UFC 170: Rousey vs McMann promises to be an action-packed event with several fighters making their anticipated return to the octagon. The night features two preliminary fights for UFC fight pass owners, four prelim fights on Fox Sports 1 and the normal five-fight pay-per-view event to finish it off.
UFC 170: Rousey vs McMann Pre-fight Analysis
The UFC heads back to Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center where Ronda Rousey will be headlining the card against current number one contender Sara McMann. In the co-main event, Daniel Cormier will be making his light heavyweight debut against UFC newcomer Patrick Cummins. Both fights should live up to the hype and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
While it will be difficult to live up to the UFC’s past few events, this card has all the makings of another great night of fights. Without further ado, here is MMASucka’s pre-fight analysis for UFC 170.
Main Card
Ronda Rousey (8-0-0) vs. Sara McMann (7-0-0)
What more can be said about Rousey? She is the clear pound-for-pound best female fighter in the world and continues to dominate her opponents. She is currently ranked the ninth pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC and has defended her UFC/Strikeforce title a total of three times. Though Miesha Tate put a stop to her first round victory streak, Rousey has patented the armbar to perfection, and uses her elite level judo to set up the submission.
McMann came in to the UFC with a solid wrestling background and won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics. For female fighters, there are few who can match up to her level of wrestling and she has been able to transition these skills to MMA. She won her UFC debut via TKO in the first round versus Sheila Gaff and has earned a shot at the women’s bantamweight title.
Considering the accomplishments of both fighters, this could be a great battle of two extremely talented women. Rousey has been taken past the first round and McMann’s grappling and wrestling ability will set her apart from Rousey’s past opponents. If Rousey continues her dominant ways and blows through McMann, it will be hard to find another true challenger to dethrone the women’s bantamweight champion.
Daniel Cormier (13-0-0) vs. Patrick Cummins (4-0-0)
Though Cummins took this fight on short notice, he has wasted no time in getting under Cormier’s skin. There has been some bad blood leading up to this bout and it could be a very hard-fought debut for the Pennsylvania native. He is undefeated in four fights outside the UFC and has finished all of them, winning two via TKO/KO and the other two by submission. Even more impressively, all his victories have come in the first round.
Fighting out of the American Kickboxing Academy, Cormier is the fourth ranked heavyweight fighter in the UFC but will be making his light heavyweight debut come Saturday. Initially, Cormier was supposed to take on UFC veteran Rashad Evans, but due to a leg injury, “Sugar” bowed out of the fight. With his buddy Cain Velasquez having his way with the heavyweight division, it’s safe to assume that Cormier’s light heavyweight endeavors are long term. Cormier is an elite level wrestler and has dominated his opponents to date.
Though his fights can be a little boring, he does what is necessary to get the win. Cormier has ridiculous takedown defense and chooses to grind out fights with ease. What makes Cormier even better is his continuously-improving striking. Training at AKA is a big part of his improvements, and the best part is he will continue to get better. It would be quite surprising if Cummins can keep his streak of first round finishes going, and he will need to perfect his wrestling and grappling skills to have any shot at defeating Cormier.
Rory MacDonald (15-2-0) vs. Demian Maia (18-5-0)
This has the potential to be the fight of the night. MacDonald is coming off a surprising loss to Robbie Lawler, while Maia has been a beast since joining the welterweight division. His last fight against Jake Shields was an absolute beauty, with Shields coming away with the split decision. After that loss, Maia sits at 3-1 as a UFC welterweight and takes on one of the best young fighters the division has to offer.
For MacDonald, this has to be a bounce back fight. He has only lost twice in the UFC and against top level opponents in Lawler and Carlos Condit. Another loss would send him lower in the rankings in a very competitive division, which will make it even harder for him to get his hands on the UFC championship. He currently sits fourth in the division while Maia is ranked sixth.
MacDonald will continue to have a solid reach advantage but both fighters are the same height. Maia has been relentless with the takedowns and seems to have a chin of stone. He has not been knocked out in almost five years since Nate Marquardt laid him out at UFC 102. MacDonald’s black belt in BJJ will come in handy as Maia is one of the best grappling practitioners in the world. As in any Maia fight, the conditioning of both fighters will truly be tested, and MacDonald has proven to have good cardio against the UFC’s best. With that said, a win for either fighter would get them in the title picture after a new champion is crowned in March.
Mike Pyle (25-9-1) vs. TJ Waldburger (16-8-0)
With so many veterans on Saturday’s fight card, Pyle might top the list. Ranked 15th in the UFC welterweight division, his MMA and UFC experience is comparable to some of the best, and his losses have come against only high-end fighters throughout his career. Since 2010, his only losses are to Jake Ellenberger, Rory McDonald and Matt Brown. Prior to the Brown loss, Pyle was riding a four-fight win streak and seemed to be on a torrid pace. Waldberger has silently been working through the UFC ranks and maintains a record of 4-3 as a UFC fighter. He has fought tough opponents like Johny Hendricks in the past, so Pyle would not be anything new for the grappler from Texas.
In terms of skill, this will be a great showing of grappling and BJJ. Both Pyle and Waldburger have their brown belts in BJJ, which explains their submission success in MMA. While, Pyle has accumulated 16 submission victories throughout his career, Waldburger sits at 13. One major advantage for Pyle is Waldburger’s weaknesses against strikers. Six of Waldburger’s eight losses have come via TKO/KO, so hopefully he used this camp to improve his striking skills. Due to his experience and all-around skill, Pyle may be able to utilize the stand-up to get the victory. If this fight hits the mat, it really is anyone’s game.
Robert Whittaker (12-3-0) vs. Stephen Thompson (8-1-0)
Kicking off the main card is two rising welterweights looking to make their mark in the UFC. Though both are currently unranked, Whittaker supports a 2-1 UFC record while Thompson sits at 3-1. This is an important fight for both fighters as it will likely get them a huge bump in competition in their next bout. Stephens is currently riding a two-fight win streak, which puts him in an even better position than Whittaker if he gets the victory. While both fighters have all-around ability, they seem to enjoy pushing forward and going for the finish.
Thompson supports a very good record and has only lost once via decision. He has a black belt in kempo karate and kickboxing, while also supporting a blue belt in BJJ. Though Whittaker has lost three times, he has lost twice by decision and once by submission. He too has two black belts (one in karate and one in hapkido) and fights out of the very popular Tristar gym. His wrestling is a great asset and helps him decide where to take the fight. Both fighters possess solid stand-up skills, great chins and all-around ability, which should make this a great bout whether they’re standing or on the ground.
Preliminary Fights (Fox Sports 1)
Alexis Davis (15-5-0) vs. Jessica Eye (10-1-0, 1NC)
This fight will likely dictate the next number one contender for the women’s bantamweight title. With Davis coming in as the third ranked fighter, and Eye as the fifth, the battle for UFC gold starts here for both women. Both fighters have experience and quality opponents on their resume, which makes this a true battle of the world’s best. Davis is coming off a big decision victory over Liz Carmouche and is riding a four-fight win streak. Eye, who should be riding an eight-fight win streak, failed her post-fight drug test at UFC 166 after testing positive for marijuana. Curiously, the UFC still has her listed at 11-1 and maintains the original split decision victory over Sarah Kaufman.
A huge bonus for Davis will be training with the Cesar Gracie fight team. This camp is home to some of the best fighters to ever grace the sport and to have them as training partners is truly priceless. Eye has not shown similar versatility as Davis, but has been able to go the distance with ease. For both ladies, this fight will be what shoots them into title contention and the opportunity to fight on the main card. A decisive victory will only increase their chances at UFC gold, so hopefully fans are in for a great finale to the Fox Sports 1 prelims.
Raphael Assunçao (20-4-0) vs. Pedro Munhoz (10-0-0)
This is fight that could have actually made the main card on several events, but lucky for UFC fans, there were even better fights to be scheduled. Coming in as the third ranked bantamweight, Assunçao is itching for a title shot and could be in line soon enough with a victory on Saturday. He has only lost to some of the UFC’s best and continues to make his way up the bantamweight ladder. Standing in his way is another Brazilian who has never lost outside the UFC. Munhoz is a solid challenge for the BJJ specialist and comes in with a very good submission background. He has won six of his 10 fights via submission and has notched three in the very first round.
The battle of BJJ fighters is an exciting bout for those who love grappling. While it may seem boring for some, the constant fight for position is something true MMA fans can appreciate. Without a doubt, this will be one of those fights, with Assunçao getting the slight edge in striking. Nevertheless, cardio and ground skills will dictate this match, and the best BJJ fighter will likely come out on top, whether it be by decision or tapout.
Cody Gibson (11-3-0) vs. Aljamain Sterling (8-0-0)
Another solid bout with huge potential, Gibson and Sterling will be making their UFC debuts this Saturday and have come with a solid resume. Gibson is currently riding a six-fight win streak and has demonstrated all sorts of skill in that time. He finished four of those six fights, three by submission and one via TKO. Sterling is coming in undefeated and has shown similar submission skills in the process. Of his eight wins, four have come via submission while recording just one via TKO.
Fighting out of the rising Serra-Longo fight team, it’s no surprise that Sterling comes in as a grappling specialist. Furthermore, with training partners such as Chris Weidman and Costas Philippou, Sterling comes in with a huge training advantage. For Gibson, his biggest advantage is size, coming in three inches taller than his opponent. In addition, in 14 career bouts, Gibson has yet to be knocked out as an MMA fighter. Having said that, both fighters have demonstrated great submission skills and endurance, which should make this another great fight between two UFC newcomers.
Zach Makovsky (16-4-0) vs. Josh Sampo (11-2-0)
The 10th ranked flyweight in the UFC, Makovsky is coming off a huge decision victory over veteran Scott Jergensen. It was his UFC debut and is now on a three-fight win streak. Sampo had similar success in his UFC debut, defeating a much lesser opponent in Ryan Benoit via rear-naked ch0ke on the TUF 18 finale. Both fighters have solid BJJ and cardio, which should making this a grueling battle of two hard-nosed fighters. Makovsky has never been knocked out while Sampo has lost just once via TKO/KO.
Going into this fight, the edge has to be given to Makovsky. He has fought tougher opponents and is the more experienced fighter. However, Sampo is riding a five-fight win streak and has welcomed an increase in competition every time. The lack of striking skills in both fighters eliminates the likelihood of a devastating knockout blow. However, if you’re a fan of grappling and ground work, this should be a great fight.
Preliminary Fights (UFC Fight Pass)
Rafaello Oliveira (15-6-0) vs. Erik Koch (13-3-0)
This is an especially interesting match-up for fight pass owners. Potential wise, this fight could have easily made the prelim card on Fox Sports 1. Pitting two UFC veterans against each other, both Oliveira and Koch are coming off losses against very high-caliber opponents. On one hand, Oliveira lost to Edson Barboza in his previous bout, and has lost to two other tough opponents in Yves Edwards and Gleison Tibau. He is a true veteran with a total of seven UFC bouts, maintaining a sub-par record of 2-5. On the other hand, Koch is coming off two straight losses against Ricardo Lamas and Dustin Poirier. He has fought some of the best featherweights in the world and is ranked 12th in the division. His only other loss came against Chad Mendes, which shows the potential of the Roufusport fighter.
Oliveira has proven his all-around ability throughout his MMA career, accumulating wins in several ways. He has four TKO/KO victories, five submission and six via decision. Experience is a big factor for Oliveira going into this fight, even though Koch may have fought the tougher opponents. Koch may not be as experienced or well-rounded, but his skills are unquestionable. Moving up to the lightweight division, this will be a chance for him to show he belongs in the UFC. His submission skills are his biggest asset and he will have a solid reach advantage against Oliveira. Endurance may be a key factor if this turns into a grinding-style match, so expect both fighters to leave everything in the octagon.
Ernest Chavez (7-0-0) vs. Yosdenis Cedeno (9-2-0)
“The Mad Titan” Chavez and “The Pink Panther” Cedeno not only have great nicknames, but solid knockout power as well. Both fighters have yet to receive a submission victory, but have proven their stand-up skills outside the UFC. Of Chavez’s seven victories, four have come via TKO/KO. On the flip side, Cedeno has won via TKO/KO six times in 11 career fights. Interestingly, one of his two losses came against UFC TUF winner Jonathan Brookins, showing he has fought some high-end competition before joining the UFC.
In terms of stature, both fighters are identical in height, taking away any true reach advantage for either man. Given their fight history and skill set, Chavez and Cedeno will be looking for the knockout victory, which should make this a great debut for both men. If the fight hits the ground, it will be interesting to see who has the upper hand. Chavez has yet to be tested in all facets of the game while the other loss on Cedeno’s record came via third round submission. With that said, it seems highly unlikely that the BJJ skills of either fighter will be tested, and if they choose to stay standing, this will be a great fight to kick off UFC 170.
