MMA has no off-season. More often than not these days the gaps between major events just feature a less impressive card than normal, thus is the current existence of the sport. At the risk of making an overdone statement here, this is one of those brief times, times where even though the UFC is putting up a PPV with big name headliners we can almost take a breath and let ourselves absorbed what has recently come top pass. Cards like UFC 115 don’t get loyal MMA fans as excited as some other billings but they are necessary. There is an art to this kind of card and the UFC has perfected it.
The most intriguing thing about these shows, the ones that don’t feature title bouts or top contenders, is that they try to bring something to the table for everyone. MMA loyalists tend to balk at the shows a bit but find themselves more than a little taken by some of the fights. Casual MMA fan are usually drawn by a few names, regardless of their recent success or lack there of. Diehard MMA fans will find great interest in this card through Carlos Condits continued struggle to gain momentum in the UFC against huge prospect Rory MacDonald, Rothwell vs Yvel, Kampmann v Thiago, and Pat Barry’s stiffest striking test to date. The less dedicated fans will see the names Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin and Mirko Cro Cop, perking up a bit for the amount of name recognition the card features.
Big things were expected of Carlos Condit upon his move from the WEC to UFC but Condit has been a bit slow getting off the ground. Unbeaten Rory MacDonald should not provide the clear skies and runway he might be looking for either. Condit is an extremely well-rounded fighter many have seen him come of age a bit since his earliest days in the WEC, but some have crowned MacDonald as the next big thing. Both men will be looking to scrap this out and impress, I expect nothing short of a fight of the night candidate here with lots of work on the feet and the ground. Speaking of the ground, don’t expect Ben Rothwell and Gilbert Yvel make it down there. These two big men are in desperate need of a win in the UFC as both saw their UFC debuts come against rising superstars of the division. This could be anything from a heavyweight slugfest if both guys come prepared and motivated to a quick and much needed finish for one fighter. Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago may not be looking for a win in quite the same way but both fighters are very much looking to move in the direction of some UFC gold. Unfortunately both men have found it hard to string together wins in the right way. As a Kampmann fan and a recent convert to a Thiago believer I am confident that this fight could deliver in a big way come UFC 115.
Mirko Cro Cop is one of the most recognizable international faces in the sport of MMA today. He built his legacy around stunning knockouts and a stoic demeanor. Few heavyweights have inspired so much fear in their opponents over the years. Unfortunately it has been quite some time since we have seen that Cro Cop. Like with all fighters who have found themselves in a slump, the party line involves a refreshed, focused, and injury free comeback, but I will wait for June 12th before I start penciling Cro Cop in as a top contender. If he doesn’t come prepared for this fight he might end up getting put down. Patrick Barry is a very game striker and this is his big chance, time to shine. A win here puts him in competition with the top names in the division. Neither man will need to worry much about submissions so both should be able to let it fly. This is another fight that could turn into a crowd pleaser.
This main event is likely what should have always been on the books. I didn’t know too many people, no matter their level of interest in the sport, that were really eager to see Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz fight for a third time, considering the outcome of their first two fights. TUF 11 had done a fair job of hyping the fight and stirring up some interest, but it didn’t really convince anyone that the result would be dramatically different. Rich Franklin filling in for the injured Ortiz however changes the game completely. Franklin has been stuck between divisions and playing gate-keeper for far too long. Franklin deserves a chance to break into the LHW division and a headlining bout against the hall of famer does just that. “Ace” could cause Liddell a lot of problems both fighters continue their recent form, save Franklin’s performance against Belfort. He has looked sharp and disciplined with his game-plans while Liddell has looked a bit exposed and slower. This fight is important not because it will make an immediate impact on the title picture but because it brings two great fighters together in what at one time could have been an all time dream match-up. UFC 115 has a lot to offer and virtually every fight on the main card has the potential to be an exciting show-stealer and that includes the main event. It is time to see where Franklin stands at 205 and see how much the legendary Iceman has in the tank. One of these two men will be going home highly disappointed and the other will breathe new life into their career. If that isn’t something to tune in for, I don’t know what is.
No comments:
Post a Comment