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: Albert Tumenov vs. Anthony Lapsley, UFC Fight Night 40
My pick for the best fight announced this past week – though there weren’t many to choose from – is the upcoming welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night 40 between Albert Tumenov and Anthony Lapsley. It’s a fight that makes sense from a number of different points of view, and although it won’t be a fight many talk about leading up to it, I still think it’s a solid matchup.
Both Tumenov and Lapsley lost their UFC debuts, to Ildemar Alcantra and Jason High, respectively, but both those fights went to decision, and it’s not like either man was blown out of the water in them. So the UFC has decided to give each man another shot in the Octagon, and now they’ll square off against one another in what is likely a loser-leaves-town type of matchup.
Tumenov is just 22 years old, and the Russian looks to be a serious prospect, but this is going to be his first time fighting in the U.S. and there’s no telling how he will adjust to fighting in North America. As for Lapsley, he’s in his thirties, and if he wants to make a run in the UFC welterweight division, he has to start with a win over Tumenov.
This is going to be a better fight than most people believe, and in a light week of new matchups, it’s the best one the UFC announced as far as I’m concerned, and it could be a sleeper Fight of the Night candidate when it’s all said and done.
• Albert Tumenov vs. Anthony Lapsley
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Ryan Jimmo vs. Sean O’Connell, TUF Nations Finale
My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming light heavyweight bout at the TUF Nations Finale between Ryan Jimmo and newcomer Sean O’Connell, who is replacing the injured Steve Bosse on short notice. I’m not a fan of Jimmo’s fighting style, so almost anytime the UFC announces a new matchup for him, it’s already on my short-list of worst fights announced. However, I did like the Bosse matchup because I figured he could make it exciting. As for O’Connell, though, I just feel like Jimmo can neutralize him and win a boring decision, something neither myself nor the fans want to see.
Perhaps I am selling O’Connell short, and perhaps the UFC newcomer can surprise me and pick up a win over the Octagon veteran Jimmo. But I feel like the more likely scenario is that Jimmo just “wall and stalls” his way to a decision win, and the Canadian fans boo him out of the cage, just like they did when he ground out Igor Pokrajac in Winnipeg at UFC 161.
I’m not expecting much at all from this fight. And while I do hope the fighters surprise me and put on a better show than I’m expecting, I really feel like this matchup is destined for dullness, and I’m not looking forward to it at all.
• Ryan Jimmo vs. Sean O’Connell
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC Fight Night 40: Brown vs. Silva is due to take place on May 10, 2014 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 40 will be.
The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Canada vs. Australia is due to take place on April 16, 2014 at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think the TUF Nations Finale will be.
