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: Donald Cerrone vs. Myles Jury, UFC 182
My pick for the best new fight announced this past week is the upcoming lightweight matchup at UFC 182 between top-10- ranked Donald Cerrone and Myles Jury. The event takes place January 3 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cerrone vs. Jury is due to be the co-main event underneath the headliner of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier.
This is an awesome fight between two of the best lightweights in the world, and it’s very deserving of the co-main event honor for this card. Cerrone has won five fights in a row over Eddie Alvarez, Jim Miller, Edson Barboza, Adriano Martins, and Evan Dunham to cement his place at the top of the weight class. He’s consistently amongst the most exciting fighters the sport has to offer, and any time he steps into the cage it’s a real treat for the fans. While he’s had his ups and downs in his career, there is no denying Cerrone is fighting at a championship-caliber level at the moment and is well deserving of a co-main event spot underneath Jones and Cormier.
As for Jury, Cerrone represents a step up for him, but it’s an earned promotion. Only 25 years of age, Jury — a TUF 15 and TUF 13 alum — is 6-0 so far in the UFC, with wins over Takanori Gomi, Diego Sanchez, Mike Ricci, Ramsey Nijem, Michael Johnson, and Chris Saunders. In his last fight, he knocked out Gomi, becoming the first fighter to do so, and that emphatic victory proved he belongs in the top 10 without a doubt. And a win over Cerrone would prove he belongs in the top five.
This is a tremendous fight between two fighters with a lot of momentum behind them, and it’s a shame one of them has to lose. Nonetheless, it’s going to be a great fight, and it’s a great way to kick off what should be a great year of MMA in 2015.
• Donald Cerrone vs. Myles Jury
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Lipeng Zhang vs. Chris Wade, UFC Fight Night 59
My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night 59 between TUF China winner Lipeng Zhang and up-and-coming American prospect Chris Wade. The fight card takes place January 18 at TD Garden in Boston, MA, and the bout between Zhang and Wade is expected to be a part of the evening’s preliminary festivities.
I’m just really confused about the UFC’s matchmaking here. The promotion spent a lot of money to host TUF China and Zhang won the show with his split decision victory over Wang Sai at the finale. The UFC was then very careful to match him up for his sophomore promotional effort, as they pit him against a fighter with horrendous takedown defence in Brendan O’Reilly. Yes, Zhang passed that test with flying colors at UFC Fight Night 48, but beating O’Reilly, a TUF Nations washout, is not impressive in the bigger scheme of things, and at only 24 years of age, the China native seemed to be due for a more deliberate buildup by the UFC.
Instead, the matchmakers have matched him up against Wade, who is 8-1 in his MMA career, as compared to Zhang’s record of 8-7-1. Wade had a terrific UFC debut at UFC 177 over the summer, submitting Cain Carrizosa in the first round. Sure, Carrizosa is an absolute nobody, but the way Wade ran through him was nothing short of impressive, and at 27 years of age, Wade is
improving rapidly. He’s scary-good already, and training with a great camp at Long Island MMA, I project a very bright future for the former wrestling standout.
Zhang isn’t the laughingstock people think he is — in fact, I’d say he’s pretty good. But this is a horrible matchup for him stylistically, and if Wade doesn’t come away with a devastating win, I’d be surprised. I’m just curious why the UFC is booking this fight, because Zuffa will most likely get nothing out of their TUF China investment. But perhaps they’ve already realized the return on their investment is zilch.
• Lipeng Zhang vs. Chris Wade
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier is due to take place on January 3, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 182 will be.
UFC Fight Night 59: McGregor vs. Siver is due to take place on January 18, 2015 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 59 will be.
