UFC 143 Breakdown: The Main Event
It has been quite a roller coaster ride for UFC 143‘s main event participants. After being scheduled to take on champion Georges St. Pierre – on two separate occasions each — a plethora of unfortunate circumstances led to Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit squaring off for the UFC interim welterweight title. On the heels of an underwhelming year on PPV, St. Pierre’s injury is a major... [Read More...]
UFC 143 Breakdown: The Main Card
On the heels of a somewhat underwhelming UFC on FOX 2 card, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be hoping to recapture the momentum that saw them produce a string of crowd-pleasing main events in the past few months. Originally scheduled to be headlined by a blockbuster Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz bout, UFC 143 now has to settle for an incomparably less marketable — but far more intriguing,... [Read More...]
UFC on FOX 2 Breakdown: The Main Event
On the heels of a three-fight winning streak, you would be forgiven to think that Rashad Evans has done enough to earn a shot at the title he lost to Lyoto Machida back in 2009. In fact, Evans accomplished that feat after besting arch rival Quinton Jackson in 2010, and then again after crushing Tito Ortiz last summer. And yet, a bizarre sequence of unfortunate events left the former light heavyweight... [Read More...]
UFC on FOX 2 Breakdown: The Main Card
If fans were dissatisfied with the UFC‘s decision to employ a one-fight card for its historic debut on FOX, they should be far more appeased the second time around, as the world’s MMA leader is staying true to its promise of delivering “PPV caliber” cards on network television, with a hat-trick of mouth-watering bouts. Both the headlining fight and the co-main event bear direct... [Read More...]
UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller Breakdown
2012 promises to be a monumental year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For the first time since 2005, the world’s MMA leader will no longer be associated with Spike TV. Instead, a historic deal with Fox – and its affiliates — means the Zuffa based promotion will now have a home on network television. Headlining the UFC’s first ever card on the FX network is a lightweight... [Read More...]
UFC 142 Breakdown: The Main Event
When the WEC merger was first announced some fifteen months ago, featherweight champion Jose Aldo was deemed to be the star acquisition. Eager to see him delight those who are oblivious to his immense talent, the UFC scheduled him for a quick Octagon debut on the year’s first fight card. Things didn’t go according to plan however, as a shoulder injury forced Aldo on the sidelines for a... [Read More...]
UFC 142 Breakdown: The Main Card
After the huge success of UFC 134, it was only a matter of time before the Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the land of samba. Opening their PPV account for 2012 is another card in Rio, this time featuring a featherweight title bout between Brazil’s own Jose Aldo, and arguably his toughest stylistic opponent to date, Chad Mendes, who many deem to be the most well equipped fighter to... [Read More...]
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Breakdown
Almost one month after Zuffa confirmed that Strikeforce would be extending its stay on Showtime, the former San Jose-based promotion returns for its first card of the year, headlined by an intriguing — albeit a tad nonsensical — middleweight title fight. After upsetting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza to capture the title, American Kickboxing Academy‘s Luke... [Read More...]
UFC 141 Breakdown: The Main Event
Over a year after a devastating loss to Cain Velasquez, former UFC champ Brock Lesnar makes his long awaited return to the Octagon to face off against former Strikeforce heavyweight title-holder and UFC newcomer Alistair Overeem. Eager to finish 2011 on a high, both men will be looking to put a difficult year behind them. Earlier in the year, Lesnar’s career was once again in jeopardy after being... [Read More...]
UFC 141 Breakdown: The Undercard
As 2011 draws to a close, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be looking to finish the year with a bang. For that, they have brought out the big guns, as former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar makes his long awaited Octagon return to take on former Strikeforce and K-1 Grand Prix champion Alistair Overeem in a title eliminator to determine the next challenger for Junior Dos Santos‘... [Read More...]
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Breakdown
Fresh off a major announcement that will see the promotion extend its stay on Showtime for at least another year, Strikeforce looks to demonstrate why its survival will be our gain with a decent card capped off by a promising main event. Arguably the best fighter not under contract with the UFC, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez returns to the cage to take on challenger Jorge Masvidal.... [Read More...]
Time for the UFC to show confidence in Jon Jones
On UFC president Dana White‘s ever-changing pound-for-pound rankings, light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones is now the second best fighter on the planet. Whether that statement is true or false — it’s likely the latter — it is time for the UFC to start treating him as such. With the right push, Jones can become Zuffa‘s next PPV money-maker. With continuous... [Read More...]
UFC 140 Breakdown: The Main Event
“Welcome to the Machida Era”, were the words uttered by UFC color commentator Joe Rogan as Lyoto Machida turned in one of the most jaw-dropping Octagon performances to dispose of then champion Rashad Evans and capture the UFC light heavyweight title. Machida was the epitome of an unsolved riddle in MMA: a man with an unorthodox yet extremely efficient style who was making his opponents... [Read More...]
UFC 140 Breakdown: The Undercard
In a year where some of the UFC’s top fighters have been continuously plagued by injuries, getting the chance to watch one of the most exciting talents in the world for the fourth time in 2011 comes as an early Christmas present. Jon Jones may just have been the year’s most pleasant surprise. It is not that he has exceeded expectations — as his potential was never in doubt —... [Read More...]
Ultimate Fighter Finale 14 Breakdown: Jason Miller vs. Michael Bisping
This Saturday’s TUF 14 Finale marks an end of an era for the UFC. In 2005, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar tore the house down on Spike TV, and catapulted the UFC into the MMA juggernaut we all know and love. Following a long and eventful partnership, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will finally part ways with the television channel that was instrumental in its success. Concluding their... [Read More...]
Shinya Aoki to face Satoru Kitaoka at DREAM’s new year show
After defending the DREAM lightweight title in a submission win over Tatsuya Kawajiri in July of last year, grappling wizard Shinya Aoki will finally defend his title once again when he squares off against former Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka. The bout is scheduled to take place at DREAM’s New Year’s Eve show dubbed Fight for Japan: How are you! New Year! 2011, an event taking... [Read More...]
Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Pyle in the works for UFC 142
Following the success of the UFC‘s venture into Brazilian territory for UFC 134 last August, it came as no surprise when the world’s Mixed Martial Arts leader announced its desire to quickly return to the land that produced some of the sport’s greatest fighters. In fact, UFC 142, set to be held in Rio, will be Zuffa’s very first PPV event in 2012. Unsurprisingly, the card has... [Read More...]
UFC 139 Breakdown: The Main Event
Ever since PRIDE FC folded back in 2007, one of the most common lingering regrets among its die hard followers was the fact that a bout between the light heavyweight champion (dubbed middleweight champion at the time), Dan Henderson, and the “uncrowned” champion, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, never materialized. Much has changed since the night “Hendo” knocked out Rua’s... [Read More...]
UFC 139 Breakdown: The Undercard
Despite being rendered to a mere afterthought in light of last week’s momentous UFC on FOX event, this Saturday’s UFC 139 carries a robust main card capped off by a main event that is perhaps the best excuse for a five-round non-title fight. Bidding to earn a potential second crack at the man who dethroned him earlier this year, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will square off against... [Read More...]
UFC on FOX Breakdown: The Main Event
Its status as MMA’s weakest and at times, most embarrassing division is well-earned. Its oxygen consumption equals that of every other weight class combined, and cardio is often thrown out the window before Bruce Buffer is done with his fighter introductions. However, every now and then, the heavyweight division offers a bout that captures the imagination of fight fans like no other. Whether... [Read More...]
