20 years in the making and I have to say what a card the UFC have delivered! Here at MMA AUS we have been talking about this card for a long time now and the day is almost upon us. This Sunday (Australian time) the talking will be done and it will be time to deliver. Dana White came out last week and said that UFC still wasn’t main stream, well i feel after this it will take a giant leap towards that.
Now the prelims, with names like Story, Cerrone, Durham, Ebersole and Pettis (not the champion one), are likely to be just as exciting as the main card, you don’t want to miss this one. Let’s get this going!
Now the prelims, with names like Story, Cerrone, Durham, Ebersole and Pettis (not the champion one), are likely to be just as exciting as the main card, you don’t want to miss this one. Let’s get this going!
Tim Elliott #7 vs. Ali Bagautinov
We last saw Elliot at UFC 164 when he defeated Louis Gaudinot via unanimous decision. A win here, could really put him in the mix or at least one giant leap towards a title shot in the flyweight division, in which he is already ranked #7.
His opponent here Bagautinov only had his UFC debut in September at UFC fight night 28 where he finished Marcus Vinicius. What I do know is he is a Russian national champion in BJJ so one things for sure he knows how to finish his opponents in the ring.
I think this comes down who handles the lights and pressure of being the opening fight to the biggest card of the year if not ever. It’s definitely the biggest stage either fights have fought on. One fighter has everything to lose and the other has everything to gain. Watch for Elliott to use wrestling game and grind out and ring and just watch Bagautinov in a big step up in class in only his second outing for UFC and he wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t a reason.
We last saw Elliot at UFC 164 when he defeated Louis Gaudinot via unanimous decision. A win here, could really put him in the mix or at least one giant leap towards a title shot in the flyweight division, in which he is already ranked #7.
His opponent here Bagautinov only had his UFC debut in September at UFC fight night 28 where he finished Marcus Vinicius. What I do know is he is a Russian national champion in BJJ so one things for sure he knows how to finish his opponents in the ring.
I think this comes down who handles the lights and pressure of being the opening fight to the biggest card of the year if not ever. It’s definitely the biggest stage either fights have fought on. One fighter has everything to lose and the other has everything to gain. Watch for Elliott to use wrestling game and grind out and ring and just watch Bagautinov in a big step up in class in only his second outing for UFC and he wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t a reason.
Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley
Tyson Woodley has his hands full in this Sunday in this one, ok just hear me out. Woodley has had only two fights in the UFC and they were a knockout of Jay Hieron (36 seconds) and a loss to Jake shields who grinded out the win. On the other hand Koscheck an eight year veteran has face some of the best welterweights who have ever stepped foot into the octagon and that experience is going to the key here to a win by Koscheck.
Firstly I would like to point out that I can’t see Josh Koscheck ever being in the title picture again there’s just too many talented fighters in the division for that to happen and let’s face it he has lost three of his last five fights. What I do see him being is that fighter or stepping stone that Dana White uses for any up and coming fighters have to get through before they get their chance for bigger fighters and Josh is still a hard fight.
This is what this fight is going to be for Woodley a chance for him to test himself against a quality opponent not saying shields wasn’t but koscheck is a different fighter. Now I see this fight going two ways. Now Koscheck could try and work the fence and really grind out the victory or take him to the ground in saying that Woodley has the skills to defend that. So how I see it going down is this will be a stand up fight and it will comes down to who lands first and Josh does love that overhead right but he hasn’t finished a fight in a longtime but on the other hand we don’t know how great Woodley’s chin is either.
Tyson Woodley has his hands full in this Sunday in this one, ok just hear me out. Woodley has had only two fights in the UFC and they were a knockout of Jay Hieron (36 seconds) and a loss to Jake shields who grinded out the win. On the other hand Koscheck an eight year veteran has face some of the best welterweights who have ever stepped foot into the octagon and that experience is going to the key here to a win by Koscheck.
Firstly I would like to point out that I can’t see Josh Koscheck ever being in the title picture again there’s just too many talented fighters in the division for that to happen and let’s face it he has lost three of his last five fights. What I do see him being is that fighter or stepping stone that Dana White uses for any up and coming fighters have to get through before they get their chance for bigger fighters and Josh is still a hard fight.
This is what this fight is going to be for Woodley a chance for him to test himself against a quality opponent not saying shields wasn’t but koscheck is a different fighter. Now I see this fight going two ways. Now Koscheck could try and work the fence and really grind out the victory or take him to the ground in saying that Woodley has the skills to defend that. So how I see it going down is this will be a stand up fight and it will comes down to who lands first and Josh does love that overhead right but he hasn’t finished a fight in a longtime but on the other hand we don’t know how great Woodley’s chin is either.
Rory Macdonald #3 vs. Robbie Lawler #10
This is one interesting fight on one side you have Rory Macdonald who has a lot of tools when it comes to fighting but most of his wins have always been what I want to called ugly not flashy or anything special but you know what it works he gets the wins but one has to feel to take the next step and that would be a title shot he has to do something special in this fight. Yes sure he could wait till it was just his turn and I’m sure it will come around but he should go out there and show or even demand a title shot and that is with a decisive victory. One problem is that he has “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler standing on the other side of the GON.
What Lawler brings is knockout power and boy does he love to knock dudes out. In his last 21 fights he has KO his opponent 18 times and more than half in the first round. It’s amazing that Robbie has been around for a longtime and seems like he is getting a second wind and a win here and who knows where it might take him.
Plain and simple I see this fight going two ways Lawler knocks him out or Rory does best with strikers and that is keeping his distance not letting them find their range and toys with Robbie just like he did with Ellenberger. Lawler won’t just sit back though one would think he would be far more aggressive here. I just feel that if he doesn’t knock Macdonald out he won’t get the victory here. Rory Macdonald deserves a title shot if not just so we can see how good he is when the pressure is on. So does Lawler and maybe just maybe he will take his spot.
This is one interesting fight on one side you have Rory Macdonald who has a lot of tools when it comes to fighting but most of his wins have always been what I want to called ugly not flashy or anything special but you know what it works he gets the wins but one has to feel to take the next step and that would be a title shot he has to do something special in this fight. Yes sure he could wait till it was just his turn and I’m sure it will come around but he should go out there and show or even demand a title shot and that is with a decisive victory. One problem is that he has “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler standing on the other side of the GON.
What Lawler brings is knockout power and boy does he love to knock dudes out. In his last 21 fights he has KO his opponent 18 times and more than half in the first round. It’s amazing that Robbie has been around for a longtime and seems like he is getting a second wind and a win here and who knows where it might take him.
Plain and simple I see this fight going two ways Lawler knocks him out or Rory does best with strikers and that is keeping his distance not letting them find their range and toys with Robbie just like he did with Ellenberger. Lawler won’t just sit back though one would think he would be far more aggressive here. I just feel that if he doesn’t knock Macdonald out he won’t get the victory here. Rory Macdonald deserves a title shot if not just so we can see how good he is when the pressure is on. So does Lawler and maybe just maybe he will take his spot.
Rashad Evans #4 vs. Chael Sonnen #6 CO-Main Event
Friend vs. Friend but make no doubts about it folks there won’t be any friendly feelings after that cage door closes on Sunday. Evans has been saying that someone has to pay for all the hard work he has been putting in and someone has to pay for him having to be away from his family and that person is Chael Sonnen.
The big question is which Rashad Evans is going to show up for the fight because we know which Sonnen is going to show up and that’s the one who is always ready for a fight (even though he’s been pretty quiet ). Will the real Rashad please stand up please stand up. Evans hasn’t looked overly great in his last couple of fights and has really been outclassed. Now one thing in Evans favor is he has a great chin and he is really hard to knockout but Chael Sonnen knows that and will take him to the ground and will work him over and either submit him or the more likely go the distance and win by decision. Don’t get me wrong Evans does have a chance of winning if he can catch Sonnen but I can’t see that happening and Chael is too strong on the ground. I think Chael will come into this with the perfect game plan to take out the victory and I just don’t know about Evans is he really Suga or just plain sweet. In the end i dont see the winner of this advancing much. In Chael Sonnen’s case a win won’t advance him in the ranking in LH and won’t do much for MW.
GSP #Champ VS Johny Hendricks#1 Main Event
I don’t think we have had a more talked about fight in a long time and this is going to be one hell of a fight and we at MMA AUS for one cannot wait to see what happens in this one.
Hendricks has every skill to win this fight. He has the knockout power that we have seen in fight after fight to add to that he has a great wrestling background so nothing wrong with his ground game and finally he has heart and motivation which is going to take him a long way in this fight.
However there is a reason why GSP has been the champion for so long and that’s because it doesn’t matter how fighters have something that he hasn’t seen before or dealt with because he always seems to find a way to overcome it and win. It’s like he uses the opponents strength against them or he keeps his distance in the first couple of rounds and then grinds away at them in the last two rounds to a decision. He is just that good. A win here will have the GOAT debate start again not that it ever went away.
What I feel that Hendricks need to do here is not come out swinging and trying to knockout GSP out straight away and yes I know it could work but I feel that what he will be expecting. He should come straight out and shoot get GSP on his back let him know he is in for a long night and that you have come for his title. Hendricks can’t let GSP control the fight otherwise he will find his range and Johny will be at the end of the jab and that doesn’t end well.
On top of all the skills and talent that GSP brings to this fight that we already know there is one more weapon he has up his sleeve and that comes in the form of Rick “horror” Story the last and only man to ever defeat Hendricks. Who has been brought in to train with GSP. One bit of advice that he has given is to take the fight to Hendricks as he doesn’t work well on his back foot. Add to that GSP, Story and Macdonald all training together at Tristar for fights at UFC 167 with Story taking on Ebersole in the prelim, Sets a pretty solid training camp.
I wouldn’t be surprised if GSP did win he is just that good and knows how to win but on the other hand I can’t see Hendricks losing. It’s a tough one. If Hendricks can KO or submit GSP he just has to get close enough to do it.
Can Hendricks become the first fighter since Matt Serra to knock out GSP? Well he has a beard so that’s a great start.(Get your Johny Hendricks T-shirt here)
Don’t forget to check out the live blogs on the website www.mmaaus.com on fight day and follow MmaAus on twitter and when your there Follow @Tdawg1111.
Friend vs. Friend but make no doubts about it folks there won’t be any friendly feelings after that cage door closes on Sunday. Evans has been saying that someone has to pay for all the hard work he has been putting in and someone has to pay for him having to be away from his family and that person is Chael Sonnen.
The big question is which Rashad Evans is going to show up for the fight because we know which Sonnen is going to show up and that’s the one who is always ready for a fight (even though he’s been pretty quiet ). Will the real Rashad please stand up please stand up. Evans hasn’t looked overly great in his last couple of fights and has really been outclassed. Now one thing in Evans favor is he has a great chin and he is really hard to knockout but Chael Sonnen knows that and will take him to the ground and will work him over and either submit him or the more likely go the distance and win by decision. Don’t get me wrong Evans does have a chance of winning if he can catch Sonnen but I can’t see that happening and Chael is too strong on the ground. I think Chael will come into this with the perfect game plan to take out the victory and I just don’t know about Evans is he really Suga or just plain sweet. In the end i dont see the winner of this advancing much. In Chael Sonnen’s case a win won’t advance him in the ranking in LH and won’t do much for MW.
GSP #Champ VS Johny Hendricks#1 Main Event
I don’t think we have had a more talked about fight in a long time and this is going to be one hell of a fight and we at MMA AUS for one cannot wait to see what happens in this one.
Hendricks has every skill to win this fight. He has the knockout power that we have seen in fight after fight to add to that he has a great wrestling background so nothing wrong with his ground game and finally he has heart and motivation which is going to take him a long way in this fight.
However there is a reason why GSP has been the champion for so long and that’s because it doesn’t matter how fighters have something that he hasn’t seen before or dealt with because he always seems to find a way to overcome it and win. It’s like he uses the opponents strength against them or he keeps his distance in the first couple of rounds and then grinds away at them in the last two rounds to a decision. He is just that good. A win here will have the GOAT debate start again not that it ever went away.
What I feel that Hendricks need to do here is not come out swinging and trying to knockout GSP out straight away and yes I know it could work but I feel that what he will be expecting. He should come straight out and shoot get GSP on his back let him know he is in for a long night and that you have come for his title. Hendricks can’t let GSP control the fight otherwise he will find his range and Johny will be at the end of the jab and that doesn’t end well.
On top of all the skills and talent that GSP brings to this fight that we already know there is one more weapon he has up his sleeve and that comes in the form of Rick “horror” Story the last and only man to ever defeat Hendricks. Who has been brought in to train with GSP. One bit of advice that he has given is to take the fight to Hendricks as he doesn’t work well on his back foot. Add to that GSP, Story and Macdonald all training together at Tristar for fights at UFC 167 with Story taking on Ebersole in the prelim, Sets a pretty solid training camp.
I wouldn’t be surprised if GSP did win he is just that good and knows how to win but on the other hand I can’t see Hendricks losing. It’s a tough one. If Hendricks can KO or submit GSP he just has to get close enough to do it.
Can Hendricks become the first fighter since Matt Serra to knock out GSP? Well he has a beard so that’s a great start.(Get your Johny Hendricks T-shirt here)
Don’t forget to check out the live blogs on the website www.mmaaus.com on fight day and follow MmaAus on twitter and when your there Follow @Tdawg1111.
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