Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back today with tons to talk about including the latest on the Conor McGregor vs. UFC battle, UFC 197 results and where we go from here, UFC 200, Matanza injured at Lucha Underground tapings, Monday’s Raw, TNA sale update, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Submitted by John Tovar
– Dark Match: Jessica James b Lady Luck
– BJ Whitmer did a promo vowing to destroy Adam Page.
– Kevin Kelly comes out to welcome crowd and announces that show will be on VOD, and has a special announcement after the main event regarding San Antonio. He then brings out Mr Wrestling 3.
– Mark Briscoe pins Silas Young with an inside cradle.
– Rhett Titus (w/ Kenny King) b Will Ferrara. King runs down San Antonio, and the female fans by saying they have “fishy smelling crotches”. King then demands that Bobby Fish come out to wrestle him now!
– Bobby Fish def. Kenny King by submission. Fans were into Fish.
– The Motor City Machine Guns b The Addiction when Chris Sabin pinned Kazarian. Post match, the Addiction laid out the Guns.
> Intermission
– Keith Lee & Shane Taylor b Andy Dalton & Ken Phoenix
– Young Bucks b Delirious & Cheeseburger when Matt Jackson pinned Burger after a Meltzer Driver on top of a prone Delirious. Bucks way over as was Burger.
– ACH vs Roderick Strong vs Moose vs Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jay Briscoe vs. ROH Champion Jay Lethal
Great match. Everyone got in their moves. After a ref bump by Paul Turner, Briscoe gets a visual pin on Roddy. Todd Sinclair runs to ring to make the count, but the count was broken up, ending with Lethal pinning ACH with Lethal Injection. Lethal cuts a promo saying no one can beat him which Briscoe responds by saying he never got his rematch for title. Lethal quickly leaves the ringside area.
– Adam Page b BJ Whitmer in a San Antonio Street Fight
Fans led Page to use posterboard, a cane, and even a sash on BJ Whitmer may have been hurt as he was attended to while announcement was made for a return date of 11/4. Show ended and while fans were filing out, Whitmer was still laid out.
At the latest set of tapings for Lucha Underground Saturday, a main event deathmatch between Matanza and Dragon Azteca ended abruptly after Matanza legit sliced open his arm after doing a spot where he put his fist through a window.
After a long delay, the match couldn’t go on, and officials sent Johnny Mundo (John Morrison) and PJ Black out to work the crowd.
One of the guys said, “Good news and bad news. The bad news is Matanza’s arm is f*cked! The good news? It’s a full Mundo!” They two then mooned the crowd. That brought out Rey Mysterio Jr. and Dragon Azteca from the back who hit both guys with the 619, and then gave a babyface promo for the crowd.
The crowd was held inside while medical officials on site took care of things.
Jeff Cobb, who plays the Matanza character, is currently in the hospital waiting for an update from the doctor.
If we get futher updates on Matanza’s condition, this story will be updated and will be discussed on tonight’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is headlined by a bout for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship as former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones makes his anticipated return to action to take on Ovince Saint Preux, who replaced an injured Daniel Cormier in what was originally supposed to be a rematch for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship held by Cormier and previously held by Jones. In the co-main event, it is another title fight as UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson looks to make another title defense as he welcomes challenger and former Olympic medalist Henry Cejudo, who puts his undefeated record on the line. Also on the card is former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis as he takes on Edson Barboza. Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 PM eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.
We’re looking for your thoughts on the show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle and a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
UFC 197 DFS Playbook
UFC 197 Observer Picks & Preview
Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT)
LIGHTWEIGHTS- EFRAIN ESCUDERO (24-10, 5-6 UFC) VS. KEVIN LEE (11-2, 5-2 UFC)
First round: Right and left by Lee and body kick. Lee with a left. Lee continues to land. Escudero got behind him and tried for a takedown. Lee up and tried a takedown and now Lee tried a suplex but Escudero blocked. Lee got a momentary takedown. Lee let him go. Lee with a body kick. Escudero coming backs with punches late in the round. Escudero got a takedown. Lee 10-9.
Second round: Lee with a right. Lee has him against the fence. Escudero got a single leg but couldn’t get the takedown. Lee with a knee to the body. Body kick by Lee. Both landed. Escudero has him against the fence. Escudero with a right. Left by Escudero. Lee 20-18, but this round was closer.
Third round: Lee throwing front kicks. Escudero with an accidental low kick. Lee in with a body kick. Escudero with a left. Escudedro with knees to the thigh. Lee got underneath and slammed him down. Lee landing lefts. Lee grabbed a guillotine but Escudero escaped. Lee landing punches on the ground. Lee with body punches and elbows from the top. Should be Lee 30-27 or maybe 29-28.
Scores: All three have it 29-28 for Lee.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS- MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA (13-3-1, 2-1 UFC) VS. CLINT HESTER (11-5, 4-2 UFC)
First round: De Lima throwing kicks. De Lima knocked him down with a right hook counter to the ear. He’s on top with punches to the side of the head. De Lima with more punches. De Lima remains on top in guard. Nothing happening and boring. Now de Lima broke fee and is landing a lot of hard punches. He pummeling Hester from the top and got the submission with a head and arm choke.
HEAVYWEIGHTS- WALT HARRIS (7-4, 0-3 UFC) VS. CODY EAST (12-1, 0-0 UFC)
First round: East landed a nice right. Harris missed a high kick and East hit a body kick. Body kick by Harris. East landing punches. East landing a lot. Kick by East landed like it was an Arena Mexico finish. Harris with a body kick. Both swing like rock em sock em robots and the crowd picked up big. Body kick by Harris. Good pace and good movement for big guys here. East with two rights and Harris countered and dropped him with a counter left to the jaw. Harris landing big punches on the ground. Now he’s landing elbows. More big punches by Harris and it was stopped. East took a real beating from a big hard hitting guy here. 4:18
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT)
LIGHTWEIGHTS- GLAICO FRANCA (13-3, 1-0 UFC) VS. JAMES VICK (8-0, 4-0 UFC)
First round: Franca with low kicks and took Vick down. Second takedown by Franca. Franca staying on top. Vick up and landed a body kick. Franca pushed him against the fence. Vick with a spin kick to the body. Viick landing all kinds of shots but Franca took him down again. Close round Franca 10-9.
Second round: Between rounds they are checking Franca’s right eye but they let him continue. It’s not bleeding but it was poked. Vick taking him apart with punches at 6-foot 2 and a lightweight. Franca tagged him back. Spinning backfist by Franca landed. Franca took him down with a hip toss. Vick back up. High kick and knee by Vick. Vick has the big edge standing with his reach and accuracy. Franca fired back with a hard right. Front kick by Vick. Spin kick to the body by Vick. Vick’s round so 19-19.
Third round: Vick landing lefts. Vick with lefts and rights. Vick continuing to land lefts. Jumping knee by Vick. Franca landed a hard right. Vick continues to jab. Low kick by Franca. Vick is dancing away a lot now which could hurt him but he’s clearly superior standing. Great front kick to the head by Vick. Good fight. Crowd liked it 29-28 Vick.
Scores: 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 Vick
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS- (#2) CARLA ESPARZA (10-3, 1-1 UFC) VS. (#14) JULIANA LIMA (8-2, 2-1 UFC)
First round: Slow start as in nothing happening. Esparza with punches and Lima going for a takedown. Lima with punches and Esparza took her down. Esparza gave her a short power bomb off an armbar attempt. Lima tried for another armbar and Esparza out. Lima tried for it again and Esparza with another short power bomb. Nice up kick by Lima and another. Esparza with punches from the top but doing no damage. Lima with another up kick. Esparza cradled her and punched her a few times. Esparza 10-9.
Second round: Lima swinging wildly. Lima with a kick and Esparza slammed her down after grabbing the leg. That kick was a bad idea. Esparza with a lot of punches but again no real damaging blows. Esparza again with a short power bomb. Lima up with 30 seconds left and took Esparza down but Esparza right back up. Lima working for a takedown late but didn’t get it. Esparza 20-18.
Third round: Esparza took her down to start the third round. Another up kick by Lima. Lima back up with 3:00 left. Esparza took her down right away. Lima up. Esparza took her down again. Esparza with a few punches. Lima reversed with 1:17 left. Lima is in side control. Esparza regained guard. Boring fight. Esparza 30-27.
Scores: All three have it 30-27 for Esparza.
WELTERWEIGHTS- DANNY ROBERTS (12-1, 1-0 UFC) VS. DOMINIQUE STEELE (14-6, 1-1 UFC)
First round: Steele dropped him with a right early. Roberts worked for a triangle but didn’t get it. Roberts up with 2:50 left in the round. Body kick by Roberts. Another body kick by Roberts. Big left by Roberts. Steele went for the takedown off a missed punch but couldn’t get it. They traded knees. Steele 10-9.
Second round: Knee to the body by Roberts. Roberts with a body kick and punches. Roberts landing more punches. Steele with a knee to the body. Roberts with a knee. Roberts with an elbow. Roberts with more punches. Front kick by Roberts. Roberts landing several punches. Roberts with a head kick. Steele spun and got behind Roberts. Roberts’s round so 19-19 after two.
Third round: Steele with a high takedown. Roberts landed elbows. Steele went for a takedown but Roberts is defending well Steele now got him down. Roberts throwing elbows from the bottom. Herb Dean ordered a standup. Steele landed a knee to the head and now both are swinging wildly and Steele took him down again. Steele 29-28.
Scores: All three have it 29-28 for Roberts. The crowd is booing like crazy. Steele is in disbelief as is the crowd.
FLYWEIGHTS- (#14) SERGIO PETTIS (13-2, 4-2 UFC) VS. CHRIS KELADES (9-2, 2-1 UFC)
First round: Pettis seemed to land more and be more technical. He got a takedown with a trip late. Pettis 10-9.
Second round: Kelades put Pettis down and Pettis threatened with a triangle. Pettis reversed to the top. Both landing. Nice head kick by Pettis. Body kick by Pettis. Pettis 20-18.
Third round: Pettis with a takedown. Pettis landing punches. Kelades back with punches. Pettis went for a takedown and didn’t get it. Pettis with a front headlock. Pettis shooting for a takedown. Kelades went for a choke at the horn. Pettis 30-27.
Scores: All three scored it 30-27 for Pettis. You’ve never seen such a rushed decision announcement in your life.
MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)
FEATHERWEIGHTS- YAIR RODRIGUEZ (6-1, 3-0 UFC) VS. ANDRE FILI (15-3, 3-2 UFC)
First round: Rodriguez threw a crazy kick that missed. Takedown by Rodriguez off a kick. Rodriguez landing hard elbows. Rodriguez now holding him down. Rodriguez in side control. Fili back up with 45 seconds left. Nice sweeping low kick took Fili off his feet. Fili dropped him with a left jab. Hard low kick by Rodriguez. Body kick by Fili and a takedown by Fili. Rodriguez back up. Great round. 10-9 Rodriguez..
Second round: Fili tripped Rodriguez down on a kick but let him back up. Rodriguez with a takedown. Rodriguez knocked him cold with a knockout of the year jumping kick. This will be in the all-time highlight reel. It was a jumping left switch kick to the head. Fili is okay but he went out immediately. 2:15
MIDDLEWEIGHTS- (#7) ROBERT WHITTAKER (15-4, 6-2 UFC) VS. (#13) RAFAEL NATAL (21-6-1, 9-4-1 UFC)
First round: Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie chants for Whittaker. Body kick by Whittaker. Body kick by Natal. Low kick by Whittaker. Low kick by Natal. Both swinging hard. Left by Whitaker. Natal got behind him but Whittaker escaped. Natal with a low kick. Whittaker hurt him with punches and Natal went down. Natal got back up. Left by Whittaker. Whittaker landed another left. Whittaker 10-9.
Second round: Natal with a low kick. Both throwing punches. Whittaker’s left leg is all bruised up. Low kick by Natal. Whittaker missed on a punch. Natal landed a counter. Whittaker bleeding from the nose. Natal taking over this round. Natal knocked him off his feet, more a trip than a knockdown. Now Whittaker landing. Nice left by Whittaker. Low kick by Whittaker. Jumping kick by Whittaker. Could go either way, I’ve got it 19-19 with it going to Natal.
Third round: Whittaker threw a kick that landed low and the bout was stopped for a time out. Whittaker with a body kick. Whittaker’s left leg is so beat up. Whittaker now with low kicks. Left by Whittaker. Front kick and low kick by Whittaker and followed with a right. Hard left by Whttaker. Natal with low kicks. Left by Whittaker. High kick by Whittaker knocked him down and Natal up and both swinging wildly as the fight ended. Crowd liked the fight. 29-28 Whittaker.
Scores: 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 Whittaker
Whittaker said he injured his right hand early so was mostly throwing lefts. He said he got tired in the second round and Natal was really tough.
LIGHTWEIGHTS- (#3) ANTHONY PETTIS (18-4, 5-3 UFC) VS. (#8) EDSON BARBOZA (16-4, 10-4 UFC)
First round: Body kick by Barboza. Low kick by Barboza. Pettis with a counter off a kick by Barboza. Good left by Barboza. Low kick by Barboza. Low kick by Barboza. Big right by Barboza. Another right by Barboza. Spin kick to the body by Barboza. Pettis tried a takedown and couldn’t get it. Spin kick to the head by Barboza. Pettis tried a flying kick that missed. 10-9 Barboza. Good round.
Second round: Barboza with a body kick as Pettis tried for takedown. Pettis landed a right. Pettis in with punches. Pettis with a body kick. Big right by Barboza. Barboza with a nice combo. Pettis tried a takedown and didn’t get it. Hard body kick by Barboza. Trading punches. Pettis tried a cartwheel kick that missed. Barboza 20-18.
Third round: Pettis with a cartwheel kick that didn’t land solid. Barboza put him down with a low kick. Low kick by Barboza. Barboza kicked him in the groin. Brief time out and back in action. Big low kick and another by Barboza. The two kicks sounded like a shotgun going off. Two more low kicks by Barboza. Left by Barboza. Another low kick by Barboza. Left and low kick by Barboza. Another low kick. Barboza really taking over now. Pettis tried for a takedown and didn’t come close. Spin kick by Barboza. Pettis missed a spin kick. Barboza 30-27
Scores: 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 Barboza.
UFC FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP- (C) DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON (23-2-1, 11-1-1 UFC) VS. (#2) HENRY CEJUDO (10-0, 4-0 UFC)
First round: They are shooting Joseph Benavidez at ringside. Cejudo definitely got the bigger reaction. Some boos, but not many for Johnson. Low kick by Cehjudo. They are in a clinch. Both trading knees. Johnson landed a right. High kick by Johnson blocked. Back to a clinch. Takedown by Cejudo. Place went nuts for this. This is the most intense I’ve ever seen a crowd at a Johnson fight. Johnson back up. Back to a clinch. Knee by Johnson. Johnson landing a lot of knees. An elbow and knees hurt Cejudo and and knee to the body put him down and a few punches later it was over. 2:49
UFC INTERIM LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP- (#1) JON JONES (21-1, 15-1 UFC) VS. (#6) OVINCE SAINT PREUX (19-7, 7-2 UFC)
First round: Spin kick to the body by Johes. Johes kicked the knee. Jones missed a front kick. OSP missed a punch. Another kick to the knee by Jones. Kick to the body by Jones. Jones caught a kick by OSP. Side kick by Jones. Jones throwing kicks to the knee. OSP kicked the knee. Body kick by Jones. Spin kick by Jones. Left by OSP. Jones with a knee to the body. Jones 10-9.
Second round: Jones tried for a single leg but gave it up when OSP landed punches. Body kick by Jones. Body kick by Jones. OSP chant. Left to the body by Jones. Knee by OSP. Real loud OSP chants. Jones firing elbows and knees now. Jones with elbows. OSP hurt him with a punch. He missed another one. Jones with a high kick but didn’t connect with any damage. Spin kick to the body by Jones. Big right by OSP. Left by OSP. Spin kick to the head by Jones. Crowd really buzzing because OSP did land some shots. Still Jones 20-18.
Third round: Jones with all kinds of kicks to the knee. Jones with a left. OSP landed some punches. Jones with another kick to the knee. Spinning punch by Jones. Left by Jones. Left to the body by Jones. Body kick by OSP. Left by Jones. Left by OSP. Fans booing because it’s not that great of a fight. Jones with a high kick. Left and right by OSP. Body kick by Jones. Another body kick by Jones. Left and right by OSP. Jones back to attacking the knee. OSP missed big punches. He’s too slow and telegraphing them. Jones 30-27.
Fourth round: Crowd booing a lot. Body kick by OSP. Body kick by Jones. Jones working for a takedown. He picked him up and slammed him and OSP back up. Jones landed a knee. Crowd booing again. Elbows by Jones. Left to the body by Jones. Jones took him down again. He’s in side control. Elbow by Jones. OSP nearly escaped. Jones has his back with 33 seconds left. Jones with punches, a kick to the body and an elbow and a stomp. Jones had him nearly beat at the end of the round. 10-8 round Jones 40-35.
Fifth round: Jones with a body kick. Jones with a left. Spin kick to the body by Jones. Uppercut by Jones. Another uppercut by Jones. Jones with a high sidewalk slam into side control. Kick to the body by Jones and OSP back up. Jones missed a high kick. Trading punches as Jones had OSP backed into the fence. OSP just too tired to do anything as time ran out. Jones 50-44.
Scores: 50-44, 50-45 and 50-45 for Jones
Jones said this isn’t the real belt. Said it took him a while to pull the trigger. Fans booed him when it was over. I was watching and anticipating and imagining but I wasn’t going for it, watching instead of reacting. Said he physically felt amazing, mentally said he felt he was sucking. Said his problems didn’t play into the fight. Said he really needed that fight. Said he needed a fight like that before the title match. Really excited to fight Daniel Cormier. I’ll be back in practice Tuesday and Wednesday. Then said he loved the fans. Lukewarm at best reaction.
OSP interivew. Said Jon was the best pound for pound and said he only had three weeks to get ready so he thought he did a good job. Said his arm his killing him from blocking a high kick. Said he’s consistent and tactical.
One dude doesn’t fit here. Not only is Nakanishi immobile but he’s a bit heavier than his opponents, I gotta say. Everyone took a bump for him as he threw the trio around. Standard match. There was a funny spot near the end where Taguchi and Tiger Mask did stereo hit attacks, then wanted Nakanishi to do one. He obliged, but his feet barely left the ground in doing so. He submitted Gedo with the torture rack.
The young lions showed great fire with their back and forth against the champions. Finlay actually took a spike piledriver to the floor. Kinda sad that it used to be one of those moves that used to put you out for months, and now it’s just a spot in a match. Solid work all around regardless. Honma got the win for his team by pinning Finlay with the sitout piledriver, which I think is the first time in forever he’s pinned someone with that.
Captain New Japan has aligned himself with Yoshitatsu as they have formed a “Bullet Club Hunters” faction. Too bad one half of this team is a guy who never wins a match. Mostly a match designed for GoD to look strong, which they did. I think Robinson continues to improve in every match he’s in, though, he looked good here. CNJ was pinned after a elevated DDT finish by GoD.
These guys had a long match, pretty good in a lot of places. Liger and Kushida worked together and were pretty good. Shibata and Nagata were great as they not only did some grappling but also made sure to strike one another pretty fiercely. At one point Liger/Shibata and Nagata/Kushida worked another, which was pretty cool because you don’t see that happen too often, though it’s been popping up a bit more recently. Liger got a flash pin over Kushida with a bridge pin.
Nagata tore into Shibata after the match, pummeling him with kicks and of course had to be pulled apart. Ended up being another staredown between the two teams.
Yoshitatsu’s new gimmick is that he mimics Triple H by doing his water spot on the apron when making his entrance and now wears the same kind of tights. That’s just as lame as Taguchi doing the Nakamura spots, but at least he’s doing it for comedy. Pretty good match. Elgin and Omega worked together for a bit and worked really well in their preview for next week. Yoshitatsu and Tanahashi did topes to the outside, leaving Elgin and Takahashi. The latter tried to get a sneaky win with a low blow and roll up, but Elgin kicked out and after some back and forth, pinned Yujiro after a buckle bomb and a power bomb.
It was your typical eight man for a lot of the match in that everyone got to work with one another- Goto/Evil, Ishii/Naito, etc. Sanada worked a lot of the match and looked right at home. He’s had potential ever since he was a rookie in All Japan. Naito was the first one eliminated, deciding to eliminate himself. Ishii soon followed after a distraction by Naito sent him to the floor. Goto beat up Evil some more and tossed him to the floor to eliminate him. Bushi came in and briefly got his butt kicked, but managed to get Goto to the apron then sprayed him with the mist to eliminate him.
Okada tried to give Bushi the rainmaker but Sanada blocked him. Bushi and Okada made it to the apron as Okada tried to eliminate Bushi but Sanada dropkicked Okada, sending him to the floor and leaving just Yoshi-Hashi to fend for himself. He managed to eliminate Bushi as he and Sanada went at it. They had some pretty good back and forth between one another. Yoshi-Hashi had the better of it as he went to the top rope but Evil held on to him as Sanada recovered and gave him a superplex, then eventually submitted him with a dragon sleeper into a waistlock.
Everyone from Chaos was laid out after the match. Evil gave Goto the STO, Sanada laid out Okada, Bushi gave Ishii the mist as Naito cut a promo. Ishii tried to attack him again but he was laid out once more as Los Ingobernables made their exit.
As Elton John once said, “Saturday night’s all fight for fighting!” and with a week of madness in the world of MMA, it’s time for some action inside the Octagon and tonight will see the return of Jon Jones.
While not quite the matchup that everyone was hoping for due to light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier pulling out of the originally scheduled main event, it’s still a big deal when the pound for pound best in the world steps into the Octagon. If you don’t buy the “interim” tag as legitimate, you can watch Demetrious Johnson put up his flyweight title in the night’s co-main event against the unbeaten Henry Cejudo. There are also two former champions on the card in Anthony Pettis and Carla Esparza. It should be a great night of action and our panel weighs in with their picks for the biggest fights on the card.
Here’s our panel with the 2016 records in parenthesis. We’ve also added a running tally of the records of the favorites going into the fights and the panel consensus picks
Jones’ problems outside the cage are well documented but inside the cage it’s hard, if not impossible, to question his dominance. The only question here is whether nearly 16 months outside the Octagon in the prime of his career will hurt him. For his first fight back he really shouldn’t have a problem with the overmatched OSP, who took this fight on three week’s notice. The winner of this fight should get a title fight with Daniel Cormier this year in what will be one of the biggest fights of the year.
Jones (massive favorite): Juon, Frederick, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Sempervive, Fontaine, Bix, Meltzer, FRB
Johnson is the first and only champion in this division, having beaten Joseph Benavidez in a tournament final nearly 4 years ago to win the strap. This will be his 8th title defence and he’s the longest reigning current champion in the UFC. He’s also managed to finish 4 of his last 6 challengers inside of 5 rounds. He does have a tough test in Olympic champion wrestler Cejudo. The unbeaten challenger has been on a fast track to a title shot since debuting in the UFC 15 months ago and has won all 4 of his fights in the Octagon, despite not having scored a finish. If “Mighty Mouse” manages to get through Cejudo, he’s scheduled to face the winner of the TUF 24 flyweight tournament later this year.
These guys are on almost every show…in a sense. Pettis’ “Showtime” kick, which clinch his WEC title fight with Benson Henderosn is shows in video packages at every live event, as is Barboza’s devastating head-kick KO of Terry Etim in their 2012 bout. Matching them up together will hopefully produce another memorable moment and it will almost certainly be an action-packed fight. Barboza is trying to get where Pettis has already been, to the top of the most stacked division in MMA. Both guys have lost 2 of their last 3 fights though and a loss for either man will probably remove them from the title picture.
Whittaker has been on a tear since moving up from 170 as he’s won 3 straight with 2 KO’s and a dominant decision win over Uriah Hall. The TUF Smashes winner is probably Australia’s best hope for their first ever UFC champion. Standing in his way is the veteran Natal. After losing to Tim Kennedy in his first and only UFC main event, Natal followed that up with a loss to veteran Ed Herman and many thought he was done. Instead he’s rung up 4 straight wins and will be in title contention with a win over Whittaker. This is a very important fight in the division and could steal the show.
Whittaker (big favorite) – Juon, Whittaker, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Sempervive, Fontaine, Bix, Meltzer, FRB
Esparza makes her UFC return 13 months after being destroyed in a 2 round massacre at the hands of Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The first ever champion in this dvision also formerly held the Invicta title in the same weight class. Lima also fought the current champ but managed to go the distance with her in her UFC debut. Since that loss, she’s run up two straight decision wins and will be on the short list of title contenders with a win over the former champ.
*****
Action begins with the Fight Prelims at 6:30 pm eastern, followed by the FS 1 portion at 8. The main card kicks off at 10 pm on PPV and Dave Meltzer will have ongoing coverage of the entire card.
While you’re waiting, check out the following content, also related to the show:
1935
Honolulu, Hawaii:
– Wildcat Pete defeated Tetsuo Higami to become the first NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Champion
1970
Kansas City, Kansas:
– The Viking defeated Tor Kamata
– Betty Niccoli defeated Fran Gravette
– Harley Race defeated Gino Caruso
– Rufus R. Jones defeated Baron Von Raschke via DQ
– The Stomper & Bob Geigel defeated K.O. Cox & Killer Cox in 2 out of 3 falls
1976
St. Louis, Missouri:
– Bob Backlund defeated Harley Race for the Missouri Title
1978
Greensboro, North Carolina:
– Paul Jones & Ricky Steamboat won the NWA World Tag Team Championship, by defeating Cyclon Negro & Baron Von Raschke, Gene & Ole Anderson, and Masked Superstar & Ken Patera in a tournament to win the belts
1979
Memphis, Tennessee:
– The Assassins defeated Bill Dundee & Robert Gibson to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title
– The Mongolian Stomper defeated Toru Tanaka to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title
Greenville, South Carolina:
– Paul Jones & Baron Von Raschke wrestled to a time limit draw with NWA Tag Team Champions Jimmy Snuka & Paul Orndorff
– AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Pedro Morales
– Leo Burke beat Charlie Fulton
– Mr X I beat Herb Gallant
– Gene Anderson beat Abe Jacobs
1984
Montreal, Quebec, Canada:
– Abdullah the Butcher & Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Tony Parisi & Dino Bravo & Rick Martel
– Mad Dog Vachon & Raymond Rougeau beat Bob Boucher & Gilles The Fish Poisson
– Handicap Match: Gino Brito Sr. beat Frenchy Martin & Mad Dog Lefebvre
– Nick Bockwinkel beat Domenic DeNucci
– Richard Charland beat Leo Burke dq
– Bob & Rocky De La Serra beat The Masked Marvel & Armand Rougeau
– Rick Valentine beat Louis Laurence
– Mike Shaw beat Antonio Ricco
1985
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
– Ox Baker defeated Carlos Colon to win the WWC World Heavyweight Title
1988
Greensboro, North Carolina:
– Sting & Lex Luger, managed by Magnum T.A., won the third, and final, Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup tag team tournament by defeating Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson
1990
Austin, Texas:
– Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig defeated Tito Santana in a tournament final to win the WWF Intercontinental Title
1992
Harrogate, Tennessee:
– The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane & Tom Pritchard) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton) in a tournament final to become the
first Smoky Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Champions
2003
Hiroshima, Japan:
– Tiger Mask IV defeated Koji Kanemoto to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
2006
TNA Lockdown: Orlando, Florida:
– Lethal Lockdown Match: Sting & AJ Styles & Rhino & Ron Killings defeated America’s Most Wanted & Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner
– Team Japan (Black Tiger IV, Minoru Tanaka, and Hirooki Goto) defeated Team USA (Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Alex Shelley)
– Senshi defeated Christopher Daniels
– Bob Armstrong (with B.G. James and Kip James) defeated Konnan (with Homicide and Hernandez) in an Arm Wrestling challenge
– Chris Sabin defeated Elix Skipper (with Simon Diamond), Petey Williams (with Coach D’Amore), Chase Stevens, Shark Boy, and Puma in an Xscape match
– TNA X-Division champion Samoa Joe defeated Sabu
– Team 3D (Brother Ray, Brother Devon and Brother Runt) defeated Team Canada (Bobby Roode, Eric Young, and A-1) (with Coach D’Amore)
– NWA champion Christian Cage defeated Abyss (with James Mitchell)
2011
Jacksonville, Florida:
– The Sheik (Joey Machete) defeated Colt Cabana to win the NWA title
Submitted by Ryan Thompson & Brian Bayless
– Chris Girard pinned Mojo Rawley with a running blockbuster out of the corner
This was perfectly fine. Rawley played heel in this match since everybody loved Girard. He was a goofy, annoying heel and everyone was into his spots. He dominated most of the match until the comeback. New England Patriots’ star Rob Gronkowski was in the building wearing a Get Hyped t-shirt, since he goes way back with Rawley. As you might imagine, he’s a god in these parts.
– Bayley and Carmella defeated Dana Brooke and Alexa Bliss
End came when Bayley pinned Dana with the Bayley to Belly. Carmella went to school here (University of Rhode Island) so, naturally, she was beloved. Standard women’s tag match.
– Manny Andrade pinned Riddick Moss with the double knees in the corner
Andrade is ridiculously athletic and ridiculously good. This match was real good. Best spot was probably when Andrade did a moonsault, but Moss moved. Andrade landed on his feet and immediately hit a standing moonsault.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) def. The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) to retain
End came when Gable pinned Dawson with Grand Amplitude. This was my favorite match on the show. They did a false title change near the end. Dawson was the legal man and was getting pounded on by Jordan. Wilder switched places with Dawson behind the referee’s back and pinned Jordan with a small package. The referee noticed his mistake, however, and Gable eventually pinned Dawson.
> Intermission
– Austin Aries pinned Tomasso Ciampa with the rolling elbow and the 450 splash
I was expecting this to be the best match, but I felt like there was something missing. Still real good though. Aries played subtle heel (very subtle really, as it was essentially a babyface match). The finish was botched when Aries missed his elbow, so they immediately did a quick spot and went back to the finish.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka submitted Peyton Royce with the Asuka Lock
Asuka’s incredible. She comes out looking like an absolute killer with the crowd telling Peyton that she’s about to be killed, yet she has an incredible rapport with the fans and all the kids seem to love her. There’s something she has that I don’t think any other woman has ever had in this company. Good match.
– Finn Bálor and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated NXT Champion Samoa Joe and Elias Samson when Bálor pinned Samson with the 1916 (Bloody Sunday)
Samson came out first and the place just hated everything he tried to do or say. “Drift Away” chants. “Nobody Likes You” chants. He tried to sing his song but Nakamura’s music hit and the place came absolutely unglued. There was a great spot early where Nakamura was in the ring and Joe tagged in. Joe circled around, teasing an encounter, but then immediately tagged out for massive heat. Nakamura mocked Samson throughout the match, pretending to play guitar and throwing the imaginary guitar to the crowd. Joe and Nakamura finally went at it and it was outstanding. They have to do a feud for the championship. This was either the best or second best match on the show.
After the match, Bálor took the mic and talked about how bad he felt after losing the championship. The crowd chanted “See You Monday” and he smirked. He wasn’t sure if he’d be himself anymore after losing the championship. He said that the Kingston, RI crowd made it clear that he was still Finn Bálor. He handed the mic to Nakamaura who said: “This Is NXT!” After a long pause, they too-sweeted each other and did a simultaneously Nakamura back-bend pose. Then Finn slapped hands with everyone at ringside.
The Octagon heads back to Las Vegas and pay-per-view for UFC 197 on Saturday night, featuring the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Jon Jones makes his return against Ovince Saint Preux in the main event for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship, and Demetrious Johnson defends the UFC Flyweight Championship against Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo in the co-main event. Below are our studs, value plays and fighters to avoid when making your fantasy line-ups for Saturday’s event.
STUDS
Jon Jones ($11,400)
Jon Jones is the top play for this weekend’s event as he makes his long-awaited and much-anticipated return to the Octagon. It isn’t the fight everyone wants since Daniel Cormier pulled out due to injury, but he gets Ovince Saint Preux, who is a solid top-ten fighter at 205 pounds, but a favorable matchup for Jones. Jones commands the highest salary of all the fighters on the card, and really, that is to be expected seeing as he is arguably the best fighter in the world. The biggest question surrounding Jones is whether the 15 months off and the distractions throughout that time hinder his performance.
There is nothing that suggests that, though. Saint Preux is powerful at this weight and has solid striking and a great submission game, but he is taking the fight on short notice, and he can’t match the skills of Jones. Jones has dynamic striking, great wrestling and excellent submissions, and is suffocating from top position. Saint Preux struggles when he is controlled on the mat, often looking like a lost puppy when on bottom. Jones should finish him, it’s just a matter of when. Jones should be the most used fighter on the card.
James Vick ($10,900)
James Vick is entering UFC 197 on Saturday with a perfect 8-0 record in his career, and a 4-0 record inside the Octagon. If you include his bouts on TUF, his overall record would be 11-1, with the only loss coming to Michael Chiesa, a top-ten ranked lightweight. To say the least, Vick’s record isn’t too shabby. The only problem is his lack of activity due to injuries and various reasons. He was on the TUF Live season in early 2012, but didn’t make his UFC debut until August 2013. He was then out of action for over a year, but had three fights between August 2014 and May 2015.
He hasn’t fought since that May fight, when he submitted Jake Matthews, who was also undefeated at the time and hyped by a lot. Vick has scored stoppage wins in five of his eight wins, all of them in the first round. He is fighting TUF Brazil winner Glaico Franca on Saturday. Franca won his lone UFC bout in August but this is a huge step up in competition for him. Vick should be able to easily score the win on Saturday, and a finish is very likely. He is an excellent play on Saturday.
VALUE PLAYS
Andre Fili ($8,900)
Andre Fili boasts an impressive 15-3 record in his professional career but has struggled for consistency inside the Octagon. He is just 3-2 in the UFC and has rotated wins-and-losses in those bouts. History would dictate that he is set up for a loss on Saturday as he won his last fight. However, he looked the best he has to date in his first-round TKO win over Gabriel Benitez in November, and he is improving in his overall performance. He has struggled with UFC caliber opposition, and he has that on Saturday in the form of Yair Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a former TUF Mexico winner and has been solid in his three UFC bouts, and is coming off an impressive showing in his most recent win. Fili is the toughest test for Rodriguez to date in the UFC, and he has more than twice the experience of Rodriguez. Fili is a very solid value play on this card and worth a look.
Henry Cejudo ($8,400)
Henry Cejudo has been to the top of the mountain in every competition he has been in, and the only thing left is to win UFC gold. He has that opportunity on Saturday night when he takes on Demetrious Johnson for the UFC Flyweight Championship. Cejudo is undefeated in his MMA career and is a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. He enters the fight with Johnson on Saturday night as a big underdog, thus making his salary very low, among the lowest on the card. He has a tall task in front of him in Johnson, who is one of the best in the world.
What makes Cejudo an interesting play is the fact that this fight is five rounds, and it is likely to go the full five rounds. Cejudo has been the distance in all of his UFC bouts and Johnson has gone to the fifth round in all but two of his title fights. That should give both men more opportunities to land significant strikes and for Cejudo to use his wrestling. He also has a good chance at scoring an upset. It is hard to pick against Johnson, but Cejudo’s salary makes his excellent value.
FIGHTERS TO AVOID
Kevin Lee ($10,300)
Kevin Lee is looking to rebound from a disappointing loss to Leonard Santos in December, a fight many expected to go his way. Perhaps he was thinking that too and got too overconfident, and it ended up with him being finished in the first. That ended Lee’s four-fight win streak and has relegated him to opening fight duties on the UFC 197 card. Lee gets a tough opponent in Efrain Escudero, a long-time UFC veteran and former TUF winner who needs a win himself if he wants to avoid being cut for the third time. Lee is the favorite and should get the win, but here is why I am putting him as a fighter to avoid. At his salary, I see better options available at similar salaries. I don’t see him finishing Escudero, and I don’t see him scoring a lot of points en route to a win. Lee likely will win, but for fantasy reasons, I recommend fading him in your line-ups.
Walt Harris ($9,800)
Walt Harris has fought three times inside the Octagon, and all three times he has lost. His last two losses have been by knockout. Surprisingly, he has a higher salary than his opponent, Cody East. East is making his UFC debut coming off of Dana White’s Looking For A Fight show, and he boasts a 12-1 record. East has won nine straight fights and eleven of his twelve wins have come by stoppage. East has eight wins in the first round, and he should be looking for an impressive debut win. Harris trains with a top camp in the American Top Team camp, but has just a 7-4 overall record. He badly needs a win to avoid being cut from the UFC roster, and that will give him added motivation. It is just a bad matchup for him, and I am avoiding Harris at all costs.
OUR LINEUPS
RYAN FREDERICK- Jon Jones ($11,400), Danny Roberts ($10,400), Marcos Rogerio de Lima ($10,000), Cody East ($9,600), Henry Cejudo ($8,400)
Jon Jones is my top play this weekend and my top pick. He has the highest salary and I expect him to get the finish of Ovince Saint Preux. I think a second-round submission win is in the cards for Jones. Danny Roberts is another solid pick. He fights Dominique Steele, a man who won his last bout but was knocked out quickly in the bout before. Roberts is an excellent finisher and I see him getting another first-round win here. Marcos Rogerio de Lima fights Clint Hester. One man is going to sleep in that fight as both rarely go the distance. de Lima hits way harder and is bigger and I like him.
Cody East has a ton of first-round finishes and his opponent, Walt Harris, is a good bet to go down early. My last pick is Henry Cejudo. I think he has a realistic shot at getting the win, and going five rounds will add to the points. Even in a defeat, I see him getting enough points over 25 minutes to equal another underdog that wins points total. He is a risk, but one I’m taking.
PAUL FONTAINE- Jon Jones ($11,400), Robert Whittaker ($10,700), Sergio Pettis ($10,100), Juliana Lima ($9,200), Henry Cejudo ($8,400)
I don’t really care what Jones’ salary is, he’s a must for my team. After 16 months away and facing the weakest opponent since before he won the title, he’s almost a lock to score an early finish. I’m picking Henry Cejudo to unseat the champion here in the year of upsets. Robert Whittaker should continue his impressive run at middleweight with another stoppage win over the aging Natal. I like Sergio Pettis to cement his place in the line of flyweight contenders with a dominant win over my countryman Kelades. Rounding out by team is Juliana Lima. She’s got the former champion Esparza coming in off a brutal defeat at the hands of Joanna Champion and should score a victory here.
PEACH MACHINE- Demetrious Johnson ($11,000), Robert Whittaker ($10,700), Kevin Lee ($10,300), Juliana Lima ($9,200), Edson Barboza ($8,800)
Again, another perfect use of 50,000. Bet this line-up. DJ is my number one power player in DK. He goes five rounds and gets finishes. IDK if he’ll be able to finish Cejudo, but he will win. Barboza is my questionable pick. I like him to beat Pettis, but it’s iffy. Whittaker is who I THOUGHT i was picking last week. I really like him to beat Natal. Lima is gonna destroy Esparza. I guarantee Esparza will come out scared and flat and will get beaten, and rightfully so. She was absolutely decimated the last time she entered the cage. Kevin Lee is going to be faster and stronger than the fading Escudero. Escudero is one of those guys that had a ton of potential, and just couldn’t get the job done. Lee will get the job done.
Submitted by Mykey Winstanley & Joe Atherton
Cesaro beat Stardust
Cesaro won via giant swing into a sharpshooter. Fun opener. Cesaro even hit two 619s, and was very over with the crowd.
Darren Young & Zack Ryder beat Social Outcasts (Heath slater & Bo Dallas)
This was a 5 minute squash. Rough rider on Heath for the pin and win.
Rusev beat Jack Swagger
End came after Rusev locked on The Accolade on the 2nd attempt after Swagger powered out of the 1st effort. Rusev came out to heat with his Bulgarian flag. Swagger playing to the crowd with a British flag that got a big pop. Back & forth match, ton of heat on Rusev who kept goading the crowd. Solid match that the crowd was into.
WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day defeated The Usos & Dudleyz in a three-way
New Day crazy over with the fans. Dudleyz got a big pop with the adults in the audience. Usos with a superkick party, laying out both teams. Dudleyz teased the tables them put them back under the ring to the crowd’s displeasure. Finish was an assisted big ending into a flying bulldog by Xavier Woods on Devon Dudley
Sin Cara beat Tyler Breeze
SC won with a top rope senton, and was over with the kids. Athletic, smooth match, but was nothing special from either guy.
WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) defeated Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch in a three-way
Charlotte won with a little help from her dad. Great match which the crowd was into from bell to bell. All three women work so well together. Duelling “Let’s Go Becky/Let’s Go Sasha” chants. Charlotte rolled up Becky with her feet on the ropes after Ric distracted her.
WWE Champion Roman Reigns defeated Sheamus
Mixed reaction for Sheamus while Reigns booed massively with some cheers from kids and dads. Sheamus cut a promo on being the saviour of Sheffield now the two football teams have gone to crap. In the match, Sheamus went for a chair, Reigns slapped him in the face and Sheamus threw Reigns into the steps. Sheamus hit a brogue kick after being on top for quite a while and got the 2.9 Cena kick out from Reigns. The end came when Reigns hit 2 Superman punches and hit the spear for the pin.