This article is part of our MMA Barometer series.
Saturday marks the first time two UFC women's titles will be on the line in the same night. This is remarkable because it was only four years ago that the UFC wasn't even interested in adding a women's division, and there is a possibility that this even will break the UFC live attendance record set in Toronto in 2011. This shows how far women's mixed martial arts have come in that time and how important they have been to the mainstream popularity of the UFC. Ronda Rousey has helped make the UFC appealing to all types of people, and undoubtedly increased female interest in the sport. Perhaps Joanna Jędrzejczyk will be at that level in Europe in the near future.
Ronda Rousey will attempt to defend her bantamweight strap against undefeated Holly Holm on Saturday night, but not before Joanna Jędrzejczyk attempts to defend her title for the second time in the co-main event. Jędrzejczyk is arguably the most skilled striker in women's mixed martial arts and her fights are truly a beautiful thing to watch. She is a multiple time Muay Thai world champion and continues to improve in every fight. Nobody in the division possesses the same hand speed as Jędrzejczyk. She destroyed Carla Esparza to win the UFC strawweight championship, and then did the same to Jessica Penne in her first title defense. Valerie Letourneau will be a worthy challenger, but the effectiveness of Jędrzejczyk's striking will most likely prove to be too much for her. It is exciting to see the emergence of a new dominant champion and it will be interesting to see how far Jędrzejczyk can go in the sport.
The main event is, of course, Ronda Rousey. Rousey fights a dangerous opponent in undefeated, multiple-time world champion boxer Holly Holm. It is a fairly interesting fight, but is anybody really questioning the outcome of this fight? Holm will have a chance early on in the fight, but it is likely Rousey will be able to tie her up and get her to the ground with either a trip or a judo throw. After it goes to the ground it is hard to believe Holm will have the experience or skill to defend submissions from Rousey. There is a good chance Rousey will win this fight in the first round.
Both champions are finishers, so the final two fights of the night should not disappoint. This is a monumental night for the UFC and the biggest star in the sport mixed with one of its biggest rising stars could be the perfect recipe for the UFC to break its live attendance record.
As always, below is your MMA barometer with rising, falling, and check status fighters.
Rising
Thomas Almeida
Almeida is one of the hottest prospects in the UFC. He has 21 victories with no losses, and 20 of his wins have come by stoppage. Almeida's fights are always worth watching. He has scary power and he knocked Anthony Birchak out cold in the first round on Nov. 7 at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Belfort. His last three wins haven't made it further than the second round and have all been knockouts. One of the most encouraging fights of Almeida's UFC career was against Brad Pickett. Almeida showed that he has a chin and a lot of heart as he was dropped by a hard left hook from Pickett early in the fight, but came back to win via knockout in the second round. Almeida showed the composure of a UFC veteran and proved he is a tall task for anybody in the bantamweight division. John Dodson recently expressed his desire to fight Almeida in Dodson's bantamweight debut, but Almeida might have his sights set further up the food chain at fighters like No. 2-ranked UFC bantamweight Renan Barao or No. 3-ranked Raphael Assuncao. Whoever he fights next, it is likely Almeida will make it an exciting fight to watch. He is a rising star in the UFC and has an unlimited ceiling at the young age of 24.
Next Fight: TBA
Albert Tumenov
Yet another Russian phenom in the UFC, Albert Tumenov is a force in the welterweight division. In his most recent outing he demolished an always-game Alan Jouban in the first round. Tumenov has devastating kickboxing and generally wants to keep the fight standing. He has 82 percent takedown defense, including not being taken down in his last four fights, so Tumenov has been able to successfully employ his strategy during his four-fight winning streak. With three first round knockouts in his last four wins, fighting Tumenov will be a difficult and dangerous task for anybody in the welterweight division. He will most likely continue to improve as he is only twenty three years old and is under the tutelage of famed Russian mixed martial arts coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib Nurmagomedov's father. Next up for Tumenov is Lorenz Larkin Jan. 2 at UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit and it would not be surprising if Tumenov continued his knockout streak against a slugger like Larkin.
Next fight: Lorenz Larkin, UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit (January 2nd, 2016)
Jared Rosholt
After winning five of his last six fights, Jared Rosholt has shown that his wrestling could be a big problem for any fighter in the UFC heavyweight division. Rosholt boasts Division I wrestling credentials as a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State University. Rosholt has the ability to control most of his opponents on the ground in the Octagon, but he doesn't have a great finishing rate in the UFC. Four of his five UFC victories have come by unanimous decision, and only one was in a knockout which came in the third round. "The Big Show" has an intriguing matchup with seven foot tall Stefan Struve on Saturday. Struve obviously has long limbs and will look to keep the distance and out strike Rosholt, while Rosholt will most likely grind Struve down against the fence and look for a takedown. Struve has tricky jiu-jitsu with his long limbs but there is a good chance Rosholt will be able to get takedowns and grind out another decision. Struve's only victory since 2012 was in his last fight which was a lackluster decision against a past-his-prime "Minotauro" Nogueira. I expect Rosholt's winning streak continue on Saturday by a decision victory.
Next Fight: Stefan Struve, UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm (November 14th, 2015)
Check Status
John Dodson
After losing for the second time to Demetrious Johnson for the second time John Dodson is moving up to the UFC bantamweight division. Dodson's only two losses in the UFC are to Johnson, who is consistently at the top of the pound-for-pound list, and he also holds a knockout victory over UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw in the TUF 14 championship. Dodson should immediately get a big fight at 135 pounds and has already called out undefeated Thomas Almeida. Dodson proved he can compete at bantamweight by winning at that weight class during The Ultimate Fighter, but it will be interesting to see how his power transfers from flyweight to bantamweight. He had above-average knockout power at flyweight, but now he will be fighting against bigger fighters. One thing we all know will give him an advantage at bantamweight is his speed. Dodson was of the quickest fighters in the flyweight division in terms of movement, and he might be the quickest in the division at 135 pounds. A fight with Almeida would undoubtedly be exciting and hopefully the UFC makes it happen in the near future.
Next Fight: TBA
Falling
Dan Henderson
After a legendary career it may be time for Dan Henderson to hang up the gloves. "Hendo" has lost three of his last four fights with three lopsided losses. He was rag-dolled by Daniel before getting submitted in the third round and lost by KO/TKO in the first round against both Gegard Mousasi and Vitor Belfort. The first-round knockouts are particularly concerning, because Henderson has always been known for his legendary chin. If his chin is gone it will be hard for Henderson to employ his strategy of hunting for the "H-Bomb" if he can't withstand a few big shots over the course of his game plan. Henderson is 45 years old, and it has shown over his last few fights that he can no longer compete with the elite fighters in his division. Henderson has had a great career and has nothing left to prove. Hopefully he decides to ride off into the sunset and can be content in knowing he is one of the best mixed martial artists of all time.
Next Fight: TBA
Anthony Perosh
Perosh has lost three of his last UFC contests and has a tough test ahead of him this Saturday against Gian Villante. Perosh is a seasoned veteran but the power of Villante might be too much for him this Saturday. As is often with fighters on the "falling" portion of this column, Perosh is an aging veteran who doesn't have the physicality he once did to hang with the explosiveness of the younger fighters. His last fight was a quick, first-round loss to journeyman Sean O'Connell, and Villante isn't any easier of a fight. Wherever his abilities currently are Perosh always puts on a good show. Many of his fights, both wins and losses, have ended via stoppage. Perosh has only been to a decision twice in an eleven fight UFC career. Perosh is mostly included on this list because he is 43 years old, has lost two of his last three, and he has a very tough fight ahead of him against Gian Villante.
Next Fight: Gian Villante, UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm (November 14th, 2015)
