Monday 31 July 2017

UFC 214 Review



DISCLAIMER: This article is reviewing the main card ONLY.


Well, UFC 214 is over and it sure was memorable.

From two new champions, a surprise knockout, a conversational welterweight title bout and a wonderful dream fight, UFC 214 was a great night for not only the UFC but for all the fans that was invested in the best card of the year.

Volkan Oezdemir beats Jimi Manuwa via first-round (0:42) knockout

Volkan Oezdemir (now 15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) knocked out Jimi Manuwa (now 18-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in just forty-two second and to be fair to Oezdemir, he predicted it.

Manuwa was talking about facing Daniel Cormier or even David Haye in a Boxing match and this may have taken his focus away from Oezdemir, who is now on a three fight win streak.



Robbie Lawler beats Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 and 29-28)

In an absolute dream fight between two of the UFC's best brawlers, Robbie Lawler (now 28-11 (1 No Contest) MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Donald Cerrone (now 32-9 (1 No Contest) MMA, 19-6 UFC) traded shots like the slugfest it was predicted to be.

The decision was correct, with myself having Lawler winning the first and last rounds but this fight wasn't there for titles or a grudge match to settle a rivalry, it was there for the fans' enjoyment.


Cristiane Justino beats Tonya Evinger via third-round (1:56) knockout to win the vacant Women's Featherweight Championship

Cris Cyborg (now 18-1 (1 No Contest) MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the new Women's Featherweight champion after knocking out Invicta Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (now 19-7 (1 No Contest) MMA, 0-1 UFC) with a series of brutal knees.

Cyborg didn't go out there all wild and crazy but calm and measured to get the one thing that was missing from her fighting CV: UFC gold. It's not like Evinger was just there to get beat by Cyborg, she held her own for a long time but ultimately the Brazilian was the superior.



Tyron Woodley beats Demain Maia via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46 and 49-46) to retain the Welterweight Championship

Tyron Woodley (now 18-3-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) defeated Demain Maia (now 25-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC) in a conversational fight that saw fans split between praising Woodley for stopping all of Maia's takedown attempts, 24 in total, and critising the champion for being too defensive and thus breaking the record of latest punches thrown in a championship fight (60).

Whilst both sides have interesting points on Woodley's approach, there can be no denying that no one would pay to see Woodley face Georges Saint-Pierre (thus why Dana White has said that GSP will fight Middleweight champion Michael Bisping).







Jon Jones beats Daniel Cormier via third-round knockout (3:01) to win the Light Heavyweight Championship

At last we got to see the rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones and it saw Jones (now 23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) knockout Cormier (now 19-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in the third round with a stunning legkick to the head.

Jones is now, in my opinoin at least, the greatest MMA fighter but massive respect should be given to Cormier as he destroyed every opponent that was put in front of him in Jones' absence.

It's a shame we won't see a third fight between the two greatest light heavyweights ever but what a rivalry it has been!

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Saturday 29 July 2017

UFC 214 Preview



DISCLAIMER: This article is previewing the main card ONLY.

(C) indicates current champion.

Here we are at the biggest UFC card of the year, headlined by arguably the most anticipated rematch in UFC history, as Daniel Cormier defended his Light Heavyweight title against the only man to beat him, former champion Jon Jones.

There are also two other title fights and a dream fight between two of the most hard hitting Welterweights.

So without further ado, let's preview the best card of the year.






 Jimi Manuwa vs Volkan Oezdemir (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Jimi Manuwa (17-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is fast climbing the Light Heavyweight rankings after back-to-back knockout wins over Ovince Saint Preux and Corey Anderson, that saw him earn perfromance of the night awards.

He faces Volkan Oezdemir (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in the first fight on the main card but there were was some speculation that he could have been placed in the main event if either fighter had had to drop out.

However, this won't happen as both fighters got through fight week without a starch.


PREDICTION: Manuwa wins via second-round knockout.





Robbie Lawler vs Donald Cerrone (Welterweight Bout)

Now this is truly is a dream fight.

Ever since Robbie Lawler (27-11 (1 No Contest) MMA, 8-2 UFC) dropped back down to 170 at UFC 153, the former Welterweight champion was always tipped for a fight with Donald Cerrone (32-8 (1 No Contest) MMA, 19-5 UFC) that could headline any UFC card.

Lawler's camp has said that they don't know what their man gets out of this fight but if he wins, he'll no doubt be in the conversation for the next title shot against the winner of Tyron Woodley vs Demain Maia.
PREDICTION: Lawler wins via third-round knockout.






Cristiane Justino vs Tonya Evinger (For the Vacant Women's Featherweight Championship)

Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino (17-1 (1 No Contest) MMA, 2-0 UFC) is one of, if not the, baddest woman on the planet.

The former Invicta Featherweight champion was originally set to challenge former UFC Featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie for her title but de Randamie was stripped when she refused to face Cyborg over the Brazilian's trouble with PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs).

Cyborg was then scheduled to face current Invicta Featherweight champion Megan Anderson but Anderson pulled out due to personal issues.

After all this, Cyborg will now face Invicta Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger for the vacant 145 pound title. With this win, Cyborg could claim to be one of the greatest Women MMA fighters of all-time but Evinger will no doubt be looking for the upset in her Octagon debut.


PREDICTION: Cyborg wins via first-round knockout.

Tyron Woodley (C) vs Demain Maia (For the Welterweight Championship)

This fight for the Welterweight title between Tyron Woodley (17-3-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) and Demain Maia (25-6 MMA, 19-6 UFC) is a match-up that sees the pair represent two areas of martial arts: Woodley with powerful striking and Maia with ju-jujitsu.

True, Woodley does have brilliant wrestling skills but he is now more known for his fierce knockout power, which lead him to winning the title from Robbie Lawler at UFC 201.

People, such as UFC commentators/analysts Dan Hardy and John Gooden, have said that this isn't an ideal match up for Maia due to Woodley's striking and whilst this argument is relevant, Maia will be looking to skip over this area of the fight and get it to the ground (if he can that is).

Regardless of the result, this fight will no doubt be a contender for fight of the night.
PREDICTION: Maia wins via third-round submission.






Daniel Cormier (C) vs Jon Jones (For the Light Heavyweight Championship)

 Finally it's here.

The biggest rematch in UFC history.

In the main event of one of the biggest UFC cards of all-time, bitter rivals Daniel Cormier (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Jon Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) will face off for the Light Heavyweight Championship, the title that Jones never lost.

The two faced off at UFC 182 back in January 2015, with Jones picking up the unanimous decision victory and subsequently handed Cormier his first-ever loss.


Afterwards, Jones was stripped of the title after a hit-and-run incident and Cormier won the vacant title by defeating Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.

The rematch was set up for UFC 197 but Cormier pulled out due to injury and Jones went on to get a unanimous decision victory over Cormier's replacement Ovince Saint Preux.

The rematch was again set for the main event of UFC 200 but was cancelled after Jones was pulled by USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) for an out-of-competition drugs test coming back positive. Jones was then suspended for a year.

After a non-title fight victory over Anderson Silva at UFC 200, Cormier went on to defend the title against Anthony Jonson at UFC 210 but was always looking ahead to facing Jones.

Finally, the rematch between the two greatest Light Heavyweights will happen at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California.



For Cormier, it means the chance to avenge his only ever loss and become the first man to ever legimately beat Jon Jones.

For Jones, it not only means the chance to regain the title he never lost but also the chance to defeat Cormier twice and become, in my eyes at least, the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time.
PREDICTION: Jones wins via unanimous decision.














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Tuesday 11 July 2017

Wayne Rooney: Once A Blue, Always A Blue



On Sunday 9th July 2017, Everton Football Club announced that they had signed Wayne Rooney on a free from Manchester United.



Rooney, now 31, left Everton for United for £27 million back in 2004 and went on to become their highest-ever goalscorer, with 253 goals, and won every available trophy to him at Old Trafford, including five Premier League trophies and the Champions League.


He is a legend of English Football and will undoubtedly by missed by United fans for all the spectacular goals that he's scored for them over the years.



He's decided to return to Everton, on a significant pay-cut to £150,000, and said:

 "It's a great feeling to be back. I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play. I'm not just coming back because it's the team I support, the team I grew up playing for - I'm coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful."

The transfer has come in the aftermath of Everton's biggest ever summer transfer spending, after buying Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen.


Whilst the nostalgia factor has captured the media and the fans' attention, one thing that has been noted about this transfer is how Everton are supposed to benefit from signing the former England captain.

In 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote:

 "Wayne had a gift for producing great moments in games. In my final year, when he was left out a few times, and replaced in games, I felt he was struggling to get by people and had lost some of his old thrust. But he was capable of making extraordinary contributions. 

 That pass to Van Persie in the win over Aston Villa that secured the title for us was marvellous, as was his overhead kick against Man City. Those flashes guaranteed his profile. But as time wore on, I felt he struggled more and more to do it for 90 minutes, and he seemed to tire in games."




The counter argument to this is that unless you're in the top five players in the world, you're not going to be able to play at the same level you were four or five years ago.

Rooney definitely isn't as fast as he used to be and nor does he complete ninety minutes.

In typical Internet fashion, people are looking at what he can't do anymore instead of what he can do. Rooney can still play quality passes, score from anywhere and be a leader in the dressing room not only for the new young players but for the experinced players who may need that confidence boost in tough in-game situations.


Of course Rooney isn't going to finish top goalscorer. He's not going to be in the running for the PFA (Professional Football Association) Player of the Year award or be competing with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or next January.

He will however be an important part of Everton's chase for Champions League Football and whether you see his move back to Goodison as unfinished business or a step back for the Merseyside club, you can't deny that the Croxteth native has always been a blue.







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Sunday 9 July 2017

UFC 213 Review



After the main event between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko was cancelled, due to Nunes being cleared by doctors and not 'feeling well', UFC 213 felt slightly wobbly as an overall card.


Quite fittingly, all but one of the main card fights ended in a decision but somewhat fortunately the new main event of Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker delivered.




Anthony Pettis defeats Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 and 30-27)

In his first fight lightweight fight since April 2016, Anthony Pettis (now 20-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) defeated Jim Miller (now 28-10 (1 No Contest) MMA, 17-9 (1 No Contest) UFC) in a fight which he dominated but couldn't get the knockout.

Pettis clearly wanted to go back to his old 'ShowTime' roots and subsequently gave the lightweight division a boost.




Alistair Overeem defeats Fabricio Werdum via majority decision (28-28, 29-28 and 29-28)

Alistair Overeem (now 43-15 (1 No Contest) MMA, 8-4 (1 No Contest) UFC) defeated old rival Fabricio Werdum (now 21-7-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) to win their trilogy of fights.

The fight wasn't particularly the most thrilling, as UFC President Dana White himself suggested when he downplayed it in the post-fight press conference, and it also doesn't seem likely that Overeem will receive a rematch against the heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (17-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC).






Robert Whittaker defeats Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47 and 48-47) to become the Interim Middleweight Champion

 Robert Whittaker (now 19-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) defeated Yoel Romero (now 13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in what was later awarded the fight of the night to become the Interim Middleweight champion.

For the majority of the fight, Whittaker had to fight with practically one leg after Romero stamped on the Australian in the opening minute but despite this physical bother, Whittaker fought back via relentless strikes and clever takedown defences to edge the Cuban and set up a blockbuster fight with undisputed champion Michael Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC).
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Saturday 8 July 2017

UFC 213 Preview



DISCLAIMER: This article is previewing four fights of the main card ONLY.

(C) indicates current champion.

UFC 213 is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8th July, and is an absolutely stacked card.

However, there have been two cancellations from the original main card, the first being Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt vs T.J. Dillashaw after Garbrandt pulled out with a back injury, and the other being Donald Cerrone vs Robbie Lawler after UFC President Dana White confirmed Cerrone had a staph infection and a pulled groin.

Then, just hours before the PPV, Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes pulled out of her scheduled main event defence against Valentina Shevchenko due to illness, with Strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk begging to be Nunes' replacement.






Despite this, UFC 213 looks to be one hell of a night for the hardcore MMA fan.


Anthony Pettis vs Jim Miller (Lightweight Bout)

 After missing weight that cost him the chance at becoming the interim featherweight champion and then being knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 206, Anthony Pettis (19-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) decided to move to up to lightweight.

In his first fight at 155 pounds since he lost to Edson Barboza at UFC 197, the former UFC Lightweight champion will face Jim Miller (28-9 (1 No Contest) MMA, 17-8 (1 No Contest) UFC) in a fight that Pettis will be looking to start a climb up the lightweight rankings and Miller will see as an excellent opportunity to defeat a former champion.

PREDICTION: Pettis wins via second-round knockout.





Fabricio Werdum vs Alistair Overeem (Heavyweight Bout)

Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Alistair Overeem (42-15 (1 No Contest) MMA, 7-4 UFC) both share an unfortunate experience.

They've both lost to UFC Heavyweight champ Stipe Micoic (17-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC).

Whilst they may have both been knocked out by the Cleveland native, the pair face off in what could be considered a number one contender match.

In his last fight, at UFC 203, Werdum beat Travis Browne ( MMA, UFC) via unanimous decision and Overeem bounced back from his loss to Miocic on the same card by beating Mark Hunt at UFC 209.

It's hard to see what the deciding factor will be in their rematch from when they fought back in StrikeForce, which Overeem won via unanimous decision, but it'll be one hell of a fight.


PREDICTION: Overeem wins via unanimous decision.





Yoel Romero vs Robert Whittaker (For the Interim Middleweight Championship)

Ever since Michael Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) knocked out the then UFC Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (15-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC 199, the 185 pound division has been in limbo.

First off, Luke Rockhold was looking for a rematch with the Briton but Bisping completely ignored him.

Then, Bisping was announced to fight a returning Georges Saint-Pierre (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) at some point later this year. However, Dana White said that Bisping would face the winner of Yoel Romero (13-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Robert Whittaker (18-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) for the undisputed Middleweight title, as GSP wouldn't be ready to fight until November.


So anyway, here we are at UFC 213 with the chance to be become the interim Middleweight title up for grabs between a wrestling Olympic silver medal winner (Romero) and a hard-hitting Aussie striker (Whittaker).

What's refreshing about this match-up is that it's a contrast to how the rest of the division has been acting, e.g. dodging fights and rambling online, and Whittaker has said that it's a honour to fight Romero as he believes that he will not only make him a better fighter, but a better man.

Whatever happens, it's sure to be one hell of a fight between the number one and two contenders, with Bisping and the undisputed title waiting for the winner.


PREDICTION: Romero wins via third-round knockout.





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