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: Travis Browne vs. Josh Barnett, UFC 168
My choice for the best fight announced this past week is the upcoming heavyweight bout at UFC 168 between Travis Browne and Josh Barnett, a match that could possibly determine the next man to get a title shot in the UFC’s heaviest weight class.
This is an excellent matchup between two world-class heavyweights and it’s the fight that made the most sense in the division at this time. With Barnett, you have a guy who had a stunning TKO win over Frank Mir at UFC 164 in his return to the Octagon after a decade away, while in Browne you have a young stud who just knocked out Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night 26.
Two huge dudes coming off big KO wins, and two guys who are trying to make a run for the UFC heavyweight championship. Sounds like a plan to me, and sounds like the perfect matchup the UFC could have made.
By the way, I’m not sure what happened to the proposed Browne vs. Stipe Miocic matchup, but I do think Browne vs. Barnett makes more sense as a title eliminator, so I’m OK with the UFC nixing that bout.
• Josh Barnett vs. Travis Browne
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Jared Rosholt vs. Walter Harris, TUF 18 Finale
My pick for the worst fight announced this past week is the upcoming heavyweight tilt between Jared Rosholt and Walter Harris, which is set to take place at the TUF 18 Finale in late November.
I have seen Rosholt fight, and let me just say right now that he is not very good, and although he comes from a pedigreed wrestling background, so did his brother Jake and look how he did during his stint in the Octagon.
As for Harris, I had never heard of him until this fight was announced, but judging by his Sherdog record, he is just a big dude with heavy hands who has a padded record over cans. I doubt this guy will ever do anything in the UFC, and even if he knocks out Rosholt in his debut, I won’t be a believer in him until he fights somebody decent.
This matchup, along with the recent fights between Nandor Guelmino and Daniel Omielanczuk and Soa Palelei and Nikita Krylov, lead me to believe that Joe Silva is in dire straights when it comes to signing MMA heavyweights, as there just doesn’t seem to be much talent out there in terms of 265 pounders.
Hopefully these guys can prove me wrong, but I have a feeling Rosholt vs. Harris is going to be a terrible fight that we all wish we had never seen.
• Walter Harris vs. Jared Rosholt
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva II is due to take place on December 28, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 168 will be.
The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale is due to take place on November 30, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think the TUF 18 Finale will be.
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I usually read these articles but I may have missed one so forgive me if that's the case but: How the hell can you not have Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown as your "Best of the Week"? It might be the best of the year or even better.
That is a GREAT fight too, can't go wrong with either. Really looking forward to both!