OFFICIAL: Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman will headline UFC on Fuel TV 4
Posted on April 25, 2012, 07:20 PM by Mike DrahotaThe rumored headlining bout for UFC on Fuel TV 4 has been officially confirmed, as Mark Munoz will face surging prospect Chris Weidman on July 11. This bout will feature two of the Middleweight division's fastest-rising stars, with both combatants riding four-fight win streaks.
Munoz had been surging as of last fall, when he destroyed Chris Leben with ground-and-pound in Birmingham, England. Utilizing his NCAA wrestling prominence, Munoz has patented his own style of “Donkey Kong ground-and-pound” to beat opponents into stoppage. Slated to face Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in January, he experienced an elbow injury requiring surgery. Michael Bisping replaced him in that bout, losing a close decision. With his sights set clearly on the UFC Middleweight championship, Munoz will find himself with quite the roadblock in the form of young prospect Chris Weidman.
Weidman, also a Division I wrestler, has been impressive in his undefeated career, sitting with an 8-0 record and title aspirations of his own. While he looked a bit sluggish in his last fight versus Demian Maia at UFC on Fox 2, he did earn a decision victory after a massive weight cut on short notice. His submission skills have proven to be quite solid, evident by his victories over Tom Lawlor and Jess Bongfeldt. A victory over Munoz could skyrocket him into the top levels of the Middleweight ranks, with a title shot in Weidman's not-too-distant future.
The announcement of this fight adds another great bout to the UFC's summer schedule. Both fighters are excellent wrestlers who bring it all each time out, and it would seem that both are as hungry for the title as any fighter on the roster today. Who will come out victorious? Will it be the power wrestling and striking of Munoz, or can the younger Weidman pull off a slight upset with his own wrestling and submission game?
Comments
not a good picture shot, high risk of nuts showing.
I see Weidman beating Munoz quite handily...
weidman's only advantage is his reach but their skills are pretty similiar, both NCAA Division I wrestlers and purple belt in bjj. I think Munoz will have a slight edge on the feet just because he has that one punch ko power and he's improved by training at kings mma, not to mention black house gym not too long ago. dont get me wrong ray longo is and excellent striking coach but munoz is training rafael cordeiro who's trained some of the best strikers and more champions in mma....so munoz by tko in 2nd.
*munoz is training *with rafael cordeiro
I think Weidman is huge threat for MW.... I mean look at him in 14 days he was able to prepare for Maia... I don't see Munoz winning.
It might be a bit of a excuse but Maia seemed really off that night (apparently ill) and even though Maia is good, he is a shadow of his former self when he would drag people to the ground and tap them almost instantly.
Good fight but I fear this may be pushing him too fast. If Weidman wins where would he go from there? Hopefully not a title shot that would be far too fast. I could see them putting him against Belfort if he beats Wand for title shot or maybe even Bisping.
Weidman wasn't having it easy with Maia in the stand up so I would be afraid to watch him fight Silva any time soon, I think he needs at least a solid 2 fights after this before putting him against Andy (if he wins).
This is a interesting fight though; both absolute stud NCAA div.1 wrestlers, both train a lot of BJJ - Weidman did well in ADCC and Munoz trains with Rener and Ryron Gracie, both have decent stand up.
I think the biggest differences in this fight are that Munoz has super heavy G&P and he also has 1 punch KO power standing.
Even though I've given Munoz the advantage I might go with Weidman getting a hard fought decision, he just always seems to find a way to win.
Either way I'm expecting battle.