Why You Should Watch UFC 127

UFC cards tend to fall under two categories as of late: cards that feature really important and/or really marketable bouts that are clearly worth going out of your way to see or cards that fall pretty flat for any number of reasons and a quick reading of results or catching it free on Spike TV will suffice for most. UFC 127 walks a strange line between the two. Many clamor that this should be a free Spike TV card but the UFC has decided to put its faith in the drawing power of BJ Penn and Michael Bisping, like a smart bet. Almost every fight on this card has the potential to be outstanding but is chained with significant caveats. A perplexing card indeed, I tend to think that the card will deliver in the end but experience a speed bump or two along the way. Interestingly enough, the UFC has acknowledged the relative strength, or lack there of, of the card by making viewable all but two of the fights, going out of its way to present fights on Facebook yet again. Dana White is a master of new media so don’t expect this trend to go anywhere fast.

Preliminary Card (Facebook)

One of the most interesting fights on the whole card to me takes place on the third tier of the car. Jason Reinhardt returns to the UFC sporting a 21-1 record, his only lose coming at 155 pounds against Joe Lauzon. He takes on the rebounding Teiquan Zhang, who’s last fight represents the only loss on his record. Between the two they have 38 wins and 2 losses. Zhang was impressive in the WEC but faltered a bit before he came to the big show. Given the styles involved this one could go the distance but it should feature plenty of action and the winner will gain significant momentum going forward. I don’t know much about Tom Blackledge but I know that both he and his opponent, Anthony Perosh are 10-6, not an impressive record by any means. There is one big reason to check out this fight, Perosh earned it. Anyone who saw Perosh take on Cro Cop knows the man has earned something, even if that something is just one more shot to be seen, by taking a beating that became almost hard to watch. It wasn’t just that he took a brutal beating by Cro Cop, I could do that, it was that he took that beating and kept coming for more (I could emphatically NOT do that). The toughness he showed in that fight earned him my attention for at least one more fight. That concludes the Facebook fight card but before I move I must mention one fight that has fallen through the cracks. Heavy hitter Mark Hunt takes on Team Lesnar heavyweight Chris Tuchscherer a preverbal clash of titans. I tend to think the UFC fears that Tuchscherer will hold Hunt down for 15 minutes, but both fighters present more name recognition than those featured on the Facebook card, leaving me to question its exclusion. Styalistically I think this ends within the time as either Hunts cinder-block fists or Tuchscherer’s dominant top position will win the day via KO or TKO, respectively.

Preliminary Card (Ion)

Nick Ring was one of the most highly touted fighters in The Ultimate Fighter season 9. Injury took him out of action until his UFC 127 bout with Riki Fukuda, who has a plethora of internatinoal experience. Fukuda is game competitor and might present a well-gauged first test for Ring. If Ring is remotely unprepared for this fight Fukuda should be able to capitalize but I tend to think Ring will gain a little momentum as he should be have enough tools in the shed to answer just about anything Fukuda brings to the table. Alexander Gustafsson (pictured) returns to the cage after a very entertaining victory over fellow striker Cyrille Diabate. Gustafsson has just one defeat, coming at the hands of top prospect Phil Davis, nothing to be ashamed of there. His opponent, James Te Huna, will likely not want to stand and exchange with him. Expect Te Huna to attempt take downs early but watch for Gustafsson to prove well rounded enough to control the fight, at least enough to earn a great deal of striking time. I think Gustafsson might be one of the most interesting fighters on the whole card, a talent to keep your eye on no doubt. Ross Pearson and Spencer Fisher will close out the free portion of this card and what a closer it will be. Pearson and Fisher are journeymen. It might be a little premature to slap such a label on Pearson just yet but one can see his career running much the same path as Fishers has, a path that most fighters would gladly exchange their careers to follow. I can grantee both guys will bring the fight. Don’t expect a lot of takedown’s and if the fight does go to the ground don’t expect boring lay-and-pray. This has potential fight of the night written all over it with plenty of action and punches in bunches. A brawl in the making, this fight could end anywhere from 30 seconds to the 15 minute limit.

Main Card

Chris Camozzi vs Kyle Noke

I’d bet the money in my wallet that these names aren’t exciting the casual MMA fan. Fans that cite Brock Lesnar as the first MMA fighter they can think of likely aren’t clamoring to see Noke and Camozzi go at it. Camozzi is well-rounded and Noke has a strong brazilian jui jitsu backgound. However, check their “strengths” on the UFC website based on how they have been effective in the UFC to this point. You will see both guys have 100% striking scores. These guys stand and bang, both sporting two strait wins in the UFC. Getting a spot on the pay per view card is huge and both will feel the pressure to take advantage. Don’t be surprised if this is another fight of the night quality bout with plenty of action.

Chris Lytle vs Brian Ebersole

It isn’t often that Chris Lytle (pictured) meets someone in the cage with more experience than he. Last minute replacement Brian Ebersole (62 fights) is one fight Lytle’s veteran. With 123 fights between them, this has to represent some sort of record, at least for the UFC. However, this fight still reflects the biggest disappointment on the card. Ebersole replaced rising contender Carlos Condit. The original match-up was virtually everyone’s frontrunner for fight of the night. Both men are well rounded and push an extraordinary pace, not to mention their well-documented toughness. Alas, Condit’s injury forced him out of the fight and in his stead we find the aforementioned experienced journeyman. People with 50+ fights don’t tend to be boring. You don’t get that many fights without thoroughly enjoying a good scuffle. I know Lytle enjoys one as he is unwilling to match his pace inside the cage with his vanilla demeanor outside. Brian Ebersole has a chance of a lifetime to not only entertain but to entertain and win on the big stage.

George Sotiropoulos vs Dennis Siver

It may be two slots down from the top but this is my favorite fight on the card. However, my trend of claiming fights could steal the show and earn fight of the night is over. Not that it is out of the question but this is much more likely to end early with another award winning (submission of the night or knockout of the night) performance. George Sotiropoulos (pictured) is one of the most exciting prospects in a very crowded lightweight division. I would likely pick him over anyone at the weight not named Edger, Maynard, or Melendez. At UFC 127 e runs strait into a wrecking machine in Dennis Siver, who probably has the best stand up in the division. Siver could earn a flashy knockout but if he doesn’t earn it quickly I think he faces a long night getting beat up on the ground and likely submitted. Don’t fear Soti’s ground game though because it is anything but boring. The winner is probably one win away from a title shot and could find themselves across from yet another top talent at 155 pounds. Soti particularly has done as much as anyone to earn his title shot and would be a very interesting addition to the top of the division which is currently dominated by dynamic wrestlers. With his slick transitions, quick hip work, and effective jiu jitsu, I think he injects an interesting skill set into the mix. Look for this one to end within the distance and keep an eye on both men as they jockey for position near the top of the lightweight division.

Michel Bisping vs Jorge Rivera

Like most MMA fans I know I root against Michael Bisping. There is something about the accomplished Brit that just rubs me the wrong way and it isn’t simply that he is an accomplished Brit. No I know exactly what bothers me about Bisping, his padded fight path thus far in the UFC. Michael Bisping always seems

to be matched against guys that are just simply not as good as him, even on paper. Giving credit where credit is due, I always say that winning when you are suppose to win is one of the most underrated accomplishments in MMA and few do it more consistently than Michael Bisping. However, I fail to see why Bisping has not been tested agains the likes of Okami, Marquardt, Sonnen, or Maia. Granted “The Count” has been given a few chances to step up in competition, all of which he has squandered (Wanderlei Silva, Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson). UFC 127 again sees him fighting someone that he should best, on paper at least. The mad geniuses at the UFC don’t just spoon feed him opponents though. They give him opponents with just enough up side and on just enough of a streak to let you believe that they have a real shot at winning. Yes, I will be eager to see this fight, hoping that Jorge Rivera can use his heavy hands to shock Michael Bisping. Yes, the fight intrigues me. So in all, yes, the UFC and Michael Bisping have done their preflight jobs. This shortsighted breakdown is telling of what matters in this fight. Love him or hate him, the people will tune in to see Bisping; now it is Rivera’s job to make the most of his opportunity to perform on the big stage.

BJ Penn vs Jon Fitch

The number of fans that like Jon Fitch (right) is likely only marginally higher than those that like Michael Bisping. Fitch’s dominating wrestling and control first style has not earned him a lot of loyal fans. However, you are reading the words of one of them. Jon Fitch has been one of my favorite fighters for years now, since well before his first title shot with GSP. His physical attributes along with his solid wrestling base make him very hard to deal with for anyone at 170 pounds. In 14 UFC fights he hasn’t lost to anyone not named GSP, impressive by any standard. At UFC 127 Jon Fitch will be bigger, stronger, and have a fairly significant reach advantage over his opponent. That is no ordinary welterweight across the cage though, that is BJ PENN (left)! Let me jump right to a spoiler alert: I think BJ Penn is currently overrated and that Jon Fitch is a terrible match-up for “The Prodigy.” This fight signals an unfortunate position for everyone. BJ Penn is stuck between weight classes, not fast enough to deal with the top lightweights, at least not Frankie Edger, and not big enough to deal with the top Welterweights. He is going hope to show the latter to be myth if he can find a way to knock out or submit Fitch, will have to trek through hell before the UFC will give him another title fight and if you saw their first meeting your not surprised. I may think Fitch has an advantage but that is not the only opinion around. Ask Matt Hughes if BJ Penn is still dangerous, this is no cakewalk for Fitch. Finally the UFC is stuck too. Penn demands enough attention and Fitch is starting to win enough that one of them is going to make a case for a title shot sooner rather than later. This fight operates to eliminate at least one of them. Look to see where each man wants to keep the fight. Fitch might want to use his reach on the feet or he might think his wrestling and size will be enough to maintain advantage on the ground. Penn might bet on the quickness of his hands or he might think his world-class submission skills are the keys to victory. I don’t hold much stock in the fears that this fight will be all that boring. The only way this fight becomes boring is if BJ Penn’s will is broken and he stops fighting at 100%. Otherwise his sweeps and submission attempts should thwart long bouts of lay-n-pray even with a size disadvantage. Both men are well versed in the entire MMA game and both men will be looking to impress as they welterweight title might just be up for grabs come years end.

Quick Hits

Fighters to Watch: George Sotiropoulos, Alexander Gustafsson

Fights to Watch: George Sotiropoulos vs Denis Siver, Ross Pearson vs Spencer Fisher

Questions to Answer: Can BJ Penn compete at WW at the top level? Is George Sotiropoulos ready to compete for a title? Can Jorge Rivera upset the most popular British fighter in the world?

Reexamining the Fedor/UFC Saga

Like most people who have spent entirely too much time engrossed in a hobby, pastime, or entertainment activity I get a little upset when I feel like the object of my interest is misunderstood or misrepresented. It is no easier to misunderstand MMA than through a fighter shrouded in mystery like Fedor Emelianenko. The recent narrative seems simple enough: Fedor was the greatest Heavyweight in the world yet he was largely inaccessible to casual fans because he did not fight under the UFC banner. Mainstream sports fans that found themselves only marginally interested in MMA even seemed to accept this all as fact. Why wouldn’t they? Fedor fit the bill perfectly, an unassuming, quiet, gentle looking Russian with more highlight videos on youtube than Antoine Dobson (well maybe not). Emelianenko’s ongoing and offgoing negotiations with the UFC have been the most important long-term story in the sport for over two years now. It is these negotiations along with the rise of Strikeforce and the now defunct Affliction MMA promotion, who brought The Last Emperor to the United States that put Fedor on the American sports fan’s radar. Most fans had their “side” in the story and while many have dropped the discussion all together, now is the time to reexamine where we once stood on Fedor and his relationship, or lack there of with the UFC.

This is a relationship that has always been complex but one that most reasonable fans are no more equipped to decipher than casual followers of the sport. Keyboard warriors love hyperbole so don’t expect to look far for strong opinions on the topic but this says little about how the MMA universe as a whole actually understands the affairs. This is not the place to hash out the differences, which are readily available with a little research. This is however the place to bring up how different things would be if the Fedor had landed with the UFC and what we can discern about the sport from that. At issue are three distinctions, each with its own story to tell about the current state of MMA. 1) Fedor’s losses would be seen as indication of inherent inferiority of his status as a non-UFC fighter throughout his career. 2) Fedor would likely not have found himself caught the in “will he fight or wont he” struggle for the 72 hours or so following his fight. 3) Fedor’s losses would have contributed more significantly to the sport as a whole and particularly to the individual careers of those who beat him

MMA is currently divided into two very large, distinct camps: The UFC and the non-UFC. Strikeforce represents the most significant presence in the latter but if the UFC is the Superbowl Champions every year, Strikeforce is still missing the playoffs. This is the unfortunate reality of the matter, the unfortunate reality that corners Fedor into a camp (the non-UFCers) that is constantly struggling to prove its legitimacy. As it stands now Fedor’s losses are seen as indicative of a sharp decline in his career because they exist in a consistent non-UFC universe. For the most part Affliction, Dream, Pride, Strikeforce, Elite XC and any other relatively visible promotion you can think of are conceptualized the same way. They are as good as the fighters they can muster up for a card at any given time. When they had Fedor they were at their best but their best has never been as good as the UFC, even the UFC average. Obviously highly dedicated fans of MMA understand there is a great deal of intricacy being left out here and each promotion has its own set of qualities that distinguish it from the others. However, even these same fans tend to use the same discourse when it comes to comparing any organization and its fighters to the big one. When a fighter like Gibert Melendez finds success more often than not praise comes for them with the caveat that it would be nice to see him tested against the top lightweights in the world. While Fedor transcended that to a degree, the UFC Bias returned as one negotiation after another fell through between the two parties. It is this partition that would have cast a longer shadow over Fedor’s career had he gone to the UFC and lost. His move would have been seen as a step up in competition and if he failed it would have been seen as an inability to compete at that level. That is not to say that Fedor’s legacy would have been dismissed but the justification narrative for his fall would have extended to his career outside the UFC as a whole. For Fedor, his decline in the status quo is sharper, but the memory of his glory days is well fortified. What we take from this is the unquestioned and likely justified UFC bias within the MMA culture. While the opinion is not always voiced overtly, fighters outside the UFC must work substantially harder and find more success than those in the UFC if they want to be considered at the top of their divisions.

The UFC’s popularity and power in the MMA market exists for a reason. While other American promotions have built themselves on the backs of particular fighters and fallen as those fighters fell, the UFC has built a brand. No one fighter is bigger than the brand. Brock Lesnar may be the biggest draw in the sport but if he gets injured before a fight, the card goes on and aside from a few griping fans, everyone gets over it fairly quickly. When Josh Barnett could not fight for Affliction and the main event was off, the company folded. When Kimbo Slice was exposed as a hack in the cage, Elite XC folded. Strikeforce is infinitely more equipped to deal with losing their biggest draw than either of those companies but the retirement of Fedor could still prove to be a lethal blow. Talks have since cooled but Strikeforce and M-1 spun there way through Fedor’s hints of retirement masterfully if not with a dash of panic. They made it clear in no certain terms that Fedor was under contract and would be expected to fulfill that contract. I do not think this would have been the case with the UFC. Fedor’s appeal to the casual MMA fan is grossly overrated. Most hardcore MMA fans are not that interested in seeing uninspired legends take loss after loss at the end of their career. If Fedor wanted to bow out gracefully I suspect the UFC would have let him, even facilitated the move. Not because they are such great lovers of humanity but because they do not need Fedor to survive. The move would costs them almost nothing as they would have made their return on Fedor with one or two fights. It would however come with a significant public image boost for both the company and the sport. MMA gets to see perhaps its greatest and most mysterious legend retire with some degree of dignity and status in tact while the UFC lets Fedor retire under its banner. This is a clear indication that Zuffa’s strangle hold on the business is not going anywhere fast. Dana White and company don’t need a single athlete to make their company work. Let’s face it there is something unsettling about feeling like a man might be forced to fight in a cage because of a contract. The UFC has afforded itself the opportunity to avoid being put in that position and for the most part they have. Their policy of brand over fighter might has been one of the stumbling blocks in getting a deal done with Emelianenko in the first place but it is what I think would have avoided an uncomfortable situation following The Last Emperor’s second loss.

There is a concept in professional wrestling of “putting someone over.” This refers to when someone loses a match so that his or her opponent will gain popularity. In theory wrestling is fundamentally based on a balance of wrestlers putting one another over so that everyone can maximize their popularity without destroying the credibility of everyone else. Wrestling is scripted so who puts whom over is obviously based on conscious decision making. For MMA there is no script but the concept of being put over still applies. Jon Jones gained popularity when he beat Ryan Bader. Matt Serra’s notoriety took flight when he KOed GSP. The more popular the loser in a match the more momentum is gained by the winner. Similarly the bigger the stage the more impact the victory has on the winner career. Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva got over on Fedor Emelianenko but ask casual fans who they are and your response rate will only be slightly higher than they would have been before their monumental wins. Fedor’s star power is still relatively limited in the United States. The public narrative has and will end with Fedor losing to “that big guy, man he is huge.” This was confirmed by the ridiculous notion coming from sources such as Yahoo’s and ESPN’s MMA writers that no one was giving Antonio Silva a chance. I had more than one conversation with knowledgeable fans about how likely it was that Bigfoot would hand Emelianenko his second strait loss. Granted most people, including myself, picked Fedor but more out of hope for him and habit than anything else. I even confirmed with one fan that if you forced me to put money on the fight I would probably put it on Silva. However, the fall of Fedor to a “relative unknown” has been the period at the end of this tale for most part. A side note about Silva inevitably pops up, seemingly to prove that Fedor didn’t lose to phantom. Dedicated MMA news sites have featured great work on Antonio Silva but they preach to the choir. In short, not enough was gained for the sport and for the fighters from Fedor’s loss. The UFC hype machine would never let such an injustice stand. The visibility of the company alone would make an instant superstar out of whoever handed Fedor his first defeat and would probably be able to do even more with the man who pummeled Fedor until he could no longer continue. The draw of Emelianenko would be maximized, as would the influence of his every move. This again speaks to the unparalleled power of the UFC but more importantly speaks to its marketing supremacy. The UFC is creative with their approach, they build narratives for their fighters, and they never let the story end with one mans fall from grace. When Chuck Liddell fell Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, and Shogun Rua and to a lesser extent Rich Franklin all received significant notoriety boosts. As it stands Fedor’s contributions to the sport are wildly significant but tempered by the fact that he fought out of the limelight.

All of the aforementioned points could mistakenly be conflated to the argument that the UFC’s sway in the sport makes it so powerful that Fedor’s decision not to fight there was a mistake. That is not my contention. Each decision came with its own set of costs and own set of benefits. For example, Emelianenko mystique remains in tact, something that likely would have been shed a bit by the UFC hype machine. Of course there is no telling what would have actually happened had Fedor and the UFC come to terms but speculation is a little easier with hindsight. The points to be taken from this long-winded exercise are somewhat simple: The UFC and the rest of the MMA landscape are in the same business, churning out the same product but the UFC has created its own world. Against Fedor’s fall from the top and the narrative thereof we can draw a picture of UFC domination starkly. The picture shows us that the stakes of the game are higher than where a fighter makes his career and weather or not they compete at the highest levels. At stake is a fighter’s legacy if they have a career that summons such a lofty concept as well as the ebb and flow of the sport. The UFC’s power is not absolute and the future of the sport is still up for grabs but it certainly appears as if the center of the MMA universe will continue to be spoken for by Dana White. The UFC’s business practices, many of which are outlined above, have embedded them firmly in a power cycle that continues to place them at the top of the heap.

Strikeforce: Silva vs Fedor in Retrospect

Strikeforce’s most recent outing sported five heavyweight bouts and five flashy finishes. This was a casual MMA fans dream card, big fighters with heavy hands and slick submission games finishing fights quickly. Big names like Fedor Emelianenko (pictured) and Andrei Arlovski drew fight fan’s attention but it was names like “Bigfoot” Silva, Griggs, Del Rosario, and Kharitonov that delivered the goods. The tournament is starting off with a bang, even though it now must proceed without its biggest draw, a fact that does not seem nearly as significant following the deflation of the Fedor myth. The tournament is born into a culture of excitement and violence and should garner more interest as highlight reels turn and word of mouth spreads. The night saw a number of significant developments, none more imperative than the fall of the Last Emperor.

Silva Pummels Fedor Into Potential Retirement

It is hard not to wax philosophical about Emelianenko and what he has meant to the sport of MMA. What is important to note is that Fedor carried more than a record into the cage with him. He carried a mythos of being super-human, unbeatable, and unknowable. It was always hard to decipher just what it was about Fedor that made him so good. It was also hard to explain what made him tick. Without the UFC hype machine to pry into his private life, preview specials seemed to only further convolute the man and the myth. However the conflation of the two lost what air it had left on February 12^th. The Russian Fight God is now little more than great fighter at the end of his career. The scene of a battered Emelianenko contemplating retirement was almost sad, at least for those of us who remember the sage Emelianenko standing victorious time and again throughout his career. Based on the discussion coming from M-1 Global (the promotion that handle’s Fedor’s business) and Strikeforce, it appears that the man once considered the greatest of all time might get pressured into continuing on weather he wants to or not. Alas, proper discussion of this requires more space than can be afforded here, necessitating me to move on with the promise of a later return to this topic.

Let us not neglect the man who actually won the fight in light of the man who lost it. Antonio Silva (pictured) won, won impressively, and won decisively. To this day “Bigfoot” fights to redeem his name from a failed drug test in 2008. Indeed, Bigfoot has been silently competitive for years, experiencing bumps such as said drug test and a hard fought defeat to Fabricio Werdum. Silva picks up the most significant victory of his life and enters the second round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix with a great deal of momentum. His size and technical prowess proved to be far too much for Fedor, asis the case with most of his opponents. Silva’s physical stature makes him very difficult to prepare for and cope with in the cage. I liken him to a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu version of Brock Lesnar, with long limbs and a powerful base. This fight will go down as the fall of the Last Emperor, even if it marks Fedor’s second consecutive lose, heightening the fame passed to “Bigfoot”. Antonio Silva left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the better man. Between this victory and the opportunities in front of him, this could be the year of the Bigfoot.

Sergei Kharitonov a True Dark Horse

Sergei Kharitonov (pictured) made quick work of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Kharitonov is likely the least well known fighter in the tournament, averaging just one fight a year since 2007. It was easy for even long time MMA fans familiar with Pride FC to forget about his past successes. If anyone had forgotten or was unaware Kharitonov fixed that by stiffening Arlovski with brutal punches to the head. While Arlovski was once regarded as a top tier heavyweight, his four fight losing streak let fans realize long before this that Arlovski had fallen from his former position. Questions about his future will certainly surface in the year to come, particularly if he suffers a fifth consecutive lose. However, the real story here is Kharitonov finding himself uniquely positioned in the “weak bracket” of the tournament, awaiting the winner of Josh Barnett (a man with a history of drug test failures) and Bret Rogers (another, likely less technical slugger). One can now see a much more likely path to the finals for Kharitonov through the lens of his impressive KO performance.

Alternate Bouts Come Up Fireworks!

The Three preliminary bouts were not just for giggles. By design these were bouts to help determine who would be an alternate should someone in the Grad Prix suffer an injury or finds themselves unable to perform for any other reason. While it may be all for not now that Fedor could step in and Strikeforce will most certainly make a push for him to do so given the need, these fights should not go unnoticed. Valentijn Overeem (brother of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion), Shane Del Rosario, and Chad Griggs (pictured) all came up with impressive wins. Overeem worked on a neck crank very quickly, impressive in his ability to get the fight where he wanted and finish in expedited fashion. Chad Griggs, famed for beating former professional wrestler Bobby Lashley and crushing his hype, hit Gian Valliante so hard he came off his feet. If you are looking for about three minutes of entertainment look no further than this one. Finally Shane Del Rosario put on an impressive display against Lavar Johnson. Both fighters were game in the beginning but once Del Rosario got control on the ground, this fight went one-sided fast. In a text-book move Del Rosario transitioned from mount to arm bar beautifully, leaving Johnson no choice but to tap out. Ten minutes and an Internet connection is all you need to enjoy all three fights. The names may not peak your interest but the action certainly should. Check out every fight on the card if you haven’t already. You might see some of these guys in the not too distant future as Strikeforce works on fostering homegrown talent.

Ranking Breakdowns

Heavyweight

1. Cain Velasquez (UFC) – We await his return from injury eagerly while the number one contender and former champion coach TUF and fight for a title shot.

2. Junior Dos Santos (UFC) – Few have been more deserving of a title shot than JDS but he has one more big, BIG test in the way in the form of Brock Lesnar.

3. Fabricio Werdum (Strikeforce) Werdum dethroned Fedor and now meets Alistair Overeem in the first round of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament.

4. Brock Lesnar (UFC) – His lose to Velasquez must have been a bit humbling, but he gets no rebound fight as JDS is as good as they come.

5. Antonio Silva (Strikeforce) – Silva is the real deal. He didn’t just catch Fedor, he beat Fedor up and bad. This has the potential to be a huge year for him.

6. Shane Carwin (UFC) – It will be interesting to see how 2011 goes for Shane Carwin. How far can his power and wrestling really take him?

7. Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce/Dream) – The Strikeforce HW champion could make a case for himself to be the top HW in the world if he wins the heavyweight tournament.

8. Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce/M-1) – The fall of Fedor continues. As much as I thoroughly enjoy seeing Fedor fight, I thoroughly hate seeing him lose. Maybe it is time to hang it op

9. Frank Mir (UFC) – His win over Cro Cop was one of the great disappointing main events in recent memory. Now he has to fend of Roy Nelson to stay in the top 10.

10. Cole Konrad (Bellator) – He sneaks in with his 7-0 record but quality of competition is an issue for The Polar Bear.

Light- Heavyweight

1. Shogun Rua (UFC) – It is unnerving that he is returning from another knee injury but Shogun is the best in the world until proven otherwise.

2. Rashad Evans (UFC) – He presented a dangerous fight for Shogun but the injury bug strikes again.

3. Jon Jones (UFC) – Most impressive win of his career against Bader brings a title shot. Now its time to REALLY see what he is made of.

4. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (UFC) – Needs to find consistency in the division again.

5. Lyoto Machida (UFC) – His skid has a really good chance of coming to an end against Randy Couture, Good news as he really needs a win.

6. Thiago Silva (UFC) – Here is to hoping that the failed drug test is a rumor and he can return from this potential time off sooner rather than later.

7. Ryan Bader (UFC) – Didn’t look good against Jones but still possesses tons of potential and recorded significant success for his age.

8. Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce) – Needs to keep the belt in one spot for a while to build it a bit. Dan Henderson isn’t going to make that easy.

9. Forrest Griffin (UFC) – Big win over Franklin propels him up the list. He is probabliy even a little better than a few guys above him, but needs wins in 2011.

10. Muhammed Lawler (Strikeforce) – Very good athlete but very green. King Mo should continue to improve.

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (UFC) – What can you say that hasn’t been said. The best fighter in the world now waits for GSP to take care of his business.

2. Yushin Okami (UFC) – Okami has earned his shot but will likely again be passed over. He still gets the number two nod from me though.

3. Ronaldo Souza (Strikeforce) – One of the more impressive parts of Strikeforce’s recent card, his record speaks for itself.

4. Chael Sonnen (UFC) – Between the drug test fiasco and the money laundering, I can’t put him any higher than this.

5. Hector Lombard (Bellator) – One of Bellator’s greatest attractions, keep an eye on Lombard in 2011.

6. Vitor Belfort (UFC) – Vitor came to fight and it’s a real shame there wasn’t more time to see what he had. Back to the drawing board.

7. Demian Maia (UFC) – Still amazing, still talented, Maia has to put it together and continue winning.

8. Jorge Santiago (UFC) – Just signed with the UFC and could meet Brian Stann at UFC 130, a great chance to move up.

9. Nate Marquardt (UFC) – Needs to find consistency and the ability to win the big one.

10. Wanderlei Silva (UFC) – Silva’s inactivity is a problem but his win over Bisping has not been forgotten.

Welterweights

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC) – It appears that one test remains between GSP and Silva, and few see GSP falling from grace against Shields.

2. Jon Fitch (UFC) – It appears that Fitch would be a dominant champion if it wasn’t for GSP. A win over Penn could put him in line for a title shot soon.

3. Jake Shields (UFC) – Say what you will about Shields but he just keeps winning. He has the chance to pull off the upset of the year against GSP.

4. Thiago Alves (UFC) – Reworking his way up the 170 pound ladder, Alvez is still among the elite in the welterweight division

5. Carlos Condit (UFC) – Condit had to pull out of his next fight but barring an extended layoff he should maintain his spot until a result goes against him.

6. Nick Diaz (Strikeforce) – Diaz won but he was exposed by an exceptionally mediocre figher earlier this year. That is enough to fall a spot.

7. Josh Koscheck (UFC) – Few can match his athleticism. It may be back to the drawing board for Kos but it wont be long till he regains momentum.

8. Martin Kampmann (UFC) – Has another chance to win when the pressure is on against Diego Sanchez. Needs to win more matches like this.

9. Jay Hieron (Strikeforce) – Seven fight win streak and so very little love for Hieron. Time to make a name for himself in 2011.

10. Dan Hardy (UFC) – His flight to the top wasn’t as quick as his fall. Dan Hardy has a lot of fight left in him but a lot to prove this year.

Lightweight

1. Gray Maynard (UFC) – The only non-UFC Champ at the top. Maynard has a win and a draw over the champ and is unbeaten as a pro.

2. Frankie Edgar (UFC) – Will get another shot to beat Maynard and silence the critics that are still not sold he is the best LW in the world.

3. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce) – Probably as good as anyone in the world at 155. We would all be better MMA fans if we got to see him fight the best.

4. Eddie Alvarez (Bellator) – Another reason big reason to keep an eye on MMA outside the UFC, Alvarez could meet Melendez this year… if we are lucky.

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. Anthony Pettis (UFC) – The biggest loser in the Maynard/Edgar draw, Pettis now has to fight a very tough Clay Guida before he gets a crack at UFC gold.

7. George Sotiropoulos (UFC) – This guy gets better every time we see him. Will get another shot to shine and step closer to the title against Siver at UFC 127.

8. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Dream) – Consistancy issues keep him from gaining too much momentum.

9. Melvin Guillard (UFC) – His most recent win was the biggest of his career. If he is ready to fight smart the sky is the limit for Guillard.

10. Kenny Florian (UFC) – On his way to featherweight, Florian won’t stay here for long. One win from any number of fighters will be his exit.

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. Hatsu Hioki (Sengoku) – Quite brilliant over the last few years with only one blemish on his record in that time. Hioki is dangerous almost everywhere.

3. Mark Hominick (UFC) – Earned himself a title shot recently. We will get to see if his hands look as good against Aldo as they did against Roop.

4. Chad Mendes (UFC) – Unbeaten and rising quickly, Mendes will likely have to fend off a former UFC lightweight before he can get his crack at the belt.

5. Diego Nunes (UFC) – His win over Mike Brown (although narrow) is the biggest of his career and puts him right in the hunt for a title shot.

6. Joe Warren (Bellator) – Big questions about quality of competition loom but Warren has beaten his share of game opponents.

7. Manny Gamburyan (UFC) – Manny is though as nails but had nothing to offer Aldo in his last outing and has a long way to go back to the top.

8. Michihiro Omigawa (UFC) A solid record outside the UFC has led to no success inside at 0-3. This stacked division wont afford him many more chances.

9. Dustin Poirier (UFC) – Poirier surprised everyone with his last win over Josh Grispi. He is young and has a very bright future in MMA.

10. Marion Sandro (Sengoku) – His 17-2 record would warrant a much higher spot if his two loses hadn’t come in his last five fights.

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (UFC) – Simply put, he has been more impressive than anyone at this weight over the last year. He awaits his challengers for his new belt.

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. Brian Bowles (UFC) – If he can’t shake the injury bug he may move down further. Bowles has top tier skills at 135 pounds.

4. Scott Jorgensen (UFC) – Another great fighter that fell short of the champ, Jorgensen will now be tested in terms of his response to his big lose.

5. 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.

6. Miguel Torres (UFC) – It was dreadful to watch but Torres gets a win on his first “big stage” show. Lets see if he brings the excitement we are use to next time.

7. Urijah Faber (UFC) – The pressure is on Faber to not only win but to give the people excitement. Cruz wants this fight and I honestly do too.

8. Demetrious Johnson (UFC) – When the pressure was on Johnson stepped up and put Kid Yamamoto and all his hype away.

9. Brad Pickett (UFC) – Just one lose in his last 11 fights, Pickett will need to continue his exciting ways if he wants to move up from here.

10. Takeya Mizugaki (UFC) – Not the best stretch for the Japanese fighter but he has talent in spades and never draws an easy task.

The Weight-Cutting Begins

A few weeks ago I made a passing comment about how many UFC Lightweights would be dropping weight to fight in the featherweight division now that they can keep pulling UFC paychecks and fighting on the big cards. Nostradamus I am not but I hit this one square on the head. Kenny Florian (left) and Tyson Griffin (right) have already expressed their plans to cut 145 pounds for their next fight. Two fighters do not constitute a mass exodus but it does signal what is to come. Florian and Griffin are important for two major reasons. First, both are well-known, talented, former contenders. These are not guys that can’t hack it 155 pounds. Both have found significant success there and will be immediate contenders at featherweight. Kenny Florian has had two shots at the lightweight title and Tyson Griffin has found himself a win away on more than one occasion. This brings us securely to the second point, both Florian and Griffin are representative of a class of fighters that get stuck right below the top tier of champions. Both men have enough talent to give anyone at 155 pounds a run for their money and constantly find themselves with the upper hand over mid-level competition. They are in an awkward spot, prime of their career and stuck below the title picture. A move down could bring new life to each’s career. The adjustment in weight will tweak their skill sets a bit. Their bodies will be more well equipped to put weight on after weigh-ins; they have more big fight experience and should find themselves stronger in comparison at 145. The move is good for both fighters, who could find their way back to 155 after they develop a little bit at their new weight and gain some momentum. I don’t expect this to be the last of the moves we see like this. More fighters will find that they are reaching their limits at 155 pounds and decide to see what they can do at 145. Most of them will likely move with no fan-fair but will fundamentally alter the face of both divisions.

UFC 126 In Retrospect

Two major stories elbowed their way through the stacked night of fights to emerge as major headlines. The first involves Jon Jones going from rising star to title contender in a matter of seconds. Jones will now just have 6 weeks to prepare for the top 205-pound fighter in the world. The second addresses Anderson Silva’s impressive front-kick knock out and then odd if not downright amusing credit to Steven Segal. These are only the most dominating stories, certainly not to be confused with classifying them as the only stories all-together. UFC 126 offered plenty of talking points for the MMA universe to ponder as we enter a very busy time for the sport. Here is a breakdown of the top 5 stories.

1. Jon Jones Replaces Evans at UFC 128

You heard that right folks, after winning at UFC 126 Jon Jones will face by far his toughest challenge at UFC 128. That is just 6 weeks to prepare himself for Shogun Rua, a top-tier veteran in the prime of his career. I for one have been on the Jon Jones bandwagon since his fight with Stephan Bonnar in early 2009. However, I think this is my stop. Jones looked impressive against Ryan Bader but something seemed kind of off. Both fighters looked a little less technical in this fight, a little sloppier. Maybe that was because both had to rely more on their technique given the fact that they could not physically bully one another around like their previous opponents. This is troubling given the fact that Shogun is light-years ahead of anyone Jones has fought with regards to his stand up attacks and will likely present submission attacks that Jones has not seen outside the training room. The whole situation is probably the best we could hope for given the restraints, but it will ring a bit unfortunate regardless of the result. If Shogun wins Jones takes a defeat in the most crowded division in the sport, likely setting him back a year to two before he was ready for a title shot to begin with. If Jones wins then Shogun loses his belt after having the opponent changed on him a month out from the fight. Of course both men have the same amount of time but a title changing hands would come with a lot of question marks given nature of the change. What is done is done though and UFC will go down as the biggest night of Jon Jones young career.

2. Anderson Silva Impressive: Owes it All to Segal

I find it a bit odd that the best overall striker in the world, who trains with current professional fighters honing their expertise in various striking based arts (Machida comes to mind) would owe his ability to use KO quality front kick to Steven Segal. Allow me to clarify. I am not saying that Segal is not a legitimate martial artists or that he doesn’t have knowledge to share with other martial artists. What I am saying is that I don’t believe that Anderson Silva’s KO over Vitor Belfort should be completely credited to the actor. To be honest, this is but a footnote to an otherwise very noteworthy fight. Against Vitor Belfort Anderson Silva was either due for an impressive win or a dethrowning and he came up with the former. Some confuse his hand and foot movement early in fights as fruitless dancing or showboating but nothing could be further from the truth. Anderson Silva measures his opponents’ reactions to his movements, constantly recording and storing the data for use later in the fight. It is my speculation that he saw something in Vitor’s reactions, particularly his upper body defense that led him to believe he could come strait in, slightly fake to the body, and then snap his foot to the face and land. Not even Silva expected a KO surely but one came non-the less. With another opponent dispatched Silva likely now waits on The Superfight. While some of us are not huge fans of the fight for reasons that can be discussed later, GSP vs Silva now sits at the end of the UFC’s current trajectory.

3. Rich Franklin Stuck Again

Rich Franklin might go down in history as one of the most sympathetic and underrated fighters in the sport. He has done everything the UFC has asked of him. He has been a last minute replacement, coached TUF, fought multiple fights at catch-weight, and rarely uttered a word about it. In UFC 126 he found himself finally where he wanted to be, against a top 205 pound fighter, but with a significant size disadvantage. In terms of skills he proved in rounds two and three that he matched up well with Forrest Griffin, but the size and reach discrepancies were too much to overcome. Now Rich Franklin finds himself once again stuck between a rock and a hard place. As long as Anderson Silva reigns over the middleweight division a move back to 185 pounds seems pointless. However, UFC 126 proved that fighting at 205 pounds is going to put him at a serious disadvantage against fighters on the larger side of the division. Frankin has claimed that he is not considering retirement, which is good news for fans, but now begs the question of what’s next. Franklin may very well be at a crossroads and his choice will dictate how much success he can find down the final stretch of his career.

4. Japanese Fighters Come Up Short

It’s like Groundhog Day in the UFC when it comes to Japanese fighters, particularly those who enter the company highly touted. Time and time again they come as world beaters, exotic fighters from another land with skill-sets that American fighters will surely be ill-prepared to deal with and leave walk out opening their UFC careers with loses. This is not to say that Japanese fighters are inherently inferior to American, Brazilian, Canadian, or European fighters, but the reality speaks for itself. There are many alternative explanations, including my feeling that Japanese fighters are not as effective at cutting weight, rendering them much smaller than fighters who are. Yushin Okami has battled his way through the hard times to live up to the hype… sort of. Oddly enough Okami is one fighter Zuffa has not put its hype machine behind and one fighter that few fans were pining to see fight top competition before he made his name in the UFC. UFC 126 saw two more Japanese fighters, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Michihiro Omaigawa, fall short in their debut, a familiar song for long time MMA fans. Neither man should be written off. Things happen and both fighters were put in tough spots against talented opponents. The news here isn’t really new, its confirmation. There is something in the style or culture of Japanese fighter that does not align well with Western MMA and until fighters start breaking the cycle the trend will continue.

5. Miguel Torres and Antonio Banuelos Don’t Put Best Foot Forward for WEC Fighters

It isn’t so much that it is disappointing that Antonio Banuelos lost or didn’t put on a flashy fight, but that he didn’t seem to do anything he needed to do to win, that he sabotaged himself. This fight could have been a showcase of the excitement bantamweight fighters bring to the cage. Instead it was a lot of yawns and looks at the time. Banuelos seemed like he bet against himself and was ok sitting right in Torres’ range, taking the lose and the blame for a boring fight. Chances are he did bet against himself in a very personal sense. Banuelos looked defeated before a punch was thrown, ready to take a lose as long as he wasn’t finished. This is a shame for two reasons. First, Banuelos take a huge hit to his career, losing on the big stage and looking bad doing it. He might have been better off going for broke and getting finished in the first round. Second, the WEC class isn’t exactly batting 1.000 right now. All fight fans like myself do is ramble on about how impressed everyone will be with the lighter divisions and now our deep seeded fears of tentativeness and big show jitters may be coming to life. Lets hope we have seen a lesson learned and future featherweight and bantamweight bouts bring the excitement fight fans are use to.

Why You Should Watch UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort

Seeing as how this is one of the strongest MMA cards in recent memory, punctuated but not carried by its namesake fight, this post seem almost redundant before it even begins UFC 126 could be interpreted as top heavy, drawing so much interest from the three co-main events that even avid MMAfans often forget what else the card has to offer. Be warned, there is not a fight on the main card you want to take a pass on. For that matter, multiple fights on the preliminary card are of exceptional importance and should more than hold their own in entertainment value.

Preliminary Bouts

The preliminary bouts may or may not make it on the card and to my knowledge no plan currently exists to air them elsewhere, but don’t sleep on these them all the same. Some of them may even be worth checking out on line after the show. For example, what do you get when you take a bull-strong, tough as nails Englishman and pit him against a dynamic fast-paced-fighting cowboy from Texas? You get Paul Kelly vs Donald Cerrone, also known as fireworks. While Kelly was wandering the middle of the welterweight and lightweight divisions in the UFC Cerrone was getting multiple shots at the WEC lightweight championship. Kelly is the perfect test for Cerrone, who now jumps into a much bigger pond than he is use to as he makes his UFC debut. Michihiro Omigawa will find himself in a similar position, taking a large step up in competition. The Japanese fighter has had a checkered past when it comes to wins but rides a five fight win streak into his match with unbeaten Chad Mendes. Omigawa fought at 155 pounds in the UFC before but this fight will be at the more-well suited weight of 145 pounds. Mendes will be happy to welcome him back, coming off four strait wins in the WEC and nine wins without a blemish for his career. The winner of this gets in line for a title shot and while they may have to fight once more to get it, the division is ripe for anyone to stand out and make a name for themselves. The same holds true for the Bantamweight division and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (pictured) will look to establish himself there as he finally makes his inaugural United States experience and begins his conquest for a title. Kid Yamamoto has been one of the most highly praised and exciting Japanese fighters for years, inspiring countless bouts of internet banter regarding weather or not the Kid could find success against the top American fighters in his class. All the hype bought him no pass though as UFC matchmaker Joe Silva lined him up against Demetrious Johnson, a 12-1 fighter who prides himself on solid technique and a relentless pace. Look to see if Johnson tries to push that pace early in the fight to test Yamamoto’s conditioning given that Kid has only seen three fights since 2007*. All of the aforementioned fights feature young, ultra-talented fighters trying to make a name for themselves meaning they are all very dangerous and present a high probability for entertainment. Keep your fingers crossed that one or more of these fights squeaks onto the main card.

*Update: Kid Yamamoto vs Demetrious Johnson will stream live on Facebook.

Update 2: Two preliminary fights will be airing on Spike TV, don't miss them.

Miguel Torres vs Antonio Banuelos

Miguel Torres (pictured) was once considered one of the pound for pound best fighters in the world, dominating the WEC’s bantamweight division. At the time his skills seemed to warrant the attention. However Torres now finds himself with something to prove. After losing two strait fights. The first was called a fluke knockout. That is until he dropped his next fight via choke. Torres was able to pick up a win in his last outing but a lot of the shine has come off the once brightest start in the WEC. Antonio Banuelos has been given a golden ticket. In front of him is a highly touted, very beatable opponent on the biggest card of his life. Banuelos keeps a furious pace, has strong wrestling, and utilizes aggressive ground and pound. While the pace will likely not bother Torres, also known for aggressive rate, the other taspects of Banuelos’ game could present problems for the wiry Torres. Whoever comes away with a win might find themselves one win away from a title shot at 135 pounds. The one thing this fight offers for sure is excitement. Both fighters have a tendency to deliver fireworks so be sure to settle in for the whole of the show because you don’t want to miss this opener.

Jake Ellenberger vs Carlos Eduardo Rocha

These two names may not ring a bell to the casual observer but they are two of the hottest prospects in the UFC we division. Rocha (pictured) is an unbeaten Jiu-Jitsu fighter with nine wins, all finishes, eight of them submissions, eight of them finished in the first round. In short, this guy is very dangerous, particularly on the ground. Before you go betting the farm on a submission victory for Rocha keep an eye on Ellenberger, who has finished two very solid fighters (John Howard and Mike Pyle) in his last two outings. Ellenberger is very well rounded and might be able to keep the fight on his feet. If so he will have more tools in his belt than his more one-dimensional opponent. Rocha is a highly touted up and comer and Ellenberger has been turning heads, originally slated to face Jon Fitch before the powers that be willed Fitch vs Penn into existence. Given the perceived lack of competition for GSP and the potential he could vacate the title this year, this fight takes on a great deal of significance. The winner stands to gain significantly, particularly if they can substantiate their hype with an impressive finish or fight of the night performance, both securely in the realm of possibilities.

Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader

More often than not this fight is framed as a battle between young up-and-comers with potential in spades. While that may be true, it might constitute a bit of an undersell. Jon Jones (pictured suplexing a full grown man) and Ryan Bader are bordering on the edge of full-blown contenders, a designation the winner will certainly take away from the fight. Being that they are both wrestlers with constantly improving striking skills the comparisons between the two are natural but their skills manifest themselves in very different ways. Jones is more dynamic and unpredictable with his strikes and his reach advantage. Watch for spinning back fists or kicks, various standing elbow strikes, and creative footwork from Jones. However with Bader you get a more strait forward technical approach to boxing. He hunches over, looks for good combinations, and will swing big from time to time knowing he has the power to finish a fight. Don’t be surprised if they cancel out one another’s wrestling and this becomes a stand-up and/or clinch war. Most, including myself, favor Jones, citing that he probably does everything as well as Bader and maybe a few things better. Jones hasn’t fought someone with the wrestling and power of Bader though. Nevertheless, both fighters have very bright futures, but the winner gets a huge push in the most competitive division in all of MMA while the loser goes back to the drawing board.

Rich Franklin vs Forrest Griffin

Some fights are appealing because they present interesting style match-ups, pitting fighters with dramatically different skill-sets against one another to determine the superior art on any given night. This is not one of those nights. The differences in Forrest Griffin’s and Rich Franklin’s (pictured) games are dwarfed by their similarities. Both men rely on hard work and willpower to overcome fighters that often outmatch them on a purely physical level. Both fighters love to stand up and exchange punches. And both fighters can take a hell of a beating. They are also at similar places in their respective careers, looking to build momentum towards a title shot at the light-heavyweight championship. Forrest has spent the last few years writing books, recovering from injuries, and fighting sporadically while Franklin did every favor the UFC asked and found himself in one catch-weight bout after the other, curtailing his chances of advancing in his chosen weight class. Each is coming off a victory and finds themselves in prime position to make a drastic jump up the competitive ladder. Make sure you are comfortable for this fight as it could be a high-octane slugfest with flashes of aggressive clinch-work and maybe even a few ground attacks. Rest assured, unless one man comes in trying to really surprise the opponent, this fight won’t see much time on the mat though. Franklin has big power and could end it early but this fight has fight of the night written all over it. Considering the aggression and toughness of both Griffin and Franklin, this is a must see for even the most casual of MMA fans.

Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort

Very few people with the slightest inclination to watch MMA need to be reminded why Anderson Silva (black shirt) is great or worth watching. Unfortunately while the same use to be true for Vitor Belfort (white shirt), today he is relatively unknown to newer fans of the sport. Belfort was at the forefront of MMA, fighting the likes of Chuck Liddel, Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva in their prime. When “The Phenom” is on his game he appears unstoppable, but there in lies the problem. His uninspiring record (19-8) doesn’t summon thoughts of a world-beater and speaks to the biggest criticism Belfort has faced to this point, his perceived lack of mental toughness. Some accuse that Belfort can be mentally broken in a fight and folds too easily. If focus or will is your shortcoming, Anderson Silva is not who you want looking across the cage at you. Time and time again we have seen fighters defeated before the bell ever rings, scared to engage or push the pace against the champion. Time and time again we have seen the smallest mistake in the cage spell the end of the night for an opponent of “The Spider.” However, I think there are two important things about this fight to keep in mind. First, Vitor Belfort has been steamrolling fighters for the past three and a half years, showing new life since the collapse of Pride FC. Hopefully this is a sign of maturity and, in turn, a new focus and a new drive that ensures we see the best Vitor Belfort possible. Second, MMA is not a sport where athletes’ records survive unscathed forever. With enough fights the greatest fall and it seems almost like we are just waiting for Silva to the selfsame. To be brutally honest, just about anything could happen in this fight and its largely depends on Belfort. I for one have faith in an aggressive Vitor Belfort. Watch for him to come forward early and try to catch Silva in some rapid exchanges. Perhaps even beware of a takedown attempt from the challenger. As Belfort pushes, the fight should turn into a ticking time bomb, waiting for someone to be dropped in highlight reel fashion. If anyone is going to drop Anderson Silva it may just be “The Phenom,” who’s standup is far superior to any the champion has faced to this point in his UFC career. The long and short of it is simple and complex all at once. Vitor Belfort could present the most significant test of Anderson Silva’s championship reign in the UFC. That “could” comes with a lot of question marks about the mindset of each fighter entering the cage at UFC 126. In spite of everything, Anderson Silva is still the best fighter in the world as of this writing. If you had to put your life savings down on one fighter to win one fight, could you not pick Anderson Silva?

Quick Hits

Fighters To Watch: Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Vitor Belfort

Fight To Watch: Rich Franklin vs Forrest Griffin

Questions To Answer: Will Vitor stay aggressive against the extremely accurate Silva? Will Jones or Bader emerge as the newest contender at 205 pounds? What 135 pound and/or 145 pound fighter(s) will make names for themselves at UFC 126?