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Rowdy Ronda Rousey gets a new opponent for UFC 157…HAHA!

MMA Nerd Picks for UFC 149

Jody Smith:

“Barao” vs Faber
With these two exciting bantamweights this fight will be anything other than boring. Faber is constantly improved his striking, always has the wrestling to go with it and owns a  powerful submission  game to boot, (and the ability to seamlessly transition between them all). Unfortunately he’s fighting a 25 year old phenom in Renan “Barao”. Renan’s attack is reminiscent of Jose Aldo (both are Nova Uniao fighters and train together) and with a “Kick Clinic” put on by Aldo to send Faber down a weight class (WEC 48), look here for Aldo to impart the same strategy unto “Barao”.  Faber is too tough, but might be in danger of being rocked and submitted in the later rounds. That said it is more likely that Faber gets beat up to a decision over five high paced rounds, and Barao goes on to become the new Bantamweight champion after beating Dominick Cruz..
Lombard vs Boetsch
Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch appeared to have nothing but a loss in front of him going into the third round against Yushin Okami at UFC 144. Tim however decided to turn the tides with a series of uppercuts against the fence that completely KO’d Okami. Prior to that turn of events make no mistake; Okami was lighting Tim’s ass up. Was the KO luck? Is Boetsch just a “flash in the pan”? Is Lombard really a contender in the increasingly tough UFC middleweight class? Is Hector the best fighter to challenge Anderson Silva? A lot of questions will hopefully be answered Sat night.
-What I do know is that Boetsch cannot employ a similar “feeling out process”against the powerhouse that is Lombard. Playing oposum and starting slow is not an option in this fight. Lombard is notorious for blitzkrieg attacks and when he smells blood he finishes. If Tim can weather the storm over the first couple rounds he might be able to secure a take down and GnP his way to a TKO stoppage. That said, Lombard will likely be too much and gets the KO early in the second round. From there the winners of Bisping vs Stann, and Chris Weidaman will likely enter into a title eliminator for the next shot at “The Spider”..
Kongo vs Jordan
 Shawn Jordan: a big-ex fullback at LSU, now turned MMA fighter.
 Cheik Kongo: a freakishly chisled french striker who’s won some amazing comebacks (P. Barry anyone?) and lost to some devastating KO’s/TKO’s (Hunt & Mir). Much remains to be seen in Shawn Jordan as he is new to the sport. Will Kongo exploit this and try to surprise Jordan with a takedown and subsequent submission? Probably not. Congo has a bad habit of letting punches get through and with a big guy like Jordan that could spell disaster. Jordan gets a first round KO!! 
*How awesome is the UFC Heavyweight division these days? There is just an unprecedented depth of  heavyweights right now!. Werdum has looked great, there’s the JDS/Cain rematch, the Big Country & Shane Carwin fight coming soon, and Sergei Kharitonov is rumored to be joining the UFC. Then there’s always Stephan Struve, Frank Mir, Travis Browne, Matt Mitrione, Lavar Johnson, Shane Del Resario, Dave Herman and new guys such as Stipe Miocic that are now filling out what was once the thinnest division in the UFC. Fuck Yea’!!!!
PJ Chou:
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao
I know the sexy pick right now is Renan Barao, but I have to go with the California O.G., Urijah Faber.  The California Kid does not possess the explosiveness, striking, or jiu jitsu of his younger foe, but he does have experience and WRESTLING on his side.  Faber will control the feisty Brazilian with his wrestling, and cruise to a 5 round decision.  Faber will need to weather the 1st 2 rounds though where Barao will look to finish him.  Dominick Cruz will definitely be watching this on his couch with vested interest!
Faber wins via Decision
Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch
After watching the UFC countdown special for Lombard vs. Boetsch, I became a Tim Boetsch fan for life.  Anyone who loves riding their lawnmower is cool by me.  That said, Tim Boetsch is a great story, but he is way too slow for the crazy ass Cuban, Lombard.  Lombard is looking to make a splash in the Middleweight title picture, and I think he TKOs Boetsch after catching him with some devastating strikes.  That said, I think the UFC gives him the title shot against Silva if he finishes the fight. I’d personally like to see him fight Michael Bisping.
Lombard wins via 2nd Round TKO
Kongo vs Jordan
Kongo wins round 1 ground and pound.

Urijah Faber on the Joe Rogan Experience


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Dominick Cruz tears ACL while grappling with Ronda Rousey

*UPDATE:  Cruz has stated that the injury did not occur while training with Ronda Rousey.  Good one Faber haha.

Bad news for those looking forward to the Cruz/Faber showdown at UFC 148 this Summer.  It looks like Cruz will be out for at least 9 months.  Eventhough I think interim titles are dumb as hell, I think the UFC will have to host a fight for the Bantamweight interim title while we wait for Cruz to heal.

So far it looks like Renan Barao and Michael McDonald are the frontrunners to face Urijah Faber.  Both fights sound fantastic to me; let’s see what happens.

Also, Ronda Rousey is an absolute animal!  Can’t wait for her to fight Cyborg once Cyborg’s suspension is over.

Dana White’s UFC on FOX 3 Vlogs

The UFC is in my backyard for UFC on FOX 3 (NJ/NYC).  I am super pumped for the fights especially the Diaz/Miller fight and the Palahares/Belcher scrap.  Here are Dana White’s customary pre-fight video blogs.  The first one is basically Dana clowning on Urijah Faber and the second one is alot of the behind the scenes for the Jones vs. Evans event.  Nice Bruce Lee tee Baldfather!

Dominick Cruz parodies Urijah Faber

Dominick Cruz training for Urijah Faber

“I dominate like Dom Cruz.” -Paul Wall

"I’m going to put a whooping on him, and this time I’m going to finish him. I’m tired if hearing him run his mouth with that big chin of his."

Dominick Cruz

"He’s alive right now because there’s rules in MMA and I had to release his neck and let him breathe! You’re welcome Dominick Cruz, for giving you life and letting you live!"

Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz to coach TUF 15

I think alot of us saw this coming with both Faber and Cruz campaigning to be coaches for awhile now.  This will definitely be some great TV because these two have some real animosity toward each other.  Bring it on!