The UFC will be in Australia on Saturday, March 3 for the UFC on FX 2 fight card, a card that will feature a main event between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann.In addition, the card will feature the first two bouts in the UFC’s flyweight tournament. T…
The UFC will be in Australia on Saturday, March 3 for the UFC on FX 2 fight card, a card that will feature a main event between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann.
In addition, the card will feature the first two bouts in the UFC’s flyweight tournament. The winners of those fights will move on to compete against each other for the chance to be declared the first flyweight champion in UFC history.
Below are the odds for the 11 fight event, which will be broadcast on Friday evening in the States.
Full Fight Card Odds:
Main Card:
Thiago Alves favorite (-140) over Martin Kampmann (+110)
Demetrious Johnson favorite (-325) over Ian McCall (+265)
Joseph Benevidez favorite (-750) over Yasuhiro Urushitani (+550)
Court McGee favorite (-135) over Constantinos Philippou (+105)
Preliminary Card:
James Te Huna favorite (-310) over Aaron Rosa (+250)
Nick Penner favorite (-140) over Anthony Perosh (+110)
Cole Miller favorite (-345) over Steven Siler (+275)
Kyle Noke favorite (-260) over Andrew Craig (+210)
TJ Waldburger (even) vs. Jake Hecht (even)
Mackens Semerzier favorite (-170) over Daniel Pineda (+140)
Shawn Jordan favorite (-184) over Oli Thompson (+154)
The UFC will return to Sydney, Australia, this weekend when they present UFC on FX 2, a fight card that will be headlined by a welterweight scrap between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann.Before we get too deep into things, it should be noted that while…
The UFC will return to Sydney, Australia, this weekend when they present UFC on FX 2, a fight card that will be headlined by a welterweight scrap between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann.
Before we get too deep into things, it should be noted that while the official date for this card is Saturday, March 3, it will be broadcast in North America on Friday, March 2.
While tickets did not go as fast for this fight card as they did for the last UFC Australia fight card, that does not indicate that this card is one that is to be missed, for in addition to the main event, the card will feature the first round of the tournament that will eventually name the UFC’s first flyweight champion.
Alves will enter the Octagon going 2-3 in his last five UFC fights, with his last fight being a first round submission victory over UFC newcomer Papy Abedi. The loss was the first of Abedi’s nine-fight MMA career. The submission was only the second of Alves’ MMA career, the first coming in 2004 when he submitted Jason Chamers via punches.
Kampmann enters the fight with a 3-2 record in his last five fights. That record is somewhat misleading as many would argue that Kampmann actually deserved to get the win in those two fights, a unanimous decision defeat to Diego Sanchez and a split decision loss to Jake Shields.
As far as the flyweight division, the four fighters who will kick off the flyweight division will be Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez and Yasuhiro Urushitani. The two victors in those bouts will meet some time in the not too distant future to decide the UFC’s first flyweight champion.
The six-fight preliminary card will kick on at 6 p.m. EST on Friday on Fuel TV. The four-fight main card will be shown on FX beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
The UFC will travel to Sydney, Australia, for the UFC on FX 2 fight card. The card, headlined by a main event between welterweight competitors Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann, will take place on Saturday, March 3 in Australia, but due to the differing…
The UFC will travel to Sydney, Australia, for the UFC on FX 2 fight card. The card, headlined by a main event between welterweight competitors Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann, will take place on Saturday, March 3 in Australia, but due to the differing time zones it will be broadcast in North American on Friday, March 2.
Alves and Kampmann will both look to capitalize on victories in their last bouts. Alves defeated UFC newcomer Papy Abedi in his last fight, while Kampmann is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Rick Story.
In addition to the main event, the card will feature the first two flyweight fights in the UFC’s history as Joseph Benavidez takes on Yasuhiro Urushitani and Demetrious Johnson meets Ian McCall in the first round of the UFC flyweight tournament. The victors will meet at a later date, with the winner of that bout being crowned the UFC flyweight champion.
The UFC International Tour continues with the second UFC on FX event headlined by Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann this Friday night.Alves has had a mediocre 2-3 run since defeating Josh Koscheck at UFC 90, but two of those losses came against elite we…
The UFC International Tour continues with the second UFC on FX event headlined by Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann this Friday night.
Alves has had a mediocre 2-3 run since defeating Josh Koscheck at UFC 90, but two of those losses came against elite welterweights Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch. He was successful in his last bout with a quick first-round submission against Papy Abedi.
Kampann has had his own struggles as of late, losing two straight fights before a victory over Rick Story at UFC 139. He is headlining his third event—the most recent one being that memorable bout against Diego Sanchez last March.
UFC on FX 2
Where: Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia
When: Friday, March 2 at 9:00 p.m. EDT
Watch: Preliminary Card starts at 6:00 p.m. EDT on FUEL TV; Main Card starts at 9:00 p.m. EDT on FX.
Fight Card
Main Card (FX)
Welterweight bout: Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampann
Flyweight bout: Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani
Flyweight bout: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall
Middleweight bout: Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou
Preliminary Card (FUEL)
Light Heavyweight bout: James Te Huna vs. Aaron Ross
Light Heavyweight bout: Anthony Perosh vs. Nick Penner
Featherweight bout: Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler
Middleweight bout: Kyle Noke vs. Andrew Craig
Welterweight bout: T.J. Waldburger vs. Jake Hecht
Featherweight bout: Mackens Semerzier vs. Daniel Pineda
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight bout: Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan
Alves’ Keys to Victory
Keep the fight standing; don’t be afraid to get aggressive early.
Alves is a power fighter. He wants to knock his opponents out and has had great success in doing so throughout his career.
His problems have come when he gets into the Octagon with fighters who aren’t afraid to wrestle and get things on the ground. Alves doesn’t like to work on the mat, so he will have to avoid Kampann’s takedowns.
Another factor that could work for Alves is trying to force the issue early. Kampmann is a good striker and is tough as nails, so you have to stun him early to take him out of his element.
Kampmann’s Keys to Victory
Follow up his offense and don’t be afraid to finish the fight.
Kampmann should have a better record than 18-5. It’s a respectable mark, sure, but he tends to fight the way that his opponents want instead of using his skills to make them adjust.
His talent works best when he is able to stand with an opponent early before taking things to the ground. He is a solid wrestler with a more-than-capable ground game, so he can take Alves out of his comfort zone.
When he gets the opportunity to finish the fight, he needs to do it. That has been a problem in the past and cost him bouts he should have won.
What They Are Saying
Martin Kampmann sees the end coming in this fight. Unlike his previous bouts, which almost always go to a decision, he has aspirations of finishing Thiago Alves when they step into the Octagon.
I’m going to finish this fight. I’m tired of these decisions, and I’m going to finish Thiago. He’s a tough guy and he’s beaten some of the best fighters in the welterweight division. He’s defeated Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck, and I definitely believe he’s one of the better fighters in the weight class.
I think it’s a good matchup. We both like to strike and mix it up. I believe having well-rounded skills will be a factor in this fight, but Alves has pretty good takedown defense. He has been taken down a bit more in some of his recent fights and if he gives me the opportunity, I’ll take him down, too.
Undercard Fight to Watch: Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler
Miller will be dropping down to featherweight to begin his career anew. His first test will be against Siler, who is making his second appearance on a UFC fight card.
Both of these fighters make their living with submissions and ground-fighting. Miller has won the Submission of the Night bonus three times and Knockout of the Night once, so he knows how to finish when he gets the chance.
Siler is still trying to carve out his niche in UFC and as a mixed martial artist. He can make a good impression if he is able to get a victory over Miller and would do even more for himself if he can end the fight.
Main Event Prediction
Kampmann has been one of the most frustrating fighters to watch because he has a lot of potential to do great things. This will be the start of his turnaround.
This weekend in Australia, the UFC comes to you live on FX from the Allphones Arena in Sydney. Although there is a complaint of this card lacking “star power,” there is sure to be some excitement.A number of prospects, fighters making their debuts and …
This weekend in Australia, the UFC comes to you live on FX from the Allphones Arena in Sydney. Although there is a complaint of this card lacking “star power,” there is sure to be some excitement.
A number of prospects, fighters making their debuts and established veterans grace this card, making it one of the most underrated cards to be put on in a while.
Here are five reasons you cannot miss this event, which promises fireworks.
Three years ago, Ian McCall was fresh off a loss to an up-and-coming bantamweight by the name of Dominick Cruz. He was dropped from the WEC roster, and went off to find his own path on smaller shows against smaller opponents. Since that time, Cruz has …
Three years ago, Ian McCall was fresh off a loss to an up-and-coming bantamweight by the name of Dominick Cruz. He was dropped from the WEC roster, and went off to find his own path on smaller shows against smaller opponents.
Since that time, Cruz has taken UFC gold and a spot as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. McCall hopes to do the same this weekend in Australia, where he competes in the opening round of the promotion’s inaugural flyweight tournament.
As a 125-pounder, McCall has become one of the best in the world. Casual fans aren’t familiar with his work, but he’s undefeated since 2010 and campaigned aggressively for a chance to fight in the UFC.
He now has that chance and stands to gain more than anyone on the UFC on FX 2 card as a result.
It could be argued that Yasuhiro Urushitani is in a similar position, an unknown commodity to the casual fan who now has a shot to become a UFC champion, but McCall is a guy that people are going to take to quickly.
He’s incredibly talented and exciting, and he has the type of personality that people will enjoy seeing in the octagon. Exposure is all that stood in the way of him becoming a superstar, and now he’s going to get that on the biggest stage in the sport.
He’s something everyone can get behind: an entertaining winner with a good personality. If he’s able to become the first flyweight champion in the history of the UFC, the promotion should be jumping for joy.
Looking at his competition in the flyweight tournament, it’s as bland as it is stiff. Demetrious Johnson is rugged, but no one is hanging on what he has to say in an interview.
Joseph Benavidez is a little better, but still doesn’t really stand out. As mentioned, Urushitani is basically in the same boat as McCall, with the exception that he has a language barrier to overcome as well.
One of those four guys is going to be the champion. Sure, there are guys like John Dodson and Louis Gaudinot who have some flair, and you’d have to think the UFC is eyeing Jussier da Silva to join the ranks pretty soon, but someone in this flyweight tournament is coming out with a title.
If McCall is that man, he will gain more than any of his adversaries.
Benavidez and Johnson are already established as bantamweights, and have become reasonably well-known between the UFC and WEC. Worst case scenario for Urushitani is that he loses goes back to Shooto as a footnote in North American MMA history.
But for the man they call Uncle Creepy, a man with a legion of loyal underground followers and all the tools to become a huge star, the sky is the limit. The gains are there to be made, UFC on FX 2 is his chance to make them.
The UFC International Tour continues with the second UFC on FX event headlined by Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann this Friday night.