Preliminary Bouts
The preliminary bouts may or may not make it on the card and to my knowledge no plan currently exists to air them elsewhere, but don’t sleep on these them all the same. Some of them may even be worth checking out on line after the show. For example, what do you get when you take a bull-strong, tough as nails Englishman and pit him against a dynamic fast-paced-fighting cowboy from Texas? You get Paul Kelly vs Donald Cerrone, also known as fireworks. While Kelly was wandering the middle of the welterweight and lightweight divisions in the UFC Cerrone was getting multiple shots at the WEC lightweight championship. Kelly is the perfect test for Cerrone, who now jumps into a much bigger pond than he is use to as he makes his UFC debut. Michihiro Omigawa will find himself in a similar position, taking a large step up in competition. The Japanese fighter has had a checkered past when it comes to wins but rides a five fight win streak into his match with unbeaten Chad Mendes. Omigawa fought at 155 pounds in the UFC before but this fight will be at the more-well suited weight of 145 pounds. Mendes will be happy to welcome him back, coming off four strait wins in the WEC and nine wins without a blemish for his career. The winner of this gets in line for a title shot and while they may have to fight once more to get it, the division is ripe for anyone to stand out and make a name for themselves. The same holds true for the Bantamweight division and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (pictured) will look to establish himself there as he finally makes his inaugural United States experience and begins his conquest for a title. Kid Yamamoto has been one of the most highly praised and exciting Japanese fighters for years, inspiring countless bouts of internet banter regarding weather or not the Kid could find success against the top American fighters in his class. All the hype bought him no pass though as UFC matchmaker Joe Silva lined him up against Demetrious Johnson, a 12-1 fighter who prides himself on solid technique and a relentless pace. Look to see if Johnson tries to push that pace early in the fight to test Yamamoto’s conditioning given that Kid has only seen three fights since 2007*. All of the aforementioned fights feature young, ultra-talented fighters trying to make a name for themselves meaning they are all very dangerous and present a high probability for entertainment. Keep your fingers crossed that one or more of these fights squeaks onto the main card.
*Update: Kid Yamamoto vs Demetrious Johnson will stream live on Facebook.
Update 2: Two preliminary fights will be airing on Spike TV, don't miss them.
Miguel Torres vs Antonio Banuelos
Miguel Torres (pictured) was once considered one of the pound for pound best fighters in the world, dominating the WEC’s bantamweight division. At the time his skills seemed to warrant the attention. However Torres now finds himself with something to prove. After losing two strait fights. The first was called a fluke knockout. That is until he dropped his next fight via choke. Torres was able to pick up a win in his last outing but a lot of the shine has come off the once brightest start in the WEC. Antonio Banuelos has been given a golden ticket. In front of him is a highly touted, very beatable opponent on the biggest card of his life. Banuelos keeps a furious pace, has strong wrestling, and utilizes aggressive ground and pound. While the pace will likely not bother Torres, also known for aggressive rate, the other taspects of Banuelos’ game could present problems for the wiry Torres. Whoever comes away with a win might find themselves one win away from a title shot at 135 pounds. The one thing this fight offers for sure is excitement. Both fighters have a tendency to deliver fireworks so be sure to settle in for the whole of the show because you don’t want to miss this opener.
Jake Ellenberger vs Carlos Eduardo Rocha
These two names may not ring a bell to the casual observer but they are two of the hottest prospects in the UFC we division. Rocha (pictured) is an unbeaten Jiu-Jitsu fighter with nine wins, all finishes, eight of them submissions, eight of them finished in the first round. In short, this guy is very dangerous, particularly on the ground. Before you go betting the farm on a submission victory for Rocha keep an eye on Ellenberger, who has finished two very solid fighters (John Howard and Mike Pyle) in his last two outings. Ellenberger is very well rounded and might be able to keep the fight on his feet. If so he will have more tools in his belt than his more one-dimensional opponent. Rocha is a highly touted up and comer and Ellenberger has been turning heads, originally slated to face Jon Fitch before the powers that be willed Fitch vs Penn into existence. Given the perceived lack of competition for GSP and the potential he could vacate the title this year, this fight takes on a great deal of significance. The winner stands to gain significantly, particularly if they can substantiate their hype with an impressive finish or fight of the night performance, both securely in the realm of possibilities.
Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader
More often than not this fight is framed as a battle between young up-and-comers with potential in spades. While that may be true, it might constitute a bit of an undersell. Jon Jones (pictured suplexing a full grown man) and Ryan Bader are bordering on the edge of full-blown contenders, a designation the winner will certainly take away from the fight. Being that they are both wrestlers with constantly improving striking skills the comparisons between the two are natural but their skills manifest themselves in very different ways. Jones is more dynamic and unpredictable with his strikes and his reach advantage. Watch for spinning back fists or kicks, various standing elbow strikes, and creative footwork from Jones. However with Bader you get a more strait forward technical approach to boxing. He hunches over, looks for good combinations, and will swing big from time to time knowing he has the power to finish a fight. Don’t be surprised if they cancel out one another’s wrestling and this becomes a stand-up and/or clinch war. Most, including myself, favor Jones, citing that he probably does everything as well as Bader and maybe a few things better. Jones hasn’t fought someone with the wrestling and power of Bader though. Nevertheless, both fighters have very bright futures, but the winner gets a huge push in the most competitive division in all of MMA while the loser goes back to the drawing board.
Rich Franklin vs Forrest Griffin
Some fights are appealing because they present interesting style match-ups, pitting fighters with dramatically different skill-sets against one another to determine the superior art on any given night. This is not one of those nights. The differences in Forrest Griffin’s and Rich Franklin’s (pictured) games are dwarfed by their similarities. Both men rely on hard work and willpower to overcome fighters that often outmatch them on a purely physical level. Both fighters love to stand up and exchange punches. And both fighters can take a hell of a beating. They are also at similar places in their respective careers, looking to build momentum towards a title shot at the light-heavyweight championship. Forrest has spent the last few years writing books, recovering from injuries, and fighting sporadically while Franklin did every favor the UFC asked and found himself in one catch-weight bout after the other, curtailing his chances of advancing in his chosen weight class. Each is coming off a victory and finds themselves in prime position to make a drastic jump up the competitive ladder. Make sure you are comfortable for this fight as it could be a high-octane slugfest with flashes of aggressive clinch-work and maybe even a few ground attacks. Rest assured, unless one man comes in trying to really surprise the opponent, this fight won’t see much time on the mat though. Franklin has big power and could end it early but this fight has fight of the night written all over it. Considering the aggression and toughness of both Griffin and Franklin, this is a must see for even the most casual of MMA fans.
Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort
Very few people with the slightest inclination to watch MMA need to be reminded why Anderson Silva (black shirt) is great or worth watching. Unfortunately while the same use to be true for Vitor Belfort (white shirt), today he is relatively unknown to newer fans of the sport. Belfort was at the forefront of MMA, fighting the likes of Chuck Liddel, Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva in their prime. When “The Phenom” is on his game he appears unstoppable, but there in lies the problem. His uninspiring record (19-8) doesn’t summon thoughts of a world-beater and speaks to the biggest criticism Belfort has faced to this point, his perceived lack of mental toughness. Some accuse that Belfort can be mentally broken in a fight and folds too easily. If focus or will is your shortcoming, Anderson Silva is not who you want looking across the cage at you. Time and time again we have seen fighters defeated before the bell ever rings, scared to engage or push the pace against the champion. Time and time again we have seen the smallest mistake in the cage spell the end of the night for an opponent of “The Spider.” However, I think there are two important things about this fight to keep in mind. First, Vitor Belfort has been steamrolling fighters for the past three and a half years, showing new life since the collapse of Pride FC. Hopefully this is a sign of maturity and, in turn, a new focus and a new drive that ensures we see the best Vitor Belfort possible. Second, MMA is not a sport where athletes’ records survive unscathed forever. With enough fights the greatest fall and it seems almost like we are just waiting for Silva to the selfsame. To be brutally honest, just about anything could happen in this fight and its largely depends on Belfort. I for one have faith in an aggressive Vitor Belfort. Watch for him to come forward early and try to catch Silva in some rapid exchanges. Perhaps even beware of a takedown attempt from the challenger. As Belfort pushes, the fight should turn into a ticking time bomb, waiting for someone to be dropped in highlight reel fashion. If anyone is going to drop Anderson Silva it may just be “The Phenom,” who’s standup is far superior to any the champion has faced to this point in his UFC career. The long and short of it is simple and complex all at once. Vitor Belfort could present the most significant test of Anderson Silva’s championship reign in the UFC. That “could” comes with a lot of question marks about the mindset of each fighter entering the cage at UFC 126. In spite of everything, Anderson Silva is still the best fighter in the world as of this writing. If you had to put your life savings down on one fighter to win one fight, could you not pick Anderson Silva?
Quick Hits
Fighters To Watch: Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Vitor Belfort
Fight To Watch: Rich Franklin vs Forrest Griffin
Questions To Answer: Will Vitor stay aggressive against the extremely accurate Silva? Will Jones or Bader emerge as the newest contender at 205 pounds? What 135 pound and/or 145 pound fighter(s) will make names for themselves at UFC 126?
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