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Ricardo Lamas Coming Home for UFC on Fox 6

Things in the UFC featherweight division are about to get downright nasty. Despite being one of the organization’s newest weight classes, the battle for contender status at 145 pounds has become intense. Over the next five weeks, nearly every fighter r…

Things in the UFC featherweight division are about to get downright nasty.

Despite being one of the organization’s newest weight classes, the battle for contender status at 145 pounds has become intense. Over the next five weeks, nearly every fighter ranked in the divisional Top 10 will step into the Octagon looking to take a step forward.

The bulk of this action will take place next Saturday night at UFC on Fox 6 in Chicago, where a collection of top featherweights will battle it out to determine who stays in the race and who goes to the back of the line.

Of the 145-pound matchups on the card, the fight carrying the most stock comes between Ricardo Lamas and Erik Koch. The bout has the potential to determine the next contender to the featherweight crown, and “The Bully” is looking to make the most of the opportunity.

If a high-profile fight on Fox with possible title implication were not enough to fire Lamas up, the bout taking place in his hometown certainly does the trick. The 30-year-old has Chicago roots, and the chance to throw down with Koch in front of a Windy City crowd has Lamas ready to get after it.

“I’m definitely excited about fighting in Chicago,” Lamas told Bleacher Report. “I haven’t fought in front of a hometown crowd since 2008, before I got into the WEC. Being able to come back and fight in front of my hometown crowd in Chicago is an honor. I’m really happy they are letting me do it.

I think the way we match-up will make for a very exciting fight. He alone is an exciting fighter and I believe I am as well. When you put two fighters like that together you are going to get a very high-paced, high-action fight. Most likely there is going to be some blood. I would suggest that fans keep their eyes open and not to look away from this one.”

During his time in the WEC, Lamas had a successful campaign competing as a lightweight. But when he transitioned into the UFC, Lamas began his new chapter as a featherweight. The decision paid dividends as he has collected three consecutive victories at 145 pounds, with his most recent coming over Hatsu Hioki this past June.

The Japanese fighter was considered by most to be the No. 2-ranked featherweight in the world going into the fight, but after an impressive performance by Lamas, the former Division Three All-American exited the Octagon with a new burst of momentum.

That being said, the featherweight division has been slow to pick up steam with the UFC fanbase, and Lamas is admittedly one of featherweight’s lesser-known commodities. Undeterred, he understands that while he may not be a household name with the fans, the biggest organization in the sport certainly give him his due.

“I don’t think I’m being overlooked,” Lamas said. “I believe I’m getting some of the credit I deserve because they are matching me up with some high-level competition. That says something. That says the UFC believes in me and that I deserve to be in there with the top guys.

As far as the regular fan knowing me; that isn’t so important to me right now. I’m here to fight and be the best that I can. Being well known comes second to that.”

A victory over Koch would make a strong case for Lamas to earn a title shot. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter was originally slated to face champion Jose Aldo at UFC 153 before he was forced to withdraw due to injury. Following Koch’s withdraw, Lamas was offered the position opposite Aldo—which he accepted.

Ultimately the UFC decided to change directions and tapped former lightweight champion Edgar to take Koch’s place. The bout was scrapped entirely when Aldo suffered an injury, but the “super fight” drew enough heat with the fanbase for the organization to put the fight on a later card at UFC 156.

Much like Lamas, the 24-year-old Koch is riding a win streak of his own. “New Breed” has collected four consecutive victories but has not competed inside the Octagon for over 17 months. Lamas getting a win over the Milwaukee native will put him high on the list of potential contenders, but he also understands, much like the previous incident, it is a decision entirely beyond his control.

“I’m at the point in my career where I want to make a run at the title,” Lamas said. “I feel I’m at that stage where I can make a serious run at this thing, give it my best, and see what happens. But a [title shot]is something the UFC will decide and it is not really up to me. One thing I’ve learned a long time ago from my old college coach in wrestling is to never look past the match you have right in front of you. Right now I’m not even thinking about a title shot or anything like that. I’m 100% focused on Erik Koch.”

The bout between Lamas and Koch will put the spotlight on the featherweight division and kick off a fantastic run of matchups that will keep the eyes of the MMA world locked on the weight class. It is a defining time for the young division, and with fighters who were elite-level lightweights choosing to drop down, Lamas feels it is only going to make the competition at 145 pounds that much stronger.

“There are a lot of guys dropping down from 155-pounds like [Clay] Guida and Frankie Edgar,” Lamas said. “With these guys coming down I think it is going to be a very challenging weight class and there are a lot of great guys already competing at 145-pounds. It is going to make for some exciting match-ups and there are going to be a lot of great fights for fans to watch. “

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC on Fox 6: Keys to Victory for Donald Cerrone

UFC on Fox 6 will play host to a highly anticipated lightweight battle between Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Both lightweights came over when the WEC was absorbed into the UFC. Both have also made their marks on the lightw…

UFC on Fox 6 will play host to a highly anticipated lightweight battle between Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Both lightweights came over when the WEC was absorbed into the UFC. Both have also made their marks on the lightweight division.

They are extremely talented and ready to fight.

The winner of this fight could potentially be next in line for a title shot, and that only makes this bout more important.

Here are three keys to victory that could make Donald Cerrone the winner of this fight.

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Anthony Pettis: Beating Donald Cerrone Should Lead to a Lightweight Title Bid

With the chance to fight for UFC gold once again within Anthony “Showtime” Pettis’ reach, he knows that unlike in his fight with Clay “The Carpenter” Guida, he’ll need to seize his opportunity against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC on Fox 6 on Ja…

In Pettis’ first bona fide chance to get a crack at the UFC lightweight belt, The Carpenter used his wrestling prowess to control and ultimately impede the rise of Showtime, the last man to serve UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson a setback.

But if all goes accordingly for Pettis in his pivotal clash with Cerrone, UFC President Dana White may not have the option to deny the Roufusport co-owner the right to square off for the lightweight belt in his next fight.

Assuming he can produce a convincing win over Cerrone, the Milwaukee native will almost surely leapfrog a handful of upper-echelon contenders, all of whom aspire to tangle the winner of the Henderson/Gilbert Melendez tilt in April.

Weeks before White confirmed the Melendez/Henderson bout, and during an interview with MMA Weekly Radio Show host Damon Martin, Pettis sounded off on his goals and his trajectory in the lightweight division.

I’m to the point where I’ve just got to prove it. I’m gonna line ‘em up and I’m gonna knock ‘em down, and get to that title shot. That’s the ultimate goal, but right now it’s winning fights. I need to focus on my next opponent in front of me, (and) win these fights.

Animosity began brewing between Pettis and Cerrone in August when Cowboy arbitrarily insulted Showtime during an interview with Lowkick’s Tim Burke.

Just eight days before his fight with Melvin Guillard, and while Pettis was recovering from shoulder surgery, Cerrone offered these sentiments to Burke:

“Anthony Pettis’ b**** ass! Anthony, quit hiding behind your sore shoulder and come to the dance.”

While the two fighters harbor sincere hostility toward one another, Pettis admitted to Martin that he believes a win over Cerrone will catapult his stock more than a win over Gray Maynard, Jim Miller, Guida or Melendez would.

If you look at all the guys you mentioned, and what competition they’re fighting, (then) me and Cowboy are fighting the hardest competition. We’re in the UFC with the best of the best. We’re in the trenches. Me and Cowboy, I feel, are right at the top. The winner of this fight should be the next in line for a title shot and I’ve been training my ass off to make that me.

Pettis and Cerrone have soared to such great heights in their young careers by utilizing comparable tools and similarly intricate strategic approaches. Each fighter possesses unorthodox and unpredictable striking and submission abilities, and Pettis and Cerrone each have unmistakable killer instincts.

It’s also safe to assume that both Showtime and Cowboy aspire to become better functional MMA wrestlers.

But for a bout that appears so even on paper, Pettis may be at a slight disadvantage because of his lack of recent cage time. While Cerrone has scrapped seven times in the UFC since leaving the WEC in 2010, including twice last year, Pettis has fought only three times, with just one of those bouts coming in 2012.

Long layoff aside, Pettis confidently assured Martin that ring rust won’t affect his performance against Cerrone.

Just wait until Chicago. I’m just ready to get back in there man. I’ve got so much stuff going through my mind that I just want to unleash everything. No more mister nice guy. I tried to play that role. The title shot’s going to come; I’m going to sit and wait for it. I’m taking it this time. I’m going to get my title shot and I’m going to get the respect I deserve.

In the most impressive performance of his career, Pettis outshined “Bendo” in virtually every facet of the game en route to a unanimous decision win and the WEC lightweight belt in December 2010. Showtime outstruck Henderson 130-97 and stuffed seven of Bendo’s 10 takedown attempts.

Pettis also landed both takedowns he attempted, reversed Bendo twice, attempted four submissions, and passed Henderson’s guard four times.

He’s (Henderson) motivated man. He looks like he’s out there and he’s hungry. He’s not getting relaxed, and he’s going for it. But I don’t think he’s unbeatable. I’m the last guy to beat him, (and) I feel I got the skills to get in there and do it again, so I’m motivated to get to that chance.

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UFC on FOX: Creating PPV Quality Cards for Cable Television Is Right Move

The UFC finally has the right model for free fight cards: Give the fans what they want.It’s about time too. For years, the UFC gave fans a few exciting fights on television, but hardly any title fights were ever shown and a lot of the top stars were al…

The UFC finally has the right model for free fight cards: Give the fans what they want.

It’s about time too. For years, the UFC gave fans a few exciting fights on television, but hardly any title fights were ever shown and a lot of the top stars were always reserved for pay-per-view.

That’s understandable because PPV buys are the driving force behind the company. But fans always called for big free events, and when the FOX deal was made, everyone suddenly became more optimistic than they had ever been.

For the new fans out there, frustration toward having to pay for every good event can not only weigh heavily on your wallet, but it can be somewhat demoralizing to give so much and receive so little.

When the UFC still aired on Spike, the company could get away with putting together mediocre cards, and though some fans would bicker, the UFC would basically get off scott-free for doing it.

Seriously, there was a card headlined by Stephan Bonnar vs. Igor Pokrajac, with a Demian Maia vs. Kendall Grove co-main event. Yeah, it was that bad at times.

But when the UFC first made the switch to FOX, the company gave fans a title fight on free television. Though the UFC rarely puts title fights on television, the title fight between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez on Nov. 12, 2011 came one month after Dominick Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson to reclaim his bantamweight championship on Versus.

How fitting is it that Johnson will defend his flyweight championship against John Dodson in about a week’s time on free television?

But don’t think for a second that this was commonplace. Oh no, before Cruz fought Johnson, the last UFC championship fight to take place for free was Rampage Jackson and Dan Henderson’s title fight to unify the light heavyweight championship. That scrap went down in 2007.

But this new deal on FOX was going to shake things up. The UFC kicked off the FOX deal with the heavyweight championship, and the event saw dos Santos knock Velasquez out to become the new heavyweight champion.

It seems like decades ago that Velasquez mauled dos Santos at UFC 155. Nonetheless, the UFC put a huge title fight on television for the fans, and excitement was created for the sport. The first event’s ratings did a whopping 5.7 million viewers.

After that card, the UFC decided to coast. It started creating somewhat similar cards to the Spike cards. Sure, these fights had a larger collection of bigger names on them, but there were no title fights to be found and the enthusiasm that was generated for UFC on FOX 2 and UFC on FOX 3 failed to compare to the first event.

The ratings reflected it. The UFC on FOX 2 card (headlined by Phil Davis vs. Rashad Evans) dropped to 4.7 million viewers, while the UFC on FOX 3 card (headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller) drew just 2.4 million viewers.

Whether it was because of the ratings or another reason altogether, that model of title-less fights has since changed. Just look at the UFC on FOX 6 card that’s set to take place on Jan. 26. The UFC gave fans exactly what they wanted with a title fight, a thrilling stylistic matchup and a promising standup battle.

Heck, this was the same model exemplified for the UFC on FOX 5 fight card, and the event drew 4.4 million viewers, which is up from the UFC on FOX 4 fight card’s 2.4.

Which main event do you think would draw more—Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Brandon Vera or Besnon Henderson vs. Nate Diaz for the lightweight championship? Henderson defended his championship against Diaz in the main event of UFC on FOX 5, and that fight alone peaked around six million viewers.

So a fight card that has Anthony Pettis vs. Donald Cerrone, Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira and Johnson vs. Dodson all on it is sure to draw strong ratings, right?

It seems the UFC thinks so, because for the UFC on FOX 7 fight card, Henderson is set to defend his title once again on free television against Gilbert Melendez. Ah, title fights, a winning recipe indeed.

Fans and media alike overreacted when the UFC on FOX ratings were plummeting and failing to reach over 3 million viewers. “The sport is a fad,” critics would cry.

No, this sport isn’t a fad. Instead, it’s a sport filled with die-hard fans that want title fights on free television. No matter who you are, the word “championship” in any language draws interest, and both casual and hardcore fans will surely tune in.

All fans want title fights on free television, and after going through a few bruising UFC on FOX fight cards, the UFC is finally giving fans what they want. Expect ratings to continue to climb as a result.

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Meet Me by the Bike Rack: An Old School Throwdown MMA Fans Can’t Miss

There is something about a fight that appeals to our primal senses. By saying this, I’m not talking about the often touted “big fight” feel where there is something special in the air and all that jazz, but rather, the type of fight where you know two men who don’t particularly care for one another are going to finally cross paths, where they are going to solve their differences in a flurry of punches and kicks.

It may seem like a stripped-down approach, but championship belts and accolades aside, finding out who is the superior fighter is what mixed martial arts is all about.

Working in the sport for the past several years, I have witnessed plenty of matchups that have played crucial roles in the bigger picture of all things MMA. That being said, few things get me more excited on fight night than knowing I’m going to see an old-school scrap take place.

There is something ineffable about it. My colleague and Bleacher Report lead writer Jeremy Botter likes to say these fights “tickle his violence bone.” Thank you for the phrase Mr. Botter—I couldn’t agree more.

This, of course, isn’t taking anything away from the technical aspects of the battle. When two talented combatants settle into the ruckus, their skill sets are their most important assets. But when you look farther into the heart of the fight and know two men are going to come forward with everything they have, what is there not to get excited about?

When you sprinkle a good old-fashioned grudge on top of an already combustible combination, then you have a fight that simply can’t be missed. Fortunately for UFC fans, over the next few months, there are going to be a handful of these tilts, starting next weekend in Chicago at UFC on Fox 6.

Cowboy vs. Showtime

In the world of MMA media, there is perhaps no greater advocate for the 155-pound fighter than yours truly. All truths be told, I’m a geek about it. It is my solemn belief that this weight class is not only the deepest and most competitive in the sport, but also the most exciting.

In the UFC alone, the Top 10 is a shark tank, filled with fighters who can end an opponent’s night in brutal fashion but also have the gas to do 25 minutes’ worth of battle if the situation requires. I’m a lightweight fanatic through and through, and the upcoming throwdown between Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis has been on my radar for quite some time.

As two of the top 155-pound fighters in the now-defunct WEC (Never Forget), it is strange their paths never crossed in the little blue cage. Nevertheless, the merger with the UFC went down, both proved their mettle inside the Octagon and now their scheduled dance is more high-profile than ever. While the winner could potentially earn a shot at the lightweight crown, neither fighter seems all too concerned with that at the moment.

The fighters know that there is a dust-up on the horizon, and no one is making the trip to Chicago to lose.

Of the two, Cerrone has certainly been the busier fighter since transitioning over from the WEC. “Cowboy” fought five times in 2011 alone and has found victory in six out of seven bouts under the UFC banner. The 29-year old, Albuquerque-based fighter is a walking embodiment of the “anytime, anywhere” mentality,and he’s proven as much by taking multiple fights on short notice.

When Cerrone’s name is on a card, you know you are going to see action.

The Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter pushes forward at all costs, working behind technical striking, where he possesses power in both his hands and feet. While his stand-up may be Cerrone’s strong suit, slick submission skills and continued improvement in his wrestling make him a threat wherever the fight takes place. To put it simply: Cerrone isn’t in the cage to mess around, and he’s looking to finish his opponent in any fashion that presents itself.

The path to this fight has been long and winding for Pettis and, ultimately, frustrating as well.

The former WEC champion entered the UFC looking for an immediate title shot, but the congestion caused by the Edgar-versus-Maynard situation lead “Showtime” to take a different route. The 25-year-old faced Clay Guida in his Octagon debut and was handed his first loss in nearly two years.

Pettis bounced back strong with wins over Jeremy Stephens and Joe Lauzon, but a rash of injuries sidelined him for the remainder of 2012. The Milwaukee native is looking to make a huge statement and a case for title contention in 2013.

That quest begins against Cerrone in Chicago.

The Duke Roufus-trained fighter possesses a versatile skill set and is undoubtedly one of the most promising young fighters in the sport. Perhaps Pettis’s biggest asset is his unpredictability. The surging talent has shown the ability to deliver video game-inspired attacks whenever he sees fit, and not knowing if you are going to catch a kick in the mouth coming off a capoeira back spin or fence jump is enough to keep the opposition guessing.

It is in those moments of hesitation where Pettis shines, and he’s proven his ability to capitalize when he goes on the offensive. When you add in strong ground skills, it is easy to see why there is so much buzz surrounding him.

Of course, all these things are nice to say, but no one knows what is going to happen when the cage door closes. Plenty of times before, I have seen a matchup that looks dynamite on paper (Guillard vs. Stephens) turn out to be a wash inside the cage. Nevertheless, Cerrone vs. Pettis appears poised to be the fight we are all expecting it to be.

Earlier this week, Cerrone echoed that feeling, describing the bout as “power vs. flash” on the UFC on Fox 6 media call before adding a few choice words just to throw a little more gas on the pre-fight fire.

Next weekend at the United Center in Chicago, Cerrone and Pettis are going to step in the cage and go at it.

The winner could very well be the next in line for a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

But before those things can materialize, there are going to be leather, shins, knees and elbows flying. After all the talk about Pettis ducking Cerrone for years, now comes the time to show and prove.

There is going to be a fight, ladies and gentleman. What more could you ask for?

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Jon Anik Haters, Rejoice! Mike Goldberg Set to Return at ‘UFC on FOX 6?

(“Hey Joe, now that I’ve put the kibosh on those pesky Adderall rumors…wanna do some blow?”)

Oh boy, Taters, do we have some good news for you. Not only will next Saturday’s UFC on FOX 6 card feature such intriguing matchups as John Dodson vs. flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson, Rampage Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira, and Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis, but the event will also spotlight the return of longtime UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, who was recently pulled from the UFC 155 broadcast to deal with several health issues that had been affecting him for some time. MMAWeekly reports:

After a brief absence due to illness, Mike Goldberg will be back in his regular broadcast duties alongside Joe Rogan at UFC on Fox 6.

UFC officials confirmed Goldberg’s return to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.

In short, come next Saturday, the little eagle will soar again. Precisions, they will be precise. Books, they will be taken out of other people’s chapters. Japanese and Portuguese will combine into one beautiful, indistinguishable language. So prepare yourselves, Potato Nation, for a great deluge of cliched phrases and verbal diarrhea is coming.

(“Hey Joe, now that I’ve put the kibosh on those pesky Adderall rumors…wanna do some blow?”)

After a brief absence due to illness, Mike Goldberg will be back in his regular broadcast duties alongside Joe Rogan at UFC on Fox 6.

UFC officials confirmed Goldberg’s return to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.

Personally, I quite enjoyed the Anik/Rogan pairing at UFC 155, but will welcome Goldberg’s intensity back with open arms. I don’t know, there’s just something about the way the dude screams “IT IS ALL OVER!” that takes the average knockout/submission and kicks it up a notch, like a shot of Sriracha in your BBQ sauce, or whiskey in your Cheerios. Am I alone on this one?

–J. Jones