First and Worst is an ongoing series for MMARatings.net, where every week Adam will make his pick for the best and worst newly-announced fight of the past week (Monday to Sunday). If you’d like to see any additions to this series, hit him up on Twitter @MMAdamMartin.
First: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shawn Jordan, UFC 166
The best fight announced this past week is the upcoming heavyweight bout at UFC 166 between veteran Gabriel Gonzaga and up-and-comer Shawn Jordan, a fight that promises to be explosive and end in a knockout one way or the other.
Gonzaga is the longest-tenured member of the UFC heavyweight division other than Frank Mir, but even at 35 years of age he’s not slowing down yet, as he’s won three of his last four fights, including a 17-second KO over Dave Herman at UFC 162. Jordan has also won three of his last four, all by knockout, and he seems to be really coming into his own as a UFC heavyweight.
This is going to be an extremely exciting matchup, and while there is some concern that Gonzaga could make it boring like Jordan’s fight with Cheick Kongo at UFC 149, I really don’t see that being the case, because Gonzaga has been nothing but a finisher since coming back to the UFC, and I expect him to be at his best this fall.
UFC 166 is a stacked card, but the winner of this fight is going to be on the short list for the event’s KOTN award, mark my words.
Worst: Thiago Silva vs. Matt Hamill, UFC Fight Night 29
The worst fight that was announced this past week was maybe the easiest selection I’ve made to date, as the UFC is rumored to have booked a light heavyweight bout between Thiago Silva and Matt Hamill for an upcoming UFC card in Brazil this October that is likely UFC Fight Night 29.
This is such an awful fight, and other than Roy Jones Jr. vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, it’s probably the worst fight in any combat sport that’s rumored to be happening in the coming months.
I just don’t understand it. Silva is coming off the best win he’s had in years, when he knocked out Rafael Cavalcante at UFC on FUEL TV 10, a performance that won him KOTN and FOTN, while Hamill hasn’t fought in nearly a year since a stinker with Roger Hollett at UFC 152, easily one of the worst bouts of 2012.
Hamill is essentially a part-time fighter at this point, as he’s basically only fighting once every 12 or so months, and going into Brazil against a heavy hitter like Silva, this fight really has all the makings of a typical UFC-in-Brazil mismatch. In fact, it’s possible the UFC wants Hamill to lose so they can cut him from his contract.
Hopefully the negative opinion about this rumored bout convinces the UFC to pull the plug, but it seems like it’s destined for a fight card near you this fall, and if anyone is actually excited about it, please leave a comment below and explain your reasoning, because I can’t imagine why.
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UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III is due to take place on October 19, 2013 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 166 will be.
UFC Fight Night 29: Maia vs. Shields is due to take place on October 9, 2013 at the Ginasio Poliesportivo Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 29 will be.
