Is Anthony Johnson a real contender at LHW?

This past weekend we saw the return of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson against #4 ranked light heavyweight “Mr.Wonderful” Phil Davis. Johnson came back and extended his current winning streak to 7 by dominating Davis for all three rounds while also stuffing all 8 of Davis’ takedown attempts. After the final bell rang my first thought was weather Johnson is a legitimate contender at 205lbs.

Now Phil Davis is no slouch but to be honest in my opinion he was ranked too high. His biggest win is against former champion Lyoto Machida in a fight that not only did I think he lost but many MMA journalist and UFC president Dana White thought Davis lost all three rounds.

But back to Johnson… if he is to become a light heavyweight contender now would be the time that it could be a fast climb. During the post-fight press conference Johnson was asked many questions about the light heavyweight title picture and the possibility of facing Jon Jones down the line but Johnson kept saying that he doesn’t think he’s anywhere ready for a title shot. The UFC ranking might think differently as he moved up from being ranked 14^th before the fight to 5^th after the victory. 

I didn’t believe Johnson during the press conference when he said he’s nowhere near ready for a title shot because he trains with some great fighters at the Blackzillians camp like Vitor Belfort, Cezar Ferreira, Tyrone Spong and many others. I think the only reason he said it was so he doesn’t get asked weather he would fight his teammate/training partner and #2 ranked light heavyweight Rashad Evans.

In the next UFC pay per view event Daniel Cormier will face Dan Henderson in a match that has been said to determine the next challenger to Jon Jones’ title but in my mind the winner of that fight should fight Johnson. Yes DC (14-0) is undefeated but all but one of his wins came at heavyweight against Patrick Cummins who took the fight on less than a week notice. While Henderson just snapped a 3 fight losing streak against Maurico Rua in a fight that saw Henderson being on the verge of a 4^th straight defeat. A fight between the winner of Cormier/Henderson and Johnson should be the fight that determines the next contender.

I think Johnson is a legit contender but it remains to be seen if he believes it himself.

What do you guys think? 

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Who really won the Performance Bonus at UFC 172?

Joseph Benavidez and Chris Beal won the performance bonuses for UFC 172 but I think that Luke Rockhold and Danny Castillo might have ben robbed. Now if this were to have happened last year when the UFC gave a bonus for submission of the night and knockout of the night both would have been given his bonus money. But first let me say in no way am I saying Benavidez and Beal aren’t worthy of the bonus. I’m just saying if anything Rockhold and Castillo should have gotten it… even the champ should have gotten it for the way he nullified Teixeira and beat him at his own game.

Since the bonuses are referred to as Performance of the Night, I think we should look at the whole fight from beginning to end not just the way a fight ends. So with that being said if you look at the stats. Of all 20 fighters Rockhold (100%) and Castillo (80%/77%) were first and second in total and significant strikes percentage.

Total Strike Percentage			Significant Strike Percentage
Rockhold	100%		Rockhold	100%
Castillo	80%		Castillo	77%
Brenneman	80%		Elliot	77%
Elliot	78%		Brenneman	62%
Vallie-Flagg	66%		Gomi	55%
Gomi	59%		Boetsch	50%
Correia	55%		Vallie-Flagg	49%
Jones	52%		Correia	48%
Benavidez	50%		Jones	48%
Boetsch	50%		Johnson	44%
Duke	47%		Duke	41%
Johnson	44%		Williams	40%
Williams	40%		Benavidez	39%
Beal	38%		Beal	38%
Holloway	35%		Medeiros	33%
Medeiros	33%		Holloway	31%
Fili	32%		Fili	31%
Miller	30%		Miller	26%
Teixeira	25%		Teixeira	23%
Davis	19%		Davis	14%

For Beal it’s hard to say he shouldn’t have gotten it especially after the way he ended it with a flying knee but his opponent Patrick Williams landed a higher percentage of strikes.

Rockhold also had two submissions lock in as he rolled a takedown attempt by Boetsch into his favorite technique the inverted triangle, which he used as a setup for his fight ending kimura. BTW he finished his fight TWO minutes faster than Benavidez and only took one hit.

I get why Benavidez got it. When you put your oppoenent in a postion were he has to tap with his feet and the resilience he displayed after Elliot came out and was out striking him while standing.

In the end I think that the Performance Bonuses that are given out should reflect the whole fight not just the outcome.

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UFC 172 Post Event Thoughts

It took two full days to recover but WOW!! UFC 172 was an awesome card from the Fight Pass Fight to the Prelims Fights before the main card but like I said…. WOW!!

6 of the 10 fights didn’t make it to the judge scorecard, which has been somewhat of a rarity, these past couple of UFC pay per views. Of the six, four finished by submission that includes two of my contenders for Submission of the Year as Joseph Benavidez finished Tim Elliot with a sick Guillotine (which he latter dubed “The Joaconstrictor”) that forced Elliot to tap with his feet in a wild way. Also Luke Rockhold finished his middleweight adversary Tim Boetsch with a kimura, which he set up with an inverted triangle after a takedown attempt by Boetsch. 

EVEN THE TWO KNOCKOUTS COULD BE IN THE RUNNING FOR KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR!!

Team Alpha Male member Danny Castillo viciously knocked out Charlie Brenneman early in the second round with a over hand right. It was a good thing referee Dan Miragliotta (who in my opinion and I’m willing to bet y’all would agree with me in saying he is the second worse referee only behind the incompetent Steve Mazzagatti) if not Castillo was in prime position to rain heavy haymakers on a limp Brenneman. Castillo looks like he has earned a shot a top 15 opponent.

Recent Ultimate Fighter Team Rousey cast member Chris “The Real Deal” Beal most definitely lived up to his nickname as he ended his fight against Patrick Williams with a vicious flying knee in a fast paced fight. The bantamweights traded blows for a full five minutes before “Real Deal” put Williams to sleep in the second round. Beal is an interesting name to look out for as he tries to make his way into the top15.

WELCOME BACK TO THE UFC MR. RUMBLE!!!

Anthony Johnson made his return to the octagon after a two year absence from the promotion due to being cut after missing weight for a middleweight fight by 12lbs. Johnson had previously missed weight but a welterweight. On his return Johnson was on a six fight winning streak in his more natural weight class of 205lbs. In his return match he took on Phil Davis who spent his airtime during the led up to the event campaigning for a title shot against champ Jon Jones (more on him in a bit). Johnson nullified the NCAA Wrestling Champ on all eight takedown attempts and picked Davis off at will earning a decision win. It should be interesting to see who the UFC decides to put against him in his next fight. They moved him from being ranked 14^th up to 5^th which I think is about right but he him self might not. During the post fight press conference Johnson says he is now where near ready for a shot at the title. I think he’s just saying that to the media but behind the scenes he might not want to open the discussion of a possible title fight between him and his teammate and #2 ranked Light Heavyweigh Rashad Evans.

Jon Jones Continues to Surprise Us

Now I will admit I thought that this was the end of the line for the great Bones Jones but I was wrong but hey! I wasn’t the only one but like jones does every time he steps into the cage he surprised us. Jones played right into Glover Teixeira’s game plan as he out struck him in both the pocket and in the clinch but what was more gut-wrenching were these elbow jerks that Jones applied to Teixeira which might have dislocated his shoulder as in between the 1^st and 2^nd round Teixeira asked for his shoulder to be iced. But Jones cruised to a sweep of all five rounds by all three judges and now is set to take on Alexander Gustafuson in a rematch of their Fight of the Year fight from last year. A fight that pushed the champ to the limit but for now the champ just plans to enjoy this one before he thinks about anyone.

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TUF Nations Finale Main Card Predictions

#6 Dustin Poirier vs. Akira Corassani

Although these two have similar win loss records I give the advantage to “The Diamond”(Poirier, just in case you didn’t know). The #6 ranked featherweight is 3-2 in his last five fights, which were all against top 15 competition. Poirier will be the first opponent that Corassani fights that is ranked so it will be interesting to see if the Sweden born fighter will fair in his first true test in the octagon. The Renzo Gracie Combat Team fighter is currently unranked but is riding a three fight-winning streak. Like I mentioned in the beginning of this I give the advantage to Poirier only based off the experience he has but that doesn’t mean I’m counting out the TUF veteran.

Poirier by decision

Team Canada dominated this season on the Ultimate Fighter and it will be on full display tonight as all four fighter in the tournament final are from Team Canada which has never happen when The Ultimate Fighter features more than one weight class.

Chad Laprise vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you guys that this was one hell of a season because it wasn’t but it was good. Especially when you have the second most brutal knockout in TUF history (Click Here) second only to Uriah Hall’s infamous spinning back kick a couple of seasons ago (Click Here). So because of that I’m going to go with Mr.Laprise.

Laprise by KO

Elias Theodorou vs. Sheldon Westcott

I’ve been doing some research on tonight’s fighters and on paper this fights look evenly match but a closer look into Sheldon Westcott and this guy is a finisher. With a record of 8-1-1 and a 9 fight unbeaten streak Westcott has finished six of his opponents in the first round and only one of those six has made it past the first minute. Elias Theodorou looks nothing like a fighter but inside the cage he’s undefeated with an 8-0 record and five stoppages included. How can you side against someone who has ended 6 of his 8 fights within the first three minutes? Obvious I’m going with Westcott

Westcott by Submission

Patrick Cote vs. Kyle Noke

So now we’re up to the traditional coaches fight at the end of every TUF season. Now this is a fight that won’t make any significant impact in the middleweight rankings but it should be really interesting. Patrick Cote maybe most remembered as the first person in the UFC to make it past the second round during the terrorizing reign of MMA legend Anderson Silva before a knee injury to Cote ended his only shot at the title. Noke meanwhile hasn’t fought in almost 19 months and it will be interesting to see if he’s affected by cage rust. Both fighters have been away from competition for more than a year so like I said it should be interesting to see who isn’t affected by ring rust.

Cote by Decision

#5 Michael Bisping vs. #8 Tim Kennedy

Bisping will be making his octagon return after almost a year away due to an eye injury and waiting for him is Army Ranger Tim Kennedy who has been campaigning for a fight with Bisping since Kennedy made the jump from Strikeforce after the UFC purchase. Bisping has been campaigning for a shot at the middleweight title ever since the UFC has banned TRT use (look up Vitor Belfort) and with a win over Kennedy his voice could be heard. Kennedy is no stranger to 5 round fights as he fought twice for the Strikeforce middleweight title and both times coming up short but now Kennedy is currently on a three fight win streak. The winner of this battle between Top 10 middleweight could potentially be next in line for the strap as it is still unclear when or if Vitor Belfort or Anderson Silva return.

Bisping by Decision

Overall this should be a good night of fights. Let me know if you agree or disagree with me. Don’t forget to check out my live round by round analysis on Twitter and Facebook.

Cageside Talk VLOG1: UFC 174 and Nick Diaz

Check Out my thoughts on the Upcoming UFC 174 headliners and Nick Diaz.

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Gina Carano Coming Back To MMA?

   The original face of women’s MMA is considering making a comeback to the sport that she help pioneer. Gina Carano confirmed in a recent interview on the Arsenio Hall Show that she has a planned meeting later this week with UFC president Dana White to discuss a possible return to the cage. Carano went on to say in the interview with Arsenio that now is the time to make the return if not then she would retire and walk away from the sport and “never do it again”. 

    After an impressive record of 12-1-1 as a professional muay thai fighter Carano made her MMA debut in 2006 and went on to win her first seven bouts over veterans and fellow pioneers Kaitlin Young, Rosi Sexton, and Julie Kedzie before being stopped by Cristine “Cyborg” Justino their title fight in August 2009. Carnao hasn’t fought since then and has since made the transition to the Silver Screen in starring roles in films such as Haywire, Fast and Furious 6, and In TheBlood. 

    The title fight with Justino was the first MMA card that was headlined by two females for the now defunct Strikeforce brand. After the UFC purchased Stikeforce they absorbed some of the existing contracts including Caranos’. 

   It is unclear weather Carano who normally fights at 145lbs plans on making the drop to 135lbs for a potential championship superfight with current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. A Carano-Rousey matchup has the potential to be one of the biggest fights in MMA history.

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