What’s At Stake at UFC 164

By Nathan McCarter

UFC164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 is this Saturday, and the Milwaukee crowd will be treated to 12 exciting contests. The main event is a rematch a long time in the making, as Benson Henderson, current UFC Lightweight Champion, will get a chance to avenge the last loss he suffered when he takes on Anthony Pettis.

Pettis stunned the world with his “Showtime Kick” in their first match, and that kick sealed his win over Henderson in the final WEC fight for that lightweight crown.

He was supposed to get an immediate title shot in the UFC, but rematches and injuries stopped that from happening. Instead, he fought Clay Guida and dropped a decision in his UFC debut.

Now, after a couple of years, they are headlining once again, but at the top of the lightweight world.

In addition, 11 more fights will attempt to thrill you, as the UFC continues to roll through 2013. This is what’s at stake in Milwaukee come this Saturday.

Flyweight

Louis Gaudinot vs. Tim Elliot

The flyweight division may be the easiest division to earn a quick title shot in. It is growing constantly, but the upper echelon needs new opponents for Demetrious Johnson. This is a top 10 matchup, and the winner will shoot up the ladder into potential title contention. That makes this preliminary bout very interesting.

Louis Gaudinot hasn’t competed in over a year, but he will be looking to pick up where he left off in the division. Tim Elliot is going to try and get a win streak started. He picked up a win over Jared Papazian in his last bout, but he was bested by John Dodson before that.

This is an important flyweight encounter.

Bantamweight

Chico Camus vs. Kyung Ho Kang

This fight won’t have immediate impact in the division, but it will give the winner some momentum.

Camus is coming off of a loss, and Kang’s UFC debut ended in a no contest after Alex Caceres failed a post-fight drug test. These bantamweights are currently at the bottom of the division, and both men need to pick up a win to earn higher quality bouts.

Featherweight

Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirer

Erik Koch is currently ranked #10 in the division, according to the UFC’s in-house ranking system. He is coming off a loss to #2 Ricardo Lamas. However, many fans forget that Koch was supposed to fight Jose Aldo for the featherweight gold before injuries took that shot away from him.

Dustin Poirier has also been close to a title shot, but lost to The Korean Zombie at UFC on Fuel 3. Now, these two fun featherweight prospects will meet in a big time clash. The winner will jump right back in the mix of the crowded featherweight division. Poirier will be trying to re-enter the top 10 of the UFC divisional rankings, while Koch will try to keep his place.

This fight looks to be more important for Koch than Poirier. After a quick rise to the top, injuries and his recent loss puts him back in the field. He needs to show the UFC crowd what gained him respect in WEC.

Chad Mendes vs. Clay Guida

Mendes is ranked as the #1 featherweight contender by the UFC, and Guida comes in at #9. This fight has title implications written all over it. Jose Aldo is out for an extended period of time with an injury, and there are other contenders waiting in the wings. However, a decisive victory at UFC 164 could catapult the winner to the front of the field.

Guida won a contentious decision over Hatsu Hioki at UFC on Fox 6, but the bottom line is that he picked up the official win. Not only that, and perhaps more importantly, he is a fan favorite. That plays heavily into earning a title shot.

Mendes has had three straight TKO/KO performances inside the Octagon, and a fourth straight win would make it hard to deny the #1 featherweight contender a rematch. The UFC will have a hard decision one way or the other in deciding who gets the next title shot, and what to do while Aldo is out of action.

Lightweight

Ryan Couture vs. Al Iaquinta

Couture looked poor in his UFC debut. Iaquinta dropped his UFC debut in The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale. This fight is to see who can get a W under his belt, and the loser may find himself out of the UFC. They may be fighting for their jobs.

Jamie Varner vs. Gleison Tibau

Two very good lightweights who are just outside of the UFC’s top 10 square off, and a win could move one into prime position to nab the #10 spot following UFC 164. That is about all that is at stake. Neither is in danger of losing his job, and neither will earn a big top 5 fight next time out.

Welterweight

Pascal Krauss vs. Hyun Gyu Lim

Krauss is coming off a win, and Lim has six straight to his credit. Lim looked very good in his UFC debut in March.

There isn’t a lot at stake in this fight for Krauss, but for Lim it could be significant. To start his career 2-0 in the UFC, win seven straight, and be a fighter with a significant Asian following will assist his rise through the ranks.

He has value outside of the Octagon, and that will help them break into new markets. If he can win, the UFC will feature him in bigger fights to help them draw overseas. He can stand to make a lot of money.

Middleweight

Jared Hamman vs. Magnus Cedenblad

Hamman has lost two straight, and Cedenblad dropped his UFC debut. As the opening bout of the night, that shows you where these two are located in the middleweight division, and the company in general. This is a battle for their jobs.

Heavyweight

Soa Palelei vs. Nikita Krylov

This fight features two heavyweights who want that first UFC win. Palelei is 0-1 in the organization. He was cut after a loss to Eddie Sanchez, and he had to win eight straight just to get a call back to the big leagues.

Krylov is 15-2 in his career. The Ukrainian will try to make an impression when he makes his big debut.

It’s hard to see either fighter getting cut right away unless they stink up Milwaukee something fierce. Their first UFC win is the only thing at stake.

Ben Rothwell vs. Brandon Vera

This fight is all about Brandon Vera‘s return to the heavyweight division. He must show something special to regain relevance.

Rothwell is a serviceable, middle of the road, heavyweight. He won’t be in contention for any type of title shot, but he can help the UFC by being a measuring stick in the division. And that’s what they are doing with Vera. Using Rothwell as a measuring stick.

If Vera can win impressively, we can see him in bigger heavyweight fights moving forward.

Frank Mir vs. Josh Barnett

Mir, ranked #6 among divisional contenders by the UFC, finally gets his chance to take on Barnett, ranked #10.

The two former UFC Heavyweight Champions will be trying to get back in the mix of the upper echelon of the division. But more importantly, they want to beat each other up. This fight is a long time in the making between two of the longtime heavyweight veterans of the sport.

Their legacies are at stake. As two of the last relevant heavies of their era, that’s what they are fighting for. It is a big heavyweight showdown where the winner will just happen to move back into the upper tier of the division.

Main Event – UFC Lightweight Championship: Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis

It’s clear what’s at stake: The claim to the title of the best lightweight in the world, and the right to wear that UFC championship belt.

However, there is also revenge at stake for the champion. To be at the receiving end of the Showtime Kick means he has to repeatedly see it on every UFC highlight – even though it happened in the WEC. He has had that kick etched into his mind for years. Now, he gets a chance to prove he is better than Pettis.

Pettis will try to take the belt off of Henderson once again, and he has the chance to do it at home.

The last meeting came in Henderson’s backyard. This time, it’s in Pettis’. Can Henderson do what Pettis did to him? We will find out on Saturday. This could be a longtime lightweight rivalry that is just getting underway.

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UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis II is due to take place on August 31, 2013 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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