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: 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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