UFC on FOX 18: January 30, 2016

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTApJtoUkAAE1Zj.jpg:large



main CARD
FOX, 8 p.m. ET
Anthony Johnson (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/anthony-johnson) vs. Ryan Bader (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/ryan-bader)
Josh Barnett (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/josh-barnett) vs. Ben Rothwell (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/ben-rothwell)
Iuri Alcantara (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/iuri-alcantara) vs. Jimmie Rivera (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/jimmie-rivera)
Bryan Barberena vs. Sage Northcutt (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/sage-northcutt)

preliminary CARD
FOX Sports 1, 5 p.m. ET
Jake Ellenberger (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/jake-ellenberger) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/tarec-saffiedine)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/olivier-aubin-mercier) vs. Diego Ferreira (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/carlos-diego)
Kevin Casey (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/kevin-casey) vs. Rafael Natal (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/rafael-natal)
Dustin Ortiz (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/dustin-ortiz) vs. Wilson Reis (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/wilson-reis)
George Sullivan (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/george-sullivan) vs. Alexander Yakovlev (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/alexander-yakovlev)
Alex Caceres (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/alex-caceres) vs. Masio Fullen (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/masio-fullen)

preliminary CARD
UFC Fight Pass, 3:30 p.m. ET
Damon Jackson (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/damon-jackson) vs. Levan Makashvili (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/levan-makashvili)
Tony Martin (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/tony-martin) vs. Felipe Olivieri (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/felipe-olivieri)
Randy Brown (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/randy-brown) vs. Matt Dwyer (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/matt-dwyer)

[ace3g]

main CARD
FOX, 8 p.m. ET
Anthony Johnson (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/anthony-johnson) vs. Ryan Bader (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/ryan-bader)
Josh Barnett (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/josh-barnett) vs. Ben Rothwell (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/ben-rothwell)
Iuri Alcantara (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/iuri-alcantara) vs. Jimmie Rivera (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/jimmie-rivera)
Bryan Barberena vs. Sage Northcutt (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/sage-northcutt)

preliminary CARD
FOX Sports 1, 5 p.m. ET
Jake Ellenberger (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/jake-ellenberger) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (http://mmajunkie.com/fighters/tarec-saffiedine)

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqwE9L2hOnI

[txstr1986]

Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader - Bader is ever-improving, but I just don't see many paths to victory for him against Rumble

Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell - hard fight to pick, but Barnett has the better skillset IMHO, so I'm going with him

Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera - Alcantara can be too hectic at times, which should give the more patient Rivera enough openings

Bryan Barberena vs. Sage Northcutt - SUPER SAGE!!!

Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine - hopefully Saffiedine is over all of his injuries

[ace3g]

Bader shoots to start the first round. Johnson stuffs it, game over...

[dbreiden83080]

So much for Bader getting a title shot. Just not quite good enough.

[Cry Havoc]

So much for Bader getting a title shot. Just not quite good enough.

More like, not even in the vicinity.

[dbreiden83080]

More like, not even in the vicinity.

Much worse fighters have gotten a shot at that belt. Sometimes it comes down to the timing and when you were needed to step in to replace somebody or if there is a Slowdown in the division. The guys at the top, he just can't beat.

[thiste]

Sage's gonna have to work hard on his ground game. It should have been an easy fight for him. He looked stupid.