What’s At Stake for UFC On FOX 18’s Headliners?

The eighteenth installment of UFC on FOX should be quite the doozy.

Headlined by a light heavyweight clash between knockout specialist Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and surging veteran Ryan Bader for No. 1 contender rights, Saturday’s card stands to deliver in fashion.

Outside of the main event, an ultra-important heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Ben Rothwell adds even more power to UFC on FOX 18. That, too, offers title implications in a division in which Can Velasquez was just replaced by Stipe Miocic for UFC 196’s championship bout with Fabricio Werdum.

For all four headliners, this weekend represents a crossroad in their respective careers. Some need to prove they can deliver on the grandest of stages, while others need to show they still have enough gusto left on their high-mileage motor.

Find out what’s at stake for each top-bill fighter entering the first FOX card of 2016.

 

Rothwell’s brand

If Ben Rothwell possessed the in-cage charisma of a Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz, he’d already be fighting for the heavyweight title.

Unfortunately for the 34-year-old journeyman, his blistering three-fight win streak and quirky post-fight interviews are not going to be enough to earn a shot at UFC gold. It’s a sad state of reality, but the promotion is going to act accordingly when it comes to selling fights.

At this point in his career, “Big Ben” is not a hot ticket. His powerful striking and underrated submission game are suitable threats for any divisional opponent, but he hasn’t caught on among casual fight fans. That’s why his upcoming bout with Josh Barnett at UFC on FOX 18 is the perfect time to breakout on a grand platform.

If Rothwell is unable to win in fashion, thus crushing his developing championship momentum, he may never find his way back to where he is now. The hulking heavyweight needs to prove he’s not just another throwaway contender, and gaining popularity will help him do that.

Barnett’s continuation

At 38 years of age, Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett is understandably on the last legs of his career.

With over 40 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fights, countless grappling tournament victories, and multiple world championships, Barnett has nothing left to prove at this point in time. But as an aspiring heavyweight currently positioned in the thick of a divisional title race, he could certainly add more to his already legendary career.

However, Barnett has only fought three times since rejoining the promotion back in 2013. That includes a 2-1 record, with a memorable knockout of Frank Mir at UFC 164 and a glaring defeat to Travis Browne at UFC 168. If the barbaric veteran wishes to make his final move up the heavyweight ladder, now would be the appropriate time.

But in order to open eyes within a division chock-full of superior athletes, relentless wrestlers, and shifty strikers, Barnett must prove he still has the finishing ability that originally made him famous. Submitting Ben Rothwell at UFC on FOX 18 this weekend would be a good step in the right direction, as he’d record his second-straight victory inside the Octagon and be on his way to a more-than-usually active 2016.

Bader’s legacy

It’s been just over seven years since Ryan Bader won The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 light heavyweight tournament.

During his time within one of the more top-heavy divisions in all of MMA, “Darth” has compiled an astounding 13-4 record, including victories over notable opponents like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Phil Davis. The fact that all four of his UFC defeats came by way of knockout, TKO, or submission, suggests that Bader competes to the bitter end.

Yet despite his worthy resume and mental toughness, the evolving 32-year-old has never fought for a UFC title. He has lost to former champions like Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, and Tito Ortiz, but he’s never had the opportunity to blaze his own legacy.

Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Bader will finally have his shot to fight for UFC gold if he can get past a super dangerous Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC on FOX 18. Johnson is extremely susceptible to good wrestlers with five-round cardio, so Bader has a great shot to sap the knockout artist, drag him to deep waters, and solidify his 2016 potential.

If he can’t get past Johnson, we may very well be looking at the 205-pound version of Michael Bisping.

Johnson’s evolution

There aren’t too many fighters in the sport today who possess the raw punching power of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.

And while he infuses technique with his knockout weaponry, the former welterweight is an all natural mix of athleticism and strength. Just look at his recent UFC victories over high-level tacticians like Alexander Gustafsson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

But when you strip down Johnson’s dynamite striking and ability to send a guy as strong as Daniel Cormier flying across the cage, he doesn’t offer much more than the next guy. With an extremely small gas tank and suspect knowledge on the ground, he’s arguably one of the easiest guys to gameplan for in the light heavyweight division.

Entering UFC on FOX 18 against a determined and well-focused Ryan Bader, Johnson must prove that he’s capable of outlasting an opponent who can not only wrestle him from the opening bell, but maintain that same pressure in the fourth and fifth rounds. And considering “Rumble” recently stated that he only has about three years left in the fight game (originally reported by MMA Junkie Radio), he isn’t leaving himself much time to showcase skill outside of knocking people unconscious.

With all of that said, a victory by any means over Bader will essentially lock Johnson in for a fight with the winner of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier (unofficially scheduled for later this year).