UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski - May 8th

[David]

I had Bisping winning that fight by a round, possibly two. Leites was connecting with big punches, but his workrate was nowhere near high enough. He spent a fair portion of the fight chasing Bisping whilst doing nothing. Bisping was cutting angles and staying busy as he usually does.

[textonly]

I actually agreed with the judge that had it 49-46 to Bisping but it's a scorecard that really doesn't represent Leites' fine effort. Every round was close and, although I thought the commentators were overdoing it a bit with the whole "he's out Bispinging Bisping!", I thought he showed a lot. After his interview I thought that if he'd had a bit more faith in his cardio and tried for more takedowns (even ones Bisping got up from relatively quickly), he'd have had a real chance at sneaking a points victory.

 

Slightly disappointed in the Pearson/Dunham fight but fair play to Dunham. It wasn't the back and forth war I was hoping for, but Dunham's a talented guy and I don't begrudge him anything. I guess maybe a lot of people, myself included, wrote him off a little too quickly. Looking at his record, his last three losses were to Barboza, Cerrone and Dos Anjos. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

 

I'm really happy Calderwood surivived those opening seconds. I honestly thought the fight and possibly her UFC career were slipping away from her in that exchange. As it is, that fight probably earned her a hell of a lot of good will with the company.

 

Nice show for the UK/Irish fighters overall, Pearson aside. And I have to say the atmosphere sounded great on TV. Hearing the Scots' reaction to their own made me salivate at the idea of Conor fighting in Ireland. Brazil are pretty good for thei fighters but I'm not sure I've heard anything that compares to Scotland and Ireland.

[wandshogun09]

Next Saturday 25th July on Big FOX...

 

 

FOX MAIN CARD

TJ Dillashaw vs Renan Barao - Bantamweight Title

Miesha Tate vs Jessica Eye

Edson Barboza vs Paul Felder

Joe Lauzon vs Takanori Gomi

 

FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS

Tom Lawlor vs Gian Villante

Jim Miller vs Danny Castillo

Ben Saunders vs Kenny Robertson

Bryan Caraway vs Eddie Wineland

 

FIGHT PASS PRELIMS

Daron Cruickshank vs James Krause

Ramsey Nijem vs Andrew Holbrook

Jessamyn Duke vs Elizabeth Phillips

Zak Cummings vs Dominique Steele

 

This one has snuck up almost unnoticed for me. Really good bunch of fights as well.

 

 

Dillashaw vs Barao 2 tops this one. Hopefully it actually happens this time. It was originally booked for UFC 177 in August last year but Barao passed out at the weigh ins and was taken to hospital. Then they tried re-booking it for UFC 186 in April this year. This time it was Dillashaw who pulled out with a broken rib.

 

Third time lucky? I really hope it happens this time because it's a fascinating rematch. Despite the one-sidedness of the first fight, part of me still thinks Barao had an off night that night. Not saying he'll win this time but I don't think it'll be quite such a one way traffic fight. Dillashaw is a very skilled fighter, no doubt. But for that first fight to be so one sided, it makes me think something wasn't right with Barao.

 

 

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part though. I can't stand Dillashaw. Hope Barao absolutely wrecks him.

 

 

Tate vs Eye will probably be good. Bit of a styles clash and it'll be interesting to see how the fight plays out and what tactics they both use. If Tate can get the grappling going, I like her chances. She's definitely the better grappler. If Tate can't get the takedown I think Eye's boxing will be too good and she'll put a bit of a beating on Miesha. I'm leaning towards Miesha on points but I can see her having to get through a few rough spells along the way.

 

This could serve as a #1 contenders fight as well, actually. The winner of this fight vs the winner of Rousey/Correia makes sense. Well, Rousey vs Tate 3 wouldn't really 'make sense' but I can see why they'd go that route if both win. The timing works out perfectly with them fighting a week apart and the Ronda vs Miesha feud is the most memorable in the division's short existence.

 

 

Lauzon vs Gomi, how do you go wrong here? Completely forgot this fight was even happening, now it's just a week away! Can't wait for this. Should be a barnburner. Looking at their styles and what they're good at and what their weaknesses are, I'd say the logical pick is probably Lauzon by submission after Gomi fades. But I don't know, I've got this feeling that Gomi's going to bomb him out for some reason.

 

Barboza vs Felder rounds out the main card. I'm really excited about this one too. Everyone knows about Barboza. Lethal striker, not the best chin (which actually adds to the excitement of his fights in a weird way) but he's got to be one of the best kickers in the game. His KO of Terry Etim back in 2012 is STILL probably my favourite KO in MMA history...

 

 

Breathtaking Tekken style shit!

 

Paul Felder's name mightn't jump out at you right away. He's only had two UFC fights. But he put himself on the map big-time in his last outing. He stepped in on late notice at UFC 182 in January and knocked out Danny Castillo with a spectacular spinning backfist...

 

 

He's 10-0, a team mate of Donald Cerrone and a black-belt in both Tae Kwon Do and Karate. I love this fight. Should be full of highly technical striking and spinning shit.

 

Prelims are alright as well.

 

Pick of the bunch for me is definitely Miller vs Castillo. That could be a grappling war and exciting on the feet. Love watching Jim Miller fight.

 

Villante vs Lawlor could be decent as well. Seems like forever since I saw Tom Lawlor fight. Wonder if he still does the wacky entrances/weigh ins?

 

Actually, Saunders vs Robertson stands out as well. Robertson is a nifty little grappler and Saunders has one of the most attacking ground games in the sport. If it stays standing Saunders should run away with it really, but if it's mostly a ground fight we should be in for a treat.

 

Caraway vs Wineland is alright. Not a huge fan of either but it'll probably be a pretty watchable fight. Caraway curtain jerking for his missus here. He's the Marc Mero to Miesha's Sable at this point. I bet he carries her bags and everything.

 

I actually wish we were getting Cruickshank vs Krause on the televised bit. That has serious show stealing potential IMO.

 

So yeah, belting card on paper. There's not a lot on this show that I'm not into.

[ryan1888]

cracking night last night and great crowd IMO. wouldn't be surprised at them coming back to glasgow again. 

 

jojo was definitely fight of the night. 

as a scot i was so happy for stevie ray and particularly whiteford. 

 

really impressed with holohan.

 

i was pretty shocked at the main event outcome. not one for scoring rounds myself so not great at it but i personally had leites at 3-2 (4-1 at a push).

 

great night regardless. also think i made a new fan out of a mate who decided to take the plunge having been a huge wrestling fan for years.

 

as a sidenote. BRUCE BUFFER is the man !  

[METAL ON METAL]

Seems like forever since I saw Tom Lawlor fight. Wonder if he still does the wacky entrances/weigh ins?

 

Sadly, I think the whole Reebok deal and being super strict about having them wear that shite gear for weigh-ins and fight night will put to bed Lawlor's fun antics.

[wandshogun09]

Didn't even think of the Reebok deal effecting stuff like that.

 

After only like three shows with the Reebok uniforms, I'm ready sick of seeing every fighter in black and white. I know it's not a big deal and doesn't effect the fight or anything but it's a bit shit, isn't it? Every show already looks pretty much the same, now the fighters are wearing the same shit as well. Throw a bit of colour in there, for fuck's sake.

[lambyUK]

The Reebok uniforms are frankly a fucking disaster. It was so easily avoidable if only the design team behind it all weren't lazy twats.

 

In a sport where individualism is so important, it's been flushed right down the shitter in favour of mediocrity.

 

What really does my tits in is the black colours for champions. The ufc expect fans to pay a shit load of cash for a so called jersey of their favourite fighter, but it could be worthless if the fighter wins a title and is designed a new one.

 

Just a load a shit really.

[Supremo]

 

 

Seems like forever since I saw Tom Lawlor fight. Wonder if he still does the wacky entrances/weigh ins?

Sadly, I think the whole Reebok deal and being super strict about having them wear that shite gear for weigh-ins and fight night will put to bed Lawlor's fun antics.

Tom has become a regular on Observer Radio (where he comes across brilliantly, by the way) and he's spoken this week about having a few ideas he thinks can fit within the new rules. He's also trying to get them to sign off on him using, "Cult of Personality," as his entrance music, but expects they won't let him, most likely saving it for Punk.

[David]

The Reebok uniforms are frankly a fucking disaster. It was so easily avoidable if only the design team behind it all weren't lazy twats.

 

In a sport where individualism is so important, it's been flushed right down the shitter in favour of mediocrity.

 

What really does my tits in is the black colours for champions. The ufc expect fans to pay a shit load of cash for a so called jersey of their favourite fighter, but it could be worthless if the fighter wins a title and is designed a new one.

 

Just a load a shit really.

 

I actually quite like the in-cage stuff to be honest, but feel that doing away with the fighters own walk-in shirts has been a disaster.

[wandshogun09]

Road To The Octagon;

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=Uj4yXKmuEgY

 

Come on then, how does everyone see this fight going? Just a few days away now.

 

I just voted in the poll, went with Dillashaw by decision. Bit surprised I was the first person to vote Dillashaw at all. The first fight was such a one-sided battering I thought TJ would get the majority of the votes. I do get the feeling Barao had an off night last time, and I reckon it'll be closer this time, but I still see Dillashaw leaving with the belt. Sadly.

[lambyUK]

That video really should be named The Road to Meisha Tate's tits and ass. Although, to be honest, I'm not complaining!

 

The main fight really is a fascinating fight. As Wand says, was it an off night for Barao before, or is Dillashaw under Bang Ludwig just that good? I'm leaning towards the later, but I think it will be a great fight. 

 

There's big questions over Barao now making weight too after the last incident, so perhaps, like Aldo, getting to this weight is difficult for Barao? 

[Egg Shen]

Its wild how much the opinion on these two fighting each other has changed. It's justified by id be interested to go back and read what we all thought before the first fight. Dillashaw put on one of the great performances that night that i dont think anyone thought he had in him.

 

Im favouring Barao based on how he's looked in the past and by perhaps thinking he overlooked TJ, but if Dillashaw came out and wrecked him again i wouldn't be shocked.

[David]

Yeah, I've got Barao for this one. I think he took Dillashaw lightly before and will come back all systems go.

 

Also, Duane Ludwig has some comments on Alpha Male and how much some of their fighters seem to want to win championships;

 

Former Team Alpha Male coach Duane Ludwig has some strong feelings about the work ethic of UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw as compared to the rest of his training partners.

“He actually wants it. T.J. is the only one that actually wants to be a champion,” Ludwig said during an interview on SiriusXM’s “Fight Club” on Tuesday. “T.J. trains a lot harder and a lot more focused than anybody else on that team -- period.”

Not long ago, Ludwig served as a striking coach for the Sacramento, Calif.-based team, which, along with Dillashaw, boasts Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Joseph Benavidez and Danny Castillo among its members. Ludwig parted ways with Team Alpha Male last year in order to open his own gym in Colorado. However, many fighters from the renowned camp continued to work with the UFC veteran.

“I’m not really leaving Team Alpha Male,” Ludwig said on “The MMA Hour” in June 2014. “I’m opening up a business in Colorado. It’ll be a good place for the guys to do high-elevation training, and I’ll still go to Sacramento and help in the camps and corner.”

UFC welterweight contender Martin Kampmann was tabbed to replace Ludwig at Team Alpha Male, and while some fighters from the camp might still work with “Bang” on occasion, his involvement appears to have diminished. Dillashaw remains a favorite student, however.

Team Alpha Male fighters had their share of title opportunities -- Faber, Mendes and Benavidez have all recently vied for UFC gold -- but Dillashaw is currently the only member of the stable to have won a championship within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Dillashaw captured the 135-pound belt with an upset victory over Renan Barao at UFC 173 and defended it against Joe Soto at UFC 177. He will rematch Barao in the UFC on Fox 16 headliner on Saturday night. Dillashaw’s success is no accident, Ludwig says.

“There’s just certain people that want it more than others. He has a stronger drive, a stronger determination. He actually believes that he can be champion and he’s the one that puts in the extra work, asks the questions, trains a bit harder, takes less breaks,” Ludwig said. “Danny Castillo works really hard as well; Danny overtrains himself. T.J. is just very smart on how he trains as well.

“It was just a difference, if you see the whole Alpha Male team train, T.J. sticks out.”

Mendes was the Team Alpha Male member to most recently fight for a title, but he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Conor McGregor for the interim featherweight strap at UFC 189. While Mendes took the fight on less than three weeks’ notice when Jose Aldo withdrew due to a broken rib, Ludwig suggests that Mendes’ out-of-camp work ethic might have led to his demise.

“It was obviously a short-notice fight, and he’s not always training. He’s not one of those guys that’s not always in the gym training hard,” Ludwig said. “He wasn’t in the best shape for the fight anyway. I think if Chad was in shape it could have been a different outcome. It definitely would have been a different fight.”

Mendes did not work with Ludwig ahead of the McGregor bout, nor did he do so ahead of the featherweight’s unanimous decision defeat against Aldo at UFC 179. Had Mendes taken a different approach, Ludwig believes “Money” might already have a title in his trophy case.

“I’ll tell you what: No one needs me, but everyone that works with me is going to do better with me than without me, that’s for sure,” he said. “I feel with the proper camp, Chad could be wearing the belt right now. I felt that too when he fought Aldo the second time. Prior to the Aldo fight we didn’t work together. I went back to Colorado. The plan was he was supposed to come to Colorado and do some work. It just didn’t work out. There’s little things that Chad could be doing, and he could be wearing the belt right now.”

 

[Egg Shen]

this show is getting the Embedded treatment too...

 

[JasonNorin]

The second fight between Barao and Dillashaw is definitely something to look forward to..