UFC: Dan Hardy previews Anthony Johnson vs Ryan Bader
British UFC welterweight and UFC commentator, Dan Hardy, takes a look ahead to this weekend’s light heavyweight match up between Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader.
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Your support makes all the difference.Big power and wrestling skills will be on display in this weekend’s main and co-main event. Four top contenders will square off in the heavy and light-heavyweight divisions, to determine who will step into the title picture. Long-time UFC veteran Josh Barnett has always been an exciting addition to the heavyweight division. A skilled catch-wrestler who made a name for himself in Japan, performing in both real MMA fights and pro-wrestling match ups, Barnett has been around long enough to have a big experience advantage over most fighters in the sport.
I remember years ago when he went by the nickname 'Baby-faced Assassin', before he matured into 'The Warmaster', as he is known today. Since his first outing in the UFC, way back in November 2000, he has travelled and competed all around the world, gaining experience from different opponents and situations. His well-versed striking game is supported by one of the best submission attacks in all of heavyweight combat sports. Looking down his record you can see the diversity in his skill set. Switching seamlessly from limb attacks to chokes, no part of the body is safe when on the mat with Barnett.
His opponent for the evening is another behemoth athlete, ‘Big Ben’ Rothwell. Standing at 6'4" and tipping the scales at the 265lbs (120kgs) limit, Rothwell has the power and ferocity to match his size. Stalking his opponent until they dare engage, you will see him try to push his foe out of the Octagon centre. Then he can charge forward, trapping his target between heavy punches and the fence. With his size he is confident in the clinch, but in this fight he will no doubt be aware of Barnett's submission wrestling credentials.
Keeping Barnett at arm’s length will likely keep the ball in Rothwell's court, but 'The Warmaster' won't be deterred by Big Ben’s power. It will be a constant battle for space for as long as the fight lasts.
I would expect to see a similar thing in our main event as Ryan Bader finally gets the chance to make some big waves in the light-heavyweight division. Taking on a fighter like Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, you not only have to be physically well-prepared, but also mentally strong. Knowing the kind of supernatural power that he can generate, mental fortitude is a must just to get you into the Octagon.
Bader has the physical tools and arguably the technical skills as well. Staying away from the hands of Johnson will be easier said than done though. For Bader to win this fight he has to close distance. He needs to engage Johnson as much as possible early on and utilize his strong wrestling game to wear 'Rumble' out. For as powerful as he is, he has always had a chink in his armour. With that amount of explosive ability, his energy is drained very quickly. Making him work hard at a steady pace will give Bader the advantage in later rounds, even if he isn't as successful as he'd like to be on the scorecards.
A tired Anthony Johnson is a vulnerable Anthony Johnson, but a fresh, first round version... that's a scary thing. He came so close to the light-heavyweight gold when he starched Alexander Gustafsson in January 2015 and went on to face Daniel Cormier at UFC 187. Losing that bout due to fatigue and watching Cormier get the belt wrapped around his waist must have been seared in his memory. With that in mind he may have closed the hole in his game that Bader will surely look to exploit. That's the beauty of Mixed Martial Arts though! As these athletes carve out a career for themselves, they will experience failure and be forced to adapt.
Bader has steadily improved over the years and is now in a strong position to take a run at the title. On a five fight streak, and already beating former champion Rashad Evans (who is coincidentally a training partner of Johnson), beating Johnson will make everyone pay attention. It's a big night for both men but only one will rise to the occasion. There are plenty of great fights in the supporting cast also. Some of my 'ones to watch' would be Saffiedine v Ellenberger and Caceres v Fullen. Exciting fighters and interesting match-ups.
Watch UFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Bader live on BT Sport 2 from 10pm GMT on Saturday, January 30th
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