Nate Marquardt believes his bout against Vitor Belfort will be nothing short of exciting. Tomorrow night (June 3) the two middleweight bruisers will slug it out inside the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They’ll take part on the main card of UFC 212. Neither man is a stranger to the bright lights. “The Great” […]
Nate Marquardt believes his bout against Vitor Belfort will be nothing short of exciting. Tomorrow night (June 3) the two middleweight bruisers will slug it out inside the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They’ll take part on the main card of UFC 212. Neither man is a stranger to the bright lights. “The Great” […]
Tomorrow night (Sat., June 3, 2017) the UFC will get their jam-packed summer schedule rolling with UFC 212 from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The card features the long-awaited featherweight title unification bout between champion Jose Aldo and surging interim champion Max Holloway. Aldo was last seen winning the interim 145-pound belt, […]
Tomorrow night (Sat., June 3, 2017) the UFC will get their jam-packed summer schedule rolling with UFC 212 from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The card features the long-awaited featherweight title unification bout between champion Jose Aldo and surging interim champion Max Holloway.
Aldo was last seen winning the interim 145-pound belt, which eventually became the official 145-pound he held since 2011, when Conor McGregor was stripped of the title after not defending it for a year after winning it by knocking out “Junior” in the main event of 2015’s UFC 194. He’ll be faced with an under-the-radar challenge in “Blessed” (who should be anything but), who’s won an incredible 10 straight bouts over some of the best featherweights the sport has ever seen.
In the co-main event, top-ranked women’s strawweight Claudia Gadelha will look to battle her way back to a 115-pound title shot against No. 2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Both have recently lost to dominant champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but with the champ having almost cleaned out the division aside from expected next contender Rose Namajunas, the winner of this pivotal match-up will find themselves dangerously close to yet another title shot.
Legendary knockout artist and controversial Brazilian MMA pioneer Vitor Belfort will also make his final walk to the octagon when he meets fellow longtime veteran Nate Marquardt in what should be an emotional, hard-hitting affair.
Rounding out the main card, Paulo Barrochinha will meet Oluwale Bamgbose at middleweight while Erick Silva will get the main card rolling against Yancy Medeiros. Find out whom we picked to win at UFC 212 below.
Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway:
This is one of the more interesting featherweight title bouts we’ve had outside of McGregor vs. Aldo, and a lot of that has to do with how dominant Holloway has looked running through many of the best 145-athletes in the world during his unprecedented win streak.
The Hawaiian “Blessed” has clearly hit his prime as a mixed martial artist after losing to McGregor as a green prospect, an now he’s finally gotten his chance against the best featherweight of all-time, in his native fight-crazed home of Rio. The champ has looked excellent against the more stout wrestling-type fighters he’s made his money against, evident in his two wins over Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes. Holloway presents an entirely different challenge altogether, as he’s a lanky striker who likes to push the pace with both accurate and powerful punches in volume. Aldo will always have his vaunted leg kicks and hand speed here, and a win over the young upstart would further cement his already decorated legacy.
But I just think that now is Holloway’s time, and he’s ready to come in and throw down with Aldo for a full five rounds by using his length and reach to come out on top.
Prediction: Holloway by fourth-round TKO
PHoto: Jason da Silva for USA TODAY Sports
Claudia Gadelha vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz:
This match-up of the two top women’s strawweight fighters in the UFC other than Joanna Jedrzejczyk should be a closely-contested co-main event at UFC 212, and Gadelha should be motivated by the support of her home fans.
It’s hard to predict if she’ll look to implement a grappling-centered gameplan to neutralize the world-class Muay Thai skills of Kowalkiewicz, because she did tire a bit after resorting to takedown attempts in her failed title rematch against “Joanna Champion” last July. Gadelha appeared to be holding her own in the striking department against one of the best in the game until she gassed, meaning we could see an entertaining battle of talented 115-pound women.
I still think Gadelha should look to use her grappling and jiu-jitsu edge, however, as meeting the Polish whirlwind in the center of the octagon to throw down in a technical striking contest just isn’t the best gameplan here. Gadelha will have a decided size and strength advantage, and the fight should turn in her favor if she can hold Kowalkiewicz on the mat for any extended period of time – especially in the early rounds. Kowalkiewicz will most likely have her moments on the feet as well, but Gadelha’s toughness should see her edge a gritty victory.
Prediction: Gadelha by unanimous decision
Vitor Belfort vs. Nate Marquardt:
Belfort’s final fight – maybe – is a solid match-up for him here, as he’s finally facing another fading power striker/submission artist in longtime veteran Marquardt. Both may have a little knockout power left in their hands and feet, as that’s usually the last thing to go on fading fighters. If this is indeed “The Phenom’s” last fight (he’s hinted at fighting for Bellator more than once recently), then I expect him to come out guns blazing with nothing to lose. His career has been both decorated and controversial, but why not, I saw he gets one last knockout for the Brazilian faithful in his last UFC bout.
Prediction: Belfort by first-round TKO
Photo: Jason Silva for USA TODAY Sports
Paulo Borrachinha vs. Oluwale Bamgbose:
Borrachinha appears to be a vastly promising 9-0 Brazilian prospect after winning his UFC debut by stoppage in March. He brings an exciting mixture of speed, strength, youth, and athleticism, and Bamgbose is a perfect all-out striker to test his abilities against. He’s lost two out of his last three in the UFC and will need to throw caution to the wind to keep his job. He isn’t likely to attempt to ground Borrachinha to do it, meaning this fight could have “Fight of the Night” written all over it. I think Borrachinha is the more polished and measured striker, so I think he’ll score an impressive early KO.
Prediction: Borrachinha by first-round TKO
Photo Credit: Jason Silva for USA TODAY Sports
Erick Silva vs. Yancy Medeiros:
Silva has no doubt faded after surging into the UFC as one of the hottest welterweights up-and-comers roughly five years ago, but I still think he’ll have the size advantage over lightweight Medeiros in the second Brazilian vs. Hawaiian main card bout at UFC 212. Silva holds a noted edge in the jiu-jitsu department, and will also have the full support of the crowd. Medeiros is tough and can throw down with the best of them, but I think Silva takes this one home for his Brazilian fans.
Vitor Belfort came out and was talking about retirement. However, he has retracted from his statement and is looking to continue to his fighting career. Now that Belfort is down to fight, he has brought up his idea again of a “Legends League” where he and other aging stars can keep fighting each other into […]
Vitor Belfort came out and was talking about retirement. However, he has retracted from his statement and is looking to continue to his fighting career. Now that Belfort is down to fight, he has brought up his idea again of a “Legends League” where he and other aging stars can keep fighting each other into their twilight years. This idea has been used in Bellator MMA on multiple occasions as we have seen such matchups as Ken Shamrock-Royce Gracie and Tito Ortiz-Chael Sonnen.
Belfort said during the UFC 212 media scrum this week that his idea of fighting Chuck Liddell may just have some merit, at least on paper. As seen on social media as of late, Liddell is not ruling out the idea of a possible MMA return. For Belfort, it is a chance to right what he sees as a wrong. If you recall, he lost to Liddell back at UFC 37.5 by decision.
“Liddell is very interesting, not just for me but for the fans,” Belfort told MMA Fighting. “I think about the legend league, I think the UFC should do it, and I think that would be a good start. Chuck is a legend, we fought in the past. I think I won that fight, but they gave it to him. Back in the days, he was managed by the owners of the UFC and Dana. Today is totally different.” I see it as one of the options, the many options the UFC has to pursue it. We have so many legends in the UFC, and so many things could happen in the future.”
The idea of Liddell coming out of retirement age 47 could be an issue, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion could be pulled out of retirement if the money and opponent are right. Belfort is set to fight long-time veteran Nate Marquardt on the main card of this weekend’s UFC 212 pay-per-view event.
1998 is a long time ago. Brazil is a far way away.
It was there that the world first saw Vitor Belfort.
Sure it had met him before, as the force of nature who took over the heavyweight bracket at UFC 12 and destroyed all in his path before simila…
1998 is a long time ago. Brazil is a far way away.
It was there that the world first saw Vitor Belfort.
Sure it had met him before, as the force of nature who took over the heavyweight bracket at UFC 12 and destroyed all in his path before similarly demolishing Tank Abbott in under a minute at UFC 13, but the UFC’s first foray into Brazil was the first time the world truly saw him.
Blistering across the cage to pump piston rights and lefts into the unsuspecting dome of Wanderlei Silva—an eventual legend in his own right—Belfort let the world know that he was as real as it got.
It was grisly and fun in equal measure, and that meant a lot in 1998.
It was still very much about ultimate fighting then, with emphasis on the fighting. As related to the modern conception of mixed martial arts, the only thing mixed was the blood and sweat and the only art was the giant bald figurehead emblazoned on the canvas.
Few men emerged from that era to remain active two decades later. Belfort is one of them, and he’ll fight Nate Marquardt at UFC 212 on Saturday night in a bout that is to be his swan song with the promotion.
Most thought that meant retirement until reports recently began to appear that Belfort would, in fact, not be retiring and instead had an eye on moving to Bellator, where he could more appropriately act his age, as it were.
In the MMA sense of the phrase, that means picking fights with other guys who’ve been around for a couple of decades, who are equally diminished but still every bit as interesting to fans focused on the names on a fight poster.
It’s about as close to a legend’s league as he’s going to come.
And in that neighboring promotion, one working so hard to be legitimate but still far enough from nipping UFC heels that they can book Royce Gracie or Ken Shamrock without batting an eye, Belfort will find his fellow legends.
Either of those names would look fantastic opposite him on a marquee, particularly for fans of the most deplorable elements of the sport.
Silva has migrated to Bellator. He’ll be 41 years old this summer and hasn’t fought in four years after a host of drug and regulatory issues stalled his career.
Chael Sonnen, another former Belfort nemesis who didn’t get the chance to consummate their feud with some face punching, will fight Silva later this month and would surely love the chance at another Brazilian star after that.
Even popular names that aren’t on their last legs like Rampage Jackson or Melvin Manhoef would probably get the blood pumping for most people interested enough to pay attention to Bellator in the first place.
They’re cheap thrills for sure, but they remain thrills nonetheless.
MMA is a different realm of the sporting world than most, where veterans lose their appeal long after they’ve lost their physical capacity. Whereas a team sport expects that the old will die out and the young will take over, MMA provides the opportunity for the young to do the killing in a more hands-on manner.
Yet there is generally still an appetite to see the old, and when matched appropriately, there isn’t great harm in it. Many of the past generation could still stand to make a paycheque, and if people are still willing to pay to see them do it, then everyone wins.
That’s where Belfort is at this stage: not good enough to compete with the best, but not so far gone that he can’t be of value outside the UFC.
Many of his contemporaries have already proved as much when it comes to a veteran’s worth. Many more will surely come behind him to keep proving it.
But for now, we have his UFC swan song and it’s service as a bridge to the cheap thrills he’ll find for himself and provide for others in Bellator.
For now, we have some old-fashioned grisly fun on our hands, just like in the old days.
It’s quite fitting that it’s Belfort who’ll provide it.
Vitor Belfort (25-13) is going into his final fight at UFC 212 against Nate Marquardt (35-17-2). Belfort has had a fair share of ups and downs while Marquardt has more experience under his belt but has a similar pattern of victories and defeats. Both are pretty aggressive and have a tendency to give a knockout […]
Vitor Belfort (25-13) is going into his final fight at UFC 212 against Nate Marquardt (35-17-2). Belfort has had a fair share of ups and downs while Marquardt has more experience under his belt but has a similar pattern of victories and defeats. Both are pretty aggressive and have a tendency to give a knockout and take it as well. This could be one of the best MMA fights of the season although the betting odds right now are Nate Marquardt (+145) and Vitor Belfort (-185).
Belfort’s key wins have been against Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping and Anthony Johnson (UFC 142). His notable losses have been to Jon Jones (UFC 152), Ronaldo Souza (UFC 198) and Gegard Mousasi (UFC 204). Despite closing 40, Belfort is still a fast fighter for his age and does retain some serious power in his kicks and punches. This is backed up with some solid defensive grappling, which is why this could be a close contest. The first cracker of a punch by elfort or Marquardt could spell victory for either.
What every punter should look out for is that Marquardt isn’t too comfortable facing Southpaws. Belfort also has an advantage when it comes to kicks so he has the ability to work from long range.
Nate Marquardt’s key wins have been against Demian Maia (UFC 103), James Te Huna (UFC Fight Night 43), and CB Dollaway (UFC on FOX 17). His key losses have been to Hector Lombard (UFC 166) ), Brad Tavares (UFC 182), and ), Thiago Santos (UFC 198). Yes, Marquardt does have the experience and is a skilled jiu-jitsu player. But patience is not one of his virtues. He won’t want to end up with battering of kicks from Belfort. That is something he is sure to remember from the past. Combinations and takedown attempts ought to be his game plan. This is because Belfort’s takedown defense is still sharp.
This could be a very close contest although this could go down as a KO in favor of Belfort.
Vitor Belfort doesn’t sound like a fighter ready to retire. Belfort, who meets Nate Marquardt this Saturday night at UFC 212, has said before that this bout marks the final one on his current contract with the promotion. But the former champion sounds like he wants to fight on, regardless of the outcome. And he […]
Vitor Belfort doesn’t sound like a fighter ready to retire. Belfort, who meets Nate Marquardt this Saturday night at UFC 212, has said before that this bout marks the final one on his current contract with the promotion. But the former champion sounds like he wants to fight on, regardless of the outcome. And he […]
1998 is a long time ago. Brazil is a far way away.