The card, UFC 29: Defense of the Belts, was an eight-fight event which took place at the Differ Ariake Arena. In that, two of UFC’s titles were on the line and defended:
- The UFC Lightweight Championship: Pat Miletich (Champion) defeated Kenchi Yamamoto via second round submission.
- The UFC Middleweight Championship: Tito Ortiz (Champion) defeated Yuki Kondo via first round submission.
Fast forward 12 years! The marquee brand in Mixed Martial Arts makes its long awaited return to Japan’s “Eastern Capital”, doing so in a mighty way. Emanating from the Saitama Super Arena, UFC 144 dawns a seven-fight card that includes one title match, the return of its adopted son and a host of Japanese representatives, aiming for a favorable homecoming.
Here’s how this stacked card will pan out come February 25th, 2012:
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs. Joe J-Lau” Lauzon- Lightweight Division Bout
The last man to beat Benson Henderson (current number one contender) is looking to install himself into the Lightweight title picture. Standing in his way is one of the division’s submission specialists in Lauzon. Lauzon will work to get Pettis in his clutches, but Pettis’ explosiveness will prove to be too much to handle. Showtime gets this one with a knockout.
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski- Featherweight Division Bout
According to ESPN.com’s MMA Power Rankings, Hioki is only preceded by Jose Aldo when it comes to MMA’s best Featherweights. A return home is the opportune moment to show the world if he warrants such acclaim. The Jiu-Jitsu expert should force Palaszewski into submission.
Yushin “Thunder” Okami vs. Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch- Middleweight Division Bout
The last time Okami participated in a homecoming fight (UFC Rio 1), he was a visitor who underwent an inhospitable experience at the hands of Anderson Silva. This time around, Thunder is the hometown hero that will have the luxury of distributing a cold welcome to a foreigner. Okami knocks out Boetsch in the second round.
Yoshihior Akiyama vs. Jake Shields- Welterweight Division Bout
Akiyama will make his welterweight debut on home soil. What’s unfortunate about it is he’ll do so against a former Strikeforce Welterweight champion who is on the road to redemption. Shields’ UFC stint, thus far, has resulted in a 1-2 record. With losses to George St. Pierre and Jake Ellenberger, along with the untimely passing of his father, Shields has reached a place of desperation. Look for Shields to have a dominant outing, finishing Akiyama with a submission.
Mark “Super Samoan” Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo- Heavyweight Division Bout
In this battle of heavyweights that are mid-tier combatants and long in the tooth, conventional wisdom says to take the more diverse combatant of the two. Given the almost perfect balance in his striking and takedown ability, it looks like Congo is the way to go in this one.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Ryan “Darth” Bader- Light Heavyweight Division Bout
Jackson and Bader are in some ways parallel to each other. Both were somehow or another involved in the division’s title picture, their hands are heavy, they’re 3-2 in their last five fights and finally, they’re capable of wrestling. On the flipside, no two people are exactly the same. In recent history, Bader has proven to be the better wrestler of this pairing. The problem is Jackson’s takedown defense is tops in the company. Bader’s punches are impactful, but his punching accuracy, not so much. Finally, Jackson is an A-List celebrity in Japan who has not fought in his second home since the days of Pride Fighting Championships. The ovation he gets will be nothing short of deafening. Rampage will prove to be Darth’s emperor in the form of a second round knockout.
Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (Champion) vs. Benson “Smooth” Henderson- Lightweight Title Bout
For the first time since December 2009, Frankie Edgar will not face anyone named BJ Penn or Gray Maynard. The biggest heart in the UFC helped the champion overcome serious adversity. Now he faces the tall task of defending his title against Henderson. Henderson, who’s wrestling and striking are comparable to Edgar’s, brings elements of ground-and-pound and submission to the likes of which Edgar has yet to deal with. This one goes the duration, but when the smoke clears, Henderson will have “The Answer” that helps extend his “Smooth” transition into the UFC, becoming the new Lightweight champion.
As always, enjoy fight night, and make sure you return to FightScoops.com for your UFC 144 recap.
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