Holly Holm Likely to Debut at UFC 181 in December — But Fight With Milana Dudieva Is Uncertain


(Holly Holm tags Juliana Werner at Legacy FC 30. / Photo via Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)

According a report on UFC Tonight, undefeated bantamweight talent Holly Holm is likely to make her UFC debut at UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2, December 6th in Las Vegas. While her opponent hasn’t been finalized yet, a fight against Russian scrapper Milana Dudieva was mentioned as being in the works.

However: Dudieva’s manager Anton Linder vaguely tweeted today that “other issues have occurred” which might prevent Holm vs. Dudieva from happening, and Dudieva herself clarified that the matchup is not official, so stop spreading rumors. We’ll update you when we know more.

Holm has been recovering from a broken arm that she sustained in her fifth-round TKO victory against Juliana Werner back in April. The win bumped Holm’s pro MMA record to 7-0 with six wins via KO/TKO. Dudieva most recently won her own UFC debut with an awfully controversial split-decision against Elizabeth Phillips at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau. Dudieva would be a great “barometer for Holm’s ability,” if the fight really takes place. If not, the UFC will have to find another sacrificial lamb for Holm to devour.


(Holly Holm tags Juliana Werner at Legacy FC 30. / Photo via Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)

According a report on UFC Tonight, undefeated bantamweight talent Holly Holm is likely to make her UFC debut at UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2, December 6th in Las Vegas. While her opponent hasn’t been finalized yet, a fight against Russian scrapper Milana Dudieva was mentioned as being in the works.

However: Dudieva’s manager Anton Linder vaguely tweeted today that “other issues have occurred” which might prevent Holm vs. Dudieva from happening, and Dudieva herself clarified that the matchup is not official, so stop spreading rumors. We’ll update you when we know more.

Holm has been recovering from a broken arm that she sustained in her fifth-round TKO victory against Juliana Werner back in April. The win bumped Holm’s pro MMA record to 7-0 with six wins via KO/TKO. Dudieva most recently won her own UFC debut with an awfully controversial split-decision against Elizabeth Phillips at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau. Dudieva would be a great “barometer for Holm’s ability,” if the fight really takes place. If not, the UFC will have to find another sacrificial lamb for Holm to devour.

Chris Weidman Out of Vitor Belfort Fight With Fractured Hand, Lawler vs. Hendricks II Now Headlines UFC 181


(“That’s it, we gotta ban skateboards too!” — Dana White tomorrow)

First, the bad news: Chris Weidman has been forced to pull out from his UFC 181-scheduled bout with Vitor Belfort due to injury. As first reported by Ariel Helwani and confirmed by Dana White shortly thereafter, Weidman suffered a hairline fracture in his hand while sparring, which will require between 4-6 weeks to heal. The Belfort fight has been moved to an unknown date in February.

And now, the good: Replacing Weidman vs. Belfort in the main event slot of UFC 181 will be the highly-anticipated welterweight title rematch between champion Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.

“Bigg Rigg” and “Ruthless” first met at UFC 171 to fight for the welterweight title vacated by Georges St. Pierre. The hard fought, back-and-forth contest saw Hendricks emerge victorious by unanimous decision but also suffer a torn bicep and fractured shin that has kept him out of action since. Lawler, meanwhile, has notched victories over Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown to earn another shot at Hendricks.

The lightweight title fight between TUF 20 coaches Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez will remain in the co-main event slot of UFC 181 for now, so all things considered, this could’ve been much, much worse. We’ll keep you updated on Weidman’s injury as information is made available, but breathe easy for now, Nation. Breathe easy.

J. Jones


(“That’s it, we gotta ban skateboards too!” — Dana White tomorrow)

First, the bad news: Chris Weidman has been forced to pull out from his UFC 181-scheduled bout with Vitor Belfort due to injury. As first reported by Ariel Helwani and confirmed by Dana White shortly thereafter, Weidman suffered a hairline fracture in his hand while sparring, which will require between 4-6 weeks to heal. The Belfort fight has been moved to an unknown date in February.

And now, the good: Replacing Weidman vs. Belfort in the main event slot of UFC 181 will be the highly-anticipated welterweight title rematch between champion Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.

“Bigg Rigg” and “Ruthless” first met at UFC 171 to fight for the welterweight title vacated by Georges St. Pierre. The hard fought, back-and-forth contest saw Hendricks emerge victorious by unanimous decision but also suffer a torn bicep and fractured shin that has kept him out of action since. Lawler, meanwhile, has notched victories over Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown at UFC 173 and UFC on FOX 12, respectively, to earn another shot at Hendricks.

The lightweight title fight between TUF 20 coaches Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez will remain in the co-main event slot of UFC 181 for now, so all things considered, this could’ve been much, much worse. We’ll keep you updated on Weidman’s injury as information is made available, but breathe easy for now, Nation. Breathe easy.

J. Jones

Weidman Injured, Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler II Set for UFC 181 on Dec. 6

With Chris Weidman out of his UFC 181 middleweight title fight against Vitor Belfort on Dec. 6, the UFC has called in its welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, to pick up the slack. 

According to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, UFC President Da…

With Chris Weidman out of his UFC 181 middleweight title fight against Vitor Belfort on Dec. 6, the UFC has called in its welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, to pick up the slack. 

According to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, UFC President Dana White has announced that Hendricks will defend his title in a rematch against Robbie Lawler on Dec. 6, a fight which will presumably take the place of the originally planned Weidman vs. Belfort showdown atop the card. 

Hendricks and Lawler previously fought for the then-vacant welterweight strap at UFC 171 in March 2014, where they put on a Fight of the Night, five-round performance for the Dallas crowd in attendance. 

While Hendricks took home the unanimous decision, the scorecards read 48-47 across the board, a point indicating the strength of Lawler’s performance

After defeating Jake Ellenberger via TKO and Matt Brown via decision since that UFC 171 scrap, Lawler again finds himself challenging for UFC gold, and the bout figures to be just as competitive this time around. While Lawler put in time and got back to the cage twice since his failed title bid, the champ has sat idly by, watching the division sort itself out. 

He has yet to defend his title, and prior to the news of Weidman’s injury, nothing had been formally planned. Now, however, the catalyst is in place, and the fight will happen earlier than anticipated on Dec. 6, a fact sure to please fight fans across the globe. 

This welterweight main event will be joined on the card by a title fight in the 155-pound division, as lightweight champion Anthony Pettis takes on Gilbert Melendez. 

Despite the slight disappointment caused by Weidman’s injury, it’s hard to complain too much about a fight card featuring two intriguing title fights at the top, especially when one is a Fight of the Night rematch between two tried and tested warrior in Hendricks and Lawler. 

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report as the UFC 181 fight card continues to develop. 

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Is the UFC Making a Concerted Effort as of Late to Stack PPVs?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has had quite the hard time fighting off its critics this year. One of the main reasons that many have taken to their pitchforks and torches is the perception that the UFC is not presenting the best fight cards possib…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has had quite the hard time fighting off its critics this year. One of the main reasons that many have taken to their pitchforks and torches is the perception that the UFC is not presenting the best fight cards possible to the mixed martial arts community.

However, the promotion has recently put together some events that should quell the words of their detractors. The UFC has a slate of upcoming events that will remind fans of the old “stacked” cards of lore.

Yes, the year 2014 has seen some less than desirable cards that featured mid-tier competitors in the main event contests. Names such as James Te Huna, Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and Hyun Gyu Lim have taken headline spots that were usually held for titleholders or those on the cusp of shots at the belt. These are just a few examples of the cards that have garnered a lackluster response from fight fans. They are quite different from the cards that were put on when the promotion and the sport itself battled for mainstream recognition.

Mookie Alexander of Bloody Elbow has presented commentary pleading with the UFC to no longer present their fights as they have in the past.

“It is simply no longer enough to just say ‘the UFC is on, now watch it,’ you have to make the audience interested in your product and interested in your fighters, and they do neither,” he wrote.

One must also not forget about the injuries that have torn into shows. UFC 178 was one of the biggest planned events that the promotion would have put on in recent memory. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier were set to meet in the main event until an injury forced Jones out of the fight. 

However, the UFC was able to move Demetrious Johnson’s next title defense against Chris Cariaso into the main event slot. Still, the excitement level around that card is not the same, even though it still features 12 fighters who are currently ranked officially, per UFC.

Looking beyond UFC 178, it seems as if the UFC is making an effort to present better cards to the public. Lorenzo Fertitta has gone on record to state that pay-per-view events should feature a main event contest with a title belt on the line, per Fox Sports Live. Below those headliners, the organization plans to put together not only exciting fights, but also contests that have value within specific weight classes.

Bleacher Report lead writer Jeremy Botter recently wrote a piece on the improved cards the organization planned to give fight fans:

There is hope peeking over the horizon. If the slate of upcoming UFC pay-per-view events is any sign, the promotion has heard our cries. After a dismal season of PPV events (at least from a monetary perspective), the world’s largest MMA promotion is loading up for bear hunting season.

Take a look at UFC 181 set for December 6. Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort will meet for the middleweight title. This fight will occur just after Anthony Pettis defends his lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez. These are two highly anticipated title defenses, and they will occur on the same night.

A month before this event, UFC 180 will feature Cain Velasquez against Fabricio Werdum. The undercard doesn’t have any other title bouts, but still includes fights such as Diego Sanchez versus Norman Parke, Dennis Bermudez versus Ricardo Lamas and the continued emergence of Kelvin Gastelum. All of these examples are key fights within their respective weight classes that fans should enjoy on an excitement level as well.

As the UFC makes more of an effort to make itself a force within the worldwide fight game, fans will continue to complain about “weaker” cards that will house lesser-known and local talent. These events are being used correctly as a chance to build foreign talent in their home countries. 

In North America, the UFC is working and presenting examples of cards that feature more well-known talent in an effort to rekindle the excitement that once accompanied every UFC PPV. Starting with UFC 178, the promotion is clearly headed in the right direction.

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‘Jacare’ Souza Preparing to Replace Vitor Belfort or Chris Weidman at UFC 181

Surging UFC middleweight contender Ronaldo Souza isn’t scheduled to fight for the UFC middleweight championship this year, but apparently, he’s anxious for a high-profile matchup before 2015 begins. 
“Jacare,” the No. 2 185-pounder in the UFC’s of…

Surging UFC middleweight contender Ronaldo Souza isn’t scheduled to fight for the UFC middleweight championship this year, but apparently, he’s anxious for a high-profile matchup before 2015 begins. 

“Jacare,” the No. 2 185-pounder in the UFC’s official rankings, is fresh off a dominant submission victory over Gegard Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 50 last week and is hoping to keep the momentum going, based on a report from this week’s edition of UFC Tonight (h/t MMA Fighting). 

MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight that Souza (21-3, 1 NC), fresh off his dominant third-round submission victory over former Strikeforce titleholder Gegard Mousasi, intends to go through a full two-month training camp on the off-chance that either UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman or controversial title challenger Vitor Belfort drop out before the pair can tangle in Las Vegas this December at UFC 181.

Although UFC President Dana White said that the dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would likely need one more fight before he vies for UFC gold, per Bloody Elbow, it’s tough to envision anyone else being next in line.

The X-Gym standout has taken his game to another level since losing the Strikeforce middleweight title to Luke Rockhold in September 2011, winning seven fights in a row (six of which were finishes).

In the past year alone, the 34-year-old has scored big victories over contenders Yushin Okami, Francis Carmont and Mousasi, avenging a September 2008 loss to “The Dreamcatcher.”

UFC 181 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on December 6 and is headlined by a title fight between Weidman and Belfort.

While he is arguably the most deserving in the division, Souza now joins fellow Strikeforce imports Rockhold and Tim Kennedy in a group of fighters ready and willing to compete in the UFC 181 main event, per Bloody Elbow.

Will fight fans see Souza fight a top-three opponent before the end of the year, or will he be forced to patiently wait until the first quarter of 2015 before he walks out to the Octagon again?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

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Travis Browne vs. Brendan Schaub Booked for UFC 181

The UFC’s brass evidently still considers unranked heavyweight Brendan Schaub a viable contender, even after his lackluster performance in his most recent outing at UFC 174 in June.
As reported by Fox Sports, the UFC announced Tuesday that Schaub will …

The UFC’s brass evidently still considers unranked heavyweight Brendan Schaub a viable contender, even after his lackluster performance in his most recent outing at UFC 174 in June.

As reported by Fox Sports, the UFC announced Tuesday that Schaub will square off with third-ranked heavyweight and Jackson’s MMA stalwart Travis Browne at UFC 181 in December.

Schaub acknowledged the matchup with Browne via Twitter on Tuesday.

A fight with Browne arguably represents the most promising opportunity in the five-year UFC career of Schaub, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a former tight end at the University of Colorado.

Schaub saw his two-fight winning streak come to a halt when he dropped a controversial split decision to Andrei Arlovski at UFC 174.

Schaub scored the only takedown of the bout and outstruck the former UFC heavyweight champ, 65-40, including 30-12 in the significant strikes department. 

Prior to his loss at UFC 174, Schaub submitted slugger Matt Mitrione with a D’arce choke at UFC 165 in February 2013. Seven months before that win, The Hybrid earned a unanimous decision over another heavy-handed boxer, Lavar Johnson, at UFC 157.

Schaub (10-4) holds a 6-4 UFC record with three KOs

Browne (16-2-1) was riding an impressive three-fight winning streak before getting routed by top-ranked heavyweight Fabricio Werdum in a unanimous-decision loss at UFC on Fox 11 in April.

In consecutive fights in 2013, Hapa notched KO wins over a trio of top-15 heavyweights in Gabriel Gonzaga (No. 12), Alistair Overeem (No. 10) and Josh Barnett (No 6).

Browne has compiled a 7-2-1 record since joining the UFC in 2010.

All stats gathered via Fightmetric.com.

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