Over the weekend, the UFC broke out “Road to the Octagon” to preview Saturday’s event, UFC on FOX 24. The card features Demetrious Johnson defending his flyweight title against Wilson Reis from Kansas City. Michelle Waterson meets Rose Namajunas in the co-main, while middleweights Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Robert Whittaker also square off. Johnson is […]
Over the weekend, the UFC broke out “Road to the Octagon” to preview Saturday’s event, UFC on FOX 24. The card features Demetrious Johnson defending his flyweight title against Wilson Reis from Kansas City. Michelle Waterson meets Rose Namajunas in the co-main, while middleweights Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Robert Whittaker also square off. Johnson is […]
Conor McGregor talked a metric ton of trash over the weekend which is pretty interesting stuff to dissect. But while all his talk may be interesting there are still some interesting topics to tackle as far as this past weekend’s fights are concerned. The main and co-main event of UFC Denver saw a pretty dominating victory and an unforeseen upset cap off a night of fairly entertaining fights. Valentina Shevchenko and Jorge Masvidal left the event in considerably higher standings than when they first arrived in Colorado.
Conor McGregor talked a metric ton of trash over the weekend which is pretty interesting stuff to dissect. But while all his talk may be interesting there are still some interesting topics to tackle as far as this past weekend’s fights are concerned. The main and co-main event of UFC Denver saw a pretty dominating victory and an unforeseen upset cap off a night of fairly entertaining fights. Valentina Shevchenko and Jorge Masvidal left the event in considerably higher standings than when they first arrived in Colorado.
For Shevchenko’s part she proved that she’s a slow starter no longer. Her judo black belt came in handy when she took Julianna Pena to the ground in the first round with relative ease. She dominated top position of a majority of the opening five minutes until a Pena armbar submission threatened to put all that hard work to waste. Even though it appeared tight, by the closing seconds it was obvious that Shevchenko had escaped danger even before the bell rang to end the round. Where it seemed like Shevchenko was playing a dangerous game by remaining in the clinch with Julianna Pena, the reality is that the “Venezuelan Vixen” was in fact biting off more than she could chew. Even after getting the fight to the ground where she wanted it, Pena couldn’t land any significant offense while Shevchenko remained patient in hunting for the fight ending armbar she slapped on her opponent seemingly out of nowhere. While many agreed that Shevchenko needed to win the fight on the feet in order to secure victory, the truth of the matter is that Valentina has been hiding some tricks up her sleeves and proved that even a risky situation can indeed pay dividends.
For Donald Cerrone that proved to be less than true.
After an impressive finish of Matt Brown at December’s UFC 206, there appeared to be nothing but upside for “Cowboy” Cerrone. But it appeared that his propensity to fight anyone at any place at any time got the better of him as he faced off with Jorge Masvidal. Cerrone won most of the first round which shouldn’t be ignored. But winning most of a round means nothing if you’re almost flatlined by the end of it. Masvidal executed a flawless game plan. The kicks of Cerrone have always been a dangerous weapon, but going to the well too often can leave it dry. Cerrone threw one too many kicks and Masvidal exploded forward with well timed right hand counters over the top. Cerrone has never been the best boxer in the game and Masvidal has always shown a propensity to light guys up with his hands. Kicking was definitely the best option for Cerrone, but the lack of variety gave Masvidal some easy reads as the fight wore on.
The knock out in the second round was a bit disheartening to watch simply because of the fact that Cerrone lost in front of his hometown fans. But this is the hurt business as they say and no matter how you look at it the game is always risk versus reward. Cerrone fighting so often may have been to his detriment. Though he performs better when he’s on a roll, the fact of the matter is that there are always diminishing returns as far as this game goes and taking a sabbatical from time to time can evolve a person’s game, even a man Cerrone. For now he has to go back to the drawing board while Jorge Masvidal announces himself as a person of interest in the welterweight division.
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
Although it wasn’t the most stacked card of the year, UFC on FOX 23 was plentiful with meaningful fights. Featuring fights from nine of the existing 11 weight classes, the promotion’s trip to Denver, Colorado has proved fruitful in creating some great fights. From potential title contenders, to fun fights for the fans and also championship
Although it wasn’t the most stacked card of the year, UFC on FOX 23 was plentiful with meaningful fights. Featuring fights from nine of the existing 11 weight classes, the promotion’s trip to Denver, Colorado has proved fruitful in creating some great fights. From potential title contenders, to fun fights for the fans and also championship locks, there are some very interesting fights to make after UFC on FOX 23.
Here’s how we think the matchmaking should pan out after last weekend’s festivities!
Mandatory Credit: Michael Adamucci-USA TODAY Sports
Francis Ngannou vs. Cain Velasquez
Facing the former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, a lot of eyes were on Francis Ngannou in Denver. The dangerous French Cameroonian was looking to prove he can go up a level, and he did it in a big way. Crushing Arlovski with a barrage of strikes, ‘The Predator’ got a 92-second TKO win. Who better for Ngannou to face than former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez?
With Junior dos Santos reported to be facing Stipe Miocic next, Velasquez might be on the look out for some fresh blood. Both men have a lot to gain and lose from this fight, making it all the more intriguing. Currently on a five-fight/finish streak in the UFC, ‘The Predator’ is 10-1 overall, and hasn’t lost since 2013.
Jorge Masvidal vs. Robbie Lawler
Another UFC on FOX 23 star with a lot to play for, and another who came out smelling of roses. Former street fighter Jorge Masvidal had a lot of people betting against him in Denver. Against Donald Cerrone, ‘Gamebred’ had a streaking striker with a litany of devastating finishes in his wake. Putting in the performance of the night, Masvidal crushed ‘Cowboy’ with a nasty second round TKO.
Now that he’s ran through Cerrone, there’s one fight that would seem perfect. Ex-champion Robbie Lawler recently left American Top Team, co-incidentally where Masvidal trains too. With both men preferring gruelling standing wars, this could be a great one for the fans.
Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Raphael Assunção vs. Dominick Cruz
For a long time Raphael Assunção was being talked about for a bantamweight title fight. Considering he’d beaten TJ Dillashaw in 2013, and ‘The Viper’ was 135-pound boss between 2014-14, fans wanted to see this fight. Also, the Brazilian was riding seven straight fights, but then a two-year injury sit saw the division move on.
Returning to finally rematch Dillashaw at UFC 200, albeit not for the belt, Assunção lost a unanimous decision. At UFC on FOX 23, Assunção defeated Serra-Longo prospect Aljamain Sterling, and now a fight with Dominick Cruz would definitely make sense. With champion Cody Garbrandt and his rival TJ Dillashaw set to fight, either a bout with ‘The Dominator’ would be great in creating a contender.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Amanda Nunes
Although an obvious statement, this fight really needs to happen. I don’t usually say this, but I actually agree with Dana White’s comments about Nunes. Yes, they ‘allowed’ Conor McGregor to move up and fight at 155 without defending his belt, but do we really want that happening in every division. Of course, Nunes has already defended her title once against Ronda Rousey, but wouldn’t a superfight become even more worthy if she notches three or maybe four straight wins as champ?
Shevchenko’s credentials after mauling Julianna Pena are undeniable, and eve though it was incredibly cringe-worthy, her face-off with Nunes’ after the fight was much deserved. With unfinished business after their first fight, ‘Bullet’ vs. ‘The Lioness’ is the only option now.
The main event of UFC on Fox 23 features two of the most ferocious women in the bantamweight division as Valentina Shevchenko squares off against Julianna Pena. Both women have built up quite the resume with Shevchenko having defeated former bantam weight champion Holly Holm and Pena out dueling Cat Zingano. These two women are both extremely talented with their own specific roads to victory. Who gets the job done at UFC Denver?
The main event of UFC on Fox 23 features two of the most ferocious women in the bantamweight division as Valentina Shevchenko squares off against Julianna Pena. Both women have built up quite the resume with Shevchenko having defeated former bantam weight champion Holly Holm and Pena out dueling Cat Zingano. These two women are both extremely talented with their own specific roads to victory. Who gets the job done at UFC Denver?
Key Factors:
Striking
For many who tuned into her bout against Holly Holm, it became evident that Valentina Shevchenko operates on a level far beyond that of the average striker in the women’s bantamweight division. Her combinations were slick, her movement balanced, and the spinning attacks she threw gave a level of unpredictability that froze Holm at times. Shevchenko has been criticized by Pena for being more of a point fighter which is an unfair assessment. The reality of the situation is that Shevchenko is a controlled striker who looks for opportunities rather than wading into the fire, which just happens to be Pena’s preferred style.
Where Shevchenko is controlled and nuanced in her approach, playing the outside and countering effectively, Julianna Pena is a ball of fire who looks to explode forward with shots, get into the clinch, then do her best work by getting the fight to the ground. The biggest problem with her approach is that she usually enters the fray with little head movement leaving her susceptible to punishment when she makes her way in. While it may be an exciting style, it’s not very conduscive when facing off with a striker at the level of Shevchenko.
Shevchenko is a patient striker who will pivot on the outside, play matador, and chew up her opponents with a variety of attacks from all heights. The problem is that in the early rounds she can be a bit passive. Pena’s striking is alarming, but would be most effective if used at the initial bell in hopes of catching Shevchenko off balance. Something tells me that’s unlikely to happen.
Clinch/Grappling
Where Pena will likely have the advantage is in the grappling exchanges. She’s strong and pushes a ferocious pace once she gets the fight to the ground. She looks to punish her opponents with heavy leather and vicious elbows. The problem about all that is, she actually needs to get Shevchenko down to the ground for all that to happen. In order to do that, Pena will most likely choose to enter the clinch and try for a trip takedown which is her preferred method of getting her opponents grounded. There in lies another issue for the “Venezuelan Vixen.” Valentina Shevchenko is a judo black belt and is proficient with performing and avoiding trip takedowns.
Shevchenko was able to ground the champion Amanda Nunes in their match with a well timed counter Osoto Gari outside reap. The trip utilized in that match showcased Shevchenko’s ability to not only defend against trips, but counter effectively to end up on top. If Pena is hoping to get Shevchenko to ground then she’ll have to be aware of that fact and utilize a combination of takedowns in order to get the job done. Pure aggression alone will do her no good in this match up. Pulling guard could be an option, but Shevchenko has proven to have a strong top game of her own so the proposition is a bit of a gamble.
No matter how you slice it, this match is competitive as hell and the winner will likely be the one with the better game plan. When both fighters have heart for days, technical ability will always be the deciding factor.
Who do you think wins the main event at UFC Denver?
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
Michelle Waterson, Alan Jouban and Mickey Gall all had something in common last Saturday night. Each of them in their own way were responsible for shutting down some major hype trains. Waterson, Jouban, and Gall each had the responsibility of battling fighters who have considerable upside. That’s not to say that Paige Vanzant, Mike Perry, and Sage Northcutt don’t have a future. In fact, if nothing else the losses these three sustained were absolutely necessary for their career advancement.
Michelle Waterson, Alan Jouban and Mickey Gall all had something in common last Saturday night. Each of them in their own way were responsible for shutting down some major hype trains. Waterson, Jouban, and Gall each had the responsibility of battling fighters who have considerable upside. That’s not to say that Paige Vanzant, Mike Perry, and Sage Northcutt don’t have a future. In fact, if nothing else the losses these three sustained were absolutely necessary for their career advancement.
For Sage Northcutt the message was simple: stay at 155 lbs. Sure, Mickey Gall called out the young talent, but it wasn’t reason enough to fight the New Jersey native. It was a high risk, moderate reward situation that forced Northcutt to fight at a weight class that he hasn’t done very well in this far. Sage Northcutt’s handlers should have looked at the bigger picture and understood that having the twenty year old build slowly in the right division is going to be the key to the young man’s success. That and the fact that his ground game, take down and grappling defense included, needs a ton of work if he’s still hoping to be the UFC’s youngest champion.
In Mike Perry’s case he had to learn the hard way that talking trash does little in the way of winning fights. The reality is that Perry’s aggressive come forward style has the potential to be exciting but will ultimately become a double edged sword. At this point of the game you coming forward, tucking your chin, and throwing bombs does not an elite fighter make. Perry had flashes of success but his inability to adapt and change his game plan proved to be his undoing. Jouban showed that he was willing to make improvements in his own game in between camps and during the fight itself. If Perry hopes to become elite then he’ll have to be willing to change his approach and avoid his usual emotional style in order to elevate his game. If he’s able to reign in his ego, Perry truly can become a force in the UFC.
The third humble pie recipient was Paige Vanzant who has little time to show any improvements in her game outside of her footwork. Vanzant had great movement while the fight lasted on the feet, but it still was done with little purpose with no set ups for potential angles. Waterson herself showed just how dangerous she has become since her last fight inside the octagon. The head and arm throw which so rarely works in MMA was performed with such technique and power it showcased just how advanced Waterson’s game is becoming. While Vanzant will once again be forced to reevaluate, Waterson will see her star rise as her rear naked choke victory sets her up as another potential challenger for the strawweight strap.
UFC on Fox 22 features some pretty intriguing matchups one of which features a bonafide slugger versus a more disciplined, if not raw, striker. Mike Perry versus Alan Jouban is sure to be a wild fight filled with the chills and thrills only two hungry prospects can deliver upon. The title may sound dismissive of Alan Jouban, but the kickboxing enthusiast truly has the recipe to give a guy like Mike Perry problems. At its best the fight will be an awesome display of different striking styles. At its worst it will be pure chaos with either man digging deep to survive. Both scenarios are incredibly enticing and should be a thrill to witness.
UFC on Fox 22 features some pretty intriguing matchups one of which features a bonafide slugger versus a more disciplined, if not raw, striker. Mike Perry versus Alan Jouban is sure to be a wild fight filled with the chills and thrills only two hungry prospects can deliver upon. The title may sound dismissive of Alan Jouban, but the kickboxing enthusiast truly has the recipe to give a guy like Mike Perry problems. At its best the fight will be an awesome display of different striking styles. At its worst it will be pure chaos with either man digging deep to survive. Both scenarios are incredibly enticing and should be a thrill to witness.
With only two fights in the UFC Mike Perry has gained a great deal of fans and detractors alike. His out spoken nature is becoming pretty common after the emergence of Conor McGregor, but it doesn’t seem to be a put on. Mike Perry has a ton of pride and ego and with fairly good reason too. He’s undefeated for a reason. Perry isn’t the most polished striker but he’s willing to take what his opponents throw at him and dish it out with devastating results. He tends to throw a series of hooks as well as some hard leg kicks. You’ll occasionally see some straight punches from Perry but for the most part he wants to come forward and test you chin and isn’t afraid to see if his own will hold up under pressure as well. He’s tough and is wants to see who the tougher man is. If that means trading blows with his opponent then so be it.
Alan Jouban is on the other end of the spectrum as far as personality goes. He’s your jovial laid back former male model type, if that’s even a thing. Style-wise he does have many of the same quirks as Perry however. He tends to have a hook heavy approach to his striking but does through more straight punches as well as kicks. In the clinch he isn’t afraid to get creative and through spinning elbows. When he’s more conservative his clinch work can be clean and devastating. The biggest advantage for Jouban in this match is his height and reach advantage. With Perry having the tendency to match forward with his chin exposed, Jouban should take advantage and catch him coming in with left straights. If he does get his man hurt he should be calm and careful as to not engage in a brawl which would favor Perry who tucks his chin well while inside the pocket.
This should be a pretty wild fight while it lasts and though Mike Perry has been looking dangerous in his first two UFC fights I suspect that Alan Jouban’s cleaner work can get the job done. The pick is Alan Jouban by second round TKO.
Who do you think wins this slug fest?
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
