Legacy Fighting Championship 11: Drysdale Draws Ike Villanueva, Macaco Drops To 155

by Matthew Roth on Feb 20, 2012 6:11 PM EST in MMA News

Some more news from Houston-based Legacy Fighting Championship was released today. After last week's announcement about the signing of Robert Drysdale, there were some questions regarding who would be his first opponent on May 11. Bloody Elbow learned from Legacy Promoter Mick Maynard that Drysdale would be facing off with Ike Villanueva (8-6). This will be Robert Drysdale's first fight in the promotion and will take place in the light heavyweight division.

Also on tap for the card is Brazilian vale tudo legend Jorge "Macaco" Patino making his lightweight debut against Jesus Rivera. Macaco won the vacant welterweight belt at Legacy 8 with a split decision victory over Pete Spratt. The 38 year old Patino defended his belt later in 2011 at Legacy 9 against Mike Bronzoulis. The Macaco/Rivera fight will be for the vacant lightweight belt which would make Patino the champion at both light and welterweight.

Legacy Fighting Championship 11 is on May 11 at the Houston Arena Theater.

Fight Card

Lightweight Title Fight - Jorge Patino vs Jesus Rivera

Chad Robichaux vs Joseph Sandoval

Robert Drysdale vs Isaac "Ike" Villanueva

Legacy Fighting Championship 10 is this weekend and features Gerald Harris and Chidi Njokuani making their debuts. The fights air on HDNet.

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Comments

Anyone know how old Drysdale is? Also, is he attempting to make it to the UFC or is he content fighting less than stellar competition?

"Referees, be sure to step in and stop the fight on time tomorrow, because I might get carried away in the moment and my many punches may end up destroying my opponent." - Tatsuya "CRUSHER" Kawajiri

by andrew861 on Feb 20, 2012 6:32 PM EST reply actions

He's had 3 fights

Its too early to start talking about the UFC. He’s fighting the kind of competition he should be at this stage in his MMA career.

by YPG on Feb 20, 2012 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

I believe he's 31. He was supposed to be on TUF but medicals showed an aneurism.

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by Matthew Roth on Feb 20, 2012 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

Legacy FC and Titan FC are turrible

HDNet’s domestic regional MMA offerings have really gone to hell. Macaco as a role player for a televised org? I can buy that. Macaco as the ace of the whole show? You cannot be serious.

by smoogy2 on Feb 20, 2012 7:12 PM EST reply actions

But are they better or worse than MFC?

"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."

by Horselover Fat on Feb 20, 2012 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

MFC is just as bad at those two lately

by smoogy2 on Feb 20, 2012 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that’s true. Quite sad..

"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."

by Horselover Fat on Feb 20, 2012 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

Macaco is based out of Houston

That’s a big part of why they’re using him as they are.

Signing Drysdale, Njokuani, and Gerald Harris shows they’re trying to build a decent roster.

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by Matthew Roth on Feb 20, 2012 8:09 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Some good building blocks, but who is going to carry the ball in the main event? 38 year old Macaco?

by smoogy2 on Feb 20, 2012 8:28 PM EST up reply actions

Who cares? If you have an exciting card with great prospects sprinkled with known names that put on a great show every time what is there to compain about. If you havent noticed the best UFC cards are often the ones with limited name power but go out there and put on a show. Legacy and Titan put on a great show if you are a fan of the sport of MMA. If you are only a UFC fan than maybe not so much.

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

Usually it’s a couple of Strikeforce or Bellator veterans sprinkled with local club fighters. I don’t think anyone is remarking about the overall fight card quality of Legacy FC. And without an atttractive main event star, their potential for growth is handicapped.

P.S. Did I just get accused of being a UFC homer? What planet am I on?

by smoogy2 on Feb 20, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

I think you may find the problem is that Macaco is just a really bad matchup for almost anyone. He has world class jiu-jitsu, good takedowns, granite chin and an aggressive forward style of striking with some power plus experience . THat combination is tough to beat. I think he is ranked in the top 100 at welterweight in the world and if you look at the fighters around him on that list he would beat many of them, most of whom are in the UFC, Strike Force or Bellator.

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Fine

Macaco is amazing. He’s the Jon Jones of the lower half of the top 100 at welterweight.

by smoogy2 on Feb 20, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

ha, exactly except he is moving to lightweight.

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 9:36 PM EST up reply actions

Macaco is an active legend, meaning he is still young enough to fight but has an amazing MMA history. His last three wins were over Zuffa products either past or present. If he is the main event its because its a title shot. Strikeforce wanted him back also but he couldn’t due to commitments in Brazil. It’s hard to imagine being a fan of MMA and not loving Macaco. As far as his age he is the same age as Anderson Silva and three years younger than Dan Henderson.

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 8:35 PM EST up reply actions

To me though, what Legacy and Titan offer are what I expect. I cannot say that they are terrible because I hardly expect anything better from those two MMA organizations.

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by chrisbboy82 on Feb 20, 2012 8:51 PM EST up reply actions

So outside of UFC and Strikeforce cards, what are your expectations? I think that many of the fight cards on HDNet are better than many of the StrikeForce and Bellator cards.

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 9:00 PM EST reply actions

My expectations for HDNet shows is to get entertained. If I’m staying in on a Friday night I want an exciting card so I can hangout with people here and not feel like I could have been doing something better with my Friday night. A lot of the time the cards are legitimately fun but then you also get shows like ProElite 2 which was awful. When a Legacy or Titan or XFC show is good it’s comparable to a Bellator or Strikeforce show. When they aren’t it’s very noticeable.

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by Matthew Roth on Feb 20, 2012 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed^^^

by mick71 on Feb 20, 2012 9:34 PM EST reply actions

Smoogy Im confused how you can say that Legacy is a crap promotion or whatever youre trying to say. 2 Legacy champions were just signed to the UFC, one of which won his UFC debut in under 2 mins of the first round. So basically what youre telling me is the UFC is booking crap talent ? Todd Moore, Mike Bronzoulis, and Brian Melancon all fight in Strikeforce and all fought in Legacy. Legacy had also signed Efrain Esquedero (sp) and he was called back up to the UFC just weeks before his Legacy debut. Gerald Harris, Pat Audinwood, both UFC vets are on the Legacy card this Friday. Pete Spratt and Macaco, both UFC vets, also fight in Legacy. Who cares is Macaco is 38 ? What does that have to do with anything ? It sounds to me like youre hating just to hate. Thats probably one of the fastest rising promotions in the business. I watched those guys go from promoting amateur mma shows in a college town bar to the level they are at now and that commands respect. Not to mention. as long as Ive been around I havent met many nicer more hard working guys. They work to make their fighters better, make their shows better, and try to get their fighters to the next level like a farming system.

by JermaineTHB on Feb 22, 2012 5:28 PM EST reply actions