“I guess they didn’t see it”, Barnett said after securing a rear-naked choke on the mat. Incidental, but it was a little scary. “It’s really swelling up now”.
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After a tough loss to Ben Rothwell in his last bout, Barnett can not afford to fall too far behind in a division where several fighters are all knocking on the door of a title shot.
The contest takes place on the big Arlovski V Barnett bill at Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday.
When one of those aforementioned Arlovski sprints happens, it is quite something to watch. The shot sent Latifi flopping backwards and Bader immediately raised his arms in celebration. Arlovski rose the ranks and captured the UFC title in 2005.
Barnett’s nine submission victories in UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce/WEC heavyweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (13). After a brief stalemate, referee Leon Roberts restarted the action, and again Arlovski drilled and rattled Barnett, forcing “The Warmaster” to bull his foe into the fence once more.
Barnett and Arlovski were supposed to meet on an Affliction card in 2008, but the event was cancelled.
Wallhead squares up to 24-year-old Jessin Ayari who will also be making his debut in the UFC and is on a five win streak. Both men are powerfully built wrestlers who have struggled to put together consistent striking games.
Losing his last three fights and at the age of 38, retirement may be on the mind of Arlovski. He’s tough. He’s very unsafe and it’s going to be a very good fight.
Arlovski survived the round but sat on his knees for several seconds before finally rising to get to his corner.
Many people expected Gustafsson to come in with an impressive win and I felt it was that – perhaps just not in the way most anticipated. “It was a ravaging, on both sides though”. I was trying to do a takedown, I threw my hands up and before I knew it, I was halfway in on a shot, a bad shot. “For whatever reason, my arms felt very heavy in there at times”. Arlovski tried for a takedown but Barnett reversed it and got into full mount. Barnett isn’t as skilled (or athletic) a striker as Overeem, but he’ll have openings to land leg and body kicks when he’s not driving into the clinch.
“It felt wonderful”, Gustafsson said. But, that requires the UFC to find their way back into Hunt’s good graces and that doesn’t seem like it’s about to happen. And honestly, after Gus’ lackluster win over Jan Blachowicz, I’m still not so sure it’s not a good idea.
However, today we bring you a very rare exception. For me, it’s about letting that go and not thinking about that and going out and taking more risks.
“I still want a title shot, but my mind frame is going to change”, Bader said. He is now 9-1 against everyone else since signing with the UFC. Gus got off to a shaky start and took some hits to the chin, but he began working his takedowns and ground away at Błachowicz with sharp elbows.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise really.
“But he was better, that is it”.
Bader, a 2001 McQueen graduate, gets back in the octagon on Saturday in Germany against Ilir Latifi – the No. 12 light heavyweight contender.
UFC Fight Night: Arlvoski vs. Bader featured eight decisions, two knockouts and one submssion finish. It was just a great feeling. “I’m just staying focused and getting that “W” and getting back to winning again”. He was making me work harder than I wanted to.
Nick Hein, the only German on the main card, won a unanimous decision over Tae Hyun Bang.
I am going to stack some prop bets on this one. I’m happy to be here. “I’m ready to go”.
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Evans-Smith defeated Macedo by TKO in the third round. The match was not an easy victory for Barnett.
