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: Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos, UFC 185
My pick for the best new fight announced this past week is the upcoming UFC lightweight title bout between champion Anthony Pettis and challenger Rafael dos Anjos, which headlines UFC 185 March 14 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dos Anjos earned his shot at the title by defeating Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson, and Jason High in 2014, while Pettis will be looking to make his second successful defence of the belt he originally won at UFC 164.
This is an amazing fight between two of the top three lightweights in the world, and I absolutely cannot wait to see it. Pettis has obviously been nothing short of incredible, defeating the likes of Gilbert Melendez, Donald Cerrone, Joe Lauzon, and Henderson by stoppage, as well as defeating Jeremy Stephens by decision, to go 5-1 overall since coming over from WEC in 2011. He’s looked fantastic in every fight, and anytime “Showtime” steps into the cage, the fans can expect to be treated to an entertaining scrap.
As for dos Anjos, he has been in the UFC since 2008, but he’s only hitting his stride now. Overall RDA is 12-5 in the UFC, and has won eight of his last nine fights, including his current three-fight win streak. Despite a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov last year at UFC on Fox 11, RDA is still very deserving of this title fight, as Nurmagomedov is injured and can’t fight in March, and RDA is clearly the next-best guy in the division. The UFC desperately needs to keep the injury-prone Pettis active, and because of good timing, RDA is getting the next title shot.
I love this fight, and while I do lean towards Pettis to keep his belt, I could definitely see RDA surprising us all. I mean, this is the guy who knocked out “Bendo.” No one does that, not even Pettis. RDA is a stud and he deserves a crack at the belt. I can’t wait to see what he does with the opportunity — I hope he runs with it.
• Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
Worst: Iuri Alcantara vs. Frankie Saenz, UFC Fight Night 61
My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 61 between Iuri Alcantara and Frankie Saenz. The card takes place February 22 at Ginasio Gigantinho in Porto Algere, Brazil, meaning Alcantara will have home-field advantage for a fight that he should be heavily favored heading into. And I mean heavily favored.
I was somewhat impressed by Saenz in his UFC debut against Nolan Ticman, but when I say somewhat impressed, I mean as far as Fight Pass preliminary card standards go. Overall I don’t think Saenz is that great of a fighter, and honestly I was surprised he didn’t drop down to 125 lbs after his UFC debut, seeing as how he was the King of the Cage flyweight champion before he entered the UFC.
I just don’t see what Saenz did to earn this fight against Alcantara, who is one of the top 15 bantamweights in the UFC. Saenz beat Ticman, but who cares? Alcantara is coming off of three straight wins over solid competition in Russell Doane, Vaughan Lee and Wilson Reis, and overall he is 6-2 with 1 No Contest in the UFC, with his only loss at bantamweight coming to top-ranked Urijah Faber. Considering this is a guy who holds a knockout win over top featherweight contender Ricardo Lamas, it’s baffling to me that the UFC would match him up with a bottom feeder like Saenz.
I don’t like this fight at all, and I am secretly hoping Saenz can’t get a visa to fly to Brazil or something, just so the UFC is forced to change the matchup. It’s a dumb fight, and I don’t know why UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby thought it was a good idea to book it.
• Iuri Alcantara vs. Frankie Saenz
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
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UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos is due to take place on March 14, 2015 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 185 will be.
UFC Fight Night 61: Mir vs. Bigfoot (formerly UFC Fight Night 61: Evans vs. Teixeira) is due to take place on February 22, 2015 at Gigantinho Gymnasium in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 61 will be.
