UFC 201

While most fighters are also top-tier athletes, some are more athlete than fighter.  Those fighters have not been invited to UFC 201.

We’re rolling into another weekend of MMA starting tonight with Invicta FC 18 and continuing tomorrow with UFC 201.

The Invicta card will be headlined with Alexa Grasso and Jodie Esquibel, two dynamic strawweights who I hope to see make the transition to the UFC. Tonight, they will be fighting for the Invicta FC strawweight belt.

UFC 201 may not be stuffed with mainstream name value, but it is stacked with legit brawlers.  It’s almost as if the UFC is apologizing to the hard are fans for UFC 200, because these guys and gals are going to war from top to bottom.

The main event features welterweight champ Ruthless Robby Lawler against fellow top-level striker
Tyron Woodley.  While Lawler may have the slight power advantage and Woodley may be slightly quicker, both men are fast, accurate hitters capable of laying down heavy damage. Expect to see Woodley try to score points with straight punches and wrestling, which Lawler will attempt to counter with his defensive wrestling and variety of strikes.  Lawler’s toughness and cardio should carry him through what will be an exciting, competitive fight.

We also have a co-main event with title implications at strawweight as Thug Rose Namajunas takes on Polish striker Karolina Kowalkiewicz.  Rose should enjoy a technical grappling advantage, but can easily be drawn into a wild brawl if Karolina can make her fight ugly.  Expect a brutal, gritty affair.

I’m a fan of putting contenders on the same card as champions in the same division, as the UFC has done with welterweight contender Matt Brown.  Brown will hope to get back on the title track after his loss to Damian Maia, and I expect him to get it done against a shopworn, used-up Jake Ellenberger.

I’m also looking forward to seeing Francisco Rivera and Jorge Masvidal get down in their respective fights.  Rivera has one-punch knockout power and he swings to knock your head off. Masvidal is a former street fighter with some of the best counter striking in the game, and is hoping to bounce back from a controversial decision loss against Al Iquinta.

We’ll be following all the action live and hope that you’ll join the conversation on Twitter @KevJMahon.