The UFC returns to the lesser-known airwaves of Fuel TV for tonight’s fight card from Fairfax, Virginia.Previous outings on the network have not been successful in the ratings department, but that is because the vast majority of American homes still do…
The UFC returns to the lesser-known airwaves of Fuel TV for tonight’s fight card from Fairfax, Virginia.
Previous outings on the network have not been successful in the ratings department, but that is because the vast majority of American homes still do not have access to Fuel. Fans who were actually able to tune in, however, were treated to fight cards chock-full of exciting bouts and coming-out parties for potential superstars like Alexander Gustafsson and Brian Stann.
Tonight’s event promises more of the same, with the potential crowning of a new featherweight title-contender in the main event between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung.
With this slideshow, we are taking a different look at the Fuel card. You can think of these rankings as a sort of pound-for-pound ranking, featuring only the guys on the Fuel main card. Make sense? The goal is to get a sense of the best and worst fighters on the show, regardless of the weight class they are fighting in.
With six main-card fights, we have got a lot to get through. Let’s get started.
Tonight the UFC returns to the DC metro area for UFC on Fuel TV 3 in what promises to be an action-packed night of fights. Headlined by an intriguing featherweight fight between Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier, the winner is likely fighting for a tit…
Tonight the UFC returns to the DC metro area for UFC on Fuel TV 3 in what promises to be an action-packed night of fights. Headlined by an intriguing featherweight fight between Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier, the winner is likely fighting for a title shot.
The night kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on Facebook with six preliminary fights. Upon the conclusion, switch on your televisions and tune into Fuel TV at 8 p.m. ET for the main card.
Official Fight Card
Facebook Prelims
Bantamweight – Alex Soto vs. Francisco Rivera
Bantamweight – Jeff Curran vs. Johnny Eduardo
Lightweight – Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kamal Shalorus
Lightweight – T.J. Grant vs. Carlo Prater
Middleweight – Brad Tavares vs. Dongi Yang
Lightweight – Cody McKenzie vs. Marcus LeVesseur
Main Card on Fuel TV
Middleweight – Jason MacDonald vs. Tom Lawlor
Light Heavyweight – Igor Pokrajac vs. Fabio Maldonado
Bantamweight – Yves Jambouin vs. Jeff Hougland
Lightweight – Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens
Welterweight – Amir Sadollah vs. Jorge Lopez
Featherweight – Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier
Be sure to join Bleacher Report at 5 p.m. for a live discussion and play-by-play for UFC on Fuel TV 3.
On Tuesday night, the UFC will return to Fuel TV with an important featherweight fight featuring “The Korean Zombie” Chan-Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier. With champion Jose Aldo running low on threats in the 145-pound division the winner of this mai…
On Tuesday night, the UFC will return to Fuel TV with an important featherweight fight featuring “The Korean Zombie” Chan-Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier. With champion Jose Aldo running low on threats in the 145-pound division the winner of this main event could earn a title shot in the near future.
Lightweight contenders Donald Cerrone and Jeremy Stephens will also square off at UFC on Fuel TV 3. Though both fighters are coming off of losses, a win on Tuesday night will put one fighter back in the hunt for a 155-pound title shot.
Once UFC on Fuel TV 3 is underway from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., Bleacher Report will provide live results below and round-by-round play-by-play on the following pages of this slideshow.
Nestled in between the latest episodes of Glee and America’s Got Talent, the UFC finds itself oddly out of place broadcasting an event during the Tuesday night prime-time block.Already hindered by the minuscule amount of FUEL TV provider…
Nestled in between the latest episodes of Glee and America’s Got Talent, the UFC finds itself oddly out of place broadcasting an event during the Tuesday night prime-time block.
Already hindered by the minuscule amount of FUEL TV providers, the world’s largest MMA promotion must now contend with top shows from the major networks as they battle for the ratings. Add in the NBA as well as the NHL playoffs, and the UFC may have a disastrous night of viewership on its hands.
On a Tuesday night, casual viewers aren’t easily swooned by what MMA has to offer as staying current on their favorite shows or other sports teams takes top priority. Big-name shows from NBC or FOX will always trump a throwaway card on FUEL TV.
While the competition may be fierce, the UFC’s biggest problem is really just a matter of timing.
Hardcore fight fans have become accustomed to a week-long build-up prior to Saturday fight nights as the plethora of pre-fight analysis and promotion get people excited for the card—regardless of whether it’s free or on pay-per-view.
“Fight week,” as UFC President Dana White calls it in his video blogs, is an integral part to hyping up a card and helps capture casual fans.
When fights are on a Tuesday, however, the hype process is less effective.
This is because the majority of the build-up is created during the week prior and is virtually forgotten over the weekend. Once Monday comes around, the UFC has less than a full day before fight night to recapture that momentum.
While more people may be home on their couches watching TV, there are just too many factors working against the UFC for them to blow away the ratings on a Tuesday night.
In case you’ve forgotten, UFC on Fuel TV is on Tuesday, May 15th. The main event is Chan Sung Jung (a.k.a. “The Korean Zombie”) against Dustin Poirier in a fight that will likely determine which fighter gets to challenge for the UFC featherweight title…
In case you’ve forgotten, UFC on Fuel TV is on Tuesday, May 15th. The main event is Chan Sung Jung (a.k.a. “The Korean Zombie”) against Dustin Poirier in a fight that will likely determine which fighter gets to challenge for the UFC featherweight title.
There are other notable fighters on a card that, for some reason, fans seem to have forgotten.
The co-main event is a fight between TUF veteran, Amir Sadollah and the seasoned, Jorge Lopez.
Other notables such as Donald Cerrone, Jeremy Stephens, Cody McKenzie, Tom Lawlor, and Jason Macdonald are also featured.
The “Korean Zombie” is an enigma in the world of MMA.A gritty featherweight slugger who is also versatile on the ground, opponents never really know what to expect when they enter the Octagon opposite Chan-Sung Jung. Usually, people classify Jung…
The “Korean Zombie” is an enigma in the world of MMA.
A gritty featherweight slugger who is also versatile on the ground, opponents never really know what to expect when they enter the Octagon opposite Chan-Sung Jung.
Usually, people classify Jung as a brawler because of his ability to walk forward through punishment in order to land a strike. While this style earned Jung both the admiration of fans as well as a Fight of the Year award for his 2010 bout with Leonard Garcia, the Korean Zombie is a much more intricate fighter than his moniker would suggest.
Known for his slugfests, fans were surprised to see Jung’s slick submission skills in his rematch with Garcia last year. He vindicated the loss by tapping Garcia out with the first twister in UFC history.
But the mat is no new territory for Jung, as he has seven submission victories to his credit and is a proven threat off his back. On the ground, he will jump at the first opportunity to finish his opponent and is not afraid to do it with style.
In terms of striking, Jung is evolving into a more technical fighter despite retaining his brawler persona. The Korean Zombie actually uses this to his advantage as most opponents come in expecting a war and don’t expect his level of technique.
The Mark Hominick fight is a perfect example of Jung’s evolution as a striker.
Hominick bought into the Korean Zombie’s slugger reputation and tried to goad Jung into a dogfight from the get go. Keeping a level head, Jung showed off his technical side by sitting back and countering Hominick’s strikes with a pin-pointed, accurate straight right that dropped the former top contender.
While just a seven-second snapshot of his improvement, the second fight with Garcia also showcased Jung’s more composed and technical striking as he picked his shots better and avoided getting into a barn burner.
These recent wins, while spectacular, are a foundation for Jung to build off of, because, as of right now, saying he is championship-caliber material would be premature. While having the heart and determination of a future title holder, a win over Dustin Poirier is a must to prove that he has the skills of a champion.
If he can somehow pass the tough test that is Poirier and finish him in impressive fashion, then a zombie wearing UFC gold may not be that far-fetched.
Nestled in between the latest episodes of Glee and America’s Got Talent, the UFC finds itself oddly out of place broadcasting an event during the Tuesday night prime-time block.