Two of the top lightweights outside of the UFC have indeed agreed to face off this spring in the form of a bout between Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki. While the match-up had been rumored up to this point, Alvarez himself recently confirmed the pairing was in place with the paperwork waiting to be signed.
Alvarez’s admission came while in Chicago for the UFC on FOX 2 open workout where he was helping Michael Johnson get ready for his fight against Shane Roller.
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Yes, you read the headline correctly. While known primarily for his ability to take opponents down and control them from the top, it turns out Chael Sonnen knows a thing or two about striking – skills he’ll no doubt need to employ tomorrow night against Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2.
In this MMATraining Technique of the Day, Sonnen shows he is not a one-dimensional grappler by explaining a slick combination involving a Hook Kick and Spinning Backfist. Considering he’s the only man to have dropped 185-pound champion Anderson Silva with a strike in recent history, chances are he’s worth listening to…
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The city of Chicago will turn their attention away from Blackhawks, Bulls, and Bears for a night to focus on a different variety of beast when the UFC rolls into the United Center on Saturday night for UFC on FOX 2, the first official offering from UFC/FOX since aligning late last year. It’s a solid card from top to bottom filled with competitive clashes from start to finish.
Below you’ll find some quick picks for the evening’s earlier fights followed by a more detailed breakdown of the evening’s tripleheader of tilts between Demian Maia-Chris Weidman, Chael Sonnen-Michael Bisping, and Rashad Evans-Phil Davis.
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If asked to break down the danger Chael Sonnen poses in the Octagon most people would point out his takedowns and ability to control foes while on top. However, his opponent this weekend at UFC on FOX 2 has only one concern and it’s unrelated to anything in Sonnen’s skill-set.
Michael Bisping offered an assessment on his adversary’s abilities in a recent interview with the UFC’s website where he credited Sonnen with little more than a knack for outpointing his opponents.
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Things have started to heat up between welterweights Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz as the date of their headlining bout at UFC 143 grows ever closer. Now, with less than two weeks remaining before the two talented scrappers mix it up in the main event, an extended preview has been released for the bout where both men sound off on which areas the other is superior to the other in.
And, according to Condit, it’s all of them.
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Rashad Evans has become a master at mind games with his opponents. In Phil Davis, “Suga” feels like he has a young pup that he can easily manipulate before they step foot inside the Octagon.
A former UFC champion, Evans has been waiting for over a year to get a shot at his title after missing out on chances to compete for the belt due to injuries. Now, Evans can see the light at the end of the tunnel – if he can handle the undefeated Davis this weekend at UFC on FOX 2, that is.
“After I had my year off (with injury), I came back with the attitude of never, ever leaving it up to the judges and just throwing hands all the time,” said Evans, during a recent press conference. “That’s the way my career is going to go, and that’s how I am going to.”
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It wasn’t too long ago UFC middleweight Mark Munoz was set to compete this weekend in hopes of earning a shot at the divisional title. However, after injuring his elbow last week “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” has been sidelined and out of action for a few months while Michael Bisping gets the crack at Chael Sonnen he’d originally been scheduled for.
On his road back to full recovery Munoz will absolutely be working on strengthening his upper body, some of which will likely involve this MMATraining Technique of the Day focused on building strength through resistance. It’s easy to do and effective. What’s not to like?
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When it comes to continued employment in the UFC there is no question winning is paramount. Zuffa structures contracts in a way allowing them to terminate a deal following any loss meaning victory is the only sure way a fighter can guarantee he still has a job the morning after having competed the previous evening.
The same set of circumstances hover over Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 2 lineup, as they do every event, and without question more than one Mixed Martial Artist is likely making his final appearance inside the Octagon for the foreseeable future if not forever.
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List your gym with us now!- Technique of the Day: Hook Kick-Spinning Backfist Combo with Chael Sonnen
- Opening Round: MMA Kind of Town
- Michael Bisping: “I see a very bright future for Chael Sonnen as a used car salesman very soon.”
- Carlos Condit: “It’s a different when it’s a shin across your face.”
- Rashad Evans: “He’s in deep water, and I’m the shark.”
