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Category: UFC News

  • 10 UFC Fights to Watch in January 2016

    After a big 2015, the UFC kicks off 2016 with three events in the month of January. As the Octagon made more international appearances over the years, this month is special in the sense that all three events will take place on American soil. Kicking things off on January 2 will be UFC 195 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following that will be UFC Fight Night 81 on January 17 in Boston, Massachusetts, and UFC On FOX 18 wraps things up for the month on January 30 in Newark, New Jersey. At this point, there are 37 bouts on the fight schedule for the month, so we are going to take a look at ten fights UFC fans should be on the look out for during a fun month of January.

    Honorable Mentions:
    Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara- UFC 195
    Ben Saunders vs. Patrick Cote- UFC Fight Night 81
    Tarec Saffiedine vs. Jake Ellenberger- UFC On FOX 18

    10. Sage Northcutt vs. Andrew Holbrook- UFC On FOX 18- January 30

    19-year-old rising prospect Sage Northcutt is taking the UFC by storm, garnering a lot of attention and being promoted heavily by the promotion. It may be unjust to some due to his age and inexperience, but there is a lot of marketability to the kid. He will be fighting for the second straight month, and the third time since making his UFC debut in October. This time he will be featured in primetime on the FOX network. He is being slowly built facing opponents near the bottom of the division, but he gets an undefeated opponent in his next fight in Andrew Holbrook. Holbrook is 11-0 and is coming off a win in his UFC debut, a split decision over Ramsey Nijem in July. This will be a test for Northcutt and also will show if coming back seven weeks after his last fight is too quick of a UFC turnaround.

    9. Albert Tumenov vs. Lorenz Larkin- UFC 195- January 2

    These men throw down with exciting fights and look to finish with every punch and kick they throw, and that is why the fight between Albert Tumenov and Lorenz Larkin is featured prominently on the main card of UFC 195, the first event of the month on Saturday. They are both finishers and both are strong on their feet. They have a chance to provide a lot of excitement and fireworks when they step inside the Octagon across from each other. Tumenov has won four straight fights while Larkin has won his past two since making the move down to welterweight. Unfortunately for them, they may not have the most exciting welterweight bout of the month, but the odds are pretty good they have a good shot at winning “Fight Of The Month”. This should be a barnburner.

    8. Travis Browne vs. Matt Mitrione- UFC Fight Night 81- January 17

    Travis Browne and Matt Mitrione are both at interesting points in their careers. Browne was thought to be a future title challenger in the heavyweight division, but has always seemed to take a step back when facing a top-five opponent. Mitrione was climbing up the rankings, but made a mental mistake that cost him his last fight against Ben Rothwell. Mitrione now comes into his fight against Browne on January 17 as an impending free agent, and he has been outspoken about a lot of issues in recent months. How will that affect him? Browne has also been in the news a lot, between charges of domestic abuse from his estranged wife and his new relationship with Ronda Rousey. How that all affects him remains to be seen as well. Inside the Octagon, both men throw heavy hands and in a heavyweight bout, a finish seems likely. Both men are at pivotal crossroads in their careers, and both have a lot to prove.

    7. Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy- UFC 195- January 2

    Originally scheduled to headline the UFC’s event in Dublin in October, a fight week injury to Joseph Duffy caused cancellation of his bout against Dustin Poirier. They were rebooked to fight at UFC 195 on Saturday, and they will be headlining the UFC Fight Pass preliminary card as the UFC makes a big push for their digital network in 2016. Duffy has gotten a lot of attention being the last man to defeat Conor McGregor, and he has scored two impressive UFC wins in his first two UFC bouts. A fight against Poirier is a big step up for Duffy, who fought Ivan Jorge and Jake Lindsey in his first two UFC bouts. Poirier was close to a title shot at 145 pounds, and he has two straight first-round finishes since moving up to lightweight. Both men are trying to break into the top ten in a crowded 155-pound division, and the winner will rocket up the rankings.

    6. Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell- UFC On FOX 18- January 30

    Ben Rothwell has been looking for a fight for a long time, and it looks like he finally will get one at the end of January. He was supposed to fight Stipe Miocic in October, but Miocic pulled out due to injury. Rothwell tried to get many fights in the meantime, but nothing was materializing. He became even more upset when Miocic was quickly rebooked against Andrei Arlovski, who Rothwell tried to get booked with. In steps Josh Barnett, who will be looking to capitalize following a dominant win over Roy Nelson in September. It is interesting that Barnett took the fight as he talked about taking time away from the sport, again, following the Nelson win. He looked really good in that win, and Rothwell has looked sharp during his three-fight win streak. The winner will move one step closer towards a title shot.

    5. Stipe Miocic vs. Andrei Arlovski- UFC 195- January 2

    Speaking of title shots in the heavyweight division, the aforementioned Stipe Miocic and Andrei Arlovski square off in the first co-main event of 2016 with a title shot hanging in the balance. Miocic is coming off a dominant win over Mark Hunt and is 4-1 in his last five fights. Arlovski has enjoyed a career resurgence, winning his last six fights, including four straight since returning to the UFC. He was in one of 2015’s most exciting bouts against Travis Browne, but his last win, over Frank Mir, was a disappointment. It set him up for a title eliminator against Miocic, who looks to make a statement and earn that title shot that has loomed him. With many big heavyweight bouts in January, this one will have the most importance on future title challengers.

    4. Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader- UFC On FOX 18- January 30

    Light heavyweights will close out the month of January as Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader will meet in the main event of the FOX event on January 30 in Newark. Johnson is looking to get back into a title fight after a second-round knockout win over Jimi Manuwa at UFC 191 in January. Bader can make a strong argument that he deserves a title shot as he has won five straight fights, something that has been very hard to do in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. He is coming off a convincing win over Johnson’s teammate, Rashad Evans, at UFC 192 in October. Unfortunately for both men, current champion Daniel Cormier is going to be occupied by former champion Jon Jones for a while as Jones makes his return. The winner of this bout is almost guaranteed to be next in line, so this is a pivotal bout for both.

    3. Anthony Pettis vs. Eddie Alvarez- UFC Fight Night 81- January 17

    Former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon for the first time since losing the title to Rafael Dos Anjos, and his road back to a title shot begins with a bout against former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez is looking for his second straight win over a former champion after defeating Gilbert Melendez in June and will be looking to make his case for a title shot. This fight has the potential to be a great clash as we have two top-five lightweights going at it with a potential title shot on the line. Pettis has long been one of the most exciting fighters in the sport and Alvarez is no slouch himself. In a month crowded with potential title eliminator bouts, this one has the best shot at being the best fight of the bunch.

    2. Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit- UFC 195- January 2

    The first main event of 2016 has excitement written all over it. UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler is coming off his first title defense over Rory MacDonald in 2015’s “Fight Of The Year”. It is the second straight year that Lawler has been involved in the “Fight Of The Year”, and him and former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit are looking to get a jump start on potentially winning that honor for 2016. It is one of the most interesting and compelling match-ups on the horizon for the UFC as it features two welterweights involved in some of the best fights in 170-pound division history. Both men are strong finishers, and both are equally as tough to finish. This one could be an all-time classic.

    1. T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz- UFC Fight Night 81- January 17

    The man who never lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship inside the Octagon will finally get his chance to get that championship back in our top fight to watch for the month. Dominick Cruz was forced to relinquish the championship after knee injuries kept him out of action for nearly two years. He returned in September 2014 and quickly finished Takeya Mizugaki, showing he hadn’t lost a step. However, another knee injury forced him out of action for all of 2015, but he finally comes back with a chance to win the belt he never lost. That championship is now held by T.J. Dillashaw, who is coming off his second title defense after a dominant win over the man he beat for the championship, Renan Barao, in July. Dillashaw has been in the news more recently for his ugly split with teammate Urijah Faber, who happens to be a big rival of Cruz. Faber is waiting in the wings for the winner, but Dillashaw and Cruz have their work ahead of them first. Their match-up on January 17 in Boston has the chance to be one of the best fights in the history of the bantamweight division, and the winner will be the rightful champion.

  • UFC 195 Preview: 5 storylines to watch, betting odds & predictions

    The UFC kicks off 2016 on Saturday night for their traditional New Year’s event from Las Vegas, Nevada with UFC 195, headlined by the UFC Welterweight Championship being defended when Robbie Lawler defends against Carlos Condit. The action kicks off with preliminary card bouts on UFC Fight Pass before moving over to FOX Sports 1 for more preliminary card fights leading into the main card on pay-per-view. The action will kick off on Saturday at 6:30 PM eastern time, and we will have coverage for you here on F4WOnline.com. Also on the card is a pivotal bout in the heavyweight division as Stipe Miocic takes on Andrei Arlovski. Let’s take a deeper look into the night’s card and present you five storylines to keep your eye on during UFC 195 on Saturday night.

    1. Welterweight gold on the line in the main event

    The first UFC event of 2016 is headlined by a title fight that could be an early contender for “Fight Of The Year” as the UFC Welterweight Championship is on the line. Robbie Lawler comes off his first title defense in 2015’s “Fight Of The Year” against Rory MacDonald and gets another big challenge in the form of Carlos Condit, a former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion. This fight is a much anticipated one for hardcore fans as Lawler and Condit are two of the most exciting 170-pound fighters on the planet, which is a big reason why the fight was put together. Condit is just 2-3 in his last five fights and missed 14 months of action due to a serious knee injury, but it looked like he hadn’t missed a step with a dominant win over Thiago Alves in May. It helped him leapfrog fellow contenders such as Tyron Woodley and Johny Hendricks, but the styles clash between Lawler and Condit is just too interesting to pass up. That could breed a war for the ages for the first main event of 2016.

    Lawler is coming off of that war with MacDonald in July and has been in quite a few wars over the last few years. His comeback story is one for the ages- written off coming back from Strikeforce, he has gone 7-1 since then to become champion and has been involved in the last two “Fight Of The Year” winners. He has had a lot of mileage put on him since the beginning of 2014, and it will be interesting to see if that has caught up to him. Condit will come in with a masterful gameplan with coaching from Greg Jackson. Both men, at times, start slow, but both have the conditioning to go a full 25 minutes. Condit may be more technical on the feet, but Lawler has more power in his hands. Both men can end a fight at any moment with their striking, and both men are equally as tough to finish. Condit has a better ground game.

    Needless to say, this has the makings of a war. On a card not big on star power, especially after the bonanza of fight cards in December, this is a fight fan’s dream battle in a month of more solid UFC action. It should be a battle for the ages, and the man who walks out of the Octagon with the gold around his waist at the end of Saturday night will have gone through hell to get it, but will be a deserving champion.

    2. A heavyweight title shot hangs in the balance

    The co-main event bout is a battle in the heavyweight division that could determine the next man in line to challenge for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Current champion Fabricio Werdum defends against former champion Cain Velasquez at UFC 196 next month, but first, Stipe Miocic and Andrei Arlovski will step inside the Octagon and do battle. Miocic is coming off of one of the most dominant performances in UFC heavyweight history in his fifth-round TKO win over Mark Hunt in May. He set the record for most strikes landed in a UFC bout, landing 361 total strikes over the course of nearly 23 minutes. Miocic has won four of his last five fights, with the lone loss being a close bout against Junior Dos Santos that was an all-out war. Miocic is ranked third in the division rankings, and a win has him primed to finally score that title shot.

    A title shot is something that many wouldn’t have expected Arlovski to ever receive again. But, here he is, on the verge of earning one following wins in six straight fights, including four straight since returning to the UFC. He may have earned one had his win over Frank Mir at UFC 191 in September been more impressive, but that performance set him back just a bit and put him in a title eliminator position. Arlovski has held UFC gold before, and his comeback story is proof you can never count a fighter out in this sport. Training under Greg Jackson has done wonders for him, and Jackson could be leading him towards gold. He has a tough opponent ahead of him in Miocic, and both men are heavy-handed strikers. Arlovski’s chin has held up after taking several beatings years ago, but Miocic lands with a lot of power and volume. This is going to be one tough test for both men, and the winner deserves a title shot.

    3. Young, exciting fighters highlight the main card

    Two potential barnburners highlight the main card on pay-per-view featuring some exciting prospects. In a welterweight bout, dynamic strikers Albert Tumenov and Lorenz Larkin will square off. Tumenov has won four straight bouts, and he looks like a big threat at 170 pounds after a dominant first-round knockout win over Alan Jouban at UFC 192 in October. Ten of Tumenov’s last eleven wins have come by knockout, and he boasts serious power. Larkin also boasts serious power, and his striking is more flashy and comes from every angle. He has won two straight since moving to welterweight, both by knockout, and both earning him post-fight bonus awards. The move down is what Larkin needed after three straight losses, and he seems comfortable at 170 pounds. This fight is one that could send the winner into the top 15 rankings at 170 pounds.

    In a featherweight bout, former TUF winner Diego Brandao will be looking for his third straight win as he looks to end the perfect record held by fast-rising prospect Brian Ortega. Ortega is undefeated in ten career bouts, though he has a blemish on his mark with a win overturned due to a drug test failure. He is coming off a third-round knockout win over Thiago Tavares in June in one of the best fights of 2015, and at 24-years-old, he has a bright future ahead of him. He hasn’t had an easy road in recent UFC bouts with his second straight tough veteran fighter, and Brandao is out to prove he is no stepping stone. He has two straight first-round wins, but he has seemed to always falter when he has the spotlight on him. He does again with a main card bout, and Ortega will be out to prove that he is ready to be solidified as a title contender.

    4. A big lightweight bout on Fight Pass

    2016 looks like there will be a lot of emphasis on UFC Fight Pass with some big fights already planned for the digital network. It won’t just be main events for exclusive events, but also big preliminary bouts being positioned on the network. That starts on Saturday with a lightweight title between Dustin Poirier and Joseph Duffy taking place on UFC Fight Pass. They were originally scheduled to headline the event in Dublin in October that aired on Fight Pass, but the fight was cancelled the week of the event as doctors wouldn’t allow Duffy to fight after he had suffered a concussion one week prior to the event. Several fighters campaigned to fight Poirier on short notice, but he was pulled from the October event so the fight with Duffy could be rescheduled. They get their chance to throw down on Saturday night.

    Poirier and Duffy are both exciting fighters with a lot of potential. Poirier has adjusted well in moving up to the lightweight division as he doesn’t have the drastic weight cut, and his power has seemingly gotten better with the move up. Duffy has proven capable of finishing opponents in his two UFC bouts, but this is a giant step up in competition. Known as the last man to defeat Conor McGregor, Duffy is looking to carve himself a name as a threat at 155 pounds. He is a big favorite over Poirier, and that is very surprising considering Poirier has fought much tougher competition in his career. Poirier is another fighter who has faltered in the spotlight, and he has to prove that is in the past from competing at 145 pounds. These men can make a statement about the card very early on in the evening, and fans tuning in on Fight Pass not just for UFC 195, but for future events, are in store for a treat.

    5. Mayday back in the bantamweight fold

    After being out of action for just over two years, former bantamweight title challenger Michael McDonald will be making his return to action in the featured preliminary bout on Saturday night. McDonald has been nursing hand injuries throughout his entire career, and hand and wrist surgeries cost him the last two years. He was last seen in December 2013 being submitted by Urijah Faber, one of only two losses in the UFC, the other coming to Renan Barao in a title fight in February 2013. McDonald is still just shy of his 25th birthday, and with him returning along with Dominick Cruz, the bantamweight division is getting a much needed input of exciting fighters.

    McDonald will be taking on Masanori Kanehara, who is 1-1 in UFC competition. Kanehara is coming off a tough split decision loss to Rani Yahya in July. This is a perfect bounce back fight for McDonald, who is an exciting knockout artist with good well-rounded skills. The long layoff has cost McDonald in the rankings as he has dropped to eighth following the rise of such prospects as Thomas Almeida and Aljamain Sterling. Even though he has already fought once for the title, McDonald is still very young and his name should be propped in with those two as young fighters to keep an eye on in the future. With his injury issues hopefully behind him, he is primed to make a run and remind fans why he is a much hyped fighter at 135 pounds.

    Full UFC 195 Fight Card, Betting Odds and Predictions

    MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)

    UFC Welterweight Championship: (C) Robbie Lawler vs. (#4) Carlos Condit
    Betting Odds:     Lawler (-110), Condit (-110)
    Prediction: Condit by decision

    Heavyweights: (#3) Stipe Miocic vs. (#2) Andrei Arlovski
    Betting Odds:     Miocic (-230), Arlovski (+190)
    Prediction: Miocic by knockout in round 2

    Welterweights: Albert Tumenov vs. Lorenz Larkin
    Betting Odds:     Tumenov (-240), Larkin (+200)
    Prediction: Tumenov by decision

    Featherweights: Diego Brandao vs. Brian Ortega
    Betting Odds:     Brandao (+190), Ortega (-230)
    Prediction: Ortega by knockout in round 1

    Lightweights: Abel Trujillo vs. Tony Sims
    Betting Odds:     Trujillo (+105), Sims (-125)
    Prediction: Trujillo by knockout in round 3

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT)

    Bantamweights: (#8) Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara
    Betting Odds:     McDonald (-550), Kanehara (+425)
    Prediction: McDonald by submission in round 1

    Welterweights: Kyle Noke vs. Alex Morono
    Betting Odds:     Noke (-300), Morono (+250)
    Prediction: Noke by knockout in round 1

    Women’s Strawweights: Justine Kish vs. Nina Ansaroff
    Betting Odds:     Kish (-265), Ansaroff (+225)
    Prediction: Kish by decision

    Lightweights: Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman
    Betting Odds:     Dober (+140), Holtzman (-160)
    Prediction: Holtzman by submission in round 2

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT)

    Lightweights: (#12) Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy
    Betting Odds:     Poirier (+165), Duffy (-190)
    Prediction: Poirier by knockout in round 2

    Bantamweights: Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka
    Betting Odds:     Soto (-110), Tanaka (-110)
    Prediction: Soto by decision

    Welterweights: Sheldon Westcott vs. Edgar Garcia
    Betting Odds:     Westcott (-160), Garcia (+140)
    Prediction: Westcott by decision

  • UFC cancels March 5th pay-per-view in Brazil

    The UFC has canceled its March 5th PPV show from Rio de Janeiro.

    At a UFC media conference call to promote the Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping fight in London, Silva said that the entire show that he was expected to headline at first, is off.  No fights had been announced for the date.

    “(It) was to have me fighting in Brazil against I don’t know who,” said Silva.  “But with this situation going on in Brazil, economically and everything, the UFC decided to abort this event for now.”

    Guilhemre Cruz in a story at MMAFighting stated that Silva’s remarks were confirmed by sources close to the promotion.

    The Bisping vs. Silva fight will main event on Fight Pass, the highest-profile match to ever do so.  UFC officials are working to boost Fight Pass sales in 2016.

  • Anderson Silva will now face Bisping at UFC London 2/27

    In UFC’s biggest attempt to date to boost subscriptions to Fight Pass, it has announced that Anderson Silva will replace Gegard Mousasi in the main event of the 2/27 show at the O2 Arena in London against Michael Bisping.

    Mousasi is not injured, and MMA Fighting reported that Mousasi is expecting to be in the co-main event on the show.

    Silva was expected to headline a March pay-per-view against Vitor Belfort. UFC officials had said they were working on the fight, but it was never officially announced. Silva, 40, is currently under suspension until 1/31 due to two different failed drug tests for both steroids and anti anxiety medications, one prior to his fight with Nick Diaz, and the other on a test taken the day of the fight.

    The announced Bisping vs. Mousasi fight was an instant sellout, so ticket sales were not an issue with the card change, that UFC announced on Twitter on Thursday.

    Silva vs. Bisping is, by far, the highest profile fight that will have taken place on Fight Pass.

    This could open Belfort up for a fight with new middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. Rockhold asked for a rematch with Belfort, who knocked him out with a head kick in 2013, as soon as he had beaten Chris Weidman for the title on 12/12 in Las Vegas. The winner of the Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo Jacare Souza fight that took place on the same show was expected to get the next title shot, but there was controversy over that decision, as Romero was judged the winner, but most felt Souza took the fight, and Romero didn’t have great momentum coming out of the show. Belfort is also a bigger name than Romero.

    UFC has taken several steps to promote Fight Pass in recent months, including adding more live non-UFC events, and has scheduled much stronger fights going forward on many of its shows that won’t appear on television.

  • UFC on Fox 17 and late NXT feedback

    Dave,

    Great free UFC show. I ordered the PPV last weekend since I only pay for Weidman cards at home these days. The free show card overall was much better, but the top two fights last weekend were worth the purchase. It’s interesting to see that the next PPV is followed by a Fight Night and Fox show that both have way more depth and appeal. They should rethink how they book these shows.

    Anyway, thumbs up for the show. 
    Best fight: I would probably go Diaz vs Johnson followed by McCroy vs Samman.
    Worst Fight: Jury vs Olivera.

    Thanks,
    Matt Wright

    Gave the show a thumbs up.  Especially since it was free.

    Best Fight: Nate Diaz vs Michael Johnson

    Worst Fight: Alistair Overeem vs Junior Dos Santos on main card, Sarah Kaufman vs Valentina Shevchenko on undercard

    Best Performances; Rafael Dos Anjos, Nate Diaz, Charles Oliveira

    Really loved the first round of Nick Lentz vs Danny Castillo. Some great mat work by both.

    Thought Nate Marquardt KO’ing CB Dollaway was a huge upset. Nothing against Marquardt but I can’t see him hanging with the top middleweights at this point of his career.

    I really loved Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her fight vs Randa Markos. She had some great movement the whole fight and never tired. She could be someone to watch out for in the future if she keeps progressing. Markos was not a pushover opponent for her but I question her strategy of trying to stand with her and not trying to get her to the ground earlier.

    Nate Diaz vs Michael Johnson was a great fight. Nothing like those Diaz bad boys to keep your interest in a fight. Diaz looked great and his posturing during the fight was fun to watch. Too bad they bleeped out his whole promo. I would love to see the build up for a Diaz vs McGregor fight! Could you imagine the shenanigans that would ensure with that one! Make that fight happen!

    Dos Santos vs Overeem was a huge let down and didn’t really make either look great or want to make you see either in title contention. They were both fighting not to lose. Winning a boring fight doesn’t make you want to put money into a PPV buy to see you in a title fight. The heavyweight division is in trouble. After Velasquez vs Werdum who do you want to see fight?

    Disappointing that Cowboy couldn’t get out of the gates against Dos Anjos. Big fan of Cowboy. Dos Anjos looked great though.

    Everyone up and down the card wants the big payday against McGregor.

    Grant Zwarych

    Thumbs up. Good card to end the year. Some changing of the guard evident.

    Best fight: McCrory vs. Samman

    Worst fight: Miller vs. Alers (for a ‘contest’, Overeem vs. JDS until the KO)

    Best performance: RDA, Oliveira

    Worst performance: Johnson

    KO: Marquardt

    Sub: Oliveira

    Scary debut for 6’4″, 254, 83″ reach, action figure looking HW Francis Ngannou, outcardioing 23-y-o skilled wrestler Luiz Henrique and knocking him silly with a left shovel hook in the 2nd. Vincente Luque avenges a debatable SD loss from TUF, rocking Haydar Hassan and putting him out with a Rolling Anaconda that has him doing the chicken on the mat and with no clue what happened when he wakes up. Kamaru Usman survives some early headsup work from Leon Edwards and wears him out for a UD.

    Cole Miller vs. Jim Alers off to a decent start when Alers sinks a finger deep into Miller’s eye in the 2nd and it’s a NC. Nik Lentz coming up in weight takes a SD over Danny Castillo (3rd straight SD loss) in a fight that starts out great but both gas quickly. Lentz sounds seriously physically ill on his promo. Tamdan McCrory and Josh Samman stage a rare entertaining 99%-grappling match that’s back and forth for a round and a half then McCrory gets on top and stays there until Samman reverses him late in the 3rd which just allows McCrory to snag and constrict a triangle till Samman is forced to tap. McCrory then leaps the fence to high five Rogan. Muay Thai fighter Valentina Shevchenko comes in as a 1 week sub and completely dominates a much more MMA-experienced Sarah Kaufman at all ranges for 2 rounds until fading in the 3rd (with a 1 week camp this is not puzzling) and takes a ridiculously split decision. ‘Punchcount’, apparently based on Bizarro World planet along with the one judge, comes up with a 162-65 strike advantage for Kaufman. After a shaky 1st, Nate Marquardt saves his career catching CB Dollaway coming with a 1 punch right hand KO at the beginning of the 2nd. Note to Rogan and whoever else, it’s not a ‘counter’ unless the other guy punches first. Miles Jury drops a division (and looks emaciated) and changes camps but Charles Oliveira despite missing weight by 5lb manhandles him down, takes his back when Jury misses an arm bar, and sinks jumping standing Guillotine the instant Jury regains his feet, and it’s over.

    UFC-debuting Karolina Kowalkiewicz is either better than she looks technically or Randa Markos has gone way backward training with Farah Salami. Close first, Markos edges the 2nd, and KK wins the 3rd way big, maybe 10-8. 29-28 either way, 28-28, or 29-27 Kowalkiewicz all possible decisions. But Markos’ worst performance IMO. 29-28 x 2, 30-27 Kowalkiewicz. We’re starting to see the level rise in the women’s divisions.

    Nate Diaz shows up in actually suspiciously muscular good shape and feeling like fighting for a change and paintjobs Michael Johnson, who fights an increasingly stupid fight, for a 29-28 UD. MJ was effective with low kicks in the 1st then abandoned them, and left his footwork in the dressing room.

    Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem stage an almost action-free display until Overeem, looking by far the smaller of the two, catches him with an awkward left hook in the 2nd that sends him crashing to mat and finishes with 3 hammerfists. Reem trained with some cold weather guru for his S&C. Junior went to ATT but apparently too late. He’s done. Really both looked awful till the KO but Reem is suddenly in pole position for first shot at the Werdum-Cain 2 winner.

    Rafael Dos Anjos wastes no time repeating his previous win over Donald (maybe his nickname should be ‘Chokeboy’ instesd of ‘Cowboy’) Cerrone, this time ripping into him with knees and kicks to the body from the bell, a barrage of punches, stuffing a desperation TD and pounding him out. Cerrone once again chokes in the big fight but it may not have mattered, as RDA has somewhat obscurely developed into a top 5 P4P fighter and him vs. Conor suddenly looks like a superfight.

    Crimson Mask

    Thumbs up show

    Best Fight: Rafael dos Anjos vs  Donald Cerrone

    Worst Fight: Alistair Overeem vs Junior dos Santos

    Even though everyone said dos Anjos looked smaller because he could be off the PEDs I think he probably came in lighter for camp due to the IV ban.

    I guess they could pair up Overeem vs Rothwell and maybe dos Santos vs Travis Browne. If they did dos Santos vs Gonzaga, then Dave is right, no one is doing him any favours.

    Thanks,

    Eric Poon

    Thumbs in the middle due to overall fight quality,

    The only moments that stand out are the Diaz promo, Overeem’s KO after a dull fight vs. JDS, and RDA thrashing Cerrone in record time for a 155 title fight. The prelims were dull with no stakes making them completely forgettable.

    Best fight: RDA over Cerrone as it created another very clear next potential opponent for McGregor who looked very strong while beating Cerrone.

    Worst fight: Markos/Kowalkiewicz, bad selection to open the FOX card after almost an hour break between fights. Not a fan of strawweight fights as openers as finish rates are low and an opener needs to be more action oriented.

    Thanks,

    Urooj Islam

    Good evening (early morning here in Ireland).

    Tonight’s UFC on Fox was an excellent end to an excellent year of fights, particularly the second half of the year which provided some incredible matchups including Lawler V McDonald 2, McGregor V Mendes, McGregor V Aldo and Weidman V Rockhold. From the fights tonight, it was amazing to see a motivated and prepared Nate Diaz. He was a 4/1 underdog due to one fight in two years (not to mention a stinking attitude at times) but he displayed everything that makes fans love the Diaz brothers. I, myself, am not a fan of his persona but his fighting abilities cannot be denied and he entertains like very few fighters.

    The co main event started out in the fashion of the Gonzaga fight from last weekend but once JDS and Overeem woke up, it improved immeasurably. JDS needs to retire. The damage he has taken from the fights with Cain and Stipe have left him very vulnerable and considering he is a very affable man, it would be really disappointing to see him continue and for his mental well being (as well as his physical) to diminish.

    It is very interesting to see how the UFC proceed with Overeem, however, given his big win and his contract being expired. For the first time, the UFC could potentially be on the back foot with some of their fighters. McGregor is negotiating ludicrous contracts and fighters like Overeem and Benson Henderson are surely too good and important to their respective divisions to allow them to fight elsewhere.

    The main event was a massive disappointment simply because, like most fans of MMA, I love Cowboy. To see him completely dominated and pummelled viciously was difficult to watch, although it is testament to the ever improving talents of RDA. His finish tonight could have potentially set up a monster fight with Conor with the angle available of RDA seeking vengeance for his fellow countryman. Whereas for Conor, it is an opportunity to solidify his belief that he is the greatest MMA fighter on the planet.

    Hopefully some of these musings help.

    Kind Regards,

    David.Walker

    UFC on FOX
    Thumbs up
    Best: Diaz vs Thompson
    Worst: Overeem vs Dos Santos

    NXT Takeover London
    Thumbs up
    Best: Emma vs Asuka
    Worst: Corbin vs Crews

    I think Asuka could have a match of the year level match with Seth Rollins.  She’s unbelievable.  Tough to not give Balor/Joe the nod for match of the night, but I was more entertained by the opener so that was the tiebreaker for me.  Plus the main event is always expected to reach a certain level, so when an unexpected match delivers so well, I feel it gets the benefit of the doubt.  Corbin has become a better worker, but I’m just not into his matches.  Same problem now with Crews.  He needs to take the next step before he can be in the main event picture.  I was surprised Dawson and Wilder retained the tag belts, but it may just be so they can drop it to the white hot Jordan/Gable combo. It still boggles my mind that WWE needed 3 hours of gimmicks on Sunday to have great matches, while NXT continues to do it in a normal, one on one match all the time.  And when there are stips in NXT, it means something — in WWE, it’s just December so that’s what they do.

    – Chris

  • Ratings for UFC on FOX 17 disappointing

    The fast national ratings for Saturday’s UFC on FOX were disappointing as the show did a 0.9 in the key 18-49 demo and 2.28 million viewers.

    Keep in mind that this number covers what the FOX affiliates did between 8-10 p.m. Eastern, 7-9 p.m. Central, 6-8 p.m. Mountain and 8-10 p.m. Pacific time.  That means it doesn’t include the main event, which started at about 10 p.m. and figures in West Coast programming that wasn’t the UFC which aired from 5-7 p.m. Pacific.

    With the short main event, the growth from these numbers is unlikely to be as much as in most past FOX shows.

    The number was weak for a football season number for a UFC show, and more along the lines of a summer show. Also, UFC usually wins the 18-49 demo with the networks and here, it finished third as both ABC and CBS are listed as doing 1.1 for prelim numbers with ABC running the Democratic Debate (6.71 million viewers) and CBS running an NCIS repeat (5.15 million), a Criminal Minds repeat (5.20 million) and a 48 Hours repeat (5.80 million). FOX only beat NBC, which aired The Wiz repeat that did a 0.4 in the demo and 1.59 million viewers.

    The UFC also had to compete with an NFL game (Cowboys vs. Jets) on NFL Network, as well as people going to the movies to see the new Star Wars movie which has been crushing all-time box office numbers since it came out Thursday night.

    Actual numbers will be released on Monday or Tuesday.

  • UFC On FOX 17 Orlando live results: Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone

    Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC On FOX 17: Dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The UFC’s final event of 2015 airs on FOX with UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos making his first title defense against top contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, winner of eight straight fights. They fought once before in 2013, a bout won by Dos Anjos. In the co-main event, it will be a long-awaited heavyweight bout as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos takes on Alistair Overeem. Follow along with our live coverage beginning at 3:30 PM eastern time with preliminary action.

    We’re looking for your thoughts on these three shows this weekend, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

    NXT on Wednesday

    ROH from last night

    UFC tonight 

    UFC On FOX 17 Weigh-In Results
    UFC On FOX 17 5 Storylines To Watch
    UFC On FOX 17 DFS Playbook
    UFC On FOX 17 Observer Picks & Preview

    Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT)

    HEAVYWEIGHTS- FRANCIS NGANNOU (5-1, 0-0 UFC) VS. LUIZ HENRIQUE (8-1, 0-0 UFC)

    First round: Ngannou has an 83 inch reach.  Low kick by Ngannou and Henrique, a Brazilian wrestling champion, got the takedown.  Henrique keeping busy from the top.  The ref ordered a standup even though he was busy.  Henrique going for a takedown but Ngannou defending.   Trading punches and Ngannou landing and got a nice punch.  Close round.  Henrique got the takedown and top control but Ngannou had the best punch late.  Ngannou 10-9.

    Second round:   Ngannou landing punches.  Knee by Ngannou.  Henrique moving in trying for a takedown.  Crowd booing as they are in a clinch.  The ref separated them.  Henrique moved him into the cage.  Nganou landing punches. He dropped him with a hard left uppercut in a flurry and it’s over.

    WELTERWEIGHTS- HAYDER HASSAN (6-2, 0-1 UFC) VS. VICENTE LUQUE (7-5-1, 0-1 UFC)

    First round: This a rematch of a fight Hassan won on TUF.  Both throwing and missing.  Luque landed a left.  Luque landed a big right, Hassan shot in for a takedown and Luque immediately grabbed his neck, working for an Anaconda choke and Hassan passed out.  Hassan had no idea what happened. 

    WELTERWEIGHTS- KAMARU USMAN (6-1, 1-0 UFC) VS. LEON EDWARDS (10-2, 2-1 UFC)

    First round: Usman working for a takedown but doesn’t have it Edwards landed a head kick Edwards with more punches.  Usman again working for a takedown and got it.  Edwards is working for a triangle.  Usman landing punches from the top now Edwards back up.  Close round.  Usman 10-9.

    Second round: Usman with a body kick.  Nice left by Umasman.  Usman working for a takedown and got him down.  Usman working the body from the top.  Edwards go back up.  Edwards trying for a takedown but can’t get it.  The ref separated them.  Trading punches.  Nice right by Usman.  Edwards kneed him low.   Usman with a takedown.  Usman 20-18.

    Third round: Usman with another takedown.  Edwards back up.  Edwards went for a guillotine but Usman took him down into side control Usman landing a lot of punches from back postion now.  Lots of knees to the butt by Usman.  Usman dominated the round, should win 30-27, could be 30-26 or 29-28 or 29-27.

    Scores: 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28 for Usman.  

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 5 PM ET/2 PM PT)

    FEATHERWEIGHTS- COLE MILLER (21-9) VS. JIM ALERS (13-2)

    First round:  Both guys trading punches and kicks from distance early. Miller with a huge reach advantage. Alers landing slightly more through 2:00.  Miller with a nice punch combo at 2:15.  Nice punch exchange at 3:15. Miller with a nice punch combo at 4:00.  Alers answers back with a combo at 4:15.  10-9 Miller but really close.

    Second Round:  Alers staggers Miller with an early punch and also landing leg kicks.  Alers with some damage around his right eye from the first round.  Nice combo at 1:00.  Total strikes are 29-26 Alers. Miller hit with an eye poke.  The poke was really bad and Miller can’t open his eye so the fight is called off.  No Contest.

    NIK LENTZ VS. DANNY CASTILLO, LIGHTWEIGHTS

    First round:  Castillo tried for a takedown.  Nice right by Castillo and left hook by Lenz.  Lentz with an awesome looking hip toss into side control.  Lentz going for  a guillotine.  Castillo out and on top.  Lentz again going for a guillotine.  Castillo with a head and arm choke attempt.  Nice punches by Lentz and knee from a Thai plumb.  Big right by Lentz.  Knee and punches by Casillo.  Great round.  Right by Castillo.  Lentz 10-9.

    Second round:  Head kick and punch by Castillo.  Right by Lentz.  Good body kick by Lentz.  Punches moving in by Lentz.  Lentz with punches and a body kick plus a takedown.  Knee by Lentz but Castillo avoided it.  Lentz with a body kick.  Castillo looks tired.  Castillo failed on a takedown.  Lentz  landing knees.  Lentz tried for a guillotine but lost it as Castillo got on top in side control.  Lentz gained guard and Lentz got back up. Left by Lentz.  Castillo landing punches.  Lentz 20-18.

    Third round:  Lentz with a hip toss but Castilo back up.  Right by Lentz.  Lentz with punches and a knee.  Castillo took him down.  Knee by  Castillo.  Castillo poked his eye.  Castillo with a kick to the jaw.  Takedown by Castillo.  Lentz back up.  Lentz wanted a takedown but Castillo on top.  Lentz moving.in.  Body kick by Lentz.  Close round but I’ve got Lentz 30-27, could be 29-28.

    Scores:  29-28 Castillo, 29-28 Lentz 30-27 Lentz

    Lentz said he’s had a lot of medical problems stemming from  cutting to 145 in the past.  He also said he’s had trouble and even had problems making 155, said he hyperextended his knee in the fight.

    MIDDLEWEIGHTS- JOSH SAMMAN (12-2, 3-0 UFC) VS. TAMDAN MCCRORY (13-3, 3-3 UFC)

    First round:  McCrory pressing him against the fence.  Samann took him down.  McCrory working for a triangle.  NowMcCrory is working for an ambar.  Now he’s back to attempting a triangle.  McCrory scrambled to the top.  Escape and reverse by Samann.  McCrory reversed and got his back working for a choke.  McCrory working for an armbar now.   Samann out and on top. Samann landing some punches from back position.  Very close round.  McCrory 10-9.

    Second round:   Samann is working for a takedown.  He powered McCrory down.   McCrory used a headlock to reverse to the top, and got Samann’s back and is working for a choke.  McCrory keeping back control.  McCrory landing punches and elbows.  McCrory with hard elbows.  McCrory keeping hin down.   McCrory 20-18.

    Third round:   McCrory with a head kick.  Samann back with McCrory with a head kick and Samann back with a head kick.  McCroty took him down, landing punches and now working for a choke.  McCrory staying on top.    McCrory remaining on top and landing punches.  McCrory working for an uma plata.  Now McCrory is working for a triangle.  McCrory holding the triangle and throwing elbows.  Samann finally tapped.

    WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS- (#5) SARAH KAUFMAN (17-3 1 NC, 1-1 1 NC UFC) VS. VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO (9-1, 0-0 UFC)

    First round:  Shevchenko landed several shots.  Now they’re in a clinch.  Takedown by Shevchenko.  Kaufman back to her feet.  Kaufman went for a takedown and Shevchenko blocked it and ended up on top in the mount.  Kaufman regained guard.  Kaufman back up.  Kaufamn went for  a heel hook.  Shevchenko escaped and has Kaufman’s back.  Elbow from close range by Shevchenko.  10-9 Shevchenko.

    Second round:  Spin kick b Shevchenko.  Knee by Shevchenko.  Shevchenko with an elbow.  Hip toss by Shevchenko.  Kaufman throwing elbows off her back.  Kaufman back up and they’re in a clinch.  Both trying to throw the other.  Shevchenko 20-18.

    Third round:  Shevchenko with another takedown.  Kaufman back up.  Knee by Kaufman.  Another bodylock takedown by Shevchenko.  Kaufman with a takedown into side control.  Kaufman throwing elbows to the head.  Kaufman landing elbows.  Now she’s throwing elbows to the body.  Kaufman throwing elbows to the body.  Kaufman has the mount and pounding on her.  Kaufman went for an armbar in the last seconds but Shevchenko slipped out.  Kaufman’s round but Shevchenko should win 29-28.

    Scores:  29-28 Kaufman 29-28 Shevchenko 29-28 Shevchenko.  The judge scoring for Kaufman, man, I don’t know about him. 

    MIDDLEWEIGHTS- (#12) C.B. DOLLAWAY (15-7, 9-7 UFC) VS. NATE MARQUARDT (33-15-2, 11-8 UFC)

    First round:  Body kick by Dollaway and low kick by Dollaway.  Dolloway missed a punch and Marquardt with a hard body kick.  Low kick by Marquardt.   Dollaway rocked him with punches.  Low kick by Marquardt.  Knee by Marquardt.  Head kick by Dolloaway.  Dollaway 10-9.

    Second round:  Trading punches and Marquardt knocked him out on a counter right.  It was a right to the jaw.  

    FEATHERWEIGHTS- (#7) CHARLES OLIVEIRA (20-5 1 NC, 8-5 1 NC UFC) VS. (#9 LW) MYLES JURY (15-1, 6-1 UFC)

    First round:  Oliveira missed weight by 4.5 pounds.   Oliveira took him down.  Jury went for an armbar and Oliveira got his back.  Olivera now with a  guillotine and he tapped out  Great ground work by Oliveira.

    MAIN CARD (FOX- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT)

    WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS- (#7) RANDA MARKOS (5-2, 1-1 UFC) VS. KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

    First round:  Both out swinging.  Karolina landed a few punches.  Markos with a  right.  Crowd going crazy all night with Whoos.  Flair is not in the building.  Karolina cracked her with a right.  Marko s with a right.  Markos pushed her into the cage.  Karolina with punches .  Markos with a right.  Right by Markos.  Markos with low kicks and punches.  She landed a lot of shots but Karolina nailed her with a right. Close round.  Karolina 10-9.

    Second round:  Karolina thowing low kicks now.  Nice right by Karolina.  Left and right by Karolina.  Low kicks  by Karolina. Markos with a takedown.  Markos in piggy back position.  Markos is also holding a body triangle.  Markos stayed behind her the entire round.  Markos so 19-19.

    Third round:  Markos landed rights.  Markos with a takedown but Karolina rolled through and on top.  She’s in full mount.  Punches and elbows by Karolina.  Knees to the body by Karolina.  Markos back up.  Time running out.  Karolina’s round so she should win 29-28.

    Scores:  29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 Karolina. 

    They just announced Sage Northcutt vs. Andrew Holbook to the main card on the 1/30 FOX card from Newark. 

    LIGHTWEIGHTS- (#6) MICHAEL JOHNSON (16-9, 8-5 UFC) VS. (#15) NATE DIAZ (17-10, 12-8 UFC)

    First round:  Johnson landing low kicks.  Johnson continues to land low kicks.  Left by Diaz.  Diaz starting to land.  Diaz starring to land and laughing at him.  Diaz chants.  Hard body  kick by Johnson.  Johnson missing punches short.  Competitive  fight.  Close round 10-9 Diaz.

    Second round:   Johnson with body kicks.  Diaz switching stance.  Diaz landing jabs.  Diaz landing more.  Diaz staring to land regularly.   Left by Diaz..    Johnson with a left.  Johnson with a right and Diaz with a left.  Body kick by Johnson.  Johnson big left.  Diaz chants.  Another left by Johnson.  Diaz with lefts.  Great round.  Johnson with a right.  Diaz landed.  Diaz landing and making fun of him and landed a left and another left.  Johnson back with a right.  Left by Diaz.  Another left by Diaz.  Johnson with a left. Another left and another by Johnson.  Body kick by Johnson.  Diaz with two lefts. Diaz continues to land.  High kick by Diaz.  Diaz continues to land now.  Diaz’s round 20-18.

    Third round:  Johnson with a body kick.  Both throwing.  Nice left by Johnson.  Diaz with a left.  Head kick by Diaz.  Diaz landing punches.  Knees by Diaz.  Diaz landing more punches.  Jabs and a left by Diaz.  Johnson back landing and Diaz back.  Johnson landing all kinds of punches.  Johnson with a right.  Johnson took him down, which made no sense.  Diaz 30-27.

    Scores:  All three had it 29-28 for Diaz.

    So Nate Diaz did an interview where it was all bleeped out but he wanted Conor McGregor saying he already punked out Cerrone and Dos Anjos at the press conference.  

    HEAVYWEIGHTS- (#2) JUNIOR DOS SANTOS (17-3, 11-2 UFC) VS. (#9) ALISTAIR OVEREEM (39-14 1 NC, 4-3 UFC)

    First round:   Brazilians chanting “You’re gonna die” at Overeem.  Nobody touched for nearly two minutes.  Body kick by Overeem.  High kick by Dos Santos blocked.  Low kick by Overem.  Overeem short on a left.  Knee to the body by Overeem.  Left by Overeem.  Left by Overeem.  Low kick by Overeem.  Crowd booing.  Dos Santos bleeding from the nose.  Overeem with a body kick.  Dos Santos missed a spin kick.  Overeem 10-9.

    Second round:   Body kick by Junior  Body kick by Overeem.   Another body kick by Overeem.  Dos Santos missed a spin kick.  This fight sucks by the way.  Knee by Dos Santos  First  thing he’s done the whole fight.  Low kick by Dos Santos.  Another low kick by Overeem.  Overeem with a kick to the body.  Low kick by Overeem.  Nice left by Overeem.  Dos Santos bleeding from the right eye.  Dos Santos finally started punching late in the round.  Overeem dropped him with a left and finished him with a punch on the ground.  The left hook knocked Dos Santos flying.  Dos Santos was really mad at the stoppage.  4:43

    UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP- (C) RAFAEL DOS ANJOS (24-7, 13-5 UFC) VS. (#2) DONALD CERRONE (28-6 1 NC, 15-3 UFC)

    First round:  Loud USA chant.  Dos Anjos landed early.  Low kick by Cerrone.  Knee by Dos Anjos and now he’s taking him apart, a kick to the body and Dos Anjos throwing a ton of punches and Cerrone is in a lot of trouble.  He’s taking a ton of punches.  Cerrone survived.  Dos Anjos had his back and kept throwing punches until Herb Dean stopped it.  1:06

    Dos Anjos said he was happy.  Dos Anjos said he’d face McGregor in Brazil or in Ireland.

  • Sage Northcutt vs. Andrew Holbrook added to UFC On FOX 18

    A lightweight bout between rising prospect Sage Northcutt (7-0, 2-0 UFC) and fellow undefeated fighter Andrew Holbrook (11-0, 1-0 UFC) has been added to the next UFC on FOX event, which takes place next month in Newark, New Jersey. Ariel Helwani reported the bout on tonight’s UFC On FOX 17 broadcast. It will be on the main card of the event.

    It is a quick turnaround for Northcutt, who is coming off a second-round submission win over Cody Pfister at last week’s UFC Fight Night 80 event in Las Vegas. It will be his third UFC bout in just under four months after he scored a quick first-round TKO win over Francisco Trevino in his UFC debut at UFC 192 in October. It will be his first fight televised on the FOX network as the UFC continues the big push of the rising 19-year-old prospect out of Katy, Texas.

    Holbrook will fight in the UFC for the second time after scoring a split decision win over Ramsey Nijem at UFC On FOX 16 in July. It was the first time Holbrook had gone the distance in a fight as his prior ten wins all came by stoppage, with nine wins in the first round. While still young in his career, he represents another small step up in competition for Northcutt.

    UFC On FOX 18 takes place on January 30 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It will be headlined by a five-round light heavyweight bout as Anthony Johnson takes on Ryan Bader.

  • UFC on Fox Orlando Cerrone vs. Dos Anjos: The Observer Picks

    32 events later (that we picked from anyway), we’re here at the finish line. We’ve seen quite a bit this year with the rise of superstars, the falls of others, a lot of title changes, and a lot of flotsam and jetsam along the way.

    Thank you for following along with the 2015 picks, and I’m happy to say we’ll be back for another year…but with a different captain helming the ship. Paul Fontaine will be penning these starting in 2016 and will be joining the picks group along with fellow staff writer Ryan Frederick. Everyone, including yours truly, will be back with the exception of Sherdog’s Jack Encarnacao who is taking his victory lap tonight and will leave a champion. 

    For the final time in 2015, I present your picks panel:

    – Jack Encarnacao (111-46 | .707): Sherdog Rewind host, The Lapsed Fan podcast co-chair

    – Steve Juon (104-53 | .662): AngryMarks founder, MMA Mania writer

    – Mike Sempervive (102-55 | .650): Wrestling Observer Live & Big Audio Nightmare co-host

    – David Bixenspan (102-55 | .650): Figure Four Weekly writer, Observer Daily Update writer, podcast host

    – John Pollock (101-56 | .643): Fight Network personality, Live Audio Wrestling co-host, The MMA Report host

    – Dave Meltzer (98-59 | .624): Wrestling Observer founder & writer

    – Front Row Brian (97-60 | .618): MMA newsbreaker, Twitter personality, podcast host

    – Mike Sawyer (94-63 | .599): Tough Talk MMA, 2014 picks panel champion

    – Josh Nason (90-67 | .573): JNPO host, Wrestling Observer digital media and content guy, WON Twitter guy

    *****

    > UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos (24-7) vs. Cowboy Cerrone (28-6-0-1) II

    It feels like it’s been two years since we saw RDA shock the MMA world in dispatching Anthony Pettis back in March to win the title. Since 2012, RDA is 9-1 with wins over Cerrone, Nate Diaz, Pettis, Benson Henderson, and a slew of lower-tier lightweights. His sole loss in that stretch? To oft-injured Khabib Nurmagomedov. The winner of four straight has a lot of MMA gossip bees buzzing about how different his body looked, but at weigh-ins, there wasn’t a discernable difference. Underappreciated? Yes. Overlooked? Yes. A win tonight would help that a lot.

    Cerrone’s UFC career began back in 2011 following the WEC merger, and he’s been nothing if not active and a winner in that time. In 18 trips to the Octagon, he’s won 15 times and is on an eight-fight win streak. The heads of Edson Barboza, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, Myles Jury, and Benson Henderson were mounted on his trophy wall during that time and a possible tilt with featherweight champion and game-changer Conor McGregor awaits him if he can pull out a win. There’s a lot riding on tonight.

    RDA (favorite): Meltzer, Juon, Bix, Encarnacao, Sawyer
    Cerrone: Nason, Sempervive, Pollock, FRB

    > Junior dos Santos (17-3) vs. Alistair Overeem (39-14-0-1)
    Heavyweights

    I feel like this fight has been talked about for a solid year and to no surprise, it’s been a year since we last saw JDS winning a brutal bout with Stipe Miocic on Fox. The big question here is whether the beatings JDS has taken in the past few years have caught up with him to the point where he wilts in a fight he should win. He’s 11-2 in a long UFC career with two losses coming to a guy named Cain.

    The Reem is a free agent after this fight, so it’s in his best interest to put on a great show. He’s only fought once this year, a March decision win over Roy Nelson that I remember nothing about. He’s won two straight and has had an odd UFC career the past few years, a mix of no-doubt KOs that had him looking up at the lights and a few decision wins that kept him alive. What’s the value of a 35-year-old heavyweight free agent? His performance tonight should help give us an answer.

    JDS (favorite): Nason, Sempervive, Meltzer, Juon, Bix, Pollock, Encarnacao, Sawyer
    Overeem: FRB

    > Michael Johnson (16-9) vs. Nate Diaz (17-10)
    Lightweights

    Holy Christmas, I can’t wait to see this. The two had a pull-apart earlier this week and are intense enough where you know they’re not going to mess around in there. Johnson was steamrolling through a slew of veterans until rising prospect Beneil Dariush stopped that cold in August with a split decision win. This is a big spot for him and one that UFC has to expect him to win. He’s just got to do it.

    It’s been a solid year since we last saw Diaz, a loser in three of his last four. In those three, those defeats have come at the hands of Benson Henderson, Josh Thomson, and the current lightweight champion with his only win coming over a guy in Gray Maynard who should be retired. He’s an underdog here and for a good reason. He’s in fantastic shape, but with the Diaz brothers, there’s always more of a question of what’s happening between the ears.

    Johnson (favorite): Nason, Sempervive, Meltzer, Juon, Bix, Pollock, FRB, Encarnacao, Sawyer

    > Randa Markos (5-2) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (7-0)
    Strawweights

    This is the first fight on big Fox for a reason, friends. The 30-year-old Markos is 1-1 in the UFC and is coming off an April decision win over Aisling Daly. However, the Polish Double-K is the real reason to pay attention here. The undefeated 30-year-old is making her UFC debut just a few years into her pro career. To no surprise, she’s on a similar career track to countrywoman Joanna Jedrzejczyk and with two or three impressive wins, you could see an all-Polish title fight happening in that country in late-2016 or early-2017.

    Markos (favorite): Juon, Bix, Pollock, FRB
    Double-K: Nason, Sempervive, Meltzer, Encarnacao, Sawyer

    > Charles Oliveira (20-5-0-1) vs. Myles Jury (15-1)
    Featherweights

    The 26-year-old Oliveira missed weight…again. It’s the third time he’s failed to hit 145 in eight efforts. While it might not seem like a big deal, it is. Oliveira saw a four-fight win streak (three finishes) snapped in August due to a ruptured esophagus against Max Holloway, a very strange finish to one of the most anticipated featherweight fights of the year. He’s got a chance here to get back in the conversation and to perhaps get a Holloway rematch with a big win.

    The 27-year-old Jury makes his featherweight debut in his first fight since getting his first loss in January to Donald Cerrone. Before that, he had won all six of his battles in the Octagon including Michael Johnson, Diego Sanchez, and Takanori Gomi. He can be a force at 145 if his body adapts appropriately and if his skills continue to evolve. I see lots of good things ahead for Jury if both of those come together.

    Jury (slight favorite): Nason, Sempervive, Juon, Pollock, Encarnacao, Sawyer
    Oliveira: Meltzer, Bix, FRB

  • UFC On FOX 17 DFS Playbook: value picks, who to avoid

    The UFC ends 2015 with an event in Orlando, Florida on FOX, headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout between champion Rafael Dos Anjos and challenger Donald Cerrone. It is one last time to make some money playing daily fantasy for MMA in 2015, and below are our studs, value plays and fighters to avoid as well as our own line-ups for Saturday’s event.

    STUDS

    C.B. Dollaway ($10,800)

    C.B. Dollaway is looking to end a two-fight losing skid when he takes on Nate Marquardt. Marquardt is on quite the skid himself, losing five of his last six fights. Marquardt’s chin has also seemingly seen better days, and he has trouble taking a punch these days. Dollaway has never been known as a knockout artist, but he has some power. Dollaway is still a top-ten caliber talent while Marquardt’s days challenging for titles are long gone. Dollaway should get a win and has a very good chance for a finish.

    Kamaru Usman ($10,200)

    Kamaru Usman won season 21 of “TUF” for the Blackzilians camp and looked impressive in doing so. He has been very impressive in his short MMA career as well, with all six of his career wins coming by stoppage. He has good power in his hands and some solid submission skills, and he trains with one of the top camps in the sport. He has a tough challenge in Leon Edwards ahead of him, but I like Usman to continue his impressive career start.

    VALUE PLAYS

    Valentina Shevchenko ($8,800)

    Valentina Shevchenko is making her UFC debut on short notice against a tough challenge in Sarah Kaufman, but she has the skills to score a big upset. Shevchenko is better on the feet than Kaufman and has a ton of kickboxing experience, with a 60-2 record to go with her 9-1 MMA record. The biggest key for her is to keep the fight upright, but she has good takedown defense. She has the biggest shot to score an upset, and at her salary, that makes her a good play to where you can spend up on your line-up.

    Nate Diaz ($8,300)

    Nate Diaz has the lowest salary of all of the fighters on the card, and with someone of his popularity and skills, that almost seems like an insult. He does have a tough opponent in Michael Johnson, but Johnson’s struggles in his MMA career have been against fighters like Diaz. Diaz is a volume striker with dangerous submissions, and he can suck opponents into his game. He does look in excellent condition and has something to prove. At his salary, he definitely can upset Johnson, and is worth a look for your line-up.

    AVOID

    Nik Lentz ($9,700)

    Nik Lentz is moving back up to lightweight on Saturday for a bout with Danny Castillo, but he is still small for the division. He is a good wrestler, but he isn’t overly impressive with all of his aspects. He does enough to score wins, but that may not be enough against Castillo, who definitely has his back against the wall. Lentz just isn’t enough of a difference maker to make me wanna use him, so I suggest avoiding him.

    Nate Marquardt ($8,600)

    His opponent, C.B. Dollaway, is listed above as a stud, and Marquardt is the one fighter I would avoid on the card whether I was making just one line-up or a hundred. I don’t like his chances against Dollaway, and I think he gets finished. Even if the fight goes the distance, Marquardt just hasn’t shown enough in recent years to make you think he has what it takes to score a lot of fantasy points. It just doesn’t seem like it will be his night.

    OUR LINE-UPS

    RYAN FREDERICK: Junior Dos Santos ($10,900), C.B. Dollaway ($10,800), Josh Samman ($10,300), Donald Cerrone ($8,900), Nate Diaz ($8,300)

    I like Junior Dos Santos to score a knockout win over Alistair Overeem. Dos Santos has taken some beatings but perhaps the time off has freshened him up. He looks good right now and Overeem seems to have lost something coming in for various reasons. Dos Santos still has big power. I like Dollaway to finish Nate Marquardt. I like Josh Samman at his salary. He has three UFC wins, all by finish, and is very good. He has a tough fight against Tamdan McCrory, but is a finishable fight. I like Nate Diaz to score an upset over Michael Johnson, and to win by submission. Finally, I’m going with Donald Cerrone. I think he wins, and he wins by decision. With the thinking it will go five rounds, that is two extra rounds to score more points, and a decision win scores the same whether it goes three or five rounds. The two extra rounds benefits you in scoring more points, and I always try to take a fighter in a five-round fight.

    PAUL FONATINE: Junior Dos Santos ($10,900), Josh Samman ($10,300), Kamaru Usman ($10,200), Cole Miller ($9,600), Donald Cerrone ($8,900)

    Dos Santos is at least a level above Overeem, maybe 2. After a five round war with the very tough Stipe Miocic, this will be like a walk in the park for the former champ. One good shot and Overeem should go down, likely very early in the first. Samman has been a steamroller since losing on TUF to Kelvin Gastelum. McCrory is a nice story but he’s not going to be enough to stop Samman. Usman won the final match in the TUF 21 show to win the competition for his team. That was his fifth straight stoppage win and he should make it 6 over the overmatched Edwards. It seems like destiny that Donald Cerrone will win the lightweight title and then go on to face Conor McGregor in his first title defense. I see this going a lot like the Aldo/McGregor fight actually as the PED crackdown has had a noticeable effect on the physique of the current champion. I’m going with the veteran Cole Miller for my last pick. He’s usually good for a stoppage win and his opponent Alers was lucky not to have lost both of his UFC fights to date, taking a split decision in the opener before losing his second fight earlier this year. 

    PEACH MACHINE: Junior Dos Santos ($10,900), Myles Jury ($10,000), Danny Castillo ($9,700), Karolina Kowalkiewicz ($9,000), Donald Cerrone ($8,900)

    I love Cerrone and I think RDA got lucky against Pettis.  Cerrone is gonna knock him out eventually.  It may take four and a half rounds but that head kick is coming.  JDS is still a monster and Overeem is done.  This is an easy pick for a KO.  Myles Jury hasn’t fought in a year and finds himself against a formidable opponent, but Jury has only lost once and that was to Cerrone.  More importantly, Oliveira is coming off a freak injury loss.  It wouldn’t surprise me to see him come out a little gun shy.  I’m taking Castillo because Nik Lentz sucks and I hate how he spells his name.  Plus, Castillo has lost three in a row and will be motivated to win.  Kowalkiewicz is undefeated an I don’t think Markos is much of a fighter. As always, you’d probably be better just picking the opposite of me.  In a side note, I hope Dolloway and Marquardt both get cut.  I can’t believe we’re still watching these two clowns.  

    As you can see, we are all big fans of Junior Dos Santos and Donald Cerrone scoring wins on Saturday. Good luck to all of those playing!