As the end of 2014 draws near, we embark on yet another extremely busy weekend in the world of mixed martial arts.
Between the TUF 20 finale with the inaugural women’s strawweight title on the line, a big FOX card littered with heavyweights and two title fights at WSOF 16, there is a bit of something for everyone.
Of all the fights on the weekend, let’s take a look at the 5 most intriguing.
5. Alistair Overeem vs. Stefan Struve (UFC on Fox 13)
Overeem is badly in need of a win here. Losing 3 of 4, all via stoppage, leaves him fighting for his job on Saturday in Phoenix. Struve, coming off a loss and having not competed in nearly 2 years due to the health issues, could also use a win here, if only to gain some confidence back. Both men need to make the most out of this opportunity in order to propel, or even prolong, their respective career. With Struve being the action fighter that he is, I do not expect this fight to last long.
4. Rick Glenn vs. Lance Palmer (WSOF 16)
Previously a relative unknown, Glenn defeated Georgi Karakhanyan for the WSOF featherweight title in June. He defends the belt Saturday night against Team Alpha Male’s Lance Plamer, whom Karakhanyan had initially defeated to capture the title. Glenn is unbeaten in his last 13 fights and has a chance to begin making some real noise to be recognized as one of the better featherweights in the world. For Palmer, this is a chance at redemption. He was winning most of the Karakhanyan fight prior to being submitted late in the 3rd round. This is also a chance for him to graduate from prospect status to true contender. Expect Palmer’s wrestling and improved stand-up, or lack thereof, to be the difference in this fight.
3. Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic (UFC on Fox 13)
Cigano returns after a year-plus layoff to take on the surging Miocic. As it stands right now, Miocic is the closest thing the heavyweight division has to a rising prospect and could become the de facto number one contender with a win on Saturday night. A couple of other questions will hopefully be answered in the night’s main event. What lasting effects, if any, did the Cain Velasquez beatings have on dos Santos? Can Miocic take the leap to become the next heavyweight title challenger?
2. Nate Diaz vs. Rafael dos Anjos (UFC on Fox 13)
Another fighter coming off of a long layoff, this one due a contract dispute, Diaz returns to take on lightweight top contender dos Anjos. Dos Anjos has won 7 of 8 and is fresh off a shocking knockout of former champion Ben Henderson. A high output, high intensity bout should be expected with the winner emerging as a potential challenger to lightweight king Anthony Pettis.
1. Carla Esparza vs. Rose Namajunas
Anytime there is a first in the UFC, it is almost always intriguing. Esparza and Namajunas square off for the first ever women’s strawweight title in the UFC. Both women clearly separated themselves as the fighters in the house throughout their time on TUF 20. Esparza came into the show as the Invicta strawweight champion and used her wrestle-boxing centric style to dominate each of her three fights in the tournament. The longer, lankier, Namajunas mixed her somewhat unorthodox striking with an aggressive submission game to finish each of her opponents on the show. The interest contrast of styles should play for an exciting bout where the winner will have most certainly earned her crown.