Dustin Hazelett (11-4) and Tamdan McCrory (9–1) have verbally agreed to hook ‘em up in a welterweight tilt at UFC 91: “Couture vs. Lesnar” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 15, according to Sherdog.com.
Hazelett – a Brazilian jiu-jitsu stud who trains out of the JG Mixed Martial Arts Academy & Fitness Center in Ohio – is a fast rising star in the crowded 170-pound division. At just 22 years old, he already has six fights to his credit inside the Octagon.
And he has won half of those bouts via submissions, including his most recent ridiculous second round award-winning armbar finish of Josh Burkman at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 Finale back in June.
McCrory – a 21-year-old college student at The State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY Cortland) who also moonlights as a full-time fighter – is also an Octagon veteran with three fights already under his belt.
He most recently defeated Luke Cummo via unanimous decision at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” last month. “The Barncat” has one submission loss on his record to crafty veteran Akihiro Gono at UFC 78: “Validation” in November 2007.
It’s clearly a weakness that Hazelett will more than likely look to exploit on fight night and one area McCrory will be working on improving leading up to the fight.
Here’s a snip from McCrory:
“I’m a young talent with a lot of years left to grow. I have a lot of time to build my status in the UFC…. I’ve been working on my jiu-jitsu a lot. That’s one of the parts of my game that wasn’t as strong as I needed it to be. I’ve gotten 100 times better on the ground. My stand-up’s still improving. Every day, I get better.”
UFC 91 will feature the major main even between heavyweight champion Randy Couture and pay-per-view (PPV)-drawing titan, Brock Lesnar. In addition, lightweights Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson will go to battle for the right to determine a clearcut 155-pound title contender.
For the latest UFC 91 fight card and rumors click here.
35 Comments »
Hazelett = excitment, I love to watch his fights, Hopefully he can string together some victories and get some better opponents! NO offense to Barncat
koscheck vs florian should happen
Who changed divisions?
lol
another battle of the nerds
With Ears like that he could really get some height n’ distance in his Superman Punch.
or maybe Brock should fight Henderson…lol
WTF?
Hope so as well. Rooting for Hazelett on this one.
The two young up and coming WW’s that I have been following have to fight each other, already? I am a bigger fan of McLovin’s and I see him being approximately a -150 favorite to a +120 underdog/barncat.
This will be an amazing fight but I would have liked Hazlett to fight a bigger name opponent that could help move him up the rankings with a win. Barn cat is a very tough opponent who like McLovin, always gets better with each fight. As much as I like both fighters, I have to pull for McLovin. His jits is Off the charts and his stand up is pretty sharp and only getting better!
Vm: You are probably the best on this site at constantly accurately predicting odds for mma fights and your latest pick sounds accurate as always. At those odds, I will have to bet a little sumthin sumthin on Mclovin.
Now if I can only get a little better at choosing who to put my money on… LOL!!!!!!!!!
i havent exactly been mr. 90% lately either! lol
Guys..it was all UFC85’s fought. Don’t blam yourself’s.
Blame July 5th.. =(
that was a crappy day!
I did really good at UFC 87 and average on 88
Hazlet had a chance against a big name when he fought Koscheck. It might be a little while before that happens again. Another win or two will move him on up. I don’t know who to take in this fight should it happen.
I agree. Both guys are very young and relatively inexperienced. There is no need to throw either of them into the cage with a top 5 WW at this point. And Hazelett’s fight against Kos was more to get Kos a rebound win after the GSP fight than an appropriate match-up for each fighter.
there like twins except i think hazlett has a little more talent/skill right now.
Haha, agreed b.w.
Fitch is their older brother!
lol! so true.
Evan Tanner has died. Surprised this hasn’t been posted yet. Mania is usually quick to pick up on news like that.
it was posted WAY ealier
McLovin via submission.
Bold, bold prediction, Mexicutioner.
Dream come true.
It realy is!!!
I like Hazelett in this one, I think wherever the fight goes he holds an advantage. But I don’t like the match up of Joe Stevenson vs. Kenny Florian for the number one contender spot at 155. Personally, I have no interest in seeing Joe Stevenson fight BJ Penn a second time, at least not this soon. I’d like to see him put together another couple wins before getting a rematch. I don’t see how a second fight could possibly go differently then the first at this point. I would much rather see KenFlo fight Tyson Griffin for the number one contender spot. I think that would be a great fight to watch and I would rather see either of them fight BJ Penn than Joe Stevenson.
I see Hazlett taking this one at NAGA Ohio in March my friend knee barred McCroryin under 20 seconds
I’m taking McLovin. Where is ViolentMike!? He is on my McLovin Band Wagon.
Hey there is the guy who said that TIM BOETCH was gonna get his as s handed 2 him !
I was wrong with one fight. So what? I’ll eat the crow, Mike Patt got slaughtered. But yet, at least I say when I was wrong and own up to it.
I cant wait I want Dustin in this one but the way McCorry dispatched Kumo was impressive so this is going to be a good one. Hazellet is prob. going to get the sub though.