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.

Diaz’s Top 3 Finishes, Before McGregor

Diaz’s Top 3 Finishes, Before McGregor

 

            Time will tell how significant Nate Diaz’s upset, submission win, over Conor McGregor, will rank among all-time greats, but it should be of little surprise.  Diaz had finished ten, previous UFC opponents, coming into the bout. In recognition of Stockton, California’s own most recent upset, we take a look back on Nate Diaz’s 3 best finishes… Prior to McGregor.

#3 Kurt Pellegrino, UFN 13 4/2/08.

Pellegrino was 17-3 at the time and a big step up in competition for Diaz, who had buzzed through his first three UFC opponents. Following a defeat of Manny Gamburyan, to win Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter, by second round submission (due to shoulder injury) in promotional debut at TUF 5 Finale (6/23/07), Diaz finished his next two opponents by first round subs. In September of 07 he cinched Junior Assuncao’s neck in a Guillotine choke at 4:10 and four months later (1/23/08) forced Alvin Robinson to tap to his Triangle at 3:39.

Diaz had recently received his Brown Belt (Nate has now been a Black Belt for years) from Cesar Gracie. Kurt Pellegrino, an accomplished grappler himself, controlled the early action of the fight, which was fought at elevation in Bloomfield, Co. Pellegrino controlled position and landed punches to a grounded Diaz, causing a cut to the brow in round one. The second round went much the same with Diaz avoiding damage, but KP was pushing the action. At near the two minute mark of round two, Pellegrino attempted to pass guard and Diaz locked his legs into that triangle position. Nate knew he had the fight won, offering first a double tallboy to the camera then bicep pose. He never pulled the neck with his arms, instead the six foot tall lightweight constricted Pellegrino’s Carotid Artery using just his long legs.

#2 Jim Miller, UFC on Fox3 5/5/12.

Miller, also a younger brother to a UFC fighter, 14-8 Dan Miller, had twelve submissions of his own going into the fight.  Diaz caught Miller’s chin in the final minute of the first round and turned up the heat late in the second with strikes again. Miller shot a desperate take down and Diaz snaked his arm through for a power Guillotine. The always game Miller attempted escape, the two rolled and Diaz was able to connect his hands and really apply pressure to the neck, forcing Miller to tap at 4:09. The pair headlined the card that was fought in Miller’s home state of New Jersey. It was thought the grappling would nullify each other and many figured Miller’s pace and pressure would be too much for Diaz, prior to bout. Nate with an outstanding victory.

#1 Gray Maynard, TUF 18 Finale 11/30/13.

            Maynard was ranked the #5 Lightweight and Nate the #8. The pair were the main event, in this, their third match up. A Split Decision loss for Diaz 1/11/10 in their last, and a semifinal fight on The Ultimate Fighter 5 that resulted in a second round submission for Diaz by Guillotine, preceded.

Diaz put a left on Maynard’s chin just as Gray was changing levels that stunned the former Michigan State wrestler. Diaz closed distance and hit Maynard with over thirty consecutive, unanswered strikes, before referee, Yves Lavigne finally rescued a brain-weary Maynard just as he collapsed to the ground, calling the TKO at 2:38 of the first round.

Did I leave out your favorite Diaz win post it in the comments section with why you like it best.

Breakdown UFC 196 Early Prelims

Breakdown UFC 196 Early Prelims

 

            Way before the Pay Per View begins UFC Fight Pass airs early prelims at 6:30 PM ET, and a pair of The UFC’s most veteran Lightweights, Diego Sanchez and Jim Miller, match up in the internet’s broadcast Main Event. Diego Sanchez has been in the UFC a long time. He is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 as a Middleweight. He has also competed at Welterweight and Featherweight, in his last fight a Unanimous Decision loss to Ricardo Lamas. Sanchez last nine fights have gone to decision and he’s gone 4-5. It’s been sometime since the 25-8 BJJ Black Belt has collected one, of his fifteen finishes (6 KO, 9 Sub). The Thirty-four year old has gone to the judges seventeen times in his career (10-7).

Jim Miller is also coming off a loss, a second round submission to Michael Chiesa 12/10/15. That was Miller’s Twenty-first appearance in the Octagon (15-6). The Thirty-two year old has finished seventeen (3KO 14 Sub) of his Twenty-five wins and a seven time post fight bonus winner.

Two More LWs

            Justin Salas is fighting in his seventh UFC fight (3-3) and his first since 2014. He lost by TKO to Joe Proctor 7/16/14 and hasn’t competed since. In “J-Bomb’s” 12-6 career he is 5-0 in fights that go the distance. He has four wins by KO/TKO and three losses by the fate. He faces Jason Saggo, who also hasn’t competed since a 2014 loss. His a Split Decision to Paul Felder 10/4. Saggo has five first round finishes in his career. The Thirty year old Ontario native has finished each of his ten wins (2KO, 8Sub). Saggo is also a Black Belt under Royler Gracie.

Featherweights Kick it Off

          Six straight wins in the UFC’s Featherweight Division will draw the attention to Julian “Juicy J” Erosa. Erosa has finished four of his past five wins (2Sub, 2KO/TKO). The Twenty-six year old is 15-2 including a 2-2 record in fights that go to the judges. The TUF 22 Cast member has eight wins by submission. He faces Japan’s Teruto “Yashabo” Ishihara. The 7-2 Ishihara has finished six of his wins by first round KO/TKO. He holds blazing quick finishes in: 0:16, 0:19 and 1:03. “Yashabo” fought to a draw in his promotional debut vs Mizuto Hirota at UFC FN 75 in Japan.

 

Want to read my Main and Co-Main Breakdown click here:

http://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/03/breakdown-ufc-196.html

Breakdown: UFC 196 FS-1 Card

Breakdown: UFC 196 FS-1 Card

 

            Before Featherweight Champion, Conor McGregor and the number five ranked Lightweight in the UFC, Nate Diaz meet in the center of the octagon, Saturday March 5^th at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, Fox Sports-1 will air  four, live prelimary bouts. Headlining the free card on FS-1 will be Welterweights, Brandon Thatch versus Siyar Bahadurzada. This is a must win for both fighters, they’re each coming off two losses and are likely fighting to remain in the UFC.

With eleven wins, Thatch has a perfect finishing rate, including eight wins by KO/TKO and three stoppages by submission. In fact “Rukus” has only been out of the first round twice, both losses: 2/14/15 Benson Henderson sunk in a fourth round rear-naked choke (3:58), the other was the single time the Elevation Fight Team member has heard the final bell, in his second career fight a Split Decision Loss in 2008. The 6’2” Denver native owns six KO/TKO wins in under a minute.

Despite being three inches shorter than Thatch, Siyar Bahadurzada will enjoy a two inch reach advantage Sat. night.  “The Great” was born in Afghanistan and now trains with the Blackzilians in Florida. Bahadurzada has been on the shelf since losing to John Howard 12/28/13, by Unanimous Decision. He dusts off his 21-6-1 record, including eleven KO/TKO stoppages and six wins by Sub to face Thatch. “The Great” KO’d Paulo Thiago in just 0:42 in his UFC debut 4/14/12.

Another Barnburner at Welterweight

            Thirty-one year old Eric “The Tiger” Silva is just 3-3 in fights that have gone to decision, but in his eighteen wins, eleven have come by Submission and four more by way of KO/TKO. Silva was one of juggernaut, Neil Magny’s four victims in 2015, suffering a Split Decision loss in August last fight. Prior to that, the BJJ and Judo Black Belt collected two more first round Subs, he has totaled eleven career first round stoppage wins. He caught Josh Koscheck’s neck in a Guillotine Choke 3/21, forcing the tap at 4:21, choking Mike Rhodes with an Arm Triangle (1:15) 12/20/14. He takes on TriStar’s Nordine Taleb.

Taleb is fighting in his fifth UFC match (3-1). The one loss came by Submission, last fight 4/1/15, when Warlley Alves sunk in a second round Guillotine (4:11). Taleb was born in France, but now trains in Montreal and is the winner of ten of his last twelve efforts. The 170 pounder also has a 2-1 record in Bellator, before competing on Team Canada on The Ultimate Fighter: Nations season.

High School Wrestling State Champs Meet at Featherweight

            Darren “The Damage” Elkins is a former Indiana state High School Wrestling Champion, collecting a 191-9 HS record. He also has a brown belt in BJJ. Alternating wins and losses the former Local 597 Pipefitter, is 3-3 in his last six. He looks to build on the momentum of his Oct. 24^th UD win over Robert Whiteford last fight. Elkins is the number eleven ranked FW in the UFC, appearing in his thirteenth match with the promotion (9-4). His overall record is 19-5 with five KO/TKO and five Sub wins to date. He faces Chas “The Scrapper” Skelly.

Skelly is also a former HS Wrestling State Champ and College All-American. In his 15-1 career “The Scrapper” has eleven finishes, five in the opening round. The Texas native is the winner of his last four, including two second round finishes in 2015: a TKO (4:59) of Jim Alers 2/14 and a rear-naked choke sub (1:56) of Edimilson Souza 11/7.

Clash of Styles at 185lbs

          Eight of Vitor “Lex Luther” Miranda’s eleven wins have been by KO/TKO. The Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 3 finalist has won his previous two by TKO: a second round (2:38) stoppage of Clint Hester 8/1/15 and a first round (4:59) head kick to end Jake Collier’s night 12/20/14.  He takes on accomplished grappler, Marcelo “Margao” Guimaraes in Guimaraes’ fourh UFC fight (2-1). Last time out he earned a SD over Andy Enz 6/28/14.

To read my coverage of the Main and Co-Main events at UFC 196 click here:
http://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/03/breakdown-ufc-196.html