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UFC on FOX 5 Results: What We Learned from Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan

Dennis Siver and Nam Phan put on a solid featherweight scrap to get the FX portion of the UFC on FOX 5 prelims underway.The bout entertained from beginning to end, though it was more of a mugging than a fight. Siver was able to employ a variety of punc…

Dennis Siver and Nam Phan put on a solid featherweight scrap to get the FX portion of the UFC on FOX 5 prelims underway.

The bout entertained from beginning to end, though it was more of a mugging than a fight. Siver was able to employ a variety of punches, kicks and takedowns to impressive effect, and Phan was never really able to get going.

What we’ll remember about this fight:

In addition to being a very entertaining, albeit one-sided, contest, Siver‘s dismantling of Phan was his featherweight coming-out party.

The rest of the division has officially been put on notice.

What we learned about Phan:

Though tough as nails, Phan just can’t seem to break into that next level of competition. He took everything Siver could dish out, but mounted essentially no offense.

If anything, this match reaffirms Phan‘s durability and cements his place in the featherweight division’s lower-middle tier.

What we learned about Dennis Siver:

Siver has found a home at featherweight. He looks massive for a 145-er yet he held a clear speed and technical advantage over Phan.

The constant onslaught of varied strikes and takedowns the German executed from start to finish looked like the work of a serious featherweight contender.

Whether he’s ready for the likes of Jose Aldo is debatable, but if there is anything to take away from Siver‘s UFC on FOX 5 performance, it’s that he is a legitimate threat in the 155-pound weight class.

What’s next for Phan:

It’s possible he may be looking for work, but he may get another turn in the UFC. If so, Ridrigo Damm presents an interesting challenge.

What’s next for Siver:

A fight with the resurgent Cub Swanson would be fun. Or maybe Mike Brown.

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UFC on FOX 5: Are Wins by MacDonald and Gustafsson Best for Business?

At UFC on FOX 5, two young lions will have the chance to upend two legends. As a company, the UFC should be rooting for that.In every walk of life there is a transition. A natural move from the old to the new. In a business model like the UFC’s, …

At UFC on FOX 5, two young lions will have the chance to upend two legends.

As a company, the UFC should be rooting for that.

In every walk of life there is a transition. A natural move from the old to the new. In a business model like the UFC’s, making new names is a business in itself. Popular fighters, “name” guys, eventually have to get defeated for the next “name” to be made.

Rashad Evans fought to a draw with Tito Ortiz and knocked out Chuck Liddell, gaining enough steam to eventually face Forrest Griffin for the light heavyweight title and make a name all on his own. Jon Jones went on one of the great streaks in MMA history, defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans. The progression of a rising star taking the place of a fading one is business as usual for the UFC.

The UFC is banking on Rory MacDonald and Alexander Gustafsson to be those rising stars. They’re set to face BJ Penn and Shogun Rua on free TV in what should easily break the five–million–viewer plateau. If they win impressively, the UFC can easily promote them as the new legend killers.

If they lose, they’ll miss out on their best chance to capitalize on becoming box office hits.

Whether we like it or not, BJ and Shogun’s careers are in a downturn. With a combined 53 fights, a win here is just padding to already stellar careers. In three years, we’ll be lucky if either man is still in the UFC.

Ares and the Mauler are 23 and 25 respectively, with 29 matches between them. In three years, they’ll be entering their prime and well on their way to stardom. A big win on UFC on FOX 5 will jump-start that. The UFC brass know that, and they’ll be silently rooting for a highlight–reel finish by each of the young guns. It’s just good for business.

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Dana White: “BJ Penn Will Probably Retire if He Loses to Rory MacDonald”

BJ Penn could be stepping into the Octagon for the last time at UFC on Fox 5, according to Dana White.The former two-division champion will face Rory MacDonald in a highly anticipated welterweight showdown.White believes it’s all or nothing for Penn, w…

BJ Penn could be stepping into the Octagon for the last time at UFC on Fox 5, according to Dana White.

The former two-division champion will face Rory MacDonald in a highly anticipated welterweight showdown.

White believes it’s all or nothing for Penn, who initially retired a little over a year ago. The fight against MacDonald is a chance for Penn to prove his relevance in the sport. A win would open the doors for a plethora of intriguing match-ups, but a loss would be devastating.

White recently spoke with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani about Penn’s UFC future, if he loses to MacDonald:

“He probably will [retire]. He hasn’t said anything about that to me, but yeah, he’s taken a year off and reflecting about things.”

Penn announced his retirement in October 2011 after losing a lopsided unanimous decision to Nick Diaz. It was clearly a heartbreaking loss that pushed him into premature retirement talk.

Several months later, Penn was back in the fold, and MacDonald was named as his comeback opponent.

MacDonald, a protégé of UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre, has been hailed as the sport’s future, while Penn is constantly being referred to in the past tense.

During the media conference call for UFC on Fox 5, Penn admitted to being upset that his name was no longer mentioned in the all-time great category with St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. The mere thought of people viewing him as irrelevant has lit a fire under him that won’t be ignored.

White believes fans could see the best BJ Penn ever. It only takes one look at Penn’s physique to see the amount of hard work he put into preparing for this fight.

While MacDonald is a clear favorite, White wouldn’t be shocked if Penn returns to form and stuns the young Canadian:

“You can see the difference in BJ Penn. First of all, he called Rory MacDonald out. He called him out, then he shows up in great shape, seems physically, mentally and emotionally ready for this fight…If [BJ] beats Rory on Saturday, wow, a lot of possibilities.”

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UFC on FOX 5: Favorites for the "Fight Night" Awards

In what comes as a bit of a surprise, tonight has some pretty clear-cut favorites for post-fight bonuses. Events typically have a handful of fights and fighters who look like heavy candidates to take home some extra change, but tonight’s UFC on FOX 5 card separates it from past events in the fact that there are four men who look to be near shoo-ins for the rewards.

In fact, the only question that really haunts me is: Who’s going to take home that submission of the night award?

I’ve got a fair idea of who’s going to leave with “Fight of the Night” honors, and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that I know who will exit with a “Knockout of the Night” award. But that submission nod has me a bit stumped, I’ll admit.

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UFC on FOX 5 Fight Card: Final Predictions for the Main Card

The year is coming to a close, and the UFC is finally in a position to give fans a few spectacular cards. Somehow injuries haven’t factored too heavily into the equation of UFC on FOX 5, and that’s something we should all be thankful for. T…

Tonight’s main card will feature four fights that should, by all accounts, prove to be highly stimulating. There is without a doubt, some major divisional relevancy affixed to a few of these showdowns, and tonight could mark a turning point in the careers of men like Alexander Gustafsson, Rory MacDonald and Nate Diaz.

Will these youngsters be able to raise their stock with massive, defining performances? That, my friends, is the question of the day.

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UFC on Fox 5 Is the Best Main Card of the Year

UFC on Fox 5 proves that the best things in life are free.In a year filled with injury and disappointment, the UFC brings its best main card of 2012 to KeyArena in Seattle.The main card presents a stellar lineup from top to bottom that isn’t solely foc…

UFC on Fox 5 proves that the best things in life are free.

In a year filled with injury and disappointment, the UFC brings its best main card of 2012 to KeyArena in Seattle.

The main card presents a stellar lineup from top to bottom that isn’t solely focused on marquee names. Instead, the meat and potatoes of the UFC’s fifth Fox event give fans a rare mix of world-class talent and intriguing matchups.

Benson Henderson is set to defend his lightweight title against Nate Diaz in the headliner.

Henderson doesn’t really get the respect he deserves as a UFC champion. Perhaps some still believe judges gifted him a pair of decision victories over Frankie Edgar. A win over Diaz would go a long way in proving Henderson is the best lightweight in the world.

Diaz, who is on a three-fight win streak, has seemingly turned into a contender overnight. Fans are seeing a more mature and complete fighter.

Luckily, he hasn’t sacrificed his controversial habits of arm waving, trash talking and middle-finger flipping.

What’s a Diaz bout without a little hell raising?

The co-main event features a No. 1 contender’s bout at light heavyweight between former UFC champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and rising Swedish star Alexander Gustafsson.

Shogun will have to put forth a much better performance than he has in his last couple of bouts. Gustafsson is a worthy light-heavyweight contender who is beginning to set himself apart from the rest of the division as the only legitimate threat to Jon Jones.

There are two great fights already on top of this brilliant main card, but in the hearts of fans, it’s tough to top the welterweight showdown between B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald.

The back-and-forth banter between the two stars has taken on a life of its own in what now seems like a superhero-versus-super-villain bout.

Penn is the legend coming out of retirement in hopes of breathing new life into his career, and MacDonald is the silent assassin looking to write the obituary of one of MMA‘s all-time greats.

UFC on Fox 5 is the best main card of the year. What happens tonight could change the face of the UFC forever.

This could be the final time Penn ever steps foot in the Octagon, if he loses to MacDonald. Years from now, people may look back and say Gustafsson‘s performance against Shogun was the first glimpse of a future champion.

It may also be remembered as the night Nate Diaz finally stepped from the long-cast shadows of his brother Nick and became a world champion. Regardless of what happens, history will be made at UFC on Fox 5.

Will you be a part of it?

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