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: Daron Cruickshank vs. Jorge Masvidal, UFC on FOX 12
My pick for the best new fight announced this past week is the upcoming lightweight tilt at UFC on FOX 12 between devastating strikers Daron Cruickshank and Jorge Masvidal. This is a terrific matchup between two fighters who love throwing leather at their opponents’ faces and bodies, and it should be a terrific fight when it goes down this summer.
Although Cruickshank was counted out of his last fight against Erik Koch, he came through as a massive underdog with a highlight-reel head kick KO over the youngster to push his UFC record to a solid 5-2. For a guy who was knocked out in the first round of TUF 15, getting five wins in the Octagon is a major achievement, and there’s no doubt that Cruickshank has proven the critics wrong with his performances inside the UFC, three of which he has finished by way of head kick.
As for Masvidal, he’s 3-1 since coming over from Strikeforce, and has looked great in his wins over Michael Chiesa, Tim Means, and Pat Healy, and even in his loss against Rustam Khabilov. He’s a terrific striker with solid wrestling skills, and he matches up very well against Cruickshank, so much so that I think this is going to be the “Fight of the Night” at what is expected to be a stacked UFC on FOX 12 card.
This is an awesome fight between two lightweights on the verge of breaking out, and I can’t wait for it to go down this summer in San Jose.
• Jorge Masvidal vs. Daron Cruickshank
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Pat Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez, UFC Fight Night 42
My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming light heavyweight bout between Pat Cummins and Roger Narvaez, which takes place next month at UFC Fight Night 42. Narvaez, who is making his UFC debut, took the fight on short notice after an injury took Cummins’ original opponent Francimar Barroso out of the bout.
Regardless of whether it’s Barroso or Narvaez, I’m just not really excited for Cummins’ next match after the former Starbucks barista was hyped up by the UFC and the media for his last fight against Daniel Cormier, and proceeded to get knocked out in 79 seconds. Sorry, but this is a guy who is lucky to be in the UFC, and with a 4-1 record, I doubt he’ll ever get an opponent like Cormier ever again in his career.
As for Narvaez, he’s undefeated at 6-0 and could potentially be a promising addition to light heavyweight. However, he’s over the age of 30 just like Cummins is, and considering he has fought nobodies in his career just like Cummins has done, I highly doubt he’ll end up being anything special for the promotion.
To me, this just seems like a filler fight between two guys who are barely “UFC-caliber,” and I’m expecting a rather poor contest between these two fighters when they step into the cage just a few weeks from now at UFC Fight Night 42.
• Patrick Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC on FOX 12 is due to take place on July 26, 2014 at the Revel Casino Hotel in the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC on Fox 12 will be.
UFC Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov is due to take place on June 7, 2014 at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 42 will be.
I'll just assume that you wrote this before they announced Lawler/Brown.