Three Fights Made, One Cancelled.

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa)

After suffering only the second loss of his career at the hands of Donald Cerrone (23-6 (1) MMA, 10-3 UFC) just a few weeks ago, Edson Barboza (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has a new challenge on his hands. The Brazilian native has been put up against gritty lightweight Evan Dunham (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Barboza had never been hurt until he was stopped at UFC 146 by Jamier Varner (21-9-1 (2) MMA, 3-4 UFC), he then breezed through two fights but when he met team Alpha Male fighter Danny Castillo (17-6 MMA,7-3 UFC), things changed.  

Castillo had Barboza in trouble early with strikes and almost finished him with with a rear naked choke, it was the first time we'd seen Barboza in a 'war' and he handled it pretty well. Later in the fight he showed how powerful and exciting he was, landing vicious kicks and punches to the head, body and legs of Castillo. It was a very entertaining fight which Barboza won via Majority Decision. After the fight, he was matched up against Donald Cerrone. This was shaping up to be one of the most entertaining fights of the year and it didn't last long, but nevertheless, it didn't disappoint. Barboza landed hard strikes early and Cerrone couldn't get off, but boy did the tides change. Cerrone landed a stiff jab that floored Barboza, he then jumped on his back and locked in the choke, Barboza tried to escape for a couple of seconds, but the grip was too tight and he was forced to tap.

After the fight, he will be looking to get back to winning ways and he has a chance to do that when he fights divisional 'gatekeeper' Evan Dunham. Dunham has been in the middle of the lightweight division giving young fighters their toughest fights yet. I don't think that will be the case for Barboza though, as he has faced much more dangerous opposition. You never know what will happen or if a fighter will turn up on fight night, but what we do know, is that both guys will be looking to get back to winning ways. 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa)

Bethe Correia (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) recently dispatched of Jessamnyn Duke (3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC 172. Shortly after her victory, she made her way out of the cage, whilst doing that she may have made a slight gesture to the four horsewomen. This angered some of Ronda Rousey's (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) team mates. Rousey was asked about it after the fight and said it would be an 'interesting match-up' for her. Well, obviously Dana White took note of this as he has given her a fight against one of the 'four horsewomen' Shayna Baszler (15-8 MMA, 0-0 UFC). This fight should be a very interesting one and will surely be the hardest test so far for Bethe Correia. 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa)

Both Gleison Tibau (28-10 MMA, 12-8 UFC) and Pat Healy (29-19 (1) MMA, 0-3 (1) UFC) lost their last fights. Both men we're completely outclassed and lost decisively, Tibau by Knockout and Healy by decision. Tibau has been a mainstay in the lightweight division for many years now and will look to keep his hopes of a top ten ranking by the end of the year alive with a victory over Pat Healy. It will be no easy job, though. Healy is coming off a No Contest (Originally a win via Technical Submission, Rear Naked Choke) in his UFC debut and 3 straight defeats. In all of them defeats he has been truly outclassed, and on Fight Night, he will look to save his job by putting on a convincing performance against Glesion Tibau. Not much has been announced about this fight yet, but early reports say that it will be on the UFC Fight Night card in Atlantic City. 

 Former UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world Junior 'Cigano' dos Santos (16-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has suffered a broken hand in training and will not fight Stipe Miocic (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at TUF Brazil 3 Finale. The much awaited fight between dos Santos and Miocic may be moved to a later date if the UFC cannot find a suitable replacement to fight Stipe Miocic in time. This fight was set up to be a really interesting one, with JDS needing to perform to prove that he still has 'it' after the vicious and brutal beating Cain Velasquez handed him last year. Stipe didn't have much to prove as he is riding a two fight winning streak and has only one loss in the UFC. One interesting part of this fight is the fact than Miocic has never faced a fighter with hard hands that is actually smart enough to get inside and catch him. Miocic has not yet got an opponent but their was some speculation that he was set to fight Alistair Overeem (37-13 (1) MMA, 2-2 UFC) in a title eliminator. This is highly unlikely, though, as Overeem was coming off back-to-back losses until he decisioned Frank Mir in a less than exciting fight.


Some more exciting fights added and one very exciting fight cancelled, very unfortunate but its a sport and it happens

Tell me what you think about this and let me know who you think should step in against Stipe Miocic at TUF Brazil 3 Finale.

UPDATE: Fabio Maldonaldo will fight Stipe Miocic at TUF Brazil 3 Finale.

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-John.