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UFC on FOX 7 will feature Bendo vs. Melendez AND Cormier vs. Mir

29K views 39 replies 19 participants last post by  OU 
#1 ·
As with other recent installments of the event series, UFC on FOX 7 will get a loaded lineup, including a title fight and a major heavyweight bout.

In his first fight since the closing of his former home, final Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (21-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will challenge UFC titleholder Benson Henderson (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

Additionally, Strikeforce import Daniel Cormier (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will meet fellow heavyweight and rival Frank Mir (16-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC).

MMAjunkie.com confirmed the plans with event sources. Yahoo! Sports initially reported them, and UFC officials formally announced them soon after.

UFC on FOX 7 takes place April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.

As MMAjunkie.com recently reported, Henderson recently signed a new longterm UFC contract and was targeting a matchup with Melendez.

Since his time in the WEC, where he once held the lightweight title, Henderson has posted a 6-0 mark in the UFC with six decision wins. He won the title in early 2012 with a victory over then-champ Frankie Edgar, and then defended it in an immediate rematch with Edgar. Then, back in December in UFC on FOX 5's headliner, he posted a victory over top contender Nate Diaz.

Melendez, meanwhile, is on a seven-fight win streak of his own. The longtime Strikeforce titleholder was slated to fight Pat Healy this past weekend at Strikeforce's final show, but he was forced off the card with a shoulder injury. His recent wins have come over top non-UFC lightweights, including Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Jorge Masvidal and Josh Thomson.

Cormier, meanwhile, was expected to fight Frank Mir at a Strikeforce event in November that later was canceled. So this past weekend, Cormier instead fought and easily handled 20-to-1 underdog Dion Staring. It marked the Strikeforce world grand-prix winner and standout amateur wrestler's 11th straight victory, which also included Strikeforce wins over Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Josh Barnett. Although Cormier has suggested he's likely to move down to light heavyweight this year, he recently said he first wanted to fight Mir.

Mir, a former UFC champion, hasn't fought since a failed bid to take Junior dos Santos' heavyweight belt this past May. prior to the TKO loss, the jiu-jitsu ace had posted a string of wins over notables Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The "Big Nog" victory, which saw Mir break his opponent's arm, recently netted him 2012 World MMA Awards for best submission and best comeback.
Source: MMAjunkie.com

God I love the FOX shows :)
 
#2 ·
Something about Cormier rubs me the wrong way, I don't quite know what it is that said, I've never rooted for Frank Mir before and I probably won't root for him here.

So I have no personal favorite but I will take Cormier by some sort of mauling on the ground, I'd laugh my ass off if Mir subbed him though. I think the real question is, will Mir deliver his evil satanic black magic on Cormier and cause him to lose his next fight?
 
#3 ·
Something about Cormier rubs me the wrong way, I don't quite know what it is that said
Do you mean that he said something, and it rubbed you the wrong way, but you don't remember exactly what it is?

(There's no problem with that, just clarifying)

Cormier will MAUL Mir, if he doesn't want to take it to the ground he will KO him like he did Bigfoot. If he does want to take it to the ground he'll beat Mir into a bloody mess while he tries to work from his guard.

IMO Barnett is better than Nog and Mir.
 
#6 ·
Agreed. I think he has a shot to be pretty damn good the more fights he gets. He should look to branch out a bit more. Think if he asked a guy like Barnett to help him out with some catch wrestling.

I think Cormier weighed in at 238 vs Barnett and 230 last time out. Which obviously is from him eventually going to 205. We may see him with less power than he has had as he drops weight.
 
#8 ·
He almost died due to kidney failure because he tried to cut too much weight once. He did that for years but finally it caught up with him.

In order to stay alive he must lose weight, not cut weight. He will drop to about 220 and then cut 15lbs. His body can't handle a serious cut anymore.
 
#15 ·
Shields is a bum and ran to WW in the UFC to get away from Jacare, then Maia dropped and Shields decided to run back to MW, now Jacare is here he has nowhere to go. Shields has no business anywhere with Jacare. It would be a great fight because we'd see Shields lose brutally.

Jacare V Weidman please.

Excuse the hyperbole.
 
#16 ·
Based on Healy's last two fights with Holobaugh, and Hirota he shouldn't get a top ten guy. And he really shouldn't get Joe Lauzon whose one of the divisions biggest stars. Having Jacare vs Shields (who's coming off suspension) is one of those great SF fights we never got to see. The gator can finish Jake, or we'll see a BJJ clinic.
 
#21 ·
How can a man that thoroughly outgrappled Josh Barnett possibly be seen as a guy that would get beaten by Bones? Cormier isn't going to just stand around like Rampage and Rashad. He's going to drag Bones to the mat and keep him there until Herb Dean comes to his rescue.
 
#24 ·
I'm loving this card.
First of all DC Vs Mir will be fun, I hate Mir but will never count the man out again, as he broke my heart last time.I think DC will keep it standing and murder Mir on the feet.

As for making this a strikeforce Vs UFC card, I really hope this is what they do. I think they should add Healy Vs Varner, Jacare Vs Shields, Kampmann Vs Saff.

I think that you Shields Vs Jacare would be a great fight. Shields gets a lot of hate, but he has great JJ. Is he on the level of Jacare? Maybe not,but this is why I want the fight. I'm a Shields fan, and believe that he is still great, and one of the best grapplers in MMA. He needs to improve some aspects of his game though for sure. People over look Shields now, since he poor performances in the UFC. The man still beat Hendo, keep that in mind. and If this fight happens, I'll take the bet.

I wish Palhares wasnt stupid enough to go and get caught for banned substances, because him VS Jacare would be an awesome fight to watch. I think Palhares would stop Jacare.

But I won't complain if Weidman fights Jacare, so he can beat his ass.
 
#25 ·
I think that you Shields Vs Jacare would be a great fight. Shields gets a lot of hate, but he has great JJ. Is he on the level of Jacare? Maybe not
Definitely not. Palhares isn't on Jacare's level either. Maia, Jacare, Roger and Werdum are the best, then Palhares and Magalhaes. Shields couldn't hang with any of them.

Here is Jacare tapping out Marcelo Garcia in 2 minutes in nogi, Shields would be done for way too quickly.

 
#26 ·
Yeah Jacare is great and so is Marcelo.. Well both are amazing not just great. But Shields is more around Jacares size, and in an MMA match I think Shields give Jacare a little trouble on the ground, just purely grappling Jacare would beat Shields. I'm not claiming that Shields has better BJJ than Jacare, but I believe that Shields could still win the fight, and could catch Jacare.

I wish we could see Jacare and Palhares
 
#34 ·
...Cormier has that incredible wrestling base that not even the big boys can handle. Daniel's whole game has improved. I think a good gameplan would be to keep it standing at all costs and make Mir kickbox with him. He spars with the Champ and hangs with him. Cormier should avoid taking Mir down at all costs. 1 slip-up, Mir will seize the moment and catch or possible break something. Mir's stand-up has been solid but Cormier is on that killer, hungry level. As long as Daniel keeps it on the feet, he can pick Mir apart and get the finish. Interesting match either way...
 
#38 ·
It's a wonder how anyone can complain about the UFC these days.

UFC on FX 7: Belfort Vs Bisping, Barboza Vs Martins
UFC on Fox 6: Johnson Vs Dodson (C), Rampage Vs Teixiera, Cerrone Vs Pettis, Koch Vs Lamas, Bader Vs Matyushenko
UFC on 156: Aldo Vs Edgar (C), Evans Vs Little Nog, Overeem Vs Bigfoot, Fitch Vs Maia, Benividez Vs Creepy, Woodly Vs Hieron

You know what, I can't be bothered anymore. It looks like we're going to have awesome cards (after Belfort/Bisping) all the way up until April 27. Find me another year in UFC history which would be that stacked.
 
#39 ·
Never count out Mir. His standup is slow but if he somehow can connect(like in the Kongo fight) with Cormier he can get him to the ground and finish with a sub.
Although I see just another Cormier-Bigfoot fight. Cormier will keep this as kickboxing match and outpoint Mir.
I am looking forward to this fight.
 
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