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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Next event mate, UFC 162, Silva vs Weidman July 7th!
Tommo
Guest
Good call on fight of the night. When is the next UFC live blog on here? I cant watch tv at work so this fills my mma craving hole instead.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Only one submission tonight so that award goes to James Krause on debut, KO of the night goes to Shawn Jordan with a ig upset win over Pat Barry and fight of the night i'd say would go to Jabouin vs Pague on the undercard!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Henderson very dissapointed with the result of course but he thanks Rashad for the fight and wishes everyone a happy fathers day! Thanks to all who tuned in, good night of fights!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Evans gracious and humble in victory, thanks his fans and dedicates the win to his uncle who is battling cancer.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Rashad Evans is the winner via split decision! huge win for him!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Decision coming up, Henderson appears to be asking if the fight is over, shame it wasn' a 5 rounder!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 3 Evans looks to land first and does, a lot more subtlety around his game than that of Henderson's, He lands several flush to the head though and Henderson looks rocked, Rashad backs off though and he recovers, never a good idea to chase Hendo! Rashad dances circles around his older counterpart but all it takes is one punch, Evans looks for the takedown but Henderson balances well on one leg and stops it. two nice short knees to the body by Henderson, Rashad breaks off of the takedown attempt and throws a neat combo of punches that connect, Evans has dominated this 3rd round so far. A short elbow there from Hendo does little to deter Evans who is looking for a single leg takedown again, he loses it and they clinch again on the fence, Henderson swings for the fences now! round closes with both men swinging. Hands of the judges to determine the outcome here!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
not sure how this comment ended up here not above the others, apologies!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 2 Hendo backs him up but Rashad comes straight back with a takedown! Hendo springs up but Evans has him on the fence now, he lands several short, stubby left hands that dont do much in the way of damage, they clinch again and Henderson lands a solid knee, there is a flurry of action but they split again. Again Rashad bites down and pushes through a flurry of punches to clinch his opponent again. They began circling again now, they clinch and Henderson lands a solid knee to the body, they break again and Rashad looks to work a takedown off of his punches, Suga has a small cut on the outside corner of his right eye. Round finishes
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 1 both men come out tentatively, Evans springs in and out in his wide stance, he bobs and weaves, first contact is shares, both men land a couple of uppercuts. Evans shoots but Hendo pushes him off and throws some leather in his general direction, Henderson comes forward with that looping right hand hes become known for, the H-Bomb. The two clinch again and separate, same again, Evans lands a stiff jab, Hendo counters and drops him! hes still wobbled but he gets up to his feet, Henderson put himself off balance there he threw that one so hard, he tries to land another just before the end of the round, misses.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Suga comes out to some lil John introduced, heavy bass track. biting down on his mouth guard already, he walks to the cage.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Dan Henderson walks out to some melodic Country rock tones, looking stony faced and stoic as ever!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Well that cuts any chance of Roy Nelson getting a title shot in the near future, up next its Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
what a brilliant performance from Miocic there, Wow that was technically awesome! 137 significant strikes landed by him, 117 to the head! all 3 judges score the bout 30-27 for the winner by Unanimous decision! Stipe Miocic! a few die hard Big country fans in the crowd boo but what a huge win for him!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 3 will Nelson finish this fight with this much fatigue? he windmills wildly but again Miocic moves out of his way and lands another big right hand that surely stumbles most other Heavyweights, Nelson's chin is ridiculously good. Nelson is Telegraphing these big looping shots, He is desperate now, Miocic circles away yet again, great gameplan from his coaches if he can win this, Miocic takes him down but they are straight back up to their feet, Miocic keeps up the pressure as the clinch is broken up by the referee, a clinic in stick and move boxing being put on by Miocic here, Left right again as Miocic backs Nelson up, they separate once again and Miocic has to survive the last few seconds here and he has done it! easy decision for the judges!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 2 Some choice words from Nelson's corner there, 'this is not how you wanna go out'! Stipe comes out and lands a leg kick first, he hits him with a couple more clean straight punches, Nelson looks as fatigued as he should be, Miocic is circling him like a shark now, Miocic is hitting him at will now, He sticks two left right combos on his opponent and finishes with a smooth inside leg kick, They take the centre again and Miocic sprawls a Nelson take down, I remember why all the hype was around Miocic before he lost to Struve, He is making nelson look like a drunk right now, Nelson throws an uppercut though, he's not done yet, Miocic dances away again, Nelson looks like he is struggling to keep his hands up as Miocic lands several more straight punches on the Iron chin on Nelson, this is going to a 3rd round!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
ROUND 1 Here they come, Miocic immideatley moves away from Nelson's right hand, Smart move, Miocic lands a nice stiff right hand, then he dances away from Nelson again, they trade leg kicks, Miocic looks like the time away from the cage has done him wonders! he is sticking and moving very well, , He catches Nelson again, this time with a big knee! Nelson tries a takedown but Miocic sprawls out of it! I'm not sure there are that many Heavy weights who can keep the pace of Miocic, especially not Nelson, Stipe lands another big punch, Nelson has been rocked! Miocic keeps at it but he can't put him out, not a huge surprise there, superhuman chin on Nelson but thats a dominant round from the underdog!
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Huge cheer for Big Country, he walks out to Queen's Legendary track; 'We will rock you'. cue Joe Rogan rant on Nelson's physique and how he never uses his grappling..