Walker Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 UFC: Save the Era http://s19.postimage.org/9ioxgt20j/ufc.jpg JULY 5TH, 2012 - Anderson Silva, the man considered the greatest fighter of all time, stepped into the Octagon to defend his Middleweight Title against the number-one contender and self-proclaimed “real” World Champion, Chael Sonnen in what some called the most anticipated MMA fight in history. Silva had been considered virtually untouchable until his first meeting with Chael Sonnen in 2010. Sonnen shocked the Champion by dominating him for four rounds until he was caught by a triangle choke just before he could achieve victory. Since then he has taunted Anderson Silva, eventually provoking the #1 Pound for Pound fighter to an uncharacteristic public outburst. Would this new fire from the Champion undo the damage done by Chael, or will the Challenger repeat the domination of the first fight? In the end though, the result was less than spectacular. Despite taking the first round, Sonnen looked considerably less dominant. In the second he was trumped by Anderson Silva’s takedown defence and so resorted to strikes. Later in the round, Sonnen attempted a spinning back fist and slipped, giving the Spider an opening to end the fight swiftly by TKO. Despite all the hype, fans did not get to see a new champion, and they did not get to see a reinvigorated, fiery Anderson Silva. To some, this could be the last straw. It is a frustrating time to be a fan of the UFC. Three TV shows on top of PPVs has lead to overexposure. With seemingly a new card every week star power is stretched to its limits. All this is made worse by a plague of injuries forcing top fighters off cards last minute. Zuffa’s near-dominance of the MMA scene in the US has not helped matters either. How can the frustrated fans be turned around? Can UFC get back on track? Will the injuries and constantly changing cards be remedied? Can I Save the Era? Writer's Notes: - Over-dramatic pre-tense aside, this is just your run-of-the-mill modern day UFC diary. I thought UFC 148 was a good starting off point, I'll do a few events as booking IRL but I'm going to gradually branch off. - I've got injuries set to high. This should help replicate UFC's current situation. If it gets too much for me I'll take it down, but it should help for branching off. - Just doing this casually. Short reports for results, news kept to the minimum, etc. Should make for an easy read, hopefully. - I'm using Modern Warriors 11, great mod. Props to Tag01 and everyone involved in that. Next: Division Intros Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 MIDDLEWEIGHT 185lbs Division Coming off the biggest fight of its history, the Middleweight division is at a crossroads. Years of dominance under the champion, Anderson Silva, has stripped the ranks of most of its top stars. Plenty of fighters lie on the cusp of breaking out into title contention though, so we could be heading towards much more exciting times for the 185ers. Champion: Anderson Silva http://s19.postimage.org/jmvkcjvcf/Anderson_Silva.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #1 Silva has held the Middleweight title for five years and has defended it ten times. His dominance as champion has led many to be calling him the greatest of all time. Even if he shows no signs of slowing down, Silva has said that he does not want to fight into his forties so he may be stepping out soon. Until then he has superfight options in the weight class above as well as more contenders coming forward at Middleweight. Number One Contender: ??? Five to Watch: Mark Munoz http://s19.postimage.org/qy9wr0m7j/Mark_Munoz.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: #23 The Filipino Wrecking Machine may have lost out on a title eliminator due to injury but he is the favourite to get the next shot at the Champion. Munoz’s strong and accomplished wrestling ability along with his knockout power has made the 34-yearold a threat to anyone who steps in the cage with him. He will fight fellow prospect, Chris Weidman, at UFC on Fuel TV 4; a win might get him the title shot he has been longing for. Michael Bisping http://s19.postimage.org/89rv3ovan/Michael_Bisping.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: N/A A controversial and outspoken fighter, Bisping has made his fair share of enemies along the way since winning The Ultimate Fighter, but he is only now emerging as a true challenger. Though his last fight was a close loss to Chael Sonnen, Bisping showed he has underrated wrestling and defensive abilities to go with his boxing and his strength. The Count is expected to fight an American hero in Brian Stann and could only be a couple of wins off a title fight. Tim Boetsch http://s19.postimage.org/yuyzczn1r/Tim_Boetsch.jpg Div Ranking: #6 P4P Ranking: N/A The former Light Heavyweight fighter has found his home at 185, showing that he has the strength and size to bully opponents. Boetsch’s shocking comeback and brutal knockout of Yushin Okami has launched him into the title picture and you have to wonder if the former Division 1 wrestler has the kryptonite to Anderson Silva. The Barbarian will welcome Hector Lombard to the UFC, and win could put him in line for the title. Hector Lombard http://s19.postimage.org/qwqs645m7/Hector_Lombard.jpg Div Ranking: #10 P4P Ranking: N/A A former Bellator Middleweight champion, Lombard has found himself in the UFC to fight a higher standard of fighter, the jury is out on whether he will sink or swim. Lombard is however an exciting all-rounder with an excellent grappling and judo base topped by an aggressive striking game and scary knockout power. If he proves as dominant as he was in Bellator he should bag himself a title shot sooner rather than later, but first he has to get past Tim Boetsch. Chael Sonnen http://s19.postimage.org/mftttp20f/Chael_Sonnen.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #11 Still sitting at number two in the rankings despite a decisive loss, the heel Sonnen has promised to bounce back soon enough. Whether he continues at Middleweight or he makes the jump up to Light Heavyweight, the controversial fighter wants to continue to make waves, improve, and perhaps even get in a position to challenge Anderson Silva for a third time. ---------- HEAVYWEIGHT 245lbs Division Despite being the oldest division in the UFC, for a long time it has also been considered the weakest. The introduction of Brock Lesnar has seemed to change that through, reinvigorating the division with star power. Even though Lesnar has since moved on, the Heavyweights have gone from strength to strength and has an improving pool of talent to keep it going for years. Champion: Junior Dos Santos http://s19.postimage.org/5xf9sctbj/Junior_Dos_Santos.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #7 Dos Santos sits on top of the division after a quick knockout of Cain Velasquez and a dominant win over Frank Mir. Mild-mannered and gentlemanly outside of the cage, Cicano is becoming one of MMA’s top ambassadors. Inside the cage he utilises what some consider the best boxing in the UFC while also bragging excellent takedown defense and an as-yet unseen BJJ game. A rematch with Cain Velasquez will be Dos Santos’ next challenge. Number One Contender: Cain Velasquez http://s19.postimage.org/gntpmjs6n/cain_velasquez.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #10 The former Heavyweight champion whose destruction of Brock Lesnar lead many to see him as the division’s new dominant champion. A loss by knockout in his first title defence threw a wrench into the works though. Possessing huge knockout power on top of his amateur wresting background, Cain is looking to bounce back with a rematch against Junior Dos Santos. Five to Watch: Alistair Overeem http://s19.postimage.org/u8ffok1nz/Alistair_Overeem.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: #15 Originally brought in to much fanfare due to his international reputation as a powerful striker, the former Strikeforce Heavyweight champion toppled Brock Lesnar in his first fight and moved on to a title fight. High testosterone levels though led to him being pulled from the fight and suspended. He will return sooner or later but until then the K-1 Grand Prix winner will look to hone his skills ready for the next challenge. Fabricio Werdum http://s19.postimage.org/x2s8cuzjj/Fabricio_Werdum.jpg Div Ranking: #4 P4P Ranking: #16 A well-travelled Heavyweight grappler and submission specialist, Werdum returned to the spotlight after a shock victory over Fedor Emelianenko. Since returning to the UFC, Werdum has showed his new found striking expertise with a dominant win over Roy Nelson where he utilised a vicious Muay Thai clinch and a TKO victory over Mike Russow. Title contention seems to be just around the corner for the improving Brazilian. Mark Hunt http://s19.postimage.org/i1uj9c67j/Mark_Hunt.jpg Div Ranking: #11 P4P Ranking: N/A A veteran of K-1 and PRIDE, Mark Hunt has had a career resurgence of sorts in the UFC riding a 3-fight winning streak. Now a popular fan favourite, title contention is no longer a pipe-dream for the Super Samoan – he could realistically be only another win or two away from a title fight. At 38 you have to wonder if the clock is ticking down on his career, but you’d be a fool to underestimate his striking ability. Daniel Cormier http://s19.postimage.org/5vw57gcq7/Daniel_Cormier.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: N/A While not currently in the UFC, the Strikeforce Heavyweight champion is rumoured to be joining the roster after his next title defence. Riding a 10-fight undefeated streak, the two-time Olympian has been labelled “Emelianegro” or “Black Fedor” by fans and looks to mount a challenge on the UFC title using his wrestling and ever-improving striking abilities. Travis Browne http://s19.postimage.org/siju35jzj/Travis_Browne.jpg Div Ranking: #14 P4P Ranking: N/A Probably the top heavyweight prospect in the UFC, Travis Browne has gone 14 fights undefeated including 11 victories by stoppage. It doesn’t seem long before Browne steps up into the title mix and brush shoulders with the division’s top guys. First though a fight with Big Ben Rothwell waits which should test whether or not the Hawaiian belongs at the top. ---------- FLYWEIGHT 125lbs Division From the oldest division to the newest, the Flyweights entered the UFC earlier in the year with a four-man tournament. The tournament may not have been as smooth as proposed, but Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavides are in place to fight at UFC 152 to decide the division’s first champion. What lies in the future is unknown as the division is still being built from the ground up. Championship Fight Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson http://s19.postimage.org/ausudgvan/Joseph_Benavidez.jpghttp://s19.postimage.org/rkv1bbey7/Demetrious_Johnson.jpg #3 : Div Ranking : #1 N/A : P4P Ranking : N/A Joseph Benavidez was a hungry top contender at Bantamweight but dropped to Flyweight to remedy the size disadvantage he often found himself in. Benavidez possesses a natural wrestling talent with deceptive power in his striking, attributes that make him a threat to any fighter at Flyweight and Bantamweight. A decisive TKO victory over Yasuhiro Urushitani put Joe-B-Wan in the finals to fight for the inaugural Flyweight Title. Demetrious Johnson may be the fastest and most explosive fighter in the UFC. A former contender at Bantamweight, Mighty Mouse dropped to Flyweight when the division was introduced. At Flyweight he has managed to keep his speed advantage without being outsized by most his opponents. He met WEC veteran Ian McCall in the opening round of the Flyweight tournament, but a draw took them to a second fight where he was victorious. Five to Watch: Ian McCall http://s19.postimage.org/hdloqe7hr/Ian_McCall.jpg Div Ranking: #7 P4P Ranking: N/A Despite a loss to Demetrious Johnson in the 4-man Flyweight tournament, Ian McCall takes a lot from their first fight where he dominated in the last round and arguably could have picked up a TKO victory. While in the second fight he lost unanimously he believes that his performance was not to his usual standard and promises to bounce back. Uncle Creepy's wrestling will surely make him a fighter to be reckoned with going forward. John Dodson http://s19.postimage.org/7635dzl9r/John_Dodson.jpg Div Ranking: #12 P4P Ranking: N/A Winning the Bantamweight section of The Ultimate Fighter 14 despite his size, Dodson immediately dropped to Flyweight in time for the division to be created. Currently riding a fight record of 13-5, including a TKO victory over Bantamweight prospect TJ Dillashaw and a victory over fellow Flyweight prospect Tim Elliot, Dodson seems to be the Flyweight earmarked for a future title shot but may need a couple more wins to get him up there. Yasuhiro Urushitani http://s19.postimage.org/x6ztyc967/Yasuhiro_Urushitani.jpg Div Ranking: #6 P4P Ranking: N/A Even though Joseph Benavidez ended a five-fight winning streak, Urushitani is still a huge name in the division that cannot be overlooked. Formerly a Shooto champion and once considered the best Flyweight in the world, Urushitani has slick counter-striking ability and plenty of experience to outclass opponents. Darrell Montague http://s19.postimage.org/lvesr08rz/Darrell_Montague.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: N/A While The Mongoose is not currently contracted to the UFC he is definitely on their must-have list. Currently ranked as the second best Flyweight in the world and considered by some to be the best. He has proven time and time again that he is a gifted kick boxer and that his striking game is up there with the best. However, he is untested in the big leagues of UFC, and has a loss on his record to Ian McCall. Jussier da Silva http://s19.postimage.org/z13holhf3/Jussier_da_Silva.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: N/A Another fighter outside of the UFC that has been catching many eyes. Like Darrell Montague he has a legion of fans who claim he is the best Flyweight in the world, and like Montague he shows exactly why every time he fights. Currently riding a win streak attributed to his lightning-fast BJJ, Formiga could be on a collision course with Montague in the near future, let’s just hope it takes place in the UFC. ---------- WELTERWEIGHT 175lbs Division Much like Middleweight, the Welterweight Division has been dominated by a long-term champion in Georges St-Pierre. Since St-Pierre’s injury though there has been a log-jam at the top of the division while new prospects continue to develop on the undercard. The future appears to be bright for the Welterweights, as long as the champion is back before the contenders eliminate each other from the running. Champion: Georges St-Pierre http://s19.postimage.org/kqpbzdbov/Georges_St-Pierre.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #4 Once holding a claim to the top spot of the Pound for Pound rankings, inconsistent performances and a general lack of activity caused by injuries have lead to him dropping down the list. He still stands firm at the top of the Welterweight division though and shows no sign of slowing down. Though he is currently injured he has a string of contenders lined up to challenge him, starting with the Interim Champion, Carlos Condit. Interim Champion: Carlos Condit http://s19.postimage.org/7u2t5g57z/carlos_condit.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: #19 The former WEC Welterweight Champion had an impressive run of 5 wins in the UFC capped off by a victory over Nick Diaz to capture the Interim Title. Condit is a great all-rounder who has knocked out his fair share of opponents, but showed during the Diaz fight that he could pace himself and counter-strike his way to a technical victory. These attributes should prove useful when he fights Georges St-Pierre to decide the Undisputed Champion. Five to Watch: Johny Hendricks http://s19.postimage.org/ae7mr17jj/Johny_Hendricks.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: N/A Hendricks is a four-time All-American that launched himself into the mix with a stunning knock out over Jon Fitch. A victory over Josh Koscheck set his position at the top of the division in stone, but the problem is with the Interim Champion waiting for the injured Champion that Hendricks finds himself having to wait for his chance. It is yet to be seen whether or not he will wait or if he will fight another contender in an eliminator bout. Martin Kampmann http://s19.postimage.org/cgcpj0uwf/Martin_Kampmann.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #18 Kampmann is a UFC veteran that finds himself in the strongest position of his career thanks to the string of wins he has recently put together, including a victory over fellow contender Jake Ellenberger. Now part of the log-jam at the top of the division, Kampmann can either wait for his ticket to be called or he can fight another contender. Rory MacDonald http://s19.postimage.org/9me5jbi3z/Rory_MacDonald.jpg Div Ranking: #17 P4P Ranking: N/A Considered to be first of the “new breed” of Mixed Martial Artist; a fighter that does not come from a specific discipline and instead has been trained in every facet of MMA since the beginning. A top prospect in the UFC, MacDonald even has the Welterweight Champion in his corner, but that will not stop Ares making a run at the top ranks of the division. MacDonald has recently called out BJ Penn, a fight offer that has been accepted by the semi-retired fighter. Nick Diaz http://s19.postimage.org/4v9onjzvz/Nick_Diaz.jpg Div Ranking: #11 P4P Ranking: N/A Diaz is a talented yet controversial fighter who has made his fair share of enemies over the years. Most lately he ticked off Georges St-Pierre while on the road to a title shot, but injuries got in the way and in the end Diaz ended up losing to Carlos Condit in an Interim Title fight. Since then he has been serving a suspension due to marijuana use and has said he doesn’t want to keep fighting. Whether he will return or not is yet to be seen. Jake Ellenberger http://s19.postimage.org/wau5rekq7/Jake_Ellenberger.jpg Div Ranking: #14 P4P Ranking: N/A A top prospect at Welterweight that grew into a possible title contender, but the log-jam held him off until his loss to Martin Kampmann. Ellenberger will look to bounce back and get himself back into title contention. His heavy hands and wrestling ability will continue to make him a threat to his opponents, but since the loss there are a lot of people above him on the ladder. ---------- FEATHERWEIGHT 145lbs Division One of the “lower weight classes” from the WEC that was absorbed by the UFC, the Featherweight division is still trying to find its feet. A dominant champion making the division look thin certainly does not help matters. Currently struggling for title contenders and star power, the division has a long way to go before gelling into the UFC properly but they are working on it with the tonne of potential further down in weight class. Champion: Jose Aldo http://s19.postimage.org/67msbp7xr/Jose_Aldo.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #3 After somewhat of a slow start many fans are asking questions of the hype around the ex-soccer player, but Aldo’s followers believe that he has yet to show his best in the UFC and in fact suggest that he is the real Pound for Pound best in the world. A sentiment that is hard to argue with when Anderson Silva himself says he would retire if Aldo fought at Middleweight. We’ll have to see what the future holds for the young Brazilian, but you have to wonder if Lightweight is the next natural step if he keeps the rest of the division at bay. Contender: ??? Five to Watch: Erik Koch http://s19.postimage.org/fbglyek4v/Erik_Koch.jpg Div Ranking: #8 P4P Ranking: N/A A well-rounded youngster currently riding a winning streak, it is rumoured that Koch will be the next fighter to get a title shot in a division that lacks contenders. Whether he is ready for Jose Aldo remains to be seen, but he certainly would like to prove wrong those who say he is just being fed to Aldo as a stop-gap. Chang Sung Jung http://s19.postimage.org/gg62q1h7z/Chang_Sung_Jung.jpg Div Ranking: #4 P4P Ranking: N/A Arguably the biggest star in the division due to his exciting fights, The Korean Zombie is in a strong position having gone undefeated since joining the UFC. After knocking off top prospect Dustin Poirier in his last fight, Chang Sung Jung has begun asking for a title shot which should only be another win in the future due to his name value in the division. Chad Mendes http://s19.postimage.org/m1shu3hwv/Chad_Mendes.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: #25 Despite being knocked out by Jose Aldo in his title opportunity, Mendes is still considered one of the top guys in the division. A protégé of Urijah Faber, Money Mendes is a freakishly strong wrestler that is growing better and better in other aspects of his game. His first fight since losing his title fight will be against Cody McKenzie with Mendes being highly touted as the favourite. Dennis Siver http://s19.postimage.org/euqsy86zz/Dennis_Siver.jpg Div Ranking: #11 P4P Ranking: NA Despite only having one fight at Featherweight, the German is certainly one to watch due to his huge, anvil-like frame on top of his kick boxing skills. Siver looks to continue his run at a division where he is noticeably bigger than everyone else and hopefully do at Featherweight what he couldn’t do at Lightweight; get a title shot. Pat Curran http://s19.postimage.org/lkb4jgwhb/Pat_Curran.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #22 Sitting on top of a Bellator Featherweight division that is noticeably stronger in contenders than the UFC’s, Curran is a talented fighter with success at 155 as well as 145. Hector Lombard’s jump to the UFC should hopefully set a precedent and lead to many of Bellator’s top fighters trying their luck in the big leagues, but until then Pat Curran is surely an important item on UFC’s shopping list. ---------- LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 205lbs Division Perhaps the most stacked division in terms of star power and contenders once upon a time, retirements and the domination of Jon Jones has changed things over the last couple of years. While 205 still has plenty of big names to support itself it may be getting light on contenders and future stars, though it could all change in an instant thanks to the sheer amount of talent at the top of the rankings. Champion: Jon Jones http://s19.postimage.org/qdqaal3lb/Jon_Jones.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #2 At 24 years old, Jon Jones’ meteoric rise at Light Heavyweight is nothing short of amazing. An almost superhuman athlete that seems to be good at just about everything, Jon Bones Jones is only going to continue to improve. Maybe he is not mentally strong enough to handle the pressure of being the new face of UFC, but that has not worked against him so far. He will defend the title soon against veteran Dan Henderson, the biggest challenge of his career. Contender: Dan Henderson http://s19.postimage.org/hjq7201v3/Dan_Henderson.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #6 From Middleweight to Heavyweight, Dan Henderson is a bonafide legend of the sport that has had major success in Pride and Strikeforce. Success has escaped him in his previous run in the UFC, but since his Fight of the Year victory over Shogun Rua in 2011 a World Title is certainly in reach for him. Hendo meets champion Jon Jones soon enough, can the veteran beat the dominant youngster? It may be the 41 year olds last chance. Five to Watch: Alexander Gustafsson http://s19.postimage.org/py0rsywkv/Alexander_Gustafsson.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: N/A Considered the top prospect at Light Heavyweight, Gustafsson is a tall, lanky Swede with great striking and grappling, his ground game is coming along too. At 25 he is often compared to fellow youngster and current Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but as of yet is still not competing at the top level of the division. Though on a five-fight winning streak he has yet to face a top tier fighter. Mauricio Rua http://s19.postimage.org/xeivh3ur3/Mauricio_Rua.jpg Div Ranking: #6 P4P Ranking: N/A A former Light Heavyweight champion, Shogun Rua is still considered one of the top fighters in the division despite losing his last two fights; defeated by Jon Jones for his title then losing to Dan Henderson in the 2011 Fight of the Year. A top level striker and BJJ fighter, Shogun looks to get back to winning ways against Brandon Vera, and from there will mount a challenge for the title once again. Ryan Bader http://s19.postimage.org/p95ewovvz/Ryan_Bader.jpg Div Ranking: #9 P4P Ranking: N/A The TUF Season 8 winner, Ryan Bader had a excellent run towards the top before being knocked off by fellow prospect Jon Jones followed by a surprise submission defeat to Tito Ortiz. He has since put himself back in the running with a win over Quinton Jackson. Darth is a gifted athlete, a multi-time All American wrestler, and if he manages to topple Lyoto Machida could end up in the title mix. Rich Franklin http://s19.postimage.org/6e9o69vu7/Rich_Franklin.jpg Div Ranking: #10 P4P Ranking: N/A A strange one, Rich Franklin fights across both Light Heavyweight and Middleweight and at 37 would like one last run towards a title. Fresh off a victory over Wanderlei Silva, Ace has all the fans backing the veteran to turn up a couple more great performances and make a charge for one last title shot before retirement. Glover Teixeira http://s19.postimage.org/je7mxhe9b/Glover_Teixeira.jpg Div Ranking: #17 P4P Ranking: N/A A dangerous and scary Brazilian who has recently joined the UFC roster after years of visa issues, Teixeira burst onto the scene with a first round submission victory over Kyle Kingsbury. Having gone undefeated since 2005, expectations appear to be high for the prospect as he will soon fight Quinton Rampage Jackson, which will not be an easy task. ---------- BANTAMWEIGHT 135lbs Division Possibly the most exciting division in the UFC in terms of fight quality, the 135 pounders are deep with contenders, talent and potential. An injury to the Champion however does put the division in danger of a log-jam at the top of the ranks. An Interim Title fight between arguably the division’s top two stars should put things back on track and sustain the amount of talent emerging in the division. Champion: Dominick Cruz http://s19.postimage.org/f8wqbkghb/Dominick_Cruz.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #8 Aptly named The Dominator, Cruz uses his explosive footwork to out-fox and out-strike opponents. Since joining the UFC as the inaugural 135lbs Champion, Cruz and top contender Urijah Faber (also the only man to beat Cruz) have been a collision course. Even after getting his win back Cruz joined Faber as competing coaches at the last Ultimate Fighter but tore his ACL before the two could complete their trilogy. Now injured, Cruz will have to wait to fight Faber, or whoever the Interim Champion is at the time. Interim Title Fight: Urijah Faber vs. Renan Baroa http://s19.postimage.org/vqobg769b/Urijah_Faber.jpghttp://s19.postimage.org/sc1jmblgv/Renan_Baroa.jpg #3 : Div Ranking : #6 #21 : P4P Ranking : N/A When WEC was absorbed by the UFC, the very charismatic California Kid found stardom on a much bigger stage. The former Featherweight Champion immediately sparked a rivalry with Dominick Cruz and was considered the number one contender before Cruz suffered an injury. Now the talented and experienced all-rounder will look to earn himself the Interim Championship while he waits for Cruz to get healthy. His opponent is Renan Baroa. Often labelled as the most talented fighter on the planet without a title, the Brazilian has an outstanding 29 fight undefeated streak and will look to turn #30 into an Interim Title win. A training partner of Jose Aldo, Baroa has showed his phenomenal skill set in all aspects of MMA and has long been considered to be on his way towards a title shot. Five to Watch: Michael McDonald http://s19.postimage.org/9q3dlty7j/Michael_McDonald.jpg Div Ranking: #4 P4P Ranking: N/A One of the youngest fighters in the UFC, Mayday has been fighting since the age of 14 and does not seem that far away from title contention. On an 8-fight winning streak, McDonald has a BJJ brown belt to his name as well as 3 US Open grappling titles. Also a talented kick boxer, Michael McDonald really is the future of the UFC and has time on his side, but that shouldn’t stop him trying for the title now. Brad Pickett http://s19.postimage.org/sn05wqrfz/Brad_Pickett.jpg Div Ranking: #9 P4P Ranking: N/A Named One Punch for good reason, Pickett is often considered to primarily a boxer but possesses some excellent ground skills and brags a victory via Peruvian Necktie submission. Though recently defeated by Interim Title competitor Renan Baroa, Pickett continues to fight towards the Bantamweight title and could realistically be a win away from contention. Mike Easton http://s19.postimage.org/swgkp0epb/Mike_Easton.jpg Div Ranking: #14 P4P Ranking: N/A A recent victory over title prospect Ivan Menjivar has put The Hulk in the mix. He proves to be an exciting and powerful fighter and possesses a wide variety of skills, but some consider his build to be restrictive to his cardio and pace. Now that the title is a realistic possibility for the future, Mike Easton needs to test his abilities against fellow contenders before he can move on to championship contention. Brian Bowles http://s19.postimage.org/ncv75g773/Brian_Bowles.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: N/A Though still ranked quite highly, Bowles has not fought since his decisive loss to Urijah Faber and with a previous loss to Dominick Cruz also on his record it is wondered what Bowles’ future in the division will be. That said, Brian Bowles is a former champion of the division and is still a very tough competitor with wrestling and boxing credentials. He hopes that he will soon bounce back from the loss and get himself in a position to fight for the title again. Bibiano Fernandes http://s19.postimage.org/gjuu96gdr/Bibiano_Fernandes.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #17 The former DREAM Bantamweight champion became the hottest free agent when the company folded recently but was unable to come to terms with the UFC. This is a huge shame for those that believe him to be the best 135lbs fighter in the world and would like to see him prove it on the grand stage. There is still enough time for The Flash to find himself in the UFC to fight the best though. ---------- LIGHTWEIGHT 155lbs Division Arguably the deepest division in the UFC with a long list of contenders and prospects as well as a wide selection of talent of all shapes and sizes. The build-up of contenders can be both thanked and blamed on three straight sets of rematches that will culminate UFC 150. Hopefully then other fighters can step into title fights and a log-jam can be avoided. Champion: Benson Henderson http://s19.postimage.org/bjxe18ar3/Benson_Henderson.jpg Div Ranking: #1 P4P Ranking: #5 A gifted athlete with a great story behind him, Benson Henderson had just lost the WEC Lightweight title when the company was absorbed by UFC. The loss didn’t keep the explosive fighter down though as he bounced back with 4 straight wins including one over Frankie Edgar to capture the UFC Lightweight title. Smooth cannot rest on his laurels though as he will defend the title at UFC 150 in a rematch with Frankie Edgar. Contender: Frankie Edgar http://s19.postimage.org/tkg8ggynj/Frankie_Edgar.jpg Div Ranking: #5 P4P Ranking: #14 Since first winning the Lightweight Title from BJ Penn in 2010, Edgar has starred all the aforementioned rematches against Penn, Gray Maynard and now Benson Henderson. Despite the first loss to Henderson, Edgar is still considered one of the best in all areas, including wrestling, boxing, heart and cardio. If he cannot get his title back, the undersized Lightweight always has Featherweight as an option. Five to Watch: Nate Diaz http://s19.postimage.org/fgtjzk67j/Nate_Diaz.jpg Div Ranking: #4 P4P Ranking: #13 Nate Diaz is the brother of top Welterweight Nick Diaz and possesses many of the same skills. An aggressive striker with a solid jiu-jitsu game, Diaz had some success across both Lightweight and Welterweight but has never been as close to a title shot as he is now. Following three straight wins over top contenders, Diaz is poised and ready for a title shot whenever the UFC is ready to give it to him. Anthony Pettis http://s19.postimage.org/agd9p9q3z/Anthony_Pettis.jpg Div Ranking: #6 P4P Ranking: #20 The last WEC Lightweight champion before it was absorbed by the UFC, Pettis was guaranteed a title shot that never came due to the numerous rematches. While waiting for a title fight Pettis suffered a loss to Clay Guida that took him out of the title picture temporarily. A couple of victories since then have put Pettis back in the mix so the unorthodox striker will look to mount an attack on the Lightweight Title once again. Donald Cerrone http://s19.postimage.org/ih17om2r3/Donald_Cerrone.jpg Div Ranking: #10 P4P Ranking: N/A Called the Cowboy because of his bullriding background, Cerrone has been considered a prospect since his days in the UFC. His stock has only increase since coming to the UFC where he has continued to improve his game and push towards the title picture. A loss to Nate Diaz did derail things for him, but a victory over Jeremy Stephens has put him right back into the mix. Gray Maynard http://s19.postimage.org/3u096y44v/Gray_Maynard.jpg Div Ranking: #2 P4P Ranking: #9 Still highly touted due to the dominant nature of his performances at Lightweight, his title fight loss to Frankie Edgar notwithstanding, Maynard is a driven competitor who bullies his opponents with his size and power. Hence his nickname: The Bully. Maynard’s recent victory over Clay Guida has put him back on the road to the title, but with two title fight losses to Frankie Edgar he is going to have to work very hard to be considered for a third shot. Gilbert Melendez http://s19.postimage.org/mwjmtvf5b/Gilbert_Melendez.jpg Div Ranking: #3 P4P Ranking: #12 Currently the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion with not many contenders to spoil his fortunes, it seems like a matter of time before Melendez is called up to the UFC. It is rumoured though that Melendez is one of the fighters that is tide to Strikeforce by the Showtime TV contract so we may not see El Nino in the UFC until it is too late. Until then, some fans will claim that he is indeed the best Lightweight in the world; including his friend and training partner Nate Diaz who fights in the same division. Next: UFC on Fuel TV 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted August 4, 2012 Author Share Posted August 4, 2012 http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/221/weidman1.jpg Weidman dominates Munoz to end a night of finishes. UFC on Fuel TV 4 proved to be an exciting night of fights with 5 of the 6 main card bouts being finished, and 4 of those ending with a TKO. In the main event of the evening, Chris “All-American” Weidman staked his claim to the next Middleweight Title shot with a third round TKO over top contender Mark Munoz. Munoz never quite managed to get himself into the fight, being outclassed in the stand up department while also being taken down at will be the Matt Serra protégé. In the third round Munoz went for broke and came out swinging, but was caught with a right hand. Stunned, the Filipino Wrecking Machine fell to the floor where he was swarmed by Weidman. Seconds later the fight was stopped. Weidman picked up the Knockout of the Night honour for his efforts. Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honours fell to the one-round war between Anthony Njokuani and Rafael dos Anjos. The fight started the main card and the two Lightweights came out to impress. After going 100mph on their feet for three straight minutes Anthony Njokuani emerged with an advantage, knocking dos Anjos down with a big head kick. Despite being dazed, Rafael toughed out the ground and pound and eventually caught The Assassin in a flash triangle choke. Njokuani had no choice but to tap out. The night was not without its controversies. The co-main event saw James Te Huna pick up a TKO victory over Joey Beltran, despite Beltran fighting back. The crowd and Beltran immediately let the referee know of his mistake but by this point Te Huna was already celebrating his win. The early stoppage came just one minute into the first round. Elsewhere on the card, Karlos Vemola’s late flurry on Francis Carmont saw The Terminator pick up a TKO victory three seconds before the end of round two. TJ Dillashaw scraped his way to a unanimous decision victory over Vaughan Lee in the Bantamweight division, the only main card fight to go the distance. And Aaron Simpson also picked up his TKO victory over newcomer Kenny Robertson with a dominant performance ending in vicious ground and pound from the mount. Fight of the Night: Anthony Njokuani vs. Rafael dos Anjos Submission of the Night: Rafael dos Anjos Knockout of the Night: Chris Weidman Results Main Event // Middleweight: Chris Weidman def Mark Munoz via TKO [R3 1:03] Co-Main Event // Light Heavyweight: James Te Huna def Joey Beltran via TKO [R1 1:01] Welterweight: Aaron Simpson def Kenny Robertson via TKO [R1 2:53] Middleweight: Karlos Vemola def Francis Carmont via TKO [R2 4:57] Bantamweight: TJ Dillashaw def Vaughan Lee via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 29-28, 30-27] Lightweight: Rafael dos Anjos def Anthony Njokuani via Triangle [R1 4:25] Bantamweight: Damacio Page def Alex Cacares via Americana [R1 1:27] Flyweight: Chris Cariaso def Josh Ferguson via TKO [R1 3:23] Middleweight: Andrew Craig def Rafael Natal via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Welterweight: Marcelo Guimaraes def Dan Stittgen via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Bantamweight: Raphael Assuncao def Issei Tamura via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUnderMask Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Heavyweight 245? Welterweight 175? I like it when orgs use variations on the weight classes. I believe I will add this to my Dynasties to Watch lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 I wouldn't expect too much out of it. Force of habit really since an older game where I changed the weight classes so I could introduce 165, 195 and 225 divisions. I doubt I'll get as far as doing the same here with me having to build up Flyweights and eventually a couple of female divisions. But you never know. ---------- News & Notes: The UFC have today announced the signings of several Flyweight fighters, including Ulysses Gomes, Will Campuzano, Danny Martinez and Darrell Montague. Montague is considered by many to be the top Flyweight in the world. On the back of this news, a Flyweight fight between signees Claudir Dutkevis and Rafael de Freitas has been added to the upcoming UFC 149 card. Both fighters are undefeated and are featured in Blurcat’s Top 25 rankings. Speaking of UFC 149, in a conference call earlier today Dana White has said that if the co-main event fight between Tim Boetsch and former Bellator Champion Hector Lombard is as spectacular as it should be the winner will probably get the next shot at Anderson Silva. This is despite Chris Weidman’s impressive finish against Munoz. On the same conference call, Urijah Faber said that if he wins the Interim Bantamweight Title he will defend it rather than wait for Dominick Cruz. In injury news, Erik Perez has dropped out of his Bantamweight fight against Ken Stone at UFC 150. He has been replaced by Ultimate Fighter contestant Johnny Bedford. Join us for UFC 149: Faber vs. Baroa on Saturday as the Interim Bantamweight Champion is decided, Hector Lombard makes his UFC debut, and much much more. ---------- Upcoming Cards UFC 149: Faber vs. Baroa Sat – Wk3 – Jul Urijah Faber [bantamweight] Renan Baroa Hector Lombard [Middleweight] Tim Boetsch Cheick Kongo [Heavyweight] Shawn Jordan Brian Ebersole [Welterweight] James Head Chris Clements [Welterweight] Matt Riddle Court McGee [Middleweight] Nick Ring Roland Delorme [bantamweight] Francisco Rivera Ryan Jimmo [Light Heavyweight] Anthony Perosh Bryan Caraway [bantamweight] Mitch Gagnon Claudir Dutkevis [Flyweight] Rafael de Freitas Antonio Carvalho [Feathweight] Daniel Pineda Mitch Clarke [Lightweight] Anton Kuivanen UFC on FOX: Shogun vs. Vera Sat – Wk1 – Aug Mauricio Rua [Light Heavyweight] Brandon Vera Lyoto Machida [Light Heavyweight] Ryan Bader Travis Browne [Heavyweight] Ben Rothwell Joe Lauzon [Lightweight] Jamie Varner Mike Swick [Welterweight] DaMarques Johnson Cole Miller [Featherweight] Nam Phan Phil Davis [Light Heavyweight] Wagner Prado Josh Grispi [Featherweight] Rani Yahya Philip De Fries [Heavyweight] Oli Thompson Manny Gamburyan [Featherweight] Michihiro Omigawa Matt Mitrione [Heavyweight] Rob Broughton UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar II Sat – Wk2 – Aug Ben Henderson [Lightweight] Frankie Edgar Donald Cerrone [Lightweight] Melvin Guillard Yushin Okami [Middleweight] Rousimar Palhares Jake Shields [Middleweight] Ed Herman Chris Camozzi [Middleweight] Buddy Roberts Jared Hamman [Middleweight] Michael Kuiper Justin Lawrence [Featherweight] Max Holloway Dennis Bermudez [Featherweight] Tom Hayden Dustin Pague [bantamweight] Chico Camus Nik Lentz [Lightweight] Eiji Mitsuoka UFC 151: Jones vs. Henderson Sat – Wk 1 – Sept Jon Jones [Light Heavyweight] Dan Henderson Josh Koscheck [Welterweight] Jake Ellenberger Dennis Siver [Featherweight] Eddie Yagin Michael Johnson [Lightweight] Danny Castillo Kyle Noke [Welterweight] Charlie Brenneman Takeya Mizugaki [bantamweight] Jeff Hougland Thiago Tavares [Lightweight] Dennis Hallman Tim Means [Lightweight] Mac Danzig Daron Cruickshank [Lightweight] Henry Martinez John Lineker [Flyweight] Yasuhiro Urushitani Shane Roller [Lightweight] Jacob Volkmann UFC 152: Benavidez vs. Johnson Sat – Wk3 – Sept Joseph Benavidez [Flyweight] Demetrious Johnson Michael Bisping [Middleweight] Brian Stann BJ Penn [Welterweight] Rory MacDonald Igor Pokrajac [Light Heavyweight] Vinny Magalhaes Jimy Hettes [Featherweight] Marcus Brimage Seth Baczynski [Welterweight] Simeon Thoresen Sean Pierson [Welterweight] Dan Miller Cub Swanson [Featherweight] Charles Oliveira Evan Dunham [Lightweight] TJ Grant UFC on Fuel TV: Hardy vs. Sadollah Sat – Wk4 – Sept Dan Hardy [Welterweight] Amir Sadollah Stefan Struve [Heavyweight] Stipe Miocic Brad Pickett [bantamweight] Yves Jabouin John Hathaway [Welterweight] John Maguire Che Mills [Welterweight] Duane Ludwig Paul Sass [Lightweight] Matt Wiman Kyle Kingsbury [Light Heavyweight] Jimi Manuwar Tom Watson [Middleweight] Brad Tavares Andy Ogle [Featherweight] Akira Corassani Jason Young [Feathweight] Robert Peralta Jorgen Kruth [Light Heavyweight] Fabio Maldonado Pascal Krauss [Welterweight] Gunnar Nelson UFC on FX: TBA Fri – Wk1 – Oct Bart Palaszewski [Featherweight] Diego Nunes Justin Edwards [Welterweight] Josh Neer Louis Gaudinot [Flyweight] Darren Uyenoyama Carlo Prater [Lightweight] Marcus LeVesseur UFC 153: Aldo vs. Koch Sat – Wk2 – Oct Jose Aldo [Featherweight] Erik Koch Vitor Belfort [Middleweight] Alan Belcher Glover Teixeira [Light Heavyweight] Quinton Jackson Erick Silva [Welterweight] Jon Fitch Demian Maia [Welterweight] Rick Story Gabriel Gonzaga [Heavyweight] Geronimo dos Santos Diego Brandao [Featherweight] Joey Gambino Rony Mariano Bezerra [Featherweight] Sam Sicilia Gleison Tibau [Lightweight] Francisco Trinaldo Christiano Marcello [Lightweight] Reza Madadi Sergio Moraes [Welterweight] Renee Forte UFC on Fuel TV: China Sat – Wk1 – Nov Rich Franklin [Middleweight] Cung Le Dong Hyun Kim [Welterweight] Paulo Thiago UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit Sat – Wk3 – Nov Georges St-Pierre [Welterweight] Carlos Condit Martin Kampmann [Welterweight] Johny Hendricks Brendan Schaub [Heavyweight] Lavar Johnson Francis Carmont [Middleweight] Tom Lawlor Mark Hominick [Featherweight] Pablo Garza Writer's Notes: - From this point on I will not be taking notice of RL UFC booking. All future match making and event booking will be done by me. - You may notice some differences between these cards and RL cards, but that is mainly because I booked them a few weeks ago. I've gone through UFC's future events today and booked what has been announced since them, not including fights changed due to injuries or what have you. - I'm not planning on doing pressers or event previews since they can get tedious if you do them for every event. I'll probably follow the formula of Results - News - Results - News - and so on. - I know you guys like to make predictions so feel free to. I won't encourage or discourage. Coming Next: UFC 149! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8454/urijahfaber.jpg Faber crowned Interim Bantamweight Champion after stunning knock out. It was a truly great moment of Urijah Faber's career, as he did it was a knockout that will grace his highlight reel for a long time. Being out-struck early by the fast and powerful Renan Baroa, The California Kid dug into his bag of tricks and pulled out a spinning back fist. Baroa may have only ever been mesmerised for a split second, but it was all Faber needed to connect with the Brazillian’s jaw. After the fighter, the new Interim champ was ecstatic to be holding gold for the first time in the UFC, but told Joe Rogan that he will not get complacent. That trilogy fight with Dominick Cruz is still on his mind and he can’t wait to prove he is the best Bantamweight in the world. For the time being it will be hard to argue with that given the manner in which he won. Urijah Faber bagged a well-deserved Knockout of the Night bonus for the unorthodox finish. The spectacular knockout was welcome after three main card fights that failed to show the same fire. Hector Lombard made a successful debut with a victory over Tim Boetsch in the co-main event, but it was not something he will want brag about. Each man respected the other’s proven power and failed to engage for the most part. After being told he was behind on points Boetsch pushed the action in the third round, but Lombard kept his distance to edge out a victory by Majority Decision after one judge scored it a draw. Shawn Jordan and Cheick Kongo is another fight that promised fireworks, but never quite delivered due to cardio problems from both men. It took Jordan a round to get used to Kongo's reach and he did manage to knock him down with one blow, but from mid-second round onwards the two Heavyweights did very little else. Jordan picked up the victory by decision, a good result considering he was rocked just thirty seconds into the fight. The Welterweight fight between James Head and Brian Ebersole left the crowd frustrated. Boos filled the arena as a clearly undersized Ebersole seemingly did everything he could to stay out of the fight, despite the Bad Boy normally being a fan favourite. Fans not get into the fight until James Head's finish late in the third round. There was plenty more to be seen elsewhere on the card, such as Matt Riddle turning in an excellent performance and picking up a TKO victory in the first round while Ryan Jimmo kept his streak going by practically demolishing Anthony Perosh. It was the very first bout on the card that stole the show though - Anton Kuivanen survived a vicious onslaught by Mitch Clarke and somehow managed to apply a Guillotine Choke from his back. Fight of the Night: Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen Submission of the Night: James Head Knockout of the Night: Urijah Faber Results: Bantamweight: Urijah Faber def Renan Baroa via Knock Out [R1 3:34] Middleweight: Hector Lombard def Tim Boetsch via Majority Decision [29-28, 28-28, 29-28] Heavyweight: Shawn Jordan def Cheick Kongo via Split Decision [29-28, 27-30, 29-28] Welterweight: James Head def Brian Ebersole via Arm Triangle [R3 4:48] Welterweight: Matt Riddle def Chris Clements via TKO [R1 4:45] Middleweight: Nick Ring def Court McGee via Split Decision [29-28, 28-29, 29-28] Bantamweight: Roland Delorme def Francisco Rivera via Kimura [R3 2:40] Light Heavyweight: Ryan Jimmo def Anthony Perosh via TKO [R1 2:04] Bantamweight: Mitch Gagnon def Bryan Caraway via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Flyweight: Rafael de Freitas def Claudir Dutkevis via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] Featherweight: Daniel Pineda def Antonio Carvalho via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Lightweight: Anton Kuivanen def Mitch Clarke via Guillotine [R2 3:36] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 News & Notes Before UFC 149, Dana White said that an impressive win would put Hector Lombard in line for a Middleweight title shot. At the post-fight conference the UFC President made some distance from the comment and instructed the press to: “Wait and see ...” Bisping/Stann and Belfort/Belcher will take place soon to add more contenders to the mix. It is unknown who the next Bantamweight challenger will be, or if they’ll even be one in place by the time Dominick Cruz gets healthy again. Interim Champion, Urijah Faber, has said he would defend the belt before fighting Cruz but will take some time off while the 145ers jostle for position. Brian Ebersole suffered his first UFC loss at UFC 149. The fan favourite may have lost a few of his followers after turning in a lacklustre performance. Ebersole was clearly undersized though which has been attributed to his move to Lightweight. The main event for the October FX card has been announced as a hard-hitting Heavyweight collision between the returning Shane Carwin versus Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. Ultimate Fighter winner, Mike Chiesa, has been pencilled in to fight Rafaello Oliveira at the UFC on FX card also. It may sound similar to a promise made on the previous card, but Dana White says he should be able to settle on the next top contender for the Light Heavyweight title at UFC on FOX. Two Light Heavyweight fights, Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader and Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera, will take place on the FOX card. The next shot will likely go to whoever turns in the most impressive performance. ---------- http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/268/veradefrua.jpg Questions asked of the Light Heavyweight division after major upset. You can be forgiven for looking past the slow dragging pace of the main event and only seeing the completely unexpected turn of events as Brandon Vera scraped the decision win out of Shogun Rua. Despite being favoured Shogun was held back by Vera’s short elbows and leg kicks. In the fourth round Vera landed a head kick that rocked Shogun and almost ended the fight . Shogun pushed the pace in the fifth and final round but he was too worn-out to make anything happen. The impossible happened when the judge’s score cards came in and The Truth was unanimously declared the victor. The shock victory certainly brought the crowd back following a poor fight between Ryan Baber and Lyoto Machida. The majority of the fight took place against the cage with Bader being in control for the most part. He took a Split Decision from The Dragon but it was not a victory to be proud of. Lackluster main and co-main event fights aside, FOX’s main card certainly delivered on two competitive fights. Former WEC Lightweight Champion, Jamie Varner, started the night with a Submission of the Night-honoured victory over bonus-hunter Joe Lauzon. After an exciting back and forth fight Varner caught a kick early in the third round and immediately took Lauzon down, just seconds later Lauzon found himself deep in an arm triangle and had no option but to tap out. The fight narrowly missed out on the Fight of the Night award that went to the Featherweight war between Rani Yahya and Josh Grispi. In the Heavyweight division, Travis Browne added a Knockout of the Night award to his career highlights. Against fellow heavy-hitter Ben Rothwell, Browne came into the third round with a flurry of punches; it took just one to clip Rothwell to turn out the lights for Big Ben and extends Browne’s win count to 14. Fight of the Night: Rani Yahya vs. Josh Grispi Knockout of the Night: Travis Browne Submission of the Night: Jamie Varner Results: Light Heavyweight: Brandon Vera def Mauricio Rua via Unanimous Decision [49-46, 48-47, 49-46] Light Heavyweight: Ryan Bader def Lyoto Machida via Split Decision [29-28, 28-29, 29-28] Heavyweight: Travis Browne def Ben Rothwell via Knock Out [R3 0:58] Lightweight: Jamie Varner def Joe Lauzon via Arm Triangle [R3 1:05] Welterweight: Mike Swick def DeMarques Johnson via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Featherweight: Nam Phan def Cole Miller via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Light Heavyweight: Phil Davis def Wagner Prado via TKO [R3 4:23] Featherweight: Rani Yahya def Josh Grispi via Guillotine [R2 2:41] Heavyweight: Philip De Fries def Oli Thompson via Triangle [R2 4:49] Featherweight: Michihiro Omigawa def Manny Gamburyan via Guillotine [R1 1:40] Heavyweight: Matt Mitrione def Rob Broughton via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 30-27] Welterweight: Ricardo Funch def Luis Ramos via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/4099/frankieedgarvsbenhender.jpg Frankie Edgar takes his title back with a first round TKO. After their first fight Frankie Edgar’s camp disputed how accurately judges scored things, but there was nothing to dispute this time as Edgar storms through Ben Henderson and gets his Lightweight Title back in the process. Henderson came out with leg kicks to keep The Answer off balance, but just as in the first fight Edgar started catching them only this time he capitilised on the opening with a big overhand. A rocked Henderson stumbled to the ground and ate more bombs from Edgar before the referee stepped in to stop the fight. This is Edgar’s third win from a title fight rematch in a pattern that has stalled the Lightweight division but the UFC has promised to move on and have already announced Nate Diaz as the next challenger. For now though Edgar has got his title back and has put a stop to those saying he should drop to Featherweight. In the co-main event of the evening two more Lightweights stepped up and stole the show. Donald Cerrone and Melvin Guillard had three rounds of pure excitement starting with what was arguably a 10-8 round to a dominant Guillard. The Young Assassin knew he was close to winning the fight so came out in the second in the same fashion, but a disciplined Cerrone kept his cool and in some eyes took back a back with a close second round. It was in the third that things changed when Cerrone finally managed to take the fight to the ground. The Cowboy recovered from one final big shot from Guillard and took him into guard, working for and successfully applying the triangle choke that ended the fight. The two friends hugged it out after the fight, happy with the Fight of the Night prize and a Submission of the Night prize for Cerrone. Three Middleweight fights made up the rest of the main card, two of which matched the excitement of the main event and co-main event. In the first fight of the main card, Chris Camozzi scored a left-hook counter to Buddy Roberts that earned him the Knockout of the Night bonus in what was a back and forth first round. Yushin Okami and Rousimar Palhares had a war of their own but only on the ground, the Japanese superstar managing to catch Palhares with a triangle choke. Thunder would be disappointed that his missed Sub of the Night honours. Jake Shields also took Ed Herman to the only decision of the main card. It was the former Strikeforce champion’s return to Middleweight and he looked a lot healthier, but it was not a performance that will occupy much of his highlight reel. Fight of the Night: Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard Knockout of the Night: Chris Camozzi Submission of the Night: Donald Cerrone Results: Lightweight: Frankie Edgar def Ben Henderson via TKO [R1 2:21] Lightweight: Donald Cerrone def Melvin Guillard via Triangle [R3 3:02] Middleweight: Yushin Okami def Rousimar Palhares via Triangle [R1 4:01] Middleweight: Jake Shields def Ed Herman via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] Middleweight: Chris Camozzi def Buddy Roberts via Knock Out (Punch) [R1 2:58] Featherweight: Max Holloway def Justin Lawrence via Knock Out (Punch) [R2 1:30] Middleweight: Jared Hamman def Michael Kuiper via Triangle [R1 3:25] Featherweight: Tom Hayden def Dennis Bermudez via Guillotine [R1 3:12] Bantamweight: Chico Camus def Dustin Pague via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 30-27, 29-28] Bantamweight: Johnny Bedford def Ken Stone via TKO [R1 0:32] Flyweight: Jonathan Mackles def Will Campuzano via Unanimous Decision [29-28, 29-28, 29-28] Lightweight: Nik Lentz def Eiji Mitsuoka via Guillotine [R3 2:39] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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