Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Most anticipated fights at UFC on Fox 9 "Johnson vs. Benavidez II"
Dec 12, 2013 - 2:25:39 PM ROUNDTABLE: Most anticipated fights at UFC on Fox 9 "Johnson vs. Benavidez II"

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UFC on Fox 9 has taken a fairly big hit from an injury standpoint, but there's still a ton to like from the card. What fights or fighters are you most looking forward to on the card, and why?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Well, it's a good thing that UFC on Fox 9 as it was originally constructed was the best cards I've ever seen on paper. Even after losing Anthony Pettis' first title defense, even after losing Carlos Freaking Condit (that's his real name, just look at his birth certificate) vs. Matt Brown, even after losing the impressive Kelvin Gastelum, even after losing Uncle Creepy, even after losing Jamie Varner (who I've always liked), even after losing John Moraga, this card is still far better than January's Fox card in Chicago.

Pettis vs. Thomson is gone, but in it's stead is a title fight between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez. I was in attendance for the first fight, and I thought it was a much closer fight than most other people thought it was. And while it's not Anthony Pettis vs. ANYONE, this replacement main event will be much more competitive than Pettis vs. world renowned orthopedic surgeon Josh Thomson.

OK, losing Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown hurts. When word of Matt Brown's injury leaked late last week, that was a real sucker punch. There are no two ways about it. Losing Kelvin Gastelum was indeed unfortunate, but his replacement Ryan LaFlare will put up a good fight against Court McGee. Losing John Moraga didn't bother me, as I am actually more excited to see what Alptekin Ozkilic is capable of against Darren Uyenoyama. And despite knowing that Jamie Varner is capable of exciting performances, except when fighting Gleison Tibau, Bobby Green as a replacement pleases me greatly.

So the card has gone from an all-time great card to a really good card. I'm glad I'll be there. The fight with Uriah Faber and Michael McDonald will be bonkers, and the Flyweight Title fight is one of the few title fights the UFC can put together in the next several months due to all the injuries that are crippling many current UFC title holders right now. It certainly helps that in my world, Johnson and Benavidez are both top-10 fighters pound for pound. It's a great title fight.


ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

I am interested to see Mac Danzig and Joe Lauzon because Lauzon did not look like himself the last time out, and I want to see if he comes with it or if he is on a decline. I am also excited for the obvious Championship fight, but the preliminary card looks amazing: Barboza vs. Castillo, Green vs. Healy, McKenzie vs. Stout, Jorgensen vs. Makovsky. The names are not all huge, but even the casual fan might enjoy the action on the prelims.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Demetrious Johnson defending his UFC Flyweight Title against Joseph Benavidez is the big draw, but I'm also really interested in Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald and Chad Mendes vs. Nik Lentz. All three of those fights have the potential to be excellent. Quite frankly, the UFC is lucky that they loaded this card up with so many great fights in the first place. They basically had put together the best card ever so they were able to overcome injuries destroying that. This is still a very good card. I can't help but feel let down because of what could have been, but I'm still very excited for this card. I think Johnson and Benavidez have the fight of the night.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I'm truly excited to see Scott Jorgensen make his flyweight debut. He's a huge fighter for the weight class and packs one hell of a punch which he backs up with a fantastic chin. Scotty J should give us a great feeling for where he will stand in the division quickly and I am looking forward to that emphatically.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Obviously the main event between Johnson and Benavidez will be a great fight, but I am perhaps more interested to see how Urijah Faber does against a young phenom in Michael McDonald. Also, who doesn't love to see Joe Lauzon fight.