UFC will make another jump across the pond tonight (Sat., Jan. 24, 2015) for a free fight card that features a No. 1 Light Heavyweight contender eliminator match in the main event. Before the action begins, take a look at the special fighters and fights who have the potential to haul in one or more of UFC's performance-based bonuses.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold its fourteenth show on big FOX this evening (Sat., Jan 24, 2015) live from Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The promotion has made a big effort to make sure these FOX cards are solid throughout, and this event is no different, with a good amount of interesting match ups from top to bottom.
The main event features a clash between 205-pound standouts, former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson, vying for the next crack at division champion, Jon Jones. Both men possess knockout power and dangerous skill sets, making this showdown completely unpredictable.
In the co-main event, middleweights collide when Dan Henderson takes on Gegard Mousasi. "Hendo" is coming off a tough loss at light heavyweight to Daniel Cormier, whereas Mousasi faced defeat in his last outing as well, when he was submitted by Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.
Without further ado, let's get into the fighters most likely to leave tonight's event with a bonus check from UFC:
Alexander Gustafsson (Fighting Anthony Johnson): Johnson has looked good since moving up to Light Heavyweight, but he has yet to be tested by one of the division's truly good strikers. Gustafsson is a level above, with superior speed, athleticism, footwork and technique. If Johnson gets taken into deep water, "The Mauler" will live up to his moniker in the later rounds.
Gegard Mousasis (Fighting Dan Henderson): Hendo is past his prime, and it showed when he fought Cormier. He might still have it in him to go to war with other spent fighters like Mauricio Rua, but with a sharp technician like Mousasi he's going to get his face mangled. Hendo may still have the chin to keep him up in this fight, but he's getting busted up for every minute he remains upright.
Ryan Bader (Fighting Phil Davis): Davis' game is one we all know -- he's just about one of the easiest top level fighters to break down. That's not to say he's not good at what he does, but wrestling can only get you so far inside the Octagon. Bader isn't particularly well-rounded himself, but he's made strides in improving his striking, whereas Davis looks stagnant and rudimentary every time out. If Bader can keep Davis from getting the takedowns he needs, this will be ugly, and I could see "Darth" leveling "Mr. Wonderful" with punches at some point.
Akira Corassani (Fighting Sam Sicilia): Corassani has been given some tough fights recently, but he performed well beyond expectations against Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier even despite being finished in both of those outings. He seems to have improved and he has serious skills in the pocket, but lacks defensively against craftier opponents. Sicilia is no such opponent, with a very simple striking game and not much else to go with it. Corassani is the superior fighter ... and it'll show.
Mairbek Taisumov (Fighting Anthony Christodoulou): Taisumov throws fast and he throws hard. The guy has a very fun game and likes to be on the offensive, but he also has decent defensive fundamentals that keep him from leaving holes for opponents to exploit. Christodoulou is more of a grappler, and I don't think he has what it takes to keep up with Taisumov standing, nor the ability to get him where he wants him.
Mirsad Bektic vs. Paul Redmond: Bektic is one of the brightest UFC prospects, and at just 23 years of age, he already shows a well-developed skill set. His approach prioritizes technical soundness, sometimes to a fault, as he does occasionally let off on offense in the interest of maintaining his composure, but so far, nobody has been able to punish him for it. Redmond is a sturdy fighter, one who will undoubtedly push Bektic into some uncomfortable positions. This is a fight in which a solid technician is going to be tested by a tenacious, but less skilled opponent, making for a great fight.
And that wraps up the potential bonus winners for this event.
UFC on FOX 14: "Gustafsson vs. Johnson" will be action-packed, and likely widely-viewed, just as UFC brass would want. It's a must-watch primetime special, one with meaningful match ups that could set up the rematch of the year between Gustafsson and Jones.
Enjoy the fights!
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