On February 12, 201l, Andrei Arlovski was knocked out by Sergei Kharitonov in the first round of a Strike Force bout, his fourth consecutive loss and it prompted many to call for his retirement. A former UFC Heavyweight champion, Arlovski was on a multiple fight win streak before he left the promotion after he contract expired in 2008 and won a contest against Roy Nelson under the Elite XC banner before the above mentioned four fight skid.
Quite frankly, his career was considered over and the competitor known as "The Pit Bull" looked to be a shell of himself, which many assumed would lead to him concluding his career on the smaller fight circuit as many from his era have done in recent years. Six months after the disappointing defeat in the Strike Force cage, Arlovski reemerged at the smaller Pro Elite show and dominated his opponent to get the victory. During his time away from competition, "The Pit Bull" began training with the Jackson fight team in New Mexico and the time spent sharpening his skills with some of the Jackson standouts, including Jon Jones, rejuvenated his career.
Over the next two years, Arlovski won six of eight fights in a variety of promotions with only one blemish, a loss to Anthony Johnson in the World Series of Fighting organization. Prior to that, he fought Tim Sylvia to a non contest, and both bouts that he didn't win were surrounded in controversy so he was in top form when he returned to the UFC in 2014.
Truthfully, when Arlovski resurfaced in the UFC, I didn't think he would do much because I watched the KOs mentioned above and thought his career was finished. Granted, he put together a winning streak to open the door for a returned to the Zuffa organization, but I take most of the wins a competitor gets in the smaller fight leagues with a grain of salt once they take the step up in competition for some of the more well known promotions (UFC, Bellator, etc.) because the major league competition is different from the smaller venues.
Six years after he defeated Jake O'Brien via TKO, Andrei Arlovski returned to the octagon to fight Brendan Schaub, not exactly top competition, but he won a split decision on the judges' cards. Just three months later, Arlovski was a major underdog in a bout with "Big Foot" Silva, but he KO'ed the Brazilian in less than three minutes. Earlier this year, he stepped into the cage with dangerous heavyweight, Travis Browne, who had only two losses on his impressive MMA record. Again, most assumed Arlovski would be defeated by the younger opponent that is seemingly in the prime of his career, but after a wild exchange, Arlovski landed a series of punches and the referee rescued Browe from further damage with a stoppage. Just a few months ago, he won an unanimous decision in a lackluster fight against Frank Mir, but it added to his current six fight winning streak, which include four wins since he returned to the UFC.
This Saturday, Stipe Mioic will provide the opposition and once again, on paper, Arlovski is considered the under dog, but should "The Pit Bull"be doubted? The Croatian brings a solid 13-2 record into the cage and precise striking ability, drawing comparisons to legendary, Mirko Crocop. If Arlowski tries to throw wild flurries, similar to what he did in the Browne contest, Mioic will land a counter and finish the fight. However, if Arloski fights smart and can dictate the pace, you have to at least give him a chance to win.
That said, if he can win five fights in a row in the UFC,you would think he would be in line for a shot for the Heavyweight title, a belt he last held almost a decade ago. Who would've thought that Anderi Arlovski would be in the UFC title conversation heading into 2016? Regardless of the result of the Mioic bout, Arlovski deserves a lot of credit for completely rejuvenating his career in what must be considered one of the most unexpected comebacks in mixed martial arts history.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Saturday, December 26, 2015
NXT Takeover:London Review
Last week, the NXT brand went across the pond to London, England for a special WWE Network presentation and as a whole, the event could be an indication for the future of the brand itself. It should be noted that the British crowd really added to this show and it quite literally speaks volumes for the demand for pro wrestling in the UK. After years without well known promotions to capitalize on the market, European wrestling has seen a spark within the past year and independent shows throughout the region are currently drawing sell out crowds of a few thousand fans for each show. Rev Pro-UK, Progress Wrestling, and ICW have all done well recently with some tremendous young talent to fuel the resurgence in Britain. Mark Andrews, Marty Scurll, and Will Ospreay are some of the top talent that are helping to spotlight UK wrestling again so credit to them.
As for NXT Takeover, the show opened with Auska vs. Emma and throughout the contest, it became obvious that the competitor formerly known as Kana in Japan carried her opponent to a decent match. Auska has had to wrestle down to her opponent's level in recent NXT specials, first with Dana Brooke and now with Emma, but hopefully these matches are being used to establish her for something more important in the future because she has the ability to have some great matches when she's booked with a capable opponent. In many ways, Auska seems to be presented specifically for the NXT brand and I don't see her transitioning to the main roster, which is fine if the WWE intends to establish NXT as a full fledged brand. Similar to Samoa Joe, Auska provides a boost for the show when some of the younger talent gets moved to the main roster and if the money is right, there's nothing wrong making a career in NXT. That being said, with the stiff kicks and style, Auska as a heel would be money and a feud against Bayley could provide intriguing TV. Auska won the match and hopefully, there's a major angle for her in the future.
The tag team title match was solid and both teams worked well. Enzo is ridiculously over with the audience and the reaction his mic work received could be an indication that the team is ready for the main roster. However, considering the tag division is busy at the moment, WWE brass might not want to add another team to Raw to avoid them getting lost in the shuffle. Dawson and Wilder remind me of the Arn/Tully combination of the Brain Buster, and they work a similar style, which seems to compliment the NXT brand. Dawson and Wilder retain the belts, and it seems like they are going to get an extended run as the tag champions.
The Nia Jax/Bayley title match was solid, mostly because Bayley sold everything well and really enhanced the bout when Jax was trying to get heat during the match. Quite simply, Bayley is as good of a baby face as anyone in the business and if given the opportunity, she could be a major star for the company. The only downside of this contest was the portrayal of Jax and it tainted her "monster" persona somewhat in the process. Jax is relatively new to the NXT landscape and she was booked for a title feud almost as soon as she debuted so since she did the job in London, what now? While Jax was presented as a monster heading into the match in England, she didn't sell like a monster and her frustration during the false finishes didn't sell the gimmick either. Maybe I'm analyzing this one too far ahead, but if Nia Jax isn't booked for something relevant following the title match, her NXT time could eventually be summarized as just being another opponent for Bayley for the Network special.
The Apollo Crews/Baron Corbin match was decent, nothing spectacular, but nothing terrible either. However, Corbin did some good heel work from a character prospective and such development adds some depth to the brand. Granted, NXT is based on the in ring product, which allows it to be an alternative to the main WWE shows, but well established heels are a good addition to any wrestling product. As for Apollo Crews, assuming he can continue to work on mic skills and character, he has all the skills to be a major success for the WWE. From an in ring stand point, Crews is the complete performer you would think the WWE tries to recruit, but as seen in the past, mic work is at least half the battle for success on a national stage. That being said, I think Apollo Crew will do well when he transitions to the main roster.
Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor was a great match that helped elevate the brand and the NXT title itself because it placed an importance on the actual title instead of it being used as just a prop. It was a hard hitting, fast paced, and physical bout that was a good representation of the brand. As mentioned earlier, Samoa Joe will probably remain on the NXT roster and there's nothing wrong with that, especially if the money is right. As I've mentioned before, it's disappointing that Joe worked in TNA during the prime of his career because he has the ability to be a bigger star, which is why it's good to see him get a run in the WWE. On the flip side, Finn Balor might eventually move to the main shows and if he does, he would have to be considered a potential main event competitor. Obviously, there are a lot of variables, but an eventual Balor/Rollins feud could be money for the WWE.
As for NXT Takeover, the show opened with Auska vs. Emma and throughout the contest, it became obvious that the competitor formerly known as Kana in Japan carried her opponent to a decent match. Auska has had to wrestle down to her opponent's level in recent NXT specials, first with Dana Brooke and now with Emma, but hopefully these matches are being used to establish her for something more important in the future because she has the ability to have some great matches when she's booked with a capable opponent. In many ways, Auska seems to be presented specifically for the NXT brand and I don't see her transitioning to the main roster, which is fine if the WWE intends to establish NXT as a full fledged brand. Similar to Samoa Joe, Auska provides a boost for the show when some of the younger talent gets moved to the main roster and if the money is right, there's nothing wrong making a career in NXT. That being said, with the stiff kicks and style, Auska as a heel would be money and a feud against Bayley could provide intriguing TV. Auska won the match and hopefully, there's a major angle for her in the future.
The tag team title match was solid and both teams worked well. Enzo is ridiculously over with the audience and the reaction his mic work received could be an indication that the team is ready for the main roster. However, considering the tag division is busy at the moment, WWE brass might not want to add another team to Raw to avoid them getting lost in the shuffle. Dawson and Wilder remind me of the Arn/Tully combination of the Brain Buster, and they work a similar style, which seems to compliment the NXT brand. Dawson and Wilder retain the belts, and it seems like they are going to get an extended run as the tag champions.
The Nia Jax/Bayley title match was solid, mostly because Bayley sold everything well and really enhanced the bout when Jax was trying to get heat during the match. Quite simply, Bayley is as good of a baby face as anyone in the business and if given the opportunity, she could be a major star for the company. The only downside of this contest was the portrayal of Jax and it tainted her "monster" persona somewhat in the process. Jax is relatively new to the NXT landscape and she was booked for a title feud almost as soon as she debuted so since she did the job in London, what now? While Jax was presented as a monster heading into the match in England, she didn't sell like a monster and her frustration during the false finishes didn't sell the gimmick either. Maybe I'm analyzing this one too far ahead, but if Nia Jax isn't booked for something relevant following the title match, her NXT time could eventually be summarized as just being another opponent for Bayley for the Network special.
The Apollo Crews/Baron Corbin match was decent, nothing spectacular, but nothing terrible either. However, Corbin did some good heel work from a character prospective and such development adds some depth to the brand. Granted, NXT is based on the in ring product, which allows it to be an alternative to the main WWE shows, but well established heels are a good addition to any wrestling product. As for Apollo Crews, assuming he can continue to work on mic skills and character, he has all the skills to be a major success for the WWE. From an in ring stand point, Crews is the complete performer you would think the WWE tries to recruit, but as seen in the past, mic work is at least half the battle for success on a national stage. That being said, I think Apollo Crew will do well when he transitions to the main roster.
Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor was a great match that helped elevate the brand and the NXT title itself because it placed an importance on the actual title instead of it being used as just a prop. It was a hard hitting, fast paced, and physical bout that was a good representation of the brand. As mentioned earlier, Samoa Joe will probably remain on the NXT roster and there's nothing wrong with that, especially if the money is right. As I've mentioned before, it's disappointing that Joe worked in TNA during the prime of his career because he has the ability to be a bigger star, which is why it's good to see him get a run in the WWE. On the flip side, Finn Balor might eventually move to the main shows and if he does, he would have to be considered a potential main event competitor. Obviously, there are a lot of variables, but an eventual Balor/Rollins feud could be money for the WWE.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
WWE.com ECW Poll
Recently, WWE.com conducted a poll asking fans about their favorite "forgotten ECW star" and thus far, its yielded some intriguing results. That being said, another question that has to be asked is, should these particular stars have been in the position to be forgotten at all? Granted, the WWE Network gives more fans more access to footage than anytime in history, but did these extremists deserve another national stage after ECW folded?
Joel Gertner, the raunchy manger of the Dudley Boys during their heyday in the South Philadelphia based promotion, was one of the main pieces of the puzzle that allowed the complete package of the Dudley stable to get legitimate heat from the savvy ECW crowd during a time when the possibility of getting that type of heat wasn't as common as during the kayfabe era of the business. Gertner also took some dangerous spots during his run so there was actually a payoff when one of the extreme heroes finally got to him. Simply put and this is meant as a compliment, Gertner was easy to hate as a heel and tailored his role perfectly to the ECW environment. On the flip side, Joel was over as a baby face as well and his verbal exchanges with Cyrus were anticipated openings of pay-per-views. While he had good promos, Joel Gertner was one of those performers that seemed to be molded specifically for ECW and it's doubtful that he could've transitioned to another national promotion without a watered down act. That's not a jab at him either, just that he played his role so well in ECW that it would have been diluted under more PG restrictions. However, Gertner is still involved with independent wrestling and started his own podcast earlier this year.
The late John Kronus was a product of the famed Killer Kowalski wrestling school and along with Perry Saturn, formed one of the promotion's most popular teams, The Eliminators. It should be noted that The Eliminators were one of the teams that put an emphasis on tag wrestling in 1997 before the "golden age" of the division with the TLC matches a few year later. Kronus was a heavyweight that could perform some amazing aerial moves and while he wasn't the most graceful high flyer, it was impressive that a competitor his size could do an array of top rope moves. He was probably too one dimensional to transition elsewhere, but had a decent run there because his positives skills were allowed to shine. He left ECW in 1999 and had a brief run on the independent scene before he passed away in 2007.
Roadkill was one of the initial students to debut from the ECW House of Hardcore school and along with another HOH school alumni, Danny Doring formed a tag team that became the last ECW tag champions. The Amish inspired character was a heavyweight that was really agile and the wild style of ECW tag matches allowed for a simple formula to hide his relatively inexperience with only a few years in the business. While the gimmick was memorable, Road Kill was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2005 and despite wrestling within the system for three years, he was eventually released. Road Kill shouldn't be forgotten, but he wasn't exactly the most well rounded wrestler either so it's understandable that he didn't resurface on the national stage after WWE's ECW project.
"The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell is the one on this list that jumps out as someone that should still have a job with a national company today and he could still be a valuable performer for any promotion. Originally signed for the doomed "blood runs cold" angle in WCW, Mitchell sat at home for the majority of his Turner deal and there was speculation that the office didn't realize he was still on the payroll. After two years off the radar, The Sinister Minister debuted as a cult persona on Hardcore TV in 2000 and he narrated some of the episodes. Eventually, Mitchell managed Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri as well as becoming a notable character during the later era of the organization. After ECW folded, Mitchell had a few different runs in TNA and did exceptional mic work during them. The mic skills, the persona, and the ability to do just enough to get a talent over without overshadowing them, which is the key to a great manager, made Jim Mitchell a valuable piece of the puzzle for his angles. His work with Abyss gave the monster more substance and something to build storylines around, and really added a new dimension to the character. Mitchell understands the role of a manager and if used correctly, managers could still be used effectively today. Sadly, since managers are used to push angles, not t shirt sales, it's a nearly forgotten art form. That being said, James Mitchell shouldn't be on a forgotten list, he should still be working on national TV.
Sadly, Hack Myers recently passed away at the age of 42 and sincere condolences to his family. Myers started in the early days of ECW as just a local enhancement talent, but he gained cult status as the "Extreme Shah" and had a run as one of the more popular competitors on the card. While his in ring ability was limited, he had a better run than most probably would've guessed and is still remembered as one of the more colorful characters of the Philadelphia promotion.
Similar to James Mitchell, Cyrus was a later addition to the ECW roster, but he was effective anytime he was on screen. Booked as the Network representative when TNN began interfering with the formatting of the TV show, Cyrus generated tremendous heat for the angles he worked and in the process, helped continue to provide intriguing TV when the promotion had declining star power. That being said, the roster at the time was still capable and Cryus' mic skills added a sizzle that highlighted the potential of some of the younger stars, including Rhino. Interestingly enough, Don Callus had a somewhat notable wrestling career before he surfaced as the TNN authority figure and worked in several different countries in the early 90s. He was noticed by fellow Canadian, Bret Hart and was eventually signed for the WWF as the cult leader Jackyl in 1997. For whatever reason, Callis was abruptly released a year later and surfaced in ECW shortly after that. While The Jackyl character was booked to manage the cartoonish Truth Commission and later subjected to Vince Russo booking, Cryus showed the true ability that Callis had as a performer. He made a few appearances in TNA during its early days, but eventually retired from the industry and works for the Canadian trade commission. I would guess that Callis found a good job outside of pro wrestling and was content to make good money, but he really is an underrated talent that should've had a job after ECW closed.
During the early stages of ECW, when it was just finding its extreme niche in the otherwise stagnant industry of the early 90s, Paul Heyman still worked in front of the camera as Paul E. Dangerously and using his trademark phone, he called 911. The big man known as 911 would storm the ring at Paul E's request and choke slam the jobbers that were going to cause a mutiny among the die hard Philadelphia fans. As 911 provided a conclusion to the intentionally corny segments, the fans chanted loudly for the rescue. As one dimensional as 911 was, the choke slam segment being the only notable ability he could bring to the table, he received some of the biggest reactions of early ECW shows. According to almost all observations, his few attempts at actual matches were disastrous so it's understandable that his career concluded in ECW.
Chilly Willy was an example of an addition to the roster that could have done extremely well, if he was given the opportunity to develop his skills while wrestling for the extreme group, but considering the wrestling landscape was flooded with free agents in 2001 when WWE bought WCW, Chilly Willy probably got lost in the shuffle of the industry and hadn't necessarily made enough of a name for himself during his rather short run in ECW to get a contract. Eventually, Chilly Willy was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2004, but he was released a year later.
Joel Gertner, the raunchy manger of the Dudley Boys during their heyday in the South Philadelphia based promotion, was one of the main pieces of the puzzle that allowed the complete package of the Dudley stable to get legitimate heat from the savvy ECW crowd during a time when the possibility of getting that type of heat wasn't as common as during the kayfabe era of the business. Gertner also took some dangerous spots during his run so there was actually a payoff when one of the extreme heroes finally got to him. Simply put and this is meant as a compliment, Gertner was easy to hate as a heel and tailored his role perfectly to the ECW environment. On the flip side, Joel was over as a baby face as well and his verbal exchanges with Cyrus were anticipated openings of pay-per-views. While he had good promos, Joel Gertner was one of those performers that seemed to be molded specifically for ECW and it's doubtful that he could've transitioned to another national promotion without a watered down act. That's not a jab at him either, just that he played his role so well in ECW that it would have been diluted under more PG restrictions. However, Gertner is still involved with independent wrestling and started his own podcast earlier this year.
The late John Kronus was a product of the famed Killer Kowalski wrestling school and along with Perry Saturn, formed one of the promotion's most popular teams, The Eliminators. It should be noted that The Eliminators were one of the teams that put an emphasis on tag wrestling in 1997 before the "golden age" of the division with the TLC matches a few year later. Kronus was a heavyweight that could perform some amazing aerial moves and while he wasn't the most graceful high flyer, it was impressive that a competitor his size could do an array of top rope moves. He was probably too one dimensional to transition elsewhere, but had a decent run there because his positives skills were allowed to shine. He left ECW in 1999 and had a brief run on the independent scene before he passed away in 2007.
Roadkill was one of the initial students to debut from the ECW House of Hardcore school and along with another HOH school alumni, Danny Doring formed a tag team that became the last ECW tag champions. The Amish inspired character was a heavyweight that was really agile and the wild style of ECW tag matches allowed for a simple formula to hide his relatively inexperience with only a few years in the business. While the gimmick was memorable, Road Kill was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2005 and despite wrestling within the system for three years, he was eventually released. Road Kill shouldn't be forgotten, but he wasn't exactly the most well rounded wrestler either so it's understandable that he didn't resurface on the national stage after WWE's ECW project.
"The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell is the one on this list that jumps out as someone that should still have a job with a national company today and he could still be a valuable performer for any promotion. Originally signed for the doomed "blood runs cold" angle in WCW, Mitchell sat at home for the majority of his Turner deal and there was speculation that the office didn't realize he was still on the payroll. After two years off the radar, The Sinister Minister debuted as a cult persona on Hardcore TV in 2000 and he narrated some of the episodes. Eventually, Mitchell managed Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri as well as becoming a notable character during the later era of the organization. After ECW folded, Mitchell had a few different runs in TNA and did exceptional mic work during them. The mic skills, the persona, and the ability to do just enough to get a talent over without overshadowing them, which is the key to a great manager, made Jim Mitchell a valuable piece of the puzzle for his angles. His work with Abyss gave the monster more substance and something to build storylines around, and really added a new dimension to the character. Mitchell understands the role of a manager and if used correctly, managers could still be used effectively today. Sadly, since managers are used to push angles, not t shirt sales, it's a nearly forgotten art form. That being said, James Mitchell shouldn't be on a forgotten list, he should still be working on national TV.
Sadly, Hack Myers recently passed away at the age of 42 and sincere condolences to his family. Myers started in the early days of ECW as just a local enhancement talent, but he gained cult status as the "Extreme Shah" and had a run as one of the more popular competitors on the card. While his in ring ability was limited, he had a better run than most probably would've guessed and is still remembered as one of the more colorful characters of the Philadelphia promotion.
Similar to James Mitchell, Cyrus was a later addition to the ECW roster, but he was effective anytime he was on screen. Booked as the Network representative when TNN began interfering with the formatting of the TV show, Cyrus generated tremendous heat for the angles he worked and in the process, helped continue to provide intriguing TV when the promotion had declining star power. That being said, the roster at the time was still capable and Cryus' mic skills added a sizzle that highlighted the potential of some of the younger stars, including Rhino. Interestingly enough, Don Callus had a somewhat notable wrestling career before he surfaced as the TNN authority figure and worked in several different countries in the early 90s. He was noticed by fellow Canadian, Bret Hart and was eventually signed for the WWF as the cult leader Jackyl in 1997. For whatever reason, Callis was abruptly released a year later and surfaced in ECW shortly after that. While The Jackyl character was booked to manage the cartoonish Truth Commission and later subjected to Vince Russo booking, Cryus showed the true ability that Callis had as a performer. He made a few appearances in TNA during its early days, but eventually retired from the industry and works for the Canadian trade commission. I would guess that Callis found a good job outside of pro wrestling and was content to make good money, but he really is an underrated talent that should've had a job after ECW closed.
During the early stages of ECW, when it was just finding its extreme niche in the otherwise stagnant industry of the early 90s, Paul Heyman still worked in front of the camera as Paul E. Dangerously and using his trademark phone, he called 911. The big man known as 911 would storm the ring at Paul E's request and choke slam the jobbers that were going to cause a mutiny among the die hard Philadelphia fans. As 911 provided a conclusion to the intentionally corny segments, the fans chanted loudly for the rescue. As one dimensional as 911 was, the choke slam segment being the only notable ability he could bring to the table, he received some of the biggest reactions of early ECW shows. According to almost all observations, his few attempts at actual matches were disastrous so it's understandable that his career concluded in ECW.
Chilly Willy was an example of an addition to the roster that could have done extremely well, if he was given the opportunity to develop his skills while wrestling for the extreme group, but considering the wrestling landscape was flooded with free agents in 2001 when WWE bought WCW, Chilly Willy probably got lost in the shuffle of the industry and hadn't necessarily made enough of a name for himself during his rather short run in ECW to get a contract. Eventually, Chilly Willy was signed to a WWE developmental deal in 2004, but he was released a year later.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
After several months in the making, Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will finally clash inside the octagon for this Saturday's UFC 194 event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. Originally scheduled for July, the bout was cancelled less than two weeks prior after Aldo cited a rib injury and at the time, there were conflicting reports about the extent of the Feather weight champion's injury. Chad Mendes was booked as last minute replacement and despite a solid effort was stopped in the closing seconds of the second round. McGregor won the interim Feather weight belt and the dynamic performance solidified him as one of the promotion's rising stars.
I penned a column prior to the Mendes fight to discuss if the charismatic Dublin native was the UFC's top star and when you take into account Ronda Rousey's recent defeat, it appears as though the stage is set for McGregor to seize the throne as the UFC's top draw, which was previously held by fighters such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, and Brock Lesnar at various times.
On paper, 145 LBS king pin Jose Aldo should be the favorite to be victorious leading into the contest, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Despite being undefeated in the past ten years with only one blemish on his professional record, Also will probably go into the fight as a slight underdog because Conor McGregor has all the momentum entering the cage. One of the criticisms of Aldo is that he has cancelled five previous title defenses and because those bouts had to be rescheduled, he has fought sporadically in recent years. In fact, Aldo has been away from competition for a year, which is the second time in his career that he took a year between fights and he fought no more than twice in a calendar year since 2010. Considering the year absence, will Aldo show any signs of ring rust during the McGregor bout? When it comes to a skill set, Jose is nearly flawless with razor sharp striking technique, great take down defense, and a Brazilian Ju Jit Su black belt. The Brazilian is without question an extremely dangerous opponent, but he had questionable cardio during previous fights so that could be an avenue for the challenger to claim the title.
As for the result of the fight, it will probably be a rather simplistic scenario and the outcome will depend on where the fight takes places, as well as who dictates the pace of the contest. Conor has two defeats on his record, both via submission and Aldo has excellent ground skills so if the fight goes to the ground, the advantage will go to Jose Aldo. As mentioned, the champion's cardio has been questioned and Conor has an explosive style so if he can push the pace, McGregor might be able to secure a decision through the later rounds. I would suggest that Aldo would be the most dangerous in the first two rounds and if McGregor can survive the initial wave of offense, he has a favorable chance of success in the championship rounds. One of the few criticisms of McGregor is his somewhat one dimensional style and if he doesn't bring at least decent grappling defense into the cage, it could allow Aldo to retain the title.
As far as a prediction for the winner of this one, I have say that Conor McGregor will claim the undisputed Feather weight title, mostly because he has the momentum going into the fight and his opponent, Jose Aldo could have alot of ring rust after an extended absence from the cage. That being said, it won't be an easy night for McGregor, even if he's victorious because Aldo still one of the top fighters in the sport. From a business prospective, Conor is the draw for the UFC and you can expect Saturday to mark the start of a new era in the Zuffa organization or the group will still be searching for its next top star.
Nearly lost in all the fiery shuffle of the Feather Weight title hype is the Middle weight title bout, where Chris Weidman will defend his belt against top contender, Luke Rockhold. Interestingly enough, this battle could surpass the main event in terms of the quality of the action because it's a very evenly matched and it will probably be close fight. Weidman, who shocked the world when he slayed the dragon that was Anderson Silva, has quietly became one of the top fighters in the world, most recently Vitor Belfort earlier this year. Weidman has a grappling base, but is extremely well rounded and has no glaring flaws in his game, along with a flawless record so far in his MMA career. Luke Rockhold brings a very similar skill set into the octagon and only has two defeats on his pro record. Since these two are so even in terms of their skills and experience, I would guess there won't be a direct advantage for either fighter based on where the fight takes place. However, I have to pick Weidman to retain the championship because he's undefeated and as mentioned, he's a well rounded fighter but I wouldn't be shocked if Rockhold gets the win.
I penned a column prior to the Mendes fight to discuss if the charismatic Dublin native was the UFC's top star and when you take into account Ronda Rousey's recent defeat, it appears as though the stage is set for McGregor to seize the throne as the UFC's top draw, which was previously held by fighters such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, and Brock Lesnar at various times.
On paper, 145 LBS king pin Jose Aldo should be the favorite to be victorious leading into the contest, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Despite being undefeated in the past ten years with only one blemish on his professional record, Also will probably go into the fight as a slight underdog because Conor McGregor has all the momentum entering the cage. One of the criticisms of Aldo is that he has cancelled five previous title defenses and because those bouts had to be rescheduled, he has fought sporadically in recent years. In fact, Aldo has been away from competition for a year, which is the second time in his career that he took a year between fights and he fought no more than twice in a calendar year since 2010. Considering the year absence, will Aldo show any signs of ring rust during the McGregor bout? When it comes to a skill set, Jose is nearly flawless with razor sharp striking technique, great take down defense, and a Brazilian Ju Jit Su black belt. The Brazilian is without question an extremely dangerous opponent, but he had questionable cardio during previous fights so that could be an avenue for the challenger to claim the title.
As for the result of the fight, it will probably be a rather simplistic scenario and the outcome will depend on where the fight takes places, as well as who dictates the pace of the contest. Conor has two defeats on his record, both via submission and Aldo has excellent ground skills so if the fight goes to the ground, the advantage will go to Jose Aldo. As mentioned, the champion's cardio has been questioned and Conor has an explosive style so if he can push the pace, McGregor might be able to secure a decision through the later rounds. I would suggest that Aldo would be the most dangerous in the first two rounds and if McGregor can survive the initial wave of offense, he has a favorable chance of success in the championship rounds. One of the few criticisms of McGregor is his somewhat one dimensional style and if he doesn't bring at least decent grappling defense into the cage, it could allow Aldo to retain the title.
As far as a prediction for the winner of this one, I have say that Conor McGregor will claim the undisputed Feather weight title, mostly because he has the momentum going into the fight and his opponent, Jose Aldo could have alot of ring rust after an extended absence from the cage. That being said, it won't be an easy night for McGregor, even if he's victorious because Aldo still one of the top fighters in the sport. From a business prospective, Conor is the draw for the UFC and you can expect Saturday to mark the start of a new era in the Zuffa organization or the group will still be searching for its next top star.
Nearly lost in all the fiery shuffle of the Feather Weight title hype is the Middle weight title bout, where Chris Weidman will defend his belt against top contender, Luke Rockhold. Interestingly enough, this battle could surpass the main event in terms of the quality of the action because it's a very evenly matched and it will probably be close fight. Weidman, who shocked the world when he slayed the dragon that was Anderson Silva, has quietly became one of the top fighters in the world, most recently Vitor Belfort earlier this year. Weidman has a grappling base, but is extremely well rounded and has no glaring flaws in his game, along with a flawless record so far in his MMA career. Luke Rockhold brings a very similar skill set into the octagon and only has two defeats on his pro record. Since these two are so even in terms of their skills and experience, I would guess there won't be a direct advantage for either fighter based on where the fight takes place. However, I have to pick Weidman to retain the championship because he's undefeated and as mentioned, he's a well rounded fighter but I wouldn't be shocked if Rockhold gets the win.
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