Tag: UFC 180

UFC 180: Ricardo Lamas Looking to Put On a Show in Mexico City

Heritage is something in which Ricardo Lamas takes a tremendous amount of pride.
The product of a Cuban father and a Mexican mother—two countries where heart and the fighting spirit are signature attributes of their athletes—the future…

Heritage is something in which Ricardo Lamas takes a tremendous amount of pride.

The product of a Cuban father and a Mexican mother—two countries where heart and the fighting spirit are signature attributes of their athletes—the future featherweight title challenger aspired to embody those qualities that produced so many great fighters before him.

Fortunately for Lamas, it didn’t take him long to discover those elements were ingrained in his genes, and he’s been putting them to the test on his mission to become the best 145-pound fighter in the world.

And while there have been setbacks along the way, those are the moments where the Chicago native’s true fabric and mettle are brought front and center.

The 32-year-old MMA Top Notch representative had his four-fight winning streak snapped early this year when he came out on the business end of his long-awaited title tilt with featherweight king Jose Aldo.

“The Bully” had spent the majority of 2013 jockeying for a shot at the Brazilian phenom, and when that opportunity eventually materialized at UFC 169 back in February, the Nova Uniao product simply proved to be too much.

In the chaos that is the current title picture at 145 pounds, the loss to Aldo could have easily sent Lamas to the outer reaches of the divisional top 10. Yet he wasted no time getting back into the Octagon and the win column as he defeated scrappy Brazilian Hacran Dias four months later at Fight Night 44.

Not only did his victory over Dias serve to assist Lamas in shaking off his first loss since 2010, but it also put him right back into the heated mix of the featherweight division’s upper tier, where every fight comes equipped with potential title implications.

That said, Lamas doesn’t expect his upcoming bout against surging upstart Dennis Bermudez to catapult him to the front of the crowded line in the featherweight mix, but it is precisely the caliber of fight he’s looking for.

“The Menace” is a on a seven-fight winning streak, and Lamas would love nothing more than to stop that cold. But perhaps more importantly, on a personal level fighting in front a huge crowd in Mexico has been something he’s aspired to do for as long as he can remember.

Therefore, stepping into the cage at UFC 180 this Saturday night in Mexico City will be one of the biggest moments of his career, one he’s determined to make memorable.

“As soon as we found out the UFC was going to Mexico City we were immediately on the phone bugging Sean Shelby about getting on this card,” Lamas told Bleacher Report. “Sean is pretty good about giving us what we want, but he didn’t promise us anything, so we were kind of waiting around for a little bit. But he came through, and now I’m fighting in Mexico City. I’m really excited about that. 

“This is a great fight and has the potential to be the ‘Fight of the Night.’ Giving the fans a good show they can enjoy is the main thing I’m concerned with. I’m coming to win. We are fighting in Mexico City, and I feel I’m going to have the home-court advantage there. I’m going to be comfortable and will have the support of the crowd. It’s going to be a great night.

“I think a win over Dennis will put me back into title talk again,” he added. “I know it won’t get me another title shot, but it will put me in a position where one or two more wins will get me back to having an opportunity to fight for the title. I’m excited to get in there and mix it up with Dennis and see what the future holds.”

With Lamas hoping to make another title run in 2015, defeating Bermudez will be a crucial factor in that equation. The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 finalist has been on a tear of late, rocketing up the featherweight ranks on the strength of an impressive seven-fight winning streak. Furthermore, throughout that run the New York native has shown a serious progression with his skill set.

Where Bermudez was once thought to bring a straightforward wrestling attack, his most recent performances have shown a different type of fighter who brings much more than a one-dimensional offense to the cage. 

Nevertheless, Lamas believes he’ll have the advantage wherever the fight goes and plans on putting that theory to the test at UFC 180.

“[Bermudez] is a great fighter,” Lamas said. “He’s young and he’s hungry, but I believe the amount of experience I have with being in there with the best in this division is going to make a big difference .There isn’t much he can bring to the table that I haven’t seen yet. He’s a talented fighter, but I believe I’m better than him everywhere, and my abilities are going to outshine his just a bit more on fight night. 

“I’m the best fighter I’ve ever been right now. I’m in my prime, and I’m just going to keep growing with each and every fight.”

 

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

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC: Jake Ellenberger Has Fallen Back to the Welterweight Pack

When no one knew who he was, Jake Ellenberger was 6-1 in seven UFC bouts. The only loss was a contentious split decision to Carlos Condit, and Ellenberger was seen by most as a dream prospect.
Savage slugging and a wrestling game that was as good as an…

When no one knew who he was, Jake Ellenberger was 6-1 in seven UFC bouts. The only loss was a contentious split decision to Carlos Condit, and Ellenberger was seen by most as a dream prospect.

Savage slugging and a wrestling game that was as good as any divisional veteran left people seeing Ellenberger as a guy who could maybe get to the top of the heap. Nasty stoppages of Mike Pyle, Sean Pierson and Jake Shields only fueled that fire.

Then things went south.

Martin Kampmann scorched him, and a few fights later, he lost two in a row to Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler despite a violent win over Nate Marquardt and a decent showing against Jay Hieron having split up the three losses.

The three losses in five fights were as many as he’d had in his first 20, and though they came against some of the very best 170-pounders in the world, they still served to stagnate him in one of the toughest divisions in the game.

The pack is a nasty collection of customers, but Ellenberger‘s inability to get over the hump as he enters his prime has caused him to fall firmly back among them.

Now he heads into a bout with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 180, and he’s looking at a fight where his spot on the fringes of contendership could be up for grabs. A boy from Nebraska should know all about making hay while the sun shines, and since he hasn’t, he may lose his place in his weight class.

It’s crazy to think that a guy still only 29 years old and with so much obvious talent and experience might flame out on the fists of a prospect like Gastelum, one who was 14 when Ellenberger won his first pro bout.

In a world where Matt Brown, Hector Lombard and even Condit are still active, exciting and serving as immediate hurdles to Ellenberger‘s climb up the ladder, he simply can’t afford to lose to Gastelum. People can forgive losses to Lawler and MacDonald, even if they knock you down a few pegs. They can’t forgive a loss to a young prospect, though, at least not if you’re trying to assert that you’re elite.

And so it goes for Ellenberger, ranked No. 7 in the UFC’s official rankings and fixing to throw leather in a dangerous bout against a true upstart at a time when most would say he’s middling. He needs to prove otherwise, but going in, he’s firmly entrenched as a face among many in a crowded second tier of welterweight contenders.

When he was quietly rolling through guys left and right, no one would have seen it this way. Now that the spotlight’s been on him for a while, though, that’s how it’s playing out for The Juggernaut.

Leaving Mexico this weekend, he’ll be looking at a different situation. Win and he’s moving up in the pack; lose and he’s moving down.

If that’s not motivation, it’s hard to imagine what is.

 

Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

5 Reasons to Watch UFC 180

The untimely injury of heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez in late October nearly derailed the UFC’s first event in Mexico.
Fortunately for the company’s brass, fearless and ambitious heavyweight contender Mark Hunt stepped up on late notice to replace Ve…

The untimely injury of heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez in late October nearly derailed the UFC’s first event in Mexico.

Fortunately for the company’s brass, fearless and ambitious heavyweight contender Mark Hunt stepped up on late notice to replace Velasquez and subsequently accept a daunting task in the night’s main event.

The fourth-ranked Hunt will face top-ranked submission wizard Fabricio Werdum in an interim heavyweight title bout in the main event Saturday night at UFC 180 at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City.

On a top-heavy card that includes fourth-ranked featherweight Ricardo Lamas and seventh-ranked welterweight Jake Ellenberger, the matchup between Mark Hunt and Werdum could prove a perfect ending to a captivating night.

Read on to get a glimpse of some of the alluring attractions that UFC 180 will offer.

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Kelvin Gastelum Determined to Continue His Climb at UFC 180

Kelvin Gastelum’s days of being a “long shot” are over.
Granted, there was a time before The Ultimate Fighter and before he shocked the world by upsetting heavy favorite Uriah Hall in the finals of that tournament, where fight fans and critics could lo…

Kelvin Gastelum‘s days of being a “long shot” are over.

Granted, there was a time before The Ultimate Fighter and before he shocked the world by upsetting heavy favorite Uriah Hall in the finals of that tournament, where fight fans and critics could look at the young Arizona native and marvel at accomplishments that appeared to be above his talent level.

The same could even be said for his next two victories inside the Octagon, as he made quick work out of Brian Melancon then struggled but ultimately defeated welterweight staple Rick Story via split decision at UFC 171.

There was a time for that talk, and Gastelum is determined to show that time has passed on Saturday night at UFC 180.

Throughout his four official showings under the UFC banner, the highly touted prospect has shown a continued progression in his skill set and the ability to overcome adversity inside the Octagon. The 23-year-old upstart will put his talent to the test against proven veteran Jake Ellenberger in Mexico City, in a fight that has the potential to elevate him into the next tier in the 170-pound fold.

The Juggernaut presents the precise caliber of challenge Gastelum is eager to face, and he’s confident he will once again rise to the occasion on fight night.

[Ellenberger] has been at the top of the division for a very long time,” Gastelum told Bleacher Report. “He’s come so close to being the No. 1 guy but has fallen just a little bit short. He has so much experience from being in big fights against big names, and he’s dangerous in every aspect of the game. I’m prepared for it, and I feel I can beat him and get my hand raised.

In my mind I need a bigger fight every time out because it motivates me more and makes me want to work even harder. It pushes me to step up to the plate. If I went into a fight that I knew I could win easily, there’s a good chance it wouldn’t motivate me as much. I feel I need these type of fights to be able to elevate my skills as a fighter.

“Every time I enter the cage I feel like I’m a different fighter,” he added. “I’ve been able to change my game every time out. I get more and more comfortable, and I’m able to showcase more of my skills. I’m ready for whatever comes. I’m prepared mentally for any challenge that comes my way.

While his bout at UFC 180 will be Gastelum‘s first venture into the dangerous waters of the top 10, his opponent has been battling within those ranks for years. Ellenberger has traded leather with the best fighters the welterweight division has to offer, and his power-based skill set has allowed him to hold his status in the increasingly competitive divisional hierarchy. The Omaha native possesses a dangerous and versatile skill set, but Gastelum believes he’ll have the advantage when the cage door closes.

In his mind, the factor that will tip the balance is the TUF alum’s ability to press the action. Gastelum has a hard-charging style that allows him to remain in his opponent’s face from start to finish. He believes this weapon will give Ellenberger problems once the fight gets under way and will help claim victory in the biggest fight of his young career.

“I think the pace I set will give anyone trouble,” Gastelum said. “I believe a lot of people aren’t ready for the type of pressure I bring. I come forward, and once I get my hands on them it’s a different type of pressure than they are used to. It’s bad news.

We’ll see how things go on fight night. Jake does very well fighting from inside, and once I put the pressure on him he’s going to have to work from there. That said, I think once I put the pressure on him he’s going to be backing up and won’t be able to throw his punches. He’s not going to be able to throw his kicks. He’s not going to be able to take me down.

“After I win it will put me in a good spot to ask for an even bigger fight,” he added. “It will allow me to ask for an opponent from the top five in the division. And it will be a huge confidence booster. I know I can compete with the best guys in the world, and this win will just solidify that I can.”

 

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

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Mark Hunt as UFC Champ Would Be One of MMA’s Most Improbable Stories

When you start to think about MMA’s most improbable stories, you may immediately think about Matt Hamill and his early success, or perhaps Nick Newell’s comeuppance in recent years.
When you think about tournaments and championships, perhaps Mark Colem…

When you start to think about MMA‘s most improbable stories, you may immediately think about Matt Hamill and his early success, or perhaps Nick Newell’s comeuppance in recent years.

When you think about tournaments and championships, perhaps Mark Coleman’s run in the Pride Grand Prix 2000, or Randy Couture’s return to the heavyweight division in 2007, will come to mind. Or maybe you throw out Matt Serra’s stunning upset of Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt.

Those would be matched, if not exceeded, in improbability if Mark Hunt walks out of UFC 180 as the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion on Saturday, Nov. 15, in Mexico City, Mexico. It truly would be one of the most remarkable stories in this sport’s young history.

When Hunt entered his MMA career, he was already a notable kickboxer who had won the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix. With some status in Japan and as an ever-tough competitor, he jumped right into action against quality competition.

Hunt began his career 5-1 with wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. However, it was still apparent he was out of his depth on the ground as his MMA debut against Hidehiko Yoshida showed. Regardless, he was a fan favorite because of his style of fighting, and Pride placed him in suitable matchups early on.

His fifth consecutive victory came in the opening round of the 2006 Pride Openweight Grand Prix. He was taken down and submitted easily by Josh Barnett in the quarterfinals. That would not stop Pride from putting him against Fedor Emelianenko for his next contest.

Hunt was still a novice on the ground and was only five months removed from his quick loss to Barnett. Fedor won on the ground as many would expect.

After the fall of Pride, the “Super Samoan” would continue fighting. He would also continue losing.

At DREAM 5, Alistair Overeem finished him with a rudimentary keylock in just 71 seconds. In 2008, at the year-end Japan classic Dynamite!!, Hunt suffered his most surprising defeat when 185-pound Melvin Manhoef cracked the talented striker and his thick skull in just 18 seconds for an upset knockout.

If anyone had hopes of Hunt doing anything special in MMA, their dreams died on that night. We knew who Hunt was—a fantastic striker who was fun to watch in stand-up fights. He had virtually no ground game and now suffered a KO loss to a fighter two weight classes below him.

Hunt would carry on and lose to Gegard Mousasi in the DREAM Super Hulk Tournament by straight armbar in 80 seconds.

Even with three fights, and three losses, after the death of Pride, Hunt was still in negotiations with the UFC. His contract came as part of the Pride buyout. Dana White and the UFC attempted to buy him out, but Hunt refused. He wanted to test himself in the best MMA organization on the planet.

In 2010, Hunt made his UFC debut.

It was a 63-second loss to Sean McCorkle.

Hunt had become a punch line. We already knew what kind of fighter Hunt was, but at least he lost to notable names. Now Hunt had just lost to McCorkle. The “Super Samoan” had little to offer the fans, the heavyweight division or the UFC.

Or, so we thought.

Five months later, Hunt would get a fight close to home in Australia. He pasted Chris Tuchscherer with a walk-away KO. Hunt was able to show the UFC audience why so many fans had loved him during his earlier career.

His next test would be against Ben Rothwell at UFC 135—a matchup that screamed Rothwell would take him down and submit him or, if nothing else, control him for a decision win. That did not happen. Hunt defended 12 takedowns in the fight and landed two of his own. He kept the fight on the feet for the final two rounds and won a decision.

Enter Cheick Kongo. Exit with a TKO win.

With three wins in the UFC, Hunt moved himself up the ladder nicely. Now he would face Stefan Struve, a young gun in the division with a nice ground game. It was Hunt’s stiffest task to date under the bright lights of the UFC. Another passing grade.

Hunt survived takedowns and submission attempts, came from behind and delivered one of the best knockouts of 2013.

Four straight wins earned Hunt a potential title eliminator against Junior dos Santos. The two stood toe to toe, but Hunt would come out on the losing end to a spinning heel kick in the last minute of the fight. It earned him a Fight of the Night bonus, but it also earned him many new fans for the performance.

The UFC knew it had a fun draw in Hunt. In the shallow talent pool of the heavyweight division, he was a valuable commodity. Back near home, Hunt would take on Antonio Silva. The two put on a Fight of the Year candidate. It turned out to be a majority draw, but the fight itself gave everyone the fight they wanted.

Hunt, 4-2-1 in his UFC career, would get Roy Nelson for his first bout in 2014. Nelson had improved boxing, but his wrestling and submissions seemed like a natural fit for a quick end to Hunt’s night. That is, after all, what history has told us.

The New Zealander had apparently burned his history books.

Hunt defended takedowns from Nelson and survived on the ground. Improbable, but his improvements in these categories have stunned us all. In the second round, Hunt gave us another stellar walk-away knockout.

After the fight in September, one would have thought Hunt would earn another top-10 fight, but we did not expect the UFC to give him the call once Cain Velasquez got injured.

Now we are here. UFC 180 is on Saturday, and Hunt will get a shot at UFC gold.

This isn’t the Hunt of nearly 15 years ago. Yes, he has improved takedown defense, but at 40 years old, he is also slower on the feet. He is still crafty, but this seems like a steep hill to climb. The deck is stacked against him in facing Fabricio Werdum.

If Hunt can pull this off on Saturday, it will be an all-time story to tell. His technical deficiencies, his unlikely road to the UFC and his surprising progression as an MMA fighter have made this one of the most improbable roads to a title ever.

Interim championship or not, Saturday could yield a special result.

If you want an underdog story, Mark Hunt is the book you grab off the shelf to read. He is the one who will make you believe in incredibly unlikely things happening in MMA. If the stars align just right in Mexico City, the jaws of millions will be left on the floor as Hunt’s hand is raised as a UFC champion.

 

All stats provided by FightMetric.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The UFC Picked a Hell of a Week to Go to Mexico City…

(via reddit/MMA)

On Saturday night, protesters in Mexico City set fire to the front doors of the National Palace and attempted to break inside, in response to the abduction and mass murder of 43 students by drug cartel gangsters in September. Protests have been escalating since late last week, as outraged citizens and families of the victims blame local government officials and crooked police for the horrific incident.

The National Palace is about 7.5 miles away from the Arena Ciudad de México, which will host UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt this weekend, a card that has already been torn apart by injuries. Things were bad enough when the card lost Cain Velasquez as a headliner — now the UFC will have to pull off a show during a period of civil unrest, where people are literally trying to burn a palace down. International attention is on Mexico City right now for the worst possible reasons. Can an American cage-fighting promotion bring some healing to this terrible moment?

Short answer: No, of course not. At this point, UFC 180 has to be one of the top 5 most cursed events ever, and I honestly feel bad for the UFC, which really doesn’t happen often. Stay safe, everybody.


(via reddit/MMA)

On Saturday night, protesters in Mexico City set fire to the front doors of the National Palace and attempted to break inside, in response to the abduction and mass murder of 43 students by drug cartel gangsters in September. Protests have been escalating since late last week, as outraged citizens and families of the victims blame local government officials and crooked police for the horrific incident.

The National Palace is about 7.5 miles away from the Arena Ciudad de México, which will host UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt this weekend, a card that has already been torn apart by injuries. Things were bad enough when the card lost Cain Velasquez as a headliner — now the UFC will have to pull off a show during a period of civil unrest, where people are literally trying to burn a palace down. International attention is on Mexico City right now for the worst possible reasons. Can an American cage-fighting promotion bring some healing to this terrible moment?

Short answer: No, of course not. At this point, UFC 180 has to be one of the top 5 most cursed events ever, and I honestly feel bad for the UFC, which really doesn’t happen often. Stay safe, everybody.