Werdum vs. Browne & Tate vs. Carmouche Set for UFC on Fox 11 in Florida

Werdum vs. Browne & Tate vs. Carmouche Set for UFC on Fox 11 in Florida
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

A Heavyweight contenders match up between Fabricio Wedum and Travis Browne, as well has a battle between 2 former women's bantamweight title challenges in Meisha Tate and Liz Carmouche has been added to UFC on Fox 11. UFC officials confirmed the event on Monday evening.

UFC on Fox is slated for April 19th, and will take place at the Amway Center in Orlando Florida, home to the Orlando Magic, and the host of the 2012 NBA all-star game. The event’s main card airs on FOX in the US following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.  

Widely considered the no.1 contender in the UFC heavyweight division, BJJ world champion Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1, 5-2 UFC) enters the bout with Browne one a 3 fight win streak since returning to the UFC following the closer of Strikeforce. Wins over Roy Nelson, Mike Russow, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, were believe to be enough to earn the 36-year old at shot at the UFC title, however with current champion Cain Velasquez out following shoulder surgery, Werdum has opted to fight Travis Browne for the no. 1 contender status.

6-foot-9 Hawaiian Travis Browne (15-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) comes into the bout with Werdum on back-to-back-to-back Knockout of the Night performances. One of the breakout fighters of 2013, Browne came back from near defeat against Alistair Overeem to sandwiched a front kick KO victory in between viscous elbow knockouts of Gabriel Gonzaga and Josh Barnett. The only loss of Browne's career is to Antonio Silva in a bout in which Browne was winning before injuring his leg.

Having recently coached on The Ultimate Fighter and then lost a rematch with Ronda Rousey at UFC 168, Miesha Tate (13-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) enters the bout with Carmouche looking for a much needed win. A stand out wrestler, Tate has dropped back to back fights to Cat Zingano who defeated Tate by TKO, and Rousey to who she lost to by submission. Although popular amongst fans, a loss against Carmouche could put Tate in danger out being cut.

Her opponent Liz Carmouche (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was the first women to fight and lose in the UFC octagon when she took on Ronda Rousey for the Bantamweight title. Carmouche bounced back with a victory over Jessica Andrade a few months later before losing her most recent bout against Alexis Davis in November. 

Neither Werdum vs Browne or Tate vs Carmouche is expected to be the main event of UFC on Fox 11.
 
   

UFC on Fuel TV 10 Main Card Result: Antonio Nogueira vs Fabricio Werdum

Werdum defeats Nogueira to line up potential title shot

by Ben Heather @benheather

The main event on Saturday night was an all Brazilian affair as the coaches on the recent TUF Brazil 2 show went in to battle. This fight was a rematch, the pair originally fought each other while they were both fighting for Pride in 2006. Now seven years later would the outcome be different and would Werdum be able to get revenge.

Werdum came in to the fight of the back of a two fight win streak, that same win streak is since his UFC return. He dominated both Roy Nelson and Mike Russow and now was looking to do the same against Big Nog.

Big Nog came in to the fight looking to get back to back wins on his record for the first time since UFC 81 in February '08. Since then he has won a fight, then lost the next most recently defeating Dave Herman via armbar at UFC 153.

Big Nog came out putting pressure on Werdum at close range with boxing and trying to grab the clinch, however it was Werdum who surprisingly got the takedowns by grabbing a single leg takedown and getting Nogueira to the mat. Both men then grappled on the floor and the fight was going back and forth as the two heavyweights were scrambling to get control.

Nogueira kept switching up how he had Werdum in his guard going from full guard to half guard and back again until he got hold of Werdum's knee and was able to get back to his feet. In the process of getting up he did get caught with a few punches and knee.

In the second round, during yet another scramble, Werdum took Nog's back and straight away got one hook in, however Werdum could not get the second hook in he was looking for as Big Nog blocked the attempts with his right hand.

Werdum though was not to be stopped as he got his leg all the way over Big Nog's shoulder and cranked on the arm in an inverted armbar. The end of the fight was a little confusing as Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight, but Nogueira hadn't tapped. It wasn't until Bruce Buffer announced that the fight was ruled a verbal submission and things became a little clearer.

Big Nog did not appear to verbally submit but Werdum let go of the hold at the same time Yamasaki came in to stop the fight. Also, Big Nog did not contest the decision.

A very fitting way to end the night full of some of the best BJJ anyone could ever want to see and I think it once and for all put to bed the question of.... Does BJJ actually work??

5 UFC fights to watch in the next 6 weeks

5 Fights To Look Out For In The Near Future

by Jack Broadey @J3cK_b

With a break in the UFC schedule I thought I would take a look at the fights upcoming with some maybe flying under the radar. We have been spoilt lately with UFC events the last few weekends. These are my 5 must watch fights that take place over the next 6 weeks and I have tried to avoid picking the obvious matches and main events. However some main events do deserve inclusion here.

1. Junior Dos Santos v Mark Hunt
For me the co main event of the heavyweight double bill at UFC 160 is the more intriguing fight. Can Mark Hunt's fairy tale rise back up the rankings continue? Can Dos Santos get back into contention after a brutal beatdown and losing his title last time out? It's going to be great whilst it lasts either way!

2.Antonio Nogueira v Fabricio Werdum
What has Nogueira got left in the tank? This kind of fight should suit him stylistically. His boxing ability means this almost certainly will end up as jiu jitsu battle. Is Werdum the real deal and the next title contender many think he is? The 2 BJJ experts go at it in Brazil in June.

3. Gray Maynard v TJ Grant
The winner of this fight will meet Benson Henderson for the chance to win Lightweight gold. Gray Maynard is always a solid contender at the top of the division and Grant has rose very quickly with a string of not only good wins but very good performances to go with them. Can he get past his biggest test to date to get that elusive title shot?

4. Vitor Belfort v Luke Rockhold
If Belfort keeps winning in the fashion he is the UFC can't keep denying him another title shot. He's running through top contenders. Rockhold comes over from Strikeforce as the last Middleweight champion. Can he defeat Belfort and set up his own title shot? It would be hard to argue against the winner being granted a title shot whoever that might be.

5. Rashad Evans v Dan Henderson
Lets face it both men are coming off hugely disappointing losses. Henderson was supposed to fight Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight title and instead got injured. He lost to Lyoto Machida instead in a very boring fight. An unmotivated  Rashad Evans surprisingly lost to little Nog and that's what makes this fight so exciting. Both men badly need to get back into the win column if they have serious title aspirations. Who wants it more at this stage of their career?