By Adam Martin
This week’s Monday Fight Survey features upcoming bouts from four different fight fights cards — three in the UFC, and one in Invicta FC.
Thiago Alves vs. Matt Brown, UFC on FOX Sports 1
The first announced matchup for the inaugural UFC on FOX Sports 1 event was revealed this week and it’s a good one, as top welterweight striker Thiago Alves returns to the cage for the first time in over a year to do battle with the surging Matt Brown in what promises to be an instant classic.
From a stylistic point of view this is such a good fight and I have no problem in saying it’s one of my most anticipated fights of the summer because both guys always bring it, win, lose, or draw. Both Alves and Brown have been fighting in the UFC for a number of years, but they were always on different career trajectories: Alves in the title hunt, Brown in the hunt to keep his job. But the times have changed and now it’s Brown who’s looking to take out Alves and make his way into the UFC welterweight division’s top 10.
I’ve seen a lot of people criticize this fight because they believe Brown, who currently has five-straight wins, deserves to fight someone on a hot streak, which is the exact opposite of Alves, who has lost four of his last six. But I disagree. In my opinion, Alves is by far the best opponent Brown has ever faced (sorry, Jordan Mein) and this is the perfect test to see if Brown is a legitimate title threat. As for Alves, it gives him the chance to get back in the win column against one of the hottest fighters in the division. All in all, it’s great matchmaking.
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Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Chris Camozzi, UFC on FX 8
The UFC this week announced that an injury to Costa Philippou has taken him out of his UFC on FX 8 co-main event bout against Ronaldo (Jacare) Souza and in his place steps Chris Camozzi, who was set to take on Rafael (Sapo) Natal on the undercard. Souza vs. Camozzi is now the new co-main event of the evening behind the headlining bout between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold.
I know the UFC was in a bad spot here with the late injury to Philippou, but I’m not a huge fan of this fight between Souza and Camozzi. With all due respect to Camozzi who took this first on short notice, he is not even close to Souza’s level. Sure, he’s on a nice little win streak but fighters like Nick Ring and Nick Catone don’t hold a candle to Jacare. This is a tough fight for Camozzi but on just over two weeks’ notice, it will be very difficult for him to win.
The UFC has had a lot of injuries on this UFC on FX 8 card so I’m glad we still get to see “Jacare” compete but I don’t know what this win does for him. For Camozzi, though, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime, so let’s see what he does with it.
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Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub, UFC on FOX 8
A heavyweight bout for the upcoming UFC on FOX 8 card was also announced this week as Matt Mitrione, fresh off his two-week suspension, will take on Brendan Schaub in a battle of former NFL players-turned-MMA fighters.
This is a good fight and it makes a lot of sense. Both Mitrione and Schaub were castmates on season 10 of TUF, but never fought each other on the show and now, with both guys coming off wins, it makes sense to pit them against one another. Additionally, the hook of them both being former NFL players is sure to be a draw for what is set to be the featured Sportsnet prelim of the UFC on FOX 8 card.
The only problem I have with this fight is how soon it was announced after Mitrione’s suspension for his derogatory remarks towards transgendered fighter Fallon Fox. The “suspension” the UFC gave him now looks like a slap on the wrist and really, what did Mitrione lose out on? Nothing, really, so I don’t know if his punishment fit his crime. But as far as this fight with Schaub itself goes, I like it.
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Leslie Smith vs. Jennifer Maia, Invicta FC 6
Invicta FC this week announced a women’s flyweight bout for their upcoming sixth event which will see former bantamweight contender Leslie Smith make the drop down to 125 to face off against Jennifer Maia with a shot at Invicta FC flyweight champion Barb Honchak on the line.
I have to admit I was surprised that Smith decided to drop to flyweight instead of staying at bantamweight after her razor-thin (some called it a robbery) split decision loss to the top-ranked Sarah Kaufman at Invicta FC 5. But if she can make 125, then the division is hers for the taking because at 5-foot-9 she will be the tallest flyweight in Invicta. She was already a big 135-pounder so it remains to be seen how she’ll drop the weight in order to make 125, but if she can do it safely she should be a force to be reckoned with at flyweight.
As for Maia, her last fight was a decision victory over former Bellator women’s champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel, which was by far the biggest win of her career. Should she get by Smith, she’ll get a chance to fight for the Invicta FC title, which would be vindication for Maia, who was on the wrong end of a cheap shot by current UFC bantamweight Sheila Gaff at Cage Warriors last year. This is a huge fight for Maia and if she wins it don’t be surprised if she’s wearing gold by the end of the year. In sum, another great match put together by Shannon Knapp and Janet Martin.
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Adam Martin has blogged for theScore.com and is a regular contributor to Sportsnet.ca’s MMA section. Follow him on Twitter @MMAdamMartin.
