UFC

GSP looks like he taking a leaf out of Matt Hughes book & wrestling himself to death, he could do with a few stand up performances.

Stefan Struve is way ahead of Cheick Kongo, Kongo is the Joe Cole of MMA, a massive let down. That said Struve is the perfect opponent for Kongo, he's a kickboxer the same as struve & he's also a big unit that Struve might not be able to submit?

Joey's back lad. You not see the match last night!

Struve vs Kongo should be a top watch while it lasts. Could go either way. I thought Kongo beat Travis Browne last year (called a draw) and Browne destroyed Struve but we'll wait and see. These big lads can finish each other at any point.

Stefan Struve's becomming a favourite.... Not quite on the Nick Diaz level yet though. Speaking of the devil, on the current displays of the 'Champion' it won't be long before the Diaz bunk beds have 2 UFC belts above them, that's if Nate beats Henderson of course.

They must be getting those nice replica ones from UFC store in their stockings this Christmas then!

UFC back in London, Feb 16th.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/2012/11/ufc-co...-on-feb-16

I didn't even know this was on untill I saw it in the paper today. It looks a quality show though.

UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz ESPN 1am Saturday/Sunday

Lightweight Title - Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz
Light Heavyweight - Maurício Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Welterweight - B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald
Welterweight - Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown

(04-12-2012 20:04 )mitchell Wrote:  I didn't even know this was on untill I saw it in the paper today.

A Diaz title fight and you didn't know Mitchell... Thats a gem lad! It's been in your diary for months, stop telling fibs.




UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz ESPN 1am Saturday/Sunday

UFC Open-weight Predictions Grand Prix II

Lightweight Title - Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz - Henderson - DEC
Light Heavyweight - Maurício Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson - Gustafsson - TKO
Welterweight - B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald - MacDonald - TKO
Welterweight - Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown - Swick - SUB

Prelim
Featherweight - Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan - Siver - TKO






Think we'll see a changing of the guard at the weekend.

Decent read this:

At UFC on Fox 5, two legends face two hungry young lions. Is this the end of the line for both Shogun Rua and B.J. Penn? I suspect it it, and here's why.


At this Saturday's UFC on Fox 5 show, two similar fights most grab my attention. Both B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald and Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson tell one of the great MMA stories - the young guard coming to topple the aging legend. It's a terrific formula that has been used countless times to good effect. Obviously then the big question is - can these young guns take out the former champions?

My answer: they can, they will, and they both will do it emphatically.

These are incredibly dangerous fights for both Shogun and Penn. Both men are former champions, fighters who have been in the game for some time and have earned their recognition in the all time record books. But they're also both undeniably fading. Penn is coming out of a one year retirement here, and has only won 1 of his last 5 fights (and that win came against another fading legend in Matt Hughes). Shogun is more successful as he comes in off a win, though it was not terribly impressive, and was preceded by a brutal beatdown from Jon Jones and an epic, grueling war with Dan Henderson. Looking at their recent fights, it's hard not to argue that their best days are behind them.

Despite these struggles, neither man has yet experienced that late career defining (sometimes career ending) loss. You know the one - the brutal KO at the hands of a hot young prospect. Think Chuck Liddell lying unconscious at the feet of Rashad Evans, Matt Hughes slumping to the mat after a Thiago Alves knee, Randy Couture knocked flat by the Lyoto Machida crane kick. These are the kinds of fights from which a fighter can never turn back - the moment where as a fan you realize that not only will this legend never be truly relevant again, you actively fear for them every time they step in the cage. To date, both Penn and Shogun have avoided this kind of loss (though Shogun's loss to Jones was close).

At UFC on Fox 5, that may very well change. Because in both MacDonald and Gustafsson, they are facing a new kind of opponent. These are not the kinds of legends they have fought lately in Forrest Griffin and Matt Hughes. Not decision fighters like Jon Fitch and Brandon Vera. These are two young, hungry, aggressive fighters going for the kill. And for legends like Penn and Shogun, those are the exact fighters that must be most feared. Gustafsson and MacDonald are on the verge of superstardom. All they need is that one marquee win to push them over the edge. Saturday night, that marquee win is staring each man right in the face. And they know it.

B.J. Penn and Shogun Rua have both given so much to the sport. But there's one thing they have not yet given, and that's a highlight reel KO for the ages to a new young lion. It's the last stop on the career of most fighters. As they wind down their careers, have Shogun and Penn arrived at that stop? Gustafsson and MacDonald certainly think so, and I expect they'll prove it Saturday night.

Thought this was another good poster. Legends, future stars, UFC belt.

(04-12-2012 20:04 )mitchell Wrote:  I didn't even know this was on untill I saw it in the paper today. It looks a quality show though.

For shame! This is one of the best cards the UFC has put on this year and the main fights have avoided the injury bug of 2012 thankfully.

UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz ESPN 1am Saturday/Sunday

UFC Open-weight Predictions Grand Prix II

Lightweight Title - Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz - Henderson Dec
Light Heavyweight - Maurício Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson - Gustafsson Dec
Welterweight - B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald - MacDonald TKO
Welterweight - Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown - Swick TKO

Prelim
Featherweight - Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan - Siver Sub

(05-12-2012 02:28 )groundnpound Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 20:04 )mitchell Wrote:  I didn't even know this was on untill I saw it in the paper today.

A Diaz title fight and you didn't know Mitchell... Thats a gem lad! It's been in your diary for months, stop telling fibs.

I didn't even realise it was December.

(05-12-2012 02:28 )groundnpound Wrote:  These are two young, hungry, aggressive fighters going for the kill.

Reading that, especially lines like this made me wanna eat a Lion bar.
It also reminded me of this.



These fights could also go the other way, with the so called old warhorses defending their pride against the young gun who knows his time could come with this fight, so lets the pressure get to him.

BJ's just about to turn 34, not old in MMA years & Shogun has just turned 31, they may not be on great form but their careers still have some way to go..... If they want it enough???