey’s 16-second knockout win over Alexis Davis at UFC 175 might roll out the red carpet to one of the most feared female fighters on the planet, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
UFC President Dana White has typically downplayed th…

Ronda Rousey’s 16-second knockout win over Alexis Davis at UFC 175 might roll out the red carpet to one of the most feared female fighters on the planet, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

UFC President Dana White has typically downplayed the possibility of Cyborg ever coming to the UFC, but there was a much different tone in his voice at Saturday night’s media scrum, as relayed by Chuck Mindenhall of MMAFighting.com, following Rousey’s fourth consecutive UFC title defense.

When asked if he was interested in signing Cyborg, White simply responded “Mmhmm.” He then said:

You guys want me to sign her, is that what you’re saying? So, you guys the media are telling me I should sign Cyborg? Oh, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. Who likes it? Tell me. I want to know names.

After playfully taking names, White presented media members with an ultimatum for signing the Invicta women’s featherweight champ.

“I just don’t want to hear your bulls—t if I do,” he said. “Because this shit is going to flip as soon as I sign her—drug testing and all the other bulls—t. That’ll be the biggest topic. It’ll be the biggest f—–g story for you guys to write. The script will flip immediately.”

Drug testing has become a prevalent topic in the UFC these days, and given Cyborg’s history, it would certainly drum up some interest in the testing process.

Cyborg was stripped of the Strikeforce women’s featherweight title back in 2011 after testing positive for stanozolol, following a 16-second TKO win over Hiroko Yamanaka.

There haven’t been any other instances since that test. It was the first and only drug test she has failed in her professional career. According to White, the UFC offered Cyborg a deal when it bought Strikeforce, but she “turned the deal down.”

A potentially dangerous weight cut has always been the underlying issue between the UFC and Cyborg.

When speaking with Cyborg’s camp in 2012, Damon Martin of MMAWeekly.com reported that doctors shot down any notion of the Brazilian attempting to cut to 135 pounds. According to the report, the weight cut could prohibit Cyborg’s ability to carry children later in life.

With bantamweight being the only existing women’s division in the UFC, it was a foregone conclusion that Cyborg would never see the light of day on the big stage.

But recently, there has been talk of Cyborg getting a second opinion and finding a way to safely cut the weight. In a statement released to Axs.tv’s Inside MMA, the Invicta champ vowed to drop to 135 pounds and “retire” Rousey.

If Cyborg can make the weight and White truly is onboard, the women’s division could finally be on the cusp of serving up its first ever superfight.

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.

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Rousey vs. Davis: 16-Second Beatdown Proves the Rowdy One’s Dominance

Well then, that didn’t take too long.
In 16 seconds, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey blew away Alexis Davis on Saturday night in Las Vegas. It was the most impressive performance we’ve seen from the women’s bantamweight champion.
When it was over, the polarizing …

Well then, that didn’t take too long.

In 16 seconds, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey blew away Alexis Davis on Saturday night in Las Vegas. It was the most impressive performance we’ve seen from the women’s bantamweight champion.

When it was over, the polarizing champion actually heard some cheers. Per the UFC 175 pay-per-view broadcast, Rousey said:

“Hopefully you guys stay cheering for me, but I’m not going to keep my fingers crossed.”

Without question, Rousey‘s latest win was worthy of a Performance of the Night bonus. Per MMA Junkie, it’s on the way:

After a fight like this, it’s hard to decide whether Rousey is this good, or if the competition is just that far behind her. It’s probably a little bit of both.

Ryan Bivins of Sweet Boxing had another take on Rousey‘s dominance:

Still, nothing should take away from what Rousey did on Saturday.

She stood and traded on her feet for the first five to seven seconds. A hard right hand dazed Davis, and before the challenger could stumble, Rousey had locked in a side headlock and launched her to the ground with a powerful judo throw.

It looked like a schoolyard bullying as opposed to a fight between two trained professionals. Sherdog Rewind described it this way:

Rousey is the Royce Gracie of her time—only better. When the MMA legend was ruling the sport in its infancy, no other competitor was as skilled as Gracie in grappling. He rode his edge in that aspect of the sport to the success that made him an icon.

Initially, Rousey‘s grappling prowess was her prevailing edge. It seemed like she might be a one-trick pony. But she has proven that’s not the case. Rousey has now finished her last two opponents with strikes.

Don’t look now, but she’s getting better. If that’s not the scariest thought for potential opponents, I don’t know what is.

The only unconquered and highly regarded opponent left is Cat Zingano. She is 8-0, a dangerous striker and looks to be next in line once she returns from knee problems. However, pardon the world for not seeing Zingano as the one capable of conquering Rousey.

Each of the opponents Rousey has faced in the UFC seemed to present a special challenge, but Rousey made them all look less than formidable.

It’s getting hard to find a weakness in Rousey‘s game. Maybe that’s because there isn’t one.

Follow me on Twitter.

@BMaziqueFPBR

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Faber vs. Caceres: California Kid Proves He’s Still UFC Contender at 135 Pounds

If anyone had a question as to whether Urijah “The California Kid” Faber was still an elite bantamweight, you can put those concerns to rest.
In an efficient and effective performance, Faber defeated a young, hungry and skilled Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Cace…

If anyone had a question as to whether Urijah “The California Kid” Faber was still an elite bantamweight, you can put those concerns to rest.

In an efficient and effective performance, Faber defeated a young, hungry and skilled Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres by submission. The finishing maneuver was a rear-naked choke, which Faber has used to stop eight opponents in his illustrious career before Saturday’s win.

When the bout was over, per the UFC pay-per-view broadcast, Faber said:

“He’s very tough, he was on a five-fight win streak. I’m ranked No. 2, he’s ranked No. 12. That’s not too far off. I take these fights seriously.”

Though just 10 spots separated the two men, the difference between the two was clear.

Caceres has a future in the division, but he was no match for Faber’s strength, experience and technique. With explosive shoots and relentless pressure, Faber wore down Caceres and took advantage of a few tactical errors.

The moment Caceres gave up his back, Faber pounced and sunk in the choke. The UFC Twitter account said:

Faber came in ranked just behind recent champion Renan Barao. The man who currently holds the title is Faber’s training partner, TJ Dillashaw.

Depending on who you ask, Faber is willing to go after his friend if Dillashaw is the man with the title when UFC matchmakers call Faber’s name again. Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan claimed Faber was willing to take on Dillashaw during the UFC 175 broadcast, but Fox Sports Damon Martin says otherwise:

At 35 years old, Faber’s time to win his first UFC title is fading.

There’s really nowhere else for Faber to go at this point in his career. Every time he faces an up-and-comer, Faber draws a thick line between himself and the wannabe contenders.

He has scored spectacular submission wins over Ivan Menjivar, Michael McDonald and now Caceres.

While Faber is in phenomenal shape, he won’t be able to fend off Father Time forever. After having two shots at Barao, Faber came up empty. He was even stopped in the second meeting. A sense of desperation has to be setting in for him.

Having tried his hand and failed at knocking off Barao, Faber’s best chance to win might be against Dillashaw. Styles make fights, and there’s no doubt Faber is well acquainted with the new champion. His strength and power could give Dillashaw problems.

If Dillashaw wins the rematch with Barao, which is scheduled for the main event of UFC 177, it’s hard to imagine another opponent for the champion.

Follow me on Twitter.

@BMaziqueFPBR

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Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida: The All-American Proves to Be Legitimate Champ

As if two victories against Anderson Silva weren’t enough, Chris Weidman sealed his status as a legitimate UFC champion with a unanimous-decision victory (49-45, 48-47, 49-46) over Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Ce…

The fact that Weidman had to “prove himself” at all in his second title defense was always a silly notion. The ending of his second bout with Silva may have ended on an unlikely injury, but he more than held his own before the finish and scored an emphatic knockout victory in their first encounter.

Now, the champion can add a former light heavyweight champion to his list of dispatched opponents. No, it wasn’t easy. Beating a former champion is never an easy task. Weidman lost at least one round on each judge’s scorecard, per Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie:

However, there was no fluke end to this one. There was no doubting that Machida took the champion serious and certainly no doubt that Machida put his all into besting Weidman.

As Damon Martin of Fox Sports intimated after the fight, there’s no more questioning Weidman‘s skills:

What stood out in Weidman‘s title defense was not just that he won, but that he did so by turning in a performance that had a little bit of everything. Given the origin of Weidman‘s “All-American” moniker as a collegiate wrestler, the assumption is that he might be a one-trick pony.

As it turns out, that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

By the first round it was clear wrestling isn’t Weidman‘s only strong suit. With Machida looking to keep the fight standing, Weidman was willing to oblige for the entire opening frame. He chose to make an impact with kicks to the legs and body, as noted by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports:

Of course that doesn’t mean Weidman didn’t showcase the wrestling. After all, you have to dance with the girl who brought you, and the champion isn’t going to abandon what comes natural to him.

Machida possesses some of the best takedown defense in the sport but still couldn’t stop Weidman from taking the fight where he wanted it. He took The Dragon down five times in the fight and did some of his best damage once he pinned his opponent to the ground.

But most of all, Weidman proved that he has the heart of a champion. Regardless of how good a champion is, there will come a time during his/her title reign when challenges will present themselves.

After very little resistance from Silva in Weidman‘s first two title fights, adversity came in the form of a Machida left hand that landed flush in the fourth round. Coming from a dangerous fighter like Machida, it turned the fight on its head and put into doubt whether Weidman could survive another round-and-a-half.

Once again, Weidman proved that he was capable of carrying the title of champion by rallying to take the fifth round on one score card and getting his hand raised.

What makes the performance even more impressive is the fact that Weidman might not have even been at the height of his powers. According to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, the champion faced more than one health concern in training for this fight:

To make matters worse, Joe Ferraro of Sportsnet reports that Weidman injured his foot early in the fight, limiting his repertoire:

Obviously small injuries are part of the sport, but a healthier Weidman could conceivably be even better next time out. Looking ahead, another former light heavyweight champion is looking to get the next crack at the 185-pound king:

Vitor Belfort may want to be careful what he wishes for, though. If he’s hoping that challenging Weidman will be an easy road to the title, he’s got another thing coming.

The current king might not be around as long as the man he replaced, but he’s proved he’s here to stay.

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