UFC 149: Barao vs. Faber Main Card Recap

Renan Barao getting the belt

This event started off with some of the best prelims we have had in some time and it was capped off by one of the worst PPV main cards that the UFC has ever had. Not only this, but Dave and I had our worst prediction night since starting CR. Weird night but let’s head into the recap.

Matt Riddle vs. Chris Clements: Before this fight, I wasn’t really a fan of Matt Riddle due to the fact that I thought that he was a guy that didn’t deserve to be in the UFC and his all around MMA game just wasn’t good. This fight shut me up. His boxing needs work but his kicks are great. His wrestling is great and the fight ending standing arm triangle was beautifully set up. I said at the end that he must have worked a lot on his BJJ and he said that he worked a lot with Robert Drysdale. It showed.

Possible matchups for Riddle: In one of the funniest rants that I have ever seen at a UFC post-fight press conference, Riddle called out Dan Hardy. Riddle recalled of a time that a Brit had spat directly in his mouth and wants to take revenge upon Dan Hardy, but doesn’t have anything against Dan Hardy himself. That fight would be good and if Riddle fights smart and tries to take it to the ground, he could actually win.

Possible fights for Clements: Clements is not a very good fighter. Plain and simple. His standup is sloppy and his ground game is very amateurish. Lance Benoist is also coming off a loss and they both have fought Matt Riddle, and even though Benoist won against Riddle, they both need rebound fights.

James Head vs. Brian Ebersole: This fight was just plain weird. It looked like Ebersole didn’t even care about the fight. His takedown attempts were just horrendous, and then they wouldn’t do anything. I thought Head definitely won the fight and that a split decision was ridiculous.

Possible matchups for Head: Head and Seth Baczynski are both looking for steps up in competition and if they fought, the winner would get just that.

Possible matchups for Ebersole: Ebersole clearly had no interest in this fight. His body looked drained and non muscular, which I’m guessing was from his cut down to 155 pounds. Mac Danzig is the type of fighter who is always right on the brink of title contention and loses a fight; a matchup with Danzig would be a tough first test for Ebersole at 155 pounds.

Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan: In my opinion, this was the worst fight of the night. It was punch then clinch. Punch, and then clinch for the whole 15 minutes, it was brutal. Kongo ended up winning but I did not care who won or lost.

Possible matchups for Kongo: Kongo is the ultimate gatekeeper. Brendan Schaub is still looking for an opponent for his next fight and it didn’t seem like Kongo took very much damage at all in this fight.

Possible matchups for Jordan: Jordan still has a lot of potential along with being one of the most athletic heavyweights in the UFC. Mike Russow just came off of a high profile loss and they both need big rebound fights.

Tim Boestch vs. Hector Lombard: This was the most disappointing fight on Saturday. We were all expecting big things in Lombard’s debut and he did not impress, to say the least. The fight was Lombard standing flatfooted while Boestch leg kicked and punched him. It was weird and I actually scored every round to “The Barbarian”.

Possible matchups for Boestch: Even though this fight was highly boring, Boestch still impressed me and moved himself into the top 5 of 185 pounds. He and Alan Belcher could face off in a potential number 1 contenders match.

Possible matchups for Lombard: In my last recap for UFC on Fuel 4, I said that Munoz should fight the loser of this fight. It’s really the only one that makes sense, including that Lombard called him out before this fight.

Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber: Barao showed us all that he truly has the best chance at dethroning the bantamweight champion that is Dominick Cruz. Barao dominated this fight from the beginning with kicks, knees, and powerfully fast punches. Barao truly is amazing.

Possible matchups for Barao: If Barao isn’t planning on waiting for Cruz, the only fight that makes sense for him to defend his belt would be against Michael McDonald.

Possible matchups for Faber: Miguel Torres and Urijah Faber’s careers are starting to close in on them. This used to be the super fight that we all wanted very badly back in the WEC days. There is no better time than now. 

For prelim recap, click here.