For the UFC’s smallest weight class, the flyweights are a big issue right now.
Are champion Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson capable of headlining a FOX show? Will their small stature have viewers flipping the channel in droves? Will the fans at United Center in Chicago boo the 5-foot-3 speedsters?
It’s very odd that a UFC main event is drawing this kind of negative attention, especially a title fight between the two top guys in a division. But small fighters are not fan favorites. They don’t normally knock people out or finish fights. There’s not as much engaging on the feet, because they’re so fast.
When Johnson beat Joseph Benavidez in September to become the first 125-pound champion, fans in Toronto actually booed the action, even though it was fast and furious. So odd.
UFC president Dana White said this week that he doesn’t even think about the flyweights being problematic. This was the championship fight, therefore it was the main event – even with a proven headliner like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on the card.
But someone in the UFC – or FOX – has to be keenly aware of the flyweights’ divisiveness. There was no mention of the weight class in televised commercials leading up to the event – only the fighters’ names and that the bout was for a championship.
Interesting. Unique. And probably much ado about nothing.
The flyweights might go out there and bring down the house in Chicago on Saturday night (8 p.m.). Dodson has the most knockout power in the division. Maybe he finishes things with his hands. Or maybe Johnson takes him down, takes his back and sinks in a rear-naked choke. Hey, maybe there will even be blood (cue the cheers).
The fact is that the more the flyweights are exposed, the most people will likely appreciate them – just like any other fighters. Not long ago, featherweights and bantamweights were looked down upon – pun intended – and now they’re a regular, accepted part of the UFC roster.
And women fighting? That was taboo a few years ago. White refused to bring a female division to the UFC. Now, Ronda Rousey is one of the most popular athletes in the company – male or female – and she’s headlining a pay per view next month.
MMA is ever evolving. Most baseball fans love home runs and big sluggers in the cleanup spot. It takes a little longer to embrace the speedy guy always getting on base at the top of the order. Maybe Johnson and Dodson will steal fans’ hearts Saturday night.
Glover Teixeira vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Only diehard MMA fans have any idea who Teixeira is – and he’s not a relative of Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. But he’ll send a serious Tex message – hoo hoo – by beating Jackson, one of the most popular fighters in the UFC and the former light heavyweight champion. A win will send him up the rankings and put him “in the mix,” as UFC prez Dana White likes to say, for a title shot.
Teixeira’s path is pretty clear from here. Jackson’s is not. He vows this is his last UFC fight and that he might try boxing after this. Maybe he’ll land in Bellator. Who knows. “Rampage” has become a headache for UFC brass and at 34 he’s past a prime which saw him become one of the greatest 205 pounders in the world. Losing him wouldn’t be a complete tragedy for the organization at this juncture.
Anthony Pettis vs. Donald Cerrone
This is everyone’s pick for Fight of the Night. Both guys are absolutely explosive strikers and knockout artists. They’re never in a boring bout. Fists and legs are sure to fly, right? Maybe not. Don’t be shocked if one of them – my bet is Cerrone – tries to take things down to the ground. Cerrone’s jiu-jitsu is slightly better than Pettis’. Perhaps he believes he can exploit that minor weakness.
One of these men will leave Chicago one step closer to a lightweight title shot. If Pettis wins, he can make a bigger case than anyone in the company, because he’s actually beaten lightweight champion Benson Henderson when they were both in WEC. Cerrone might have a longer road since he lost to Nate Diaz just over a year ago.
Erik Koch vs. Ricardo Lamas
Remember when Koch was the No. 1 contender for Jose Aldo’s featherweight title? That was like three months ago. How did he end up fighting Lamas on this card? That’s how things go sometimes. Koch got hurt, then Aldo got hurt. Frankie Edgar moved down to 145 and now he’s facing Aldo next week at UFC 156. Koch can put his name right back at the top of the list by beating Lamas, though. It won’t be easy. Lamas is a good wrestler, which could nullify Koch’s excellent striking. Should be an interesting clash of styles.
PRELIMS
TJ Grant vs. Matt Wiman
Clay Guida vs. Hatsu Hioki
Pascal Krauss vs. Mike Stumpf
Ryan Bader vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Mike Russow vs. Shawn Jordan
Rafael Natal vs. Sean Spencer
Simeon Thoresen vs. David Mitchell
Pretty strong set of prelims here. I can’t imagine any way Grant-Wiman isn’t entertaining. Both of those guys come ready to throw down. Guida is normally like that, too, but a few recent performances have been head scratchers. Maybe he prefers to win without getting punched in the face a lot. Respectable.
Bader has fallen pretty far. Remember when he was fighting Jon Jones in a light heavyweight No. 1 contender bout? That was less than two years ago. Now he’s matching up with a guy nicknamed “The Janitor” in the prelims. Rough.
PREDICTIONS
Johnson
Teixeira
Pettis
Lamas
Wiman
Guida
Krauss
Bader
Jordan
Natal
Thoresen
Fight of the Night: Pettis vs. Cerrone
Knockout of the Night: Teixeira
Submission of the Night: Krauss