After more than one year away from competition, light heavyweight contender Thiago Silva will return to action against Alexander Gustafsson at Saturday’s UFC on Fuel TV 2. Against Gustafsson, Silva will have the chance to jump back into the mix for the…
After more than one year away from competition, light heavyweight contender Thiago Silva will return to action against Alexander Gustafsson at Saturday’s UFC on Fuel TV 2. Against Gustafsson, Silva will have the chance to jump back into the mix for the 205-pound title, despite his failed drug test following a since-overturned win against Brandon Vera.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Gustafsson will be looking to take another step toward his first title shot while competing in front of his fellow countrymen in the UFC’s first trip Sweden. A win over Silva would mark the Swede’s fifth consecutive victory and put him near the front of the line for a meeting with the winner of an upcoming title fight between champion Jon Jones and Rashad Evans.
In a bout that will be pivotal for the title hopes of both fighters, let’s take a look at which competitor has the edge heading into Saturday’s event.
March 3rd. That was the last time the UFC held an event. It was the UFC’s debut on the B-level network FX.You’d have to go back to February 26th for the last event of a grander scale—UFC 144.The event drought is nearing its end, but it still…
March 3rd.
That was the last time the UFC held an event. It was the UFC’s debut on the B-level network FX.
You’d have to go back to February 26th for the last event of a grander scale—UFC 144.
The event drought is nearing its end, but it still has a few days left in it. We won’t be seeing new UFC programming until UFC on FUEL TV 2 on April 14th.
This may seem like a bad thing but, in reality, it’s actually good that the fans had such a break in action.
From a financial standpoint, the event drought is a good thing because it allowed fans a reprieve from constantly having to shell out close to $60 every couple of weeks for UFC pay-per-views.
Thus, fans won’t gripe (as much) about paying for UFC 145 and UFC 146.
However, there’s another reason independent of finances why the long break between events will make fans less prone to complaining.
Fans are desperate for entertainment, for violence.
It’s been over a month since the last new fights and some fight junkies are beginning to get restless.
A new UFC event—even if it’s an expensive pay-per-view or an event on FUEL TV with largely lower-level fighters—will be a much anticipated and warmly welcomed happening.
The break was a great thing (and they should happen more often), but it’s time for this one to end.
Fans, for all their vitriol against the UFC, ultimately need the UFC. Without their events and fighters, fans would be lost now and for the rest of time.
Alexander Gustafsson seems to be the uncrowned third contender in the UFC’s light heavyweight, according to many MMA fans, but I’m not so sure that this fight is in any way a certainty. I think people have forgotten how much of a beast Thiago Silva is …
Alexander Gustafsson seems to be the uncrowned third contender in the UFC’s light heavyweight, according to many MMA fans, but I’m not so sure that this fight is in any way a certainty. I think people have forgotten how much of a beast Thiago Silva is at this point.
Silva has only lost twice in his UFC career, and those losses were to light heavyweight top contender Rashad Evans, in which Thiago had a bad back injury coming in, and to former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.
Silva is a tough, durable and strong light heavyweight who, at 205 pounds, is capable of knocking out any man. Admittedly, Thiago Silva is a huge question mark at this point, but if he is healthy his powerful punches could spell a short night for the “Mauler.”
Alexander Gusafsson is a rising prospect in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. His only loss in the UFC was a submission loss to Phil Davis. Since then he has rattled off an impressive winning streak, most recently knocking out tough veteran Vladimir Matyushenko in the first round.
Prediction
It seems to me that ever since Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was replaced by Thiago Silva, there has been a significant amount of the MMA fan base that has awarded Alexander Gustafsson the victory already. There are even people who feel he is the third in line to fight Jon Jones after Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson.
In part, I understand the mentality, seeing that Gustafsson had the winning streak, Silva had a long layoff and Gustafsson has his height, which could be seen as an advantage as well.
Something tells me everyone is overlooking Thiago Silva. Not to say that Alexander Gustafsson won’t get a title shot in the near future, but in this fight I think Thiago will come out aggressively, take the center of the Octagon and put pressure on Gustafsson that he won’t be able to deal with.
I see Thiago Silva winning this fight by knockout.
UFC fans have not had to wait this long for a fight card since last Summer. But the UFC returns in April with two cards filled to the brim with exciting fights.On April 14, UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva emanates from Stockholm, Sweden …
UFC fans have not had to wait this long for a fight card since last Summer. But the UFC returns in April with two cards filled to the brim with exciting fights.
On April 14, UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva emanates from Stockholm, Sweden for the first time ever.
Just one week later the UFC’s most interesting grudge match will take place in Atlanta, Georgia when Jon Jones puts his Light Heavyweight Championship on the line against former teammate and friend, Rashad Evans.
We take a look at the five best fights the UFC has to offer in April.
The UFC dry spell is finally coming to a close. Only a mere two weeks away, I can already taste the sweet flavors of a well-crafted UFC knockout. After a long March where we found ourselves flipping between the Ultimate Fighter Live and a stellar seaso…
The UFC dry spell is finally coming to a close. Only a mere two weeks away, I can already taste the sweet flavors of a well-crafted UFC knockout. After a long March where we found ourselves flipping between the Ultimate Fighter Live and a stellar season of Bellator, April is here, and we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
There are no Strikeforce, Titan Fighting Championships, DREAM, M-1 or ProElite bouts this month, but an independent fight did manage to work its way onto our list, alongside some highly anticipated UFC and Bellator contests that are sure to deliver both big-name stars and high-quality MMA action.
This is a list of the top 20 fights that MMA fans should look forward to seeing this month.
Jon Jones has gone through a metamorphosis-type of change in his life since 2009. At UFC 94, Jones displayed his amazing combination of strength, length and athleticism by completely outclassing The Ultimate Fighter’s season one finalist Stephan Bonnar…
Jon Jones has gone through a metamorphosis-type of change in his life since 2009. At UFC 94, Jones displayed his amazing combination of strength, length and athleticism by completely outclassing The Ultimate Fighter’s season one finalist Stephan Bonnar with spinning back elbows, kicks and Greco-Roman throws that looked like something out of a comic book. The only difference is Jon “Bones” Jones is very much real.
Now, just three short years and some change later and Jon Jones is not only the UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight champion, but he also is coming off possibly the greatest calender year in the history of his sport. Yes, I know it is incredible! The guy is absolutely amazing and the scary part is he can only get better.
In 2011, Jones started the year viewed as a top ten light heavyweight with a very high ceiling. He ended the year looking like an unstoppable martial artist with combined submission, wrestling and striking skills that would rival any mixed martial artist to ever tape up the four-ounce gloves.
In his first bout of the year, Jones dispatched top contender Ryan Bader by submission at UFC 126 in February. In March, Bones stepped in for future opponent Rashad Evans and handed a one-sided beatdown to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to capture the 205 pound world title. Jones then finished the year with two submission wins over former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida.
It was a remarkable year for a fighter who is improving and learning. He has been dominant already in the UFC and the scary thing is he is still hungry to take it to the next level.
It appears that there are only a small number of opponents to oppose Jon Jones this year. Really after you consider Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson and a possible Shogun rematch (albeit an extremely unlikely fight) there is only Alexander Gustafsson left near the top at this point. Every other fighter seems to be either too far away from a shot, too green, over the hill, unworthy or a number of other reasons you can insert here.
Gustafsson started his UFC career with a bang by knocking out Jared Hammon at UFC 105 in less than a minute. A quick setback loss by submission to Phil Davis has now been offset by an impressive four fight win streak in the Octagon including two knockouts and two rear naked choke victories, respectively.
The “Mauler” recently picked up his biggest win to date at UFC 141 when he knocked out Vladimir Matyushenko in two minutes to solidify his top ten status among fellow light heavyweights in the UFC. He now looks to make a statement for a title at UFC on Fuel TV 2 by taking on slugger Thiago Silva who is to be a late replacement for the injured Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
If Gustafsson wins this bout, I could easily see the UFC giving him a number one contender fight in his next bout. Only Dan Henderson is next after Jon Jones’ dispatch of Rashad Evans, so Alexander could be getting his shot by the end of this calender year.
The real question here is if Gustafsson poses much of a challenge to the champion. Is Alexander Gustafsson a threat to Jon Jones? He is a threat only in a puncher’s chance sort of way. He is a threat in the same way that Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson both have heavy hands and can knock someone out at 205 pounds.
But, the simple fact of the matter is that Jones has too much reach, too much movement, effective wrestling, improvised submissions and flying strikes that no other man can duplicate. He has been dominant in the UFC in a way that only the great Anderson Silva can match.
Alexander Gustafsson may have a tough time with Thiago Silva, as well. If Silva is healthy and in good shape for this fight, I have doubts about the Swedish native winning his UFC on Fuel TV 2 bout, let alone a bout with the champion. Gustafsson is not a threat to Jones at this point, but he is dangerous and if he learns to use his range like Jones does, he could very well hold the gold one day down the road. I just don’t see him taking it from Jon Jones.
March 3rd.