Tag Archives: UFC

Bellator, pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

Certamina FNU Sports Show: UFC Pugnate noctem et Bellator 177 Recap et venturos MMA et pugilatu Schedule

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Haec hebdomade passim lineamenta recaps et praevius de MMA et pugilatu eventus circa mundum. Tony, Tom et Rich etiam politicam tractant et a duobus tangentibus hic et illic abeunt. Totum episodium hac septimana facimus sine mentione MacGregor vs .. Mayweather etiam semel.

Pugnas venturas ingentes frangimus cum Andre Berto suscipientes Shawn Porter in principali eventu in Showtime hac hebdomade et quarta MMA pugna inter Danielem Straus et Patricio. “Pitbull” Bellator procos 178 De Veneris noctibus. Etiam aliud UFC pugnamus de nocte disserere et proventus MMA proximi praeterire.

 

Combate Americas, Proelium Network, M, I, M-I provocare, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Unus VINDICIAE, UFC

Fight Network Presents 5 Live Events Over 3 Days Starting Tonight, Aprilis 20

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For Immediate Release – April 20, 2017

Including UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. Lobov Prelims, Unus VINDICIAE: Kings of Destiny, LFA 10: Heinisch nobis. Rota, M-I provocare 76 atque Combate Americas 13

CATONIS – Proelium Network, mundi SUMMUS 24/7 multi- suggestum channel dicata perficere coverage pugnae ludis, presents three action-packed days of live mixed martial arts, beginning nocte, Thursday, Aprilis 20, apud Combate Americas 13 from Tucson, Arizona, kicking off globally with the live prelims at 8 p.m. ET and at 10 p.m. ET in Canada with the live main card, which follows a live edition of IMPACT Wrestling at 8 p.m. ATQUE.

The action continues on Friday, Aprilis 21 at 8:30 a.m. ET with a live Canadian broadcast of Unus VINDICIAE: Kings of Destiny from Manila, Philippines. Postea, at 9 p.m. ATQUE, LFA 10: Heinisch nobis. Rota emanates from Pueblo, Colorado and airs live on Fight Network in Canada and globally in over 30 regionibus trans Europa, Africa et Orientem Medium.

On Tuesday, Aprilis 22, M-1 Global returns with a live doubleheader, incipientibus ab Hierosolyma 10 a.m. Et cum M-1 Selection 76, which airs live in Canada, the U.S. et super globally in 30 regionibus trans Europa, Africa et Orientem Medium. The M-I provocare 76 main card airs live exclusively in Canada at 1 p.m. ATQUE.

Tandem, Pugna Network tradet multa coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. Lobov across Canada on Saturday, Aprilis 22, starting at 7 p.m. ET with the live UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. LobovPRAE-PROLIUM SHOW leading into LIVE PRELIMS Network in proelium. The main card airs live on TSN5. TheUFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. Lobov PRAE-PROLIUM SHOW will feature UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and retired UFC lightweight contender Yves Edwards serving as desk analysts with host Karyn Bryant and reporter Laura Sanko conducting on-site fighter interviews.

At the conclusion of Saturday’s main card, vivunt UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. Lobov Post-PUGNA SHOW on Fight Network features highlights, analysis et post pugna colloquiis.

The stacked lineup for tonight’s Combate Americas 13, starting at 8 p.m. ET globally on Fight Network and 10 p.m. ET with the main card in Canada, includes:

-Roman Salazar (10-5) vs. Ricky Palacios (7-1)

-Irwin Rivera (5-2) vs. Kevin Natividad (2-0)

-Benny Madrid (9-3) vs. Chad Dietmeyer (8-2)

-Daniel Rodriguez (3-0) vs. Jejunium Champion (4-0)

-Erick Sanchez (7-3) vs. Randy Steinke (17-10-1)
-Victor Reyna (8-3) vs. Andrew Perez (5-4)
-Stephanie Alba (3-1) vs. Alesha Zappitella (2-0)

Unus VINDICIAE: Kings of Destiny, airing on Friday, Aprilis 21 at 8:30 a.m. ET across Canada, is headlined by lightweight kingpin Eduard Folayang defending his title against surging Ev Ting. The full card includes:

-Eduardus Folayang (17-5) vs. Res Ev (13-3) – ONE lightweight title
-Kevin Belingon (14-5) vs. Toni Tauru (11-4-1)
-Danny Kingad (5-0) vs. Muhammad Aiman (2-1)

-Eugene Toquero (8-4) vs. Stefer Rahardian (4-0)
-Chan Rothana (4-2) vs. Xie Bin (2-1)

-Gina Iniong (4-2) vs. Natalie Hills (2-4)
-Michael Nicolini (3-1) vs. Irina Mazepa (2-0)

-Robin Catalan (4-3) vs. Jeremy Miado (6-0)
-Christian Lee (5-1) vs. Jianping Wan (2-2)
-Honorio Banari (11-6) vs. Jaroslav Jartim (6-5-1)

LFA 10: Heinisch nobis. Rota, airing on Friday, Aprilis 21 at 9 p.m. ET across Canada and globally on Fight Network, features the following lineup:

-Ian Heinisch (7-0) vs. Lucas Rota (12-6)

-Nick Urso (9-3) vs. Vivamus Royval (5-2)
-Zac Riley (5-3) vs. Hieronymus Rivera (5-0)

-Dominic Montoya (7-0) vs. Slobodan Maksimovic (12-5-1)

-Andrew Yates (9-2) vs. Andrew Tenneson (5-1)
-Adam Martinez (3-1) vs. Maikel perez (1-0)

-Cody Yohn (3-1) vs. Mike Jones (4-2)

Saturday’s M-1 Global doubleheader begins with a live global broadcast of M-1 Selection 76 at 10 a.m. ATQUE, which will include the following bouts:

-Javier Fuentes (9-3) vs. Khamzat Sakalov (4-2)
-Elnur veliev (6-0) vs. Zalimbek Omarov (7-2)
-Anatoly Lyagu (5-1) vs. Abubakar Mestoev (4-0)
-Evgeniy Goncharov (5-2) vs. Daniil Arepyev (7-1)
-Alexey Valivakhin (10-5) vs. Ingishkan Ozdoev (0-0)

The M-I provocare 76 main card airs live across Canada at 1 p.m. ET and is headlined by a clash for the M-1 bantamweight championship. The full fight card includes:

-Movsar Evloev (6-0) vs. Alexei Nevzorov (12-2) – M-1 bantamweight title
-Khamzat Dalgiev (8-1) vs. Heliton dos Santos (15-5)
-Timur Nagibin (8-2) vs. Diego D’Avila (18-5)

-Sergey Morozov (6-2) vs. Fabricio Sarraff (22-9)

-Zalimbeg Omarov (7-2-1) vs. Elnur veliev (6-0-1)

Tuesday scriptor UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Swanson vs. Lobov PRELIMS air live on Fight Network across Canada at 8 p.m. ATQUE. The star-studded four-bout card includes:

-Thales Leites (26-7) vs. Sam Alvey (30-8)
-Dustin Ortiz (16-6) vs. Brandon Moreno (13-3)

-Scott Holtzman (9-2) vs. Michael McBride (8-2)

-Jessica Penne (12-5) vs. Danielle Taylor (8-2)

Ad plenam enumerationem network radiophonicus cedula proelium, placere visitabo www.fightnetwork.com, us on Twitterfightnet, visita nos in Facebook et ventilabrum in Instagramfightnet.
Bellator, pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

Certamina FNU Sports Show: Johnson vs. Reis Praevius, Susceptor Retires, NASCAR Pugnat

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Rabble Rousin’ Rich Bergeron, “Ordo” Tom Padgett et Tony “The Tornado” Penecale de nuntiis et eventibus duarum ultimarum hebdomadum in ludis pugnae discussis. Ex Rampage Jackson aspera finalis pugna in Bellator ad Chris Weidman damna controversiae Gegard Mousasi tegimus omnia maiora MMA eventuum. Etiam de schedula caestu venturae septimanae disputamus et aliquos eventus in pugilatu ex proximis duabus hebdomadibus respicimus. Involvimus disputationem de NASCAR et Bellator adhibito communi societate cum energia monstri bibendi. Duo gigantes ludis nuper nuntiaverunt Bellatorem exercitum pugnaturum esse in curriculis rerum futurarum.

 

Proelium Network, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, UFC

Pugnate Network Munera KSW 38 & QUI 38 Vivere Doubleheader hoc Veneris, Aprilis 7, Plus vive UFC® 210 Coverage Aprili 8

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CATONIS – Proelium Network, mundi SUMMUS 24/7 multi- suggestum channel dicata perficere coverage pugnae ludis, dat iuvenale vivere mixtum bellicae artis bilinguis hoc Veneris, Aprilis 7, incipiens a NSS 38: Vivamus in Studio Varsaviae, Polonia at 3 p.m. ET sequitur QUI 38: Ascensionisex Montrealensi, Canada at 6 p.m. ATQUE. Vivamus pugna coverage pergit Saturni, Aprilis 8 apud vivere PRAE-PROLIUM atque Post-pugna ostendit for UFC® 210: CORMIER nobis. Johnson 2.

NSS 38: Vivamus in Studio erit televisificae live in Pugna Network in Canada, the U.S. et super globally in 30 regionibus trans Europa, Africa et Orientem Medium. Interim, QUI 38: Ascensionis aere vivunt in Pugna Network in Canada et rivos globally super UFCFightPass.com.

Proicit procul 3 p.m. ATQUE, par summo Poloniae tenui sidera erit headline NSS 38: Vivamus in Studio, quodArtur Sowinski (17-8) cum inter se colliso, Lucas Chlewicki (14-5-1). In cooperatione consectetur, Poloniae leveGrzegorz Szulakowski (7-1) accipit Brazil's Renato Gomes (20-9) in hostes. In aliis certaminibus featured, Pluma Poloniae Romanus Szymanski (9-3) obvium Brazil's Denilson Neves (11-4),Lucas Rajewski (6-2) facies Sebastianus Romanowski (11-7-1) in proelio Poloniae tenuia, Kamil Selwa (10-5) tackles Prospectus conservis Poloniae bantamweight Anzor Azhiev (6-2), Antonius Chmiewlewski (32-15) atque Lucas Bienkowski (4-1) quadrare off in crepitus Poloniae middleweights, more Kamil Szymuszowski (15-4) atque Grajcan Szadzinski (5-1) prosternere in omnia Poloniae leve sollicitudin.

QUI 38: Ascensionis citatus ad * 6 p.m. ET et a ingens leve matchup headlines inter Ontario's Isai Ronson (16-8) et Montreal's Guillielmus Gauthier (8-6). The bantamweight co-feature cisternam Michael Imperato (7-2) adversum Xaverius Alaoui (7-1). in aliis daret marquee, T.J. Laramie (5-1) suscipit, Alex Morgan (6-2) in tenui labor certaminis, Celer Gym product Dimitri Autoline (12-7) occurret American bantamweight David Sachs (10-3), semel percussum Canadian middleweight Marc-Andre Barriault (6-1) proelia Gallus Yacine Bandaoui (7-5), invicti Canadian heavyweight Adamus Dyczka (4-0) sumit debuting Gaius Catullus (0-0), more Tyler Wilson (1-0) facies Ericus Daigneault (2-2) at 135 libras, Carolus Jourdain (3-0) facies Mathias Morciano (3-2) at 145 libras, Jeremia caponia (5-0) periculum suum perfectum recordum contra Coemgenus Genereux (2-2) at 155 librarum altus touted flyweight prospect Tony Laramie (1-0) persequitur oppositum triumphi professio invictum Theodoricum Falk (2-0).

In addition, Pugna Network tradet multa coverage of UFC® 210: CORMIER nobis. Johnson 2 on Saturday, Aprilis 8, starting at 1 p.m. ET cum quattuor horis Pugna seriei originalis Network UFC IN 60showcasing main event and co-main event stars Daniel Cormier, Antonius Johnson, Christophorus Weidman et Gegard Mousasi. At 5 p.m. ATQUE, UFC 210 COUNTDOWN intrat vitas et gyros quattuor athletae praeparantes funguntur proeliis.

Pugna Network mos televisificae vivere UFC® 210 PRAE-PROLIUM SHOW at 7 p.m. ET ducens in vita prelimia in TSN2. Spectaculum lineamenta secesserant UFC contendentes Kenny Florian et Yves Edwards operantes ut desk analystae cum exercitu Karyn Bryant, una cum notario Megan Olivi faciendi on-site Pugnator colloquiis.

In fine * UFC® 210: CORMIER nobis. Johnson 2, vivunt UFC® 210 Post-PUGNA SHOWfeatures volutpat, analysis et post pugna colloquiis.

Ad plenam enumerationem network radiophonicus cedula proelium, placere visitabo www.fightnetwork.com, us on Twitterfightnet, visita nos in Facebook et ventilabrum in Instagramfightnet.
pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

March 30, 2017 Certamina FNU Sports Show: Rex Mo vs. Rampage Preview, Arum dicit UFC dimidium sacculi Conorini contra Floyd . accipiet

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Tom, Dives et Tony magnas pugnas ultimas hebdomadis frangunt et praemonstrant futurae hebdomadis pugnae lusoriae card. Pelagus focus est Bellator 175 In MMA hoc septimana. Discutimus etiam de quibusdam novissimi nuntii, ut petitur ab Bob Arum quod UFC velit accipere dimidium bursae Conor MacGregor quando et si pugnet Floyd Mayweather Jr.. in caestu par. Nos quoque bene risum habemus de Rampage Jackson insanientes apud regem Mo Lawal for “adipem shaming” eum.. Rampage defensionem Cartman de Meridionali Park . vindemia est: “pinguis non sum, Iustus magnus sum exossatus.”

Bellator, pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

Certamina FNU Sports Show: UFC Recaps, Golovkin vs. Jacobs Proventus, Bellator 175 Preview

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Tom, Tony et Rich de mundo certaminis ludis. Conor MacGregor pugnabit Mayweather, Jr. si credis Dana Alba. Etiam Curabitur de UFC Pugnam noctem certe featuring Jimi Manuwa et Kelvin Gastelum notching ingens curriculo vincit. Respicimus ad nos Golovkin. Jacobs et verisimilitudo Canelo cum Golovkin nunc pugna arrepta. Nos quoque praevius rex Mo Lawal vs. Rampage Tullius proximo Veneris.

Audi passim infra:

 

 

 

pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Premier Boxing Propugnatores, Showtime, Boxing Showtime, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

FNU PUGNA VOLUPTATES: Lou Duva Tributum Show, Psychic Tom Padgett omnino comminuit UFC 209 Praedictiones, Garsias nobis. Thurman Recap et Analysis

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Tony Penecale (left) et Lou Duva (right) apud Brockton, Massachusetts dedication of the Rocky Marciano statue.

Nostrum spectaculum hac septimana Lou Duva dedicatum est (supra ius cum exercitu nostro Tony Penecale). Lou decessit ante hac septimana ad maturam senectutem 1994. Amicus magnus erat Marciano Rocky, fautor 19 pugiles mundi, et homo, qui omnia ferrea habebat in uno igne, quo animam suam accendebat: pugilatu. Promotor/exercitus/procurator/fabulae apparuit in FNU Certamina Sports spectaculum annis retro, sed dolendum est quod audio grainy et spotty. Si gemmas attente audias, sermo noster praeponderare difficiles maculas audiendi.

Plenum Lou Duva colloquium adest:

http://host.blogtalkradio.com/fightnewsunlimited/2009/07/03/joey-giambra

Etiam duos clips certos retractatos hic collocans:

 

 

 

 

 

Tom, Tony et Rich etiam metent Garcia vs. Thurman, Aliquam in Mayweather vs. McGregor, UFC 209 et multae controversiae adnexae, Monitum tenebrosum GSP de incisione ponderis, et Tony Bellew conturbatus est David Haye.

 

Hic est tape: (TAENIA non mentitur)

 

Bellator, pugilatu, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC, luctatio

Certamina FNU Sports Show: UFC, Bellator and Boxing Recaps/Previews; Dana The Drama Queen; Muhammad Ali Jr. Detained at Florida Airport; Transgender Wrestler Wins Women’s Wrestling Title in Texas

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Tom, Rich and Tony recap the major combat sports events from last week, including a major heavyweight showdown between Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington, a successful title defense by Liam McGeary last Friday at a Dublin, Ireland Bellator show, and a superb comeback by Jarrett Hurd over Tony Harrison. We also look forward to the inaugural women’s featherweight title bout in Bellator tomorrow night and a star-studded UFC 209 fight card including two of the most anticipated co-main events in recent UFC history. Stephen Thompson gets his rematch with UFC Welterweight Champ Tyron Woodley in the main event while Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson fight for a shot to face Conor McGregor for the lightweight title in the co-main event. We also discuss GSP’s comeback fight against Michael Bisping, a transgender female on her way to becoming a male winning a Texas women’s wrestling title, and Muhammad Ali’s son being detained at a Florida airport in early February. Check out our first Full FNU Combat Sports Show hosted on YouTube:

Cage Bellatores Pugnans VINDICIAE, mixta bellicis artibus, MMA

FORMER CAGE WARRIORS COMMENTATOR JOHN GOODEN SHARES HIS IRISH FIGHT NIGHT MEMORIES AHEAD OF CAGE WARRIORS’ RETURN TO DUBLIN

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PRIMUS DE LIBERO
Tuesday, February 28th, 2017

As we look forward to our long-awaited return to Dublin this weekend, the former voice of Cage Warriors remembers the raucous atmosphere of the Irish fight fans and recalls the moment he took a knee from a man who would go on to become the biggest star in the sport – Conor McGregor.

Before he started calling fights for the UFC, British play-by-play man John Gooden was the voice of Cage Warriors.

And nobody knows the passion of the Irish fight fans quite like John who, during the now-famous rise to prominence of Conor McGregor, ended up right in the thick of it with the legendary Irish fight fans during both of ‘The Notorious’ one’s Cage Warriors championship victories.

We chatted to Gooden at CW80 in London where he shared his memories of his Irish fight night experiences ahead of our return to Dublin this weekend for Cage Warriors 81.

“I think my first taste was the Helix when Conor won his first world title,” he began.

“I got injured – Conor kneed me in the face! But I stayed here to live to tell the tale!

“He jumped the fence. His fans were going absolutely bonkers, and I think if he didn’t go out, they were coming in. So strategically he did the right thing, although he sort of ran through me to get to them!

“But Josh (Palmer, Cage Warriors co-commentator) and I were covered in beer and it was just this melee of craziness. So that was really cool, because I can say I took a knee from Conor McGregor – which he apologised for, as well!

“The Helix was an interesting venue. It was on different levels and the last time I was there the Irish were having mixed results. Then Conor came out and, as he does, rouses everyone and came away with the victory in the fashion that he did. That just put the capstone on the night and just made it celebratory.”

After that fight both McGregor and Gooden were UFC bound, where they would reunite in Dublin at the 3Arena for Proelium Nocte UFC: McGregor v Brandao, an event that has gone down in folklore as one of the most raucous in UFC history.

“I’ve been over to Dublin twice (with the UFC) but the first time in 2014 – McGregor-Brandao – it’s gonna be difficult to top that,” Gooden smiled.

“The fans were SO good. The Irish fighters went 100%. They won, they won, they won and the crowd loved it. They got behind every single one and it was just a big celebration.

“Going back there, it was a sensory overload and I’m gonna take that to the grave with me.”

That event has been held up as the standard by which all fight night atmospheres are now judged, but there have been plenty of examples of the Irish fans’ passion since then, whether it’s at home for a host of different events, or on the road supporting their heroes overseas.

And on Saturday night the Irish fight fans have the opportunity to cheer on their boys on home soil once again at Cage Warriors 81. With a host of Irish fighting talent set for action, including Karl Moore bidding to capture the vacant Cage Warriors light-heavyweight title against American Josh Clark, we’re expecting another party atmosphere at the 3Arena.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.ie, priced €98, €38 and €24, with ticket holders also able to attend a special meet and greet session with our special guest fighters Neil Seery, Nicolas Dalby and the newly crowned Cage Warriors Welterweight Champion Karl Amoussou.

The bout will be televised live on eirSPORT 1 in Ireland, BT Sport in UK and Ireland, and streamed worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.

SAEPTUM ARMIGER 81: INVETERATUS temporis daret
Bout order TBC

PRO CARD
Karl Moore (7-1) v Josh Clark (10-3) – Cage Warriors light-heavyweight title (205lbs)
Catherine Costigan (5-2) v Wendy McKenna (1-0) – atomweight bout (105lbs)
Joe McColgan (3-0) v Arnold Quero (13-5, 1 NC) – lightweight bout (155lbs)
Darren O’Gorman (4-1) v Blaine O’Driscoll (3-1) – bantamweight praedura palaestrae (135lbs)
Hughie O’Rourke (ad debut) v Arann Maguire (0-1) – bantamweight praedura palaestrae (135lbs)
Håkon Foss (7-3) v Martyn Harris (4-2) – IRCA welterweight (170lbs)
Lloyd Manning (2-0) v Paul McBain (2-0) – tenui labor praedura palaestrae (145lbs)
Eric Nolan (ad debut) v Marcin Zembala (ad debut) – IRCA catchweight (150lbs)

AMATEUR CARD
Bill Farrell v David Piotrowicz – lux-heavyweight bout (205lbs)
Richie Stack v Pawel Politylo – tenui labor praedura palaestrae (145lbs)
Mark Gallivan v Makinde Adeyemi – IRCA welterweight (170lbs)
Francis Treacy v Stephen Treacy – lightweight bout (155lbs)
Austin Lynch v Alex Brophy – bantamweight praedura palaestrae (135lbs)
Colm O’Regan v Mateusz Kopyto – IRCA catchweight (161lbs)
Ivan Blanita v Gary Coffey – IRCA welterweight (170lbs)
Gary Wallace v Darren Sarsfield – IRCA catchweight (161lbs)
David Whelan v Brandon Myers – bantamweight praedura palaestrae (135lbs)
Adam Darby v Leon Hill – lightweight bout (155lbs)
Barry Hanna v Matthew Whyte – IRCA catchweight (132.2lbs)

Ad latest Cage Bellatores Pugnans risus nuntium ac updates, parce nobis Facebook, Twitter atque Instagram. Visum praeteritum CWFC actio, liberum et in-demanda, online via Bellatores cavea TV.

Photo: John Gooden & Dan Hardy – Dolly Clew in Bellatores Cage

www.CageWarriors.com

SAEPTUM ARMIGER VINDICIAE PROELIUM et ducens in Europa est longissimae vitae cursus mixta militaris artes promotionem. An Irish notam-habuerunt officiis in in UK & Hibernia, CWFC ludos est ieiunas-crescentis organization, autem ridiculo 80 certe in 12 trans orbis terrarum cum eius instauratione in tribus 2002. Domus est a sidera maximus quidam de praeteritis & Off, praesentis et futurae.
mixta bellicis artibus, MMA, Rich Bergeron, UFC

UFC 209: Woodley vs. Wonderboy and Khabib vs. Ferguson Preview and Prediction

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By: Rich Bergeron

UFC 209 is fast approaching with two dynamic fights headlining the card, including a highly anticipated rematch closing the show. Fans are itching for a solid fight card to watch after multiple disappointing Pay-Per-View events left them wanting more in recent months. This is a card that could definitely deliver the action-packed, adrenaline-filled spectacle fans have come to expect for the price of admission. Here are my previews and predictions for the two blockbuster fights at the top of the bill.

Stephanus Thompson (13-1-1) gets another crack at the welterweight title against Tyron Woodley (16-3-1) in consectetur. Even the odds makers (Check out the M88 sportsbook for more betting info) have a tough time predicting how this highly charged rematch will go. Woodley comes in as the slight underdog at +110 to Thompson’s -140.

Tamen, the Champion came close to finishing the first fight in the fourth round. Rather than continue with his powerful ground and pound approach against the in-trouble Thompson, Woodley switched to a failed choke attempt instead. Thompson was able to weather the storm and eke out the draw, but he also won three out of the five rounds on the scorecard. The experts who set the betting lines are obviously conscious of this and factoring it into their calculations.

Can Woodley put himself in position to get the knockout win this time or will Thompson make the right adjustments to win every round this time?

Praedictio: Stephen Thompson made one glaring mistake in the first fight that led to Woodley having a huge chance to win by knockout. Woodley picked his spots and made the fight competitive, but with both fighters knowing so much about each other now he may not be able to repeat or improve upon his performance in the first fight. Interim, Thompson is a skilled tactician, and he will focus on cage control this time around. He will use distance striking, superb defense, and constant movement to keep Woodley from doing any major damage this time around. Woodley of course has a chance to quiet all his doubters with one punch, but Thompson is the type of fighter who may not give the champ a chance to land that shot.

THOMPSON WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

The co-main event will set the stage for Conor MacGregor’s return to the UFC cage. The Irish superstar will eventually face the winner of UFC 209’s co-main event: Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0) vs. Tony Ferguson (22-3). This fight could potentially upstage the main event, despite the fact that Khabib is a -205 favorite to Ferguson’s +165 odds to win. Both fighters have enough momentum going for them to earn a title shot without fighting each other, but that doesn’t make this bout any less exciting on paper. Ferguson is 12-1 in the UFC with his only loss coming against Khabib’s last opponent: Michael Johnson. Ferguson lost to Johnson in 2012 by unanimous decision while Khabib submitted Johnson via Kimura in the third round of their UFC 205 clash last November.

Both fighters have equally imposing strengths. Khabib smothers many of his opponents with crisp wrestling skills to match his more than capable striking and submission ability. Sambo and judo are also staples of Nurmagomedov’s intense approach to cage fighting. He is so well rounded that he has an equal number (8) of submission, decision and T/KO wins, and all of his decision wins are unanimous.

Ferguson is on a nine-fight win streak. He is more of a volume striker, and he used excellent boxing to impose his will on the opponents he’s dominated so far. He is also well rounded like Nurmagomedov and can use that superb striking to secure submissions on stunned opponents. Habet 8 submissions to go with 9 T/KOs and five decisions.

PREDICTION: Ferguson may be on a tremendous run right now, but Khabib’s absolutely dominated every opponent he ever faced in his MMA career. McGregor may actually be rooting for a tie in this fight so he can have some extra time to negotiate a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. while these two contenders are setting up an inevitable rematch. Autem, ties are rare enough in the UFC that one here is far fetched to imagine. It’s much more likely that this fight ends up with one fighter on the canvas, out cold or too dazed to continue. All signs point to that fighter being Ferguson, leaving MacGregor with the prospect of having to prove his mettle by beating a man nobody’s been able to beat before. Scilicet, anything can happen in that cage and anyone can have a bad night at the office, but perfection is hard to argue with.

NURMAGOMEDOV BY 2nd Round TKO