Tag: UFC 187

Chris Weidman’s UFC 187 Message: “You Better Join the Team Now … I Love You”

There’s no denying Chris Weidman his glory anymore.
His resume is simply too elegant and entrancing to dismiss the excellence he’s portrayed inside of the Octagon since his debut in 2011.
Victories over Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and most recently V…

There’s no denying Chris Weidman his glory anymore.

His resume is simply too elegant and entrancing to dismiss the excellence he’s portrayed inside of the Octagon since his debut in 2011.

Victories over Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and most recently Vitor Belfort have given Weidman enough firepower in future discussions regarding the pound-for-pound best fighter in the game today.

With some of the best all-round skills we’ve ever seen enter the cage, the All-American is the quintessential example of a fighter who puts it all together when it matters the most.

Not to mention, he can take the best shots that infamous strikers like Belfort and Machida have to offer.

But even after his dismantling of The Phenom on Saturday at UFC 187, the middleweight kingpin felt inclined to give his past doubters one more shot to change their minds.

“Hey, stop doubting me,” Weidman said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, originally reported by MMA Fighting’s Marc Raimondi. “It’s enough. Stop doubting me. You better join the team now. This is my last invitation. Join the team. I love you.”

While sincere and on the side of friendly prodding, Weidman‘s message can be read loud and clear.

With the remains of Brazil’s very best MMA fighters ever scattered throughout his backyard, it would be ill-advised and unfair for the New Yorker to be doubted any longer.

Now, while Weidman himself has acknowledged this lack of validation in the past, three-straight UFC middleweight title defenses would suggest his self-recognition has burned out completely.

And rightfully so. The guy is one of the best all-around athletes to step inside of the Octagon arguably since Randy Couture.

“I’m for real,” Weidman added. “I felt that after the Machida fight, there was a good group of people that started following, and there was believers. But with the time off, the haters just grew stronger and stronger, so I had to just come in here and do my thing again.”

Surely, the haters have died down after such a dominating performance at the expense of Belfort, but it’s likely people will still believe Weidman‘s game has significant holes.

While that has yet to be seen, the champ is due to encounter contenders like Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the near future, which could very well dispel the myths of his weaknesses ever further.

“I’m not missing the Madison Square Garden fight, that’s for sure,” Weidman said after his Belfort fight. “That’s all I really care about. Asking about ‘Jacare’ or Rockhold, honestly, it doesn’t matter. I want to fight either one of them, but in Madison Square Garden. As long as I’m in that venue, I’m a happy man. That’s a dream.”

In any case, Weidman has once again proved he deserves to carry the 185-pound strap.

His invitation to join his team probably won’t last long, so do everything you can to buy a seat on the bandwagon while it lasts.

 

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Johnson vs. Cormier Results: Winner and Storylines to Watch After UFC 187

For now, Daniel Cormier can lay claim to being the baddest 205-pound man on the planet. The 36-year-old put the light heavyweight championship belt around his waist in the main event at UFC 187 on Saturday, taking the throne left vacant by former …

For now, Daniel Cormier can lay claim to being the baddest 205-pound man on the planet. The 36-year-old put the light heavyweight championship belt around his waist in the main event at UFC 187 on Saturday, taking the throne left vacant by former champion Jon Jones. 

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson certainly did his best to take the title for himself. He knocked Cormier down in the opening moments of the bout and threatened with his power on multiple occasions in the first two rounds. 

However, Cormier is a master of the grind, and that was the difference. He scored three takedowns via FightMetric and wore out Johnson with relentless pressure before finally submitting him in the third round.

It was a main event that really left more questions than answers. Cormier left with the belt around his waist, but just how long he’ll hold it is a point of intrigue moving forward.

Here’s a look at the top storylines to watch in this new era of the light heavyweight division. 

 

Where Does Rumble Go From Here?

Johnson left UFC 187 without the title, but he still proved he’s very capable of holding it one day. How Cormier survived some of the bombs Johnson landed in the first round is a minor miracle. In a rematch or against another opponent, the story could be different if Johnson connected with his powerful strikes again. 

The good news for Rumble is that at 31 years old, he still has time to work his way back up. The even better news—as former UFC fighter Brian Stann points out—is that light heavyweight isn’t the deep division it once was:

Assuming Jones does not come back in the immediate future, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson only need one win to get another shot at Cormier. With him winning the first round, it wouldn’t be a hard angle for the UFC to sell. 

Johnson was focused on getting back to this point in the post fight press conference.

“My goal is still to be champion one day,” He said via Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie. “I was on a nine-fight win-streak, and Daniel just defeated me. But I promise I’ll be back. I don’t care who I have to fight, when I have to fight them or where I have to fight them. I will be back, and whoever’s there, hey, let’s do it.”

With that nine-fight win streak highlighted by Alexander Gustafsson, Johnson would likely be the favorite in any fight at light heavyweight against someone not named Jones or Cormier. 

 

Is Ryan Bader Next for Daniel Cormier?

With Johnson out of the way and Jones’ future unclear, just who is next on the docket for Cormier is up in the air. Ryan Bader would like to clear that up, though. 

As UFC on Fox tweeted, Bader and Cormier got into a heated exchange at the post-fight press conference:

Marketing a potential fight down the road, Cormier provided this gem, according to Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting, in regards to the fight between the two that was scrapped to give the title shot to DC:

It’s an unfortunate reality sometimes, but it’s possible for fighters to talk themselves into UFC title shots. That’s likely what happened at the post-fight press conference. Bader was ranked No. 5 in the division on the night of the fight and now has a marketable angle in the form of beef with the champion. 

However, he’s not the only option available for Cormier. As Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report points out, Gustafsson and Rashad Evans also have compelling cases:

A matchup with Bader could ultimately be the choice to keep DC busy while Johnson or Jones sets up a rematch. 

 

When Will Jon Jones Return to the Octagon?

What Cormier‘s victory really did is set up a potential massive rematch with Jones. He wasted no time in calling him out in the direct aftermath of the win, per UFC on Fox:

That being said, there’s no telling when that could take place.

UFC President Dana White has said Jones will have an immediate title shot when he comes back to the UFC, per Jim Rome on The Jim Rome Show (via MMA Fighting’s Al-Shatti). However, there are those who know the former champion and think he needs to take his time in coming back, including Anderson Silva.

“I don’t think so man,” Silva told TMZ Sports in response to a question about Jones coming back. “Jones is a good boy—he’s a good man. He needs to focus. … I love Jones, but he needs to change everything in life.”

There might be an expiration date for the potential rematch, though. According to MMA Fighting, Cormier hinted about possible retirement in the near future, now that he’s finally captured UFC gold:

Clearly Jones’ No. 1 priority right now needs to be getting his life together outside of the cage. The UFC can’t afford to be represented by someone who can’t be the face of the organization.

A rematch with Cormier might not fit into those plans for him to get his life together before returning to competition. 

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UFC 187 Results: 3 Fights for Travis Browne to Take Next

UFC 187 marked the historic return of Andrei Arlovski to promotional prominence.
His unheralded power succeeded yet again in a heavyweight showdown that has propelled him to the forefront of another title shot.
Unfortunately, Travis Browne was cau…

UFC 187 marked the historic return of Andrei Arlovski to promotional prominence.

His unheralded power succeeded yet again in a heavyweight showdown that has propelled him to the forefront of another title shot.

Unfortunately, Travis Browne was caught in his cross hairs.

In one of the most entertaining first rounds quite possibly ever, The Pit Bull worked Hapa over en route to capturing a memorable TKO and Fight of the Night honors.

Browne may have wobbled and weaved like a drunken sailor returning from sea, but his resilience and overall ability to eat a punch are two factors that will allow him to rebound fairly quickly.

Here are three fights for the towering Hawaiian to take next as he attempts to patch a once iron-clad resume and reestablish his worth atop the heavyweight crop.

 

Winner of Ben Rothwell vs. Matt Mitrione

This is probably the most likely scenario for Browne moving forward.

The fighter who wins between Ben Rothwell and Matt Mitrione on June 6 will come off with at least three-straight victories, but Browne carries enough divisional weight to challenge a streaking up-and-coming contender.

Rothwell‘s plodding striking and willingness to exchange in close quarters would probably bode well for Hapa, especially considering a fight with the powerful Mitrione could lead to yet another knockout defeat.

Either way, this will give Browne the chance to ward off the next wave of rising title threats in order to reshape his recent misfortune and prove he still has the potential we once thought he did.

 

Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic

It’s crazy to consider Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic a contender in the heavyweight division in this day and age, but the guy is starting to resemble a 2015 version of the aforementioned Arlovski.

In any case, the UFC should want to throw the veteran to the wolves, per se, in order to gauge his potential.

An April victory over Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga at UFC Fight Night 64 is all well and good, but Napao is one of the most unpredictable heavyweights of all time.

That’s where Browne comes in.

It would give him the opportunity to show why he’s still a top-10 threat and give the promotion the chance to see if Cro Cop can rise beyond expectation.

 

Mark Hunt

This fight makes less sense than the others, but man, does it carry some excitement.

As two of the most popular heavyweights in the game today, Browne and Mark Hunt would certainly provide fireworks if they squared off.

It would be interesting to see if the Super Samoan has the ability to get inside on a physical freak like Browne as well as the potential of knocking Hapa out.

In a perfect world, this fight would already be scheduled, but with injuries to Hunt stemming from his defeat at the hands of Stipe Miocic at UFC Fight Night 65 in early May, this matchup will have to take a backseat for the moment.

 

 

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UFC 187: Grades for Every Main Card Fighter from Johnson vs. Cormier Fight Card

Two belts were awarded Saturday night, as UFC 187 came live from the fight capital that is Las Vegas. With the UFC Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Championships on the line, two fighters put in grand performances to stake claim to gold.
In the main …

Two belts were awarded Saturday night, as UFC 187 came live from the fight capital that is Las Vegas. With the UFC Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Championships on the line, two fighters put in grand performances to stake claim to gold.

In the main event, Daniel Cormier scored a third-round submission when he choked out Anthony Johnson for the vacant 205-pound title. It was a belt left behind by Jon Jones, who vacated the title due to his recent legal troubles.

Then, in the co-main event, Chris Weidman made short work of Vitor Belfort to retain his title. It was an impressive performance that continues to build the star of one of MMA‘s best young champions.

The main card was an interesting one with good fights and great moments. Let’s take a look at each individual performance and put a grade on each fighter’s outing.

Begin Slideshow

Weidman vs. Belfort Results: Winner and Storylines to Watch After UFC 187

Chris Weidman can finally stop thinking about Vitor Belfort. The reigning UFC middleweight champion dispatched of his Brazilian challenger in the first round in the co-main event at UFC 187. 
The 30-year-old has been known to post pictures of his …

Chris Weidman can finally stop thinking about Vitor Belfort. The reigning UFC middleweight champion dispatched of his Brazilian challenger in the first round in the co-main event at UFC 187. 

The 30-year-old has been known to post pictures of his opponents on his fridge as he prepares for fights. That means he spent a lot of time taking in this picture that he posted on Instagram of Belfort—they were originally supposed to fight in February at UFC 184 and back in May 2014 at UFC 173 and December 2014 at UFC 181—before ultimately beating him on Saturday.

With just 13 fights under his belt, it still feels like we are learning about Weidman, even though he’s earned his spot among the pound-for-pound elite in the organization. This fight’s lesson? He’s tough as nails. 

Belfort landed some big shots early on that opened up a cut on Weidman‘s face before the All-American rallied and finished the fight on the ground. 

Now, he can finally put Belfort behind him and focus on the upcoming challenges.

Here’s a look at what lies ahead for each of the fighters.

 

Belfort: Retirement or Rampage Treatment

The loss likely signals the end of Belfort as a contender for any UFC titles. The 38-year-old has lost three title opportunities since 2011 and isn’t getting any younger. 

That leaves him with two options: ride off into the sunset knowing his days of adding accolades to his resume are over or hang around and take matchups the fans want to see. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is a perfect example of the latter option. 

After his stint in Bellator, Jackson recently returned to the UFC and was given a matchup with a boxer in Fabio Maldonado, who was a perfect matchup for Jackson’s striking-heavy style. 

Belfort might not be a contender anymore, but there are still fights out there that would be fun to see. For instance, Weidman was asked who he thought would win a rematch between Belfort and Anderson Silva, per MMA Fighting:

Belfort himself denied retirement in the post-fight press conference, according to MMA Fighting:

After coming up short against Weidman, Belfort showed he’s nothing more than a gatekeeper in the middleweight division. Will he be willing to hang around and accept that role?

 

Weidman: Luke Rockhold, Jacare Souza and Madison Square Garden

Weidman was already planning the next step in his career in the aftermath of his title defense Saturday. The native New Yorker expressed his interest in being part of the UFC card planned for Madison Square Garden in December. 

Via Damon Martin of Fox Sports, Weidman said at the UFC 187 post fight press conference:

I’m not missing the Madison Square Garden fight. That’s for sure. That’s all I really care about. … Everybody’s asking me about ‘Jacare’ [Souza] or [Luke] Rockhold, honestly, it doesn’t matter. I want to fight either one of them in Madison Square Garden. As long as I’m in that venue, I’m a happy man. That’s a dream.

Rockhold would like to fight on the December card, as well, but envisions himself already being the champion, per Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie:

There’s no doubt that Rockhold is deserving of the title shot. His dismantling of Lyoto Machida in April was more impressive than anything Souza has done to earn a shot at the title. However, December is a long time to wait for Weidman to defend the belt again. 

Regardless of who, when or where the champion fights next, one thing is for sure: The time for doubting him has passed. Weidman‘s first-round finish of Belfort is the latest example of why the All-American deserves his spot among the top fighters in the sport. 

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Arlovski vs. Browne: Video Highlights from UFC 187 Heavyweight Slugfest

Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne had the round of the year on Saturday night and quite possibly the Fight of the Year thus far in 2015. You have to watch these highlights courtesy of Fox Sports.
Entering the fight, Browne was potentially fighting for …

Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne had the round of the year on Saturday night and quite possibly the Fight of the Year thus far in 2015. You have to watch these highlights courtesy of Fox Sports.

Entering the fight, Browne was potentially fighting for a title shot. He was the No. 3-ranked contender and the heavyweight with the best win streak of the potential contenders. A win at UFC 187 looked like it could propel him toward a title shot.

On the opposite side of the cage, No. 8-ranked Arlovski was seeking to continue his story of redemption. Once left for dead in this division and thought of as merely a washed-up hack, he is now enjoying a career resurgence.

Arlovski got on the offensive early. He connected with heavy punches and hurt Browne. The Pit Bull did not get wild with his strikes while seeking a finish; he was not going to overexpose himself. Even still, the tempo started to ramp up. Arlovski continued his onslaught.

Then out of nowhere Browne connected. Arlovski buckled.

It looked as if Browne would escape with a come-from-behind victory. Instead, Arlovski survived long enough to get back to his feet and continue firing back at Browne. The Belarusian repeatedly connected, and the punches forced the referee to step in between the heavyweights to signal the end of the fight.

The exciting TKO victory now moves Arlovski into position for a potential title fight. He is enjoying a five-fight win streak that includes three wins in the Octagon. A title fight against the winner of UFC 188’s unification bout would not be unjust.

Making the performance even more spectacular is the fact that the UFC did not even think Arlovski could fight two hours before the event, according to Shaun Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting. Arlovski suffered a calf injury the night before the fight. Dana White told Arlovski he didn’t have to take the fight, and doctors said it was his choice whether to compete.

Arlovski made that walk to the cage to put on a show.

He and Browne deservedly earned $50,000 bonus checks for their Fight of the Night.

This was the fight everyone needed. The start to UFC 187 was lackluster. The main card delivered in a big way, and Arlovski and Browne were a major reason for that. We won’t soon forget their frantic first round, which has lasting impact on the heavyweight division.

The fight will go down as one of the year’s best. Enjoy the highlights of the crazy heavyweight action.

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