Breakdown Legacy FC 59

                Two hometown Middleweight fighters will headline Legacy Fighting Championship 59, Sept. 16^th at the Arena Theater in Houston Texas. 11-7 Isaac Villanueva will face fellow Houstonian, 7-0 Trevin Giles in the Main Event.

               

Isaac Villanueva is riding a three fight win streak, including his last effort at LFC 55 earning a Unanimous Decision win over Brandon Farrar. The Decision was only the second time “Hurricane Ike” has let a bout slip to the judges’ decision, in 18 fights. He has finished nine of his eleven wins by KO/TKO. This past February at Bellator 149, Villanueva allowed the clock only 42 ticks before stopping Richard Knepp’s night by TKO and a month earlier (1/15/16) he thrilled the crowd at Fury Fighting 9 with an opening round KO of Husan Mohamed at 1:08.

               

Undefeated, Trevin Giles has stopped all seven of his opponents to date (3 KO/TKO, 4 Subs). This is Giles fourth fight with LFC, in March he sub’d Brendan Allen by rear-naked-choke (1:47, 2^nd round) at LFC52. In Giles most recent bout, Josh Clark fell to the same fate in the 2^nd round (1:10) in the Main Event at RFA 41 (7/29/16). With fighters that own such impressive finishing skills, these two local fighters should draw the attention from MMA fans everywhere.

               

In the Lightweight Division, Justin Reiswerg has finished eight of his nine career wins, six by Submission. “The Wolverine” last appeared under the Legacy banner at LFC50 (1/22/16), when it took him only 1:43 (1^st round) to sink in a rear-naked-choke on Jonathan Harris.  The Twenty-eight year old has had a tough go as of late, 1-3 in his last four, but he’s always a threat with his proven submission game. He faces Jason Langellier.

               

Langellier comes in with a perfect 4-0 record, 3 KO/TKO and 1 Sub. “Slim Reaper” is fighting in his fourth LFC event, all previous have been halted due to Langellier’s strikes. Most recently a first round knee stopped Jeremiah Jones (1:19) at LFC55. “Slim Reaper’s” only pro fight outside Legacy also accounts for his sole submission win, a first round anaconda choke earned him the victory at Bellator 149.

                Baton Rouge Bantamweight, Chris Pham has finished each of his four wins (3 subs, 1 KO). Always dangerous, Pham has struggled lately, winning only one in his last five attempts, but that win, a :28 KO of Aaron Williams at Cage Rage 22.

                Pham faces Houston’s Domingo Pilarte. “Anointed” is on a two fight win streak. Last time out (10/09/15) the Twenty-six year old collected one of his three submission wins with a first round arm bar (2:04) of Javier Obregon at Fury Fighting 8.

                Staying in the Bantamweight Division, winner of his last four, Houston’s Colin Wright looks to improve his 4-2 record. At Fury Fighting 10 (4/8/16) Wright earned his third submission win with a first round Triangle choke of Edward Longoria (2:43). Wright takes on Twenty-two year old, Adrian Yanez. Yanez won a Unanimous Decision over Ryan Hollis at Bellator 149 for his first career decision win. Yanez also has two wins by TKO and one sub.

Also scheduled for the Main Card: 135lbs. 3-0 Randy Mc Cullough takes on 4-3 Mike Trinh, 205lbs. 10-10 Chad Cook Vs 3-1 Danny Orr. To view the entire fight card www.legacyfights.net

Wonderboy, GSP, Diaz? Who Should Woodley Face Next

Wonderboy, GSP, Diaz? Who Should Woodley Face Next

By now you’ve probably seen the video of Tyron Woodley telling Stephen Thompson that he isn’t interested in putting his newly acquired belt on the line versus “Wonderboy”, stating he is interested in big money fights, mentioning Nick Diaz as a potential opponent. T-Wood dropped that bomb on Thompson, just moments after dropping Robbie Lawler, in the first round, to become the Welterweight Champion. On the UFC 201 Post Fight Show on FS-1 Thompson awkwardly asked Woodley for the title shot (Thompson previously picked Lawler to win the fight). Woodley instead suggested Thompson face Lawler in a number one contenders fight.  

                It’s not likely that Nick Diaz will get a title shot following a suspension after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 (1/31/15). The suspension, originally: five years and $165,000, was reduced following a Diaz appeal, to 18 months and 100,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The suspension was lifted on August 1^st, 2016, so Diaz is eligible, but having lost his last two fights at 170lbs (St-Pierre 3/16/13 and Condit 2/4/12) and the loss to Silva, ruled a No Contest (following a failed pre-fight drug test by Silva) it will be hard to sell Nick as a worthy challenger.  

                Enter GSP. In December of 2013 George St-Pierre, the UFC’s most dominant Welterweight Champion of all time, announced that he would vacate his title and take some time off from the sport to handle personal affairs. According to Tyron Woodley, St-Pierre is interested in a return to fight for the belt with the new champ. A fight with GSP, returning from a three year hiatus, will provide Woodley with his best option for a big money fight. St-Pierre is one of the sport’s biggest draws of all time and it would be difficult to suggest he doesn’t deserve it. GSP beat his last twelve Welterweight opponents. The last time he lost was to, The Ultimate Fighter 4 winner, Matt Sera at UFC 69 4/7/2007. At Thirty-five years old, St-Pierre is still young enough to improve on his 25-2 MMA record.

                Since entering the Octagon at UFC 143 (2/4/12) Stephen Thompson has gone 7-1 with five TKO/KO wins. Three of those finishes have come by head kick. As the name would imply, “Wonderboy” is impressive. He ended Jake Ellenberger’s night with a spinning hook kick (7/12/15) and seven months later TKO’d former WW Champ, Johny Hendricks with a first round wheel kick at UFC FN 2/6/16. In his last affair, Thompson earned a five round Unanimous Decision over Rory MacDonald, proving he has the endurance to compete for the strap.

                The Diaz fight won’t likely materialize. Just about everyone not named Thompson would prefer to see Woodley face GSP, but if St-Pierre decides against a comeback, “Wonderboy” is likely the next challenger to the 170lbs crown.  

Deserving or not, Woodley is No Joke

Deserving or not, Woodley is No Joke

Fresh on the heels of the colossus bicentennial event, dubbed UFC 200 the Ultimate Fighting Championship brings their show to Atlanta, Ga for UFC 201 on July 30^th 2016. Tough to not appear lackluster compared to its predecessor, this event features less of the sports house-hold names.

Many have criticized Welterweight title challenger, Tyron Woodley as an unworthy opponent for Champ Robbie Lawler. Woodley hasn’t competed since his Split Decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum, 1/31/15.  Also “The Chosen One” beat his biggest UFC name to date, Carlos Condit, when a leg kick caused an injury that halted the fight.

However, make no mistake, Woodley is a dangerous opponent for any Welterweight; ask UFC Veterans Dong Hyun Kim, Josh Koscheck or Jay Heiron all of whom Tyron finished in the first round via punches. The 48-0 High School Wrestler trains at American Top Team, the same team as Champion Robbie Lawler.

Many fans are interested in seeing Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson take on Lawler. The former 20-0 Kickboxer has finished seven of his thirteen MMA wins by KO/TKO. In June Thompson beat Rory MacDonald by Unanimous Decision. Prior to that he stopped former Champ Johnny Hendricks (2/6/16) and Jake Ellenberger (7/12/15) both in the first round, earning performance bonuses for each effort. Fans will have to be patient, the dynamic striker will likely be the division’s next challenger.

Before Lawler can even consider a possible match-up with Thompson he must first beat  Woodley on Saturday. “Ruthless” has been in some battles for the WW strap. In March of 2014 he lost a close Title fight to (then champion) Johnny Hendricks, before beating Ellenberger (5/24/14) and Matt Brown (7/26/14) in order to earn a second shot at the gold, all in the same year. In December 2014, Lawler beat Hendricks by Split Decision to become the undisputed King of the WW division. In July of 2015 Lawler defended his belt against Rory MacDonald in a violent match that saw both competitors hurt before Lawler finally put MacDonald away in the fifth round. In January 2016, he out-gutted Carlos Condit in a close Split Decision victory.

No doubt the Thirty-four year old can bring it, but will the accumulated damage of his 27-10-1 career finally catch up with him? I think not, yet. Lawler’s grit and experience in five round wars will prevail, coupled with Woodley’s long absence from competition, Lawler will likely do what Robbie does: bite down on his mouthpiece and battle. Woodley's best chance is to end it early, winning a five round fight against Lawler is a tough order. Lawler's cardio gets stronger in later rounds and Woodley's heavily muscled build has gassed in the past.

Victory FC 50 at the Kansas Expo-Center in Topeka Kansas offers a fight card that is sure to thrill. The May 21^st event features two championship belts on the line. In the Main Event, Heavyweight Knock Out artists, Abe Wagner and Daniel Gallemore will bring their combined ten TKO/KO finishes to the cage. In the Co-Main Jarred Mercado puts his Featherweight Title on the line when he faces 14-1 Alexandre Pimental.

If the name Abe “Hurricane” Wagner sounds familiar, it’s likely because the 36 year old was a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter, Season 10. He lost his first fight to Jon Madsen and was eliminated from competition early. The Nebraska native hasn’t competed since a 4/25/14 no contest versus Rob Mitchell. Prior to that Wagner lost three straight, but his last win was in a Victory cage (7/30/11), a first round Rear-Naked Choke Submission over Justin Grizzard. Also in 2011, “Hurricane” TKO’d the former two-time UFC HW Champion, Tim Sylvia in only thirty-two seconds at Titan FC 16. Wagner has finished nine of his ten wins, six by KO/TKO. Wagner takes on Emporia, Kansas’, Daniel Gallemore.

This is Gallemore’s first fight with Victory FC. “Big Kansas” has only been to a decision one time, his pro debut back in 2011, a Unanimous Decision loss to Alex Huddleston. Since, he has gone 4-2, all KO/TKO. In 2014 Gallemore collected a pair of TKO wins under the Bellator banner, a second round (4:33) finish of Gzim Selmani (10/24), and a first round stoppage only 0:20 into the match versus Frederick Brown (3/21).

The Victory FC Featherweight Title fight, features Victory new-comer, Alexandre Pimental. In Pimental’s fourteen wins, eight have been by Submission and two by KO/TKO, his solitary loss was delivered by a third round KO (1:51) courtesy of Rick Glenn at WSOF 2. “Pulga” has won his last two by submission: in September he caught Rafael da Silva Alves in a second round Guillotine Choke (2:54) and back on 10/26/13 he cinched a Triangle Choke around Jade Porter’s neck.

Jarred Mercado, the more active fighter, is competing in his second fight of 2016. On January 29^th he took Alonzo Martinez’s back and submitted him via RNC in the second round (2:15) at VFC 47 to win the Victory FW belt. “Shutout” is riding a two fight win streak and has also competed at 135lbs.

In the Welterweight Division, 6-2 Maki Pitolo is the winner of five straight, including two wins by Sub and two by TKO. The Hawaiian fighter is fresh off a second round (2:21) TKO of Andrews Nakahara on April 1^st at VFC 49. Pitolo takes on twenty-six fight veteran, Justin Guthrie. The Thirty-five year old finished Steven Mann with a Brabo Choke (2^nd 1:09) at Bellator 138 (6/19/15) last time out.  

In the Lightweight Division, Twenty-five year old, Yuri Villefort has already competed in Strikeforce and the UFC. His November 21^st first round TKO (1:40) of Doug Jenkins, snapped a five fight skid. At 8-5 Villefort is looking to build momentum, following his January VFC debut, when he KO’d Kenneth Glenn with a late first round knee (4:15). He faces twenty-three fight veteran, Cody Carrillo. Carillo is also coming off a first round win at VFC 47 with a 0:32 Guillotine Choke of Sean Wilson. That was Carillo’s second, opening-minute win in a row, he TKO’d Shakir McKillip in just 0:26 in September.

What else to watch for: 7-2 Chuka Willis takes on 3-0 Justin Overton in the FW Division. Twenty-five year old Willis is on a three fight win streak, including 2 TKOs. Undefeated Justin Overton holds all three wins by Submission in the first round. The former Army Ranger’s longest Pro MMA fight to date went 2:28 before Dalton Goddard tapped (7/18/15).

Victory FC 50 Streams live on UFC FightPass Saturday May 21st.

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.