Week's recap and predictions

Can UFC 194 Take the Weekend’s Crown?

 

            On paper UFC 194 is, arguably, the best fight card ever, but will it take the crown as the best event of this weekend? Can this card live up to the pressure? The pressure of a postponed Championship fight that saw the UFC lay down the most money to date to promote the event. Two titles on the line, a load of high ranked competitors ready for action and the phenomenon, that is Connor McGregor all take place for this event. The added pressure of following two consecutive nights of fabulous UFC action. Two cards down and almost every fight so far has been memorable.

            Thursday Night recap:

            Thiago Santos convincingly won a UD over Elias Theodoruo in the Middleweight division. Santos opened up a gash over the TUF Winner’s eye, reminiscent of a cocked eyebrow. The loss was the first on Theodorou’s record to date.

            Same old Sage: Sage Northcutt won by stoppage again. In Fact the 19 year-old has been able to stop every opponent he’s faced in his 7-0 career. Thursday’s came as a Guillotine Choke at 0:41 in the 2^nd round over Cody Pfister. “Super” Sage is now 2-0 since entering the UFC in October, when he TKO’d Francisco Trevino, just 0:57 into his debut.

            Michael Chiesa earned his ninth win by submission with a Rear-Naked-Choke over Veteran fighter Jim Miller. The two exchanged positions and fought a fairly even bout before Chiesa found Miller’s neck.

            Rose Namajunas dominated Paige VanZant before locking in a RNC of her own at 2:25 in the 5^th round. “Thug” improves to 4-2 with four Submissions.

            Friday Night recap:

            Evan Dunham out struck Joe Lauzon to convincingly earn the UD in the Lightweight Division contest. The win improves Dunham’s record to 17-6.

            Tony Ferguson’s second round Sub win over Edson Barboza puts him in second place among 155ers, with seven consecutive (he trails Donald Cerrone who has 8). The high action bout thrilled the crowd and earned each fighter a $50,000 bonus check. “El Cucuy” received an additional $50,000 for locking in a Brabo Choke at 2:54 in the 2^nd.

            A late replacement, Ryan Hall, is the new Ultimate Fighter. The BJJ wizard landed 169 total strikes to Artem Lobov’s 13. Hall’s active ground game kept Lobov scrambling and defending Sub attempts all fight.

            Frankie Edgar has done his part to earn another shot at the FW title. The same title contested tonight by Connor McGregor and Jose Aldo. Edgar KO’d Chad Mendes at 2:28 of the opening round. This marks Edgar’s 5^th consecutive win and 3rd stoppage in the run.

            UFC 194

            With all those great fights already this week, what could cap it off: Two Championship fights, a Middleweight matchup that should provide the next belt challenger, and two more Featherweights battling toward a shot at the belt.

            Max Holloway Vs. Jeremy Stephens is a fight that is not getting the kind of push a contender’s fight of this magnitude normally does. Stephens has the punching power to end this fight at any moment. “Lil Heathen” has 16 KO’s in his career to date. Holloway comes into the fight on a seven fight win streak including 4 KO’s and 2 Subs. Sleeper pick for Fight of the Night. Holloway by Sub.

            Gunnar Nelson takes on Demian Maia in the Welterweight Division. Two grapplers with 10 Submission wins each will battle it out. Often great grappling cancels each other out. Maia should still have the advantage on the ground, but will he be dominant enough to stop Nelson? Not likely Maia by SD.

            Before #1 ranked Middleweight, Luke Rockhold challenges Chris Weidman for the MW belt, #2 Ranked Ronaldo Souza takes on #3 ranked Yoel Romero. “Jacare” Souza has 16 Sub wins while 9 of Romero’s 10 wins have come by KO. Romero is a former Silver Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling for Cuba and Souza is a 5 time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion. Different disciplines of grappling will be tested to find the next #1 Contender. Romero wins by KO.

            The Champion Chris Weidman is undefeated at 13-0 with 6 KO and 3 Sub wins. Luke Rockhold comes in with similar credentials 14-2 with 9 Sub and 3 KO’s. At 31 both Men are in the prime of their careers. In fact the two are similar in many ways. Rockhold, the former Strikeforce MW Champion, comes into the bout with four consecutive stoppage wins (3subs 1KO). Weidman dethroned Anderson Silva and has beaten everyone in his path. Weidman by UD.

            Finally the Main Event: Connor McGregor challenges Jose Aldo for the Featherweight Title. If you haven’t heard about this one yet… Everything has been said. A tough match up to call. I’m trusting Mystic Mac’s prediction 1^st round KO for “The Notorious”.