First and Worst: Week of September 29 – October 5, 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: Diego Sanchez vs. Joe Lauzon, UFC 180

My pick for the best fight announced in the past week is the lightweight battle at UFC 180 between veterans Diego Sanchez and Joe Lauzon, which is set for November 15 at Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico. Although Conor McGregor was linked to the fight after Norman Parke pulled out with injury, Lauzon filled in for Parke against Sanchez, and the result is likely to be a Fight of the Year candidate between two of the most exciting lightweights in the sport.

For nearly a decade, both Sanchez and Lauzon have been involved in some of the most memorable fights in UFC history. Who can forget Sanchez vs. Gilbert Melendez, or Sanchez vs. Clay Guida? Who can forget Lauzon against Jamie Varner and Jim Miller? Who can forget Sanchez on the first season of TUF? Who can forget Lauzon on the fifth season of TUF? Win or lose, these are two of the most entertaining fighters we’ve ever seen grace the Octagon, and the decision to pit them up against one another is brilliant.

A lot of people wanted McGregor to get the Sanchez fight after Parke dropped out, but how does that make sense? They don’t even fight in the same weight class. I’m not saying that fight wouldn’t be fun, but what does it prove? It proves nothing, and makes no logical sense with McGregor next in line for a featherweight title shot – why would the UFC risk having him lose to a guy like Sanchez? The UFC was smart for not repeating the mistake Bellator did in booking Alexander Shlemenko vs. Tito Ortiz, even if for some reasons certain fans thought the fight made sense (though I failed to see the logic).

Instead, we get a fight between Sanchez and Lauzon, two once-great lightweights who are more-or-less gatekeepers at this point in their respective careers. Both men are battling for their top-15 rank in the division, and this fight makes perfect sense with both men coming off of a “win” (I say that because Sanchez’ last win, a split decision nod over Ross Pearson, was highly controversial.) I’m looking forward to the matchup, and it makes the UFC 180 card that much better.

UFC 180

• Diego Sanchez vs. Joe Lauzon

Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.

Worst: Charlie Brenneman vs. Leandro Silva, UFC Fight Night 58

My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night 58 between Charlie Brenneman and Leandro Silva. The event takes place December 20 at Ginasio Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil, and Brenneman vs. Silva is more than likely going to be the curtain jerker on the Fight Pass prelims.

Brenneman has lost his last four fights in the UFCs, with all losses coming by stoppage. In his last outing, at UFC 172 against Danny Castillo, he actually looked good early before his notoriously-weak chin gave out once again,, and he was brutally finished with punches. Brenneman has been knocked out four times in his career, has been stopped six times in seven losses, and at this point you have to worry about his health. Although he was once a solid fighter in the UFC, his career-defining win over Rick Story was in 2011, and he’s never looked that good again.

As for Silva, he’s 0-2 over two separate stints in the UFC after his failed stint on TUF 2, but those are the only two losses in his career, and both came by decision. Silva has knockout power in all of his limbs, and with 10 career finishes, including a head kick KO on the regional circuit that got him back into the UFC, it seems like the UFC is setting him up for a big win over Brenneman.

I’ve always liked Brenneman – or just “Charlie,” as the fans call him – but after seeing him get knocked out so many times in his career, I have no interest in watching him fight anymore, although I will of course admit he is still a capable wrestler. He is not, however, a capable mixed martial artist, and on December 20, I think his UFC career will finally come to a close.