UFC 144 - More Than Just Another Show

The UFC is headed to the land of the rising sun. This is a very significant move in the growing international presence of the UFC. For those who are skeptical of Zuffa’s domination, this might be a gloomy move but if the consolidation of the best talent in the world excites you, this is a very important turn in the business. Rumors swirled for years about threats to Dana White’s life if he chose to run a show in Japan, threats possibly associated with organized crime. Japan is a huge market for mixed martial arts and the UFC’s entrance into that market might spell trouble for other promotions but more likely it will simply open the door for Zuffa to run one or two major shows a year. Further expansion is likely a few years away but it could lead to a more complete consolidation of talent. To impress the Japanese fans the UFC has put its best foot forward for this show and will present 7 fights on the main card – capped off by a fight that guarantees excitement.

Anthony Pettis vs Joe Lauzon (#7 LW)

I have talked a lot about exciting match-ups lately. That is partially because the booking has been fantastic and partially because my anticipation for events has been growing with the growth in the sport and the decline in my social life. Pettis vs Lauzon is one of those sure fire fights though. I know I know I hyped up the Diaz/Condit fight and it didn’t live up and there is the chance of that with every fight. However, Pettis is one of the most creative strikers in the world and Lauzon is an underrated lightweight that pushes a serious pace. Both fighters can finish and both are on the cusp of making a run this year for a title shot. This fight will be a huge step in the right direction for the winner

Hatsu Hioki (#3 FW) vs Bart Palaszewski (#10 FW)

As Hioki goes, so does this fight. Palaszewski is a gritty fighter and is one of the most game underdogs (I assume he is an underdog) on this card but Hioki was brought in to the UFC to be an eventual challenger for the featherweight belt. As with every Japanese fighter until they prove themselves in the UFC, I remain skeptical about him. He has a chance to emerge as a challenger and one to get excited about if he can win impressively but he also has a really good chance of getting knocked out by an exciting, tough veteran and derailed on his way to the top.

Yushin Okami (#4 MW) vs Tim Boetsch

I love this fight because I love both these fighters. Okami will likely forever be judged by the tragic performance he put up against Anderson Silva but he is a better fighter than that. He just got beat before he ever stepped in the cage. Tim Boetsch on the other hand is a viking, a caveman,or a “barbarian.” No matter what you want to call him the effect is the same – brute strong, tough as nails, can and will hurt you. Stylistically this fight might not be the most grabbing but both posses the kind of power to and explosiveness to finish fights early. Boetsch might be the perfect spoiler and something keeps telling me this is going to be an early knockout but Okami should still have an advantage with his overall skill set and the hometown crowd. This will either be Boetsch’s biggest career win or Okami’s much needed return to form.

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs Jake Shields

Speaking of two guys that need wins, Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama are in desperate need. Two fights ago Jake shields was getting out pointed by GSP and then he dropped a “surprise” to Jake Ellenberger. Now the number one contender on a 14 fight win streak is mid-card fighter on a two-fight losing streak. He can’t afford number three because it would necessarily come at the hands of another struggling fighter as Akiyama drops down to 145 pounds to try his luck at the UFC’s welterweight division following a tough three fight skid. I expect a fair amount of grappling in this one but Akiyama has the power to knock out middleweights so he might try to keep it standing and keep Shields in range. The Japanese star is huge in Asia so the audience will be jacked (as jacked as a Japanese audience will ever get) for this fight.

Mark Hunt vs Cheick Kongo (#10 HW)

It is pretty cut and dry – two big strikers with big power. Unfortunately I suspect Cup-Check Kongo may like his chances going for takedowns and controlling Hunt on the ground while practicing his ground-n-pound but who knows, maybe they will stand and strike. For those of you who don’t know Hunt he is one of those big men with a concrete head and concrete hands. He is hard to hurt and has devastating power. He was also a big star in Japan, hence the booking. This one is Kongo’s to lose and I don’t expect the big men to need 15 minutes to sort this out.

Quinton Jackson (#6 LHW) vs Ryan Bader

Rampage Jackson might be the most popular fighter on this card in the eyes of the Japanese fans. He is legendary for his work in PRIDE FC. Unfortunately he has hit quite a crossroads since coming to the UFC. He has had some great showings, like the one against Machida, but has come up short in the fights that mattered most (Rashad and Jones). Bader should represent a step down in competition but it really isn’t fair to call a guy with his wrestling skills a step down. Bader has a lot to win in this one but this fight is all about Jackson, who would be in a really tough spot if he were to lose. Jackson always has an opportunity to produce fireworks but I am curious as to how he will reaction to Bader’s takedown potential. Either way, this might be the most excited the Japanese fans get (well, next to Akiyama). Don’t sleep on the fight and its importance but don’t get yourself worked up for an old fashion Jackson slugfest.

Frankie Edgar (#1 LW) vs Ben Henderson (#2 LW)

In all earnestness Edgar vs Henderson should be not just a really good fight but a serious contender for fight of the year. That is of course presuming that both men come to fight the way they have for the majority of their careers. Both men push an exceptional pace and have a and exceptional skill set that will force the action on the feet and the ground. This is a going to be a truly different test for Edgar who is making his mark as one of the top fighters in the world right now. I am not completely sure why but I am simply not sold at this point. I think Edgar has a ton of talent but I really like Henderson in this fight. Granted, I also really liked Maynard as well and we know how that eventually turned out. The long and the short of it is that this fight is built to be exciting – to absolutely thrill the audience. I really don’t see it happening any other way. Tune in to see which one of these two emerges as the king of 155 pounds as the division shapes up with new, emerging challengers.