Tag: UFC 183

Here’s Hoping UFC’s Injury Luck Turns Around in Time for Epic January Slate

2014 has been a trying year for the UFC. The organization has had a number of premier fights fall apart due to injuries.
Injuries are a part of the sport, but for whatever reason, they have wreaked havoc on fights fans have wanted to see. In recent mon…

2014 has been a trying year for the UFC. The organization has had a number of premier fights fall apart due to injuries.

Injuries are a part of the sport, but for whatever reason, they have wreaked havoc on fights fans have wanted to see. In recent months we have seen Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier get pushed back, and Cain Velasquez have to back out of his UFC 180 fight against Fabricio Werdum.

I am asking any deity that will listen to curtail these injuries moving forward, because the beginning to 2015 is electric.

Within 31 days we will be treated to a slate of fights like never before. The UFC offers four events in the first month of 2015 that will deliver highly anticipated fights and spectacular action. The UFC will waste no time in providing one of the hottest bouts out of the gate.

Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title is set as the main event on January 3. The title tilt will headline UFC 182. This is one of the hottest rivalries in the sport, and their tussle at their press event earlier in 2013 helped generate even more buzz surrounding this fight.

Almost lost in the wake of Jones and Cormier’s hatred for one another is a spectacular co-main event between lightweight contenders Donald Cerrone and Myles Jury.

The UFC’s next offering is on January 18. The UFC Fight Night 59 card is headlined by rising superstar Conor McGregor against Dennis Siver, and the co-main event may be the least talked-about blockbuster of all: Benson Henderson vs. Eddie Alvarez.

The UFC’s slate of fantastic fights marches on.

January 24 plays host to UFC on Fox 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. The two headlining bouts are Dan Henderson, in his return to middleweight, against Gegard Mousasi and Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson.

Those two fights are free on network television.

The month closes with UFC 183 on January 31 with the return of two of the sport’s biggest stars in what is almost guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining fights of 2015.

Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz are signed on for a middleweight clash. Both men are showmen inside the cage. Taunting, trash-talking and superior striking ability will be on display. And while this matchup gets all the attention, and rightfully so, the UFC has a great undercard beneath it.

Welterweights Tyron Woodley and Kelvin Gastelum co-main event, top-five women’s bantamweight contenders Miesha Tate and Sara McMann square off, and no one should forget bout welterweight’s Jordan Mein and Thiago Alves are signed to do battle as well.

If the injury rate slows down enough to allow all of these fights to go off in the first 31 days of 2015, we could be talking about the greatest month of fights in MMA history. It is a ridiculous way to open the new year, and the UFC would be well on its way toward delivering what fans want to see.

We are a month-and-a-half away from kicking that incredible slate off.

Fingers crossed. That is a lot of time before the calendar turns.

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Jon Jones: I’m 2 Wins Away from Being GOAT, Moving to Heavyweight

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he’s just two wins away from being considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time—which is when he’ll make the move to heavyweight. 
In an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, “Bon…

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he’s just two wins away from being considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time—which is when he’ll make the move to heavyweight. 

In an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, “Bones” said that victories over Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson should solidify his position in the sport once and for all. 

As far as being the greatest of all time, I think me beating Gustafsson and DC — how do you argue that? The argument is just gone, you know what I mean? I do believe I have the best résumé in the sport’s history. I don’t think anyone has beaten as many [former] champions as I have. To go on what I’ve already done and beat DC and Gustafsson? I just think no matter who your favorite is, you can’t deny I’m the best in the game. 

Furthermore, Jones said he’d consider the UFC’s 205-pound division “cleared” at that point and move to heavyweight though he acknowledged that fight fans are clamoring for him to square off with surging contender Anthony Johnson as well. 

One of the best pure athletes—coupled with one of the most unpredictable styles—in the sport, Jones’ ledger is already a solid one at 27 years old. 

Dating back to March 2010, Jones has won 11 straight fights that include consecutive victories over ex-UFC champs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort.

The UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter, according to its official rankings, is often regarded as being unbeaten inside the cage since his only loss, which was to Matt Hamill, was a disqualification for using “12-to-6” elbows. 

Prior to the DQ, Jones was winning the December 2009 encounter handily and looked well on his way to a stoppage victory. 

His next title defense, looking to make it eight in a row, will be a grudge match against Cormier, which headlines UFC 182 on January 3. 

If Jones knocks off Cormier and Gustafsson, would he be generally viewed as the greatest of all time in the fight community?

 

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

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Kelvin Gastelum Gets Quick Turnaround, Faces Tyron Woodley in UFC 183 Co-Main Event


(Photo via Getty.)

After coming out of his UFC 180 win over Jake Ellenberger no worse for the wear, TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum will be given next to no time off before receiving a(nother) huge step up in competition.

UFC officials announced earlier this evening that Gastelum has been booked to take on top welterweight contender Tyron Woodley at UFC 183: Diaz vs. Silva. As was the case with his bout against Elenberger, the fight will receive co-main event status.

Gatelum’s first round submission over Ellenberger last weekend improved his professional record to a perfect 10-0, while the 14-3 Woodley recently rebounded from a one-sided beatdown at the hands of Rory MacDonald with a first round starching of Dong Hyun Kim at Fight Night 48.

Gastelum is easily the greatest prospect to come out of The Ultimate Fighter since the early seasons, but does anyone think he can handle a legitimate top 3 opponent like Woodley? Give us a shout in the comments section.

–J. Jones


(Photo via Getty.)

After coming out of his UFC 180 win over Jake Ellenberger no worse for the wear, TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum will be given next to no time off before receiving a(nother) huge step up in competition.

UFC officials announced earlier this evening that Gastelum has been booked to take on top welterweight contender Tyron Woodley at UFC 183: Diaz vs. Silva. As was the case with his bout against Elenberger, the fight will receive co-main event status.

Gatelum’s first round submission over Ellenberger last weekend improved his professional record to a perfect 10-0, while the 14-3 Woodley recently rebounded from a one-sided beatdown at the hands of Rory MacDonald with a first round starching of Dong Hyun Kim at Fight Night 48.

Gastelum is easily the greatest prospect to come out of The Ultimate Fighter since the early seasons, but does anyone think he can handle a legitimate top 3 opponent like Woodley? Give us a shout in the comments section.

–J. Jones

Antonio Silva vs. Frank Mir Booked for UFC 184, Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann a Go for UFC 183


(#ForaWin. Via Mir’s Instagram.)

According to a report on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight, heavyweight staples Frank Mir and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva have been booked to throw down at UFC 184: Weidman vs. Belfort in Los Angeles.

In a previous, less saturated era of the UFC, this fight would likely be considered one of the “do-or-die” nature for both guys, who have been struggling as of late to put it lightly. Since breaking Big Nog’s arm back in December of 2011, Mir has fallen on a rather tough-to-watch 0-4 skid, which has included TKO losses to Junior Dos Santos and Josh Barnett and decision losses to Daniel Cormier and Alistair Overeem. Despite this, the former champion is somehow still ranked #13, which should really tell you something about the depth of the heavyweight division right now.

Silva, on the other hand, has been run over by Cain Velasquez, busted for elevated testosterone, and hammerfisted into oblivion by Andrei Arlovski in his past three appearances. So yeah, both guys could use a win, but a loss a won’t likely result in either of them being let go. But what do you think, Nation, does Mir still have enough in the tank to avoid the dreaded 0-5 stretch (a.k.a The Cantwell)?

In other fight booking news…


(#ForaWin. Via Mir’s Instagram.)

According to a report on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight, heavyweight staples Frank Mir and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva have been booked to throw down at UFC 184: Weidman vs. Belfort in Los Angeles.

In a previous, less saturated era of the UFC, this fight would likely be considered one of the “do-or-die” nature for both guys, who have been struggling as of late to put it lightly. Since breaking Big Nog’s arm back in December of 2011, Mir has fallen on a rather tough-to-watch 0-4 skid, which has included TKO losses to Junior Dos Santos and Josh Barnett and decision losses to Daniel Cormier and Alistair Overeem. Despite this, the former champion is somehow still ranked #13, which should really tell you something about the depth of the heavyweight division right now.

Silva, on the other hand, has been run over by Cain Velasquez, busted for elevated testosterone, and hammerfisted into oblivion by Andrei Arlovski in his past three appearances. So yeah, both guys could use a win, but a loss a won’t likely result in either of them being let go. But what do you think, Nation, does Mir still have enough in the tank to avoid the dreaded 0-5 stretch (a.k.a The Cantwell)?

In other fight booking news, bantamweight bridesmaids Miesha Tate and Sara McMann have agreed to face one another at UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz on January 31st in Las Vegas. Tate was most recently able to improve her UFC record to an even .500 via a unanimous decision victory over Rin Nakai at Fight Night Japan, whereas McMann is fresh off a split decision win over promotional newcomer Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night 47.

While the fighter formerly known as “Takedown” Tate has been rallying to get an opponent that will stand and trade with her in recent weeks (specifically, Bethe Correia), it looks like she’ll have to settle with another “lay-n-prayer” in McMann. Not that *I* think the Olympic silver medalist is a “lay-n-prayer,” it’s just that I’ve read such things in comments sections across the MMA blogosphere, which we all know is where the real experts are found.

Random note: At the time being, the co-main event of UFC 183 is being listed as Thiago Santos vs. Andy Enz. The fuck is that shit?

–J. Jones

Sara McMann vs. Miesha Tate Booked for UFC 183 in Las Vegas

It took awhile, but the UFC was finally able to announce a long-awaited bout between No. 2-ranked women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate (15-5) and No. 3-ranked Sara McMann (8-1).

The former Olympian tweeted nearly a month ago that this bout was close to be…

It took awhile, but the UFC was finally able to announce a long-awaited bout between No. 2-ranked women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate (15-5) and No. 3-ranked Sara McMann (8-1).

The former Olympian tweeted nearly a month ago that this bout was close to being official. The announcement was made on Fox Sports 1 during the broadcast of UFC Tonight.

McMann lobbied hard for this fight, and Tate was not going to back away from the challenge. Both women have challenged for the UFC gold, but both came up short against Ronda Rousey.

Tate started her UFC career with back-to-back losses to Cat Zingano and Rousey. She has since rebounded with two straight wins. She got back in the win column with a dominant performance over Liz Carmouche in April and came back in September with a decision win against Rin Nakai.

McMann dropped her title bid in February, but she took a narrow and contentious decision against Lauren Murphy in August.

This top-five matchup will move the winner into prime position to challenge once again for the strap. The division is shallow and in need of contenders, and these two ladies are the cream of the crop. Tate will want to erase two armbar losses to Rousey, and McMann wants to redeem herself after a 66-second loss by way of a TKO.

Rousey is set to defend the title in late February against Cat Zingano at UFC 184.

UFC 183 takes place in Las Vegas on January 31, 2015, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main event will be a middleweight attraction between Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz. The McMann-Tate bout will help bolster the card with another high-level fight in the month of January.

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Anderson Silva Hospitalized in Brazil for Lumbago, Still Set to Face Nick Diaz

The highly anticipated fight between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former Strikeforce and EliteXC champion Nick Diaz has hit another speed bump, but its destination and estimated time of arrival remain unchanged.
According to&nbsp…

The highly anticipated fight between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former Strikeforce and EliteXC champion Nick Diaz has hit another speed bump, but its destination and estimated time of arrival remain unchanged.

According to Ivan Raupp of Combate (h/t Karim Zidan of Bloody Elbow), “The Spider” spent Monday night in a hospital after collapsing following a workout. Silva then described that he was feeling intense pain and was unable to feel his legs.

After several tests, Silva’s plight was diagnosed as simply lumbago (a type of back pain). Silva’s doctor (and medical director of Brazil’s MMA sanctioning body, CABMMA), Marcio Tannure, reassured fans, via Bloody Elbow.

“It hurts a lot, really, but it will not change anything in terms of training,” Tannure said. “The problem he had justified the pain, but it will not result in a withdrawal or cancellation of the fight.”

Obviously, fans are right to be at least moderately concerned in spite of Tannure‘s reassurance. Back troubles are a serious issue in MMA, and fighters such as Tito Ortiz and Shane Carwin have both had their careers irrevocably altered by serious back issues that weren’t accompanied by being unable to feel their legs.

With Silva set to fight on January 31 at UFC 183, however, he has quite a bit of time left to recover from whatever ailment he might have.

For his part, Diaz has been providing plenty of his own pre-fight drama. Diaz was arrested in September on suspicion of DUI, which called attention to another unpublicized December 2013 DUI incident.

While some speculated initially that it might put the fight at risk, UFC brass no-sold the idea that the fight was in jeopardy, and it is unlikely that the Nevada State Athletic Commission would interfere with what is a guaranteed payday out of any sense of duty to the safety and well-being of its citizens.

Either way, watch for Bleacher Report’s continued coverage of the buildup to UFC 183.

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