Tecia Torres VS Rose Namajunas Fight Elevated to Co-Main Event on Fox

 Tecia Torres VS Rose Namajunas Fight Elevated to Co-Main Event on Fox

 

            More bad news for the UFC Fight Night 19 Card, Lyoto Machida has admitted to taking a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) banned substance and has been removed from Saturday night’s Co-Main event, to air on Fox. According to a message on Machida’s Facebook page, Wednesday, he was surprised to find out a substance he was taking was on USADA’s banned list, “I really did not know about this substance, so I listed it on my declaration form amongst everything else I was taking, and this substance was recently banned in 2016, so I take the blame for not knowing that” Machida goes on to apologize to fans, teammates and family. The supplement in question is 7-Keto, which contains DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) an over the counter substance. However, USADA had it listed on the first page of their Prohibited Substance list in 2005.

            This is the second last minute, loss the Fox fight card has sustained. Tony Ferguson was forced to withdraw last week due to injury, cancelling his main event bout with 22-0 Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Strawweight scrap between Tecia Torres and Rose Namajunas has now been elevated to the co-main event.

Undefeated UFC Strawweight, Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres faces a familiar opponent, # 3 ranked, Rose “Thug” Namajunas in the evening’s Co-Main Event at UFC on Fox 19, April 16^th. This is a rematch, Torres defeated Namajunas in 2013 by Unanimous Decision at Invicta FC 6. The two also stared on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 and were eventual teammates on Team Pettis (Namajunas lost in the finale to former champ Carla Esparza).

Now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Torres is ranked #4, (one spot below Rose) in the UFC’s 115lbs division. Each of the American Top Team member’s seven victories have come by way of UD, including wins over fellow TUF cast-mate, Angela Hill (6/13/15) and 6-2 Jocelyn Jones Lybarger (12/12/15).  

“The Tiny Tornado” will likely use her Tae Kwon Do and Karate inspired kicking game to close the five inch reach deficit she gives up to the 5’4” Rose. Tecia hasn’t submitted an opponent, but has done well to fight off her adversaries sub attempts, a skill she best employ Saturday as each of Namajunas’ four wins have come by Submission.

The twenty-two year old, “Thug” is coming off: a Dec 10^th, fifth round, rear-naked choke (2:25) of Dancing with the Stars own Paige VanZant, and  two months earlier caught Angela Hill with the same choke in the first round (2:47) of their Oct 3^rd fight. The victor will likely get the winner of Joanna Jedrzejccyk and Claudia Gadelha’s July 8^th Championship match-up. The pair square off in Fox’s Co-Main Event, a card headlined by #7 Rashad Evans challenging #4 Glover Teixeira in the Light Heavyweight Division.

Former Light Heavyweight Champion, Rashad Evans’ time in the UFC dates back to The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 when he bested the Heavyweight competition. “Suga” lost his last contest, an Oct. 3^rd UD to 21-5 Ryan Bader. The fight was the first for the Junior College National Champion Wrestler, in nearly two years (injuries had kept him from competition). The 36 year old will be looking for the 20^th win of his career when he faces 24-4 Glover Teixeira

Evans was scheduled to face Teixeira back on Feb 24^th, 2015, but a nagging knee injury was credited for Glover’s fight cancellation. Danbury Connecticut’s Teixeira comes into the fight on a two fight win streak, both finishes: Nov 7^th, he TKO’d Pat Cummins in the 2^nd round (1:12) and he Choked (Jon Jones’ April 23^rd opponent) Ovince Saint Preux unconscious in August.

In the Lightweight Division, the long awaited return of undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov will finally happen. Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since April of 2014 when he beat current LW Champ, Rafael dos Anjos by UD. Originally scheduled to face Tony Ferguson (forced to withdraw due to injury) he now faces 12-1 Darrell Horcher in Horcher’s UFC debut. The contest will be a far cry from the Number-One Contender match fans hoped to see, but Horcher comes in, riding a five fight win streak, including his last two, both by third round TKO.

Due to the lineup changes Featherweights, 21-7 Cub Swanson and 23-3-1 Hacran Dias will now compete in the main-card opener.

Headlining the preliminary fights on UFC’s internet streaming site FightPass will be the #3 ranked Flyweight, John Dobson moving up to 135lbs to take on 18-9-1 Manny Gamburyan in the Bantamweight division.

The Prelims that air on Fox at 6PM ET, feature #7 LW Beneil Dariush VS. #14 Michael Chiesa battling it out in the Lightweight division.

UFC Fight Night Teixeira VS. Evans Sat Apr. 16, 2016 8PM ET on Fox

 

Fall River’s Torres to Fight on Fox

Fall River’s Torres to Fight on Fox

            Undefeated UFC Strawweight, Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres faces a familiar opponent, # 3 ranked, Rose “Thug” Namajunas in the opening bout on the Main Card of UFC on Fox 19, April 16^th. This is a rematch, Torres defeated Namajunas in 2013 by Unanimous Decision at Invicta FC 6. The two also stared on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 and were eventual teammates on Team Pettis (Namajunas lost in the finale to former champ Carla Esparza).

 Now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Torres is ranked #4, (one spot below Rose) in the UFC’s 115lbs division. Each of the American Top Team member’s seven victories have come by way of UD, including wins over fellow TUF cast-mate, Angela Hill (6/13/15) and 6-2 Jocelyn Jones Lybarger (12/12/15).  

“The Tiny Tornado” will likely use her Tae Kwon Do and Karate inspired kicking game to close the five inch reach deficit she gives up to the 5’4” Rose. Tecia hasn’t submitted an opponent, but has done well to fight off her adversaries sub attempts, a skill she best employ Saturday as each of Namajunas’ four wins have come by Submission.

 

The twenty-two year old, “Thug” is coming off: a Dec 10^th, fifth round rear-naked choke (2:25) of Dancing with the Stars own Paige VanZant, and  two months earlier caught Angela Hill with the same choke in the first round (2:47) of their Oct 3^rd fight. The victor will likely get the winner of Joanna Jedrzejccyk and Claudia Gadelha’s July 8^th Championship match-up. The pair kick off Fox’s Main Card broadcast, a card headlined by #7 Rashad Evans challenging #4 Glover Teixeira in the Light Heavyweight Division.

Former Light Heavyweight Champion, Rashad Evans’ time in the UFC dates back to The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 when he bested the Heavyweight competition. “Suga” lost his last contest, an Oct. 3^rd UD to 21-5 Ryan Bader. The fight was the first for the Junior College National Champion Wrestler, in nearly two years (injuries had kept him from competition). The 36 year old will be looking for the 20^th win of his career when he faces 24-4 Glover Teixeira

Evans was scheduled to face Teixeira back on Feb 24^th, 2015, but a nagging knee injury was credited for Glover’s fight cancellation. Danbury Connecticut’s Teixeira comes into the fight on a two fight win streak, both finishes: Nov 7^th, he TKO’d Pat Cummins in the 2^nd round (1:12) and he Choked (Jon Jones’ opponent) Ovince Saint Preux unconscious in August.

Also appearing on the card are legendary Middleweights, 31-14 Dan Henderson and #5 Lyoto Machida. Henderson is coming off a Nov 7^th, first round KO courtesy of Vitor Belfort. Henderson and Machida faced back in 2013, “Hendo” lost the Split Decision, in fact including their match up, the former Olympic Wrestler has won just two in his last ten bouts. At Forty-five years old Dan hopes to uncork another of his 15 career KO’s, like he did to Tim Boetsch just :28 into their 6/6/15 bout.

Just 1-3 in his last four “The Dragon” finds himself in a similar position to Henderson. At 37 years old, the Machida that rattled off eight consecutive UFC wins as a LHW has unfortunately, aged six years.

In the Lightweight Division, the long awaited return of undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov will finally happen. Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since April of 2014 when he beat current LW Champ, Rafael dos Anjos by UD. Originally scheduled to face Tony Ferguson (forced to withdraw due to injury) he now faces 12-1 Darrell Horcher in Horcher’s UFC debut. The contest will be a far cry from the Number-One Contender match fans hoped to see, but Horcher comes in, riding a five fight win streak, including his last two, both by third round TKO.

 

UFC Fight Night Teixeira VS. Evans Sat Apr. 16, 2016 8PM ET on Fox

Heavyweights in for a Shake-up?

Heavyweights in for a Shake-up?

 

 

            Stipe Miocic is heading to Brazil, not on vacation, his purpose is to return home with the UFC’s Heavweight Championship Belt in his carry-on luggage. Ten of Miocic’s fourteen wins have come by KO/TKO, including his fifth round TKO of Mark Hunt last May and his January 2^nd stoppage of Andrei Arlovski in just 0:54.

 

            In order to come home Champ, Stipe will have to beat 20-5-1 Fabricio Werdum. Werdum is on a well-rounded, six fight win streak, with two Unanimous Decisions, two submissions and two TKO’s. Werdum beat Mark Hunt with a second round TKO to become the interim HW Champ and then choked former Champion, Cain Velasquez to submission last June to wear the UFC’s top honor. Werdum is scheduled to attempt his first title defense, May 14^th at UFC 198.

A fight taking place in the HW division a month earlier may line up nicely as the next match up for the eventual champ (baring an immediate rematch). Ben Rothwell 36-9 takes on Junior Dos Santos 17-4 in Zagreb, Croatia April 10^th. Check your local listings because coverage begins in the morning.

Rothwell has finished his last four fights in the UFC, two subs and two TKO’s. Of his 36 wins only 3 have come by decision (all unanimous btw). 20 TKO/KO and 13 Subs. A convincing win will likely be just what Ben needs to earn a title shot.

If Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos (what does a guy named Junior need a nickname for?) wins he won’t likely get a shot at the belt. The former champ has gone 2-3 in his last five, but UFC 200 may produce a worthy adversary to the HW crown.

 

Former Champ, Cain Velasquez faces 18-3-1 Travis Browne at the July 9^th show. Velasquez’s 6/13/15 loss to Werdum was only the second of Cain’s career. A career that has seen him KO/TKO 9 UFC HW opponents.

Travis Browne is 2-2 in his last four, like JDS (#namehog), a win won’t likely result in a title shot, but you never know. The HW Division has a short memory and a convincing win, may be all either need to present a convincing argument toward a date with the champ.