The Ultimate Fighting Championsip (UFC) has had a big year of fights, but with only one card in September and two in October, the promotion has put their foot on the brakes. Here, I take a look at the upcoming fight cards, highlighting my most and least anticipated bouts. And without further ado… Card: UFC Fight Night 75 When: September 27 Where: Saitama, Japan Most: Takeya Mizugaki vs George Roop Least: Kid Yamamoto vs Matt Hobar Thoughts: The main card bantamweight scrap between Mizugaki and Roop stands out to me the most as a fight that could prove to be an instant classic. Both fighters are longtime veterans of the Octagon and are known to give it everything they’ve got every time they step foot in the cage. They are both in dire need of a win and I think they are going to be hungry for it, so I am expecting fireworks when these two veterans square off. I have been a fan of both of theirs for a long time and I absolutely love this match-up. I think it is brilliant matchmaking and I very much look forward to this one. As much as I am looking forward to Mizugaki vs Roop, I am dreading the other bantamweight contest on the main card that is Kid Yamamoto vs Matt Hobar. As much as I like the other fight, I dislike this one. I am a fan of both of these 135-pounders, but I don’t like the pairing and don’t like the chances of them producing an entertaining scrap. I’m not expecting fireworks, but being a fan of both, I will surely be tuned in. Card: UFC 192 When: October 3 Where: Houston, TX Most: Jessica Eye vs Julianna Pena Least: Rashad Evans vs Ryan Bader Thoughts: Eye thought she was going to run through Miesha Tate but received a rude awakening. Now she tries to get back on track against Pena, who hopes to extend her Octagon winning streak to three in a row. This is her second fight back since her knee injury, and she hopes to make a big statement on her road to UFC women’s bantamweight gold. Being the TUF winner from Miesha Tate’s team, I think Pena vs Rousey is a fight that would really sell, so if she is able to get past Eye, I think the UFC will be pushing her in that direction. If Eye gets her hand raised, then she’s back where she was just a few months ago, being a couple of wins shy of a title shot. Eye and Pena never fail to deliver, so I am expecting a real war when these ladies square off inside the Octagon later this month. They are both natural 125-pounders competing in the 135-pound division, so neither of them has to suffer a drastic cut for the fight, so we will likely be seeing them both at their best on fight night. Middling the evening’s main card is a light heavyweight contest that sees the return of “Suga” Rashad Evans, as he takes on Ryan “Darth” Bader, the man who was looked over for a deserved title shot, having earned his spot to be next in line for championship contention. I do believe Bader got screwed, and if he comes up short against Evans, I will feel bad for him, because he will truly have been robbed of a title shot. He was well more deserving of it than Gustafsson, who is coming off a knockout loss against the man his opponent Daniel Cormier defeated to become the champion. If Bader does get his hand raised in Houston, I will feel happy for him, however I will be sad to see Evans lose after being out of action for so long. For a hardcore fight fan like myself, I think this fight is a lose/lose situation, as I can’t really find myself rooting for either guy to beat the other. I just hope they put on a great show and produce a type of fight where there is no real loser. Card: UFC Fight Night 76 When: October 24 Where: Dublin, Ireland Most: Dustin Poirier vs Joseph Duffy Least: Stipe Miocic vs Ben Rothwell Thoughts: The last time Poirier stepped foot in an Irish Octagon, he was stopped via TKO by Connor McGregor in the first round of action. He has since made the move up to the UFC’s lightweight division, where he is currently on a two fight winning streak with two first round knockout finishes. He now travels to Ireland again to take on the last man to defeat Conor McGregor in Duffy, who is also 2-0 in the UFC’s 155-pound weight class, also with two first round stoppages. For two fighters looking to climb their way up the divisions rankings, I think this is solid matchmaking and am very much looking forward to this main event scrap. Whether it lasts a couple of minutes or goes for all five rounds of action, I think Poirier and Duffy are both going to really bring it. This is going to be a great fight, and I’m going to be sure not to blink. I am a fan of both Miocic and Rothwell, so for me, it’s going be tough to see either one of these big boys take a loss. More so if it comes in brutal knockout fashion, which is figured to be the most likely outcome to this heavyweight contest. From a matchmaking perspective; yes, I do think this could be a good fight and is one that makes plenty of sense in this razor thin division, however I just don’t want to see either guy get hurt and sent back to the drawing board. This is the kind of fight I will probably be watching with one hand covering my eyes.
