The fifth installment of UFC on Fox takes place at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night.While the event has a number of exciting bouts on the main card, the preliminary card features some intriguing fights as well.Some of the preliminary…
The fifth installment of UFC on Fox takes place at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night.
While the event has a number of exciting bouts on the main card, the preliminary card features some intriguing fights as well.
Some of the preliminary action includes Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan in a featherweight scrap, Raphael Assuncao taking on Mike Easton at 135 pounds and the long-awaited bout between Yves Edwards and Jeremy Stephens.
Bleacher Report MMA Featured Columnists Matt Juul, Dwight Wakabayashi and myself, John Heinis, will predict the action this time around. Take a look inside for predictions on all seven of the preliminary fights.
Rory MacDonald’s demeanor at the UFC on Fox 5 open workouts could best be described as stoic. His face was of a man whose entire focus was on his opponent, BJ Penn. Fight! Magazine’s Chuck Mendenhall said it was “American Psycho suave” in a recent…
Rory MacDonald’s demeanor at the UFC on Fox 5 open workouts could best be described as stoic. His face was of a man whose entire focus was on his opponent, BJ Penn. Fight! Magazine’s Chuck Mendenhall said it was “American Psycho suave” in a recent magazine feature.
MacDonald was definitely focused on Penn as he spoke with attending MMA media in a press scrum. It’s easy for a young fighter to get caught up in the legacy of a fighter such as Penn, but MacDonald isn’t focused on the legend; he’s focused on the man.
“He goes down in history for sure. It doesn’t make a difference for what’s going to happen. Status is just that. It’s temporary in this world, in this sport,” MacDonald told Bleacher Report. “I’m focused on beating the person, not the status. It doesn’t play a role in fighting, so why focus on it?”
The 23-year-old fighter has been training for this day since he was 14. In fact, he knew that this is what he wanted to do after his very first MMA class.
“I was 14 in my first MMA class. I pretty much knew this is what I would strive for in my life. I didn’t really need support at the time. I found strength in myself to do it.” He added, “it’s consumed my life, to be the best martial artist. It’s who I am. It’s always on my mind. I’m living my life the way I want.”
“It was just a moment when you feel like that’s what you want to do with your life.”
MacDonald’s opponent was adamant in the lead up to the fight that they needed to undergo outside VADA testing for their fight. Some thought that it could take MacDonald’s focus away from the fight, but he doesn’t believe that it had any impact on his training or mindset.
“It wasn’t a distraction, it was just annoying to be woken up and have a needle poked in your arm. Having to piss in front of somebody. It was something I didn’t enjoy. It was not a distraction from my training or what the task at hand is.”
He continued, “it was just a nuisance. It wasn’t a huge deal to me. It didn’t make that big of an impact. We got it done. We proved that we are clean fighters. It is what it is.”
After viewing the latest Fox special The Road to the Octagon, MacDonald is all but certain that Penn may not be entirely dedicated to their fight. Penn was seen in high spirits about his Octagon return.
“I think he’s fighting for the wrong reasons and it’s going to get him hurt. He’s fighting for his status. It’s something that isn’t real. He wants to change people’s opinions. He doesn’t realized that those aren’t real.”
“I’m fighting to hurt him. Not for someone’s opinion.”
*All quotes attained first hand by Bleacher Report
Controversially or not, Benson Henderson was able to defeat Frankie Edgar in back-to-back fights, and that now puts him in a position to begin writing his place in the history books as lightweight champion.In the UFC on Fox 5 main event, Henderson will…
Controversially or not, Benson Henderson was able to defeat Frankie Edgar in back-to-back fights, and that now puts him in a position to begin writing his place in the history books as lightweight champion.
In the UFC on Fox 5 main event, Henderson will attempt to defend his belt for a second time against Nate Diaz. The challenger has won three straight fights in impressive fashion and will be looking to become the fourth Ultimate Fighter contestant to win a UFC championship.
In addition to the lightweight title fight, Saturday’s event will also feature an important 205-pound bout between the rising Alexander Gustafsson and former UFC champion Mauricio Rua. The winner of that bout should find themselves very close to a championship fight in the light heavyweight division.
Furthermore, B.J. Penn will return to the Octagon for a bout against Rory MacDonald. Penn has been out of action for more than one year, but he is reportedly in excellent shape and ready to settle what has become a heated feud.
To promote UFC on Fox 5, which will be held at KeyArena in Seattle, a pre-fight press conference will be held on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. Event headliners Henderson, Diaz, Rua and Gustafsson will likely join UFC president Dana White for the presser.
Video of the press conference will be streamed live on the above video player. After the presser, stay tuned to Bleacher Report MMA for all the latest on UFC on Fox 5 and the rest of your MMA needs.
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like…
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like to get the job done the way every fighter should. There will be an epic battle of brutal strikes that has “fight of the year” written all over it on December 8th, but it won’t be between Henderson and Diaz.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson will be responsible for a display of the highest-quality entertainment an MMA fight can possibly offer, which is why it is the true headliner of UFC on FOX 5. This showdown is a crowd-pleaser guaranteed to deliver, and unfortunately this is not the case with the lightweight title fight at the end of the night.
There are few competitors who have had more memorable fights than Shogun Rua. The man puts it all on the line to win, and judging by the vast amount of appreciation he gets from an ever-expanding fan base, every fight that has Rua’s name on it is a win-win situation for anyone watching.
Many other fighters might develop a less dangerous strategy than going toe to toe with opponents like Dan Henderson, Chuck Liddell, Jon Jones or Lyoto Machida. But Shogun does not hesitate to use the versatility, intensity and expertise of his striking to bring down whomever opposes him, regardless of the harm this mentality has brought him.
The most legendary fights that Shogun participated in gained such notoriety because they were against opponents of similar style and skill. Like Rua, Alexander Gustafsson is an extremely versatile and powerful kickboxer whose best moments consist of a brilliant use of punches, kicks, elbows and knees. He likes knocking guys out with his laser-like accuracy, and thrives off the thrill of trying to beat his opponent in the race to connect with a solid hit.
In other words, Gustafsson is the perfect adversary for Shogun and a necessary component for yet another back and forth clash. It will showcase the incomparable heart and technique that goes into winning a battle of elite MMA striking.
Aside from the fighting style of Rua and Gustafsson, what solidifies the notion that this will be a great fight is the reward a dominant or hard-earned performance will grant each participant. A win for either fighter will prove that he is as a top contender in the stacked light heavyweight division, in addition to moving the winner extremely close to title contention.
Shogun Rua wants to prove that he isn’t too slow or out of shape to compete with his younger, more athletic opponent, and Gustafsson wants to prove that he can indeed knock out a seasoned veteran and pose a legitimate threat to the rest of the mixed martial artists in his division.
The actual main event of Henderson versus Diaz just doesn’t measure up in terms of excitement and suspense for one primary reason: the newly preferred fighting methods of Benson Henderson.
Yes, Nate Diaz does possess dazzling boxing abilities, but it’s safe to say that Benson Henderson has no intention of fighting back with a similar technique. In a media conference call, the lightweight champion expressed his lack of desire to strike with Diaz for fear of losing his title. We also saw how reluctant Henderson was to exchange with Frankie Edgar, let alone get close enough to even touch him (especially in their last fight). Henderson’s new focus is to minimize the risk of getting hurt by purposely avoiding the fists of his opponents.
Benson Henderson is a proficient martial arts expert who can punch and kick with crisp accuracy and power, yet he has apparently lost the urge to put these skills on display now that the lightweight belt is in his possession. His fight with Clay Guida was loaded with wild kicks and aggressive grappling, but since he won the belt Henderson has taken on a more conservative style.
While Henderson’s incomparable agility is truly a thing of beauty, most fans would rather watch two people trade blows than one person fail to hit a much faster opponent over and over again. There is a title on the line, and a chance for Nate Diaz to finally attain the success he deserves. But the probability of Diaz forcing Henderson to try to best him in a ruthless battle of strikes is slim to none. Henderson vs Diaz simply cannot compare to the general entertainment quality and likelihood of a crowd-pleasing outcome of Rua vs Gustafsson.
Benson Henderson stated (in the aforementioned conference call) that he would be fine if his upcoming fight went to a decision. A statement like this will never come from Rua or Gustafsson, regardless of what was on the line or who they were fighting. When they get hurt, it only makes them want to crack back even harder. Henderson prefers to eliminate the possibility of getting knocked out altogether.
Rua vs Gustafsson will feature two men trying to take each other’s head off. Henderson vs Diaz will probably feature Diaz trying to take Henderson’s head off, but only hitting thin air instead. To the fans, a match like this is much more annoying than it is interesting to watch.
The true headliner, on the other hand, will contain a highlight-reel finish and/or an epic series of violent exchanges, both of which are characteristics of the most entertaining type of fight. If this bout does go the distance, fans will have witnessed both fighters dish out and absorb a large amount of damage, and the spectacle of two men surviving such a fight will be just as much of a wonder to observe than the almighty KO.
Regardless who comes out on top, this is unquestionably the most exciting fight of UFC on FOX 5, as it has much more of a probability for a stunning result than the actual main event. We will be treated to a breath-taking display of a truly lethal form of martial arts in addition to being informed as to who has all the tools worthy of a prospective title shot.
This is the fight every UFC enthusiast is most pumped to see this Saturday night. Mauricio Rua versus Alexander Gustafsson will drop jaws worldwide while simultaneously reminding us why the UFC has the massive amount of spectators it does today.
The UFC on Fox 5 card coming up is one of the most anticipated cards of 2012.It features a completely stacked main card, as well as quality fights on the undercard. The card will showcase a lightweight title fight, a fight for contendership at 205 and …
The UFC on Fox 5 card coming up is one of the most anticipated cards of 2012.
It features a completely stacked main card, as well as quality fights on the undercard. The card will showcase a lightweight title fight, a fight for contendership at 205 and the return of a legend.
Plus the entire card is free.
Here is a fan’s guide of what to watch for on this UFC on Fox 5 card.
The climax of Nate Diaz’s career is merely days away, as anticipation for his first championship bout with Benson Henderson continues to grow.The UFC saved its best card of the year for UFC on FOX 5. From B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald to Mauricio “Shogu…
The climax of Nate Diaz‘s career is merely days away, as anticipation for his first championship bout with Benson Henderson continues to grow.
The UFC saved its best card of the year for UFC on FOX 5. From B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson, the card is rich full of intriguing matchups.
But there’s none more intriguing than the main event.
Overview
The lightweight division is the most stacked division the UFC has to offer, with Henderson and Diaz standing alone at the top.
Henderson, who’s 17-2, recently defended his lightweight championship belt against former champ Frankie Edgar in an immediate rematch to solidify his claim as best in the division. Both of his wins against Edgar were hard-fought, and some people believe Edgar was robbed of the judges in their last encounter.
But don’t let that take anything away from Henderson. He is, without a doubt, one of the best fighters on the planet, with 15 wins in his last 16 fights against tough, durable fighters such as Edgar, Mark Bocek, Clay Guida, Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller.
And while Henderson’s victories against Cerrone and Miller were impressive, they weren’t near as impressive as Diaz‘s victories over those same opponents.
Though Diaz is on a three-fight win streak, he’s impressed more with the way he’s won.
Unlike Henderson’s quick guillotine victory and grind-em-out decision against Cerrone, Diaz beat Cerrone from pillar to post for three consecutive rounds last December. With pinpoint boxing and an unrelenting pace, Diaz gave Cerrone a beatdown no one would soon forget.
This set up the UFC on FOX 3 main event, Diaz vs. Miller. Simply put, Diaz didn’t disappoint. After picking him apart on the feet and dropping him in the first round, Diaz became the first fighter ever to finish Miller. Diaz submitted Miller in the second round by guillotine choke.
Now here we are. This Saturday will undoubtedly be the biggest fight of Diaz‘s career, and with a prime-time matchup set against Henderson, fans are anticipating a fight of the night performance.
Keys to Victory for Henderson
Unfortunately, if Henderson does what he needs to do, this fight will not excite fans. In order to win this fight, Henderson must lean on his size advantage.
Muscling Diaz against the cage should become the top priority for Henderson.
This will lead to a decision victory that will not excite the fans, but it will ensure Henderson that he leaves town with the belt. At the end of the day, which is more important?
Don’t be surprised if this is the game plan in place for Henderson.
Keys to Victory for Diaz
Oddly enough, the key to victory for Diaz is to make this fight exciting. Diaz needs to make this a real scrap so he can utilize his great boxing skills against Henderson.
Furthermore, he needs to make this a war of attrition. The Diaz brothers are all about going full-throttle for the entire length of the fight.
With countless body shots and counter shots, Diaz must take it to the champion and not allow him to grab a hold of him. If Henderson takes it to the ground, Diaz must work off of his back and try to become the first man to submit Henderson under the Zuffa brand.
What Will Likely Happen
When it comes down to the fight, expect both Henderson and Diaz to find success. Diaz will implement a flurry of punches on the feet that will eventually lead to Henderson clinching and muscling around the much weaker Diaz.
But Diaz should have enough technique to cause some separation and light Henderson up. Henderson will then be tempted to engage with Diaz, and fans will be treated to some nice exchanges.
But they will be short-lived. As smart as Henderson is, he’ll clinch up and take it to the ground if he has to, where he must avoid being submitted by Diaz. If any man is up to that task, it would be Henderson.
Though he gets caught in submissions quite frequently, Henderson is nearly impossible to submit. Take a look back at Henderson’s first fight with Cerrone to see exactly what I’m talking about. It’s as if Henderson is made of rubber, and he’ll need his flexibility in this fight, undoubtedly.
Henderson should do enough to win each round, and though Diaz will have his moments in the fight, Henderson will win another close decision when it’s all said and done.
Benson Henderson defending the lightweight title against Nate Diaz may technically be the main event for UFC on FOX 5, but we all know which fight on this card fans are looking forward to most. It features two exciting, evenly-matched strikers who like to get the job done the way every fighter should. There will be an epic battle of brutal strikes that has “fight of the year” written all over it on December 8th, but it won’t be between Henderson and Diaz.