This weekend see's some mouth watering fights take place across the globe with UFC 181 and BAMMA 17 being the stand out cards.
UFC 181 features two title fights in the form of a welterweight showdown between the champion Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler & Anthony Pettis defends his lightweight crown against Gilbert Melendez. Across the pond in the UK, BAMMA 17 is set to take place in Manchester and will be headlined by TUF: Nations runner up Colin 'Freakshow' Fletcher in a star studded UK card but one fight stands out to UK fans as a possible barnburner, Andy Craven vs Greg Severs.
Johny Hendricks (C) (16-2) vs Robbie Lawler (24-10)
This fight is a no brainer of a pick, following a fight of the year contender which took place back in March. which surely has to go down as the best UFC welterweight title fight in the last few years, proved to the world that the welterweight division can still deliver without GSP. Both men gave everything they had to try and take home the gold that night and going in to the fifth round it was even meaning whoever took that round would win the belt. I expect it to be just as close this time around.Since that fight Lawler has been on a tear dominating both Jake Ellenberger and then Matt Brown to set him up as the clear number one contender in the division and get another shot at Johny Hendricks who has been on the sidelines recovering from the first battle earlier this year. They both looked ready for another titanic clash and with Lawler promising to take the belt this time we should be in for a classic once again.
Anthony Pettis (17-2) vs Gilbert Melendez (22-3)
This lightweight showdown has been a long time coming. The champion Pettis has been sidelined for over a year with a knee injury since winning the belt from Benson Henderson back in August 2013. Meanwhile #1 contender Gilbert Melendez hasn't fought for over a year either, last defeated Diego Sanchez at UFC 166. Both took part as head coaches in TUF 20 which will see the first 115lb Women's champion crowned in the UFC next weekend. The two have built a rivalry up due to coaching on the show which only adds to the existing ''champion vs contender" scenario. What's exciting about this is Pettis is a born finisher, he's possibly the most technical striker in MMA and always has spectacular skills in his locker ready for fight night, what's more, he has something to prove. Many have suggested he is weak champion due to injuries. Melendez believes Pettis is underestimating him so the Cesar Gracie fighter will be coming out to prove the champion wrong and take the belt home. It's very possible that this one isn't going the distance.Andy Craven (4-0) vs Greg Severs (5-0)
This is the fight that stands out on the BAMMA 17 card. A featherweight match up which goes down at the Victoria Warehouse between two undefeated fighters and somebodies "0" has to go. This has everything on paper to say that it will deliver. Between both men they have fought nine times and only once have any of those fights gone to a decision and it's unlikely that it will go the full 15 minutes on Saturday night.Andy Craven comes in to the fight having won all of his fights by submission and three of his four fights have come by heel hook. A very dangerous fighter and will pounce on any little mistake that Severs makes. As for Severs, he also has three submission wins but two of these are from people tapping to strikes so in reality could have three TKO victories on his record.
Although this fight is in the middle of the fight card, a lot of fans are really looking forward to this match up rightly so, this will be a blockbuster.
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