So here we go with another free card this weekend.
Shogun vs. Vera headlining…Machida vs. Bader co-main event. Doesn’t seem that significant…but here we originally had Shogun/Vera winner getting next LHW title shot. People were in uproar because Vera hasn’t exactly been fighting to his potential(I agree). So now we have Machida/Bader being a title contender bout as well:
[quote]
[i]“Whoever wins the most impressively on Saturday night gets the shot at the title,” White said.
White’s decision comes after a rash of fan backlash following his original announcement. UFC’s social-media-savvy fanbase immediately took to Twitter to protest the decision while citing Rua’s recent losses to both current champion Jon Jones and the champ’s UFC 151 opponent, Dan Henderson â?? as well as Vera’s current run of just one win in four appearances â?? as reasons why the bout did not deserve to be considered a No. 1 contender’s contest.
White said he listened to the complaints, and he’s making a change.
“I put together the fights that fans want to see,” White said. “The fans didn’t like the Rua and Vera choice, so here it is: The guy that wins most impressively on Saturday night out of the co-main event and the main event will get the shot at the winner of Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson.”[/i][/quote]
While I’m still a “dumb-ass” Vera fan,I have my criticisms of Vera getting a title contender bout. I don’t think he will perform to the level of what is at stake. And hopefully Shogun doesn’t gas like a 57 Chevy going 100mph. My heart wants to anticipate a Muay Thai strike fest of a fight…with brutal kicks. BUT my mind wants to say it will be boring as fack.
Bader??? Maybe he’s turned the corner and will show something worthy. I think Machida getting another shot would be cool…considered he is only guy out of the four who’s at least made Jon Jones sweat a bit…haha. Really…sucks…that…A. Gustaffason is injured right now. Thoughts?
To me what really jumps out in the entire fight card is how they’re basically setting up for Machida vs Shogun III. Vera and Bader remain as mostly underachievers and this could possibly be their last fight on a main card before being bumped down to preliminaries, where they’ll be veteran stepping stones for newcomers. MMA is box of surprises though, you never know what’s gonna happen.
[quote]lbraga wrote:
To me what really jumps out in the entire fight card is how they’re basically setting up for Machida vs Shogun III. [/quote]
So you think DW will be a liar? He’s done it before…lol. He’s claiming that whoever wins more convincingly gets the shot. So if Machida…and Shogun win…he will probably announce a third fight?? Hmm…I don’t know bro. I think whoever wins should fight Gustaffason,imo…but that’s me. Dude is 6-0 in UFC right now.
But I’m not sure of time table with him and recovering from whatever injury he had/has.
Vera and Shogun getting a shot at the title is just… laughable. Is Dana really that desperate to gain more ratings for future fights? He’s probably still having nightmares about the UFC 149 crap card, lol.
Vera and Shogun don’t deserve a shot at Jones. Not just yet anyway. Dang it, wasn’t it a long ago Jones pummelled Rua? So what shall we expect next? Dana giving Nick Diaz the chance to brawl with Silva? Lol.
Big shame Gustafason is injured. He was a better contender in my opinion.
The winners of the two main cards should fight each other before challenging Jones. That’ll make more sense.
I’m actually more pumped up for the Machida v Bader fight. Poor Vera is the sacrificial Lamb. I expect Shogun to devour him with extreme prejudice.
Yeah can’t say either Machida or Shogun are top contenders right now but given the absurd promo talents of the UFC, I can already see myself getting chills just watching the Countdown to Fight 3. Either way UFC on Fox is going to be off the hook and FREE!!
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
I think Machida getting another shot would be cool…considered he is only guy out of the four who’s at least made Jon Jones sweat a bit…haha. [/quote]
Agreed.
He won round one of their first fight IMO. And with his striking style he seems like the only one out of the light heavyweights who can stand with Jones and get past the reach disadvantage.
I am picking Vera to win. Because I always pick Vera to win. I cannot get past the fact that his on paper resume looks like he was designed in a video game to win in the UFC. I am almost always wrong about Vera.
[quote]Robert A wrote:
I cannot get past the fact that his on paper resume looks like he was designed in a video game to win in the UFC. [/quote]
Dude…that’s why people have love-hate thing for Vera. He has all the tools to be more dominating and successful…but just can’t turn the curves anymore. He hasn’t been the same since…Tim Sylvia…and contract dispute. Frustrating for his fans…
[quote]Robert A wrote:
I cannot get past the fact that his on paper resume looks like he was designed in a video game to win in the UFC. [/quote]
Dude…that’s why people have love-hate thing for Vera. He has all the tools to be more dominating and successful…but just can’t turn the curves anymore. He hasn’t been the same since…Tim Sylvia…and contract dispute. Frustrating for his fans…[/quote]
Vera LOVES to underperform. I almost think he does it just to fuck with his fans.
I still think he is going to win. After all, fewer injuries, and cleaner technique right?
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
Ryan Bader…geesh…man. Striking 101…of what NOT to do against a strong counter-striker. [/quote]
Bader is really more of a pre-Striking 101 guy that has power though. Sort of a lesser example of Carwin.
In other news…I am starting to think Vera’s “World Class Greco Roman Wrestling” is just a rumor, like Cheick Congo’s. Both Vera and Congo fight like they haven’t worked any greco for years.
I keep thinking Vera should own clinches between his greco pedigree and his muay thai. It doesn’t happen.
What a night of fights, all the fights were amazing. It will be interesting to see if Lyoto can beat Jones ths time, people he trained w/ said he was sick for that fight.
That was as exciting a card as I’ve ever seen. Each fight was fucking awesome. Think Bader was frustrated and was looking for the homerun. I really liked the Rua/Vera fight, and thought that Vera might do it a couple of different times. The Swick fight was great. Does anyone here really think Machida has a shot against Jones? That’s not shit talking, I’m legitimately curious.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
That was as exciting a card as I’ve ever seen. Each fight was fucking awesome. Think Bader was frustrated and was looking for the homerun. I really liked the Rua/Vera fight, and thought that Vera might do it a couple of different times. The Swick fight was great. Does anyone here really think Machida has a shot against Jones? That’s not shit talking, I’m legitimately curious.[/quote]
It was pretty cool to see Swick back after all that he’s been through…and not fighting since '10. That finish…was…great. Showed his experience over Johnson.
