UFC 158 goes down this Saturday night live from La Belle Province.
The main card boasts some serious talent, in particular the main event which features one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history, as UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre squares off against the 209 bad boy Nick Diaz.
In the co-main event, former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit will take on late replacement Johny Hendricks in a possible number one contenders bout.
As with all events, there are a number of fighters who could potentially lose their jobs if they don’t walk away with wins. Here’s MMASucka.com’s “Hit List”.
Mike Ricci
Although this is Ricci’s first fight inside the Octagon at his natural weight class, he is in a must win situation. He started off his career on a five-fight winning streak, with a big win over Canadian stand-out Jordan Mein. However, he has since gone 2-3 and most recently picked up a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Colton Smith in the finals of TUF 16. “The Martian” has said that since that loss he has become a new person and will be fighting for himself and not for others. Lets hope that gets him a “W” because losing two in a row in the UFC seems to be losing people jobs these days.
Patrick Cote
Cote is on a one-fight winning streak, unfortunately he picked up that victory due to Alessio Sakara striking him numerous times in the back of the head. Prior to that DQ win, he lost a decision to Cung Le at UFC 148 which was his Octagon return. A loss will make “The Predator” 1-2 in his last three fights and in some peoples eyes 0-3 due to the disqualification. So this fight against Bobby Voelker is a must win for the Canadian fighter.
Rick Story
“Horror” is 1-3 in his last four fights, with that lone win being a unanimous decision against Brock Jardine this past June. Story was climbing the ranks in the welterweight division and one win away from a potential title shot, however Charlie Brenneman stepped in his way and faded those dreams. Following that loss he fell short to Martin Kampmann and most recently he lost to Demian Maia at UFC 153 this past October. A two-fight losing streak which would make him 1-4 in his last five fights would definitely be sending him packing.
Issei Tamura
Tamura could be calling out of a job if he doesn’t pick up a much needed victory over T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 158. He won his UFC debut in impressive fashion at UFC 144 against Zhang Tiequan, but unfortunately for him lost his sophomore match to Raphael Assuncao at this past July’s FUEL TV event. Losing two in a row could find Tamura getting his pink slip from the organization.
George Roop
The former Ultimate Fighter Contestant has found himself flip-flopping back and forth between wins and losses over the past couple of years. However, he has lost his last two fights; most recently a TKO loss to Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX 2 this past January. Roop has not fought since then due to numerous injuries on his part. Very few have secured their job after losing three in a row, so this is a must win for Roop.
