After allowing its fans a bit of a “vacation” from mixed martial arts action, the UFC train gets back into motion this weekend at UFC Fight Night 47: Bader vs. Saint Preux. Although this fight card has been widely ignored by MMA fans, this event provides a number of reasons to plop down on your couch and catch this event on Saturday.
When UFC Fight Night 47 was scheduled, the main event between Ryan Bader and Ovince St. Preux gained the most attention, as it should, being the headliner. Bader is at a point in his career where he needs a big win to remain relevant within the sport. OSP is surging in his career at a point in time where the light heavyweight division is becoming a breeding ground for new contenders. A big win by either of these individuals could become a turning point in either man’s career.
However, what lies beyond that fight also gives fight fans ample reasons to huddle around the television to watch. The co-main event of Ross Pearson vs. Gray Maynard also has high stakes. Pearson may be coming off of a controversial loss to Diego Sanchez, but the promotion is booking him as if he were the winner in that contest. A win against a former title challenger in Maynard would be his highest-profile win, and would vault him into the top fifteen of a lightweight division that is stacking up quite nicely.
Maynard, on the other hand, may be fighting to save his career. Another loss and the standout wrestler may find himself in the unemployment line. His knockout defeat to Nate Diaz at the TUF 18 Finale suggests that he may be on the downside of his career, but with his power and wrestling ability, he still possesses the tools to pull off a win, and extend his UFC tenure.
Both Brad Tavares and Tim Boetsch need to win on Saturday night to prove they should still be considered contenders in the middleweight division. Tavares was on a very strong run before he hit the wall that was Yoel Romero at UFC on Fox 11. Boetsch was never able to capitalize on that UFC 144 win over Yushin Okami, and many now consider that victory a fluke. He is already on the outside of the middleweight contendership picture looking in, but could find himself outside of the promotion if he doesn’t get the win in Maine. As for Tavares, a win would put him back into the “mix” at 185 pounds. The division needs more contenders after Vitor Belfort, “Jacare” Souza, and Luke Rockhold, and Tavares can include his name on that list if he puts on a show this weekend.
Two bouts with immediate title implications take place lower on the card.
First, there is Sara McMann vs. Lauren Murphy. Murphy is stepping into the Octagon for the first time, and had to drop the Invicta title she owned in order to do so. Welcoming her is the former bantamweight title challenger McMann, who may have been put away quickly by Ronda Rousey at UFC 170, but is still considered by many in MMA circles to be a true test for the champion. The women’s bantamweight division is in dire need of some fresh faces to step up and present themselves to the fan base. Murphy could be one of those fresh faces, and has a platform on free television, as well as the opportunity to steal the show.
Second, Zach Makovsky and Jussier da Silva are due to meet in an important flyweight bout. Makovsky is a former Bellator champion that is riding four-fight win streak, including two straight wins in the UFC. He’s already a more interesting challenger than Chris Cariaso, who faces Demetrious Johnson at UFC 178, so another win would cement his place in line for a title shot. Da Silva was expected to make a splash when he was brought into the UFC, and has struggled to establish himself on the biggest stage of the sport, but a win over Makovsky could help him build much-needed momentum. And with John Dodson out with an injury, a victory for either man could potentially put the winner into a title bout for his next fight.
UFC Fight Night 47 is a very solid card that unfortunately takes place at a time when UFC fans are (or at least were) excited about other events. Still, after the lull of these past few weeks, fight fans have plenty of reasons to watch the card this Saturday brings.
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UFC Fight Night 47: Bader vs. Saint Preux is due to take place on August 16, 2014 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.
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