Strikeforce: Diaz vs Cyborg in Retrospect

In terms of winners and losers, Scott Coker and the Strikeforce family could not of asked for a better result from Saturday’s show. Two champions maintained their momentum in entertaining fights. Herschel Walker physically dominated another underwealming heavyweight. And Roger Gracie demonstrated his exceptional grappling gifts on his way to a submission victory. Everything went pretty much according to plan. None of the fights on the main card went the distance, all ending relatively quickly. In turn, they all pack a lot of bang for the buck as it were in learning about the fighters involved.

Roger Gracie vs Trevor Prangley

Roger Gracie (pictured) is a big but unassuming fighter. He looks lumbering and awkward as he stalks around using his serviceable and surprisingly technical stand-up to set up his bread and butter grappling game. Once this fight got to the ground it was all over as Gracie completely controlled his opponent slowly working his way into better position. Prangley thought he was out the back door near the end of the fight but this is where we really got to see Gracie work his magic. He used his hips to shift Prangley in the middle of his scramble up, took his back, slapped on a beautiful body triangle, and began to work on a rear naked choke. The choke came just seconds later, putting an exclamation point on the end of this showcase performance. As stated before, Prangley is not the most daunting test available at 205 pounds but Gracie’s performance warrants applause nonetheless. Let’s hope Strikeforce gives this young prospect ample time to develop his skills and maximize his potential.

Herschel Walker vs Scott Carson

I said before the card that I know nothing about Scott Carson and pretty much nothing has changed. I do however know now that Carson is not nearly as strong or athletic as Herschel Walker, a fact that was merely speculation before the fight. This fight is simple. Walker took a head-kick that he was frustrated by, got angry with himself, and then took it out on Carson. Pretty much a microcosm of Walker’s niche in MMA, he is athletically gifted enough to do damage to opponents but he is still a rookie in his late 40s. Check out the fight all the same, if nothing else to see just how strong Walker really is.

Ronaldo Souza vs Robbie Lawler

The style clash promoted in this fight came to full actualization as Souza (pictured) and Lawler jockied for postion and struggled to put the fight where they wanted it. Souza had the fight in his back yard the majority of the time though, attempting a multitude of submissions. To Lawler’s credit and the fans entertainment he would not be put away or even kept down easily, popping back up and landing a few punches that staggered the champion. However, Souza’s relentless and exceptionally proficient ground attack was too much for Lawler. This fight raised both fighters’ stock in my opinion and was a good case study for what each brings to the table in a fight, particularly the top 5 ranked champion in Souza.

Nick Diaz vs Evangelista Santos

If anyone surprised me from this event it was Cyborg Santos, kicking off the fight with crisp, fast hands and relentless leg-kicks. Unfortunately for the challenger his old demons reared their ugly heads as he ran out of gas early in the fight. Diaz doesn’t have devastating knockout power in his hands but he hits you and he hits you a lot. Santos found that out first hand as he got hit repeatedly through the end of the first round and duration of the second. Fans didn’t get to just see Diaz’s stand-up skills though. Santos made a fatal tactical error in taking Diaz down at the end of the second, assuming he could weather the storm for less than a minute… he could not. Diaz needed just seconds to lock on a brutal arm-bar and put this fight in the history books. The champion got a chance to demonstrate all the strengths of his game against a very tough but ultimately outmatched challenger. The fight, like all the aforementioned fights, is worth a retroactive look, particularly if you are not terribly familiar with Diaz’s work. Being the most important welterweight not in the UFC, he is someone fans should familiarize themselves with.

Why You Should Watch Strikeforce: Diaz vs Cyborg

One of my main concerns regarding Strikeforce as a company is the potential for them to sputter out in the next few years as they run out of intriguing match-ups, particularly to hoist as main events. The heavyweight tournament will no doubt help matters to a degree but not every show the company runs will feature tournament bouts, leaving many cards to fend for themselves using smaller fighters, which are harder to market without name recognition. Strikeforce: Diaz vs Cyborg is one of the weaker cards so far this year given it is presented by a major promotion, but it is not without value. This is the epitome of a showcase event, every fight featuring a clear favorite. You may want make a retroactive look at this one after seeing the results but don’t letthe whole show go without a glance. There is top tier talent, blue-chip prospects, and interesting style clashes… not to mention a football legend.

Roger Gracie vs Trevor Prangly

If you have heard of Prangly it is most likely because he recently picked up a win over former UFC fighter Keith Jardine. In this fight Prangly is the canvas, not the paint. He will be the backdrop so that we can get a better look at unbeaten Roger Gracie (pictured), the unlikely heir apparent to the Gracie throne. This is a fight that Gracie is supposed to win, building him as a future contender for the 205-pound title and could be an attractive fight if Gracie can demonstrate an improving skill set, winning impressively. While Prangly doesn’t present what one might call a monumental test, he is talented enough and veteran enough push the young Gracie. Keep an eye on Gracie’s game plan and technique to see if he can demonstrate some of the world-class ground game he is widely renowned for in the submission/grappling community.

Herschel Walker vs Scott Carson

I don’t need to tell you who Herschel Walker is, at least I hope not. The football legend has taken up professional fighting as a hobby, quite literally. Self admittedly, he is not a title contender nor does he want to be. He enjoys fighting and testing himself against trained professionals. Generally speaking, I like him and his place in the sport. He brings eyes to Strikeforce and in turn it’s other talent. Walker demonstrates what a world-class athlete can still accomplish with minimal training in MMA. We see more supreme athletes every year enter the sport and Walker is proof that they can still find some degree of success. Matchmakers have done well to present him with winnable fights as well. I know almost nothing about Carson. He fought at 205 pounds until 2001, racking up a 4-0 record. Since then he has managed one fight and lose in 2010. With guys like Walker we are always just waiting for them to hit their wall but I expect him to hold Carson down and beat up on him until the ref decides that enough is enough.

Ronaldo Souza (185lb. Champion) vs Robbie Lawler

This is the one fight that really catches my eye on the card. A classic grappler vs striker battle, Souza vs Lawler is the fight to watch if you are only going to watch one. Souza will attempt to get this fight to the floor as soon as possible, likely using some simple, rangy stand-up to set up his take down. Lawler will look to keep the distance and catch Souza on the chin. I tend to think this will end before the time is up one way or another, likely with Souza finding a way to succeed. Souza has only two loses. One of them came in his first fight as a professional and other came as a result of up-kick, on that seemed almost fluky, from a man who went on to find success at 205 lbs. See if Souza can keep momentum going bring further legitimacy to another Strikeforce belt. The alternative is more parody in Strikeforce, a company that could use some stability.

Nick Diaz (170 lbs. Champion) vs Evangelista Santos

The name Santos should ring a bell. Evangelista is the husband of the greatest female fig in the world. Unfortunately the male “Cyborg” is not nearly successful in his respective division. His two-fight win streak was enough to earn him a title shot against one of the most underrated fighters in the world. Nick Diaz (pictured) has found a great deal of success since leaving the UFC. The only things standing between Diaz and a 14-fight win streak are a cut stoppage and a no contest ruling after failing a drug test for marijuana that whipped one of the sports most impressive submissions from the record. Still 12/14 is nothing to stake a stick at. I always encourage people to watch Nick Diaz. He likens himself a fight artist, criticizing the use of cages because they block people from seeing his technical ground-work. His stand-up is nothing if it isn’t effective with relentless, pinpoint accuracy. Expect Diaz to pick Santos apart until he is primed to finish the fight. Diaz’s reach and technical prowess in all areas will be simply too much. On the bright side this could be exemplary fight for fans who want to see what Diaz is all about. Strikeforce is showcasing their welterweight champion for a reason so it is worth a gander.

Quick Hits

Fighters to Watch: Nick Diaz, Roger Gracie

Fight to Watch: Ronaldo Souza vs Robbie Lawler

Questions to Answer: Can the fighters who are supposed to win continue their momentum? Will Roger Gracie continue to improve? Will Souza and Diaz impress enough to move up the ranks in their respective divisions?

A Quick Look Back at UFC Fight Night 23

The Fight for the Troops is now behind us and it delivered with action. Here are a few significant things coming out of the event.

Melvin Guillard (pictured) looked fantastic, making quick work of Evan Dunham. Dunham was supposed to showcase his skills against Guillard but instead failed to do what I said was his real test, win when he is suppose to win. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. The year starts with a bang for Guillard who replaced an injured Kenny Florian and made the most of his opportunity in the main event. His combination of speed, power, and pure athleticism is going to be hard for anyone at 155 to deal with. Dunham returns to the drawing board and Guillard awaits a top contender and begins his first serious campaign for a title shot.

We now have our first 145 pound championship fight. Jose Aldo will meet Mark Hominick. After last night, some are already jumping on the Hominick bandwagon. He made quick work George Roop, knocking the much taller fighter silly. Literally, Roop was stumbling around like a drunk after the fight. Hominick is a really talented fighter with really good hands, crisp and powerful. There is 100% chance of fireworks when he meets Aldo for the title. Do not miss that fight.

Matt Mitrione is 260 pounds of potential. This guy is a very gifted athlete, light on his feat and quick but as powerful as almost anyone in the division. He made quick work of Tim Hague and will continue his slow progression up the ranks. The UFC needs to test him against more technical striker or a wrestler. It looks like its time to take the training wheels off see how he responds to fighters that wont play into his strengths.

It was a good night for Matts as Matt Wiman showed off a new pace and level of intensity that quite frankly surprised me. I said before the fight that I didn’t know what to make of him but he fixed that. I know exactly what to make of him now. He still has a lot of growing to do but Wiman is a real fighter. Wiman seems to me a prime candidate to consider a drop to 145 pounds. I am not sure what he walks around at but it doesn’t seem out of the question given his frame and height. This could be his year to make some waves regardless of the division.

Division Breakdown

The UFC has picked up two new divisions going into 2011 and MMA in general is always morphing, changing the look of each division month to month. Here I break down what is important to know in each division both in and out of the UFC for American MMA fans.

Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Dominick Cruz is the current king of the 135 pound fighters, no large feet (wa wa wa) for the 17-1 fighter riding an 8 fight win streak. He has all but secured himself a dominant position over the division defeating 3 of the commonly top 5 ranked contenders in the divisionin his last three fights. The only blemish on his record came at the hands of Urijah Faber and a rematch is likely to come within the year. Additionally Miguel Torres, once thought to be a pound for pound rated fighter looms as a contender for the belt he once held. Both bring name recognition to a title just now grabbing the attention of casual MMA fans.The dark horse in the race is “Kid” Yamamoto. Hardcore MMA fans will tell you they have been waiting years to see Yamamoto come to the United States although enthusiasm tapered off when he went 0-2 in 2009 after no fights in 2008. Some enthusiasm still carries over from his dominant run from 2003-2007. The UFC signed “Kid” to fight top 10 ranked Demetrious Johnson in a fight paramount for positioning in the division.

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Jose Aldo (pictured) is to the Featherweight division what GSP and Anderson Silva are to the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions respectively. Aldo has demolished virtually everyone in his path, more often than not making grown men and trained fighters look as awkward and ridiculous as middle-schoolers at their first dance. The division is not without its challenges though. We will likely see ma UFC lightweights drop down to 145 lbs now that they can remain with the company. Additionally guys like Tiequan Zhang, Nam Phan, Diego Nunes, and Dustin Poirier are hot young prospects looking to work their way up to a title shot while Mark Hominick is one win away from just that. This might be one of the most stacked divisions outside the UFC with Joe Warren (a great wrestler with one lose on his record), Marion Sandro (a KO artist with a tendency to do quick work), and Hatsu Hioki (a streaking Japanese submission fighter) all holding top 10 rankings by most sources worth their salt. This is a division I fully expect to take off in 2011. The combination of excitement and youth makes for entertaining MMA and Jose Aldo is good enough to become a household name. The onus may now be on Zuffa to collect as much talent as possible under the UFC banner.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

I could type 10 pages and not really cover the complexity of this division right now but herewe go nonetheless. Frankie Edger and Grey Maynard (both pictured) are going to try to figure out who the betterman is this year as Maynard has a win over the champion that is a few years in the book now and a draw in their last title fight. However, I question how much might really be proven if Edger can pull a victory in the next fight considering that would make them 1-1-1. No matter h it shakes out they are top tier fighters and it will be a pleasure to see them compete again. Waiting in the wings we find a slew of talent. From up and coming contenders like the relentless George Sotiropoulos, kickboxing bulldog Dennis Siver (who square off next month), well rounded Evan Dunham, and hyperactive Clay Guida to perennial contenders like Kenny Florian and Sean Sherk, there will be no shortage of contenders in 2011. However, It is Anthony Pettis that captures the imagination with his movie style striking. Once promised a shot at the title, he will likely fight Clay Guida while Maynard and Edgar settle their score. Outside the UFC Gilbert Melendez continues to establish himself as one of the top three Lightweights in the world. Never say never with UFC contracts, but this does not look to be the year we see him jump ship to Zuffa. One has to wonder how long it will be at this rate.. Eddie Alvarez represents his only remaining ranked competition not under Zuffa contract. His well-rounded skill set could present a fun style clash with the supreme, dynamic wrestling of Melendez.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

I don’t need to tell you that Georges St. Pierre is amazing. The only thing regarding the king of all men weighing 170 pounds or less is to keep an eye on is weather he tries to put another 15 pounds under his reign. The possibility exists hat he might move up to 185 pounds, and in turn likely abandon his belt. This would open the door for Jon Fitch (pictured) to finally win the championship, assuming he gets past BJ Penn in February. I mention Fitch because he has been far and away the best Welterweight not to have his name shortened to three letters over the past 4-5 years.

GSP has cleared most of the top 10 in the division (including Fitch) during his run and will have a chance to add Jake Sheilds to the list in April. Shields is one of only two men left in the weight class that provides an intriguing match-up at this time, Carlos Condit being the other. The division is stacked with talent and there is no telling who is going to make big strides in their game or have a breakout year in 2011. Keep an eye on perennial mid-level fighters Martin Kampmann and Diego Sanchez (fighting March 3^rd) as well as up and comers such as John Hathaway and Jake Ellenberger. Outside the UFC, Nick Diaz seems to be the only fighter really making waves however Cung Le, Scott Smith, and Paul Daley are always entertaining and always dangerous.

Middleweight (185 lbs)

I guess in retrospect well all owe Anderson Silva a lot of gratitude. He did save us from having a champion in Chael Sonnen who tested positive for steroids (although that is pretty convoluted) and is now being charged with money laundering, facing potential jail time. Silva meets another stiff test in Vitor Belfort in just over two weeks. If you weren’t planning on tuning into that one, change your plans. Yushin Okami finds himself waiting again for his title shot. The Japanese fighter was the last person to beat Silva (via DQ) and has developed in leaps and bounds over the last year. All the while GSP threatens to step in front of him if the trigger is pulled on the aforementioned pound-for-pound super-fight. Fighter like Dan Miller, Nate Marquardt, Damien Maia, Rousimar Palhares,Wanderlei Silva, Jorge River, Alessio Sakara, Brian Stann, Chris Leben, Michael Bisping, Alan Belcher, and Yoshihiro Akiyama are all a few wins away but should fill 2011 with entertaining, worthwhile fights at 185 pounds. Keep an eye on Maiquel Falcao (pictured), a dynamic striker with a well-versed ground game. If he can get and stay healthy Falcao could be the next great prospect in the division. Outside the UFC we find plenty of talent in the form of veteran and Silva victim Dan Henderson, Strikeforce MW Champion Ronaldo Souza (check him out Jan. 29^th), and Sengoku MW Champion Jorge Santiago. Keep an eye out for these fighters, especially if one can have a strong 2011 campaign and catches Dana Whites eye.

Light-Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Having long been the most stacked in MMA, the Light-Heavyweight division still include many of the sports most talented and exciting fighters. The weight-class is reigned over by Maricio Shogun Rua (pictured) who epitomizes what 205 pound fighting is all about, excitement, technique, and dynamism. The only catch with Rua is that he cannot stay healthy, currently recovering from yet another knee surgery. The next few months will see most of the top fighters in the division in action. Rashad Evans is in line for a shot at the title in March. In February, Ryan Bader and Jon Jones will square off to find out who the top blue-chip prospect in the division really is while veterans Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin attempt to gain their own momentum towards a title shot. Meanwhile, Thiago Silva and Rampage Jackson will look to continue their own momentum this year when they meet in late May, both coming off important rebound victories. Let us not forget Lyoto Machida, who despite riding a two fight losing streak, remains a serious threat for anyone in the division. As far as future contenders keep an eye on Phil Davis, an exceptionally athletic young fighter that improves every time we see him. His next test will be his biggest as he fights fan favorite Matt Hamill. Outside the UFC Dan Henderson returns to 205 pounds to try and claim the title in Strikeforce, a division filled with talent that lost a bit of its luster in 2010. Moussassi looked like world-beater until he lost to King Mo Lawler who turned around lost to Cavalcante. All three fighters are serious contenders in Strikeforce but one of them must establish himself above the rest to gain recognition in this overcrowded weight class.

Heavyweight (260 lbs)

Cain Velasquez (pictured) shocked the world when he decimated Brock Lesnar. Well he shocked a lot of casual fans. Most hardcore fight fans, fighters and serious pundits were unmoved, if not expecting the result. The important thing is that Velasquez has ascended to the top of the division and Brock Lesnar suffered the most significant lose of his career. Brock will meet world-class striker Junior Dos Santos after the two finish coaching The Ultimate Fighter season 13 and the winner will presumably get a title shot. Fighters like former champion Frank Mir, round but dangerous Roy Nelson, hulk like (green but powerful) Shane Carwin, and the legendary Big Nog will attempt to jockey for position as prospects such as Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry, Joey Beltran, Travis Brown, Brendan Schaub, and Stephan Struve all try to prove they are ready to take their crack at winning the title. Keep an eye on Roy Nelson, who sits at the periphery of contenders right now. A win over Frank Mir could elevate the portly fighter and I think he can beat anyone in the division not named Junior or Cain. Outside the UFC Strikeforce is going to be conducting a Heavyweight Tournament, which should provide great entertainment all year if it is completed. The tournament features Fedor Emelianenko (former pound for pound hero), Antonio Silva (massive submission and boxing fighter), Sergei Kharitonov (dangerous Russian KO specialist), Andrei Arlovski (former UFC champion), Alistair Overeem (current Strikeforce champion), Fabricio Werdum (“that guy that beat Fedor” and gifted Brazilian heavyweight), Josh Barnett (Former UFC champion and Pride legend), and Brett Rogers (a powerful dude that use to win a lot and now he doesn’t win as much). The tournament looks fantastic on paper and the winner will come away smelling like roses but Strikeforce and M-1 (a company run by Russians with alleged connections to organized crime that handles Fedor’s management) have a history of snags. I hope it goes off without a hitch because this tournament offers up lots of great first round match-ups and the potential for more excitement in the subsequent rounds as well.

I have unfortunately had to leave the Flyweight division and the various women’s division out of this discussion because I am simply not knowledgable enough about them to make much of a comment. I will say that I hope both divisions gain more recognition this year, particularly the womens division that has its only dominant champion in Christiane “Cyborg” Santos (pictured), honestly one of the most devastating fighters I have ever seen regardless of gender. I am currently starting a fund raiser to pay the entire cast of Jersey Shore to be taken out one by one at the hands of Cyborg. E-mail me for further info.

This year is shaping up to be one to remember already. We have months of fantastic fights already scheduled, great potential fights on the horizon, and the unpredictability of this sport will constantly keep things moving. Enjoy 2011, the year of expansion in MMA.

Why You Should Watch UFC Fight Night 23

UFC Fight Night 23 sported a gaudy main event featuring perennial contender Kenny Florian and rising star Evan Dunham. That was until Florian pulled out with an injury, leaving Dunham with the streaking yet drastic step down in Melvin Guillard. The unfortunate thing about the whole circumstance is that Dana White and company seemed to be

banking on the main event to bring in viewers (along with the show being a fight for the troops) while hoping a couple guys on the main card could shine through and win some new fans. As we find more often than not with MMA shows there are myriad reasons to watch beyond a big name main event and this blog will go about outlining those reasons.

Preliminary Card

The preliminary card will be found streaming on Facebook of all places, an indication that the UFC is truly dedicated to expanding their product at all costs and rewarding loyal fans with free fights from time to time. Alas this is an intriguing but somewhat lackluster preliminary card to debut in such a way. Mike Guymon fights DaMarques Johnson in a match that might as well be a pink slip ladder match. Neither has been particularly impressive during their UFC stints but Johnson stands out as likely possessing more potential. With both fighters fighting for their jobs in this one, we should see each go for broke a few times, jumping on any opportunity to finish. Tune in to this one and hope for one of these two to step up and prove they belong in the UFC. The other preliminary fight features one of my new favorite fighters to watch: Cody McKenzie (pictured). McKenzie takes the fight with Yves Edwards on short notice so temper expectations a bit. However, check this fight out for the mere chance that you will catch one of the best guillotine chokes in the sport today. The scary thing about McKenzie’s choke is that everyone knows he is looking for it and almost no one has been able to stop it. Don’t count Edwards out. A seasoned vet, he will be looking for a win over an Ultimate Fighter alum to make himself significant in the division.

Main Card

As with most Fight Night cards, this one is filled with names that most people have never heard but match-ups that could lead to absolute fireworks. Some of these fights are a lot more significant than meets the eye as well, featuring names that you might see in title fights sooner rather than later.

Cole Miller vs Matt Wiman

I honestly don’t know what to think of either one of these guys. I can’t figure out if I think Cole Miller is a future contender or not and I can’t peg if Wiman is a serious fighter. Cole Miller never feels like a guy who is going to break the ranks of 155 and push for a title shot in the future, but every time I see him fight I find myself relatively impressed. His desire to finish fights makes him exciting and more often than not he comes out on the right end of the excitement. Matt Wiman on the other hand is much more hot and cold. Most of his loses have come against quality fighters and he has bested guys that seemed out of his league, but some of his performances come off as uninspired. Fans need not fear this fight be boring as Cole Miller will push the pace and force Wiman to react. The winner will likely get a much bigger fight very soon. Both fighters are coming off two fight win streaks and will get a chance to tack a third on in front of the troops. This is not the time to leave it in the cage and they both know it.

Patrick Barry vs Joey Beltran

Fans of heavy hitters and potentially scary knockouts look no further than this one! UFC match-maker Joe Silva has a knack for putting big hitters together lately. Barry might be the most powerful kicker in the Heavyweight division while Beltran appears to have a head made of cinder block. Don’t expect the swings to come from one side though as Beltran has some scary power in his hands as well. Barry’s striking is simply more technical, generating most of his devastating power from kicks and practicing precision kickboxing. Barry may try to turn this into a kick-boxing match while Beltran will likely attempt to make it a brawl. Expect a first round with a lot of pace as both men try to bounce back from huge loses. However, if both men can weather the respective storms coming their way, we might see a lumbering slug fest, which is often good for a KO or a at least a lot of crowd pleasing exchanges.

Bonus: Pat Barry has been training with Brock Lesnar so keep an eye on how well he uses his wrestling (something COMPLETELY lacking in his last fight). This may give us a very small insight into how much Brock and his team can coach in a relatively short period of time, significant with Brock Lesnar recently accepting a coaching position for The Ultimate Fighter.

Mark Hominick vs George Roop

Mark Hominick (pictured) might be the single most important fighter on the card. The reason being, he is one win away from a title shot at pound for pound rated Jose Aldo, a match that would mark the first Featherweight Title defense in the UFC. Hominick fights friend, training partner, and relatively large featherweight George Roop. The implication of Hominick’s position is that Roop could steal the spot with an impressive win. Under normal circumstances he would be a few wins away but the UFC may want to place someone in the challengers position sooner rather than later and Roop would be riding two significant upsets in a row. That is likely for not as this fight is Hominick’s to lose. If you have never seen the lighter divisions tune in to see what serious technique combined with unrelenting pace really looks like. Roop is tough enough to take a beating before going down so I don’t expect a quick finish but I do expect Hominick to impress on his way to a title shot.

Tim Hague vs Matt Mitrione

Matt “Meathead” Mitrione is the Kimbo Killer. He beat on Kimbo Slice with such ease that Zuffa had no choice but to release the overhyped streetfighter. Don’t let that fool you into thinking Mitrione is a contender just yet. He is only 3-0 as a professional but possesses a great deal of power and athleticism, making him a dangerous but developing prospect. Tim Hague has a wealth of experience but at this point in his career he is little more than a wanderer. Hague possesses enough skill and power to pull an upset, but this should be a showcase fight for Meathead. Like the Berry/Beltran fight, expect a slugfest that ends in someone going out or 15 minutes of two very big guys swinging it out tough-man style. Either outcome should provide for substantial entertainment.

Evan Dunham vs Melvin Guillard

I will go on record saying that the Lightweight division is the most crowded and competitive division in the UFC right now. Evan Dunham is a blue chip, up and coming fighter that has future champion written all over him. Even his detractors were silenced with his controversial lose to Sean Sherk, a fight in which he overcame excessive lose of blood and a rough first round under one of the strongest wrestlers in the division. As good as Dunham is he probably sits on the third tier of the division. This fight was suppose to provide him the opportunity to jump up to the next tier, but Kenny Florian’s injury put a serious damper on that possibility. Melvin Guillard is a fantastic athlete with explosive power and speed, but lacks the technical skill, the reach, and (at least as demonstrated to this point) the fighting intelligence of Evan Dunham. Check this fight out to see if Dunham can do one of the most underrated things in MMA, win when he is suppose to win. In turn see if Guillard can pull off the upset of his career and steal some of the hype surrounding his opponent.

Quick Hits

Fighter to Watch: Mark Hominick, Evan Dunham

Fight to Watch: Pat Berry vs Joey Beltran

Questions to Answer: Will Berry or Beltran regain momentum? Will McKenzie’s guillotine claim another victim? Can Mark Hominick secure his title shot? Will Evan Dunham shine in the main event?

The Ultimate Fighter 13: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Dana White has announced the coaches for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter and it seemed as if no one saw it coming. Virtually every name other than Junior Dos Santos was mentioned on rumor sites and message boards and Brock Lesnar was assumed out of the running when Frank Mir inked his fight with Roy Nelson. Say what you will about Dana White (and many do) but the man gets MMA deals done when it counts. The announcement seems to generally please the MMA world but some obvious issues have arisen. Here I break down the good the bad and the ugly of the forthcoming season and discuss the bottom line of the whole decision. Let me be clear from the get go, by ugly I mean sort of unfortunate or potentially so. They are not bad aspects but have the potential to be annoyances more than anything else.

The Good

Money: This Season is going to make massive amounts of money for the UFC and that was the driving force in wanting Brock on board as a coach. Zuffa has done an amazing job getting the most bang for the buck with Brock and this opportunity seemed to have fallen right into their laps. Lesnar = Cash

Hype: As valuable as Brock Lesnar is as a golden good to the UFC on his name alone, there is good reason for it. Simply being a WWE star doesn’t bring the kind of money he does. Brock Lesnar knows how to hype a fight. He spent years making the staged feel real and now he has to make the real feel realer. There will be no shortage of excitement for Dos Santos vs Lesnar when fight time arives.

Attention for Dos Santos: Junior Dos Santos is an amazing fighter but very few people really know it. Loyal MMA fans have known about him for some time but the casual fan may or may not of seen a highlight real KO and are likely not able to put a name to the face. This season of TUF is going to get him much needed exposure to fans and the opportunity to put an exclamation point at the end of his claim to a title shot.

The Bad

Coach Dos Santos: I am not saying that Junior Dos Santos is going to be a bad coach. In fact I think fighters on his team might be at a distinct advantage, but many of them will likely have to overcome some language hurdles. Dos Santos’ English is not great and translations can only get you so far. Fans can also prepare themselves for excessive subtitles, an issue that some people still mysteriously cannot overcome.

Inexperience: I will get into coaching staffs later on but the head coaches for this season are relatively inexperienced in important but different ways. Brock has only been in the sport just over three years, a short period by any measure. Even though he is a champion there is something that experience gives a coach that no amount of short term success can. Dos Santos lacks experience in the spotlight, most of his fights occurring on under-cards with little to no hype around them. Both will be tested to some degree with all eyes on them as the season progresses.

The Ugly

The Potential Outcome: Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez have been on a collision course for years now, wiping out everyone in their path and an entire division in the process. Junior Dos Santos is the most deserving contender in the UFC today and his fight against Velasquez seems as close on paper as any in recent memory. However, Brock Lesnar is a dangerous man. While I expect Dos Santos to win, I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Lesnar was able to wrestle a victory. Lesnar is not a BAD choice because he is the only reasonable choice in the division to stand between JDS and his title shot; however, I am not sure there are many pining for Lesnar/Velasquez II over the current plan.

Coaching: As I said earlier, I don’t really think either coach is going to be bad but the camps will be polar opposites and potentially very predictable. Lets face it, Brocks camp doesn’t have a single striker that is going to hold a candle to JDS, Anderson Silva, The Nog brothers and their boxing coaches. On the flip side JDS’s camp won’t have anyone that can refine and push a fighters wrestling skills like Brock and his lot of giants. They shouldn’t even draft fighters. They should just make everyone check off what area they want to improve in the most before they see the coaches and split them up accordingly. I think fighter on this season of The Ultimate Fighter are going to benefit greatly from their coaches but the strength dynamic of the coaches could lead to predictable coaching strategies leading up to each fight

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is simple: this is the best decision the UFC could have made for themselves, the fans, and the fighters given the situation. Lets break it down pragmatically. First, the UFC is going to make their money on Brock Lesnar. What better way than put him on a weekly program, let him bring attention to a crop of young fighters and your number one contender for the HW title, make sure he gets another main event slot as well as give him a shot at stealing that number on contender’s spot and secure himself yet another main event title fight? It wouldn’t feel right giving someone who doesn’t really deserve to be one fight away from a title shot the opportunity to be just that. In all reality, Brock Lesnar is the only fighter that really deserves to be one fight away. This benefits Brock, the UFC, and revitalizes a show that has been vitally important to the company’s success. As far as Dos Santos goes, he probably needed a fight before the end of the year. Junior Dos Santos gets to quiet his critics, make his own fame, and keep himself in prime fighting shape while Velasquez rehabs. The timing is perfect. By the time the coaches finish their fight they can take a few weeks and begin training for Velasquez who will likely be ready to start his camp around the same time.

There are a few things we know for sure about this season. It will be entertaining, people will watch, and Junior Dos Santos and Brock Lesnar are going to fight when its said and done. The plan has no more faults than any other season but thus is the power of Heavyweights, and Lesnar in particular, to make everyone talk more than they probably should.

What To Watch In 2011

The year 2010 left MMA fans with plenty to talk about. The Heavyweight division changed forever, Anderson Silva lost and won back his top spot in the division in the same fight, Anthony Pettis became a movie style ninja in the cage, judges became the most hated bad guys, some fights stole our breath, and others left us scratching our heads. Now it is time to look ahead. As 2010 left with a bang it opened a lot of room for things to develop in the coming year. Here I outline the most exciting, interesting, and important issues MMA fans have to look forward seeing resolved in 2011.

The Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament

Few coming events are as important and fascinating as Strikeforce’s coming Heavyweight Tournament. Scott Coker and company have tapped into their trump card, a recognizable and relevant batch of Heavyweights to pit against one another to legitimize their championship as well as hopefully their talent pool. This tournament will address many questions. Does Fedor still have it and can he bounce back from a legitimate lose? Is Alistair Overeem the real deal? Can Barnett return to grace by passing the appropriate drug tests? Which Arlovski will show up? Is Brett Rogers as good as he has looked in the past or as bad? However, the biggest question that I ask about this tournament reflects my pessimism regarding Strikeforce and some of its fighters. I question weather or not this tournament will ever be completed. Between constant M-1/Fedor/SF contract issues, Barnett’s drug testing issues, Arlovski and Rogers’ recent skids, as well as the seeming tapering off of Strikeforce’s momentum… this seems to be the perfect recipe an abort mission. What if Fedor and Barnett make it to the finals (very possible)? History tells us that there is a zero percent chance that they will actually fight. The tournament could keep the company alive and thriving for another year. Hell it could end up being one of the most memorable parts of MMA in 2011 but this is do or die for Strikeforce. If the tournament is a bust or if fighters under-perform the entire thing could look like a flop next to just one UFC Heavyweight championship fight in the latter half of the year. Strikeforce can’t afford flops, especially dishing out the big bucks to pit recognizable names against one another. Lets hope Strikeforce can see this one all the way through and polish it off in one years time to boot.

GSP vs Anderson Silva?

UFC Boss Dana White has indicated 2011 could be the year we finally get the super fight that many, myself excluded, have clamored for. If the two most dominant fighters in MMA today can get past their next hurdles Zuffa may well put the pressure on both to make the appropriate moves, bringing Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre to the cage. With many fans jumping off the Anderson Silva wagon and onto the GSP wagon for top fighter in the world, the move up in weight seems to matter less and less to White and the majority of fans by the day. However some, like myself, still question how much we really need this. Neither is without a challenge after their next fight. Silva would likely be greater served to move up and GSP has stated he wants to completely leave behind Welterweight if he is to make the move. Alas, I come not to argue against the fight so I digress. GSP seems likely to beat his next opponent, someone who seems the inferior in every regard, Jake Shields. However, Vitor Belfort will be the wildcard in this mess. A challenger with unlimited potential, no one knows what kind of Belfort to expect. He has one quality win in recent memory but all his wins have been virtually the same, quick and impressive. Belfort is not going to try to outwrestle the champ and a healthy Silva can be very dangerous to an aggressive striker. I see this fight being the biggest obstacle to the biggest dream fight of them all. If Zuffa pulls the trigger on GSP/Silva it changes the MMA landscape in a lot of ways. As many questions could be raised as answered when the dust settles.

The UFC Lightweight Title

Before UFC 125 this was interesting but not a hot topic by any means. The Unification fight between Anthony Pettis and Maynard/Edgar was anticipated for sure, but it was little more than another title fight on the horizon. In fact, what Anthony Pettis made up for with his ninja kick to close the doors on WEC did no more than break even for the fact that most UFC fans had no clue who he was. The whole thing changed when Maynard and Edgar tore the house down with an exciting 25 minute draw… that’s right, an exciting draw. Not only was the fight great but it answered nothing. It brought even more questions to the fore about who was the better fighter between the two, demonstrated how evenly matched they were, and threw a monkey wrench in the UFC’s plans for the division. While Dana White has said that Maynard will get his rematch a few questions still remain. What should be done with Pettis? Should he defend his title, wait, or fight without his WEC title on the line? Will people still care about a unification match in 11-12 months? What if Edgar beats Maynard to bring their record to 1-1-1, is anything solved? Throw into the mix George Sotiropoulos and Dennis Siver, you got a year of exciting MMA at 155 pounds in the UFC. As it stands now it is one of the most compelling story lines of 2011. Depending on the way the UFC chooses to handle its business anywhere from 3-5 guys have a solid chance of walking out of the year with the belt. The division will be crammed with compelling storylines and fights with title implications, one to certainly keep your eye on.

UFC/WEC Merger

There is no mystery regarding this one. We know the merger is happening and we know the UFC is now infused with lighter divisions and in turn faster and in a lot of ways more intense division. Most WEC fighters are more or less complete unknowns to the average UFC fan but any MMA loyalist will tell you that as long as WEC fighters don’t change their form they will be easy to get behind. Only one division will see a title merger and that merger has been discussed above. However, fighters like Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone will also be looking to forge new careers in the UFC, talented young fighters looking to prove themselves. The only real question I have regarding this merger: How long do we have to wait for a TUF season with fighters weighing less than 155 pounds. It is only a matter of time and it would promise absolute fireworks near every week. The move might have been long overdue but fans are still about to get a lot more out of their UFC experience.

Will Brock Return?

The thought of Brock Lesnar returning to the WWE and leaving the world of real fighting seemed impossible before his clash with Cain Velasquez. Every time he fought he went out of his way to separate himself from his former employment. We were told how competitive he was, about his love for fighting, about his desire to be the best. Unfortunately, now we are hearing whispers of a different kind all together. Rumor has it that Brock Lesnar may want to do a Wrestlemania appearance, something that would not fly with Dana White and company. Only slightly more faint are the whispers that Brock is not all that wild about fighting anymore and not all that eager to get back in the cage. Let me be the first to say I am not breaking news or trying to push these rumors along but as any MMA fan knows, rumors like that don’t come from nowhere. That is not to say they are true but there is something amiss with Lesnar and his career path right now. It could be simply that he wanted some time off to hunt and/or is in contract negotiations to coach the Ultimate Fighter. The one thing I do believe is that this is not your basic lose your title and go back to training for your next fight situation. I also believe wholeheartedly that the UFC will do whatever they can to make the most money they can out of Brock while they have him. They don’t want to let the golden goose go. The only thing we can do is wait and see. Like it or not, Brock Lesnar is an important part of MMA and I for one hope we haven’t seen the last of him in the cage.

UFC Heavyweight Title Picture

While Strikeforce throws all its cards on the table and puts on a HW tournament, the two best heavyweights in the world were primed to clash in early 2011. By now it is no secret that this match has been put off due to a rotator cuff injury suffered by Cain Velasquez. Anyone who has ever read anything I have written about the UFC heavyweight division knows that Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos is in my opinion the most important HW fight possible today. I think they are number one and number two in the division. To be honest, I would be hard pressed to pick one over the other. The delay is such that some have even spoken of an interim title; however, Dos Santos and Velasquez have run through the entire division in such a way that everyone else seems like a fairly ridiculous choice for a title fight. The layoff might actually be good seeing as the rest of the division needs time to figure itself out. Roy Nelson has contract issues he must settle; Brock Lesnar has gone MIA with the aforementioned rumors abuzz; Frank Mir needs a quality win or two to establish himself for another shot; Nog needs to get healthy; Shane Carwin needs some rebound wins; and up and combers like Struve, Beltran, Mitrione, and Schaub are all promising but need more wins to be taken seriously. Eight to ten months wont hurt anything at all. I say make them coaches for The Ultimate Fighter, although given one’s limited English and the lack of the ability to physically train with the injury for the other it seems unlikely. One way or another this is the fight we need to see, just pray that Dana White and Joe Silva can be patient enough to wait for the right title fight instead of pushing the wrong one.

Will Strikeforce Run Out of Steam?

It wasn’t that long ago that Strikeforce was drumming up tons of anticipation with each passing card. The casual UFC fan may not have noticed them but MMA diehards were in a frenzy over some of the matches being made. Fedor’s arrival on the scene only magnified things, securing Strikeforce as the most legitimate challenger to the MMA crown since Pride. However, some of the luster seems to have come off as of late. The company that was once bringing us fights that were unique and fresh is now running out of combinations. Zuffa proved that it could still take a fighter whenever it pleased when they snapped Jake Shields up shortly after his contract expired. It didn’t help that Shields ruined the debut of Dan Henderson on his way out the door. The aforementioned HW tournament should provide its share of excitement and could potentially bring about Strikeforce’s best days yet, but this could be a make or break year for the company. They need to push the talent level of fighters like Gilbert Melendez and Nick Diaz. They will learn a valuable lesson if they depend on the big men to carry them to stardom. The UFC will take its real talent away and watch it drown in its own mediocrity. Lest we not get confused, I am a HUGE Strikeforce fan. I root for their success as much as anyone can, but I fear for them. I fear that they are running out of gas and while the HW tournament could bring them wild success, if the potential hurdles become full on roadblocks it could tear the company down.

There is a lot to hope for in 2011 but above all we should hope for good, clean MMA to see us through the year. Here’s to wishing for competition between the companies because it is good for the fans. Here’s to wishing for a lucrative year for the business because it is good for the sport. Here is to wishing for success and safety for fighters because it is good for… well fighters. No matter how you cut it, 2011 is shaping up to be another exciting year for MMA fans, fighters, and pundits alike.