Tag: UFC on Fuel 3

Armchair Matchmaker: UFC on FUEL 3 Edition


(Tom Lawlor: The UFC’s undisputed Seven Up champion.) 

Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like it’s getting harder and harder to drum up a potential list of future opponents for the winners of a given UFC card these days. Not only are most fighters already booked for the promotion’s ever-increasing amount of cards, but the ones selected for title shots are seemingly being drawn out of a hat. Be that as it may, we are going to try and sift through the wreckage of last night’s UFC on FUEL card and determine who the big winners should face next. Enjoy.

Chan Sung Jung: We’ll be the first to admit that we underestimated “The Korean Zombie” heading into yesterday’s fight. But aside from his excellent transitions on the ground, or that amazing takedown reversal to mount he was able to pull off, the thing that impressed us the most about Jung was his tranquility. While Poirier was throwing his best shots at him, Jung remained calm, and worked his way out of every hairy situation like a true pro. He deserves a title shot, and Dana White claims that he is next in line for one. And The Baldfather would never go back on his word. Just ask Anthony Pettis.


(Tom Lawlor: The UFC’s undisputed Seven Up champion.) 

Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like it’s getting harder and harder to drum up a potential list of future opponents for the winners of a given UFC card these days. Not only are most fighters already booked for the promotion’s ever-increasing amount of cards, but the ones selected for title shots are seemingly being drawn out of a hat. Be that as it may, we are going to try and sift through the wreckage of last night’s UFC on FUEL card and determine who the big winners should face next. Enjoy.

Chan Sung Jung: We’ll be the first to admit that we underestimated “The Korean Zombie” heading into yesterday’s fight. But aside from his excellent transitions on the ground, or that amazing takedown reversal to mount he was able to pull off, the thing that impressed us the most about Jung was his tranquility. While Poirier was throwing his best shots at him, Jung remained calm, and worked his way out of every hairy situation like a true pro. He deserves a title shot, and Dana White claims that he is next in line for one. And The Baldfather would never go back on his word. Just ask Anthony Pettis.

Amir Sadollah: Despite the fact that neither Sadollah or Jorge Lopez offered much in terms of offensive output in their co-main event (Author’s note: WHO THE FUCK DECIDED THIS?!) clash, we were a little surprised to see Amir get the nod. But regardless of the outcome, one could see that there are still some noticeable holes in Sadollah’s game. Mainly, aggression and takedown defense. Sadollah needs to fight a guy that will bring out his inner beast, and the winner of the Matt Riddle/Luis Ramos bout would be a perfect test for him.

Donald Cerrone: To say that Cerrone’s performance against Jeremy Stephens was anything short of masterful would be an understatement. When facing “The Cowboy’s” multifaceted, not to mention vicious attack, Stephens could do little else but swing for all he was worth, with all but a few of his punches coming up far short of their target. Now 5-1 in the UFC, Cerrone should only be fighting the division’s brightest. A match against Anthony Pettis would not only be a great test of just how far either man will go at 155, but a potential FOTY candidate to boot. Plus, DW could promise the winner a title shot by the end of 2014 when the lightweight division finally clears up.

Yves Jabouin: After falling prey to one of the greatest submissions of 2011 in his UFC debut, the Tristar Gym standout has reeled off three straight in the octagon. Although he has yet to finish an opponent in convincing fashion in his UFC run, he came as close as humanly possible when he unleashed that spinning back kick in the first round of his bantamweight brawl with Jeff Hougland. Given his propencity to put on technical, yet exciting striking clinics, we’d like to see him square off against Mike Easton, who he was originally scheduled to face at yesterday’s event, once “The Hulk” recovers from his injury. It was a good matchup then, and it makes just as much sense now. The pace this fight would take place at would be enough to send the audience into a mass epileptic seizure, and it could make for a great addition to any lacking card.

Tom Lawlor: Currently 2-2 in his last four, with victories coming over the now released Patrick Cote and the soon to be retired Jason MacDonald, it’s kind of hard to place LOLor anywhere but the middle of the pack at this point. We will forever be indebted to “Filthy” for becoming the first man to choke C.B. Dolloway into Narnia at UFC 100, and the man’s weigh-in fashion sense is nothing short of impeccable, so he deserves a winnable matchup against an entertaining fighter to carry the momentum of his KOTN performance. The winner of the Nick Catone/Chris Camozzi scrap, scheduled for UFC on FX 4, comes to mind.

Cody McKenzie: We don’t care if McKenzie is a one-trick pony, he’s our one trick pony, dammit. Physically, McKenzie looked the best he ever has when stepping into the cage against UFC newcomer and wrestling powerhouse Marcus LeVessuer, but that could’ve simply been the result of trimming the outhouse mop that sat atop his head for so long. Sure, he still looked goofy as hell when throwing some of his kicks, which included the first upkick nutshot we’ve seen in quite some time, but if you so much as sneeze in his general direction, he will snatch that neck up and have you crying uncle before you even have time to wipe your nose. He more than likely saved his Zuffa career yesterday, and isn’t exactly ready for a huge step up in competition. Honestly, I would be satisfied if the UFC continued to serve him McKenzietine fodder for the rest of his career, but a matchup against Reza Madadi, who is coming off an impressive debut submission victory over Yoislandy Izquierdo at UFC on FUEL: Gustafsson vs. Silva would be a good test of just what he can do.

So what do you think, Potato Nation? Who should yesterday’s biggest winners (or losers) face off against in the near future?

–J. Jones 

UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Dustin Poirier’s Emotional Post-Fight Interview

Dustin Poirier’s evening at UFC on Fuel 3 didn’t quite go as planned. Poirier was a heavy favorite going into his main event bout with Chan Sung Jung, and many—I’ll include myself in that group—believed that Poirier was going to walk t…

Dustin Poirier’s evening at UFC on Fuel 3 didn’t quite go as planned. 

Poirier was a heavy favorite going into his main event bout with Chan Sung Jung, and many—I’ll include myself in that group—believed that Poirier was going to walk through Jung without a care in the world. I thought he was too skilled and too technical for Jung, and I figured it was an easy win for the Louisiana native that would set up a future title shot.

Instead, it was Jung who used the fight to break away from the pack and earn himself a title shot, triggering a wave of Zombie-mania that may not subside until he faces Jose Aldo for the featherweight title.

Poirier was understandably upset during his post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, which you can watch in the above video:

I’m trying not to get emotional, I just care so much and I let myself down. I deserved to win. My wife deserved for us to win. I felt like I was in the best shape ever, I just took some bad shots and made some mistakes. I’m gonna go back to the gym and work on it and come back and get a W.

The loss to Jung is a step in the wrong direction, but Poirier still has a lot to offer at featherweight. I do believe he’s going to be a future title contender, and I believe it’ll happen in the next 18 months. He made plenty of mistakes against Jung, but he’s young and has a lot of time to close up those holes in his game.

What’s next for Poirier? I’d like to see him face the loser of the July bout between Jose Aldo and Erik Koch. I say that mostly because the loser will likely be Koch, and I’ve been waiting to see Poirier and Koch square off for a long time. We were supposed to see the fight go down at UFC 143, but Koch suffered an injury and was forced to pull out.

Poirier won’t tumble too far down the featherweight ladder. The division is thin on potential stars, and Poirier’s one of the only guys in the division with main event experience under his belt. He’s also the star of Fightville, a critically-acclaimed documentary that you need to see if you haven’t done so already.

I expect Poirier to learn from this loss, to rebound and be better than before. If that happens, he can consider the loss to Jung—no matter how heart-wrenching it may feel right now—a positive experience.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Is Chan Sung Jung Ready for a Shot at Jose Aldo?

The UFC featherweight division has found its next contender and a potential star in Chan Sung Jung.Jung put on an impressive performance in the main event on UFC on Fuel 3 as he battered Dustin Poirier for the majority of the fight before submitting hi…

The UFC featherweight division has found its next contender and a potential star in Chan Sung Jung.

Jung put on an impressive performance in the main event on UFC on Fuel 3 as he battered Dustin Poirier for the majority of the fight before submitting him in the fourth round, in what will likely be a candidate for Fight of the Year.

“The Korean Zombie” is currently riding a three-fight win streak and his victory over Poirier was enough to convince UFC president Dana White that he is next in line to challenge for the UFC featherweight title.

Having sported an 0-2 record in the WEC, Jung has proved himself to be a worthy contender at 145 pounds. Victories over Mark Hominick, Leonard Garcia and now Poirier have not only helped his case with UFC management, but also with the fans; Jung’s performances have made him an instant fan favourite.

Should Jose Aldo get past Erik Koch at UFC 149, it would set up one of the more intriguing bouts at 145 pounds and it would add some recognition to the division.

Out of the three opponents the Brazilian has faced, only Kenny Florian has the most notoriety, which didn’t necessarily boost Aldo’s stock as a huge draw with the company.

But given Jung’s sudden rise in popularity and Aldo’s dominance, this fight can be easily sold and bring in a lot of revenue for the UFC. Although Aldo is considered as one the top pound-for-pound fighters, he still isn’t a major pay-per-view draw to attract fans. Therefore, it would be logical to schedule a title bout between Aldo and Jung for the next UFC on Fox card sometime this fall.

With Jung’s inclusion in the 145-pound title picture and former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar possibly moving down, the featherweight division might not be so weak after all.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Did Donald Cerrone Erase the Loss to Nate Diaz?

Donald Cerrone made an emphatic statement in his return to the Octagon.The “Cowboy” squared off against Jeremy Stephens on UFC on Fuel 3 and showcased a dominant display of superior striking and improved footwork.Cerrone would continue the onslaught an…

Donald Cerrone made an emphatic statement in his return to the Octagon.

The “Cowboy” squared off against Jeremy Stephens on UFC on Fuel 3 and showcased a dominant display of superior striking and improved footwork.

Cerrone would continue the onslaught and pick apart his opponent to eventually pick up the unanimous decision.

The victory was well-deserved for the Greg Jackson pupil, as Cerrone earned his fifth win in his last six UFC appearances. Cerrone could find himself against a credible opponent in his next bout, where he hopes to compete in his hometown of Denver at UFC 150, but it did more than just enter him back into the 155-pound title picture.

Cerrone’s performance against Stephens proved that he has evolved and improved since his last bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 141, easily the worst showing of his UFC tenure thus far. Throughout the entire contest, Cerrone’s kickboxing was unsuccessful against the Stockton, Calif. native’s boxing skills and reach, picking apart the former WEC standout at will, utilizing angles and effective counter-striking.

But Cerrone’s win not only erased any doubts regarding his loss to Diaz, but it erased any doubts of the 29-year-old’s future in the lightweight division.

Cerrone needed a victory to remain among the elite fighters at 155 pounds, but he also needed a bout to prove he is still a threat to the UFC lightweight title, and he did just that against Stephens.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Zombie vs. Poirier Fight-Picking Contest: The Winners!


(Wear it like a champion. Or at the very least, like a #1 contender.)

Y’know, it would have been helpful last week if we knew that Jung vs. Poirier was going to be a five-round fight. (Serves me right for trusting the word of a fly-by-night MMA fan-blog.) Though we got a wide variety of guesses in our TrauMMA/No Mas fight-picking contest, none of you guessed that the fight would go to the championship rounds, probably because you didn’t know that it was even a possibility.

Nevertheless, the two closest picks belonged to spidey811 (“Zombie def. Poirier via Anaconda Choke at 3:54 in Round 3 [Submission of the Night]”) and topdog (“Jung def Poirier via submission (RNC) @ 3:23 of rd 3 [Submission of the night]”) — who will both be getting the new Korean Zombie t-shirt from TrauMMA Combat Apparel.

Honorable mention goes to Freddyboiiiii, who predicted a second-round submission win for Jung, and correctly guessed that the fight would pick up the Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses. That’s good enough for a CagePotato t-shirt, I think. If your name has been called, please send your real name, shirt size, and address to [email protected], and we’ll send out your prizes ASAP. Thanks again to TrauMMA for the hookup!


(Wear it like a champion. Or at the very least, like a #1 contender.)

Y’know, it would have been helpful last week if we knew that Jung vs. Poirier was going to be a five-round fight. (Serves me right for trusting the word of a fly-by-night MMA fan-blog.) Though we got a wide variety of guesses in our TrauMMA/No Mas fight-picking contest, none of you guessed that the fight would go to the championship rounds, probably because you didn’t know that it was even a possibility.

Nevertheless, the two closest picks belonged to spidey811 (“Zombie def. Poirier via Anaconda Choke at 3:54 in Round 3 [Submission of the Night]“) and topdog (“Jung def Poirier via submission (RNC) @ 3:23 of rd 3 [Submission of the night]“) — who will both be getting the new Korean Zombie t-shirt from TrauMMA Combat Apparel.

Honorable mention goes to Freddyboiiiii, who predicted a second-round submission win for Jung, and correctly guessed that the fight would pick up the Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses. That’s good enough for a CagePotato t-shirt, I think. If your name has been called, please send your real name, shirt size, and address to [email protected], and we’ll send out your prizes ASAP. Thanks again to TrauMMA for the hookup!

UFC on FUEL 3 Aftermath: When There is No More Room in Hell…The Dead Will Walk the Earth


(Stay away from the light, Dustin! Stay away from the light!) 

Ladies and gentlemen of the Potato Nation, the end times are upon us. Last night, a quiet, unassuming man named Chan Sung Jung escaped from a remote Korean testing facility and wound up in Fairfax, Virginia. Needing to fulfill certain diversity requirements that had long eluded them, the people of Fairfax embraced and accepted him with open arms, completely unaware that he was in fact patient zero of a zombie-like virus that would spell the untimely demise of the human race. Those ignoramuses.

Before they even knew what had hit them, reports of strange occurrences were popping up from county to county, then state to state. Having caught the latter half of the movie Outbreak on TBS just a few weeks prior, the people of Fairfax knew that they had to capture the source of the disease if they were ever to restore order to the chaos they had created. So they sent forth their bravest virologist, a man by the name of Dustin Poirier, to subdue the host and bring him back for testing. Early reports claimed that “The Diamond” would have little to no trouble accomplishing this feat, as he had successfully extinguished every threat placed before him since joining the Zuffa corporation.

How wrong they were.

For nearly twenty minutes, the two engaged in an all out war of attrition, one that would determine the very fate of mankind. He put up a hell of a fight, but as much as it saddens us to say this, we are officially doomed. Poirier was infected by “The Korean Zombie (virus),” and chances are that you will be soon as well. Early symptoms include raucous use of the phrase, “HOLY SHIT BRO”, an ability to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment, $80,000 cash, drowsiness, and cramps.


(Stay away from the light, Dustin! Stay away from the light!) 

Ladies and gentlemen of the Potato Nation, the end times are upon us. Last night, a quiet, unassuming man named Chan Sung Jung escaped from a remote Korean testing facility and wound up in Fairfax, Virginia. Needing to fulfill certain diversity requirements that had long eluded them, the people of Fairfax embraced and accepted him with open arms, completely unaware that he was in fact patient zero of a zombie-like virus that would spell the untimely demise of the human race. Those ignoramuses.

Before they even knew what had hit them, reports of strange occurrences were popping up from county to county, then state to state. Having caught the latter half of the movie Outbreak on TBS just a few weeks prior, the people of Fairfax knew that they had to capture the source of the disease if they were ever to restore order to the chaos they had created. So they sent forth their bravest virologist, a man by the name of Dustin Poirier, to subdue the host and bring him back for testing. Early reports claimed that “The Diamond” would have little to no trouble accomplishing this feat, as he had successfully extinguished every threat placed before him since joining the Zuffa corporation.

How wrong they were.

For nearly twenty minutes, the two engaged in an all out war of attrition, one that would determine the very fate of mankind. He put up a hell of a fight, but as much as it saddens us to say this, we are officially doomed. Poirier was infected by “The Korean Zombie (virus),” and chances are that you will be soon as well. Early symptoms include raucous use of the phrase, “HOLY SHIT BRO”, an ability to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment, $80,000 cash, drowsiness, and cramps.

If you happened to be watching last night’s UFC on FUEL event from a pirated stream or some other medium (because who the hell actually has FUEL), you more than likely experienced many of these symptoms before the main event even began. The same could be said for many of the fighters involved. Just ask Jason “The Mathlete” *snicker* MacDonald, who was so sick with the virus that he slipped into a hallucinogenic state just moments before his fight with Tom Lawlor. Within the opening minute of the very first round, he became so delusional that he mistook the UFC canvas for a Serta mattress and dove headfirst onto it, promptly knocking himself unconscious. When he awoke, his fever had broken, and he could only chuckle at the silly mistake he had made. Lawlor, on the other hand, managed to take home a $40,000 Knockout of the Night award for helping guide this sickly individual to his momentary resting place, living up to the humanitarian reputation he has earned in the UFC.

Signs of the disease were present in Jeremy Stephens and Jeff Hougland in their respective bouts with Donald Cerrone and Yves Jabouin as well. In typical zombie fashion, both men were lit up like the fourth of fucking July for fifteen long minutes, yet could not be put away by their still human counterparts. A tip of the hat is due to their undead corpses. Jabouin opted for a variety of spinning attacks that would make Dennis Siver blush to try and finish the job on Hougland, who only made it out of the fight alive (sort of), thanks to an incredible heart and the, let’s call it timidness, of referee Todd McGovern. Cerrone utilized his reach advantage and a more diverse striking attack to give Stephens fits throughout their fight, putting him in trouble on more than one occasion and slice-n-dicing the ever loving shit out of his face for good measure. When asked to describe his performance afterward, “Lil’ Heathen” proceeded to take a bite out of Jon Anik’s neck and sprint off into the night before he could be put down.

But the virus’ lethargy-induced side effects truly took hold of the audience during the evening’s co-main event, which pitted TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah against Wanderlei Silva student Jorge Lopez. Although Amir has never been one to get into a barn-burning brawl, even his precision-based offense was a welcome change when having to deal with Lopez’s relentlessly boring “wall-n-stall” takedown attempts. The members of the audience who had not been lulled into a coma…scratch that, every single member of the audience had in fact been lulled into a coma, only to come back as flesh-eating mongoloids hell bent on raping and pillaging anything within arm’s reach. In other words, West Virginians.

Lock your doors. Board up your windows. Put the children to bed and start stockpiling canned foods, because The Korean Zombie virus is coming to your town, probably within the hour. It is relentless, deceivingly strong, and somehow inspiring at the same time, and the only man who can bring an end to this madness is trapped in Canada somewhere.

God save us.

–J. Jones