Saturday 8 October 2016

Who is Dillon Danis?

This blog attempts to answer the question on the lips of most fans of The Notorious Conor McGregor


All it took was one Instagram post and Dillon Danis, overnight became a top discussed topic in the world of MMA. It seems as though this is a running theme, with Conor McGregors Midas touch bringing the relatively unknown, into the spotlight that is the world's fastest growing sport. Whether it is a suit tailors or a movement coach (Ido Portal), association with McGregor and his social media accounts are certain to raise profile, and it seems the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is not exempt from this.
                                           The photo that thrust Danis into the spotlight

Although Danis could be considered relatively unknown to most UFC fans before this exposure, he is no stranger to his own fame, in the world of BBJ. Danis, a native of New Jersey USA, is a blackbelt in BJJ, which he gained through training in the Marcelo Garcia academy. 

This esteemed BJJ academy has provided Danis with the tools to gain world championship titles, amongst others, listed below:

  • World Champion (2014*: brown)
  • Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (2014: brown)
  • World No Gi Champion (2014* weight & absolute: brown)
  • Pan American Champion (2014* weight & absolute, 2013*: brown)
  • Pan American No Gi Champion (2014* weight & absolute, 2013*: brown)
  • New York Summer Open Champion (2014* weight & absolute: brown)
  • New York Spring Open Champion (2015* absolute: brown)
  • Boca Raton International Open Champion (2015: black)
  • New York Spring Open 2nd Place (2015: brown)
  • Pan American No Gi Championship 3rd Place (2013 absolute: brown, 2012: purple)
The extensive knowledge on BJJ and the mentality of being a world champion is something that The Notorious One noticed long before the two ever met. Both champions have been quoted as saying that they were aware of each other before the famous UFC202 training camp. 

Fast forward to the aftermath of UFC202 and Danis found himself in the limelight again. this time responding to a call out from one Nate Diaz who claimed Danis was now a target for 'betraying USA'. Danis responded to the Stockton fighter on the MMA Hour, welcoming a fight with Diaz and expressing his desire to compete in the UFC. 


So the question is, who should Danis take on first?


As is the UFCs nature, to develop new and promising talent and high profile fighters, first fights will usually be against other new fighters (take Sage Northcutt for example).

Danis competes in the 181 pound Peso Médio weight category in BJJ and it could be assumed that after MMA training and a weight cut, that he could compete in the 170 pound weight class, so let's take a look at the welterweights Danis could match up against first:

Mickey Gall - Off the back of a win over CM Punk and set to fight 'Super' Sage Northcutt, Gall has only recently started competing in MMA with a 3-0 record. This would make a great fight in my opinion with both having a high level jiu jitsu background which could see potential flaws in stand up game shaping the fight.

Danny Roberts - The Brit has a 2-0 record in the UFC and is set to fight on the UFC204 card against Mike Perry. A fight between these two could make sense for a card in Dublin with McGregor headlining, making this an SBG team affair.

Donald Cerrone - The man who messages Dana White with 'I know a guy' each time a welterweight pulls out from a fight, Cowboy is always up for a scrap. Danis' confidence at taking anyone in the UFC roster matched with Cowboy's love for a fight would make this an all out war. 

Nate Diaz - Just for fun. Diaz called out Danis and Danis called out Diaz. It would be a shock move for the UFC to plan this fight, of course, but who doesn't love a grudge match? 

Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments below and don't forget to follow @UFCCasuals on Twitter at https://twitter.com/UFCCasuals for more of these kinds of posts.

Friday 7 October 2016

All you need to know about the UFC P4P rankings

P4P number one fighter in the world is a title that gets thrown around in both MMA and Boxing, but for people who are new to either sport, this can be a meaningless title.

This blog will explain the concept of the title and who the current Top 10 UFC P4P fighters are and why.

P4P simply means 'Pound for Pound' and what this means is that weight class is irrelevant when comparing fighters using this term. It is obvious that in the Octagon, the current UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, would dominate the flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson.

P4P rankings instead compare fighters based on their technical abilities that transcend all weight classes, along with their records and often their reign as champion of their weight class. 

So without further ado, the Top 10 P4P UFC fighters:


1. Demetrious Johnson (nickname, Mighty Mouse) - The current and only ever UFC Flyweight champion, Johnson holds a record of 24-2-1 and will soon defend his title against the winner of the UFC's television series, The Ultimate Fighter.

2. Dominick Cruz (nickname, The Dominator) - The current UFC Bantamweight champion, Cruz has one of the most unorthodox fighting styles in all of MMA, making him near impossible to hit and quoted as saying "I kill hype for a living". He holds a record of 22-1-0 and is set to defend his title against either previous champion TJ Dillashaw or Cody Garbrandt.

3. Daniel Cormier (nickname, DC) - The current UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Cormier is often named as the greatest wrestler in the organisation, representing the US as a two time Olympic wrestler. He holds a record of 18-1-0, his only loss to his nemesis and former Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones.

4. Conor McGregor (nickname, The Notorious One) - The current UFC Featherweight champion. Conor McGregor divides opinion amongst UFC fans, making him the most loved and hated fighter in the organisation. Known for his stand up fighting game utilising boxing and Thai Boxing, the majority of The Notorious One's fight highlights finish with a heavy left hook to the chin. A record of 20-3-0, holding a loss to famous rival Nate Diaz.

5.  Jose Aldo (nickname, Junior) - The former UFC Featherweight champion and current #1 Featherweight contender with a record of 26-2-0. Jose Aldo features in this list for his past dominance over the Featherweight division which featured a 10 year period of holding the gold belt. Aldo is known for his low risk, precise skill set which includes perfectly executed low leg kicks.

6. Stipe Miocic - The current UFC Heavyweight champion. Miocic is a big fan of first round finishes, with 8 first round finishes to boast of. He is in the form of his life, winning seven out of his last eight bouts and he isn't slowing down, looking to add to his 16-2-0 record.

7. Eddie Alvarez - The current UFC Lightweight champion. Alvarez is a recent UFC champ, on the back of a dominating and vicious win over former champ Rafael Dos Anjos. Alvarez hails from Philadelphia and often credits his tough upbringing here to the dedication he gives to the fight game. He holds a record of 28-4-0 and will next defend his belt against Featherweight champion Conor McGregor at UFC205.

8. Joanna Jedrzejczyk - The current UFC Women's Strawweight champion and fan's favourite. Joanna represents Poland on the highest stage and has quickly become a fan's favourite due to her electrifying fighting style, made up mostly of elbows and punches she has a perfect record of 12-0-0.

9. Tyron Woodley (nickname, The Chosen One) - The current UFC Welterweight champion, straight off the back of a title win against Robbie Lawler. Woodley went into his title winning fight as the underdog but set the records straight with a first round knockout win, with a dangerous overhand right connecting. Woodley has a 16-3-0 record and will defend his belt against the #1 contender Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson at UFC205.

10. Michael Bisping (nickname, The Count) - The current UFC Middleweight champion, Michael Bisping has one of the most unique background stories in the UFC. Working various working class positions in his home of Manchester, Bisping chose the fighting life as a means to provide for his family and has turned into one of the UFCs most memorable fighters. He holds a record of 30-7-0 and will defend his title against Dan Henderson at UFC204.

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Thursday 6 October 2016

UFC204 HAS ARRIVED 

Bisping Vs Henderson 
Champion Vs Challenger
One man looks for revenge

October 8th will see Michael 'The Count' Bisping defend the UFC Middleweight title against the man who so viciously knocked him out on that July night back in 2009

MMACasuals is here to give the fastest 'need to know' information ahead of this exciting fight

When?

October 8th 2016 - 
Ring walk 3am BST, 10pm EST

Where?

Manchester arena

How can you watch?

UK Fans - Live on BT Sport 2, coverage starts at 1am BST
US Fans - Live on Fox Sports 1, coverage starts at 8pm EST

Who is the favourite?

Bisping is favourite at 4/9
A first round KO win for Bisping is 4/1

Have they met before?

Oh yes, and in spectacular fashion, Henderson took the acclaim for KO of the year and it's hard to argue with the following video (skip to 11:20 for the KO)


My opinion?

Bisping, coming off the back of an impressive knockout victory over Luke Rockhold (who many claim is the greatest fighter in the current middleweight crop) is going to be like a freight train. I suspect that 'The Count' will come out of the starting blocks firing the leg kicks to Henderson's body to tire him early and to also act as a warning that if he gets close and tries to land another knockout blow then he could be on the end of some vicious kicks.

The stare down after the 204 press conference said a lot for me, with Bisping jokingly touching Henderson in the mid-drift and saying that he felt 'soft'. While this was intended as a joke, I do believe that Henderson's lack of conditioning in his later years is something that Bisping and his coach Jason Parillo will have worked on in training.

For Henderson to win this fight and retire with the middleweight belt will require a KO, given his lack of speed and inability to avoid fast shots from younger fighters. If Bisping doesn't effectively keep Henderson at bay this will give the American the openings that he is so talented at finding and one punch connecting to chin may be all it takes.

If Bisping utilises the speed advantage, keeps Dan out of range with kicks to the body and head and tires the American then it is his fight for the taking.

But,

Taking his foot of the gas as the champion, believing some perhaps exaggerated hype around him in his home town and underestimating the older man could see an upset on the cards and for many this would call into question the future of the middleweight division.

Feel free to debate, argue, agree and most importantly leave feedback on the blog, many thanks

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