TUF Latin America PLUS Velasquez vs. Werdum Announced

UFC fans, I am pleased to report that the UFC is finally trying it's hand at the Latin American community as the will finally be hosting a season of the Ultimate Fighter Latin America.  This season will feature fighters from various countries in the Latin America region.  The show will beginning filming very shortly with May 12th as the estimated date to begin filming.  UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez and #1 Contender, Fabricio Werdum are going to be coaching against each other and are expected to face off against each other at UFC 180 in Mexico City, Mexico on November 15.  This will be the UFC's first fight card taking place in Mexico in the company's 20 year existence.  This TUF season will feature fighters from smaller weight classes as featherweights and bantamweights will compete for a coveted spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster. 

The Latin region is a hot bed for talented fighters in combat sports especially boxing.  Though boxing is the largest combat sport in Latin America, MMA is growing at a rapid speed and we are beginning to see more Latin fighters competing with the best in the world in MMA.  Latin fighters tend to have a in-your-face exiting style that always leaves fans wanting more.  If you don't believe me, go watch a Erik Perez, Roger Huerta or Leonard Garcia fight and you'll thank me.  I think that this season will be a great move the UFC and will offer more talent for two the UFC's weakest divisions in my opinion.  The Featherweight Division has a decent talent pool, but there is nothing exciting about the UFC's bantamweight division if you mention it without the name Renan Barao.  Hopefully this season is able to bring two fighters that can give Jose Aldo, Renan Barao and Nova Uniao a run for their money.

I have a great deal of optimism for this season of the Ultimate Fighter and hope that it will be as successful as the Ultimate Fighter Brazil and similar TUF foreign spinoffs.  I can't wait to see the title fight between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum in November.  I like the idea of seeing a huge fight between Cain and someone who is as dynamic as he is.  Before a loss to dos Santos during his first run, Werdum was so close to a title shot and we could have possibly seen he and Velasquez possible fight earlier in their careers.  I feel that Werdum presents probably the biggest challenge to the Heavyweight Champion to date.  He has faced hard-hitting strikers such as Junior dos Santos and Cheick Kongo and great wrestlers like Brock Lesner and Ben Rothwell, but he has never faced a fighter with a high-level BJJ pedigree such as Werdum.  Not only great jui jitsu is possessed by Werdum, but a scarily improving stand-up game that proved to be too much for a KO artist in Travis Browne.  Also it has been about 3 1/2 years since we saw Velasquez face a  fighter that is named Junior dos Santos or Antonio Silva and it is refresshing to see him face a new  challenge.

I feel that Cain Velasquez can beat Werdum, but I think that he will truly be challenged for the first time in his career as the champion.  I am thrilled at the announcement of the new season of TUF and the announcement of the coming title fight in November.

UFC 172: Event Results

Main Card:

Jon Jones def. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision
Anthony Johnson def. Phil Davis via unanimous decision
Luke Rockhold def. Tim Boetsch via submission (kimura)
Jim Miller def. Yancy Medeiros via submission (guillotine choke)
Max Holloway def. Andre Fili via submission (guillotine choke)

Preliminary Card:

Joseph Benavidez def. Tim Elliott via submission (guillotine)
Takanori Gomi def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg via unanimous decision
Bethe Correia def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision
Danny Castillo def. Charlie Brenneman via second-round KO (0:21)
Chris Beal def. Patrick Williams via second-round KO (1:51)

UFC 172: Weigh-in Results

Main Card:

Jon Jones (205) vs. Glover Teixeira (205)
Phil Davis (205.5) vs. Anthony Johnson (205)
Tim Boetsch (185.5) vs. Luke Rockhold (185.5)
Yancy Medeiros (155.5) vs. Jim Miller (155)
Andre Fili (145) vs. Max Holloway (145)

Preliminary Card:

Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs. Timothy Elliott (125.5)
Takanori Gomi (155.5) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (155.5)
Bethe Correia (135) vs. Jessamyn Duke (135.5)
Charlie Brenneman (155.5) vs. Danny Castillo (156)
Chris Beal (135) vs. Patrick Williams (135)

UFC 172: Countdown to UFC 172

UFC in Fox 11: Event Results

Main Card:

Fabricio Werdum def. Travis Browne via unanimous decision
Miesha Tate def. Liz Carmouche via unanimous decision
Donald Cerrone def. Edson Barboza via submission (rear-naked choke)
Yoel Romero def. Brad Tavares via unanimous decision

Preliminary Card:

Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision
Thiago Alves def. Seth Baczynski via unanimous decision
Jorge Masvidal def. Pat Healy via unanimous decision
Alex White def. Estevan Payan via first-round TKO
Caio Magalhaes def. Luke Zachrich via first-round TKO
Jordan Mein def. Hernani Perpetuo via split decision
Dustin Ortiz def. Ray Borg via split decision
Mirsad Bektic def. Chas Skelly via majority decision
Derrick Lewis def. Jack May via first-round TKO

UFC on Fox 11: Weigh-in Results

Main Card:

Fabricio Werdum (232.5) vs. Travis Browne (245.5)
Liz Carmouche (135) vs. Miesha Tate (135.5)
Edson Barboza (156) vs. Donald Cerrone (155.5)
Yoel Romero (185.5) vs. Brad Tavares (185)

Preliminary Card:

Khabib Nurmagomedov (155.5) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (155.5)
Seth Baczynski (170.5) vs. Thiago Alves (170.5)
Pat Healy (156) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155.5)
Alex White (146) vs. Estevan Payan (146)
Luke Zachrich (185.5) vs. Caio Magalhaes (185.5)
Hernani Perpetuo (170.5) vs. Jordan Mein (170.5)
Ray Borg (125.5) vs. Dustin Ortiz (125.5)
Chas Skelly (145) vs. Mirsad Bektic (146)
Jack May (252.5) vs. Derrick Lewis (256)

Velasquez Returns Before End of Year;Faces Werdum/Browne Winner

UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, is expected to make his return back to action before the end of this year according UFC President Dana White.  We haven't seen Velasquez in action since UFC 166 in November 2013.  It was expected that Velasquez was to make his next defense against Fabricio Werdum in Mexico in April, but a shoulder injury has caused the champion to stay sidelined since November.  There was also a TUF Mexico/Latin America that was expected to be coached by Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum before there title fight that was also haulted due to the injury.  Fabricio Werdum didn't want to sit around and wait for the title fight, so he now faces Travis Browne this weekend and the winner of that bout will get Velasquez when he returns.  If everything goes as planned, the UFC wants Velasquez to return before the end of the year and face this weekend's winner in Mexico for the UFC's first show in Mexico.

Jake Shields Signs with WSOF

Former UFC title challenger, Jake Shields, was recently released from the UFC after his decision loss to Hector Lombard at UFC 172.  It didn't take long for Shields to find a new home as it has been announced that he has signed a multi-fight contract with the World Series of Fighting (WSOF).  Shields is expected to make his debut at WSOF 11 in July on the same card as the WSOF Welterweight title fight between Rousimar Palhares and Jon Fitch.  An opponent has not be announced yet for Shields.

Jake Shields is a high-level grappling ace who has faced many of the biggest names in modern-day MMA.  He has won multiple titles in his journey through multiple organizations, but fell short in his title shot for the UFC Welterweight title.  Jake Shields is a great fighter and will do well in WSOF as he will have more experience than most of his competition with the exception of fellow UFC cast-offs Josh Burkman, Jon FItch and WSOF Welterweight Champion Rousimar Palhares.  I look forward to seeing him possibly face one of the former UFC stars when he joins the WSOF roster due to the fact he hasn't faced any of the three men mentioned above.  I would love to see him get the winner of Palhares and Fitch for the title.

Kennedy Suffers Broken Hand in Bisping Fight

Former Army Ranger and current UFC Middleweight, Tim Kennedy, suffered a broken hand last night at the TUF Nations Finale.  Kennedy called out top-ten UFC Middleweight, Michael Bisping during the end of last year and finally got to pit his skills against Bisping. Kennedy put up a less-than-spectacular performance against a ring-rusted Michael Bisping last night and was able to win over all three judges and get the unanimous decision. Kennedy turned the fight into grappling match instead of a true MMA fight. While they were standing,  Kennedy did manage to catch Bisping a few times with his right hand.  It's not an impressive victory whatsoever, but the punches thrown were enough to damage his hand.

TUF Nations Finale: Event Results/Post Fight Conference

Main Card:
Tim Kennedy def. Michael Bisping via unanimous decision
Patrick Cote def. Kyle Noke via unanimous decision
Elias Theodorou def. Sheldon Westcott via second-round TKO
Chad Laprise def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via split decision
Dustin Poirier def. Akira Corassani via second-round TKO

Preliminary Card:
K.J. Noons def. Sam Stout via first-round KO
Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith via unanimous decision
Ryan Jimmo def. Sean O'connell via KO in round 1
George Roop def. Dustin Kimura via unanimous decision
Mark Bocek def. Mike de la Torre via split decision
Nordine Taleb def. Vik Grujic via unanimous decision
Richard Walsh def. Chris Indich via unanimous decision
Mitch Gagnon def. Tim Gorman via unanimous decision

TUF Nations Finale: Weigh-in Results

Main Card:

Michael Bisping (186) vs. Tim Kennedy (186)
Patrick Cote (170) vs. Kyle Noke (171)
Elias Theodorou (185) vs. Sheldon Westcott (184)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (169) vs. Chad Laprise (170)
Akira Corassani (145) vs. Dustin Poirier (145)

Preliminary Card:

K.J. Noons (168) vs. Sam Stout (169)
Sarah Kaufman (135) vs. Leslie Smith (135)
Ryan Jimmo (205) vs. Sean O’Connell (204)
Dustin Kimura (136) vs. George Roop (135)
Mark Bocek (156) vs. Mike De La Torre (156)
Vik Grujic (186) vs. Nordine Taleb (185)
Chris Indich (170) vs. Richard Walsh (171)
Mitch Gagnon (135) vs. Tim Gorman (135)

Alexis Davis Meets Ronda Rousey at UFC 175

The UFC has announced that top contender, Alexis Davis will be competing for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 175 on July 5th.  Davis currently has a 16-5 record in her MMA career and is currently 3-0 in the UFC.  She holds significant over some of WMMA's best fighters including Julie Kedzie, Amanda Nunes, Shana Baszler, Rosi Sexton, Liz Carmouche and most recently Jessica Eye.  Alexis Davis is a very well-rounded fighter with amazing striking and grappling.

The current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey has been an unstoppable force since arriving to WMMA.  She is undefeated and has been competing on a high-level since she began her career.  Ronda Rousey has been able to finish all nine of her opponents.  She has 8 submission wins and 1 TKO win with 8 of 9 fights ending in the first round.

It will be an interesting fight for Rousey seeing as Davis is truly the most well-rounded opponent that Rousey has faced.  Seeing how easily Davis beat Liz Carmouche in their fight is truly a testament to her skills.  She is a master at technical striking and a genius on the ground.  Though I might not be a huge fan of Ronda Rousey, I can't deny how talented that she truly is.  I feel that in a few years we will be talking about her in a similar way that we talk about Anderson Silva, Fedor and Big Nog.  She has been a true superstar in not only WMMA, but in MMA in general.  Ronda Rousey has the ability to overwhelm her opponents with her inhuman Judo abilities and her signature armbar.  She has already beaten some of the best in the world and Alexis Davis will be no exception.

UFC 172: Extended Preview

Bellator 116: Event Results

Main Card:

Blagoi Ivanov def. Lavar Johnson via submission (Americana) Round 1
Adam McDonough def. Nathan Coy via KO at 0:30 of Round 2
Alexander Volkov def. Mighty Mo via KO Round 1
Joey Beltran def. Vladimir Matyushenko via submission (North-South choke) Round 3

Preliminary Card:

Brandon Halsey def. Joe Pacheco via unanimous decision
Ricky Rainey def. Andy Murad via TKO Round 1

Rob Emerson def. Joe Taimanglo via unanimous decision
Karo Parisyan def. Ron Keslar via KO Round 2
Philipe Lins def. Travis Clark via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1
Rodney Wallace def. Carlos Eduardo via unanimous decision
Dave Vitkay def. Keith Berry via unanimous decision
Poppies Martinez def Josh Smith via submission (rear-naked choke)
Brandon Bender def. Mario Navarro via submission (rear-naked choke)

UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: Event Results

Main Card:

Roy Nelson def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira KO Round 1
Clay Guida def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via unanimous decision
Ryan LaFlare def. John Howard via unanimous decision
Ramsey Nijem def. Beneil Dariush via TKO (strikes) Round 1

Preliminary Card:

Jared Rosholt def. Daniel Omielanczuk via unanimous decision
Thales Leites def. Trevor Smith via first-round TKO
Jim Alers def. Alan Omer via split decision
Johny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya no-contest (accidental head-butt) Round 1

UFC: Demetrious Johnson Faces Ali Bagautinov in Fourth Title Defense

The UFC has made it publict that UFC 174 now has a main event.  UFC 174 will be headlined by a title fight between UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson and Ali Bagautinov in Vancouver.  This will be the fourth title defense since Johnson won the title at UFC 152 in 2012.  Demetrius Johnson has been able to go undefeated since dropping down to 125 lbs from 135lbs.  The UFC first introduced the Flyweight division in early 2012 when Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall fought to a draw in the first ever flyweight match up.

Ali Bagautinov is on an 11-fight win streak coming into his title fight with Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174.  The former Fight Nights Flyweight champion, Bagautinov has a 3-0 record in since making his debut in the UFC at UFC Fight Night 28.  Bagautinov has shown technical striking as well as elite grappling.  Not many contenders are available in the Flyweight division now that Demetrious Johnson has defeated Joseph Benavidez in December.

Bagautinov is the only worthy opponent since Johnson has already defeated John Dodson and Joseph Benavidez.  Bagautinov will present a challenge for Johnson as he is just as well-rounded as Johnson, but Johnson has made all of the stand-out flyweights just look average against him in the UFC and I see things remaining the same even against Bagautinov.

Te Huna and Marquart Meet at 185 lbs.

The UFC has announced a UFC Fight Night event that will showcase an electrifying main event between UFC/Strikeforce veteran Nate Marquardt and James Te Huna, in New Zealand.  Nate Marquardt has had a hard time getting back into the win column since the re-joining the UFC.  Marquartdt hasn't won a fight since making his welterweight debut and capturing the Strikeforce Welterweight title in July 2012.  After winning the title, he was unable to successfully defend it against Tarec Saffiedine and then he suffered first round KOs to the hands of Jake Ellenberger and then Hector Lombard.  Nate Marquardt is returning to the weight class that originally found him success in the UFC and in Pancrase in Japan.

On the other hand, James Te Huna will be making his debut to the Middleweight division in this New Zealand clash.  James Te Huna began his career at Light Heavyweight, but a two-fight losing streak has caused Te Huna to make the move to the 185 lb weight class.

This is going to be an exciting fight that will probably be The Fight of the Night.  
This fight will allow one of these men to get there career back together.  I think that it will be a fight that Marquardt will have to win coming off of a three fight losing streak in the UFC and Strikeforce.  If Te Huna were to lose he could possibly still have one last fight left in the UFC.

TJ Dillashaw Gets a Shot at Barao at UFC 173

UFC 173 on May 24th was originally scheduled to showcase a title fight between UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, but an injury has forced that match to be postponed until UFC 175 .  Now the UFC has put the undisputed Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao in the main event spot against T.J. Dillashaw.  Dillashaw is 9-2 in his professional career and 5-2 since joining the UFC. Dillashaw is a technical fighter with enough skills to put on a decent fight against Barao but I see Barao coming away with the victory.

Francis Carmont and CB Dollaway Added to UFC Fight Night 41

The UFC has announced that the co-main event for the Munoz-Mousasi card will feature another bout at middleweight as CB Dolloway and Francis Carmont are set to go to battle in the Octogon.  Francis Carmont is coming off of a decision loss to grappling wizard "Jacare" Souza at UFC Fight Night 36 in February.  Before that fight, Carmont was on an eleven-fight win streak with six of those fights in the UFC.  With his streak ended, Carmont is looking to get back right into the title picture again.  Dollaway is coming off of a 39 second TKO win over TUF Brazil  season one winner, Cezar Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 38 in March.

This is an important fight for both men as they look to move up the ladder of contenders.  It should be an interesting fight between these two entertaining fighters.  Both men are great wrestlers, but I believe that Dollaway carries a little more power than Carmont.  Carmont has great technical striking though Dollaway will definitely be the harder hitter of the two men.  I see Carmont's excellent technique and takedown defense being too much Dollaway.