Five hours, 10 fights; all live, and all intriguing – that’s what the UFC is bringing to the table this weekend for the initial broadcast card on FOX Sports 1.
Before you dismiss this card because of Chael Sonnen’s placement in the main event, remember that those consecutive defeats “The American Gangster” carries with him into his match-up with Mauricio (Shogun) Rua on Saturday came against two of the best fighters in the sport today, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva.
And as much as it’s fun to rip on Sonnen, the fact remains that “The Bad Guy” is still one of the best wrestlers in the sport, and a nightmare matchup for the former Pride standout in the night’s final contest.
But it’s not the main event (or even the co-main event) that really sells this card. As compelling as those contests are – and they are – the real value of this card and what makes it truly a must-see event is the depth of talent rounding out the rest of the line-up, and the lesser known, under the radar athletes poised to put forth impressive performances Saturday in Boston.
Here are five fighters capable of stealing the show this weekend.
Watch UFC on Sportsnet: Shogun vs. Sonnen on Saturday Aug. 17 starting at 6pm ET / 3pm PT on Sportsnet 360, plus catch three bonus prelims on sportsnet.ca starting at 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT – Broadcast Schedule
Mike Pyle
Record: 25-8
Opponent: Matt Brown
It’s rare when a fighter that has won four consecutive contests – including three by TKO – can roll into a matchup with a fellow veteran on a five-fight winning streak, but that’s what is happening with Pyle heading into his bout with “The Immortal” this weekend.
While the major players in the welterweight division garner the lion’s share of the attention, Pyle has quietly put together the best collection of performances in his UFC career. Part of what has kept the 37-year-old Las Vegas resident under the radar is that three of his last four appearances have come on the preliminary card. The opportunity to compete on the main card of a major event is one of the elements that attracted “Quicksand” to this short notice pairing with Brown.
Pyle’s late-career renaissance has carried him to the brink of contention without much fanfare, but halting Brown’s similarly impressive march up the welterweight rankings would certainly garner him some attention. These two never fail to entertain, and Pyle expects no different this time out. Should the man with the quality “Tennessee Waterfall” emerge victorious this weekend, he’ll emerge from under the radar as a legitimate contender in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.
Michael McDonald
Record: 15-2
Opponent: Brad Pickett
Considering that he was fighting for the interim UFC bantamweight title the last time he was inside the Octagon, it really is surprising how little attention McDonald’s impending scrap with perennial contender Brad Pickett is receiving.
Call it “The Curse of the Lighter Weight Fighters” if you’d like, but I call it preposterous. The 22-year-old California native remains one of the best young talents in the entire sport, and despite his February loss to Renan Barao, “Mayday” continues to stand as one of the top contenders in the “deeper-than-you-realize” 135-pound weight class.
The scary thing for his current opponent and those that will share the cage with him in the future is that McDonald is still growing as a fighter. Already one of the best finishers in the division and in possession of blistering knockout power, as he continues to develop and hone his skills, McDonald will only become more dangerous.
He has yet to receive the same kind of promotional push as some of the other emerging young talents in the UFC (even though he has already fought for a title), but McDonald’s time in the spotlight is coming, and he could put himself front-and-center in the title picture again with an impressive performance on Saturday.
Conor McGregor
Record: 13-2
Opponent: Max Holloway
McGregor certainly isn’t flying under the radar with hardcore fight fans or lacking a promotional push from the UFC. “The Notorious” has been everywhere in the MMA media of late, and received his own personal media workout day at Peter Welch’s Gym yesterday in Boston.
That said, his appearance this weekend opposite Holloway will be his introduction to a wider audience, and you can be the sure the hyper-confident (and just plain hyper) Irishman will be looking to make a lasting impression.
Some people are hesitant to buy into McGregor’s hype, but I’m all in. He is a special talent, and only needs the opportunity to prove that inside the cage. Holloway is a stiff test, but one I expect the talented 25-year-old from Dublin to pass with flying colours… those colours being orange, green, and white.
Diego Brandao
Record: 17-8
Opponent: Daniel Pineda
A lot was expected of Brandao when he emerged as the featherweight winner on Season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter, but in his first post-TUF appearance, the Team Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter tired and eventually took the loss against unheralded (and still undervalued) wrestler Darren Elkins.
Since then, “Ceara” has rebounded with consecutive victories, and last time out, he showed the skills that lead many (myself included) to see a bright future for him coming off of The Ultimate Fighter.
Brandao is still learning to put all his skills together and how to fight with pace. He impressed with his striking on the long-running reality TV competition, and has subsequently shown smooth and fluid skills on the ground, quickly submitting Pablo Garza with a clinically-executed arm triangle choke last time out.
Pineda is a solid, lower tier prospect in his own right, but Brandao has the potential to be something special. We’ve seen talented young fighters take major developmental steps between fights numerous times in the past, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we get that from Brandao here.
Cody Donovan
Record: 8-2
Opponent: Ovince St. Preux
Cards on the table: Donovan was the very first fighter I ever interviewed, way back when he was a promising talent on the regional scene, and I was dreaming of covering MMA for a career. Four years later, he’s looking to earn his second consecutive UFC win, and I’m a couple steps closer to reaching my dreams than I was the first time we spoke.
My personal connection to him aside, Donovan is the type of fighter that would rather lose an epic battle than win an uneventful, tactical contest, which should endear him to fans (and the UFC brass) quickly. Last time out, his back-and-forth affair with Canadian Nick Penner earned Fight of the Night honours, even though the bout didn’t make it out of the first round.
St. Preux is an athletic talent who played linebacker at the University of Tennessee, but his gas tank has always been questionable, and Donovan fights with the kind of pace that is hard to deal with even when you’re in optimum condition. With a nickname like “Donnybrook,” it should come as no surprise if Donovan puts forth another memorable effort Saturday afternoon in Boston.
