| Ultimate Fight Night - Tonight on Spike TV |
Weigh In Results and Fight Previews
155 lbs.: Spencer Fisher (154) vs. Sam Stout (155.5)
170 lbs.: Jon Fitch (170.5) vs. Roan Carneiro (170.5)
185 lbs.: Jordan Radev (184.5) vs. Drew McFedries (185)
155 lbs.: Jason Black (155.5) vs. Thiago Tavares (156)
170 lbs.: Forrest Petz (169.5) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (170.5)
170 lbs.: Tamdan McCrory (169.5) vs. Pete Spratt (170.5)
155 lbs.: Jeff Cox (155) vs. Gleison Tibau (155.5)
170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson (170) vs. Chad Reiner (171)
155 lbs.: Luke Caudillo (156) vs Nate Mohr (155.5)
If UFC holds a live television event, and no one cares, does it really matter? UFC’s Fight Night tonight, airing live on SpikeTV, has less buzz than any UFC event since the advent of The Ultimate Fighter, which in a way is baffling. The company is coming off of the big Chuck Liddell-Quinton Jackson fight, cover stories in Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazine, and the decision by ESPN to cover UFC as they do other sports. You would think there would be interest in a live UFC show. However, a lackluster card, especially from a mainstream point of view, is still a lackluster card, and with three more UFC events in the next month (two PPV events and the live Ultimate Fighter finale), it is understandable that this show is getting "lost in the shuffle".
Here’s a look (and one man’s opinion) on the three feature matches on tonight’s show:
UFC FIGHT NIGHT
June 12, 2007
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Florida
Lightweights: Sam Stout (12-2-1) vs. Spencer Fisher (20-3-0)
Stout Last UFC Appearance: June 24, 2006 - Lost to Kenny Florian via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:46 of the first round.
Stout Last MMA Fight: February 9, 2007 - Defeated Fabio Holanda via corner stoppage after two rounds at TKO 28: Inevitable.
Fisher Last UFC Appearance: January 25, 2007 - Lost to Hermes Franca via TKO from strikes at 4:03 of the second round.
Past Fight: March 4, 2006 - Sam Stout defeated Spencer Fisher via split decision at UFC 58.
On March 4, 2006, on the undercard of the UFC 58 PPV, Sam Stout was supposed to face Kenny Florian. However, a back injury sidelined Florian and Spencer Fisher took the fight on two days notice. After winning the first round with strikes, Fisher’s lack of preparation became evident as he gassed out and Stout took the second and third rounds from his obviously exhausted opponent. Since that lost, Fisher has picked up wins over Matt Wiman (second round knockout with a knee) and Dan Lauzon (TKO in the first round), before losing his last fight to Hermes Franca. Stout finally fought Kenny Florian, and lost inside of two minutes to a rear naked choked. Since then, Stout has picked up two wins in the TKO promotion over Jay Estrada and Fabio Holanda).
So, there’s your backstory. A fight that took place over a year ago is being rematched, featuring two fighters who both lost in their last UFC appearances. On top of that, most pundits believe that had Fisher had a reasonable amount of time to prepare, Stout never would have had a chance against him. In a lot of ways, this is a "do or die" situation. With the Lightweight division about to be flooded with the Ultimate Fighter contestants looking to join in the hunt for Sean Sherk’s championship, a convincing loss here would put the fighter at the back of what is becoming a very long line for a title shot. A win would keep the person in the hunt, and might lead to a fight with a top contender like Jens Pulver, BJ Penn or Kenny Florian. I’ll pick Fisher in two.
Welterweights: Roan Carneiro (11-5-0) vs. Jon Fitch (18-2-1)
Carneiro Last UFC Appearance: April 5, 2007 - Defeated Rich Clementi via unanimous decision.
Fitch Last UFC Appearance: March 3, 2007 - Defeated Luigi Fioravanti via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:05 of the second round.
When I mentioned there was a Welterweight fight tonight to a friend, and then said the names involved, the response was predictable. "So, the winner can hope for a title shot after Matt Serra fights Matt Hughes, then GSP gets a rematch, then probably another Hughes-GSP match, the Karo Parisyan, then….". Either way, you have to work your way into contention somehow, and while the Welterweight division is crowded right now, the truth is all divisions (okay, maybe not Heayweight) are crowded these days. Fitch looked good in his last fight, taking down Luigi Fioravanti and working him over for two rounds before sinking in a choke for the win. Carnerio had a similar gameplan in his last fight, taking down Rich Clementi in every round on his way to a unanimous decision win, almost getting a choke in during the final seconds. On the mat, Carneiro’s Jiu-jitsu might give him the edge, but I think Fitch has the advantage when it comes to striking and that will make the difference. I’ll pick Fitch in what should be a close fight.
Middleweights: Jordan Radev (16-1-0) vs. Drew McFedries (5-2-0)
Radev Last UFC Appearance: UFC Debut.
Radev Last MMA Fight: October 8, 2006 - Defeated Ivan Brguljan via decision at Kam Lung: Only The Strong Survive 5.
McFedries Last UFC Appearance: March 3, 2007 - Lost to Martin Kampmann via submission (Triangle Choke) at 4:06 of the first round.
Radev makes his UFC debut, and as we’ve seen lately, the "unknown" fighter can often shock the world and beat the SpikeTV "regulars". McFedries is 1-1 in UFC, and coming off a disappointing loss where he was seemingly destroying Martin Kampmann with punches when Kampmann took him down and easily worked into a triangle choke for the win. Radev’s record indicates a lot of decision wins, so you get the impression stamina won’t be a problem for him. McFedries needs to shake off that loss, so I expect him to be motivated, and not become the latest "UFC upset victim". I’ll pick McFedries (and probably be wrong).
Non-Televised Fights:
Lightweights: Jason Black (22-2-1) vs. Thiago Tavares (15-0-0)
Welterweights: Forrest Petz (18-4-0) vs. Luigi Fiorvanti (11-2-0)
Welterweights: Tamdan McCrory (9-0-0) vs. Pete Spratt (16-8-0)
Lightweights: Jeff Cox (13-3-0) vs. Gleison Tibau (24-3-0)
Welterweights: Anthony Johnson (3-0-0) vs. Chad Reiner (13-2-0)
Lightweights: Luke Caudillo (15-7-0) vs. Nate Mohr (6-4-0)
