Prior to Saturday night’s UFC on Fox 8 clash against John Moraga, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson told MMA media that he has his eye set on a matchup in the bantamweight division (via Dave Doyle of mmafighting.com):
This is about doing stuff…
Prior to Saturday night’s UFC on Fox 8 clash against John Moraga, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson told MMA media that he has his eye set on a matchup in the bantamweight division (via Dave Doyle of mmafighting.com):
This is about doing stuff for fun and tackling challenges and making history. I wouldn’t mind being part of the first flyweight vs. bantamweight fight. Obviously they’re like, you’re smaller than that guy. So what? What’s the worst that can happen?
In dominant fashion, “Mighty Mouse” defended his championship for the second time. With little more than one minute in the fight, Johnson latched onto an armbar that gave Moraga no choice but to admit defeat.
Now that Johnson has gotten beyond all immediate challenges in his division, fans are left pondering the potential superfight.
Here is a look at the pros and cons of a superfight between Demetrious Johnson and the UFC bantamweight champion.
Canadian phenom Rory MacDonald added another win to the pile on Saturday night when he picked up a unanimous decision against Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fox 8.
However, due to the boring nature of the fight, it is likely that the impressive game plan o…
Canadian phenom Rory MacDonald added another win to the pile on Saturday night when he picked up a unanimous decision against Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fox 8.
However, due to the boring nature of the fight, it is likely that the impressive game plan of MacDonald will go overlooked by fans.
Abandoning the showboating style utilized last December, MacDonald focused on implementing an effective jab and excellent footwork from bell to bell. The tactics seemed to confuse Ellenberger, who was uncharacteristically docile during the affair.
What is next for MacDonald, who now holds a UFC record of 6-1?
Challenging for UFC gold
As the No. 3 contender in the welterweight division, many would suggest that MacDonald earned himself a crack at gold. However, due to a friendship with champion Georges St-Pierre, MacDonald recently told the New York Post that the matchup will not happen.
“No, me and Georges aren’t fighting,” MacDonald said. “When we get to that point, me and Georges and our coaches, we’ll come to a solution. When we get to the road, we’ll cross it. We’re not gonna fight.”
UFC president Dana Whiteseems to disagree with the notion that MacDonald doesn’t want the matchup. After all, Jon Jones made the same claim about teammate Rashad Evans in 2011. In mid-2012, the two collided in one of the year’s biggest events.
Would MacDonald be willing to face St-Pierre if it meant potentially losing his training camp and relationship with the world’s greatest welterweight? Probably not, but stranger things have happened.
The Maia Factor
If GSP defeats challenger Johny Hendricks in November and MacDonald refuses a title shot, the welterweight division will be out of worthy contenders. Demian Maia is the next man in line who has momentum on his side, but he has yet to defeat a Top Five opponent.
Maia vs. MacDonald makes sense on a lot of levels. However, should Maia come up short, that would leave the division without a willing contender for the spring.
A Ruthless Option
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler was also in action on Saturday night. For the second time in as many bouts, Lawler walked away with a knockout victory. With commentator Joe Rogan calling the former Elite XC champion a dark-horse contender in the welterweight division, the 12-year veteran is in need of a highly ranked opponent.
MacDonald vs. Lawler doesn’t have the same appeal as the other bookings. That being said, it allows MacDonald to fight a ranked opponent without going against his word or his teammate.
It seems as if we can’t go a single day without someone looking to discuss the topic of pay in the world of mixed martial arts. Saturday night was another one of those times, but the person broaching the subject this time was the man who usually …
It seems as if we can’t go a single day without someone looking to discuss the topic of pay in the world of mixed martial arts. Saturday night was another one of those times, but the person broaching the subject this time was the man who usually gets questioned about it, UFC president Dana White.
“More money, more money more money and all this s**t. You want more money? Go f**cking get it. Go get it,” White said in the post-fight media scrum. “Believe me, we pay the guys that deserve more money. We pay the guys that make a difference.”
In White’s world, making a difference is having fans talking about you, and not just in the immediate aftermath of a fight, but making sure you leave the fans talking about your fight in the days that follow an event.
Two individuals White felt made a difference on Saturday’s UFC on Fox 8 card were preliminary card combatants Ed Herman and Trevor Smith. “People are going to be talking about Ed Herman again, Smith too,” White said. “I told Smith, I didn’t know you’re f**king name yesterday, I know your name today.”
White should know Smith’s name. After all, he wrote it on a check for $50,000 for Smith’s share of “Fight of the Night.” The fact that that bonus money is out there for the taking is something White makes sure he discusses before every UFC fight card.
The UFC president revealed, “Every time after we do the weigh-ins we have a fighter meeting in the back, and every one, one of the topics that I’ve been talking about is fighter pay. You guys want to talk about fighter pay, let’s talk about fighter pay. Everybody on this card, whether it’s your first time in the UFC or you’re Georges St-Pierre or you’re Anderson Silva, you all have the same opportunity to make those bonuses. You want more money? Go get it. Go get the money. Go out there and let people know who you are, have people talking about you tomorrow.”
In White’s eyes Smith and Herman did that, and they were rewarded for their efforts. As White said, the fight business has a short memory, “you’re only good as you’re last fight,” and if you want to get paid, well, you better make that last fight count.
*All quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report.
Between the outstanding showing from Demetrious Johnson and the appalling dud between Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald, fight fans have plenty to talk about after UFC on Fox 8.
One performance that should not be overlooked came from Robbie Law…
Between the outstanding showing from Demetrious Johnson and the appalling dud between Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald, fight fans have plenty to talk about after UFC on Fox 8.
One performance that should not be overlooked came from Robbie Lawler.
He appeared to be in tremendous shape from the opening bell. With excellent timing, the former Elite XC champion scored a knockout victory only 24 ticks into the second frame.
With this victory, Lawler is 2-0 since returning to the UFC welterweight division. As the No. 9 contender to Georges St-Pierre’s championship, the next booking for “Ruthless” could determine whether or not he contends for gold in 2014.
Here is a look at five fights for Lawler to take next.
After 45 professional fights, with nine of them taking place in the UFC, veteran lightweight Aaron Riley retired from the sport on Saturday night.
Riley competed at the UFC on Fox 8 show where he lost a split decision to Justin Salas. Following the bou…
After 45 professional fights, with nine of them taking place in the UFC, veteran lightweight Aaron Riley retired from the sport on Saturday night.
Riley competed at the UFC on Fox 8 show where he lost a split decision to Justin Salas. Following the bout, Riley took to Twitter to announce that his fight in Seattle was the last of his 16-year career.
Riley began fighting all the way back in 1997, competing in the HooknShoot promotion for the first seven fights of his career.
Even in those early days, Riley already had built a reputation for being one of the toughest fighters in the sport who was willing to step up and face anybody inside the cage or ring.
After more than 20 fights in the local circuit, Riley finally got his shot at the UFC in May 2002, where he lost a hard-fought unanimous decision to Robbie Lawler at UFC 37.
Following the loss, Riley went back to competing in regional promotions before earning a chance to compete in Pride Fighting Championships in 2005, where he knocked out MichihiroOmigawa with a stunning first-round head kick.
That fight earned Riley a shot back in the Octagon, but his fight against Spencer Fisher ended after only one round. Not because Riley got knocked out or submitted, but because he suffered a broken jaw during the fight.
Riley exited the UFC once again after that loss, but returned in November 2008 and never fought for another promotion again.
Riley closed out his career with a 3-4 record in the UFC, picking up wins over notable names like former Ultimate Fighter competitor Jorge Gurgel and Shane Nelson.
In an unfortunate twist, Riley actually suffered a second broken jaw during his return to the UFC in his fight against Tony Ferguson in 2011.
The injury and subsequent time off put Riley on the sidelines for over a year until he finally returned to action on Saturday night at UFC on Fox 8.
Riley fought valiantly and put on a show for the fans as he was always known to do throughout his career.
While he was never a top champion or even a contender for the biggest part of his 16 years in the sport, Riley will always be remembered as a respected veteran who might have been one of the toughest fighters ever to lace up his gloves and step into an MMA arena.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
Heading into UFC on Fox 8’s main event from Seattle on Saturday night, we heard about the punching power and wrestling of John Moraga. By the time the fight came to its conclusion we hadn’t seen much of either of those things, but we did ge…
Heading into UFC on Fox 8’s main event from Seattle on Saturday night, we heard about the punching power and wrestling of John Moraga. By the time the fight came to its conclusion we hadn’t seen much of either of those things, but we did get to witness a dominating performance by UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
Moraga started off fast, but Johnson, who showed that he has a gear that not many fighters possess, quickly surpassed that speed. Once the flyweight champion took control of the fight, there was no looking back.
According to the FightMetric numbers, Johnson went 67 of 95 in his significant strikes for a success rate of 71 percent. As impressive as that number is, it is dwarfed by his takedown percentage, which was a perfect 100 percent. Johnson attempted 12 takedowns, landing them all.
When the fight went to the ground, Johnson was just as active—passing the guard of Moraga 13 times and attempting three submissions.
Johnson’s third submission attempt was the one that counted, as he clamped on an armbar that brought the fight to an end at the 3:43 mark of the final round.
The win gave Johnson “Submission of the Night” honors, as well as a place in the UFC record book. Johnson’s submission is the latest submission stoppage in the history of the UFC.
It will be interesting to see if the victory changes Johnson’s standing in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. The flyweight champion is currently ranked No. 7, directly behind heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.
Canadian phenom Rory MacDonald added another win to the pile on Saturday night when he picked up a unanimous decision against Jake