Gonna start off by saying I think this event may have a better card then some people give it credit for. Most of the card is packed with really skilled fighters this time around.
Main event: Dan "Hendo" Henderson (28-8) vs Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-5) This one could be good. The main even consists of a decent all round fighter with a stick of dynamite replacing his right hand and a Muay Thai expert going up against him. Hoping for a barn burner of a main even but I'm calling Shogun taking the fight; assuming he can keep Hendo from wrestling and smothering him.
Co-Main Event: Wanderlei Silva (33-11) vs Cung Le (7-1) For those of you that do not know of Cung Le, he is stepping into a co-main event vs Wanderlei of all people as his first UFC fight, coming straight from Strikeforce. I think Le has what it takes though, he has a PERFECT 16-0 kickboxing record including K-1 stuff as well, and holds a strong record in MMA. Wanderlei just came off of his short loss to Leben and I personally think retirement is on the line for him.
Urjiah Faber vs Brian Bowles Oh boy, and a fight with Urijah Faber in it! Going against Brian Bowles who just like Urijah was a serious WEC contender. I am taking Urijiah here. I know he lost to Cruz, but Urjiah is still a really tidy package of an MMA fighter. Good punches, lacks kicks but can wrestle pretty good as well.
Martin Kampman vs Rick Story So Story showed up, somehow beat Thiago Alves wrestling around a bit, and then loses a HUGE upset to Charlie Breneman. Martin Kampman has some good wins in the past like Condit and Paulo Thiago, but Rick Story really is a rising star kinda guy. He's young, athletic, and if he can fight efficiently I don't think Kampman has the tools to win.
Stephan Bonnar vs Kyle Kingsbury For me at least, this fight will tell if Bonnar really is losing his edge or if he is still someone to keep an eye on in the division. Yes we know him for the epic fights with Forest and even with Soszynski which I LOVED, but he can never seem to break the higher level guys like Forest, Jones, Rashad, and more. If he loses this, stick a fork in him I think he is done. He should take Kingsbury but this is MMA after all.
Here is the hype video for UFC 139, pretty decent as usual. + Show Spoiler +
And here is Dana's Vlog (Day 1) for this event. These are kinda interesting to watch sometimes, I enjoy seeing 'behind the scenes' kind of stuff. Whatever. + Show Spoiler +
Call me dorky whatever but I LOVE seeing training camp videos for fighters. Probably because I train myself or I am just a dweeb. Whatever. Here is Wandy's (More hype/interview with very few training camp material. Pad work, etc) + Show Spoiler +
Cung Le never actually fought K1 or under any truly competitive kickboxing ruleset, they were all sanshou rules against cans/bums much like (most/all of) his mma career. I'm not going to completely count him out because Wandy's best days are far behind him but he should still be enough of a real fighter to kill Le. This fight is really closer to Pride matchmaking in that it's at least theoretically a hilarious mismatch. Wand please don't lose.
On November 15 2011 07:21 floor exercise wrote: Cung Le never actually fought K1 or under any truly competitive kickboxing ruleset, they were all sanshou rules against cans/bums much like (most/all of) his mma career. I'm not going to completely count him out because Wandy's best days are far behind him but he should still be enough of a real fighter to kill Le. This fight is really closer to Pride matchmaking in that it's at least theoretically a hilarious mismatch. Wand please don't lose.
Hendo/Silva/Bowles hopefully/Kampmann/Kingsbury
I didn't follow Pride closely, my question is why do you state that its a theoretically hilarious mismatched matchmaking fight?
I love watching Cung fight. His fight against Shamrock was extremely entertaining.
Also, Silva has been on the decline lately and I think its a good match up at this point in both of their careers. Hopefully Cung is focusing on MMA and not on movies since he's finally debuting in UFC
Faber vs Bowles = mojo battle to see who can elevate to the next level Silva vs Cung = Nothing really for Silva except to remain vaguely relevant, in the same manner Couture was relevant after the Brock fight, and an baptismal for Cung if he belongs to the UFC. Rua vs Henderson = Now this is something. For Rua, a test if the Jones underperformance was a fluke or if he really is unreliable, and for Henderson to be in the Championship radar.
Tough one, both good and I like em both,but guess gotta go for Shogun. His wrestling defense kind of worries me though, but Hendo is usually content to strike. Kampfman/Story should be good.
This is kind of crazy in a good way... back to back UFCs. Nick Diaz vs Penn, Leben vs Munoz, Cain vs JDS and now Shogun vs Henderson...
I think Shogun is going to win the main card though. I just don't see Shogun being LW champion anymore though if you have freakish fighters like Jon Jones in the division right now.
On November 15 2011 07:21 floor exercise wrote: Cung Le never actually fought K1 or under any truly competitive kickboxing ruleset, they were all sanshou rules against cans/bums much like (most/all of) his mma career. I'm not going to completely count him out because Wandy's best days are far behind him but he should still be enough of a real fighter to kill Le. This fight is really closer to Pride matchmaking in that it's at least theoretically a hilarious mismatch. Wand please don't lose.
Hendo/Silva/Bowles hopefully/Kampmann/Kingsbury
I didn't follow Pride closely, my question is why do you state that its a theoretically hilarious mismatched matchmaking fight?
I love watching Cung fight. His fight against Shamrock was extremely entertaining.
Also, Silva has been on the decline lately and I think its a good match up at this point in both of their careers. Hopefully Cung is focusing on MMA and not on movies since he's finally debuting in UFC
Pride was notorious for putting on freakshows and throwing Japanese prowrestlers / anyone the casual viewer would watch in against their stars. For instance Crocop fighting Dos Caras jr etc. Basically like James Tony vs Couture but with far more regularity. They weren't all this way but a good number of the fights were because the fans enjoyed it.
Specifically this fight to me is like Wandy vs one of his many completely overmatched Japanese opponents, if he were in his prime anyway. It's probably going to be way, way closer now than it would have been 8 years ago, and Wandy is chinny and slow enough to lose this but I could totally see Wandy fighting a Sanshou fighter in Pride solely for the delight of Japanese getting to see someones head kicked off.
Thanks for the info on Cung Le, floor exercise. Although I do think Wanderlei's 'days are behind him' as well, it has to be his style too. It is hard to throw huge looping punches every fight after another and keep seeing success.
On November 16 2011 07:58 Kickboxer wrote: I hope Shogun comes in with a full gas tank and takes out Hendo in an all out war! That would be super sweet.
I agree wholeheartedly lol. Dan Henderson's right hand can totally end a fight if it connects but Shogun doesn't seem like he needs you to make mistakes or get caught to beat you in a stand up war. If he does what he does best which is that very old school hands up, marching forward at his opponent, blasting kicks and hands consistently and bringing the Muay Thai heat, I don't see Hendo living through that unless he goes for takedowns.
Also look at this joker. It's cool to have fans but not cool to have douche idiots doing shit like this. Kinda cute and entertaining I guess.
I love Shogun but I wonder how he's most likely to win this one. Henderson has never been knocked out and Shogun will struggle to get the fight to the ground. Maybe if he can avoid the overhand right for a few rounds he can take out Hendo after he gasses.
I see your point for sure but Henderson has never fought anyone like Shogun. Matter of a fact I'd be willing to say Shogun has the BEST Muay Thai out of anyone in the entire UFC/StrikeForce scene besides maybe Thiago Alves. I just think Henderson is a dude who knows how to box with a brick of a right hand but he's fighting a god tier kickboxing expert. Don't get hit with Hendo's right. avoid takedown, win.
Shogun has a granite chin and KO power within every limb. Henderson probably would not defend against some of the best kicks in MMA that well. If Shogun does not mindless brawl, I see him winning via tko/ud.
I'll never count Hendo out, gritty veteran with a bomb of a right hand, indestructible chin and solid wrestling. But I can only see him winning early on, the later the fight goes the bigger Shogun's chances.
I think Cung Le's pretty legit too, he may have not fought any tip-top guys but he packs a lot of power and he's entertaining as hell, but this is Wanderlei and I'll always root for him whatever fight. It breaks my heart to see him lose. The fight probably wont last long whatever happens.
Le (Silva's chin looks like glass lately and I think it will be shattered) Bowles (just because it's an upset :D ) Story (GnP) Bonnar (Please retire after.)
On November 17 2011 20:32 Terminal wrote: I'll never count Hendo out, gritty veteran with a bomb of a right hand, indestructible chin and solid wrestling. But I can only see him winning early on, the later the fight goes the bigger Shogun's chances.
I think Cung Le's pretty legit too, he may have not fought any tip-top guys but he packs a lot of power and he's entertaining as hell, but this is Wanderlei and I'll always root for him whatever fight. It breaks my heart to see him lose. The fight probably wont last long whatever happens.
EPT![[image loading]](http://fiveouncesofpain.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ufc_139_poster.jpg)
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