The weather is getting cooler outside and the days are growing shorter. As the summer months wave goodbye to us once again, we have to prepare for the cold fall and winter days that await. However, we still have mixed martial arts action to keep us warm and elated. Here are some of the upcoming fights and cards that should catch our eyes as MMA connoisseurs.
Card to look forward to: UFC 152
This may be one of the best events of the year when you consider the entire card, and it truly gives fight fans something to look forward to after the debacle that was UFC 151. At the top we have the lighting rod Jon Jones defending his title against Vitor Belfort, in a bout that many people are expecting Jones to dominate, but is more about his position as the ultimate heel in mixed martial arts.
Below that we have the first ever flyweight championship title fight in UFC history, contested between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson. Neither of these two guys understands the concept of slowing down, so we can expect action for the full twenty-five minutes. It would not be surprising if this bout not only wins Fight of the Night honors, but is a candidate for Fight of the Year.
Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann is another important fight, but in the middleweight division. While UFC President Dana White hasn’t announced it, if either of these fighters win in highlight reel fashion, he could end up becoming the next man to fight for the 185 pound title.
Even the undercard has a number of important fights for the fans to enjoy. Charles Oliveira vs. Cub Swanson is a bout that will show us whether Oliveira is a legitimate featherweight contender. Grappling ace Vinny Magalahes makes his return to the UFC. Evan Dunham vs. TJ Grant is an interesting lightweight bout, one which could determine whether Dunham really is poised to make the title run he was close to reaching back in 2010. Another featherweight standout, Jim Hettes, is also on the card. UFC 152 has the potential to be the card of the year and fight fans should be looking forward to this Saturday, September 22nd, with great anticipation.
Fight to look forward to: Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir
The Strikeforce heavyweight division has a “blowout closing sale” sign on its door, and this may be the final offering that MMA fans will be able to witness. Daniel Cormier is being moved over to the UFC, where he will compete with the biggest names in MMA, but before he can do so, he has to pass a test in Frank Mir. Set for November 3rd in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Cormier vs. Mir is an important fight in the heavyweight division. Mir, as we know, has been a staple among the contenders in the heavyweight division. A former heavyweight champion himself, Mir is consistently ranked in the top ten of the weight class. And while we often wonder what type of opposition Mir will offer when he hits the cage, there is no question that he will provide a true test for Cormier, to see if he can hang with the best heavyweight fighters the Octagon has to offer.
Cormier’s wrestling and striking have gotten him to this point in his career, and you can expect him to lean on both of them in this fight…especially since it’s been shown that Mir has a problem with fighters who are strong in both areas. Mir’s grappling is among the best in the heavyweight division, but he has a tough time with being offensive from his back when a strong wrestler is pressuring him.
Fight to look forward to outside of Zuffa: Eddie Alvarez vs. Patricky Freire
This is a major fight for Bellator. Both these athletes and the organization as a whole have something at stake in this bout.
Alvarez is looking to make the most money he can for the remainder of his career. To do so, he has to win the bout, and do so in spectacular fashion, as he looks to set the bidding war between the UFC and Bellator off with a bang. However, if he loses this bout, that will severely hurt his earning power and value to both organizations.
Freire needs this win because he was expected to be the guy to face Alvarez throughout his first lightweight tournament run, but he was shocked by eventual tournament winner and current lightweight champion Michael Chandler. Now he is trying to bounce back from that defeat, as well as his loss to Lloyd Woodard. A win here will immediately place him near the top of the lightweight rankings, which is important for Freire, as the Bellator is planning to create more high-profile fights in the coming year.
Bellator is also concerned with the outcome of this fight. If Alvarez loses, that will affect his value to the UFC, which will drive down the organization’s asking price. And since Bellator has the ability to match fighter contracts, this would put the company in a better position to match a Zuffa offer, and keep one of the biggest names that has fought for their organization.
Fall and winter are right around the corner, so it’s time to start looking for ways to stay warm. Screaming and yelling at your television with a group of friends, as you watch these anticipated cards and fights, is a great way to do so.
