(The Daily Haymaker is a daily series that takes a look back and covers the news, fights being made, and all the other insanity revolving around combat sports. The Haymaker’s purpose is to keep you up to date with the ever changing combat sports world and also provide thought-provoking [hopefully] analysis from yours truly.)
Poll Question: Your life depends on picking the winner. Who would you guys pick in a match-up between Mikey Garcia and Yuriorkis Gamboa?
UFC Fight Night 32
Light Heavyweight Bout
Vitor Belfort (24-10) vs Dan Henderson (29-11)
Recap: Thirty seconds into Saturday night’s main event, it became clear that the fans, journalists, and ZUFFA employees inside the Goainia Arena were watching two true mixed martial art veterans compete. Both fighters were hesitant early, unwilling to give up an opening that would lead to an unpleasant nap. And then impatience began to show for Dan Henderson, his guard slackened like a rope attached to a falling headlight. Henderson unloaded a pair of H-bombs, hoping to employ Vitor in one of the starring roles in Hendo’s latest highlight reel. Unfortunately for Henderson, what played out was the exact opposite. When he threw his pair of overhand rights, Henderson lost eye contact with his opponent, and Belfort capitalized by connecting with a counter left hook flush on the concrete chin of Henderson. The concrete cracked. Henderson, stunned, crumbled down to the canvas, and Belfort followed him down with a salvo of punches. Using his guard to create some space, Henderson was somehow able to regain a bit of composure, so Belfort responded by relenting and letting Henderson up. An unsuspecting Henderson stood up and in to the tactical ploy of Belfort. As a dazed Henderson returned to standing form, Belfort introduced his shin to Henderson’s chin in the most impolite way imaginable. Belfort’s right head kick had knocked out Henderson, a man who had never been knocked out in his 39 fight career.
Analysis: With the win, Belfort earned himself a middleweight championship fight and a trip to America. In his last three fights, Vitor Belfort has attainted three consecutive knockoutss over Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, and Dan Henderson, and Belfort has *gulp* never looked better. Still, Vitor Belfort could find the cure for cancer, and people would still discuss his TRT use and how it gave him an unfair advantage over other doctors. Personally, I believe TRT shouldn’t be allowed in Mixed Martial Arts, but that’s not relevant. What is relevant is that Vitor Belfort needs to fight in America when he challenges for the middleweight strap, and he needs to fight in a state that has a respected commission [sit down Texas]. While Belfort will never shed his involvement with TRT from his reputation completely, competing in a state like Nevada would quiet some of the discontent with his medical history. As far as Dan Henderson goes, he looked bad in this fight. Henderson will have to work hard in the gym if he wants to stagnate the downward slope that is getting steeper at an alarming rate.
Middleweight Bout
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira (7-2) vs Daniel Sarafian (8-4)
Recap: Cezar Ferreira took home a split decision that I scored 29-28 in favor of Ferreira. The clear round of the three was third for Ferreira. In that period, Ferreira neutralized Sarafian with a pair of takedowns that led to submission attempt and ground and pound from Mutante. Much of the same played out in the previous frame, but Sarafian was able to stagger Ferreira with a right in between takedowns from his opponent. The first round saw Sarafian bully Ferreira against the cage, but it was Mutante who got the better of the striking exchanges. Referee Mario Yamasaki called for a controversial stand-up in the second. As Ferreira was attempting an arm triangle submission, Yamasaki for some unknown reason decided to stand both fighters up.
Analysis: Being the co-main event of this card really hurt the way this fight was perceived. Neither of these fighters have done enough in the UFC to resonate with the non-Brazilian audience, and all this fight was for most people watching was a road block in the way of the highly-anticipated main event. Perception aside, Ferreira stood out because of his mixture of wrestling and grappling as well as his size. Compared to Sarafian, Ferreira appeared to be a fighter who was one or two weight classes bigger.
Light Heavyweight Bout
Rafael Cavalcante (12-4, 1 NC) vs Igor Pokrajac (25-11, 1 NC)
Recap: To start the fight, Pokrajac initiated a clinch that ended up spelling his demise. In the clinch, Cavalcante went to work with knees to the head and body of Pokrajac that dropped the Croatian. Cavalcante punctuated the knockdown with punches until the referee stopped the fight as Pokrajac simultaneously tapped out.
Analysis: Rafael Cavalcante shook off the rust that was evident in his last fight and looked like the Cavalcante who had success in Strikeforce. The knees that Feijao unleashed in the clinch were brutal, and there aren’t too many Light Heavyweights that’ll be able to withstand those powerful strikes. Cavalcante represents a breath of fresh air in a UFC Light Heavyweight that is in desperate of new faces.
Welterweight Bout
Brandon Thatch (11-1) vs Paulo Thiago (15-6)
Recap: Brandon Thatch came out like gangbusters with an aggressive striking output, but Paulo Thiago was able to take down an unbalanced Thatch. Almost immediately, Thatch was able to stand back up, and he returned to his aggressive nature, eventually landing a knee to the liver of Thiago that caused the Brazilian to fall down and tap out in pain.
Analysis: One of the most biggest wins from the UFN 32 card was Brandon Thatch’s victory. Thatch answered the question of how he would face the adversity of being taken down by getting back up almost immediately, and he put away Thiago with his scary striking. Without question, Brandon Thatch is the best prospect in the UFC welterweight division. It will just be a matter of time before we figure out if he goes the way of Rory MacDonald or Paulo Thiago.
Welterweight Bout
Ryan LaFlare (9-0) vs Santiago Ponzinibbio (18-2)
Recap: In the first round, Ryan LaFlare brought Ponzinibbio down to the ground with a takedown and from there he controlled the fight with his grappling and ground strikes. Although Ponzinibbio attempted some reversals and submissions, LaFlare got the better of the Argentinian in the first. The second frame played out primarily on the feet with Ponzinibbio slightly getting the better of LaFlare with combinations and significant strikes. LaFlare ended the period with a takedown. LaFlare scored big early on in round three with a pair of takedowns a long with a vicious knee that staggered Ponzinibbio. Ponzinibbio did drop LaFlare with an uppercut towards the end of the period, but when he nearly got himself caught in an omaplata when went down to land some ground punches.
Analysis: LaFlare is a grinder that’s going to be a tough out at 205 pounds, but he lacks the upside that we saw in Thatch fight.
Featherweight Bout
Jeremy Stephens (22-9) vs Rony Bezerra (13-4)
Recap: Jeremy Stephens knocked out Rony Bezerra with a right head kick and then followed up with an overhand right to an unconscious Bezerra. That’s all that happened.
Analysis: Jeremy Stephens was roughly 10000 times more impressive in his second go around in the featherweight division. Granted, there’s little to be learned from 40 seconds of fight tape, but it appears that the knockout power that Stephens is known for has returned in his new home. The last time Stephens knocked out an opponent was on the first day of 2011. I’m not ready to write down Stephens as a top contender at 145 pounds, but I’m willing to accept the possibility of it happening. You know, allegedly.
Featherweight Bout
Sam Sicilia (12-3) vs Godofredo Castro (9-3)
Recap: Sam Sicilia ran through Godofredo Castro in this one. Sicilia took Castro down and rained down ground and pound, until the fight was stopped.
Analysis: Having lost two in a row, this was a must win for Sam Sicilia, and he performed to perfection in this one. In his three victories, Sicilia has finished all of his opponents with strikes.
Middleweight Bout
Omari Akhmedov (12-0) vs Thiago Perpetuo (9-2-1)
Recap: Akhmedov rushed in and was knocked down by a head clash. Perpetuo attempted to tally some ground strikes, but Akhmedov was able to get up and take down Perpetuo. Perpetuo then got up and taken down once again. Akhmedov failed to hold Perpetuo down for the second time, and the Brazilian made him pay with a punishing right. A slightly rocked Omari grappled with Perpetuo and got his back. Thiago escaped and slammed Akhmedov down with a double-leg. Ahkmedov gets up which leads to both middleweights trading shots. Perpetuo ends up stumbling Akhmedov who catches Perpetuo with a right that knocks him down. As Perpetuo stands up, Omari knocks him out with another right. This was just a badass fight.
Analysis: One of the aspects of Mixed Martial Arts that I fell in love with is the limitless possibility that exists with each fight. Each fighter, no matter who the combatants, is a canvas that has the potential to be painted as a beautiful masterpiece. While I wouldn’t consider Omari/Perpetuo a beautiful masterpiece, it was an exemplary piece of art that took me by surprise. This scrap was easily the best fight of the night.
Lightweight Bout
Thiago Tavares (18-5-1) vs Justin Salas (11-5)
Recap: A failed shot by Tavares led a successful double-leg slam from the Brazilian. Tavares got the back of Salas and hooks in, eventually making the American tap with a rear-naked choke.
Analysis: Thiago Tavares has recently made a home out of the undercard of UFC events. He’s now 3-0 in his last three preliminary fights, and Joe Silva needs to match up Tavares against Gleison Tibau in a Undercard Superstar Championship Fight.
Lightweight Bout
Adriano Martins (25-6) vs Daron Cruickshank (13-4)
Recap: Martins caught Cruickshank with a left that put him down. Martins jumped on top of Cruickshank, going to work with hammerfists, but Cruickshank recovered. With both fighters on the feet, Martins took down Cruickshank and attempted an armbar and kimura as the time expired. Martins took advantage off a high kick attempt that left Cruickshank unbalanced, putting his opponent back on the ground. Martins went to work for a kimura and then transitioned to a straight armbar that elicited a tap.
Analysis: The already stacked lightweight division just got deeper. Adriano Martins is a force in the division. What he was able to do against a talented opponent like Daron Cruickshank was remarkable.
Flyweight Bout
Dustin Ortiz (12-2) vs Jose Maria Tome (33-5)
Recap: Jose Maria Tome took the first by surprising Ortiz with a takedown shot. Tome went on to wrestle Ortiz down a couple more times in the period. Ortiz won the second by using his reach to connect with the shorter Tome and taking him down out of the body clinch. Tome ended the frame with a guillotine attempt. The third round mirrored the second as Ortiz took down Tome out of the body clinch, ending up in side control. Ortiz immediately went to work with ground and pound, transitioning to the back. From there, Ortiz landed punches, several of them to the back of the head, and the referee stopped the fight despite Ortiz’s illegal blows.
Analysis: What should’ve been a great win for Dustin Ortiz was spoiled because of the illegal punches he landed to attain a victory and a pair of groin strikes that hurt Tome in the first two rounds.
HBO Boxing
WBO Super Featherweight Title
Mikey Garcia (33-0) vs Rocky Martinez (27-2-2)
Recap: Rocky Martinez took the first couple of rounds thanks to his counters, one them knocking down Garcia in the second, but Mikey Garcia was able to incorporate stellar footwork and intelligent combinations to control the rest of the fight against a passive Rocky Martinez. The fight ended in the eight as Garcia landed a punishing body punch that was put Martinez down for the count.
Analysis: The move up in weight proved to be no problem for Mikey Garcia who is moving up the pound for pound rankings and is one of the best super featherweights on the planet. The only boxer that I’d put over Garcia at this point in the division would be Uchiyama, but Garcia looked stupendous after a rough second frame.
Super Bantamweight Bout
Nonito Donaire (32-2) vs Vic Darchinyan (39-6-1)
Recap: After looking human through eight rounds against Darchinyan, Donaire landed a punishing left hook that knocked down Darchinyan. Darchinyan got up, but you could tell by the way he needed to bounce off the ring ropes to stay on his feet that it was only a matter of time before the fight was called. Donaire immediately went to work and caught Darchinyan in a flurry of punches that elicited a stoppage from the referee.
Analysis: It’s weird to say a boxer’s stock dropped with a TKO win, but that’s what happened with Nonito Donaire. His lack of head movement and how close he fought a fighter he was expected to dominate was sobering for fans of Donaire. Still, a win’s a win, and elegance doesn’t show up on paper.
WBO Junior Middleweight Title
Demetrius Andrade (20-0) vs Vanes Martirosyan (31-1-1)
Recap: The best moment of the fight may have also been the worst one for Vanes Martirosyan. In the frame, Martirosyan was patient and eventually dropped an aggressive Andrade with a left to end the frame. After that, Martirosyan appeared to have fallen in love with the idea of countering Andrade’s heavy output, but that plan ended up failing. Andrade took round after round by outpacing Martirosyan and just outboxing him.
Analysis: It was a convincing win for Andrade against a boxer who was similar to him from the aspect of a prospect that lacks impressive victories. Now as WBO champ, it’s time to see how Andrade fares against some of the better participants in the division, but at this time, he’s nothing more than just an intriguing boxer with significant questions.
PXC 41
PXC Flyweight Championship
Louis Smolka (5-0) vs Ale Cali (5-2)
Recap: Smolka just went out dominated Ale Cali from start to finish using his wrestling to take down Cali and smother him with ground and pound. Eventually, Smolka was able to finish Cali from full mount in a dominant display.
Analysis: Running through Ale Cali the way Louis Smolka did shoots him up my non-UFC flyweight board. Just a remarkable outing from a flyweight that is a must-watch from me from here on out.
Women’s Atomweight Bout
Gina Inlong (2-1) vs Nathalle Heidel (0-1)
Recap: Inlong started the round with several wild punches which only led to Heidel slamming her down to the canvas. Inlong was able to get out from under Heidel and end up in side control. After working from that position for a few minutes, Inlong was pushed back up by Heidel. It was only a matter of time before Inlong clocked Heidel with a right that knocked her down. Inlong jumped in side control, trapped Heidel’s arm with her legs, and landed ground and pound until the fight was called.
Analysis: Aside from being takedown, this fight was all Gina Inlong. She’s relatively strong, but at this point in time, she’s too green to be considered a prospect.
Bantamweight Bout
Johnny Pecyna (1-1) vs Troy Bantiag (5-3)
Recap: Pecyna shot in for a takedown, but Troy Bantiag evaded it and immediately got Pecyna’s back. Bantiag worked for a choke, but Pecyna was able to create separation and scramble back up to his feet. Pecyna scores witha quick takedown, passes to full mount, and then locks on a fight-ending arm-triangle choke.
Bantamweight Bout
Shane Alvarez (9-1) vs Rodel Orais (2-2)
Recap: Both fighters were content to trade punches in the first couple of minutes. After getting hit with a couple of body punches, Alvarez shot in for a takedown, passed to full mount, and locked on an americana for the submission win.
Analysis: Shane Alvarez is the most intriguing fighter on this card for me. He’s a speedy bantamweight that uses movement to evade strikes, and he’s got good IQ as a grappler and wrestler.
Other Results
1. WBC Bantamweight Champion Shinsuke Yamanaka (20-0-2) knocked out Alberto Guevara (18-1) in the ninth round. Also on that card, former WBA World Flyweight Champion (he vacated the strap) Roman Gonzalez (37-0) made short work of Oscar Blanquet (32-6-1), finishing him by TKO in the second round.
2. At the 2013 Jiu-Jitsu Expo started on Saturday. The big IBJFF rules superfight between Joao Miyao and Eduardo Elles saw Miyao win 2-0 thanks to advantage. Also, three no-gi, sub only superfights took place. Phillipe Nover fought Efrain Escudero to a time limit draw. Another time limit occurred in the Murilo Santana and Rafael Lovato Jr. Keenan Cornelius did submit Lucas Leite with an arm-bar, which is an impressive result for Cornelius.
The brown belt tournament took place also, and Tim Spriggs defeated Thiago Sa in the finals 5-1. In the semis, Spriggs conquered Manuel Diaz 3-0, and Sa beat Felipe Silva 4-2. The field of brown belts for the tourney was sixteen. (Thanks to Gracie Mag for reporting the results).
3. In Japan, Flyweight Ryuichi Miki (15-6-4) was awarded a decision and the flyweight championship against Yosuke Saruta (7-4-2) on a Shooto card. According to Sherdog’s Dean Marchand who wrote a recap of the event, Ryuichi Miki out struck Yosuke Saruta through five rounds and was able to keep it on the feet with effective wrestling defense. Miki won a rematch from their previous bout that ended in a draw. Miki is now unbeaten in his last six fights.
The co-main event on the Shooto card was between up-and-coming strawweight Yoshitaka Naito (5-1) and Tadaaki Yamamoto (9-4-2). Naito won the fight by unanimous decision and is a name in the 115 pound division to keep an eye on.
4. At the SuperKombat World Grand Prix Final Elimination show, Raul Cantinas knocked out Ricardo Van Den Bos in the first round, Catalin Morsanu did the same to Daniel Lentie, Igor Bugaenko beat Jorge Loren by decision, Ondrej Hutnik TKO’d Massinissa Hamaili in the first round, D’angelo Marshall TKO’d Pacome Assi in the second round, and Redouan Cairo beat Jegish Yegoian by decision.
5. According to Intermatwrestle.com, Bucknell upset No. 22 Lehigh at a meet 18-17.
The News
1. A few notes on UFN 32. Knockout of the Night went to Vitor Belfort, Submission of the Night went to Adriano Martins, and Fight of the Night went to Omari Akhmedov and Thiago Perpetuo. The only award I had a problem with was KO of the Night. Jeremy Stephens’s knockout was jaw-dropping and deserving of a bonus. At the press conference, Dana White said that the 10,565 individuals attended the event. White also announced that Grace Tourinho, whose worked for the company for a while, is the new managing director for the UFC in Brazil.
2. According to MMAJunkie, welterweight Sergio Moraes suffered an injury and is out of his scheduled match with Sean Spencer at The Ultimate Fighter 18 finale card on November 30th. Spencer’s new opponent has not yet been announced.
3. Mike Chiappetta of Fox Sports broke the news that Anthony Pettis injured his knee in training for his December 14thfight against Josh Thomson. Fortunately, the fight is still on as Pettis won’t need surgery, but an injury like that is bad news when you’re scheduled to fight someone who possesses lethal leg kicks like Thomson.
Fights Made
ONE FC 13 – December 6th, 2013
Heavyweight Bout
Tony Johnson (7-1) vs Chris Lokteff (11-1)
Background: Tony Johnson’s lone loss was to Daniel Cormier at a 2010 KOTC show. He’s beaten Tony Lopez, Derrick Lewis, and just recently, Tim Sylvia. Chris Lokteff is quite simply, the top Australian heavyweight prospect.
Excitement Level: 5 out of 10. I’m looking forward to this fight a tremendous amount. My interest in this one has nothing to do with the fight quality potential. No, it has everything to do with the prospect potential. This fight pits two up-and-coming heavyweights capable of great things in MMA.
Must Reads
1. Chuck Mindenhall’s look back at the first 20 years in UFC’s history is a no-brainer must read. Here’s his review of the year 2001: http://bit.ly/16Q4Vru
That’ll do it for today’s Haymaker. Thanks for reading, and I’ll leave you with a quote from Friedrich Schiller.
“Mankind is made great or little by its own will.”
-Dan can be reached at [email protected] or @danielgal.
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