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UFC 161: Preview, tips and live updates

Roar Guru
15th June, 2013
42

UFC 161 from Winnipeg, Canada, features a Light Heavyweight bout between ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson.

The main event card:

Light Heavyweight bout
Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans (22-3-1) vs. Dan ‘Hendo’ Henderson (29-9-0)
In a matchup of power punching all American Wrestlers, former UFC light heavyweight Champ Rashad Evans takes on former two division Pride champion and Final Strikeforce Light heavyweight Champion, Dan Henderson.

The main event of the evening sees a battle between two men who are coming off not only losses but boring fights, something that neither of these combatants have been known for in their careers. This should add extra intensity to an already tightly contested fight between the two fan favourites.

A win here would catapult Henderson right back to the top of the contender list, while it is no secret many fans what to see him take on the champion Jon Jones.

The facts are that Henderson is 42 years old and may not have many fights left in him at the top level.

Conversely, while a win would not guarantee a title shot for Evans, being that he fought for the belt not too long ago, it would put him back in the mix at the top of the division where he believes he can still do big things.

Whilst neither man has talked trash in the build up to this contest, I still expect to see bombs being thrown by two men who have amassed 19KO wins between them.

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This is a hard one to pick and this is a controversial choice, but I’m going to go with Henderson.

Hendo has possibly the best chin in MMA and has a huge right hand to go with it. I don’t see Rashad knocking him out and his Olympic Wrestling background should see him survive takedowns. Henderson via TKO 3rd round.

Heavyweight bout
Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (20-7-0) vs. Stipe Miocic (9-1-0)

The Contrasting appearances of fighters are always brought up when ‘Big Country’ takes to the Octagon and this fight is no different.

The rotund power puncher Big Country takes on a lifelong athlete in Stipe Miocic.

Before Miocic’s loss to Dutchman Stefan Struve, he had picked up back to back TKO wins over Phil De Fries and Shane del Rosario, and was was fast becoming known as the next big thing in a division full of big things.

After being knocked out by Struve in a fight most expected Miocic to win he went back to the gym and revaluated his training and is ready to get back on track. A win over the number five ranked heavyweight Roy Nelson would do just that.

Nelson has torn through the HW division of late and is riding a three fight win streak all of which he won by KO in the 1st round.

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Nelsons performances are demanding that he be taken seriously and it is purely down to his physique and lackadaisical attitude that we don’t. Yet he is a black belt BJJ practitioner and the owner of 12 stoppages by KO and five by submission from his 19 total wins.

Add that to his incredible chin and Tremendous power and its about time he was taken as a genuine threat to the division – he wants that Belt!

As always HW fights can be very hard to pick but I’m going to have to take Nelson here, Miocic is a very entertaining fighter and a huge talent but he’s had a long layoff and I don’t think he has the chin to deal with Nelson’s always improving power. Nelson by KO 1st round.

Light Heavyweight bout
Ryan ‘Big Deal’ Jimmo (17-2-0) vs. Igor ‘The Duke’ Pokrajac (25-9-0-1NC)

One of the two Canadians on the main card, Ryan Jimmo will be looking to get his UFC career back on track at home after losing his last fight to James Te Huna.

Jimmo won his first fight with the UFC in spectacular fashion knocking out Anthony Perosh in the equal all time fastest time of 7 seconds!

Igor Pokrajac is a UFC mainstay who most recently had a loss against Joey Beltran overturned after ‘the Mexicutioner’ tested positive for banned substances.

‘The Duke’ will also be looking to get back on track with a win and will be out to prove he still has what it takes.

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I expect to see big swinging from the get go from these two and this one is certainly a candidate for fight of the night honours. Im saying that the Candian Jimmo will have enough in the tank to hold on to a decision victory over the swashbuckling Pokrajac.

Womens Bantamweight bout
Alexis Davis (13-5-0) vs. Rosi ‘The Surgeon’ Sexton (13-2-0)

The Second Canadian on the main card, Alexis Davis will be looking to show her home nation exactly what she can do in a match up against British veteran Rosi Sexton when both women make their UFC debuts tonight.

Davis, a black belt in BJJ, has finished 8 of her 13 professional wins by way of submission and is a constant threat on the ground.

The Ontario native will look to press the fight and take it to the ground however she will have her hands full with her opponent tonight.

The woman they call ‘The Surgeon’ is as well known for her fighting prowess as she is for her Academic honours and career as an Osteopath. The Brit is currently the fourteenth ranked pound for pound female fighter in the world. Interestingly both of these fighters have Black Belts in traditional japanese JiuJitsu so expect to see some throwing techniques being utilised!

I’m going with the Canadian Alexis Davis, she is the favourite here however it is never easy to count out someone as determined as Sexton, whilst I don’t see the Brit winning, I don’t see her being submitted either. Davis by Unanimous decision.

Heavyweight bout
Pat ‘HD’ Barry (8-5-0) vs. Shawn ‘The Savage’ Jordan (14-4-0)

A colossal showdown of athletic Heavyweights sees former pro kickboxer Pat Barry take on former college football player Shawn Jordan.

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One of the most entertaining and self-promoting fighters in the business, you can always expect fireworks when Barry gets in the cage, the Louisana native having never gone the distance in a fight. He holds a record of six wins by knockout and will be looking to add yet another brutal KO to his record as he tries to climb up to the top of the division.

Standing in his way is Shawn ‘The Savage’ Jordan, a lifelong athlete who has now been fighting professionally for just over four years is still a work in progress but he has come on in leaps and bounds whilst training at the infamous Jackson’s camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 113kg man is bizarrely capable of doing a full back filp, something we will no doubt see should he get a win over Barry. This one is as much of a toss up as most HW fights, both men are similar in height and have virtually identical reaches, I’m taking Barry purely because of his striking background but do not rule out the Jordan upset win, he has all the potential to become a UFC mainstay. Barry 2nd round KO.

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