Luke Rockhold went undefeated under the Strikeforce banner and now has his eyes set on UFC gold.At UFC on FX 8, Rockhold will step into the Octagon for the first time for a bout with former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, who is also on a mission to earn a…
Luke Rockhold went undefeated under the Strikeforce banner and now has his eyes set on UFC gold.
At UFC on FX 8, Rockhold will step into the Octagon for the first time for a bout with former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, who is also on a mission to earn a title shot in the 185-pound division. Though he’s lost to middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva already, Belfort is coming off of an impressive knockout win over Michael Bisping, who would have been named top contender with a win in that matchup.
Ronaldo Souza, Rockhold’s predecessor as Strikeforce middleweight champion, will also make his UFC debut on Saturday. Originally scheduled to meet a top-10 opponent in Costa Philippou, Souza is now expected to fight up-and-comer Chris Camozzi.
Ahead of this pivotal event for the 185-pound class, these are the current betting odds via 5Dimes.eu for each of the main card bouts.
Saturday night’s event on FX features a main event that I’m quite looking forward to: Luke Rockhold taking on Vitor Belfort. Rockhold, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, is making his long-awaited UFC debut. If you like his chances in t…
Saturday night’s event on FX features a main event that I’m quite looking forward to: Luke Rockhold taking on VitorBelfort.
Rockhold, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, is making his long-awaited UFC debut. If you like his chances in this fight, then you also likely think he deserves a shot at Anderson Silva, especially if he earns a win over the veteran Belfort.
But there’s a twist for Rockhold, as he’s not just facing one man. No, this one is a handicap of sorts. I’ll explain that in the video, so make sure you watch it.
Once you’re done watching me preview the fight, I want to see your own previews in the comments below. Will Belfort continue to be the “new young old lion,” or will Rockhold cement his place near the top of the division by beating a legend?
The injury bug just took a big bite out of the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card as Top-10 middleweight contender Costa Philippou has been forced out of his scheduled bout due to a cut suffered in training just weeks out from his fight against former Strikefor…
The injury bug just took a big bite out of the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card as Top-10 middleweight contender Costa Philippou has been forced out of his scheduled bout due to a cut suffered in training just weeks out from his fight against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
With Philippou now out of the upcoming card in Brazil, the UFC has opted to make some switches in already existing bouts to give Jacare a new opponent while welcoming in a newcomer to fill another slot on the show.
Middleweight contender Chris Camozzi will get the call to move into the slot vacated by Philippou, and he will now face Jacare on the main card at UFC on FX 8.
Camozzi was already fighting on the card against Renzo Gracie black belt Rafael “Sapo” Natal, who will now receive a new opponent as well in the form of UFC newcomer JoaoZeferino.
UFC officials announced the changes via Twitter on Friday.
Translation: Changes in #UFCnoCombate2-Costa Philippou is out through injury. Alligator now faces @ChrisCamozzi and Frog takes the beginner João Zeferino.
When the UFC on FX 8 card was first made, Camozzi wasn’t even supposed to be a part of the proceedings, but injuries have not only put him on the show—he’s now in the co-main event.
Originally, Camozzi replaced The Ultimate Fighter runner-up C.B. Dollaway and was expected to face Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira on the main card at UFC on FX 8.Just days after signing on for the fight, however, Ferreira suffered an injury and was forced out of action.
Camozzi then received Natal’s name as a new opponent and remained on the UFC on FX 8 main card.
Now just weeks after preparing for that fight, Camozzi gets the opportunity to face a Top-10 opponent in Souza, who will make his UFC debut after a long campaign in Strikeforce.
Souza is considered to be one of the most dangerous ground practitioners in the sport, but he has no easy test in front of him now. Camozzi is a tough challenge, coming off four wins in a row.
The new fight between Souza and Camozzi is expected to serve as the co-main event for the show airing on FX on May 18 from Brazil, where former UFC champion VitorBelfort will take on the last Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the night’s headline fight.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak in the Octagon, and was going to serve as the UFC welcoming committee for Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion who has won his last three fights by stoppage, including his first-round submission of Ed Herman in January. No word yet if Souza will remain on the card against a different opponent…although the card could certainly use him. We’ll keep you posted.
* I mean, we’re assuming it happened during training. Maybe Costa participates in underground knife fights on the weekends to pick up extra beer money. Maybe it was a freakish eyebrow-plucking accident. Maybe he got scratched by one of his pet wolverines. I don’t know. We’ll just say “cut suffered in training” for now.
Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak in the Octagon, and was going to serve as the UFC welcoming committee for Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion who has won his last three fights by stoppage, including his first-round submission of Ed Herman in January. No word yet if Souza will remain on the card against a different opponent…although the card could certainly use him. We’ll keep you posted.
* I mean, we’re assuming it happened during training. Maybe Costa participates in underground knife fights on the weekends to pick up extra beer money. Maybe it was a freakish eyebrow-plucking accident. Maybe he got scratched by one of his pet wolverines. I don’t know. We’ll just say “cut suffered in training” for now.
Costa Philippou has suffered an injury and will not be able to compete against UFC newcomer Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC on FX 8.On Friday morning, it was reported that a cut over Philippou’s eye resulted in the bout cancellation (via MMAFighting.com)…
Costa Philippou has suffered an injury and will not be able to compete against UFC newcomer Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC on FX 8.
On Friday morning, it was reported that a cut over Philippou‘s eye resulted in the bout cancellation (via MMAFighting.com). This only one month after a facial laceration also forced light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson out of his scheduled UFC on Fuel TV 9 main event bout with GegardMousasi.
Philippou has won his past five fights, most recently stopping Tim Boetsch at UFC 155. A win over Souza at UFC on FX 8 would have moved him very near to a middleweight title shot.
Souza last fought under the Strikeforce banner and defeated UFC veteran Ed Herman to set up his transition to the Octagon. With three decisive wins since controversially losing the Strikeforce middleweight title to Luke Rockhold, Souza is still considered an elite 185-pound fighter and is currently ranked No. 8 in the official UFC rankings.
It is currently unknown whether Souza will still make his Octagon debut at UFC on FX 8 against a replacement opponent. Michael Bisping and YushinOkami are the only top-10 middleweights currently available to be booked, and they’d have to make very quick turnarounds from their most recent wins to face Souza.
Set to be held in Jaragua, Brazil on May 18, UFC on FX 8 is headlined by a second 185-pound contest between former UFC champion VitorBelfort and former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold.
Update: Chris Camozzi will now fight Souza (via MMAFighting.com). Camozzi’s previously scheduled UFC on FX 8 opponent, Rafael Natal, will meet UFC newcomer Joao Zeferino.
Major MMA events are few and far between in the month of May, but that may be a blessing after a hectic April.No Bellator, no Invicta, and only two UFC events are showcased in the month.The leader of MMA comes forward with one free event and one on PPV…
Major MMA events are few and far between in the month of May, but that may be a blessing after a hectic April.
No Bellator, no Invicta, and only two UFC events are showcased in the month.
The leader of MMA comes forward with one free event and one on PPV. UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold and UFC 160 will find their way to television screens on the 18th and 25th, respectively. You have plenty of time to plan your parties.
Even with only two events, there are plenty of contenders and pretenders on the cards. They will ultimately be revealed when the action starts. This is a look at just who these men are.
