Decoding the UFC Middleweight Division

Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

I want to open this article in a little different fashion than usual. I want to thank screen name Latino Heat for sending a box full of what appeared to be her previously worn panties to The Weigh-In. While I did not personally get to enjoy them, our own Matt Ward and Luis Cortes are still huffing them at the time of this article is being crafted.

Let us now discuss and decode the UFC’s Middleweight Division. We all know that Rockhold lost to Romero at UFC 221. Before we go any further, I will not listen or read fan mail talking shit about Rockhold. Let us not forget that Rockhold was supposed to fight Robert Whittaker for his belt at UFC 221, but Whittaker had to drop out due to injury. However, once Whittaker was forced off the card due to injury, Rockhold decided he would not sit around and wait for his title shot. Instead, Rockhold decided to allow a very dangerous Yoel Romero to step in for Whittaker. It is this attitude that has propelled Rockhold to the top of the sport, so The Weigh-In will not entertain shit talk about someone who never shies away from a fight.

All that being said, the Rockhold loss has further muddied our UFC Middleweight waters. Romero was able to K.O. Rockhold in the third round. However, due to Romero missing weight, he was not eligible to win the interim middleweight belt. Following Romero’s victory, UFC’s Dana White came out stating that Romero will fight Whittaker for the title next.

That leaves us all to wonder what the hell will Luke Rockhold do? The middleweight division is a mess. Everyone will remember that Bisping took over a year to defend the title and then lost it to St-Pierre, only to have St-Pierre retire immediately after obtaining the middleweight belt.

If Romero and Whittaker are to square off for the belt, there is no shortage of opponents for Rockhold. Rockhold declined an earlier offer to fight Derek Brunson, as he felt Brunson is not on his level. This statement from Rockhold may be true, but perhaps he will decide to show everyone. Another viable option is a matchup against Kelvin Gastelum, who is coming off a big 2017. Gastelum defeated Bisping by knockout and is set to fight Ronaldo Souza at UFC 224. A win over Souza would arguably put Gastelum in middleweight title contention. It may be that Gastelum and Rockhold fight for a chance at a title shot.

Another option may be that Rockhold and Weidman have a rematch. This is a fight that Weidman has wanted since suffering a stoppage loss to Rockhold. While I think Weidman would need another win or two before challenging Rockhold, stranger things have happened in the UFC. I am not sure how many fans would get excited over a Rockhold vs. Weidman rematch. Give us a shout out at The Weigh-In and let us know who you think Rockhold should fight next!

People’s Red Head Out!

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: New Year’s Wish List of Dream Fights

Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In.

Happy New Year! With 2018 upon us, we cannot help but think of what could be the best fights this year. In between what is known as nocturnal emissions, I have dreamed about 2018, and the fights I want to see. After careful review, please check out my top ten dream fights below:

#10
Tyron Woodley vs. Georges St-Pierre

As Erykah Badu said, you better call on Tyron(e). Woodley does not get enough credit. When I lay down to sleep at night, I think about him and St-Pierre. After typing that last sentence, I stand by it. Listen up fans, do not worry if I dream of men in my sleep.

This matchup would pit two explosive wrestlers against one another. St-Pierre has bulked up, and looked great in his win against Bisping. Woodley has now defeated Stephen Thompson twice, and awaits a big name fight, which he deserves. This fight would go a long way to cementing Woodley’s status as one of the best of all time. However, no one knows what lies next for St-Pierre.

St-Pierre reminds me of my absentee father. It is the holiday season and one never knows if he will show or not. All of a sudden, you get surprised, St-Pierre appears to fight, much like my father appears in my life. Nevertheless, Woodley would take this fight, and I would love for St-Pierre to get on board.

#9
Urijah Faber vs. T.J. Dillashaw 

Faber coming out of retirement to fight Dillashaw would be a treat to all fans. This fight has all the fixings of an instant classic. Plus, after the rift that Dillashaw has created at Team Alpha Male, Faber has stated he is willing to settle their differences in the Octagon.

(Urijah Faber - UFC.com)

When I think of Faber coming out of retirement to face Dillashaw, I get full pants people. This fight has a little something for everyone. There is the drama of being former teammates, the endless shit talk, and now, a rumor Dillashaw aborted Faber’s love child. One of those items above may not be true. Would Dillashaw entertain this match? I think that due to his lack of draw, he should consider this bout. Faber is a fan favorite and still capable of drawing pay-per-view numbers.

#8
Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 2.5

I know that this one is questionable, but it is my article, and I will write what I want. Silva, who may be the most talented fighter to ever grace MMA has a lot of mileage on him. He has also recently been popped for violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policies. However, as a fan, this fight has never sat well with me.

In their first match, Weidman knocks out Silva while Silva is clowning him. Up to that point, it can be argued that Silva was dominating Weidman. In the second fight, Silva broke his leg, putting an end to the bout. One wonders if steroids caused brittle bones? Let us not worry about the science behind the previous question. It is neither here, nor there.

This is a fight I would love to see, but it will never happen. At this point, we are not even certain if we will see Silva in the octagon again. He was once again popped for violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. However, I will always wonder if he did not clown Weidman, would he have remained undefeated?

#7

Matt Ward vs. Steve Ward

Close friends of the “Brothers Ward” know that this bout has been brewing for years. This rivalry dates back to the early 90's, and while they are both on the decline physically, the general public would still love to see this fight happen in 2018. However, as both brothers now train out of different gyms, we are not sure it will ever happen.

Who could forget the 2014 road trip to L.A. when Steve got pissed over Matt listening to the Jerky Boys, and drinking all of the sake L.A. had to offer. This match also materialized again in 2016, when scandal erupted between the two siblings. Surveillance video revealed Matt Ward doing something that can only be described as huffing Steve’s underpants. An irate Steve Ward pushed Matt, but this domestic disturbance was broken up by the police, leaving the fans curious of what could have been.

#6

Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson

After losing his belt to Garbrandt, we have not seen Cruz back in action. For my money, he is still one of the best in the bantamweight division. Who would not want to see these two tangle again? Fans may remember that Cruz handed Johnson his last loss back in 2011.

(Dominick Cruz - MMAJunkie.com)

Johnson has ran through the flyweight division and needs a challenge. I’m not sure if Cruz could make the weight, but a catch weight bout would be sensational. This is the type of match where belts do not matter. This is a match that would allow both men to get paid, and I’m sure that fans everywhere want to see this match happen. Both fighters are future hall of famers, and frankly, this is the fight that would propel them into the upper echelon of UFC popularity.

#5

Ronald McDonald vs. Hamburglar

Another match that has been brewing for years is Ronald McDonald versus the Hamburglar. This is not just a match made for WWE 2K17; this is a match that all fast food enthusiasts want to see. We all know that gingers are awesome, and as such, Ronald McDonald would be the favorite. He brings food, folks, and fun to everyone.

However, the Hamburglar feels like he has been overshadowed for years. He has a lot of animosity toward Ronald, and feels he should be McDonald’s number one spokesman. If that was not enough, Hamburglar has been accused of gross embezzlement. It is rumored that he has embezzled millions of dollars in hamburgers since the late 80's.

Ronald has been attempting to take the high road. He contends there is no feud between the two. However, those closest to him report that the feud is still alive and well. Even more, the Ronald camp dropped a bomb when they reported to The Weigh-In that Ronald refers to the Hamburglar as a beefer. For those who do not know, that is racially derogatory term for white hamburger enthusiasts. It is shocking to hear the family friendly clown speak with such a tone, but not surprising given the history of these two. Lets hope 2018 is the year they squash the beef.  

#4

Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar

Holloway is fresh off his second successful victory over Jose Aldo. The Hawaiian looks unstoppable and willing to fight anyone. In fact, the last time I was this excited about something coming out of Hawaii was when I first tried Spam. I should also mentioned I am a huge B.J. Penn fan. He was amazing!

Holloway has really grabbed the torch and ran with it, representing Hawaii with extreme dominance of the featherweight division. Who better to test the Hawaiian than New Jersey’s own, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar? One may recall, Edgar had previous success against another Hawaiian, B.J. Penn. This fight bodes the question of can he transfer his previous success against the hard-hitting Holloway? 

This fight was actually supposed to take place, but Edgar recently suffered an orbital bone fracture, forcing him to pull out. This infuriated the Ward brothers as everyone knows, they do not believe in pulling out. We wish Edgar a speedy recovery and truly hope this fight gets underway in 2018. 

#3

Luke Rockhold vs. Daniel Cormier 

While I am aware they train out of the same camp, a fan can dream. Rockhold against Cormier would be an amazing show down. We have two world-class wrestlers who know each other’s game. This fight would promise to be an excellent display of the ground game.

However, it will never happen, but is on my dream list due to Cormier not currently having anyone throw down within his own division. I feel Luke would make a worthy opponent for Cormier. While it will never happen, fans can dream of what it would be like. Both men are highly skilled and truly terrifying inside the Octagon.

#2

Conor McGregor vs. Tony Ferguson

McGregor has his choice of anything he wants to do. He recently said he would be seen inside the WWE. He followed that up with stating his next fight would be an MMA match. With the entire landscape of the sport being his oyster, there are so many options for him to choose from. However, to me, it would make the most sense that he take on Tony Ferguson.

Ferguson is one of the scariest fighters on the planet. He has no flaws in his game. On top of that, he has cardio that lasts for days, which tends to cause problems for McGregor. Whether this fight will happen remains unknown. However, this fight could have just as easily been in my number one slot. 

This fight would promise to be a good ole fashioned slugfest. I for one think that Ferguson could match McGregor on the feet, and more importantly, would be willing to do so. Not only would this match be one of the largest pay-per-view draws, it would require me to constantly change out of my wet pants, should it actually come to fruition.

#1

Jon Jones vs. Brock Lesnar

No one knows what the future holds for Jon Jones. His punishment for his latest anti-doping violation has still not been determined. Due to this, who knows when, or if we will ever see Jones in the Octagon again? However, all fans want to see him take on Brock Lesnar.

This fight would promise to be the biggest UFC bout of all time. However, both men have their PED issues, which may prevent this dream bout from ever unfolding. If they did square up, it would be amazing. Jon Jones can stand and bang, and he is also capable of wrestling with Lesnar. Jones is so versatile that one wonders if he could dominate Lesnar the way he has the rest of the UFC. 

While I do believe Jones vs. Lesnar belongs in the number one dream slot, it is not likely we will ever see it, truly making it a dream. At this point, I just hope Jones gets to fight again in the UFC. However, if Jones is able of a return, perhaps the two could make arrangements to fight in Japan, where I hear they are a little lax on their performance enhancing drug testing.  

Special Thanks To: 

MMA Junkie

McDonald’s French Fries

Matt Walker and the Meat Sweats Podcast

Joey “Whoa” Lawrence

WWE Spandex (Available for purchase below) - 

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

Dustin's Corner: Bisping Suffers K.O. Loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai, China

Finally, The People’s Red Head has come back The Weigh-In!

Michael Bisping, known as the “The Count” is doing just that as of late. He suffered his second straight loss in Shanghai as Kelvin Gastelum put him to sleep with a vicious left hand. Many know Bisping took this fight on short notice after suffering a submission loss to Georges St-Pierre, which cost Bisping the middleweight title.

Anderson Silva was slated to face Gastelum, but was pulled from the card due to violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. It is rumored Silva took Viagra in order to keep an erection after plowing through Brazil’s working girls. While Bisping gets much respect for filling in on short notice, the fight ended early as Gastelum finished him in the first round.

Immediately following the bout, the UFC announced Bisping will face a 60-day medical suspension for safety protocol. This announcement came on the heels of the scrutiny the UFC received for allowing Bisping to participate in the bout only three weeks after being choked out by St-Pierre.

Following the suspension, Bisping is planning a retirement fight in front of his home crowd in England, at UFC London on March 17, 2018. While a knockout loss is not what “The Count” envisioned, his career has been one to be proud of. Additionally, he shocked the world by upsetting
Luke Rockhold to become the middleweight champion.

An opponent for his retirement fight is yet to be announced. However, I hope the UFC matchmakers get to work and give Bisping a competitive fight to go out on. He has had a storied career, and never avoided facing off against the upper echelon of the sport.

Special Thanks To
www.mmafighting.com for statistical information
The Ward Brothers’ Mom for Creating Great Men
Mr. Clean
Toronto
Tim Horton’s

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: UFC 217 Goes Down as Card of the Year

Finally, The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

UFC 217 sees more title changes than the last time the artist formerly known as Prince tried to become a lightning bolt symbol. This goes down as card of the year, and perhaps one of the greatest cards of all time.

St-Pierre v. Bisping

George St-Pierre not only loves poutine (French Canadian voice), he loves winning!

("Poutine is kind of gross." -Matt Ward)

Georges St-Pierre re-enters after years away from the sport and takes Michael Bisping’s belt in the 185 lb. division. St-Pierre looks to be carrying a lot more muscle and with it, more power. St-Pierre did not rip Bisping down to the ground and engage in a tickle fight like everyone thought he would.
Both fighters began the evening sitting behind their jab. St-Pierre did make a few attempts to take Bisping down, but they were without success. In fact, this writer was shocked when St-Pierre did land a successful take down and Bipsing was able to almost instantly pop back up. The other shocking aspect of this fight was St-Pierre looks better on his feet. Think of how scary this premise is.

St-Pierre was getting the better of the exchanges on the feet. However, I did feel he was winded by round two, which I attribute to his new muscle mass. That being said, he was able to knock Bisping down with a left hook, at which point, he took Bisping’s back and submitted Bipsing with a rear naked choke. I mean a legitimate rear naked choke, not the kind the Ward brothers administer on one another during drunken family reunions.

 (Ward Brothers Wrestling circa 2012 - "Tap out, Steeeeve!" -Matt Ward)

Bisping, a true warrior, did not tap, but instead went out due to the choke. When he came to, he spoke to Joe Rogan, and I thought for sure he was going to retire, but Bisping claimed he would be back. Come to find out, Bisping will fight Kelvin Gastelum on short notice. He opens this fight as an underdog, which he has been his entire career. St-Pierre has nothing but options after coming back off a four-year hiatus.

T.J. Dillashaw v. Cody Garbrandt

Dillashaw takes back his belt, but the drama continues. This fight may have been the best fight on the card. It had more drama leading up to it than the anticipation of Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy for my lady readers) leaving Gray’s Anatomy.

 ("McDreamy, why did you have to leave us so soon?" -Dustin Johnson)

Everyone knows the beef between Dillashaw and Team Alpha Male, so I will not dive into it any further. However, this fight lived up to the hype. The first round was amazing. Garbrandt caught a kick from Dillashaw and waved a finger as if to say, no sir. Near the end of round one, Garbrandt connected with a left hook that floored Dillashaw. However, as Garbrandt began hitting Dillashaw with ground strikes, the round ended. I for one believe that if the round had ten more seconds, Garbrandt would have retained his belt.

I believe the above just as I want to believe Bambi’s mother is still with us. In round two, Dillashaw seemed to get his legs back. He landed a head kick that grazed Garbrandt, but did noticeable damage. Following the head kick, he landed some punches that put Garbrandt on the mat where Dillashaw finished him with ground strikes, winning by K.O.

 (Bambi's Mom - 1938-1942)

At the end of the fight, the fighters showed respect for one another. However, here we are a few days removed, and already the shit talk continues. Dillashaw has tweeted Garbrandt does not deserve a re-match. This is coming from a guy who could have just as easily been defeated if round one had more time in it. Another rumor is that Faber announced he would un-retire to fight Dillashaw. This may be of interest to many fans.

Dillashaw is a beast, there is no denying his talent. However, he has not connected with fans and is known as a low draw fighter. Dillashaw does not have a lot of options, outside of fighting Demetrius Johnson (no relation to the author) in a super fight, or running back to a second fight with Garbrandt. Let us all not forget, Dominick Cruz will most likely be coming for what he feels is his very soon. It would appear Dillashaw cannot solve the Cruz puzzle. We will update fans as more information becomes available.

Rose Namajunas v. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Namajunas allows all children to sleep tight as she proves the bogeyman is nothing to fear. Namajunas shocked the world at UFC 217 when she ended reining champ Jedrzejczyk’s undefeated streak on Saturday night.

Namajunas clocked Jedrzejczyk with a punch that sent her to the canvas, where Namajunas finished her with ground strikes. The 25 year-old Namajunas shocked herself and the world, when she became the new women’s strawweight champion.

It was rumored that after the fight, Jedrzejczyk was seen with Liam Neeson boarding a train back to Poland. For those of you who do not watch movies, it is a shame, because this rumor is solid gold. Nevertheless, Jedrzejczyk has been a dominant champion and her next steps will be determined in the upcoming weeks. If anyone deserves a rematch, the former champion who has been so dominant surely deserves it, but the UFC has not been so quick to grant rematches. In the meantime, congratulations to Namajunas for a historic upset win.

Special Thanks To:
M.C. Hammer for being Too Legit to Quit
The Taco Bell dog
McDonalds for honey dicking us with the promise of Szechwan sauce
Vaseline and/or Lava soap

- Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: UFC 217 Bisping vs. St-Pierre Preview

Do you hear me knocking? Well, let me in! Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to the Weigh-In!

November 4, 2017 is a huge night for the world of MMA. Not only will it be the second time Madison Square Garden hosts a UFC event, but the entire lineup is full of title fights. In fact, it could be argued that this much talent has not been under the same roof since the last time Matt, Luis, and myself had a slumber party (welcome to the team, Luis!). This is to be debated in the weeks to follow.

UFC 217 promises to be a night of fire works. Here at the Weigh-In, we are going to breakdown the card. We are going to proceed by breaking down this card the same way I undress my ladies, we start at the top and go down.

Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre (GSP)
This is the fight fans have been waiting for. Since shocking the world and upsetting Luke Rockhold, Bisping has yet to defend the title. Who better to make his first defense against than Georges St-Pierre? For those readers living under a rock, St-Pierre retired as the former UFC Welterweight Champion back in 2013. Bisping has already spent press time trash talking GSP about fighting versus wrestling, which obviously benefits Bisping. This fight will come down to belief. Is GSP still the dominant force he was when he left the UFC, or is Bisping an example of how the sport has not passed GSP? Stay tuned as these questions will be answered at UFC 217.

Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw
We are now in the Cody Garbrandt era. He successfully defeated Dominick Cruz who T.J. could not overcome. However, T.J. believes he is the best bantamweight in the world, but Cody has proven to be more than most are prepared to handle. Which fighter will impose their will? This fight has all the makings of an instant classic. Everyone knows Dillashaw parted ways with Team Alpha Male and no love was lost. This fight has everything fight fans crave. It is packed with a backstory and loaded with drama. The fight reminds me of when Dillon dumped Brenda for Kelly. For those of you who did not watch "90210", shame on you. Either way, mark your calendars kids, this is one you are not going to want to miss.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk v. Rose Namajunas
The champion, Jedzrejczyk, defends her title against Namajunas at what we here at the Weigh-In are calling, the say my name three times fast battle. We all know Jedzrejczyk has dominated the division and seems to be getting better each time she steps into the octagon. Namajunas is a fan favorite with a solid ground game. Can she challenge the champ? I for one am terrified of both these ladies, so I will be watching from the comfort of my couch, with blanket and sippy cup in tow.

Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal
Wonderboy, fresh off two straight losses to the current champion, Woodley, is back in action against Masvidal. Masvidal is a well-rounded veteran and king of trash talk. Can he hand Wonderboy his third straight loss or will Wonderboy get back on track and make it back for a third attempt to challenge Woodley? This fight has serious consequences to the loser. Each man is coming off a loss and needs a win. It will be amazing to watch what desperation will do to these two competitors.

Johny Hendricks vs. Pablo Henrique Costa
The veteran Hendricks is coming off a loss to Tim Boetsch. Henrique Costa remains undefeated at a perfect 10–0. Hendricks will be his biggest test, but does he have what it takes to pad his resume and show the world he belongs at the top of the rankings? Will Hendricks foil his plans and reestablish his own dominance in the welterweight division?

Other Notable fights on the UFC 217 card

Aiemann Zahabi vs. Ricardo Lucas Ramos
This is a battle of two young undefeated competitors. Someone will no longer be perfect after UFC 217.

Alexey Oleinik vs. Curtis Blaydes
Two wily veterans duke it out on what is sure to be an exciting match.

Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Ion Cutelaba
Antigulov is 2–0 in the octagon. If he wants to remain perfect, he will have to get by Cutelaba.

Corey Anderson vs. Patrick Cummins
This is considered to be a superfight among some. Do not sleep on this fight. Both fighters have explosive power.

Mickey Gall vs. Randy Brown
Gall, who is coming off the win against Northcutt, attempts to add another victim to his run. Another fight not to sleep on. Gall is exciting and climbing his way into contention.

James Vick vs. Joseph Duffy
Two work horses that do not like to lose. This fight promises to be not only entertaining, but competitive. Fans are spoiled with this fight on the card. There could be firework potential here.

Overall UFC 217
As long as everyone remains healthy, UFC 217 is currently set to be the card of the year. I have not felt this much anticipation for something since losing my V-card on prom night. Madison Square Garden sets the stage for their second UFC event. Do not sleep on this event. There will be more action on display than witnessed in a Chuck Norris Total Gym commercial. UFC 217 may be the card of the year!

People Red Head Out!

Special Thanks
MMA.com for the card information
Dr. Steve Sheldon for being our spine expert
Crabfeast for entertainment, fuck the crabfeast

- Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: Luke Rockhold Victorious at UFC Fight Night 116

Finally, The People’s Red Head has come back to the Weigh-In!

While Canelo and GGG were going at it Saturday night, Luke Rockhold was also in action. Rockhold reaffirmed his dominance in the 185 pound division by defeating David Branch with ground and pound strikes.

It has been almost two years since Rockhold lost his belt in shocking fashion to Mike
Bisping. Rockhold took the first step toward reclaiming the waist hardware Saturday night.

Round one opened with Rockhold showing octagon rust. David Branch put on a smothering attack, similar to the style Bisping utilized to pull off the upset. Branch smothered Rockhold against the octagon and continued to connect. Branch wisely left no room for Rockhold to release his devastating leg kicks. While being smothered, Rockhold gestured for his corner to calm down. Round one ended with Rockhold taking Branch down.

The take down in round one was the catalyst for a dominating round two performance from Rockhold. Rockhold owned round two. He eventually took Branch down to the canvas and submitted him with strikes.

In true Rockhold fashion, he had a lot to say during his post fight interview. Rockhold advised Georges St-Pierre to get out while he can. We all know how Rockhold feels about the pending bout between Bisping and GSP.

Saturday’s win will put Rockhold back in contention. One would think he gets to face the winner of the Bisping fight. However, the UFC goes off script all the time. The 185 pound division remains murky. There is a lot of talent at the top.

Does Rockhold have a legitimate complaint? It is so hard to say. McGregor gets his belt taken away in under six months time. It is rumored Dana White stripped McGregor of one of his belts after McGregor was caught leaving an upper decker in the executive restroom... We do not fact check people, just report what is what! (LOL)

In all seriousness, interim titles are ruining UFC bouts. Most of them have little to no significant meaning. Rockhold is at the top of the division and deserves a shot to take his title back. However, he will have to take a number.

It was a great weekend of fights, and congratulations to Mr. Rockhold!

- Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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