Tag: UFC on Fox 7

UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

Any time you get an opportunity to see two of the best fighters in the world clash, it is a major event. On Saturday, April 20, MMA fans will be treated to such an event.UFC Lightweight champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (18-2) will defend his title ag…

Any time you get an opportunity to see two of the best fighters in the world clash, it is a major event. On Saturday, April 20, MMA fans will be treated to such an event.

UFC Lightweight champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (18-2) will defend his title against Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (21-2). The challenger will be making his UFC debut in the title fight.

That is something of a rarity, but it speaks to the enormous respect UFC President Dana White has for Melendez’s ability. This is a much-anticipated bout, and it highlights a very strong card set for free TV.

Yay, us!

Here’s a look at the rest of the card and the coverage particulars.

 

When: Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. ET for Prelims and 8 p.m. ET for main card

Where: HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA

TV: Fox and FX

Live Stream: Facebook Preliminaries

 

Here are my predictions for each bout. An asterisk indicates a more in-depth analysis is featured below.

Matchup Weight Class Coverage My Pick
Matt Brown (16-11) vs. Jordan Mein (27-8) Welterweight Fox Mein by KO
T.J. Dillashaw (7-1) vs. Hugo Viana (7-0) Bantamweight FX Dillashaw by KO
Anthony Njokuani (15-7) vs. Roger Bowling (11-3) Lightweight Facebook Njokuani by dec.
Tim Means (18-3-1) vs. Jorge Masvidal (23-7) Lightweight FX Masvidal by dec.
Joseph Benavidez (17-3) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (8-3) Flyweight FX Benavidez by dec.
Myles Jury (11-0) vs. Ramsey Nijem (7-2) Lightweight FX Jury by KO
Francis Carmont (20-7) vs. Lorenz Larkin (13-0) Middleweight FX Carmont by* submission
Clifford Starks (8-1) vs. Yoel Romero (4-1) Middleweight Facebook Starks by KO
Chad Mendes (13-1) vs. Darren Elkins (16-2) Featherweight Fox Mendes by dec.*
Nate Diaz (16-8) vs. Josh Thomson (19-5) Lightweight Fox Diaz by dec.*
Daniel Cormier (11-0) vs. Frank Mir (16-6) Heavyweight Fox Cormier by KO*
(c) Benson Henderson (18-2) vs. Gilbert Melendez (21-2) Lightweight Championship Fox Henderson by dec.*

 

Carmont’s Length and Versatility Will Be Too Much For Larkin

Larkin is making his UFC debut. He defeated Robbie Lawler in his last bout, which took place in the Strikeforce promotion.

In the bout prior to his win over Lawler, Larkin was KO’d by Muhammad Lawal, but the bout was ruled a no-contest after Lawal tested positive for a banned substance.

Because of that decision, Larkin is still technically undefeated. I totally understand the process of eliminating wins when fighters test positive for no-no drugs, but it is hard to forget this happened (stoppage occurs at the 12:15 mark):

Larkin loves to bang and if he isn’t taken to the ground, his strength and boxing ability give him a shot to beat most middleweights.

However, Carmont’s length and diverse game will have Larkin on his back in no time. He’ll control the majority of this fight and win an easy decision.

 

Chad Mendes’ Explosiveness Will Be the Difference Against Elkins

This bout is shaping up as one that has the potential to be among the best on the card. Both Mendes and Elkins are what I would describe as elite featherweights.

The difference in this match will be Mendes’ explosive striking. I don’t see him stopping Elkins, but I think he’ll lead the way in significant strikes.

They will battle to a stalemate on the ground. This will be a chess match between two very skilled fighters, but I’m not sure any featherweight in the world can beat Mendes—besides Jose Aldo.

 

Nate Diaz Will Rebound From Loss to Henderson to Beat Thomson

It is rare that you see Diaz fight someone nearly as good as he is on the ground. Thomson is that guy.

He is perhaps the only fighter Gilbert Melendez has yet to completely solve. He owns a victory over him, though it has been avenged twice (albeit via two reasonably disputable decisions).

Although he is an accomplished wrestler and grappler, he will probably be better off standing. Diaz’s ground game is so advanced not even Benson Henderson wanted to tangle with him on the mat.

Unfortunately, Diaz’s reach, boxing and chin give him an advantage in striking as well. It could be close, but I see Diaz winning a unanimous decision.

 

Daniel Cormier Will Expose Frank Mir as an Overrated, Washed-Up Heavyweight

Frank Mir has had his moments in the UFC. He submitted Brock Lesnar back when that meant something.

He submitted Cheick Kongo, which is not that difficult for most heavyweights in the sport, and stopped Mirko Cro Cop when he should have already called it a career.

Mir has also scored KO and submission victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. For as legendary as Minotauro is, he’s more of a gatekeeper than anything.

With all due respect, most of Mir’s biggest wins seemed bigger when they happened than they do now.

At 33 years old, he has been competing in the UFC for 12 years. He was never extremely fast, but now he’s even slower. His chin isn’t as impressive as his will, which is dangerous. At this point, he’s just a name.

Cormier’s athleticism and boxing skill will lead to an impressive KO win. He is actually a year older than Mir, but he hasn’t been through the Octagon wars Mir has seen. His body is fresher, and that will be the major difference.

 

Benson Henderson Will Again Prove He Is King of the Lightweights

It’s not always thrilling, but Benson Henderson gets the job done. He states that clearly in the article by Jeff Cain referenced in the tweet from MMAWeekly.com below.

His bout on Saturday with Gilbert Melendez is probably not going to be action-packed. Both men are very dangerous, and both respect the other’s skill.

Henderson fights a very defensive style, and that countering attack has worked well for him. He’ll take some chances with kicks from those tree-trunk legs and even some combination punching.

But ultimately, this will be a tactical battle.

Beyond great technique in most every area, Henderson’s lower-body strength makes him so difficult to take down. Anthony Pettis gave Henderson a problem because of his quickness when they met in 2010.

But Melendez is not as quick as Showtime and I don’t see him out-striking Henderson. I think this bout will be a showcase of Henderson’s amalgamation of skills and more proof he’s the best 155-pound fighter in the world.

 

Follow me, because Royce Gracie started me on this MMA path, and now I’m out of control.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Breaking Down All Eight ‘UFC vs. Strikeforce’ Bouts on This Saturday’s Henderson vs. Melendez Card

As we pointed out on Facebook earlier today, the entire main card of this Saturday’s UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Melendez event features a UFC veteran taking on a former Strikeforce standout. What’s more, there are four fights on the prelims that fit this same pattern. While the UFC has set up cards along national lines in the past — see UFC 58: USA vs. Canada and UFC 117: USA vs. Brazil, Pretty Much they’ve never been this overt with their UFC vs. Strikeforce matchmaking. Will the UFC vets fight harder in an attempt to defend their turf? Will the Strikeforce crossovers band together to continue their invasion of the Octagon? Take a look at all eight matchups below and let us know which side you think will emerge victorious.

Headshot images via Card/The UG.

BENSON HENDERSON vs. GILBERT MELENDEZ (for UFC lightweight title)
The odds say: Bendo is a strong favorite to defend his belt at -250.
We say: When you put this much talent into the cage at the same time, anything can happen. But while we think this fight will be closer than the betting line reflects, there’s been an unbreakable, unstoppable quality to Henderson’s performances during his 6-0 UFC run. Until we see how Melendez actually performs in the Octagon, we’re picking the champ.

FRANK MIR vs. DANIEL CORMIER (HW)
The odds say: Cormier is a virtual lock at -375.
We say: That sounds about right. Cormier has all the skills to be a future UFC champ, and barring any freakish leglocks, Frank Mir is just a stop along the way.

As we pointed out on Facebook earlier today, the entire main card of this Saturday’s UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Melendez event features a UFC veteran taking on a former Strikeforce standout. What’s more, there are four fights on the prelims that fit this same pattern. While the UFC has set up cards along national lines in the past — see UFC 58: USA vs. Canada and UFC 117: USA vs. Brazil, Pretty Much they’ve never been this overt with their UFC vs. Strikeforce matchmaking. Will the UFC vets fight harder in an attempt to defend their turf? Will the Strikeforce crossovers band together to continue their invasion of the Octagon? Take a look at all eight matchups below and let us know which side you think will emerge victorious.

Headshot images via Card/The UG.


BENSON HENDERSON vs. GILBERT MELENDEZ (for UFC lightweight title)
The odds say: Bendo is a strong favorite to defend his belt at -250.
We say: When you put this much talent into the cage at the same time, anything can happen. But while we think this fight will be closer than the betting line reflects, there’s been an unbreakable, unstoppable quality to Henderson’s performances during his 6-0 UFC run. Until we see how Melendez actually performs in the Octagon, we’re picking the champ.


FRANK MIR vs. DANIEL CORMIER (HW)
The odds say: Cormier is a virtual lock at -375.
We say: That sounds about right. Cormier has all the skills to be a future UFC champ, and barring any freakish leglocks, Frank Mir is just a stop along the way.


NATE DIAZ vs. JOSH THOMSON (LW)
The odds say: Diaz is a solid -175 favorite against the Punk.
We say: If Thomson proved anything during his trilogy against Gilbert Melendez, it’s that he doesn’t wilt under pressure — which is a good thing, because Diaz knows how to pressure a motherfucker. I say Nate wins enough of the standup exchanges to cruise to a decision victory.


MATT BROWN vs. JORDAN MEIN (WW)
The odds say: Jordan Mein is a -335 favorite to win the fight and end Brown’s career comeback.
We say: Alright, we’re cheating a bit here — Mein already made his UFC debut in March, when he became the first man to stop Dan Miller at UFC 158. Now, he’s returning on a month’s notice as an injury replacement for Dan Hardy. Mein’s recent performances have been enough to make the 23-year-old Canadian a front-runner in this fight. (Remember his annihilations of Evangelista Santos and Forrest Petz?) But don’t sleep on the Immortal. He’s always been a tough bastard, and now that he’s fighting smart, everything seems to be falling into place; his current four-fight win streak includes a knockout of Mike Swick and an upset win over another hot prospect, Stephen Thompson. We’ll take Brown for the upset.


FRANCIS CARMONT vs. LORENZ LARKIN (MW)
The odds say: Carmont has a slight edge at -130.
We say: Tough call, but I’m leaning towards Carmont, if only because he’s had four fights to get comfortable in the UFC. (He’s won all four of those fights, by the way.) Larkin hasn’t competed since his decision win over Robbie Lawler last July, and while that was an impressive performance, the long layoff and first-time Octagon jitters might be enough to sink him.


TIM MEANS vs. JORGE MASVIDAL (LW)
The odds say: Masvidal is another small favorite at -135.
We say: Tim Means is 2-0 in the UFC — or 2-1 if you include his TKO loss to that sauna — and is on a nine-fight win streak overall, but his victories haven’t exactly come against top-shelf competition. Meanwhile, Masvidal has battled (and beaten) some of the very best during his decade-long career. We’ll agree with the oddsmakers and put our money on Gamebred.


ANTHONY NJOKUANI vs. ROGER BOWLING (LW)
The odds say: Njokuani is the favorite at -155.
We say: It’s a fight between a talented striker who’s been woefully inconsistent over the past three years, and another talented striker whose hype fizzled out in Strikeforce after losses to Bobby Voelker and Tarec Saffiedine. Both fighters do best when they take charge early. Again, I think UFC experience will probably be the deciding factor; Njokuani will bully Bowling to a decision win.


CLIFFORD STARKS vs. YOEL ROMERO (MW)
The odds say: -150 edge for Romero.
We say: Yoel Romero is that Cuban Olympic silver medalist who was matched up with Rafael Cavalcante way too early in his career and got crushed. Starks also comes from a wrestling background — and was a teammate of Cain Velasquez at Arizona State University — but has been inactive since a submission loss to Ed Herman at UFC 143 in February 2012. Starks’s long layoff is definitely cause for concern, as is Romero’s world-class wrestling pedigree. Gotta go with Yoel.

Final prediction: The UFC vets will outgun their Strikeforce counterparts, winning by a score of 5-3. If you see if differently, let us know in the comments section.

(BG)

UFC on Fox 7: Frank Mir Very Happy with Permanent Change to Jackson’s MMA

Frank Mir will always claim Las Vegas as his own but the former UFC heavyweight champion seems to have found a new home in the weeks leading up to his UFC on Fox 7 clash against Daniel Cormier.Mir spoke to the Las Vegas Sun about his recent move t…

Frank Mir will always claim Las Vegas as his own but the former UFC heavyweight champion seems to have found a new home in the weeks leading up to his UFC on Fox 7 clash against Daniel Cormier.

Mir spoke to the Las Vegas Sun about his recent move to Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque and the benefits it has provided.

“Having a bigger depth of talent to work with in the gym every day and bouncing  ideas off of them was great,” Mir said. “Misery enjoys company, and having all  these other world-class fighters in the gym made it all go a little faster.”

Don’t be surprised if you see a different Mir in the Octagon against Cormier. After all, one would expect Mir’s game to rise given the level of talent he’s training with now. The former UFC champ has said he’s sparred with Jon Jones, Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne all on the same day.

It’s not just the great training partners Mir works with that help improve his game either.

“And having guys like Donald Cerrone sitting outside of the cage when I’m with  those guys and giving me pointers and tips was a great help,” Mir said. “Everyone, in my eyes, was a great help.”

Mir will need all the help he can get as Cormier has looked great thus far into his MMA career. After competing with the United States’ Olympic wrestling team, Cormier has won all of his MMA bouts thus far and has finished five of them before the final bell.

His last performance against Josh Barnett was particularly telling as Cormier simply dominated the former UFC champion including a highlight reel worthy slam.

Regardless of the outcome in his fight, Mir believes he’ll travel to Jackson’s MMA again for his next contest.

“It will be a permanent move,” Mir said. “I think a lot of people would say, if I lose I wouldn’t  consider the move to be justified, but I don’t agree — it was a great experience  and I’ll be back to do it again.”

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez: Odds and Predictions for UFC on Fox 7

Saturday night’s UFC on Fox 7 card is one of the best yet in 2013. The four-fight main card is stacked with talent and relevant fights.The main event will see UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson defend his crown against Strikeforce lightweight ch…

Saturday night’s UFC on Fox 7 card is one of the best yet in 2013. The four-fight main card is stacked with talent and relevant fights.

The main event will see UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson defend his crown against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. The Strikeforce champion will get his chance to show the world his talents as he tries to topple Henderson.

The co-main event is between Frank Mir and Daniel Cormier, two elite heavyweights trying to make a case for a future title shot.

Ten more thrilling fights line the card. It will be an exciting Saturday full of action.

Here is your look at early odds and predictions for each fight for UFC on Fox 7.

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UFC on Fox 7 Card: Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC on Fox 7 goes down this very Saturday in San Jose, Calif. And let me be the very, very first person to make this observation about the card: it’s a stacked one.There’s a high level of quality all up and down the event, from Facebook to finale. As a…

UFC on Fox 7 goes down this very Saturday in San Jose, Calif. And let me be the very, very first person to make this observation about the card: it’s a stacked one.

There’s a high level of quality all up and down the event, from Facebook to finale. As a result, the lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Strikeforce transplant Josh Thomson—maybe the headliner on a cable TV card—finds itself at the tail end of the Fox TV lineup. 

It makes for a great table-setter for the main event, though. Neither Diaz nor Thomson has done a lot of losing lately, but each man recently came up short against the two guys fighting for the UFC lightweight title. Diaz fell to UFC belt holder Benson Henderson, while Thomson lost to Gilbert Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight titlist also making his Octagon debut on Saturday.

In any event, here’s a full breakdown of this fight.

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UFC on Fox 7: Predicting the Fight of the Night Bonuses

The UFC makes its triumphant return to FOX this weekend, as lightweight champion Benson Henderson defends his belt again against final Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. It is a bout that will decide who is the best 155-pounder in the world.Also on…

The UFC makes its triumphant return to FOX this weekend, as lightweight champion Benson Henderson defends his belt again against final Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. It is a bout that will decide who is the best 155-pounder in the world.

Also on the card are a number of top names in the sport, including Frank Mir, Nate Diaz and Chad Mendes. They will provide the buildup to the main event that will see contenders and pretenders separated from one another.

Here is a quick look at the favorites to win each fight-night bonus.

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