First and Worst: Week of June 2 – June 8, 2014

By Adam Martin

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: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson 2, UFC 178

My pick for the best new fight announced this past week is the upcoming rematch between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, which will take place at UFC 178 this September in Toronto, the same place where these two put on the 2013 Fight of the Year, a bout that Jones won via controversial decision.

There was some talk that Jones would have been booked to fight Daniel Cormier instead of Gustafsson next, but after meeting with the UFC brass last week, the champ was convinced that the fight with Gustafsson is the right one for him. And in my opinion, it’s the best fight the UFC could have booked in any weight class all year.

The first fight between these two young studs at UFC 165 was nothing short of fantastic, and I expect the rematch to be just as good, if not better. Both men didn’t like each other before, but after all the games that Jones played before this rematch was finally booked, there’s no doubt in my mind that the rivalry between these two is 10 times what it was last September when they met the first time.

I really think that Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 will win Fight of the Year once again, and the fact it’s going to take place in Toronto, the site of the first fight, is to me the coolest part of it all. There seems to be magic every time Jones fights at the Air Canada Centre, and I don’t expect anything less than an extraordinary performance this September when he takes on Gustafsson again. It’s an amazing fight, and I absolutely cannot wait to see it go down this fall.

UFC 178

• Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)

Worst: Robert Drysdale vs. Keith Berish, TUF 19 Finale

My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming light heavyweight bout at the TUF 19 Finale between UFC newcomers Robert Drysdale and Keith Berish. Drysdale was supposed to make his Octagon debut last year, but had problems with the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to his use of testosterone replacement therapy and wasn’t able to fight until now.

TRT aside, I do like Drysdale as a prospect and think his BJJ is probably the best in the entire division. However, I don’t understand why the UFC is giving him a fight against Berish, who is a complete nobody in the world of mixed martial arts. I believe that Drysdale’s performances in the Legacy FC organization proved he is ready to fight someone in the top 20 at 205 pounds, and yet, for whatever reason, the UFC is giving him a softball against a fighter not many people have heard of.

It’s possible that Berish is better than I think he is, but it sure seems like a mismatch on paper to me, and I fully expect Drysdale to win this fight with a highlight reel submission. Now let’s just hope that his testosterone levels are within reason, because it would be very disappointing to see another one of his fights cancelled due to his past use of TRT.

TUF 19 Finale

• Robert Drysdale vs. Keith Berish

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UFC 178: Johnson vs. Cariaso (formerly UFC 178: Jones vs. Cormier, UFC 178: Jones vs. Gustafsson II) is due to take place on September 27, 2014 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale is due to take place on July 6, 2014 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.