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: Justin Scoggins vs. Richie Vaculik, UFC Fight Night 33
My pick for the best fight announced this past week is the upcoming flyweight fight at UFC Fight Night 33 between 21-year-old UFC newcomer Justin Scoggins and TUF Smashes vet Richie Vaculik.
I’m sure a lot of you readers aren’t familiar with either fighter, so let me give some background on both.
Scoggins is an undefeated prospect out of South Carolina, and he’s known for his exceptional striking skills and massive power for a flyweight. He’s also known for his head kicks. At just 21, Scoggins is one of the youngest fighters in the whole UFC, and in my opinion, he has all the skills necessary to be a future champion in the UFC’s 125-pound division if he reaches his full potential.
Vaculik, who is also a professional surfer, appeared on TUF Smashes as a member of Team Australia, but he lost to eventual winner Norman Parke in the house. However, one must keep in mind he was competing as a lightweight on that show. Now, though, he has dropped down three full weight classes to fight at 125 pounds, and because of the weight cut, I’m very intrigued by a matchup that at first glance I expected to be all Scoggins.
I think this is going to be a really great fight, and I’m happy the UFC booked it. Look for it to be in contention for the “Fight of the Night” award at UFC Fight Night 33, which takes place later this year.
• Justin Scoggins vs. Richie Vaculik
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Jason High vs. Anthony Lapsley, UFC 167
My pick for the worst fight announced this past week is the upcoming welterweight matchup at UFC 167 between Jason High and UFC newcomer Anthony Lapsley.
It’s not that this is necessarily a bad matchup on paper, or that either fighter is a bad fighter, but it’s the fact the fight was booked on only one month’s notice for both guys to fill the UFC 167 card up to the standard 12 bouts.
What happened was that the UFC had to move Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir to UFC 169, and therefore there was an open spot to fill. For some reason, though, it took a few weeks to find two willing participants, and instead of getting a six-week camp, now each fighter will only get a four-week camp.
For High it’s not that bad because he is coming off a very quick victory over James Head in his last outing at UFC Fight Night 27. But for Lapsley it’s not really fair, because this is his UFC debut and you would prefer that the debutee gets a full camp.
It could be worse, I guess, and Lapsley could have been a two-week fill-in like Andrei Fili was against Jeremy Larsen at last weekend’s UFC 166 event, but still, I feel like the UFC should have just gone with 11 fights, and booked these two guys for a card in December so they can get the proper time to train.
But as far the actual matchup goes, it should be a pretty fun one between both vets – you just wish they got a full camp to show off their goods.
• Anthony Lapsley vs. Jason High
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC Fight Night 33: Hunt vs. Bigfoot is due to take place on December 7, 2013 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. (Due to the time differences, the event will air on December 6 in the United States.)
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 33 will be.
UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks is due to take place on November 16, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 167 will be.
