The payroll for Saturday night’s UFC 114 event was released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Leading the way were main event headliners Rashad Evans who earned $435,000, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson who earned $250,000.
UFC 114 took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 29th in Las Vegas. Part of the event aired live on Spike TV followed by the live pay-per-view.
The total payroll for UFC 114 was $1.371 million with Evans and Jackson earning the lions share.
Other top earners were Michael Bisping ($190,000) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ($120,000).
Aaron Riley: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Joe Brammer: $5,000
Ryan Jensen: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Jesse Forbes: $6,000
Ryan Jensen, Mike Russow, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Jason Brilz also walked away with the $65K “Fight Night” awards.
As always these numbers don’t include fight bonuses (such as fight of the night, ko of the night or submission of the night), sponsorships, or any other unofficial payments nor do they deduce such expenses as insurance and taxes.
One of the biggest feuds in recent MMA history is in the books following Saturday's UFC 114 event, but MMAjunkie.com readers are still reeling after Rashad Evans' decision victory over Quinton Jackson in the night's headliner.
The reactions have ranged from praise to disappointment to outrage. However, this week's winner of The Sunday Junkie, our weekly reader-feedback feature, thinks the outcome can be boiled down to one factor: mental toughness.
Pittsburgh-based reader "juls" said that despite all the trash-talk, Evans vs. Jackson came down to one fighter's ability to fight intelligently and strategically when it mattered most.
LAS VEGAS - Following an event built on the duo's long-brewing feud, headliners Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson appropriately earned the top salaries at this weekend's UFC 114 event.
Main-event winner Evans earned $435,000 ($185,000 of which was a win bonus), and Jackson earned $250,000. They accounted for 50 percent of the event's $1.371 million payroll.
UFC 114 took place May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and aired on Spike TV and then pay-per-view.
More than a year’s worth of trash-talking and divisional posturing between Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson came one step closer its final culmination in caged brutality on Saturday night when both former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions stepped on the scale earlier today and, like every other athlete slated for competition at UFC 114, made weight. Surprising to some, Evans showed up slightly bigger than “Rampage” by measuring up at 206 pounds in comparison to Jackson hitting the light heavyweight mark on the head at 205.
Other notable results from the weigh-in include Todd Duffee and Mike Russow both coming in at 253 lbs., as well as Diego Sanchez and John Hathaway seeking the arguable advantage of being a single digit heavy by mirroring each other at 171 pounds.
Here is a complete list of weigh-in results as originally reported by Sherdog:
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Jesse Forbes (186 lbs) vs. Ryan Jensen (185 lbs)
Aaron Riley (156 lbs) vs. Joe Brammer (156 lbs)
Luis Cane (205 lbs) vs. Cyrille Diabate (205 lbs)
Melvin Guillard (155 lbs) vs. Waylon Lowe (155 lbs)
Efrain Escudero (156 lbs) vs. Dan Lauzon (155 lbs)
Amir Sadollah (171 lbs) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (171 lbs)
MAIN CARD:
Todd Duffee (253 lbs) vs. Mike Russow (253 lbs)
Diego Sanchez (171 lbs) vs. John Hathaway (171 lbs)
Antoino Rogerio Nogueira (205 lbs) vs. Jason Brilz (205 lbs)
Michael Bisping (186 lbs) vs. Dan Miller (185 lbs)
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (205 lbs) vs. Rashad Evans (206 lbs)
Four important words will finally ring true for fans, friends, and families of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans this Saturday night; more importantly they will ring true for the fighters themselves.
The wait is over.
A rivalry introduced to fans more than a year ago during an in-ring confrontation, then nurtured with gigs as opposing coaches on the tenth season of the Ultimate Fighter, as well as a brilliantly produced “Primetime” special over the past few weeks, will come to a head May 29th at UFC 114 in Las Vegas. And, were their personal dislike of one another or shared standing as two of MMA’s top 205-pounders not enough to sell the bout, UFC President Dana White has also gone on record as saying the winner would receive a crack at UFC Light Heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s belt. The involved ingredients make for one of the most-anticipated match-ups in promotional history and a fight that is sure to deliver on all levels.
Also on tap for the event are four former TUF seasonal champs other than Evans looking to climb a few rungs closer to a title shot. Michael Bisping looks to get back on the winning track against the always-tough Dan Miller, Diego Sanchez makes his return to welterweight against undefeated Brit John Hathaway, affable Amir Sadollah faces his toughest opponent to date in the form of Dong Hyun Kim, and Efrain Escudero returns against Dan Lauzon after a gutsy performance in his first career loss this past January. Additionally, Luis Cane, Todd Duffee, and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, plus others, will also be in action.
Before I get into the actual “pick em” part of this article let me preclude the breakdown of bouts by saying one of the things about Mixed Martial Arts I’ve always loved is its unpredictable nature. I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction with a little insight/opinion included in the deal, but readers would be wise to avoid laying down money on my attempts to glimpse into the future. Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to share your own thoughts on any or all of the scheduled fights in the “Comments” section below, and let’s get this show on the road…
PRELIMINARY CARD
Jesse Forbes vs. Ryan Jensen
Jensen and Forbes are, for the most part, evenly matched in terms of stand-up, wrestling, and submissions. Forbes had won four straight before falling to a split decision in his last fight, and though Jensen’s record over the past few years isn’t spectacular it’s important to note the level of competition he fought (Thales Leites, Demian Maia, and Joey Villasenor for example). I like Jensen’s experience and maturity to carry him to victory, as he’s held his own against tougher opponents than “Kid Hercules” and has the skills to dish and defend more successfully than his opponent.
Winner – Ryan Jensen via Decision
Aaron Riley vs. Joe Brammer
Riley shouldn’t have too hard a time earning a win on Saturday based on how his abilities match up against Brammer’s. Both men are grapplers with comparable jiujitsu, though I think Riley has an edge where wrestling is concerned. The thirteen-year veteran has only been tapped twice in more than forty professional bouts with half of his losses coming by way of TKO. I don’t feel Brammer possesses the striking to damage Riley severely enough to merit a stoppage or the submissions to finish him on the ground. As such, I expect Riley to take Brammer down a number of times and control action from the top en route to a clear cut decision win.
Winner – Aaron Riley via Decision
Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe
Fans in Vegas who are thinking about strolling into the event just before the Spike cameras fire up would be wise to get there a little early and catch this bout, as I have a feeling these two are going to square off in the center of the Octagon and let leather fly. Guillard’s reputation precedes him and I suspect most people reading these lines know a good deal about what he brings to the cage already. He’s powerful, quick, and generally reckless. Lowe is making his UFC debut and coming off back-to-back knockout wins in the first round. I think he’ll be eager to impress his new bosses with a highlight-worthy finish and riding the confidence of his recent performances. “The Young Assassin” has never been afraid to exchange, hence my prediction of this bout’s rock-em-sock-em potential. With Guillard’s hands and athleticism I think he’ll be the first to land a significant blow and said strike will serve as the first toppled domino in a series resulting in Lowe’s unconsciousness.
Winner – Melvin Guillard via TKO Round 1
Luis Cane vs. Cyrille Diabate
Cane is a good example of how fickle MMA fans and media can be. Last year at this time “Banha” was viewed as a potential title contender with a single DQ defeat and 80% of his wins by TKO. Fast-forward to UFC 114 where his bout against Diabate may never seen the light of television due to a loss against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last November at UFC 106. In reality, this match-up has the makings of a very entertaining affair. Both men are solid strikers with Diabate being a more accomplished athlete where submission wins are concerned. A big part of me wants to pick Cane to win, but I feel he may struggle with the 6′6 Frenchman’s length and be a little hesitant to engage after “Little Nog” turned his lights out six months ago. I think it will be a close fight that goes the distance but don’t discount Cane’s ability to put the “Snake” to sleep with one or two well-timed strikes.
Winner – Cyrille Diabate via Decision
Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon
I summed up my thoughts on this particular bout in this week’s “Grappling with Issues” so I’ll pull from that in case you haven’t already read it:
“Escudero has shown flashes of possessing exceptional talent in a string of solid performances. Though he suffered damaged tendons in his arm after refusing to tap against Evan Dunham at Fight Night 20 last January, I don’t suspect he’ll show any ill effects come showtime on Saturday night as the injuries weren’t particularly severe and the limb in question carries different weight both literally and figuratively than would be the case had he shredded his knee/ankle.
He has the grappling ability to win most of the takedown and positioning battles plus the kind of heart willing to take a fight into deeper waters than most. It’s one thing to go out on your shield when it comes to being choked but to accept the possibility of a broken bone or snapped ligament, as he did against Dunham, is an entirely different level of ballsy foolishness. Lauzon appears to have the better striking based on the number of TKOs he’s earned over a career comparable to the Ultimate Fighter Season 8 champion, but I get the sense he’s more of a brawler than technically proficient on his feet, and I can see Efrain committing to movement/jabs to set up his ground game rather than engaging in a slugfest that could favor “The Upgrade”.
Also, though I have no insight into the matter, based on statements from all involved it has to be noted that the Massachusetts native is dealing with some personal issues involving his camp and brother/fellow UFC fighter Joe Lauzon. Regardless of which side is telling the truth there remains a definite divide between the two, and I would be shocked if it didn’t wear on Dan to some degree given the importance of one’s mental state in the cage.”
In case it wasn’t clear already I think Escudero should win this fight without finding himself in too many adverse situations along the way. Lauzon is a tough cat, which is why I can see the end of their bout taking some time to develop, but I think the odds are definitely stacked against him in this one.
Winner – Efrain Escudero via Submission Round 3
Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim
As mentioned in the lead-in, Kim will be the mulleted Mixed Martial Artist’s toughest test to date. He’s undefeated with the only blemish on his record being a draw (unless you count a “No Contest” against Karo Parisyan. The Korean star is a solid grappler who, as you might gather from his nickname of “Stun Gun”, has knockout power. He’s also a few inches taller than Sadollah so he has a minor size advantage as well. However, Amir has improved with every performance and isn’t likely to be pushed around regardless of Kim having 3X his in-ring experience. The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 champ does a nice job of mixing his strikes up and has shown himself to be opportunistic on the ground when limbs present themselves for submission attempts. As I think they’re both fairly balanced in terms of skill and heart, I think Sadollah and Kim will go back and forth for three rounds and possibly even turn in a “Fight of the Night” along the way. I’m picking the Ultimate Fighter alumnus to win simply because the fight is in Vegas and I don’t see all three judges picking against him unless the decision is completely obvious.
Winner – Amir Sadollah via Decision
MAIN CARD
Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
Ashamedly, I must admit I was fairly clueless about Hathaway until he was announced as Sanchez’s opponent for the event. Turns out the Brit is 12-0 with two wins in the Octagon over game adversaries (Rick Story and Paul Taylor). In some ways he reminds me Sanchez just prior to fighting Parisyan in the sense he’s undefeated, has a mixture of submissions and TKOs on his record, and has shown he’s ready for a step up in competition by beating a few tough draws. However, I don’t see Hathaway dislodging any of Diego’s teeth from his jaw or fairing as well in final result as “Nightmare” did against Karo. Sanchez’s loss to BJ Penn was the most decisive defeat of hii career, and I would be shocked if he isn’t even MORE motivated than usual in the gym as a result of it. Returning to 170-pounds gives him the chance to bulk up a bit and focus more on training as opposed to maintaining his ability to cut down to 155. I expect him to come out extremely aggressive and do his best to maul the Englishman, not only unleashing his frustration from the Penn loss but also as a means of taking advantage of the notion Hathaway might be a little distracted by the bout being his biggest to date. Hathaway has shown he can grapple and strike so I don’t know that Sanchez will be able to finish him, but I do think the “YES” enthusiast will be able to control most of the action no matter where it takes place.
Winner – Diego Sanchez via Decision
Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
I think Duffee has the potential to go a long way in MMA given his style, physique, and outspoken honesty. The fact he’s willing to acknowledge he’s only 6-0 and has been overhyped thus far says a lot about his focus in terms of improvement and not overlooking opponents. Russow is a better wrestler than “Duff Man” and there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll do his best to negate Duffee’s power by trying to take him down and work from the top. However, I think he’ll have a hard time handling the 24-year old’s strength and absorb a fair share of damage as a result of shooting in. Duffee has dealt with respectable grapplers before and should be able to do so again at UFC 114.
Winner – Todd Duffee via TKO Round 1
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
Though it goes without saying this would have been a far more interesting bout had Nogueira’s original opponent, Forrest Griffin, not injured his shoulder during training, I think the UFC brass deserves credit for coming up with Brilz as a replacement. “The Hitman” is 18-2-1 and seems to be relatively well-rounded based on how each “W” was achieved. “Little Nog” may be his highest profile fight, but Brilz is no stranger to notable competition and has beaten the likes of Tim Boetsch, Jason MacDonland, and Eric Schafer. His split decision loss to Eliot Marshall at UFC 103 was his first defeat in thirteen straight fights dating back to September 2001! Name value aside, Brilz clearly has some skill to back up the opportunity he was given, and though I don’t think he’ll necessarily beat Nogueira I’m glad he’s been given the chance to do so and earn a little mainstream respect along the way.
Nogueira has looked excellent since falling to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in less than thirty seconds three years ago. He’s won six straight with five finishing performances, and, outside of Brilz’s inner-circle, I think most people would agree the Brazilian is superior to his opponent on Saturday night in every facet of the game. I expect him to work his jab and frustrate Brilz with boxing, maybe stuff a few takedowns, and eventually land a combo that puts Brilz on his back for the eventual TKO finish.
Winner – Antonio Nogueira via TKO Round 2
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller
I’ll again defer to a breakdown I offered in this week’s GWI:
“Miller’s boxing should allow him to safely exchange with the Brit even though he doesn’t possess Bisping’s power or diversity of strikes. However, his grappling is of enough quality to control “The Count” in most positions, and if you look at Bisping’s record he’s traditionally struggled against opponents who excel on the mat.
I also feel there’s an intangible quality involved on Saturday that favors Miller because New Jersey’s proud son is fighting with a special sense of motivation. ESPN journalist Franklin McNeil did a far better job documenting the particulars than I will in this paragraph, but essentially Miller’s young son has dealt with health problems since conception that have recently, fortunately, taken a turn for the better as of late. He competed against Sonnen shortly after losing a daughter during birth and against Maia weeks after his boy’s (not to mention he fought with a dislocated thumb). I will never underestimate the power of the human will or mankind’s ability to achieve the incredible when such personal stakes are involved.
In my mind, the sum of the circumstances, as well as how the two match-up, favors Miller to pull of the upset in comparison to the other respective bouts on the card. I don’t know that he’ll submit Bisping but I can definitely see a decision win going his way.”
If Miller can successfully defend while mixing in a few punches while standing and drag Bisping to the canvas for a good portion of each round I think he’s got a decent chance of pulling off an upset.
Winner – Dan Miller via Decision
Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
I think the strategy both men will employ is fairly obvious. You can throw submissions out the window in this one because the odds of either man tapping the other out is highly unlikely. Jackson has been choked out once in his career (which happened nine years ago) and Evans’ only loss as a professional came via TKO to Lyoto Machida. Rather, the result of this match-up will be determined by wrestling, striking technique, and power.
“Rampage” has a far better chance of rendering Evans into a puddle of goo with a single punch than instead finding himself staring up at the rafters in a role reversal. As I said in GWI, “He has the power to flatten any opponent when standing or ground-and-pounding, as well as the ability to absorb a good amount of damage, and I honestly don’t think the same can be said about Evans. Jackson’s jaw appears to be made out of the same material as the chain he wears en route to the ring and has only been unlocked three out of thirty-seven times. Those knockouts were each the result of a series of vicious knees/stomps and came 5-7 years ago.” Rashad is notWanderlei Silva nor Mauricio Rua by any stretch of the imagination and to pull off a feat similar to theirs would be beyond impressive.
Evans, on the other hand, is faster and more elusive than Jackson due to his relatively small size for a LHW and Golden Gloves-level footwork. Whereas “Rampage” has more potential to win with a knockout, “Sugar” ‘Shad is a greater threat to stick and move while working in leg-kicks and takedown attempts. Jackson can’t flatten Evans without first connecting on a punch and I suspect the former Michigan State Spartan’s jaw is going to be a difficult target to score a bulls-eye on. Evans didn’t respect Machida’s power and paid the price for it. He isn’t likely to make the same mistake with the Memphis brawler.
As far as the actual fight unfolding, I can see Evans out-pointing his rival by focusing on technique and refusing to give into the emotional part of him that no doubt wants to stand with “Rampage”. His corner needs to constantly remind him that winning, even by decision, will feel almost as good as a knockout would and FAR superior to a loss. I can also see Jackson landing a combo that puts Rashad on his back, then pounding the Ultimate Fighter Season 2 champion out. I’m currently about 57/43 in favor of the second scenario occurring because Evans is an extremely confident competitor who could throw out strategy and just fight, but honestly feel the main event’s outcome is a relative coin-flip.
Who poses the bigger threat to the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: “Rampage” Jackson or Rashad Evans? Which Ultimate Fighter champ will have the best showing at UFC 114? Which underdog fighter do you think will pull off the upset this weekend? Which fight at DREAM.14 are you most excited for?
There were two MMA events last weekend and we‘ve got two more coming up this weekend. On the eve of UFC 114 and DREAM.14 it‘s time once again for me, Adam Tool, to do battle with my esteemed colleague Brendhan Conlan as we go around the world of mixed-martial arts in a back-and-forth battle to the finish. Once we’ve had our say you can make your voice heard in the comment box below.
And now, in the words of Cecil Peoples…LET’S DANCE!
From top to bottom, was Moosin MMA better, worse, or on par with what you originally expected it to be?
Adam Tool: This will be a particularly hard question to answer, seeing as how I (probably like you) didn’t watch the event. I did catch the bout between Roxanne Modafferi and Tara LaRosa over the weekend, as it was the only reason I would have made any effort to watch the show. That bout was highly entertaining, but I just couldn’t get interested in tracking down the rest of the card. From what I read on Twitter it sounds as if the event suffered from some extremely annoying commentary (including the usually entertaining Bas Rutten) and odd production choices. I remember reading something about them showing a backstage interview with Yves Edwards while he was fighting. It sounds as though event co-promoter Eric “Butterbean” Esch was trying to insert some humor into the proceedings, and by all accounts that effort failed. I saw the results afterwards and they offered little surprise: Tim Sylvia beat a guy in his third professional fight, Travis Lutter gassed before the first round was over (SHOCKING!), and Travis Wiuff took the co-main event spot to destroy some guy you’ve never heard of.
I didn’t expect much from Moosin, so I guess they met those expectations. I’ll just defer to my colleague here since he actually watched the event, so perhaps he will enlighten us all as to what a stellar card we missed.
Brendhan Conlan: I’d say it was slightly “better” than expected. I enjoyed the in-ring action for the most part. The preliminary bouts featured a gritty, three-round scrap between Forrest Petz and Ralph Johnson and highlight-worthy knockout from Lukasz Jurkowski two minutes into his fight against Ho Jin Kim. The main card lived up to its billing as well. Modafferi and LaRosa went back and forth for fifteen minutes with Roxanne, a huge underdog in terms of the betting odds, winning the biggest fight of her career while appearing to also be having the best time of her life. If you watched that bout and weren’t smiling at some point, especially given Modafferi’s infectious grin, then I believe there’s a job opening on a cliff overlooking the town of Dr. Suess’ Who-ville you may want to look into. Local competitor Mike Campbell also pulled off an upset by beating Edwards and weathering a number of slick attacks from the MMA veteran in the process. Lutter’s loss was the result of being smacked around like a pinata, not a lack of conditioning, and Rafael Natal deserves credit in the sense he again showed he’s not wholly reliant on his jiujitsu to beat opponents. As far as Wiuff, I don’t see the harm in a thirty-four second knockout, and even Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski had its moments including an exceptionally excited audience, a Polish rapper, and “Pudz” absorbing a few brutal knees to his face without flinching once.
There were definitely some questionable production choices throughout the event but I would be lying if I said they didn’t also add a level of unintentional comedic, entertainment value to Moosin’s offering. The backstage interviews were plentiful to be sure and included classic moments like the ring girls awkwardly making conversation with the camera in their dressing room, as well as Rutten exiting the restroom. “El Guapo” delivered his unique brand of Bas’isms, and his play-by-play guy was…well…frankly, he was terrible but in a way that lived up to the cliche of being “so bad” it was “good”. Fortunately for me, I caught a large portion of the Polish broadcast instead of the American one, and I have to say it was nice focusing on the action instead of the commentary. I also have to offer my praise to a nation of Polish advertising executives for creating some of the best beer commercials known to mankind.
My standards entering the show, as they are with every event, was that the evening’s proceedings would result in a product more entertaining than not. As such, I’d say Moosin definitely exceeded my expectations. Was it stellar? No. Was it entertaining? Yes (though not always for the “right” reasons).
Based on last Friday’s Strikeforce event, would you rather see Tyron Woodley or Roger Bowling get the call up to round out a future non-Challengers event?
Tool: Just going by their performances on Friday, it’s hard not hop on the Bowling bandwagon. That being said though, I still feel that Woodley deserves to move on from the Challengers series first. His win over Nathan Coy wasn’t the most impressive performance we’ve seen thus far, but it’s hard to discount his previous fights and the domination he’s shown in them. Woodley is still undefeated and is arguably the biggest star created by the Challengers series, so I say put him on the main card of an upcoming regular Strikeforce event and see what happens. He needs more exposure and some better competition before we can truly see where he stacks up, so why not toss him in against somebody like Joe Riggs?
Conlan: Woodley may be more deserving of the honor but there’s no question Bowling should get the call up in favor of “T-Wood” based purely on what each individual displayed at the Challengers event. Bowling’s fight with Voelker was akin to seeing a lighter version of Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar duking it out. It was fast-paced, full of “oohs” and “ahhs”, and a bout MMA fans owe it to themselves to watch regardless of either man’s name value. On the other hand, Woodley barely got by Coy and was fortunate to have avoided the first loss of his career. Bowling is a striker (somewhere Mauro Ranallo is smiling), so his style is more fan-friendly than Woodley’s wrestling and ground-based attack, and in that sense it also makes sense to feature him on a bigger card. Then again, both men are welterweights and remain undefeated, so why not kill two birds with one stone and have them fight each other alongside a few of Strikeforce’s premier names to open up a future CBS card? I for one, to paraphrase NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens, would have my “popcorn ready” for that particular pairing.
Which underdog on the UFC 114 card do you feel has the best chance of pulling off an “upset” in his respective bout?
Tool: Looking at the current betting lines for the showdown there’s a pretty clear choice as to who my favored underdog is on this card, as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is currently a slight dog against Rashad Evans. The line (at +105 as of this writing) represents the 14 month layoff Jackson has had since he beat Keith Jardine at UFC 96, although recent pictures show that Jackson has clearly gotten himself back into fighting shape since filming wrapped on The A-Team. Still, we can’t forget the sluggish version of “Rampage” that lost a decision to Forrest Griffin, and Jackson himself said that the long stretch of downtime filming “The Ultimate Fighter” hurt his performance that night. I’m picking “Rampage” to win on Saturday, but I can certainly understand why Evans might be a small favorite right now.
If we’re talking about true underdogs on the card, then I would have to advise people not to sleep on Dan Miller in his bout with Michael Bisping. Miller represents one of the toughest grapplers that “The Count” has had to face in his UFC career. While the elder Miller brother may be on a two-fight skid, those losses came against the last guy to fight for the title and the next guy to fight for the title. Against everyone else he’s faced in the UFC, Miller has looked outstanding. Bisping has been favoring the takedown/ground control element of MMA more and more lately, but if he chooses to take this fight to the ground he may end up receiving the first submission loss of his career.
Conlan: I don’t view Jackson as an underdog so he’s out of the running. After all, I don’t want him EVER hitting a punching bag while screaming “he’s dead” and thinking about me. Moving on, while I think John Hathaway has an above-average chance of beating Diego Sanchez, like Tool I’m going to show some love to Miller by saying I think he’s likely to beat Bisping assuming he doesn’t get caught on the chin while standing. Miller’s boxing is good enough to exchange with the Brit, though he doesn’t possess Bisping’s power or diversity of strikes. However, his grappling is of enough quality to control “The Count” in most positions, and if you look at Bisping’s record he’s traditionally struggled against opponents who excel on the mat.
I also feel there’s an intangible quality involved on Saturday that favors Miller because New Jersey native is fighting with a special sense of motivation. ESPN journalist Franklin McNeil did a far better job documenting the particulars than I will in this paragraph, but essentially Miller’s young son has dealt with health problems since conception that have recently, fortunately, taken a turn for the better as of late. He competed against Sonnen shortly after losing a daughter during birth and against Maia weeks after his boy’s (not to mention he fought with a dislocated thumb). I will never underestimate the power of the human will or mankind’s ability to achieve the incredible when such personal stakes are involved.
In my mind, the sum of the circumstances, as well as how the two match-up, favors Miller to pull of the upset in comparison to the other respective bouts on the card. I don’t know that he’ll submit Bisping but I can definitely see a decision win going his way.
UFC 114 features 5 former “Ultimate Fighter” champions on the card. Make your pick for the “TUF” champ who you think will have the best performance of the evening.
Conlan:Efrain Escudero, though he arguably has the easiest fight of the night in the bunch, and that’s not a knock on Dan Lauzon but rather a compliment to the other competitors the former Ultimate Fighter champs will be facing (Quinton Jackson, Dan Miller, Dong Hyun Kim, and rising star John Hathaway). Escudero has shown flashes of possessing exceptional talent in a string of solid performances. Though he suffered damaged tendons in his arm after refusing to tap against Evan Dunham at Fight Night 20 last January, I don’t suspect he’ll show any ill effects come showtime on Saturday night as the injuries weren’t particularly severe and the limb in question carries different weight both literally and figuratively than would be the case had he shredded his knee/ankle.
Escudero has the grappling ability to win most of the takedown and positioning battles plus the kind of heart willing to take a fight into deeper waters than most. It’s one thing to go out on your shield when it comes to being choked but to accept the possibility of a broken bone or snapped ligament, as he did against Dunham, is an entirely different level of ballsy foolishness. Lauzon appears to have the better striking based on the number of TKOs he’s earned over a career comparable to the Ultimate Fighter Season 8 champion, but I get the sense he’s more of a brawler than technically proficient on his feet, and I can see Efrain committing to movement/jabs to set up his ground game rather than engaging in a slugfest that could favor “The Upgrade”.
Also, though I have no insight into the matter, based on statements from all involved it has to be noted that the Massachusetts native is dealing with some personal issues involving his camp and brother/fellow UFC fighter Joe Lauzon. Regardless of which side is telling the truth there remains a definite divide between the two, and I would be shocked if it didn’t wear on Dan to some degree given the importance of one’s mental state in the cage. In my mind, all the factors add up for Escudero to look sharp and Lauzon to potentially seek employment elsewhere on the heels of a loss, and as such he’s my pick for being most likely to have the “best performance” out of the all event’s TUF alumni.
Tool: It’s hard to argue against picking Escudero here, as his previous performances combined with his opponent’s questionable training regiment should make this a relatively easy win. The rest of the “TUF” champions have some much bigger challenges ahead of them. Amir Sadollah gets to face the first high-level judoka of his career, Michael Bisping has to contend with the aggressive grappling skills of Dan Miller, and Rashad Evans will have to deal with the knockout power of “Rampage” Jackson.
Aside from Efrain, my money would be on Diego Sanchez to pull out the best performance of the “TUF” champs. He’s facing the highly-touted British prospect John Hathaway, who will be looking to maintain his perfect record and move to 4-0 in the octagon. There’s always plenty of question marks when an up-and-comer faces one of the UFC’s veterans. We don’t yet know how Hathaway will perform in this, the biggest test of his career. He could stun the crowd by dominating Sanchez early, but that’s probably the least likely result.
The loss to BJ Penn has undoubtedly put a big hit on Sanchez’s momentum, but we should all remember that he can be one of the most aggressive fighters in the UFC. His striking isn’t always technically impressive but he throws with plenty of power, especially when demonstrating his own brand of brutal ground-and-pound. Sanchez will also have a clear advantage if the fight goes to the ground, so he may very well look for the takedown early and often. The loss to Penn will give Diego plenty of motivation, and the fact that he doesn’t have to cut down to lightweight should allow him to come into the octagon in tremendous shape. Add in a dash of self-realization (YES!) and it should be a good night for the “Nightmare.”
Which of the main event participants do you think has a better chance of dethroning Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship?
Conlan: I think Quinton is a pretty clear favorite between the two in terms of potentially snatching “Shogun” Rua’s title, and I’ll be very interested to see the case for “Sugar” ‘Shad if Tool or any of GWI’s readers choose to make it. He has the power to flatten any opponent when standing or ground-and-pounding, as well as the ability to absorb a good amount of damage, and I honestly don’t think the same can be said about Evans.
Jackson’s jaw appears to be made out of the same material as the chain he wears en route to the ring and has only been unlocked three out of thirty-seven times. Those knockouts were each the result of a series of vicious knees/stomps and came 5-7 years ago. Yes, Rua was one of two opponents to accomplish the feat against “Rampage”, and the method in which Jackson avenged his losses to the other isn’t relevant because the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is most certainly notWanderlei Silva. However, Jackson has improved since his days in PRIDE, and competing in the Octagon, as well as under a set of rules allowing elbows and preventing the type of kicks to a downed opponent which assisted in his defeat to “Shogun”, could result in a very different fight than their original clash in April 2005. I’m confident the “A-Team” star would be as motivated to erase the taste of Rua’s knees from his mouth as he’d ever been for any bout in his career, and as has been evident in his career, an amped Jackson can be a very dangerous foe to deal with.
Tool: I can’t argue with Brendhan’s reasoning for leaning towards “Rampage,” but just for the sake of comparison I think perhaps I should make the case for Rashad.
Since winning the second season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Rashad Evans has been nearly flawless in the octagon. Other than the knockout loss to Machida he’s been the clear winner in every contest he’s entered. There have been moments of weakness, such as the first round against Forrest Griffin or the last round against Thiago Silva, but overall Evans has shown a tremendous ability to force opponents into fighting his fight. Despite all the trash-talking and high emotion heading into Saturday night, I’m fairly confident that Evans will utilize the most logical gameplan: get “Rampage” on the ground and keep him there for 15 minutes. If Evans can score the win then he’ll get a second shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, but can he beat “Shogun?”
I believe that he can. Evans has made great strides in his striking and while he may not be able to match the attack of Rua, he’s shown several times that he’s got knockout power. Nobody figured that Evans would be able to hold his own on the feet against Chuck Liddell, but we all know how that turned out. “Shogun” had trouble avoiding the takedowns of Mark Coleman, and I can guarantee that Evans will come into the fight in better shape than “The Hammer” did. If the fight happens then I’d probably pick “Shogun” to win, but I also wouldn’t count Evans out as he’d be more than capable of pulling off the victory.
Which fight at DREAM.14 are you most interested in seeing?
Conlan: Though the same stakes aren’t involved as in the past, “Sakuraba vs. Gracie” still rolls off my tongue and is Coltraine to my ears. It conjures up memories of a MMA rivalry dating back more than a decade; of the Japanese superstar’s run against the family earning him one of the sport’s classic nicknames – “The Gracie Hunter”; of his hour-plus test of endurance against Royce in 2000.
Come DREAM 14, Ralek will mark the fifth member of the Gracie clan Sakuraba has stepped into the ring against. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment on both sides of the equation. However, the 24-year old Brazilian bearer-of-the-flame is more than just a name. He’s 2-0 with the kind of submission skills fans of Mixed Martial Arts expect of a Gracie. His lack of fights is based more on choice than circumstance, as he apparently prefers teaching jiujitsu to getting punched in the face (go figure), but it isn’t as though he’ll be stepping into the ring with a pound-for-pound great or even the “Saku” of ten years ago.
Sakuraba is pushing 42 and has been through a number of in-ring wars in his career. He’s not in any way a threat on his feet, but then again neither is Gracie so it’s a push where stand-up is concerned. That leaves what should be one HELLUVA competitive grappling match between the two! Even if you think the iconic catch-wrestler is “over the hill” or “used up”, there is no denying his 9-3 record over the past five years or the fact he’s coming off a first-round submission of Zelg Galesic. I think it makes for an intriguing match-up regardless of their difference in experience, unranked status, or the nostalgic value of the last names involved, and without a doubt it’s the one I’m most anticipating at the event.
Tool: I’m going to take the easy route and pick the evening’s main event: Nick Diaz vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai. Diaz has all but abandoned his jiu-jitsu game in favor of his boxing, and we know Sakurai will be more than happy to oblige him in a stand-up war. I don’t think there’s too much question about the outcome, especially given Sakurai’s recent slide, but in terms of sheer entertainment value this bout promises to give fans their money’s worth.
When it comes right down to it I’m a fan of Nick Diaz. That’s getting harder and harder to say with each passing in-cage brawl that he’s been a part of, but I find the guy to be fun as hell to watch in the cage. The peppering punches, relentless taunting, and endless aggression all ensure that a Nick Diaz fight will not be boring. In the end that’s really all I’m asking for.
In the wake of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s astonishing destruction of previously untouchable karateka Lyoto Machida during UFC 113, the big question on the lips of the entire MMA world now is; has the UFC finally found its true light heavyweight king?
Of course the UFC light heavyweight division has always been stacked with the most recognized and marketable fighters on the planet. The all-American poster boys that revolutionized the sport during the Zuffa inspired world-wide MMA renaissance were almost all 205-pounders. While boxing had the heavyweights, the UFC had the light heavies.
First it was Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz. He was the brash and cocky kid who brutalised an under skilled division with his god given strength and vicious elbows inside the guard. Then it was Randy “The Natural” Couture, or simply “Captain America.” He was the ageless and affable American hero who made a habit of shocking the world with his grit and world class wrestling ability. And finally it was Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell. He was the mohawked knock-out artist with impregnable takedown defense who beat down both Ortiz and Couture twice on his way to becoming MMA’s first true cross-over star. Yes, since its inception on May 4 2001, the UFC light heavyweight division had always boasted a true divisional king.
Then on May 26 2007 at UFC 71, barely three weeks after becoming the first MMA fighter to grace the cover of ESPN Magazine, Liddell’s impressive run come to a somewhat embarrassing halt courtesy of a Quinton “Rampage” Jackson blazing right hook. Not only did Liddell’s nemesis shake up the entire MMA world that night, he also threw the UFC into a divisional tailspin it’s yet to fully recover from.
Three years down the road and the coveted UFC light heavyweight belt has changed hands a record five times. While Jackson made a solitary title defence against Dan Henderson at UFC 75, he soon relinquished it to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86. Griffin promptly lost it to fellow TUF alumni Rashad Evans at UFC 92 who in turn lost it to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98. And the game of musical chairs continued as Machida, who despite controversially coming up trumps in their first bout, was belatedly sent packing by a surprisingly resurgent Shogun last weekend at UFC 113. While Jackson, Griffin, Evans and Machida were thoroughly deserved champions, kings they were not.
So does Mauricio “Shogun” Rua have the minerals to pick up where Liddell left off and lord over the UFC light heavyweight division?
To answer that question it might pay to take a look back over Shogun’s relatively short but storied career as even at a glance it soon becomes obvious the former Wanderlei Silva prodigy has the pedigree to do just that. Groomed at the world famous Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil, he started training Muay Thai and BJJ at an early age, earning his black-belt in just five years. Then in 2005, at only 23 years of age, he freight-trained his way through the Pride Light Heavyweight Grand Prix on his way to taking out arguably the world’s most prestigious 205-pound event at the time. And it was no easy run as stomp victims Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona will surely attest. Since leaving Japan, despite experiencing a horror run of injuries, he’s unquestionably evolved into one of the finest strikers in the UFC and sports an incredibly dangerous submission game to boot. His only apparent flaw, the suspect gas tank that let him down against Renato Sobral and Forrest Griffin, appears to be rectified.
Now, at just 28 years of age and sporting an impressive record of 19-4-0 with 17 finishes, Shogun looks for all money to possess the kind of raw physical and technical attributes that can certainly place him alongside the likes of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre in the MMA world. And his conquest of Machida could possibly be the beginning of a lengthy win streak that sees him clean out the entire division.
So, has the UFC finally found its new light heavyweight king in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua? Absolutely… that is, until he’s dethroned by a kid nicknamed “Bones”.
Rashad Evans has talked a mountain of trash heading into his headliner with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 114, and he's doing his best not to let it get in the way of the fight.
Especially since Jackson, who shared a stint with Evans as a coach on "The Ultimate Fighter 10," has caught him several times in verbal exchanges over the past 10 months.
But Evans, a former light heavyweight champion, is well aware that anger could derail his chance to finish the long-running argument on May 29.
The payroll for Saturday night’s UFC 114 event was released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Leading the way were main event headliners Rashad Evans who earned $435,000, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson who earned $250,000.
One of the biggest feuds in recent MMA history is in the books following Saturday's UFC 114 event, but MMAjunkie.com readers are still reeling after Rashad Evans' decision victory over Quinton Jackson in the night's headliner.
LAS VEGAS - Following an event built on the duo's long-brewing feud, headliners Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson appropriately earned the top salaries at this weekend's UFC 114 event.
