UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

[ex carrabba fan]

In Chicago

Lightweight: Ben Henderson v Josh Thomson
Lightweight: Donald Cerrone v Adriano Martins
Featherweight: Darren Elkins v Jeremy Stephens
Heavyweight: Gabriel Gonzaga v Stipe Miocic
Bantamweight: Chico Camus v Yaotzin Meza

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Road to the Octagon will be this Saturday on Fox at 2 P.M. Pacific time

Also, Sergio Pettis will make his second appearance in the UFC. I'm hoping he shows some things, his first fight left me sort of unimpressed although his opponent was no slouch.

[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Complete card:

MAIN CARD
FOX, 8 p.m. ET
Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thomson
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Stipe Miocic
Darren Elkins vs. Jeremy Stephens
Donald Cerrone vs. Adriano Martins

PRELIMINARY CARD
FOX Sports 1, 5 p.m. ET
Alex Caceres vs. Sergio Pettis
Yves Jabouin vs. Eddie Wineland
Chico Camus vs. Yaotzin Meza
Ramiro Hernandez vs. Hugo Viana
Daron Cruickshank vs. Mike Rio
Mike Rhodes vs. George Sullivan

PRELIMINARY CARD
UFC Fight Pass, 4:30 p.m. ET
Walt Harris vs. Nikita Krylov

A few thoughts: I'm interested in the debut of Mike Rhodes. He trains with Pettis and company at Roufussport and his only loss was a short notice fight to Brandon Thatch who is one of the best prospects atm in MMA imo.
Adriano Martins has a big step up here, but he looked like dynamite in his last fight against Cruickshank.
Harris/Krylov is probably a loser leaves town match, and I hope Harris can win and stick around. He has more potential than Krylov and Nikita looked awful in his UFC debut.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

If Bendo takes the victory, where would that put him? Beating a top 10 guy would be a statement. Another fight away from a title shot? If Thomson wins I'm assuming he'd be right there for a title shot.

But then you have TJ Grant still lurking, I'm assuming he doesn't get a shot now without a top 10 win. You have Gilbert Melendez lurking. You have Khabib lurking. You have Diaz and RDA still as relevant as ever.

Dana and company are going to have some interesting decisions to make at 155.

[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Bendo isn't getting another shot for a while if Pettis is still champ. Needs a dominant winning streak to deserve another fight against him.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

If Bendo defeats Thomson, then say another top 10 guy I think he'd deserve a shot. Considering that if you're in the top 10 in this division, you're really really good. So that would be a victory over Thomson and say any of Khabib, Gilbert (again), RDA or Grant.

With that said, I guess targeting Gilbert, Khabib or Grant would be the preferred next contender if Thomson were to lose against Bendo?

I'm still trying to figure out why Gilbert and Khabib aren't fighting. That would be a perfect title eliminator. I'm also assuming that Grant is a long way from returning? I don't think RDA has that wow factor to put him in over the other contenders. Diaz is at least two wins away as well...

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

If Bendo defeats Thomson, then say another top 10 guy I think he'd deserve a shot. Considering that if you're in the top 10 in this division, you're really really good. So that would be a victory over Thomson and say any of Khabib, Gilbert (again), RDA or Grant.

With that said, I guess targeting Gilbert, Khabib or Grant would be the preferred next contender if Thomson were to lose against Bendo?

I'm still trying to figure out why Gilbert and Khabib aren't fighting. That would be a perfect title eliminator. I'm also assuming that Grant is a long way from returning? I don't think RDA has that wow factor to put him in over the other contenders. Diaz is at least two wins away as well...

Gilbert still wants to fight him but he didnt want to fight him Feb 22. He wants to fight him in April and its rumored to be on the Jones card in Baltimore.

[ex carrabba fan]

UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

That fight needs to happen. I'm not sold on khabib to be honest, the hype on him is quite much. He was initially favored against Gilbert. It'll be nice to see him go up against Gilbert. Dana is saying nobody wants to fight him... I want to see him step up even higher than a pat Healy


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[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Gilbert/Khabib is a good title eliminator imo. If Gilbert wins he is on a winning streak after losing a close decision to Benson Henderson for the belt. If Khabib wins, he is undefeated and has hype behind him.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Agreed, I think that fights makes a lot of sense for clarity in the division. If Thomson beats Henderson, does he get a shot at Pettis? I think it'd be tough to deny Thomson a shot.

I'm excited to see Gonzaga and Stipe, boys are looking real good lately.

Always excited to watch any Cowboy fight. I hope he wins and responds to Cole Miller.

[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Yes if Thomson wins he deserves a title shot imo. The KO of Diaz and then an upset of the former champ? Definitely deserving.

Right now imo the rankings for the LW title shot is something like this:
1. Melendez
2. TJ Grant
3. Thomson (Moves to top if he beats Henderson)
4. Benson
5. Khabib
6. Nate Diaz
7. Jim Miller/Cowboy if he wins/RDA/Khabilov/Michael Johnson

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

I don't think I could put Diaz above RDA right now. If anything, they're even.

Other than that hard to argue that list. Again though, at this point, if you get a win against a top 10 guy, you have accomplished a lot.

[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

I don't think I could put Diaz above RDA right now. If anything, they're even.

Other than that hard to argue that list. Again though, at this point, if you get a win against a top 10 guy, you have accomplished a lot.

Fair enough. I think Diaz KO'ing Maynard is more impressive then RDA's winning streak. Especially when I thought Dunham beat him. Depending on when Grant comes back, I think Khabib/Grant would be a decent fight as well, although it'd be BS if Grant don't get a title shot because he got "injured". RDA moves into the top 5 if he beats Khabilov in his next fight though. That'd be 6 wins in a row.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Good point on RDA. I just look at how Diaz got absolutely dominated by Bendo and then thumped by Thomson. Maynard is on his way down unfortunately

You could really make the argument that RDA would deserve a title shot with a win against Rustam and then another good win. Diaz could get a shot with one good win, based off the wow factor. Same with Gilbert. Same with Khabib. Benson needs to beat Thomson and get another win to get another shot. Grant will most likely get a top 10 opponent and if he were to win decisively, I think he'd deserve another title shot. So obviously, a lot of guys that I think could get a title shot simply with one good win.

[redsrule]

Re: UFC on Fox 10: Henderson v Thomson, January 25

Good point on RDA. I just look at how Diaz got absolutely dominated by Bendo and then thumped by Thomson. Maynard is on his way down unfortunately

You could really make the argument that RDA would deserve a title shot with a win against Rustam and then another good win. Diaz could get a shot with one good win, based off the wow factor. Same with Gilbert. Same with Khabib. Benson needs to beat Thomson and get another win to get another shot. Grant will most likely get a top 10 opponent and if he were to win decisively, I think he'd deserve another title shot. So obviously, a lot of guys that I think could get a title shot simply with one good win.

Yeah those are definitely going against him. I have no issue with him being down or moving RDA up with him though. That was just the list off the top of my head.
If RDA beats Rustam, then say he beats someone that was above him in that list he definitely deserves a title shot.
I'd say outside of TJ Grant (already deserves one) and Benson (will have an issue getting one while Pettis is still champ) you could make a case that Melendez, Khabib and Thomson all deserve a shot with one more win. Then you have guys that could rise quickly, like Adriano Martins if he beats Cerrone on Saturday.