UFC on FOX 15: With eyes on the belt, Lyoto and Rockhold duel in New Jersey

Lyoto (left) and Rockhold (right) occupy, respectively, second and fourth place in the middleweight category. Photo: Ed Mulholland/UFC

The middleweight category is today, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the thorniest terrains in Ultimate, with a huge number of big names and potential challengers. This Saturday (18), the city of Newark, in New Jersey (USA), will receive two of them, Lyoto Machida e Luke Rockhold, dueling directly in the main fight of UFC on FOX 15.

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In the fifteenth experience of the biggest MMA event on the planet on North American open TV, Lyoto and Rockhold, respectively second and fourth in the official ranking of the 84 kg division, have one of the most balanced and difficult-to-predict fights in recent times .

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Known for his unique style, based on movement, dodges and counterattacks, Lyoto Machida has a professional record of 22 wins and just five losses. The “Dragon”, as he is known, was already the UFC light heavyweight champion and last year he challenged for the middleweight belt, being defeated by Chris Weidman in the judges' decision.

The Bahian, based in Pará, is coming off a devastating knockout over CB Dollaway in the main fight of UFC Barueri, in December, when he hit his rival with a kick to the waistline and ended the fight without suffering a single blow.

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Luke Rockhold, 30 years old, has a record of 13 wins and just two losses. Created American kickboxing Academy (AKA), where he is a training partner of names like Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier, the American has a black belt in jiu-jitsu and honed his striking under the guidance of competent coach Javier Mendez.

Rockhold was the last champion of the now-defunct Strikeforce, having won his title with a victory over Brazilian Ronaldo Jacaré. Son of a basketball player and brother of a professional surfer, the Californian comes from three consecutive victories, over Costas Philippou, Tim Boetsch and Michael Bisping.

Even with his opponent down, Jacaré believes he has a chance at the title

Jacaré (photo) is undefeated since he debuted in the UFC and leads the middleweight rankings. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

But they are not only Lyoto Machida e Luke Rockhold that make up the hall of middleweight stars to parade through the octagon set up at the Prudential Center for UFC on FOX 15. The card will also feature the Brazilian Ronaldo Jacare, current leader of the category ranking.

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Jacaré would face another possible contender for the title, Yoel romero, but the Cuban ended up getting injured about a week before the duel. In his place, the UFC chose Chris Camozzi, submitted by Jacaré in 2013 in his debut in the Octagon, and who was rehired to accept the challenge.

Even in the face of his opponent's loss, and facing a rival he has already beaten in the past, Jacaré, a specialist in the gentle art and multiple champion in jiu-jitsu, remains confident that the fight could earn him the position of next challenger for the middleweight belt. “Nothing changes. I will be the next one to have the opportunity to fight for the UFC middleweight title. I'm focused on winning. I'm not thinking any differently. I’ve already erased that fight we had when I debuted in the UFC from my mind and I’m here to do a new and good job”, said the man from Espírito Santo, on Media Day the event.

Muses VanZant and Herrig have a decisive duel in the strawweight division

Herrig (left) and VanZant (right) have been getting strangers even before the fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland/UFC

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But it's not just the men's middleweight category that should close UFC on FOX 15 with its fate sealed. After the surprising defeat of Joanne calderwood for Maryna moroz in Poland, last Saturday (11), the duel between the muses paige vanzant e Felice herrig, on the main card in Newark, took on the appearance of an eliminator for the strawweight belt.

Neither of them is in a very favorable position in the official rankings, but the 52,1 kg division has been so confused since its creation that it wouldn't be surprising if the winner of Vanzant and Herrig, both coming off victories in their respective Ultimate debuts, challenge champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her next fight.