UFC on Fox: Shogun vs Vera | Machida vs Bader (Aug 4th)

[NZB2323]

Machida vs. Bader

UFC's twitter: Bader and the Dragon get a 205er matchup this August on FOX http://esporte.ig.com.br/lutas/2012-04- ... o-ufc.html

[REDDzone]

Like that Machida is going to be on fox. Hate how inactive he's been. Said he wanted 3 (4?) fights in 2012, and his first one isn't 'til August? Sucks.

Also, I don't really see what Bader has for Machida.

[Cammo101]

This is an interesting fight to me. Bader's wrestling could present problems for Machida.

[K1NG]

This is an interesting fight to me. Bader's wrestling could present problems for Machida.

Machida hasn't struggled against wrestlers in the past, but he had his unbeaten mystique back then. Still, I'll take Machida by KO, preferably crane kick.

[SDM]

DIdn't see the Rampage fight, but I read that Bader's boxing looked great. If that's true, this fight is closer than it was two years ago.

[Gold Chain]

Bader hit rock bottom with the Tito fight, good to see him making waves again.

He was one fight away from a Shogun title fight, before he ran into the unstoppable Jones.
This could be a huge win for him.

Bader wins if he can get some takedowns, but I don't think it will be wise to try and stand and move in straight lines against this guy.

[NZB2323]

DIdn't see the Rampage fight, but I read that Bader's boxing looked great. If that's true, this fight is closer than it was two years ago.

I think that that fight said more about Rampage than it did about Bader. Rampage talked about how much he loved the Japanese fans because they loved him even if he lost. Then he complained about how he had to fight a wrestler in Ryan Bader. Then he went to Japan and spent his time playing video games with Ariel Helwani and looking for Japanese snatch. Then he missed weight, and went into the fight against Bader with a gameplan which seemed to be to throw Bader into a mat headfirst into the mat in order to entertain the Japanese fans. Rampage looked slow in the first round, was breathing heavy in the 2nd, and had little left in the 3rd. Now he's saying that his knees were all **** up because of what Jon Jones did to them.

I really don't see what Bader has for Machida, I don't see what Silva has for Shogun, and I don't see what Rampage has for Gus/Rashad/Davis, one of whom he'll probably fight. I'm not a big fan of these LHW match-making, but hopefully I'm wrong and we'll get to see some close fights.

[REDDzone]

I'm not going to complain about the matchmaking at ALL when it comes to Machida anymore, I'm just happy when the guy gets a fight at this point. Seems to spend long spells in limbo. Why the ufc doesn't put him on cards just doesn't make sense to me (assuming he is willing to take any/most fights). I mean we just had a ppv with the co-main event involving Che Mills? And the ufc doesn't have a lot of draws right now.

[skflives]

I'm not going to complain about the matchmaking at ALL when it comes to Machida anymore, I'm just happy when the guy gets a fight at this point. Seems to spend long spells in limbo. Why the ufc doesn't put him on cards just doesn't make sense to me (assuming he is willing to take any/most fights). I mean we just had a ppv with the co-main event involving Che Mills? And the ufc doesn't have a lot of draws right now.

I agree with that last part. Its strange that with the UFC you'll have several insanely stacked cards and then other cards with guys like Che Mills in the co-main event. Awesome ones in bold:

UFC 145:
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
Rory McDonald vs. Che Mills

UFC 146 original:
Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistar Overeem
Frank Mir vs. Cain Velesquez

UFC 146 current:
Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir
Cain Velesquez vs. Antonio Silva

UFC 147:
Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva
"TUF: Brazil" featherweight finals
"TUF: Brazil" middleweight finals
Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum

UFC 148:
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia


UFC 149
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch (for featherweight title)*
Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch*
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Thiago Silva*
Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Thiago Alves

[CPT]

^ Agreed.

This is a good matchup to make, and one that I hadn't considered for some reason. Maybe because it doesn't follow the UFC's usual winner vs. winner, loser vs. loser matchmaking, but it's not like it's the first exception. Two top 10 guys in a very competitive division. What's not to like?

I'm just glad
a) Machida is fighting
b) He's not fighting Rashad or Shogun

[REDDzone]

148 and 149 are sick.

[NZB2323]

How stacked do you guys think they'll try and make UFC 150? Theoretically they could do:

Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson(I guess it's already being targeted: http://mmajunkie.com/news/28453/benson- ... denver.mma)
Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson
Rashad vs. Gus
Michael McDonald vs. Brian Bowles

And they already have Shields vs. Herman.

I don't know how much of a priority it is to the UFC to put on a killer card for UFC 150. The other thing that I realized is that Anthony Pettis won't be getting a LW fight any time soon unless it's a tune-up fight.

[Gold Chain]

Browne vs. Rothwell set for UFC on FOX 4

Interesting. Ben was going to retire if he didn't beat Shaub, now he's on a roll.

Browne sparring with Jones has to be a big advantage for him.

[Posey H8er]

it will be interesting to see Bader's striking against a guy like Machida, who moves and keeps good distance more precisely than Rampage. Bader has good boxing form and strong right hand but i wonder how he will do when things are mixed up on the feet. great fight for fox though. machida is someone who is good for the public to see.

[REDDzone]

I agree that Bader has looked better, but in my eyes he is the type of striker that Machida can pick apart. Despite improved boxing as a whole, Bader still has one primary weapon that he tries to use to hurt his opponent on the feet, that being his overhand right. When Machida can kind of plan and train to avoid those types of specific attacks, I think he is at his best. Just imo.

[skflives]

I agree that Bader has looked better, but in my eyes he is the type of striker that Machida can pick apart. Despite improved boxing as a whole, Bader still has one primary weapon that he tries to use to hurt his opponent on the feet, that being his overhand right. When Machida can kind of plan and train to avoid those types of specific attacks, I think he is at his best. Just imo.

I agree. I think Machida takes him apart. Bader's either gotta land his right hand (very difficult against Machida's standup style) or he's gotta wrestle him to the ground and pound him (very difficult considering Machida's take down defense).

[REDDzone]

Stann out of this - mmafighting.com

[Bernman]

Smart decision by Stann to fake an injury. That saves him a real, serious injury to his arm.

[Gold Chain]

Stann out of this - mmafighting.com

i just heard Lombard injured?

MMA is cursed!

[Bernman]

Stann out of this - mmafighting.com

i just heard Lombard injured?

MMA is cursed!

I think that report was since rescinded or corrected.