TUF Nations: Five Can’t Miss Fights
The UFC is set for the TUF Nations Finale which will bring eight straight hours of mixed martial arts coverage on Sportsnet 360, starting at 4pm EST with a UFC Central preview show. The preliminary fights start at 5pm, with the main card portion beginning at 7pm. I believe Chad Laprise fights in the second fight on the main card so at approximately 7:20-7:30pm.
Watching eight straight hours of fighting is not possible for even the most dedicated and fanatical fight fan, especially with the Quest for Lord Stanley starting up tonight. You have things to do and places to go so which fights should you be sure not to miss?
Here are my top five can’t miss fights on the card tonight.
5. Sarah Kaufman (16-2) vs. Leslie Smith (6-4) – women’s bantamweight division
Kaufman is by far Canada’s best and most accomplished female fighter. She is also getting largely overlooked in the UFC and should change that in this fight. These two fighters fought last year in a smaller promotion with Kaufman winning what many felt (yours truly not included) was a controversial split decision. Smith gets a chance at revenge as a last minute replacement, and this fight should be action packed from start to finish. The women are still trying to establish their division in the UFC and are laying it all out there in the cage.
Approx. start time: 6pm
4. Michael Bisping (24-5) vs. Tim Kennedy (17-4) – middleweight division
There are many different layers to this fight that makes it very intriguing to see who comes out on top. At 35-years old, is Bisping healthy and ready for a run to the title? Is Kennedy for real or is he never going to be a legitimate contender? All the pomp and hot air leading up to the fight says that it will be a face to face war, but will Bisping stay away and stick and move to victory?
Approx. start time: 9:30pm
3. Chad Laprise (7-0) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (4-0) – welterweight finals
Enough has been said about what this fight means for Chad and work he has put in. These two fighters are somewhat pegged as the future for Canadians in the UFC. Aside from all the angles and local hope, this fight is an incredibly intriguing match-up that could provide the biggest highlight of the night. Chad’s right hand breaks things when it lands and Olivier is like a boa constrictor looking to squeeze the life out of you.
Approx. start time: 7:30pm
2. Patrick Cote (19-8) vs. Kyle Noke (20-6) – welterweight
Patrick Cote is fighting. Enough said. The guy just goes to war whenever he enters the cage and it’s live or die by the right hand. His fights always seem to deliver excitement and this one should be no different. Noke wants serious redemption after failing to coach any Aussies to the finals, and there is legitimate heat here.
Approx. start time: 7pm
1. Sam Stout (20-9) vs. KJ Noons (12-7) – welterweight division
If you want an exciting back and forth war in MMA, Sam Stout or KJ Noons is the perfect fighter to pick to bring it. Well, this time they are both in there at the same time and if the old adage is correct that “styles make fights,” this is the one you don’t want to miss. Stout has developed a more rounded game to “win” in the UFC, but the Adrenaline Training Center bonus machine is always easily swayed into a stand up war. If these two go in there and start striking come hell or high water, you are not going to want to miss it.
Approx. start time: 6:30pm