Fantasy #1 Contender Tournament Round 2: #6 Dan Hardy vs. #14 Anthony Johnson
by Zach Krantz on Oct 7, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
Email
Print
The UFC Welterweight Division has a plethora of young talent, a dominating champion, and many exciting match ups to choose from, but the one thing they lack is a true number one contender. I doubt the UFC would ever put together a welterweight tournament to determine a true number one contender (oh do I hope to be wrong), but we at WKR can have our own virtual (we're dorks, deal with it) tournament. The bracket and rankings have been set and it is time to begin the tournament. Let your vote choose who wins the most prestigious, meaningless, fake, yet enjoyable UFC Welterweight number 1 contender tournament.
We have made it into the second round; yes we are only in the second round. However, there are now no more gimme wins (Alves vs. Larson). What I found most interesting from round 1 is how much a factor one fight is for a person's voting. For example, Kampmann lost to Hazelett and it was not even close (never would have happened before Daley fight). 8 fighters left, let's get it on.
The next match up is between #6 ranked Dan Hardy and #14 Anthony Johnson. Fighter details after the jump.
NOTES: The Second Round Voting Will Conclude Friday Night at Midnight and the Semifinals Will Follow Directly After On Saturday and Sunday.
Dan Hardy 22-6 (1) (3-0 UFC): While it was not a blow out I was a little surprised how easily Hardy passed by Parisyan in the first round. This fight against Johnson would be amazing. Hardy loves to stand on his two feet and has true knockout power. He fought a former professional boxer in Marcus Davis and was able to rock Davis on more than one occasion. Hardy's next official match is against Mike Swick (another striker) which can do wonders for his career, including a possible title shot. However, if I was picking opponents I would rather see him face it would be Anthony Johnson.
Anthony Johnson 7-2 (4-2* UFC): Johnson scored the biggest upset in round 1 by passing by #3 ranked Josh Koscheck. Johnson may have a wrestling background, but there is no doubt what he really likes to do. Hit hard and hit often. He is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and based off his first round upset his excitement matches the hype surrounding him. The UFC has done a good job grooming Johnson and allowing him to develop, but eventually he will begin to face well rounded and more dangerous opponents. His best win so far, Luigi Fioravanti (ehh)? Does Johnson have the overall skill set to take down Hardy?
8 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
What the heck is going on? Anthony Johnson can beat Koscheck and Dan Hardy? He’s only had a few fights against mediocre people. I don’t know about this…
i am in agreement with you. He has looked unbelievable, but it seems everyone is forgetting against who. He might end up being great, but with the depth of the welterweight division the UFC can and has groomed him. He is being fed great math ups against average competition. We have no way to judge him because of it.
"That's an Awfully Big Mustache"-Frank Drebin
watchkalibrun.com
Johnson would get slaughtered by Koscheck and if the tried to stand and trade with Hardy, he’s catch a hook in the melon like Rory Markham.
Rumble lost to Luigi Fioravanti – no disrespect to Fioravanti, but he’s out of the UFC and just got dropped by John Alessio last week.
AJ could become something special, but right now, he shouldn’t be in the second round and certainly shouldn’t be advancing to the third.
The Jon Jones of Mixed Martial Arts Journalism
Sorry – got my marginal welterweights confused… he lost to Rich “No Love” Clementi, who currently competes at lightweight outside of the organization.
While I got the fighters mixed up, the sentiment remains the same – Rumble has talent and all the athletic ability in the world, but he has beaten absolutely no one of consequence thus far and people are waaaaaay too high on this kid.
The Jon Jones of Mixed Martial Arts Journalism
by E. Spencer Kyte on Oct 7, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
