Boxing
Adrien Broner vs. Adrian Granados
After nearly a year out of competition, Adrien The Problem Broner returns to action tonight. Returning to welterweight for the second time in his career, Broner takes on Adrian Granados, who is currently riding a five-fight win streak.
Broner is known for being one of the game’s most talented boxers, but has not reached his full potential due to short stints of imprisonment and constant out-of-ring drama. His last fight against Ashley Theophane proved his exceptional talent as he dominated the fight before the referee stopped it in round nine. Even though he lost his belt the night before the fight due to missing weight, Broner led the light welterweight bout on the scorecards 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 before the stoppage.
The fact that Theophane is a Mayweather Promotions fighter overshadowed the victory as Broner took the opportunity to continue his building tirades against mentor Floyd Mayweather, Jr. However, in October, the world speculated the mental stability of Broner when he posted suicidal messages on social media. Mayweather reached out to the troubled star, bringing him to Las Vegas for training and R&R, only to see Broner cited for assault against a waitress in the popular Las Vegas nightclub Drais.
Still, Broner is a former four-weight world champion, having held the WBO junior lightweight, WBC lightweight, WBA welterweight and the WBA super lightweight crowns throughout his career. Now re-entering the stacked welterweight division with marquee value behind his name is a smart move if he can keep himself together.
Adrian Granados has never been a champion, and the only opponent hes had worth mentioning is Kermit Cintron, who he took to a draw in 2014. Although no fighter can be overlooked, it is a common belief Broner will run through Granados tonight. Still the question remains, will Broners personal turmoil land him boxings bag of tragic oddities.
Catch all the action tonight live from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on Showtime at 9pm EST / 6pm PST.
MMA
The world stood still when Fedor The Last Emperor Emelianenko announced on July 14, 2015, after a three year hiatus from mixed martial arts, that he would be returning to active competition. Fans wondered whether they would finally see him in the UFC Octagon and salivated over the potential match-ups. However, he decided to sign a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce that also allowed fighters in his stable to receive contracts.
His first challenge is former UFC standout heavyweight, Matt Mitrione who was one of the latest crossovers in MMAs new free agency lottery. The fighter is legendary in the MMA community. The Russian heavyweight is a stew of combat fighting styles competing as a mixed martial artist (MMA), sambist, and judoka.
He has won championships and accolades in multiple sports, most notably in MMA Pride Fighting Championships (heavyweight champion 2003-2007), FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship(Heavyweight Champion 2002, 2005, 2007), and Russian Judo Federation National Championship (Bronze medal 1998, 1999).
Since his last loss to Dan Henderson in 2011, Emelianenko has five wins under his belt with the last being the controversial unanimous decision over Fabio Maldonado, which was later deemed a draw. This return to action in the States against Ultimate Fighter Season 10 winner Mitrione will actually be a test, as he is currently on a two-fight win streak in Bellator.
Catch all the action live from the SAP Center in San Jose on Spike at 9pm EST / 6pm PST.
