Breakout Star of the Year 2011: The UFC!

Being a breakout star has as much to do with the future as it does with the past; they don’t just succeed, but set themselves up for even greater triumph to come. Take Jon Jone’s in his breakout year (2010) for example. It was truly impressive but it paled in comparison to his 2011 accomplishments. The UFC finds itself in a similar position. They debut on FOX but the primetime contract is crucial to the sport’s growth. They returned to Brazil and are now positioned for multiple, larger shows and a Brazilian TUF season. In 2011 a Japanese show was just a bold Dana White promise; in 2012 it will be reality. Buying Strikefrorce was big but 2012 will see most of its biggest stars under the UFC banner. Love it or hate it the future of the sport lies in the UFC’s success/failure and with 2011 being a breakout year the future is bright.

Why You Should Watch UFC 141 - The Main Card

Jim Hettes vs Nam Phan

Nam Phan (pictured) is emerging as one of the more promising TUF alum over the past few seasons. The UFC has decided, rightfully I think, to forgo a third fight with Leonard Garcia in favor of allowing Phan to prove his worth against highly touted newcomer Jim Hettes. Hettes is a Gracie BJJ student who is 9-0 as a professional. Plenty of fighters come into the UFC with impressive records, accumulating those impressive numbers against much lesser competition but what is most striking about Hettes is the way in which he manages to win. All nine of his wins have come via submission in the first two rounds. Phan will be a big step up in competition though and should prove hard to get a hold of. If fan is to win he will need to prove he is continuing to develop his footwork and grappling prowess, both standing and on the ground. The winner stands to gain substantial footing in the 145 pound division, one that is looking for contenders to emerge into the top 10.

Alexander Gustafsson (#10 LHW) vs Vladimir Matyushenko

Showcase fight alert ladies and gentleman – showcase fight alert. Alexander Gustafsson has been one of the more impressive fighters climbing the ranks of the light-heavyweight division over the past year and a half. The MMA world is expecting big things from him moving forward and he has been given a very precarious showcase fight. In other words, Matyushenko is just the kind of fighter that Gustafsson matches up well against and should be able to find success against, but he is also the kind of fighter that can ruin your night if you take him lightly. Maty has strong wrestling and the potential to end the fight with heavy hands at any moment. Gusta will need to utilize his range well and control the pace of the fight, picking his moments to strike and strike effectively. Gusta was one of my fighters to watch for the second half of the year and he remains as such moving into 2012. If he continues to grow and develop he could emerge as a real contender in this division.

Jon Fitch (#2 WW) vs Johny Hendricks

Jon Fitch simply doesn’t lose to people not named GSP; at least that has been the case to this point. He finds himself in a strange position though, fighting an unranked opponent with very little as far as name recognition. In short, Fitch pissed off the boss yet again by refusing to fight Carlos Condit (yes, the same Carlos Condit now fighting for the interim title) because he wanted a bigger fight. Many have taken that as a sign that he didn’t want to risk fighting someone as dangerous as Condit. I don’t care much either way but I think Dana White did because Fitch is not in a an ideal spot right now. Fitch might earn himself a shot at the interim title early next year but he might also get passed over in favor of Jake Ellenberger, Martin Kampmann, Diego Sanchez, or Thiago Alevez. The point being, Jon Fitch is one of the best in the world and he has a lot to lose and little to gain in this fight. Hendricks (pictured) on the other hand is staring the golden goose in the face. He rockets up the welterweight ranks with a win in this fight. Both men are wrestlers, with Fitch probably having a grappling advantage and a slight advantage in terms of technical stand-up. On the other hand Hendricks might have a little more power in his punches and be more unpredictable. It is likely that Fitch will win in typical Fitch style (by UD) but don’t be surprised if Hendricks makes this a fight and scores a huge upset.

Donald Cerrone (#9 LW) vs. Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz has had somewhat of an identity crisis over the past few years. He couldn’t quite find his weight and figure out where he wanted to be. His dissection and disposal of Gomi in his last fight provided a ray of hope that he has found himself again at lightweight. Personally, I have been down on the younger Diaz a bit, not a fan of his inconsistency and inability to win the big fight but two things impressed me about his last win. First, his punches were precise and crisp, much like his older brother. Second, he mixed in power punches effectively in a way that kept his opponent off balance, really setting himself apart from his brother in that regard. Donald Cerrone (pictured) is on another level right, on a six fight win streak since losing to the number one contender for the lightweight title Ben Henderson and will require Diaz to step up to that level. I am sold on Cerrone as a highly talented lightweight with a potential future in championship conversations. He is well rounded, tough as nails, and can finish you anywhere the fight goes. Unfortunately I think he is reckless sometimes, a trait does not bode well against the technically precise Diaz. A win here will move up my lightweight list significantly not because I am that high on Diaz but I love consistency and I love a good win streak. Cerrone vs Diaz is going to be fast pace and gritty so strap in for this one because it is front-runner for fight of the night.

Brock Lesnar (#4 HW) vs. Alistair Overeem (#3 HW)

I have said it before but it warrants repeating, this is the scariest looking fight in MMA history. There are seriously not two fighters that look more terrifying than these two. It is a classic case if there ever was one, striker vs. grappler. Aside from being a title fight, it doesn’t get any bigger. Between them they will be bringing about 550 pounds to the cage, a title shot is up for grabs, and it will be the last stand of 2011 for major-promotion MMA. Brock Lesnar (pictured) is coming off a 14 month layoff and more medical issues, raising some well warranted concerns about his health but with his typical confidence and bravado he has be convinced that the modern day gladiator is truly back. Across the cage he meets a man who hasn’t lost since 2007. In that time Alistair Overeem has accumulated 10 wins and one no contest, laying waste to the likes of Werdum, Duffee, and Rogers with very little trouble to speak of. Lesnar must get this fight to the ground and do it quickly if he has any chance of winning. Standing with Overeem is a death sentence to most fighters in the division, Brock included. However, once this fight hits the ground, Lesnar’s advantage will be as big as Overeem’s on the feet. I really don’t see a universe where this fight goes all 5 rounds unless they both tire so early that they can’t generate enough power to finish. The winner gets to test the seemingly unstoppable Junior Dos Santos so tune in to see who gets the next shot at the biggest title in MMA.

Why You Should Watch UFC 141 - The Prelims

It is no secret that Brock Lesnar sells tickets. Look no further than UFC 141 for proof as he headlines against a name that is just as abstract to casual fans as he is respected by long time fans, Alistair Overeem. The card is rounded out by a number of fantastic fighters and match-ups but lacks the big names we are accustomed to seeing at year-end events. Those who invest the night before New Years Eve in MMA will not be disappointed in a card built to entertain though. So why should you watch UFC 141 – The prelims?

Facebook Card

UFC 141 starts off with two high-octane 145 pound fighters as Diego Nunes meets Manny Gamburyan. Most people remember Gaburyan from The Ultimate Fighter but since those days he has made quite a home in the featherweight division, even taking a crack at Jose Aldo. Nunes on the other hand was derailed before his title shot by Kenny Florian but remains one of the more dangerous fighters in the division. Both men like to push the pace with diverse strikes and fast pace scrambles, should be very rewarding for fans tuning in early. Matt Riddle is another fighter with a TUF background kicking off the card against Luis Ramos. Neither man has an exceptional record nor have they done anything recently to get excited about but both, particularly Riddle, have shown flashes in the past and possess immense potential. This is likely a pink slip fight, which means there is potential for someone to step up and give a performance to remember. At 155 pounds Efrain Escudero is back after what some thought was a premature release. He brings his wrestling and improved versatility to the cage against Jacob Volkmann who looks like a banker but fights like a monster. Volkmann is on a four-fight win streak and hasn’t lost since fighting at 170 against Martin Kampmann. Escudero has a lot to prove if he is going to stay in the UFC because Volkmann has serious momentum, serious grappling skills, and will seriously hurt you. Finally, the Facebook card ends with Dong Hyun Kim (pictured), who was at last sighting losing a number one contender’s fight to Carlos Condit, and Sean Pierson. Pierson has had an inconsistent career but he has a chance at the biggest win of it against Kim, who is extremely well rounded and excels at controlling the pace and location of the fight. I do not expect any of the Facebook fights to be particularly boring and fighters like Gamburyan, Nunes, Kim, and Volkmann have an opportunity to take a quiet step into a big fight early in 2012.

Spike TV Card

Ross Pearson has an odd popularity, or at least an odd ability to get premier spots on fight-cards. His fight against Junior Assuncao is somewhat underwhelming. It features Pearson, coming off a lose and winning just one of his last three fights, against Assuncao who despite being on a seven fight win streak hasn’t really defeated anyone of much stature. I am just being honest because the fact of the matter is that this fight will probably present an interesting style match-up that I expect to end somewhat early. Pearson throws to take heads off and would love to end it early but Assuncao can be a wizard if he gets you to the ground. Whoever controls the location early might be able to snag a quick win so don’t sleep on this just because I am honestly a bit unimpressed with it for this spot. Anthony Njokuani (pictured) vs Danny Castillo could not be more simultaneously different and similar to the previous fight if it was carefully constructed as a doppelganger to steal the show. In short, it means about as much in terms of major moves in the lightweight division, that is almost nothing immediately, but it should be a high-octane fight with no reason to suspect a quick finish. I am always generally ok with Castillo as that dude seems to love to fight. He isn’t the best in the world and I don’t expect him to emerge as such at UFC 141 but you know he is game to come throw down and entertain. Njokuani is a really dynamic athlete with great reach for the weight-class. He quite simply has not been able to hit his stride and find consistency but will be looking to build off a big win over Andre Winner. The fun thing about both the fights on this portion of the card is that they feature dynamic fighters that have a knack for putting on a show.

Arm Triangle Blog 2011 MMA Superlatives

In the ultimate gesture of useless self-reflection in the guise of recognition of others I have decided to contemplate the best of the best of 2011. You can tell a lot about a man by how he ranks the best of the best. You probably really can’t but I like to think that this exercise is productive and 2011 was a really crazy year for MMA. The scary thing is, it set everything up for an even crazier 2012, one that might be remembered as the year MMA went mainstream. For now I reflect on MMA’s recent past.

The Justin Bieber Award: Love Him or Hate Him He’s Had a Damn Good Year

Fighter of the Year: Jon Jones

There is really no way around it. Jones has 4 wins in 2011, all four his biggest wins to date. He won the title from Shogun and defeated against two ranked opponents. Hell, Jones might have had the biggest year for any fighter in the sport’s history and may just be the future poster-boy of mixed martial arts. As Dana White and company build their product and expose it to new audiences Jon Jones must seem like a golden goose. He has it all: the skills, the charm, the looks… Jon Jones has arrived and it looks like he might be here to stay.

The AC/DC Award: Even Your Friends Who Hate Music Will Like This Show

Fight of the Year: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs Dan Henderson at UFC 139: Shogun vs Hendo

The year was full of instant classics, some on the big stage and some in the background. None brought together everything like Shogun vs Hendo though. Aside from being a 25-minute brawl that saw two of the sports biggest active legends batter each other with everything they had (what more could you want from a fight), this clash featured an absolutely heroic performance from Shogun, coming back from dream street to finish the fight in dominant position. To counter, an ailing Hendo willed his way to hold on and stay in the fight of his life despite appearing the brink of collapse in the final round. It was the combination of it all that brought this one to the fore: the legends, the fight, the heart, the blood, the fans. If I had to pick right now, I would say this was the greatest fight I have ever seen.

The New Kids On The Block Award: Dated but Appropriate Reference

Breakout Fighter of the Year: Mark Munoz & Ben Henderson

Mark Munoz has had his ups and downs and they have mostly been ups but 2011 saw him finally hit his stride at 185 pounds. He started the year by disposing of C.B. Dollaway in less than a minute. Following that performance he defeated Damian Maia in a very impressive unanimous decision and then capped the year with a second round corner stoppage of tough as nails Chris Leben. Those three wins led to him being lined up against number one contender Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2, a premier spot for fighters breaking into the top tier. A fantastic 2011 has set Munoz to earn a title shot in 2012.

Ben Henderson can’t be ignored and he certainly hasn’t. His success in 2011 earned him a title shot against reigning champion Frankie Edgar in Japan. Hederson has three UD victories in 2011 all over game opponents and all packed full of excitement. After defeating the Mark Bocek he went on to snap the impressive 7 fight win streak of Jim Miller and then defeat perennial contender Clay Guida. Some fighters get jeered for decisions but I don’t know anyone who tires of seeing Henderson fight.

The Gallagher Brothers Award: Drama, Trash talk, and Some People Can’t Turn Away

Feud of the Year: Jon Jones vs Rampage Jackson

It resembled a WWE fight buildup. There was trash-talk. There was controversy. There was a space-age training camp. The fight didn’t live up to the hype, although it was a better fight than one might think if they listened to the likes of Joe Rogan. Rampage always builds good ethos around a fight. He more or less called Jones out for being untested, soft, and for planting spies in his camp. Jones was typical Jones: humble, sly, and a little snarky. Put on that Rampage’s high tech space age training grounds and Jones being part of the most famous camp in the sport and you got Hollywood narrative. If Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen had continued there banter and signed a contract to fight they likely would have won the spot but Rampage and Jones went through the entirety of their feud in 4 months and capped it with a world title fight.

The Lady Gaga Award: One Phenomenon, Lots and Lots of News

Story of the Year: UFC buys Strikeforce

This resonated throughout the entirety of the sport and still does to this day. The most important piece of this move is the massive consolidation of power within the sport, placing the two most important organizations in the world under the Zuffa banner. However, the ramifications aren’t just abstract and business related. Fights like Nick Diaz vs B.J. Penn and The Legendary Dan Henderson vs Shogun Rua would not have been possible without this move. Additionally the year ends with Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem in the same vain. Strikeforced looked to be on the verge of collapsing until Showtime agreed to take up the organization again and now it looks like Zuffa plans to rebuild the organization. Strikeforce’s HW tournament, its results, and the fall out will be quite telling about just what Strikeforce’s role will be in the sports future.

The Jay-Z/Kanye West Award: Didn’t Do Much But The King of What They Do

Comeback of the Year: Chael Sonnen

He only fought once but man did he make waves. After crushing Brian Stann Sonnen called out the greatest fighter in the world and demanded that the MMA world pay attention to him once again. Sonnen now gets a number one contender fight against Mark Munoz who fights like a younger version of himself. The fact of the matter is, Chael Sonnen is important to the sport. Guys like him, who don’t care to be the bad guy, who don’t care to pick on the big boys, are going to help MMA break into the mainstream and even though I will root against him almost every time I am glad he is back at it.

UFC 140: Jones vs Machida Preview

Jon Jones has taken the world by storm, the fight messiah. His ruckus caused by his dominance to this point has been impressive. Not too long ago Machida was walking through people in much the same way and now headlines read “How can Lyoto Machida Beat Dominate Champ Jon Jones.” This sentiment resonates with many fight fans, particularly new fight fans. Unfortunately, the buzz around Jones is more prescriptive to this point than descriptive. Are his wins over Shogun and Rampage impressive? Yes they are. Of course many fans and pundits are pointing to the fact that those two wins are over the only two men to best Machida. Classic MMAth at its best. My bias in this fight is well documented. I am a big Machida fan and have been accused of being a Jones hater. With that said let me tell you why this card is worth watching and why the main event is worth suspending the fervent prophecy.

Brian Ebersole vs Claude Patrick

This fight was suppose to be the facial and bodily destruction of Brian Ebersole by Rory McDonald. Unfortunately the wunderkind got hurt and was replaced by Claud Patrick. Patrick is no joke but Ebersole’s chances of hitting a three-fight win streak just got way better. I expect this one might go the distance but it should be exciting all the same. Ebersole doesn’t really know how to win pretty, clean fights. He brawls and makes it ugly – that is what gives him the best chance. I am not so sure it will be enough but expect 15 minutes out of this one all the same.

Mark Hominick (#3) vs Chan Sung Jung (Korean Zombie)

This fight was dipped in a big vat of “fight of the night” and then taken out and sprinked with “knockout of the night” and “crowd pleaser.”. Both of these guys know how to throw down and neither one of them will be interested in taking this to the ground. Hominick and Jung will likely take the middle of the cage and throw hands until one of them gets clipped and needs to keep some distance, then circle and repeat. Hominick is a much more technical striker than most of Jung’s previous opponents. If this turns into a slugfest it could be a barn burner but if Hominick plays it just a little smart he should be able to pick Jung apart. Either way, there is excitement to be seen in this one.

Little Nog vs Tito Ortiz

The light-heavyweight dream fight of 2005, Little Nog and Tito Ortiz meet 6 years too late. Both men have their backs against the wall, having recently inspired hope and experienced heartbreaking loses. Nogueira’s weakness against wrestlers is well documented and now its time for him to prove he has done something about it. If you can’t evolve the younger generation is quickly proving that your time is limited in MMA. This is likely not a pink slip fight but for either to make one last run at a title shot they will need to put on an impressive showing here. One legend will regain life and another will fall further from grace.

Big Nog vs Frank Mir (#10)

The Big Nog/Frank Mir controversy is well documented. Frank Mir shocked the world by finishing Nog after they coached The Ultimate Fighter. Later it was revealed that Nog was sick before the fight and Frank Mir didn’t take kindly to the excuse. Both heavyweights have a chance to prove themselves and could take a significant step towards a title shot. As much as I dislike listening to Mir talk and watching him fight recently, I have to admit that he has looked fairly impressive. Nog is going to have to bring his best boxing, his best head movement, and his best footwork to best Mir. The Nogueira brothers have a chance to make this a huge night for themselves and their family but it wont be easy.

UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship: Lyoto Machida (#4) vs Jon Jones (Champ - #1)

Here we are. Finally, my favorite fighter gets a shot at my least… well not my least favorite fighter but a guy that rubs me the wrong way. I have said it before and it warrants being said again. I don’t dislike Jon Jones. I think he is a great fighter. I dislike the way people talk about Jon Jones, like he is already the greatest of all time. I may not be wild about his demeanor either but it is really everyone else that has made me hate on Jones. That doesn’t detract from the fact that Jones is good, real good. Jones is really good at using his size, using his reach. Greg Jackson and company have done wonders at devising game plans that hide his weaknesses, look flashy, and score points on the judges scorecards. Some of it looks like smoke and mirrors to me though. Match-up wise Lyoto Machida might be the worst opponent Jones could ask for. I don’t think he is going to be surprised by the spinning kicks and elbows. Those are the kind of strikes he has been training with his whole life. I also don’t think Jones is going to have much luck taking the former champion down, at least not early on. Machida’s sumo game has allowed him to control the location of fights before. This fight ends up being a lot closer than people expect and I think Machida is going to keep Jones confused until he finishes him in the 3^rd or 4^th round. That doesn’t mean I am going to be surprised if Jones wins and he manages to dominate Machida I might just be sold on the kid.

Arm Triangle Blog's Official MMA Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Junior Dos Santos (UFC) – It doesn’t get much more impressive than that. It took less than two minutes for JDS to set himself apart as the best of the big men.

2. Cain Velasquez (UFC) – Finally slipped up against one of the best strikers the game has seen. He doesn’t slip far though.

3. Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce) – The trash talk between the two scariest men in MMA has already begun. I’m for it!

4. Brock Lesnar (UFC) – Lesnar didn’t sound good on the mic on FOX but he will hopefully look better in the cage.

5. Josh Barnett (Strikeforce) – He has yet to be challenged in the Strikeforce tournament, walking through the semis. Another win and he may ruin Dana Whites plans all together.

6. Daniel Cormier (Strikeforce) – I am higher than most on this guy. I think he has world-beater potential but his size might be an issue in the UFC.

7. Fabricio Werdum (Strikeforce) – Coming off a tough loss but he has been very impressive as of late. He only falls because of inactivity.

8. Antonio Silva (Strikeforce) – This tournament is even good to its losers, placing them in high profile fights. Silva is good and we will find out how good very soon.

9. Shane Carwin (UFC) – Carwin needs to stay active and needs a good match-up soon. Carwin and Mir are lucky I am totally disinterested in Fedor being top 10 now.

10. Frank Mir (UFC) – Mir gets to prove it was no fluke against Big Nog and the fans are waiting for me to actually do something.

Light- Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (UFC) – Another win and he proves a little more. Still lots of questions but many have already crowned him the greatest.

2. Dan Henderson (UFC) – He did just enough to pull off what might be the best firght in the sports history. That is enough to jump right to the front of the line

3. Shogun Rua (UFC) – Shogun was heroic against Henderson and did enough to get a draw in my book. I’d watch those two fight 100 times over

4. Lyoto Machida (UFC) – Slips into a title shot by process of elimination. Machida might just be a terrible match-up for the champ, only one way to find out.

5. Rashad Evans (UFC) – There are too many people doing good things in the division for him to stay at 2 forever.

6. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (UFC) – He is getting called out left and right these days. Will he prove it’s a bad decision to call out RAMPAGE?

7. Muhammed Lawal (Strikeforce) – Looked good enough against Roger Gracie and will soon be testing himself in the UFC.

8. Forrest Griffen (UFC) – Tough lose to Shogun but it happens to the best of ‘em. Expect a long layoff now with his new child.

9. Phil Davis (UFC) – Who knows what is next for this kid. One minute he is fighting and the next he is taking a long break. Tons of potential though.

10. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC) – I am a little blown away by how under the radar this kid is. I’ll gladly put him in my current top 10.

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (UFC) – On the shelf a bit but that is ok. The spider will return and hopefully return in full form.

2. Chael Sonnen (UFC) – It looks like he will have to wait a little for Silva but this is certainly a fight a lot of people want to see.

3. Mark Munoz (UFC) – This guy has looked unstoppable lately. He respectfully requests a title shot and he might end up getting Sonnen instead. I’m for it!

4. Yushin Okami (UFC) – He gets to fight in Japan against Tim Boetsch and the pressure will certainly be on. It is time to get back on track.

5. Vitor Belfort (UFC) – Injury forces Belfort out of the Chung Le fight but he will be back soon enough. Trash talk with Sonnen could lead to a fight.

6. Hector Lombard (Bellator) – With high levels of competition elsewhere fighters will move up and down around him until he loses or gets bigger fights.

7. Nate Maquardt (Some British Organization) – I don’t know what else to do with this guy. Hindsight is 20/20 so he has to be top 10 but what is next?

8. Demian Maia (UFC) – A win over Santiago is nice but it wasn’t impressive. Maia is a little stuck right now and needs to get a big one.

9. Michael Bisping (UFC) – I think Bisping is just a touch higher than Stann right now. He needs to beat Miller though to stay relevant in a really stacked division

10. Luke Rockhold (Strikeforce) – As some fighters fall some must rise and the Strikeforce champion has done as much as anyone to rise.

Welterweights

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC) – Got injured, got called out, changed his challenger. This is all very strange but Nick Diaz is next, be careful what you both ask for.

2. Jon Fitch (UFC) – I guess he gets to fight Johnny Hendricks next. That isn’t going to break him into the title picture but you can’t move a guy down who doesn’t lose fights.

3. Carlos Condit (UFC) – Tough break getting his title shot taken from him. If he beats Koscheck there might not be a more deserving challenger in the world

4. Nick Diaz (Strikeforce) – After defeating BJ Penn with relative ease he trashtalked his way into a title shot. I feel bad for Condit but I’m for it!

5. Josh Koscheck (UFC) – Koscheck vs Condit is huge. Kos wont be able to just swing power shots till something lands this time around.

6. Jake Ellenberger (UFC) – Ellenberger smash! Diego Sanchez might be next on the smash list.

7. Martin Kampmann (UFC) – Kampmann finally gets the nod on a close one. Beating Story is big and now it looks like he has Alvez on deck.

8. Thiago Alvez (UFC) – If this kid can keep his weight down and keep improving the sky is the limit. Those are such big “ifs” though.

9. Diego Sanchez (UFC) – Injured and out of the fight with Hughes, Sanchez needs to get back into the cage and get a decisive win or he will fall out of grace quickly

10. Jake Shields (UFC) – I was too hard on him last time. He is on a skid but Shields has some huge wins and deserves this spot.

Lightweight

1. Frankie Edgar (UFC) – Finally shakes the 180 pound monkey off his back by TKOing Gray Maynard and solidifying himself as the man at 155 pounds.

2. Benson Henderson (UFC) – I never thought I would put him here in front of Maynard and Melendez but no one wants to fight this guy right now. I’d bet on him against MMA Jesus right now.

3. Gray Maynard (UFC) – Finally falls in my rankings but not far. This guy is still a beast at 155 and I don’t think we have heard the last of him.

4. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce) – Dana wants him in the UFC and I think Melendez vs Edgar might be match of a century – book it.

5. Shinya Aoki (Dream) – I tend to think he is a bit overrated, especially after taking a beating from Melendez but his record speaks for itself.

6. Jim Miller (UFC) – A tough lose to Bendo but he is still better than most. I don’t think it will be long before he is back to his winning ways.

7. Joe Lauzon (UFC) – Big win over Melvin Guillard puts neck and neck with Guida. He definitely steals a lot of momentum from Guillard

8. Clay Guida (UFC) – Guida didn’t look bad against Henderson he just didn’t have much for him.

9. Donald Cerrone (UFC) – I am finally on board with this guy. He is the real deal and I can’t wait to see him fight Nate Diaz.

10. Michael Chandler (Bellator) – Out of nowhere this guy comes out to beat Eddie Alverez and move to 9-0.

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (UFC) – Good News: He is 2010 fighter of the year and pound for pound rated. Bad News: Top UFC lightweights are moving down to Featherweight.

2. Chad Mendes (UFC) – Next in line for a shot. This guy has the tools to give Aldo a real problem.

3. Mark Hominick (UFC) – Every time I do this list I don’t get why he is so far down others’ rankings. Ohh well, I got all kinds of time for him.

4. Kenny Florian (UFC) – Another tough lose for Florian and he falls down the ranks a bit. Who knows what is next for ken Flow

5. Hatsu Hioki (UFC) – I was not terribly impressed with his first UFC performance. He is going to have to do more than that to move up my list.

6. Pat Curran (Bellator) – Talented fighter with the world in front of him. He just needs to find consistency.

7. Diego Nunes (UFC) Will really need to bounce back in his next fight to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive division.

8. Dustin Poirier (UFC) – Loads of potential and very entertaining, he has a lot of work to do but the initial results are good.

9. Bart Palaszewski (UFC) – Wrecked Tyson Griffin in one of the bigger upsets of the year. I like this guy and can’t wait to see him again.

10. Marion Sandro (Bellator) – 3-2 and his last 5 fights is not enough to stop high in a division like this.

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (UFC) – Another big one for Cruz. Can anyone stop this guy. He has topped 2-6 on this list already.

2. Joseph Benavidez (UFC) – Benavidez doesn’t lose to people not named Dominick Cruz. Unfortunately that is the one guy he needs to beat to move up.

3. Urijah Faber (UFC) – I really thought Bowles would have more for him. Faber looked good though and he will get another title shot.

4. Scott Jorgensen (UFC) – Back on the winning track, Jorgensen will look to keep his spot among the elite at 135 lbs.

5. Brian Bowles (UFC) – Really came up short against Faber but he is still one of the best in the division. I have lots of time for him.

6. Demetrious Johnson (UFC) – Losing to one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world doesn’t drop you from number 6 in my book.

7. Renan Barao (UFC) – Out of left field this kid comes with a huge win and all the sudden I’m wondering if he should be the number one contender

8. Masakatso Ueda (Shooto) – He may only be on a two fight win streak but he is 12-1-2. Ueda seems to be improving with each fight.

9. Miguel Torres (UFC) – I really want to see something out of him because there are plenty of good fighters not making this list right now.

10. Takeya Mizugaki (UFC) – I have all the time in the world for Mizugaki and am pulling for him to string together some wins.

UFC on FOX in Retrospect

The program was 60 minutes and the fight was 60 seconds. It is probably the only thing that could have gone “wrong” for the UFC in their debut on FOX. Dana White isn’t shook though and neither are MMA fans. This is par for the course, the sport has quick finishes and the sport has snoozers right along with the epic battles and mind-blowing knockouts. Unlike most other sports, time is not structurally built into the contest. Even boxing’s use of larger gloves systemically inclines fights to be longer. But MMA has never been built on the premises of long epic bottles alone. Sure they pop up here and there and are strategically important to the sport but in the importance of the sport’s growth long fights fall somewhere behind bloodlust, international diversity, and fighter personalities on why exactly the sport is where it is today. Critics were chomping at the bit for a moment like this and they have it, but it doesn’t make any difference. UFC and FOX still have a seven-year contract. The company will continue to make money and the sport will continue to grow. Besides, for anyone who was truly interested in seeing longer fights and not just interested in having flashy lights in their face for an hour or only interested in names, there were nine fights on facebook previous to the FOX card, one of which was for a title shot and many of which were highly entertaining. In five years Junior Dos Santos vs Cain Velasquez will be remembered more for showing just how good Dos Santos is than it will for disappointing fans.

Which brings us to the cage. In the most highly anticipated fight in recent memory the competition came up short but the ramifications did not. Junior Dos Santos, despite his 7-0 run in the UFC previous to Saturday, was a relatively unknown. UFC on FOX was his big chance to shine and man did he shine. He looked like a killer, a special kind of puncher that scares people. He was fighting a previously unbeaten champion that had run through strikers, wrestlers, grapplers, and every hybrid in between and he decimated him in a minute. Oh, and as it turns out he did the whole thing with a torn meniscus, spending a lot of time on crutches the week before the fight. I feared that no matter what the injury these two would fight given the gravity of the event, but JDS didn’t seem to feel the effects much in his short time in the cage. The pressure is on Junior Dos Santos now to keep his belt and build its prestige. Personally, the unpredictability of MMA may be well documented, but I don’t see too many threats in the immediate future for the young man. The stage is set, JDS has emerged from the deadlock, and now the heavyweight division has a new target.

The heavyweight division might have a new hunt but the lightweight division has a new lead hunter. Benson Henderson defeated Clay Guida on his way to a February title shot against Frankie Edgar. Henderson won what some were calling a close decision but it appeared that Clay Guida had nothing to offer Henderson except a few stiff shots in punching frenzies, none of which put the number one contender in real trouble. Bendo however looked unstoppable and will provide a real threat to the champion in Japan. Hindsight is of course 20/20 and it would have been ideal to have this fight on FOX but the choices that were made were made strategically. I highly recommending finding this fight and watching it all the same. You won’t be disappointed and you will exactly what to expect come February.

UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Let me start a little off topic by saying that I respect Manny Pacquiao and recognize that he is one of the greatest boxers of our generation, and perhaps all time. His skills truly are a marvel to behold. I am confident that he is going to put on a show en rout to defeating Marquez for the third time. And that is precisely why I have no intention of watching him so. On the other side of the combat sport coin there is another championship fight, one that is a little more dubious. Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez have run through the entire UFC heavyweight division on their way to what might just be the biggest MMA fight in history and dare I saw the biggest combat sport fight of the year. If this were Pacquiao vs Mayweather I’d be singing a different tune but it isn’t. This isn’t a showcase fight. This is a fight between two of the worlds best and it will be anything but predictable.

I almost feel as if I don’t have to write about don’t, and I honestly don’t, since anyone who knows me at all knows how I feel about this fight. I have told anyone who will listen that this is the biggest fight in MMA history, or at least could be. I can almost hear the eye rolling boredom right now saying spare us the same old build. There are two fights you need to know about and you need to watch tonight, two fights that threaten to emerge as fight of the year candidates and have serious implications of the future of their respective divisions.

Ben Hendeson (LW #5) vs Clay Guida (LW #10)

If this fight doesn’t somehow end early we are looking a frontrunner for fight of the century. Clay Guida gets a lot of flack for his wet blanket approach to some fights but if he does anything he pushes the pace. The great thing about Guida in this fight is that he usually has his most exciting fights against guys he can’t take and hold down: Enter Ben Henderson (pictured). Bendo (as he is affectionately called) is a great wrestler and probably the most athletic guy in the lightweight division. I don’t think it is possible to simply bully him around. The chance of a lot wild scrambles, scraps, sweeps and submission attempts is high so don’t blink. This should be a really good showcase for technical grappling and striking at a frenetic pace so watch and learn (and listen to Joe Rogan while they are grappling). Ohhh yeah, and if exciting fights aren’t enough for you – this one is for a title shot against Frankie Edgar. Guida and Bendo will close out the facebook portion of the card so log and full screen it.

UFC Heavyweight Championship – Junior Dos Santso (HW #2) vs Cain Velasquez (Champ – HW #1)

I have said it before and I will say it one more time: never before have two fighters cleared out their division to the extent that these two have. Between the two of them they have 14 wins in the UFC (7 each). They have finished 11 of those 14 fights (Cain – 6, JDS – 5). One could make the argument that between them only Velasquez has lost a single round in that time (and that round is questionable). Of the other 8 top 10 heavyweights in the world they have defeated 4 (by sherdogs list, 3 by ATB). Almost everyone on that list that hasn’t been beaten by the pair come from Strikeforce, who are only in the top 10 because many UFC fighters were thwarted by JDS and Velasquez. If these two men don’t deserve to be in the main event on the first ever UFC on FOX show, I don’t know who would.

In the cage this is going to be a classic striker vs grappler fight for the next generation of MMA, with all the intricacies the sport has to offer. Junior Dos Santos has an advantage on paper in the striking game but Cain Velasquez is no joke with his hands, especially as he uses his takedowns to set up strikes and vice versa. JDS is going to have to change his footing and his stance slightly with the threat of Velasquez’s takedowns and that change will become more detrimental if Cain finds success. On the other hand, JDS has proven he isn’t particularly easy to get down and he is very good at getting back up. Can he keep the distance and pick the champ apart once there though? The longer the fight goes, the more I think it favors the champion. In early rounds I think Dos Santos has his golden opportunity to put hands to face finish the fight but Cain is tough and has a really good chin. The later rounds favor a TKO stoppage or decision victory for the champ. Alas, the best part of this fight is that you could flip a coin and have a better chance of picking the winner than sitting here and breaking down every scenario. Maybe JDS has better cardio than I give him credit for. Maybe Cain has a great striking game plan that JDS will never expect. Maybe… Maybe… Maybe…. This is the biggest fight in MMA from a sport standpoint, a business standpoint, and quite possibly from an entertainment standpoint. The people love heavyweights and now they get to see the two best in the world finally clash.

The First Arm Triangle Blog Pound-for-Pound Ranking

These are going to change by the end of the year, probably more than once, but here goes my first pound-for-pound list.

1. Anderson Silva – The undisputed pound for pound king. Some still argue for GSP but the performances speak for themselves in my book

2. Georges St. Pierre – I want the old GSP back. The one that went out to win fights and earn a title shot. That guy had a killer instinct.

3. Dominick Cruz – I see him much further down most lists but consider this, no one else on this list has beaten the top 5 contenders in their division – Cruz has.

4. Jose Aldo – The hype train has slowed greatly as weight is becoming an issue but Aldo’s record speaks for itself.

5. Cain Velasquez – The unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world. What else do you want?

6. Jon Jones – If he keeps doing what he is doing he might be the greatest of all time.

7. Frankie Edgar – Other lists seem to be really high on this guy but the last time I checked he has only defended his belt twice and one of those wins was over a guy he already beat.

8. Junior Dos Santos – Dos Santos has run through everyone and now he has a chance to take a top 5 spot on this list by becoming heavyweight champ.

9. Jon Fitch – Love him or hate him Jon Fitch wins. In fact, all he does is win unless your name is GSP.

10. Gilbert Melendez – Tight race for number 10 but Melendez is for real. He might get a chance to prove how real in the UFC soon enough.

One Wild UFC 137

I wasn’t going to address this event at all but the fallout was just too relevant. UFC 137 was huge, ushering two legends into retirement and two champions got called out. And don’t sleep on a lightweight contender quietly emerging under a lot of radars.

Donald Cerrone (pictured) is on a six-fight win streak and his last two wins were first round finishes over highly touted lightweights. Before those fights, I was a little bit down on Donald Cerrone but readily retract my skepticism. Cerrone is fast, accurate and well rounded. He might be one win away from a title shot and in one of the most stacked divisions in the sport and he will meet Nate Diaz in December. The scariest part about Doland Cerrone’s rise in the UFC is his improvement. He gets better every single fight and the best is yet to come.

Calling out champions was the cool thing to do at UFC 137 and in at least one case it worked. Less effective challenges included Roy Nelson vaguely calling out whoever is the champion after the inaugural UFC on FOX event. Cheick Kongo then went on to say he wanted a rematch with “lucky” Cain Velasquez. So as to provide a little background, Kongo lost a three round decision to Velasquez where he rocked the future champion twice before being drug to the ground and beat on mercilessly. Nelson on the other hand played punching bag to current number one contender Junior Dos Santos for 15 minutes. Neither guy deserves a title shot at this point in their career but fighting each other makes a lot of sense; BOOK IT! While those two challenges fell well short of the mark, Nick Diaz (pictured) ruffled just enough feathers to change the landscape of the welterweight division. Apparently, GSP didn’t take kindly to being accused of faking an injury and requested a change in his next fight. The always-cool UFC Welterweight Champion has declared that he will beat Diaz worse than anyone has been beaten in the sport. Diaz looked pretty good against BJ Penn, taking shots early and beating down the mixed martial arts legend for the better part of the last two rounds. It would be easy to dismiss the win to Penn being past his prime but Diaz demonstrated just how effective his unorthodox boxing is, how far his cardio can carry him and how even one of the best grapplers in the game wanted no part of Diaz on the ground. Nick Diaz looked good enough and talked loud enough get his title shot and now he awaits the healing welterweight king. What is best, GSP has no excuse not return to that old killer instinct that he lacked over the last four fights.

Nick Diaz might be the talk of the town but long time MMA fans lament the retirement of two true legends of the sport. Newer fans may see Mirko Cro Cop as a washed up has been at best and perhaps this isn’t far from the truth. The common discourse regarding BJ Penn after the fight (note the stress on the word after) is that he is past his prime. Again, this is probably not far from the truth. Despite their recent lack of success both of these two fighters always brought it. They were not generators of boring fights and for those of us who were around for their respective primes, few caused as much buzz and delivered as much excitement as BJ Penn and Mirko Cro Cop. My hat is off to both these men and while I think there is a chance that BJ Penn returns down the road, both their careers should be remembered fondly.

The Coming UFC Typhoon (Completely Unedited)

The final nine weeks of 2011 are going to be very exciting form MMA. The UFC is about to launch into a four weeks four shows blitz that will include talent such as BJ Penn, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Shogun Rua, Urijah Faber, Wanderlei Silva, and ohh yeah,... the biggest fight in the sports history with Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos. After that we will all get to catch our breath for a moment before another four weeks four shows wave takes place that will feature Jon Jones vs Machida, Brock Lesnar, Gilbert Melendez, and the Ultimate Fighter finale. The fact that there will be 8 shows before years end is impressive enough but at least three of them are on free TV and one of them will be featured on Showtime. As exciting as this is for me it could not come at a worse time. I quite simply do not have the time to give each of these shows the attention it deserves. Here is the deal. I am going to kill two birds with one stone right here. I am going to give you the top reasons to watch the next two shows. I would go ahead and do a quick rundown of all shows but UFC on FOX is big enough to make time for so I will return for that.

UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz

- GSP vs Carlos Condit might have been scratched from the show but don’t sleep on the new main event. Everyone knows the names Penn and Diaz but this fight is more than meets the eye. Both fighters have exceptional ground skills, both very tough strikers, and both have great chins. This fight is a real toss-up to me. Diaz might be able to earn himself a title shot with a win and Penn wouldn’t scoff at the chance to play spoiler and raise some questions about his own return to championship circles.

- With Penn/Diaz moving to the main event that gives ample attention to the heavyweight slugfests that are about to take place. Matt Mitrione is one of the hottest prospects in MMA. He might not look the part but this guy is a grade –A athlete, a former professional football player. He looks better every time we see him. Cheick Kongo on the other hand does look the part. He is a mountain of a man and will be Mitrione’s biggest test to date. I do not expect this fight to go the distance and I do expect someone to get hurt. The other big men going at it will both be looking to come off of loses. Roy Nelson was the talk of the town until he gassed out against Frank Mir and was made to look foolish. He has a lot of redeeming to do against Mirko Cro Cop, the former MMA world-beater. Cro Cop is very human now but do not sleep on him, ever. He still has a few high-kicks left in him and this might be his last stand no matter what. If nothing else we will get to see a legend off but I for one hope he goes down swinging. Either way, this fight will be worth watching

- There isn’t much you need to know about Hatsu Hioki other than that he is a highly touted Japanese star making his UFC debut. Sound familiar? He is fighting a very rangy and very dangerous George Roop. Look for the upset here because I think Roop is pretty good to be honest and I don’t believe the hype anymore until I see it come to life.

- The Spike TV prelim card is really exciting this week. If you have never seen Donald Cerrone fight this is your chance. This guy really likes to be exciting and brings pressure in every fight. He is running up against a brick wall of a lightweight in Dennis Siver who might be the hardest hitter at 155 pounds. Additionally Tyson Griffin is going to keep making his case for a title shot at 145 pounds when he fights Bart Palaszewski, a man never afraid to throw down and have a good ol fashion fight. I expect both of these to be exciting and neither to end too early.

- Way off the radar on the Facebook card Eliot Marshall (Ultimate Fighter Vet) will fight Brandon Vera in a loser leaves town match. This might as well be called a pink slip fight because I really can’t imagine either man having a job with the UFC if they lose. Both fighters have been in prominent fights, especially Vera so it might be worth logging into Facebook for.

UFC 138: Munoz vs Leben

This almost isn’t fair because I think top-to-bottom this is one of the weakest cards in recent memory. There are a few things here you don’t want to sleep on though.

- The main event is legit. Chris Leben has been hovering around the middle of the pack for the better part of his career. His recent victory over Wanderlei Silva purpelled him on the course to relevancy again. Leben will likely never be a champion but the one thing you know for sure is that he is going to come to fight. He fights fast rising Mark Munoz who I am officially on board with. This guy has all the talent to be a top tier start at middleweight. This is a real test for both men. Munoz is a super star wrestler but Leben is not easy to push around. Both men have huge power in their hands and both are looking to sneak in a title shot with Anderson Silva before he retires.

- Brad Pickett is far and away my favorite British fighter. He really brings the fight every time out and he might just be one of the top contenders at 145 pounds. In my opinion he is stunningly underrated. This should be a win and one of the hardest things for a fighter is to win when they are supposed to. I am going to keep a close eye on how he looks after a long layoff and hope he can impress on the big stage.

- Papy Abedi: not only does he have an amazing name but he is an amazing mystery. He sort of came on the scene quickly but has a fair amount of hype behind him. He is 8-0 with most of his fights ending in KO. Rumor has it he has solid take downs and pushes a frantic pace. The unfortunate thing for the young man is that he drew Thiago Alvez in his first UFC fight. Alvez is a beast on the feet and is really trying to find his identity at 170 pounds. Some people think he is too heavy to stay there but to short to be effective at 185. Either way, if Alvez makes weight he is going to be be a huge test for the newcomer, but if Papy can win he is going to turn a lot of heads.

- Here are some names to watch out for on the rest of the card. Terry Teim, Anthony Njokuani, Paul Taylor, Cyrille Diabate, Michihiro Omigawa, Jason Young. There is a lot of young hungry talent on this card but those guys stand out as game fighters who always bring it. Particularly keep an eye on Jason Young on the preliminary card. This kid has a bright future and he faces a stiff test in Omigawa.